Freya’s POV
“Well, fine,” Lana said, her voice a reluctant growl.
+8 Pearls
<b>I </b>stepped out into the cool night air at the hotel’s front entrance, but instead of relief, a restless heat rippled through my veins -hotter, sharper than before. The haze–smoke’s toxin was working deeper than I’d anticipated, its ws sinking into my blood.
The smoke mixed with witch potion has limited my wolf self–healing ability.
That was when a familiar, ice–edged voice curled through the air behind me.
“Miss Thorne. What a coincidence, to meet again so soon.”
I turned. And there he was–Ss Whitmor, Alpha of the Irond Coalition. The moonlight caught the clean lines of his face, making them sharper, almost predatory.
Coincidence? Not quite. I’de here tonight partly to return his jacket. But that jacket was still in Lana’s car, far from my reach.
“Waiting for someone?” His gaze lingered on me like a weight.
“Yes,” I said evenly. “A friend is bringing her car to take me to the station.” We both knew he’d heard of the incident tonight; the packworks carried such news like wildfire.
“Then allow me to take you,” he said.
I hesitated–only for the briefest moment–and a silver–gray Maybach slid to a stop in front of us. Before I could respond, his hand closed around my wrist–cool, inexorable–and he guided me into the car.
“Wait-“I twisted toward the door, trying to push it open.
Locked. The car was already gliding away from the curb, Ss’s grip firm around my left wrist, holding me in <b>ce </b>with <b>casual </b>strength.
Somewhere behind <b>us</b><b>, </b><b>I </b>caught a glimpse of Lana’s car turning into the driveway. I could almost hear her thoughts from here: What in the moon’s name <b>is </b>he doing with her?
I red <b>at </b><b>Ss</b><b>. </b>“<b>What </b>exactly are you doing?”
“Taking <b>you </b><b>where </b><b>you </b>need to go.”
“I don’t need your help. Tell your driver to stop–I’ll go with my friend.”
“And if I insist?” His lips curved, but there <b>was </b>no warmth in it. His long, lean fingers tightened slightly around my wrist.
The coolness of his touch was a shock against my fevered skin, sending an involuntary shiver up my arm. My pulse jumped.
“Let me go,” I snapped..
“Are you sure you want that?<b>” </b>His thumb brushed, <b>feather</b>–light, over the inside of my wrist<b>–</b><b>a </b>predator’s deliberate test.
A jolt shot through me, quick and electric, racing from that single point of contact until it burned in my chest, my belly. The heat in me red hotter<b>, </b>almost unbearable.
“You’re not well,” he murmured, <b>his </b>voice so close to my ear it stirred <b>the </b>fine hairs along my nape. “You still intend to face the enforcers like this<b>?</b><b>” </b>
My lips pressed together, my throat felt dry. My body wanted.….. no. No, not that.
I forced the thought away. Cold. Focus. Hold the line. <b>The </b><b>haze</b><b>–</b>smoke <b>was </b>far more potent than I’d guessed. I needed <b>to </b><b>get </b>it out of my system before I made a mistake I couldn’t take back.
+8 Pearls
“If it’s not too much trouble,” I managed, my breath unsteady, “perhaps you could take me to a hospital instead.” I kept my eyes away from him; right now, Ss Whitmor was too dangerous–dangerous like fresh blood to a starving wolf. Every part of me wanted to lean closer, taste him, im-
Stop it.
“Hospital?” His mouth tipped in faint amusement. “I can offer you something far quicker than that.”
I looked at him sharply. “What do you mean?”
“An antidote,” he said lightly. “Me.”
I choked. “You—”
The man didn’t even blink.
From the front seat, Wren, his secretary, and the driver both went rigid. The silence in the car thickened.
They had to be thinking what I was thinking: Ss Whitmor didn’t do this. He wasn’t the type to murmur soft offers to women–he was the Alpha who’d once told a Capital socialite to go ahead and jump off a rooftop if she thought her life wasn’t worth living without his affection. He’d even held her over the ledge when she faltered, watching her with that same detached calm until she’d ffed in terror.
That man was now offering himself as my antidote?
The thought was like a lightning strike.
“You’re not suggesting…<b>” </b>My voice came out low, almost a growl. “…that you mean with your body?”
Send Gifts
30
A Warrior Luna’s Awakening