Page 38 of Pack Rage
“Yes, for now. But I can feel the potential. Once I’ve bonded with our queen, with all the bonds between us complete… it shouldn’t be possible. It’s dangerous.” He went quiet. “No one can know. Together, if we make it?—”
I shushed him. “She’s waking up.” I listened to her thoughts, the fear of her being discovered warring with the thrill of hearingher in my head. I was glad she didn’t seem to mind my presence there, and sent a small surge of worry and love down the bond.
Don’t distract me,she thought.I’m in the kitchen. Mama’s here. We’re coming to get you—oh, shit.
Her thoughts became a jumble. She was carrying something; there was a strong scent of blood that was disturbing her wolf. Herwolf.For the first time since I’d taken on my position as Alpha, I could sense her wolf side clearly. My little flower was growing much stronger.
Her wolf was more cautious than Flor, and even more vicious. I approved of her quiet, cunning thoughts, keeping footsteps quiet, staying close to shadows.
“She’s coming down with her mother, and someone else. A maid,” I said out loud. “Someone is bleeding… or there’s bloody food? I don’t know.”
Grigor managed to stand and move to the door, placing his hand on it. “There are guards in the hall.”
I joined him. “Are you strong enough to help me break out now?”
“Give me a few minutes, and I’ll see if I can get through the lock.” One dark eyebrow rose as he looked up at me. “The guards aren’t innocents, right?”
Blood, pain, and fear. I assumed two Eastern Enforcers would provide enough of all three to help the little psycho power up. “Right.”
Chapter 18
Gone Rogue
FLOR
Glen’s fear and worry prickled in our bond, and I tried to control my own. This was bad, but not a disaster. Mama had gotten impatient and gone rogue, slipping away using her magic. She knew exactly where to go to get inside, and had helped me with the plan.
“She’s gone to the garage,” I breathed to Glen. “I have to follow her.”
His eyes went wide, and he grabbed my arm. “It’s not safe. You don’t have magic to cover you.”
“I know. But I’m sneaky.” I pressed a kiss to his hand, then broke away, adjusted my backpack, and checked that my steak knife was secure on my belt. “You coming with me, or…?”
A voice that was definitely not Glen’s answered from a distance. “Hey, look over there!”
“Shit,” I whispered. “They’ve spotted us.”
Glen’s features hardened as he made a decision. “I’ll lead them away. You get inside.” Glen pressed a quick, desperate kiss to my hairline and stood. Then he sprinted away, ducking around the corner in a second.
I didn’t hesitate, knowing the guards would come to inspect the area for others. Staying as low as I could, I snuck along the last few feet of the pale gray stone garage extension, then slipped around the corner and through the door that Mama must have left slightly open. Closing it, I silently slid the old-fashioned deadbolt lock just in time for someone to jiggle the handle from outside.
My breathing was loud in the cold space. I’d never seen a garage like this one, not even at Northern. It was a long room, with gleaming concrete floors, but instead of furniture, it had cars that all had mirror polishes, and shiny tires that must never have gone down a dirt road.
There was no one inside, as far as I could tell, only my breath making a sound as I tiptoed past a silver sports car. The air warmed slightly as I moved toward the far end, where a half-open door let a faint cloud of steam escape. The familiar rumble of washing machines and dryers dampened the sound of my footsteps.
I was terrified for Glen, but I could feel that he was still running. If he could get out of the fence line, he’d be fine. Sergeant and the Tenebris boys would help him out, and he was fast and strong.
But I couldn’t focus on him, so I pushed the bond down, concentrating on my own hunt. I crossed behind the rest of the cars, doing my best to stay low, my head covered with my backpack. There were two cameras in here, though I wasn’t sure if they were working, since there was no telltale red light. But just in case, I kept silent and as hidden as possible while crossing the floor.
When I reached the door, I saw Mama was doing the same, crouching low inside a laundry room. The washers and dryers rumbled on the opposite wall, next to an ironing board that jutted out into the small room. In the corner squatted a veryyoung woman in a maid’s outfit, a white top with a short black skirt. Her face was marked by tears, and her arms by what looked like claws, or maybe just fingernails. Her expression held fear but also defeat, like she’d given up, though she couldn’t have been much more than eighteen.
“What do you want?” she whispered. She had a slight accent, not an Eastern one. More like Grigor’s, or that bastard general Ivan.
“Not to hurt you,” I said softly. “I promise that.” Mama just tilted her head and sniffed.
The girl’s eyes moved over me listlessly. “You’re not from here, not with that accent and those clothes. You here to what? Kill somebody? Steal stuff?” She didn’t look or sound like she gave a rat’s ass if I did.
“Not exactly.” I wasn’t sure how much to share, but when I pushed my hair back, tucking it behind my ear, I didn’t have to.
