Wolf Endangered (Willow's Forbidden Pack #2) - Avery Song Page 0,117

looked over to see her smug grin.

"And if I lose?" I dared to ask.

"You vowed he wouldn't pass," she reminded as if I'd forgotten. "I can only trust that you won't lose." She slipped out of my hold and headed to the door. "But if you do, you better be ready to be at my side through the chaos."

I was against her before I realized it, stopping her from opening the door as I pressed behind her back. She froze at my touch, but it wasn't out of fear. I knew from the way her aura danced around me, she was pleased with my closeness.

My wolf's eyes opened enough for me to notice, and I had to multitask keeping an eye on him while making sure his swift emotions didn't slam into my senses and make me do stupid shit.

I reached around with my other hand to lightly hold her throat, which forced her to look up at me in question. I was going to say something motivational or comforting, but the words seemed to fade entirely as our eyes locked for a brief moment.

I held my breath while my eyes returned to hers, and I knew from their shaded glint of hunger that she wouldn't stop me from kissing her.

Why can't I drop my fucking ego and kiss her?

I ended up doing what was "safe" - my lips moving to lower onto her forehead. My eyes softened while I watched her eyes close briefly from the touch of my lips. I bet she was disappointed in me, but she didn't express it in any shape or form.

Instead, she enjoyed my expression of affection and when I released her, she lowered her head.

"I'll always be by your side, Willow," I sternly declared.

"Good," she whispered. "That's the loyalty I need."

I noticed the shift in her demeanor, and I wondered whether it was because of my inability to be a man and kiss her. Surely she could sense what I desired, even when I wasn't a part of her pack bond like the others.

It was a good thing I wasn't, for Willow would read me like the latest magazine of wolf shifter fashion and make sure no page was left unturned.

She'd know just how much I fucking love her.

My hand slipped away from holding her hand back from opening the door, giving her the opportunity to do exactly that as she opened it and took a solid step out of the room, turning to her right.

Only to bump into someone.

The impact was enough for her to take a step back, but a large arm hooked around her to stop Willow from potentially falling back. The action made my wolf growl protectively while it kick-started my senses. I was out of the room, sealing the door shut with a spell the next second, and glaring menacingly at the tall 6'8" man standing there with his arm still around Willow.

One look was all I needed to know who this man was, and though I was still furious at the idea that someone outside those Willow allowed to hold her was touching her, I could understand his protective action.

"Beta Malachite," I stated with a bit too much anger for my controlled self.

He gave me a look that immediately told me he didn't like my tone, but his attention lowered to Willow as she looked up to him.

"You know," she began. "You're not supposed to stand right next to the door. Someone can come out and crash into you. Especially when you're as tall as a damn oak tree."

"It's a pleasure to meet you again, Willow," Beta Malachite replied with a bored expression. "I'll keep that in mind."

I was impressed he wasn't being a fucking dick, because Beta Malachite was exactly that. A no-nonsense dick of all dicks that didn't have the patience for anyone but Roberto.

"And you are?" she inquired.

"Beta Malachite," he replied.

"Ah," she replied just as he removed his arm from her. She took a step back just to look at him from head to toe. "You're the scary Beta everyone used to be frightened of in the Pack House."

Only Willow would be this honest, and I wasn't sure if that quality was about to get her in trouble or help build a bridge of some sort.

"That's me," Beta Malachite replied.

"Now, Malachite! You can't go ignoring the fact that I'm here."

My blood went ice cold at the high-pitched voiced that would freeze fucking oceans in the heightened days of summer.

From the way Willow's aura