Chapter 32

Ella.

Ella held her breath as her lips met Adam’s warm ones. Her heart told her to let go, but her mind reminded her of how he had hurt her. She had an internal tug-of-war as Adam continued to kiss her. His tenderness and passion melted what fight her mind could put up, and she followed her heart, kissing him back. Her fingers twined together behind his neck, bringing them closer, and Adam’s hands moved to grip her hips.

A fire ignited within Ella. Nothing could keep her from Adam - nothing. Their bodies melted together, fitting so perfectly. Her hands unclasped, and she threaded her fingers through his dark hair, feeling each smooth lock glide between them. Adam’s lips moved from Ella’s mouth and lowered to the pulse point in her neck. She gasped as Adam continued down her collarbone. Her body responded automatically, pushing her closer to him.

Adam suddenly lifted Ella up and her legs wrapped around his waist as he carried her to the back, where it was more private. He continued kissing Ella intensely. She kissed him back hungrily. Her wolf rejoiced as Adam set Ella down on the soft grass, lifting the bottom of her shirt as he continued to kiss her. His hand trailed up her abdomen before gripping her breast. Her own fingers worked to undo the button and zipper on Adam’s pants.

Just as Ella started pulling Adam’s pants down, he paused.

“What is it?” Ella asked, her head still clouded. She tried to pull him back to her, but he pulled away.

“I want this - I want us - so badly. I do. But I really have to go. There’s an emergency.”

He gave her one last kiss before buttoning his pants back up and running out of the backyard. Ella stared after him, her wolf whimpering within her. The cool, lush grass suddenly felt prickly and uncomfortable.

'What are you thinking?!' her brain shouted at her as his figure shrank away into the distance. 'He hurt you, remember? Besides, you have Cassius now! Pull yourself together!'

Ella promptly stood up, jerking her top back down and brushing herself off. Her brain was right. She kept letting Adam in, but each time, she had been hurt again. Plus, if Adam was going to insist Cassius was the bad guy without giving him a chance, maybe he hadn’t changed as much as she thought. Maybe she should just leave with Cassius - he was a lone wolf already, anyway. They could go back to her house and forget all about the Moon Rising Pack.

Ella heaved a sigh as she thought about how the twins would react to the news. She knew they had bonded with their father over the last three months. But they were resilient kids. They would be okay. They were before, and they could be again.

Ella headed inside, opening the back door with an angry swing. She marched off to her room, forgetting the children were asleep. Yanking the door open, she headed to her bed and bent down to grab her suitcase. She plopped it on her bed and turned toward the closet to start packing up their things. She would ask Cassius tomorrow if he’d want to come with them.

***

Adam.

The timing was terrible. It always was when he tried to get closer to Ella. He shook his head, trying to clear the anger and frustration so he could focus on the problem at hand. Just as things were heating up with Ella, his Beta had mind-linked with him. There had been another attack.

Adam ran to his car and backed out as quickly as he dared. The wheels of the Camaro screeched on the pavement as he peeled away toward the hospital. The blazing sun blinded Adam as he drove. He squinted, trying to see where he was going.

Flipping the visor down to block the sun, he grumbled to himself. Three more injured. What is going on? He nearly plowed down a pedestrian crossing the street as he forgot about the stop sign ahead. His tires screeched once again as his car came to an abrupt stop just inches from a teenage werewolf. The kid flipped him off before his eyes shot wide, realizing who was driving.

“I’m so sorry, Alpha! I didn’t realize it was you!” the boy said hastily, backing away.

“It’s okay, Keeton,” Adam shouted out the window. “I should have been paying more attention. But next time, forget the crude gestures.”

“Yes, Alpha,” Keeton said with a nod before running off in the direction he had been heading before.

Adam rolled up his window, shaking his head. Teenagers.

He arrived at the hospital and was immediately shown to the ICU where three more border patrolmen lay in beds side-by-side - each of them severely injured.

“Alpha,” David said weakly as he stiffly entered the room.

Adam’s gaze shifted to each bed, taking in the damage that had been dealt. While two of the wolves lay unconscious, David was awake and lucid. Adam strode over to David’s side, barely holding back his anger. Someone was attacking his men and getting away with it. Adam’s fists balled up at his sides.

“How are you doing, David?” Adam asked, making sure to put the patrolman’s well-being first.

“I’ve been better,” David answered with a weak chuckle.

“I received a bit of detail from Clint, but I’d like to hear what happened from your perspective.”

David nodded. “There was a wolf limping toward us. He looked to be in pretty bad shape. Dan and I rushed over to help when suddenly, the wolf attacked with full force. Carl was nearby and came to help fight him off. But then, as quickly as the wolf came, he left, leaving us injured and bleeding on the ground. He could have easily finished us off, but he didn’t.”

Adam’s toe tapped the floor, and his arms folded across his chest, his eyes cast to the ground as he thought. None of the news had made any sense. The attacker yesterday had killed Drew, and nearly killed Theo. Were the attacks even related? Why not finish them off?

“Do you remember anything about the wolf? Something that would set him apart from anyone else?”

David bit his lip, trying to remember anything before the blaze of claws ripping flesh. “Sorry, Alpha,” he said, “I don’t think–”

His voice cut off and his eyebrows knit together. His wolf remembered something - something odd.

“Actually… I remember the wolf was quite larger than the three of us, almost as if he might have been an Alpha himself. But he definitely didn’t smell like an Alpha. He smelled like a lone wolf.”

Adam’s head shot up. That bastard! He knew Cassius was no good!

“Thank you, David,” Adam answered, turning on his heels. “Rest up, okay? And don’t hesitate to ask if you need anything.”

David nodded before sinking back into the inclined hospital bed.