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Adrian leaned on his elbow, staring at Jaz while she slept next to him. No nightmares for him or Red last night. He’d like to think they were gone, but he doubted it.
Still, he’d take one night of peace with his wolf.
He missed her while she slept, but he’d wait for her to rouse. He had to tell her she would no longer be on the run. Not as long as he had breath in his body. He’d protect her from whatever situation Eli saw in her dream.
Reinhold probably deserved to die, but not at Jaz’s hands. She hurt every time she talked about Kaiser. That kill weighed on her even though he’d been hurting Daisy and he’d attacked Jaz.
Leaning over, he kissed her forehead.
“Mmm.” She frowned and wiggled around some then her eyes opened. Her smile followed close behind. “Good morning. I thought you’d sleep later after last night.”
He loved her early-morning-after-a-night-of-loving voice and should still be out cold himself, but he’d slept so hard without the nightmares he felt rejuvenated. “I don’t need as much rest as a woman,” he teased.
She lifted up and sent a warning with her gaze. “I will make you regret those words.”
“I’m so scared.”
Jaz bit his nipple. Hard.
He laughed and rubbed the abused part. When she smothered a laugh, he said, “There’s so much I want to say.”
She adjusted her position to lean on her elbow and prop her head on her hand. “I thought we shared all our secrets last night.”
“No, but we can take our time getting to know each other better.”
Her scent changed from playful to intense curiosity. “What are you saying?”
“I’m going to be dealing with my issues for a while, but for the first time ever I can see down the road. I can see my wolf and the woman I hope who will stick around while I figure out everything.”
“You do realize I’m still guilty until I find Daisy and convince her to tell her part of what happened, right?”
“I know, but I’ll be there to make sure everyone gets it right. I just want you to know that you’re so important to me. I’m not asking for anything in return, only for you to know that I can be trusted with your heart. You’ve opened it to people who should have loved you in return. Their loss that they failed you. I will not.”
Running her fingers back and forth on his chest, she took a long time to answer and he prepared for her to say she wasn’t ready to discuss them when she had no idea where she’d be tomorrow.
If he’d bet on that, he would have lost money.
She leaned over and ran her lips across his then whispered, “Here’s what I say. I. Love. You.”
His heart bounced around like a four-year-old who ate an entire bucket of Halloween candy. “Shit fire. I love you, too, Jaz.” He rolled her over and kissed her, then thanked his woman the best way he could with a good morning orgasm.
No matter what came up next, he could face anything with her, Tarski, and Red at his side.
He loved her. She loved him.
They’d face the Kaiser issue next and finally have some time to get to know each other without a world of trouble hanging over their heads.
Love meant everything. Mating would be another big step. She said her Kodiak family would not accept a wolf shifter mate. Of all the family she had, that group had loved her.
He wouldn’t trample on what they’d just declared to each other by pressing her to consider mating, which would start a conflict with her Kodiak clan.
She’d fought long enough to just be loved.
She was. That’s all she needed to think about right now.
Jaz fell asleep again, probably a sign of her body rebuilding energy. Her breathing evened out and she slept deeply.
According to his watch, daylight would come soon.
He eased out from her arms, tucked her limbs beneath the lightweight cover, then hunted his boxer shorts. He’d let Red have a run. His wolf had been incredible all night. Adrian would show some faith and free him for a bit.
Outside the cave entrance, he pushed the covering back in place and flipped the latch holding it. Next he piled rocks to hide the opening, but Jaz could get out if she needed a nature break before he returned. She had a small cord inside tied to the release switch.
Smart woman.
He’d like to meet her clan one day just to thank them for raising her and teaching her how to protect herself.
Once he took care of his personal needs, he dropped his boxer shorts and shifted into his wolf.
Red sounded surprised and asked, Problem?
Not at all. Adrian enjoyed replying, We both slept sound with no nightmare. I think the more we return to our normal ways, the better everything will be.
Yes. Where?
Adrian said, You can run and get some exercise. I’d like to take a look at the motorcycle to see that it’s not disturbed. No scents around it.
In response, Red headed straight for the bike.
When Red padded up to the bike, nothing appeared to be touched.
The rain had stopped. No prints around the motorcycle.
All good signs.
Then Red tensed. Smell enemy.
Adrian went on alert with his wolf.
Red backed up, then he saw someone coming in a crouched position.
Definitely enemy.
Red growled viciously and sent one question to Adrian. Plan?
Adrian had never attacked anyone in human form, but he had a treasure to protect from monsters.
With his wolf pinned in place and no other option, Adrian told Red, We can’t let them find our mates. Attack.
Muscles bunched, Red launched his big body airborne and landed in a dead run.
The shifter in human form lifted his rifle at the same moment and shot.
Red dodged, side to side.
The next shot struck him in his shoulder. He didn’t slow. Adrian’s wolf closed the distance to twenty-five yards.
The human dropped the weapon and jumped behind a wide oak tree.
Darts struck Red on both sides of his body.
With his heart beating so fast, the drug flooded his system. His mighty wolf howled in fury, before stumbling and rolling hard down the hill.
They crashed into a tree. It knocked Red unconscious.
Adrian yelled, No. They’ll get Jaz and Tarski.
He fought the drugs, trying to burn them with his energy, but he needed his animal awake to do that.
Then he lost consciousness.
When he next came alert, the drugs still pressed down on him. Still in wolf form, Red snorted and coughed, then shook his head, trying to clear out the drugs. He blinked but couldn’t hold his eyes open.
A boot slammed his side. “Never steal any of my vehicles. They are all tagged with tracking devices. I have captured you as a favor, but also because you helped the Golden Kodiak wolf escape.” The man growled and smelled of wolf. “This is not as satisfying when they are not listening,” he complained to someone.
“We hit him with four heavy loads, sir,” some underling replied.
“Wake the wolf. The human inside can hear. I want him to understand what it means to betray the Blood King.”
Blood King? Red? Red! Wake up.
“Put him up where I do no have to bend down.”
Adrian had the sensation of rising in the air, but no hands touched him.
He knew the Blood King’s voice now and recognized the laugh before, “This will wake him.”
A sharp spike stabbed his neck.
Red howled.
Another sharp stick drove into his chest.
His wolf growled and made hideous sounds of pain while that bastard chuckled.
Red snarled and his eyes opened wide. He glared, ready to kill whoever had been hurting them. Then watching through Red’s eyes, Adrian knew the second his wolf realized they stared at thick titanium bars.
A cage.
Red struggled and jerked, trying to stand. Muscles in his huge wolf body convulsed in the small area.
Adrian refused to believe what he saw. No! Please no.
His wolf snarled and howled, desperate to move. He couldn’t lift or turn his head.
Adrian shared Red’s pain and misery. He would give his life right now to free Red.
The Blood King said, “That is more like it. You will make a fitting gift to my brother. He will enjoy making you pay for protecting his son’s killer.”
Red made crazy sounds and shouted insanely. Golden wolf. Adrian. Tarski. Female human. It all devolved into Red repeating, Mate. Mate. Mate!
The Blood King leaned in and stroked his hand on Red’s thick coat. Red strained to twist and bite the hand treating him like a pet. “This wolf must be kept alive. The female will now be mine.”
Female? Adrian’s heart fractured and ripped apart.
Jaz.
The sound that came out of Red ripped what was left of Adrian’s heart into shreds.
Noooo! Red cried in Adrian’s mind. Tarski!
