Page 102 of Never Tamed
“We know the explosion is going to draw his attention, but having a fight here where there are so many witnesses from the city is asking for trouble,” Mathis explains. “Ren is bait, we agreed. But having her lead him away makes more sense.”
“The forest is our best bet and I know the area near the stream. It’s… important. To me.” Dax’s growl is louder and a chill skitters over my skin, lifting the hair. “Okay?”
“Why?” I snap.
“I don’t know. I don't know!” he repeats himself, the words lifting in a yell. “I just know we have to go there. We have to move. He’ll follow us. He has no choice.”
He breaks off into a laugh.
“Of course he’ll follow us. He’s obsessed. He wants her. He’ll trail her.”
“You make everything about you.” I bite off the words.
“It’s not a bad idea, though. If there are good hiding spots, and Dax knows the area, then we might have an even greateradvantage.” Ren’s voice soothes. “We need all the help we can get.”
Dax’s laughter takes on a self satisfied tone before he breaks off, shaking his head like he’s trying to dislodge something stubborn.
Out of the blue, a flash of concern spikes through me. For him. Ugh, shit. In what world would I feel bad for Dax? Certainly not this one.
Or maybe things have changed more than I thought they did.
Ren straightens. “I know what to do.” She pauses, her head to the side, staring at the line of barrels. “We blow this place the fuck up. When Andras scurries out like the rat he is, he’ll see me and Noble, and he’ll give chase. We’ll lead him to the stream where Torin and Mathis are waiting.”
“Me too.” Dax prowls close enough to Hendrickson to startle the other wolf.
“I still don’t like leaving you behind to face him alone.” Torin’s voice hardens, strained enough to break. “No offense, Noble.”
“Sure, fine.” Like I’m nothing but chopped goddamn liver.
Torin isn’t used to being the one who listens. He and Mathis are leaders down to the marrow of their bones. I’ve always been in a position to follow orders so it’s easier for me to fall in line with Ren no matter what protective instincts I push to the side.
But for the two alphas, for the men who are the ones in control, they’re fighting hard.
Mathis and Torin are opposite sides of the same coin. Light and dark, brutal and uncompromising, both terribly in love with this woman.
She’s been goddess-touched.
Invariably, they fall into line. They have no choice.
Mathis is the first to recover.
“Tell us where you want us, honey, and we’ll move mountains.”
Her smile is dazzling as her pleasure lights up the bond. Within the hour, my heart settles into a pounding rhythm.
I pump my arms, struggling to keep up with Ren, Hendrickson leading the small team to light the fire.
The air is tense and gray, thick in my lungs.
This is a half-hearted race to freedom at best and an epic failure waiting to happen at worst.
If the fireworks don’t go off, if Andras decides not to follow the path we’ve laid out for him…it’s basically a bright fucking arrow leading right into the bottleneck. He’d be stupid not to see it and stupider if he followed.
We’re banking an awful lot on his need for Ren. Putting her in danger ties my stomach in complicated knots.
I shove the thoughts aside and follow Ren’s bright hoodie, Dax nothing but a blur of gold hair ahead of us. Praying Andras will be right on our heels when the time comes.
I count the seconds in my head.
