Page 19 of Snowbound with the Alpha Wolf
Rarest of the rare, with powers to endow Lupines and Others, but Skins would see only the gemstone’s brilliance and the monetaryworth.
“The Hope Diamond was a snow crystal,” he murmured. “But it fell into the hands of Skins before Lupines could retrieve it. You know thecurse?”
“Everyone does. Are all snow crystalscursed?”
“The oldest and the rarest ones are. This one we seek is quite old, more than four hundred years old. It carries with it a special curse for anyone seeking to use it to gain riches.” The corners of Adrian’s sensual mouth tipped up. “It gives it a specialzing.”
“But why hide it in the mine? Why not take it with you when you left Colorado with yourpack?”
“We were ina bit of a hurry to leave.” Adrian stopped talking for a minute as he handed the empty nut container to the flight attendant. When she headed into the galley, he continued. “We had to pack light. The owner of the crystal hid it in the mine, the safest and most secretive spot she could find. Unfortunately, she didn’t tell me about it until long after we’d leftColorado.”
“And you had sealedLars inside the mine.” Darcy began to understand the danger behind retrieving the gemstone. “When did you realize Lars was losing hismind?”
“He’d always been aggressive but balanced. That changed when I was nineteen. Shortly before Lars became…insane…with power, I realized I had a few skills. I can read a person’s aura and foresee if they are planning to commit a crime or turnviolent.”
Impressive. Darcy had never heard of such a skill. Useful, especially for a fierce alpha devoted to defending hispack.
Mirth danced in his dark eyes. “I can also hypnotize Skins, and some Others, into doing mybidding.”
“Don’t try it on me, buddy. I come equipped with fangs and claws just like you,” shewarned.
Adrian’s mouth twitched. “I much prefer you willing…whenyou get naked withme.”
She growled, and hechuckled.
The news Adrian was no ordinary alpha intrigued her, but then again, she’d sensed that abouthim.
The plane descended, landing with a loud thud on the runway. Several passengers gasped, but Adrian barely blinked. “My abilities came in handy when Lars started losing hismind.”
“It’s odd Lars lost it. Pack alphas usuallyrule a long time, and they are protective of theirpeople.”
“Lars was different. He was no ordinaryalpha.”
Darcy’s heart beat a little faster. She hoped Adrian, with his perceptiveness, would attribute it to the bumpylanding.
“We will talk of Lars later.” Adrian clenched his fists as the passengers started to disembark. “Wait. Do not get up, Darcy. Do you see that man tworows behindus?’
She gave a slight nod. “He’s planning something. His scent isoff.”
“More than his scent.” Adrian narrowed his eyes as the balding, middle-aged man passed their seats, his black carryon in a death grip. Sweat dappled the man’s temples, and anxiety and adrenalin all but screamed from his pores. Even she, with her limited capacity for detecting scents while in Skinform, could smell hisrage.
Adrian grabbed his pack. “Go.”
They followed the man out to the terminal and watched him stop before a display board listing inbound and outbound flights. Adrian summoned a security guard. Taking the man aside, Adrian waved a hand in front of his face. Fascinated, Darcy watched as the guard seemed to enter atrance.
“Listen to me carefully. Thereis a passenger who disembarked on our flight who is carrying a black carryon.” Adrian went to describe the man. “He is probably intending to do harm to innocents. He is filled with hate and greatanger.”
The security guard’s pupils dilated as he repeated the information. When Adrian and Darcy left him, he was on hisradio.
They watched from a short distance away as a few guards apprehendedthe bald man. Then they headed to baggage claim to retrieve their luggage. At the carrousel, Adrian seemed eventenser.
“Police will eventually question him. They will most likely search his home and find he has many more weapons.” Adrian released a deep breath. “There are too many of those kind to apprehend all ofthem.”
“But you got this one. One at a time.” She pressed her handon his arm. “Since no one will thank you for what happened, accept my thanks,Adrian.”
He didn’t look self-satisfied or proud, only weary, his broad shoulders slumped. “Some days it feels as if we face a growing darkness no one canstop.”
“There is great evil in this world,” Darcy mused. “The Dark Lord of the underworld gains more followers each day. Skins who listen to his whispersin the night and set out to murder innocents. Acts of mass hatred and rage. But it only means we must be vigilant and fight harder than ever, in any way wecan.”
