Page 23 of Runaway Wolf
“I know. But his scent is on you and it’s a constant reminder of how close he came.”
“It’s a psychological game,” Noah said. “What if? What if Rhett had taken you? Hurt you? Bit you? He had every chance.”
And that amazing woman looked into Isaac’s eyes when she said, “But he won’t get that chance again. You’ll protect me.”
Right there, in front of her sister, in front of his second, he leaned down and kissed her forehead, fighting his wolf’s flinch at the scent that invaded his nose. “I’m sorry I let him get that close to you.”
But then their moment was over and with a nod to the other two, he pulled her along to the parking lot. His instincts were on overdrive from the scare. He just wanted to get her the fuck out of there.
She tossed the keys to Noah as soon as he opened his mouth. He caught them with a grin. That was good. Despite her smell, he wanted to cuddle his mate in the backseat.
Not his mate, he corrected his wolf.
By the time they pulled up at his cabin, the others in the pack had arrived. Cars lined up in the driveway next to his.
“This is your place?” Caitlin asked, eyes upward as she peered out the car window. “It’s huge.”
“That’s what she said,” Noah joked, as he turned off the engine.
“I’m the alpha,” Isaac reminded her. “My place has to be big enough for meetings. To house the others if something should happen.”
“Like what?” she asked, her brows knitted.
He shrugged. “Like someone falls ill, needs someplace to stay. Or if their home needs remodeling. In Noah’s case, he didn’t want to live away from me.”
“Whatever,” Noah muttered, opening the driver’s side door to step out.
The pack, minus Misty and Joaquin, were already in the living room when they entered.
“Who’s this?” Alex asked, nose twitching. His voice was deeper than usual and he shuddered like his skin crawled. They’d gotten a whiff of her, then.
“This is Penny’s sister. Caitlin.”
“What is she doing here?” Amos’s voice was a growl.
And then everyone was twitchy, growling under their breath, eyes darkening, others glowing with the shade of their wolf. Cait stood straight, refusing to cower.
“She’s under our protection,” he snarled. “Same as Penny.”
“She reeks.”
“Marked by Rhett less than an hour ago. At the Outlets.”
“He targeted her?”
Isaac nodded. “He’s growing bold. He knew who she was and of course, knows that both of them are the daughters of Governor Montgomery. From now on, we leave the territory in twos. Be on your toes. No surprises.”
“Why don’t we go after the bastards?”
“We think they have an ulterior motive. So, we won’t play into their hands and do what they’d expect. But trust me, they enter our territory and it’s a free for all. Here, we can bury the bodies.”
He was barely aware of Noah bringing a package of wipes for Caitlin. She took one, Penny took one, and they began dabbing her neck. Under her breath, Penny was explaining that all the males were riled up because they could smell the enemy.
The scent wouldn’t entirely go away but it would lighten enough that the wolves weren’t in a constant state of impending change.
“There’s no way he could have known we were at the Outlets today. It wasn’t a planned trip. Which means… we’re bugged.”
There were whispered mumblings throughout the room.
