Page 33 of Billionaire Wolf Needs a Maid

"Okay," I whispered, too exhausted to argue. "But you stay with me."

"Wild wolves couldn't drag me away," he promised, and I felt the truth of it in my bones.

As the police swarmed the scene, I leaned into Dean's chest, feeling his heart beat against my cheek. The violence should have changed how I saw him. Instead, it only confirmed what I already knew, that I loved all of him, wolf and man, protector and predator.

His lips brushed my hair. "I thought I'd lose you."

"Never." I turned to face him, touched his blood stained cheek. "We're bound now, remember? Where you go, I go. No matter what form you take."

The last of his tension melted away as he pulled me into a fierce kiss. His chest rumbled as he purred in contentment. We were safe. We were together. We were whole.

Chapter 14

DEAN

The sterile antiseptic and chemicals couldn't mask Nina's sweet essence. I paced restlessly as I watched her sleep in Dr. Wu's clinic, each slow beep of the heart monitor both reassuring and a source of torment. Bruises darkened her throat, each mark a stark reminder of how close we'd come to losing her. My wolf threatened to emerge every time I looked at those bruises. Even though Sean was already dead, I howled for revenge.

"The throat swelling has decreased significantly," Dr. Wu murmured, checking Nina's vitals with practiced efficiency. "No complications from the concussion, and the bullet graze is healing cleanly."

A warning growl rumbled in my chest when she touched the bandage on Nina's ribs.

Dr. Wu's steady gaze met mine, unimpressed. "If you're quite finished posturing, I need to check her stitches."

I forced my wolf back, though its protective instincts still stirred beneath my skin. "Sorry."

"She's strong," Dr. Wu said, gentler now. "Stronger than you give her credit for."

"I know." Pride and love swelled in my chest. "Believe me, I know."

Nina's fingers twitched against the sheets, her brow furrowing as consciousness returned. My heart leaped when her eyelashes fluttered, desperate for that first glimpse of green. The mate bond, which had been a dull ache while she slept, burst into vibrant life as her gaze found mine.

"Dean?" Her voice was rough, but it was the sweetest sound I'd ever heard.

I was beside her instantly, carefully taking her hand. Her fingers were warm now, nothing like the terrifying coldness I'd felt after the fight. "Hey, how are you feeling?"

"Like I went ten rounds with a wolf," she said with a weak smile, then winced. "Oh wait, I did."

My throat clenched. I brought her hand to my lips, kissing each knuckle like a prayer.

"I dreamed," she whispered, a tremor in her voice.

"I'm here," I assured her, pressing my forehead to hers. "We're both here. We made it. Rest, Nina."

While Nina slept, Jenkins updated me on the penthouse situation. Apparently, my AI had made an executive decision during the crisis.

"I took the liberty of contacting Mrs. Abernathy," Jenkins informed me. "Given the extensive redecorating you performedin your office, sir, I calculated she would be the most efficient solution."

I winced, remembering the destruction my wolf had unleashed. "You called my elderly neighbor to clean up after a wolf rampage?"

"Mrs. Abernathy proved surprisingly capable," Jenkins replied, a hint of admiration in his artificial voice. "She arrived with industrial cleaning supplies and three decades of experience removing what she termed unfortunate stains from various surfaces. She was also quite discreet."

I watched the security feed in disbelief as Mrs. Abernathy, all four-foot-eleven of her, marched through my destroyed office like a general inspecting troops.

"No, no, that won't do at all," her crisp voice carried through the feed. "The blood has already set into the grain. We'll need the industrial enzyme cleaner for that section. Maria, be a dear and fetch my special kit."

She paused at my shredded desk, clicking her tongue. "Werewolves," she muttered, pulling out her phone. "Always so dramatic. Antonio? Yes, I need that mahogany piece we discussed. The one from Milan. Rush delivery, if you please. And send extra polish, the good stuff."

My wolf's jaw dropped. Just how many supernatural cleanup jobs had my elderly neighbor handled?

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