The Deputy and His Enforcer (Kincaid Pack #3) - Kiki Clark Page 0,40

him to his feet and wrapping Marcus’s cold body into his warm arms. “She’s a grown woman who recognizes the dangers of an out-of-control Council being led by an evil man bent on taking out his own son. Plus, she’s smart. Don’t count her out just yet.”

There was a buzzing in Marcus’s ears that he recognized, and he couldn’t catch his breath no matter how tightly Nico squeezed him. It had been a long time since he’d felt so out of control, so close to passing out. He needed… he needed…

“Gotta run,” he gasped out, dots starting to fill his vision. He felt so weak and useless as Nico quickly grabbed his hand and pulled him through his office and toward the back of the house. It was just after lunch during the week, so a part of Marcus hoped they wouldn’t run into anyone near the kitchen, but he knew better.

Kai came skidding out of the kitchen in his socks, eyes wide and worried. “What’s wrong?”

Marcus couldn’t have responded if he’d wanted to, and he didn’t hear what Nico said, but suddenly they were outside and Nico was helping him remove his clothing. As soon as he was naked, he let his wolf out and was able to take a deep breath for the first time since he’d hung up with Wendy.

After taking a few breaths, he noticed the white wolf on the other side of him. Kai. His alpha-mate had come with them. His human side wanted to be embarrassed that Kai had seen him having one of his rare panic attacks, but his wolf was just happy to have him there. He nudged his muzzle against the side of Kai’s face, scenting himself on his alpha-mate and darting away when Kai playfully snapped his teeth at him.

Turning toward the trees, he ran.

He heard the other two wolves behind him, but he ran as hard and as fast as he could, putting distance between himself and them. It felt like his feet were barely touching the cool grass or colorful leaves as he sprinted through the trees without destination. His breaths were sawing in and out of his chest and he felt alive and invigorated like he hadn’t in a long time.

Then he heard it. His alpha’s call.

Skidding to a stop, he threw his head back and responded, howling into the sky as loud and long as he could. Before the sound had disappeared into the half-bare trees, he was off again, darting between trunks. No longer running at a breakneck speed, he still followed scents of prey animals and barked at a squirrel before continuing onward, looping back toward the manor so they didn’t get too far away.

As he neared a small clearing, his wolf stopped and dropped his chest to the ground at the sight of his alpha standing in the middle of the grassy area, waiting for him. Then he darted forward and feinted to the left before shooting to the right, but Rick had played with him too many times to fall for it. A moment later, he was tumbling to the ground and rolling onto his back, showing his belly to his alpha.

Rick nosed at his exposed throat, then licked his muzzle and lay half on top of Marcus, huffing out a breath as he settled his head on Marcus’s chest right over his racing heart. A moment later, Kai was lying next to him, resting his snout on Marcus’s throat, and Nico was sprawled beside him, pressed against his side and also on his back, enjoying the midafternoon sun.

He released a soft cry, and Kai echoed it, lifting his head to lick his face, then settle back down on him. Feeling the weight of his alpha, alpha-mate, and best friend pressing him into the earth and anchoring him finally calmed his panicky thoughts and began to slow his heart and breathing.

He knew he needed to tell Rick about what Wendy had shared and what she planned to do, but his wolf was too comfortable and happy surrounded by most of his favorite scents.

“It’s been a while since I’ve needed that,” Marcus said softly several hours later as he let himself and Nico into his small house. He flicked on a few lights as he moved into the kitchen.

“Well, it’s been a while since you’ve let yourself have that. I keep telling you to stop skipping runs and movie nights. Even if your dumb human brain convinces you that needing the reassuring contact