CHAPTER 12

Who? Her eyes fluttered open then quickly closed. “Talk with me. What did the ladies do when you used the restroom at the tavern to upset you?

Filled me up. When she began her martial arts training, no one had ever misbehaved with her. It took a close call with a human rape for her to realize she needed a mechanism to defend herself in human form. Too bad she wasn’t able to use it to take the gunman’s weapon away. He wasn’t close enough, though. If only she had been armed.

She let out a ragged sigh as she inhaled the heat of Darien’s body, the power of his arms holding her firmly, the scent of his masculinity, and the scent of his sex. No matter how coldly he treated her or how detached he seemed to be, he was unable to control that aspect of himself. He was unable to conceal his obvious desire for her, just like any other lupus garou alpha male that desired a female. Their chemistry ignited, sending a volley of heat sliding through her as their sexual chemistry sizzled. He tightened his hold on her as she groaned. Larissa must have enjoyed mating with a man of such rugged build who was considerably larger than a red.

He commanded her to reply, “Larissa.”

She rolled her eyes and scowled. When they ascended the ridge’s slope, Jake flashed her a gaze that was just as menacing as Darien’s.

Leaning forward and struggling to breathe, she whispered, “Lelandi.”

Darien’s harsh lips continued to frown.

She focused so intently that her brows furrowed. “Three.” Darien kept focusing on her. What are three?

“Maybe she’s responding to your earlier query, how many shots had she taken?”

She gave a slack head nod.

Jake rubbed his dirty whiskers with his palm. She seemed to be out of it.

I’m attempting to keep her talking because of this. Ask her a question.

What happened to your parents? Like his brother, Jake spoke in a stern tone.

She forced a hard swallow in order to numb the ache in her brain and heart. Dead.

Jake responded, “Let’s send her back to her own people and let them handle this.”

“Whoever attempted to murder her entered our domain. We have authority over it and should address it.

Yet, what if Lelandi had nothing to do with this? Jacob queried.

This time she corrected him angrily, saying, “Larissa.”

Why couldn’t they remember their names?

Along with her, Darien ducked behind an oak branch. “What if Lelandi is involved in this somehow?”

She repeated, her voice getting very anxious, “Larissa.”

Darien embraced her more tightly and climbed over a downed log. She “certainly isn’t getting the gist of our chat,” I think. A surge of voices and footsteps rushed her way, and the smell of bacon, sausage, and ham frying in homes on the outskirts of town filled the air. Clouds were forming as a hawk flew across the sky in quest of its own breakfast. Her bones grew colder as the breeze carried a hint of an impending snowstorm, and the ache in her back and chest became unbearable.

She wanted to lean deeper into him, lusting after the warmth of the gray, but she felt as flimsy as a rag doll and powerless to change her fate. She inhaled deeply once again and attempted to smell his sex once more. Every man’s was unique, and she didn’t pay much attention to the most of them, but his was making her crazy. Strong, stout, musky, as hot as an oven in the summer, seductive. Had Larissa noticed his distinctive odor?

Lelandi had no idea that she would be attracted to the same man as Larissa. Obviously her sense of smell is impaired due to the bullet wounds.

Hold on, Larissa,” Darien whispered in a calm, dark voice. “Doc will make you better.”

His remarks were questioned by the look he shared with his brother.

She stumbled out, “Get Doctor Weber,” hardly audible. Jake and Darien exchanged a silent glance, indicating they were working on different ideas. Nonetheless, Dr. Weber belonged to the red group. He’d be aware of what to do. When hunters shot her while mistakenly believing her to be a wolf, he extracted the bullets from her flank and revived her.

A man rushed in to join Darien and exclaimed, “They’re bringing Sam in,” as he and several others crowded in.

Sam? Oh, that sly-grinned, tough, mountain-man-like bartender.

Is he seriously hurt? Darien sounded pessimistic. Not nearly as horrible as the little lady makes out. She winced when the man leaned in close to have a better look because of his beer breath.

Sam was shot in the arm, but nothing serious was hurt, according to another. You know him, though; by this evening, boss, he’ll be selling drinks.

Darien’s eyes widened as she muttered, “Lupus.” He knelt down and kissed her before she could say another word, but the kiss didn’t end there. His lips pressed harder, making more promises to entice her to concur, but then the warm sensation of his mouth teasing hers evaporated.

He yelled out “Larissa,” luring her out of the shadows.

Dark, troubled eyes were staring back at her from Darien. Many of the males laughed.

The ladies will be begging for a kiss that would make them faint, I can almost hear it now. Silva’s voice was ethereal, dreamy, and melancholy.

Lelandi closed her eyes as the car doors squeaked open. She wanted to say something more to get the gray to kiss her again, but she was at a loss for words as her thoughts were fixed on the way his lips caressed hers—hungry, lustful, and savage.

Someone whispered, “Are you sure they weren’t a particular kind of bullet?”

“No. Her blood loss is significant. She, too, has suffered from the cold. Taking a ride with her, brother? Jacob queried.

As Darien freed her, she leaned in for more of his mind-numbing kisses as she yearned for his warmth and comfort. He didn’t appear certain about expressing any more love.

She felt the blankets enveloping her as she lay on something long, flat, and hard, but the bone-chilling cold returned when the huge gray’s body’s heat was gone.

“See you there,” I said. In an effort to detach himself from her, Darien sounded stern and fake in his voice, as if he were attempting to put on a performance for his pack. You must read Silva and Sam’s story.

She wanted more of his contact, scowling at her, paying attention to her, anything since she felt rejected. She shouldn’t feel any of these emotions, though, on some level.

Jake said, “I can give you a report.”

Once more, there was a protracted pause. “No, I won’t check on her right now.

She averted her misty glance in order to avoid seeing the steely expression in Darien’s eyes after his rejection, which had hurt her deeply.

“Doc, I’ll accompany her.” When Jake entered the car next to her, it began to rock like a boat at sea. He didn’t have the same, sexual scent as Darien. Maybe it was because he didn’t feel the same way Darien did about her.

Forbidden by God. A gray. Mate of her deceased sister. Emotional turmoil as a result of losing her. Lelandi, however, couldn’t help but crave his touch.

Wait up, Silva yelled. I desire to travel with her.

Darien stopped her by placing a hand on her arm. Silva, I need to talk to you first.

“Boss, can’t it wait? Sam was present for everything.

As much as there was to see, I guess.

Once more, there was a long silence before he spoke. A man with white hair stated, “Have to take care of the little woman.”

“Okay, Doctor. Silva, I need to know what happened there as soon as possible.

Pack your things. The rest didn’t matter. None other than Lelandi. Only the gunman’s killer was significant. Despite the sorrow in her heart, she grit her teeth.

Silva responded with a voice like cotton candy, “Yes, siree, boss.”

Silva’s delicate feminine odor filled the air as the ambulance shifted a bit more.

The woman smiled wistfully at Lelandi as the doors banged shut.

“Sugar, you sure jolted that big gray out of his rut.” Silva swiveled to face Jake. What on earth happened outside, then?

Silva, I could ask you the same question. Lelandi screamed, “He had to die. Why the hell did the gunman have to die before he spoke? Lack of witnesses