Page 81 of Noah

“You don’t think it’s Mhane’s?” she asked in surprise.

Noah thought about it again and shook his head. His hand came up to her neck and rubbed it gently.

“No, I don’t. Despite how er…” How did he say dangerous without offending her? “Er…feisty she is. She seemed as upset about the drugs and her scent didn’t lie. She was terrified every time she looked at it. Besides, it was plain to see that it hadn’t been touched in years. The same thickness of dust covered everything. It’s been like that for years would be my guess.”

“Thank you,” she breathed.

He didn’t tell her he was only saying what he saw and that he still didn’t think Mhane was safe. He would be a fool to put her in a mood again, so he shrugged and kept rubbing her neck, keeping contact with his soft mate.

“Do you think she’ll have to go home tonight?” Her tone was aiming for neutral, but he could hear her disappointment.

“She won’t have to, but I suspect she’ll want to. She’s not used to overcrowding.”

“How do you know?”

“I didn’t pick up any permanent scents on her.” He clicked his tongue and saw Moon in the distance. “That’s not strictly true. There is a faint female one. I’m assuming it’s her mother. They smell similar.”

“Yes. You’re probably right. I’m glad she still has her Mum.” Adrienne with her tender loving heart smiled, and his body reacted again.

He was hard in seconds. He couldn’t remember a time he hadn’t wanted her and every time she said something innocent yet beautiful, he just wanted to take her to his bed and never let her up.

She was it for him.

How many times did he have to say it to himself before he fessed up and told her? With it came a violent wave of guilt. A tsunami of pain took him under, rolling him around like a ragdoll leaving him confused and jangled.

He couldn’t breathe when he thought about it, his chest caving in and his brain shutting off. Lack of breath filled his chest, preventing him from speaking a truth that would damage them.

Beast and human DNA alike. They would falter and wilt without her. His will to live was tied to the tiny human female beside him who had an artist’s soul. Wild, free yet so giving.

Adrienne created beauty while he…he was drenched in the blood of their enemies.

Noah was okay with that. He would keep her soul free from carnage, destruction, blood, and death. She deserved only the best the world had to offer.

The checkpoint approached and he waited while Briar and Owen did their thing, then Adrienne and Noah did the same.

It was late afternoon and he wanted to get food but first, they had to go to the Alpha’s office and sort this new mess out.

Nick had undoubtedly already given them an update. Noah reached the top floor and found Drey, Mallen, and Nick with his arms around Harper.

Noah was told Harper used to be painfully shy because of her scars not to comment on them, and he hadn’t.

He had only seen glimpses of Harper and she hadn’t seemed shy, but Noah put that down to her mate Nick.

Harper stood beside Nick now, glowing, her hair brushed away from her face, and smiling. Harper was happy with her mate.

Noah peered at Adrienne to find her eyes on the couple too. He wondered if Adrienne wanted that.

First, Noah needed to clear the air and as soon as this stuff with her sister was fixed, he would tell her everything.

He would tell her that he couldn’t bear to be parted from her, that she was his mate but that wasn’t the only reason. He was certain his heart only beat for her.

Clutching his chest at the unfamiliar rush of excitement. He guessed it was because he was going to tell the truth and it made Noah feel less like a cheat when he next met Adrienne’s eyes.

Harper slipped away. Nick watched her saunter down the stairs, his eyes soft until they turned to them, and they were all business.

“Mhane?”

“Yes, hello.”

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