Page 32 of Salvation

“Let’s not jump to conclusions,” Tina said. “It could have been an outsider who wandered onto our territory.”

“Well, I want him out. Yesterday,” Ty barked.

“We’ll send our best trackers out,” Cody said.

Ty nodded. “Put Zack on it. And Kyle.”

“And I’ll rustle up our best hands to help keep an eye on things in town,” Tina said. “We let them slack off a bit since the last attack. Maybe that was a mistake.”

Soren growled under his breath, and Todd understood his frustration. On the one hand, Soren’s pride demanded that he protect his clan with his own resources. On the other hand, he was ready to go to any length to protect those he loved.

Yeah, Todd got that part. He got it very well.

Part of his mind had still been teasing apart the concept of fate giving him a choice. But now, he shoved all that aside. It wasn’t time to think. It was time to act. To protect.

Soren caught his eye and gave him a dark look.I know it’s hard for you to stay, but I need you, man. Will you stay until we’re sure it’s safe for everyone?

Soren meant Sarah, Teddy, and the other members of his clan, but front and foremost among them, Todd saw an image of Anna.

Will you do it?Soren repeated.

Did he have to ask?

I’m with you,he nodded.Whatever it takes.

Chapter Eight

That night, Anna’s dreams were haunted by diabolical wolves, and she very nearly cried out for Todd again. She only managed to coax herself back to bed by thinking of better things — like Todd holding her. Kissing her. Touching her. Whispering her name.

In the dreams that followed the nightmares, her mind played out a thousand sultry encounters. But by the time she got up in the morning to help Jessica bake, Todd was already gone.

“Damn it.” She scowled into the mirror and forced herself to get moving.

But he’d forgotten something, apparently, because he came back up the stairs when she headed out, and just like that, her mood lifted again.

“Morning,” he murmured, stopping with one foot on her step and one foot on the step below. That put them eye to eye, and she lost her breath. From so close up, she could make out the pattern of his irises, where lighter blues intersected with darker indigo like so many panes of stained glass.

“Morning,” she whispered.

Taking a deep breath had been a mistake because he smelled so good. She wanted to nuzzle her chin up and down his jaw. She wanted to tuck her cheek against his chest. To run her hands up and down his arms.

And oops, she really did reach out for his arm.

His lips moved, and his eyes dropped to her mouth. His chest rose and fell with every breath, and hers did, too, in perfect time with him.

Kiss him. Kiss him.A chant started up in her head.

He tilted his head a tiny bit, and God, that brought him to the perfect angle for a brush of the lips.

Kiss him. Kiss him.

It was just like that time in sixth grade when she’d been all the way up the high dive board at the community pool, and all the kids had egged her on from below.

Go. Go. Go.

Her hands tightened on his shirt — somewhere along the line, her fingers seemed to have snuck over to his chest — and she held her breath.

He was so close. So quiet. So focused on her.

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