Wolf's Hunger (Mafia Monsters #5) - Atlas Rose Page 0,35
set against us.
I turned, holding my jeans with one hand, and touched his cheek. Love blazed in his eyes as I issued my demand. “We stay together, we fight together, and the pack survives.”
“The pack survives,” he repeated, fixing his pants, and lowered his forehead to mine.
I buttoned my jeans, my body still hot and humming. I didn’t smell like Finis now…I smelled like Phantom. His dark, masculine scent clung to my body with every move.
I knew what he had tried to do…and I knew what it had almost cost him.
A shattered heart on both sides.
Leaves crunched behind us. I didn’t need to turn my head to know who it was. From the corner of my eye, Arran came into view, and Vitold was further behind him. Phantom lifted his head and turned to the others. My heart startled as movement came at my right.
Church came closer, slower than the others. I glanced at his neck, where the red imprint of a hand had been just moments ago. But it was barely visible now, nor was the helpless disgust in his eyes. There was only hope now. Only desperation. Only us.
“We’re going to need the others,” Church urged as he stepped closer. One nod from Phantom, and relief swept through him.
“Send out the call,” the Alpha commanded. “I’ve got some favors to cash in. But first we need to get somewhere safe…safer than here, anyway.”
Church dipped his chin in agreement as Phantom reached for my hand. “Come on, special agent. Let’s have your doctor friend take a look at that arm.”
The deep aching throb only pulsed harder. I swallowed the pain and let Phantom lead me back up to where the others waited, but as we walked, I risked a glance over my shoulder. But it wasn’t the forest and the dangers it held that called me—it was Church.
10
Walker blushed bright red as I crested the rise with my Wolves close around me. Her gaze bounced between the silent Unseelie who leaned against the Explorer with his arms crossed and a slight curl to his lips and the young Wolf who stood motionless and stared at the ground.
“Everything alright?” I checked, meeting her gaze.
“Sure,” she answered, scanning my clothes, then shifted that scrutiny to Phantom. “Not as good as you though, it seems.”
It was my turn to blush. But she wasted no time as her focus fell to my arm. “You need to clean that…and properly. You also need—”
“Stitches.” Phantom cut in. “And you need a med bag.” He glanced at Arran and Vitold. “Take whatever we need and load it into the Explorer.”
“We just got here,” Walker protested, scowling at the Alpha. “Where the hell are we going now?”
He didn’t answer her, just reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell.
“Great!” She threw her hands into the air as Arran and Vitold strode toward the cavern, leaving us behind. She turned her focus on me, taking in my face, then my body. “There’s something different about you.”
Heat burned my cheeks as the Unseelie smothered a laugh with a cough and looked away.
“Not that,” she muttered under her breath, and strode toward me. “You do know that half of the CCPD and all of the damn FBI are out looking for you, don’t you? Apparently, they’re under the impression you’ve been taken hostage by these Wolves.”
“That’s fucking ridiculous.” I shook my head, but there was no sign of a damn lie on her face.
She pulled out her own cell phone and swiped her thumb across the screen. A second later, and Harlan’s voice echoed as she handed me the phone. Harlan was there, standing in front of what was left of the Wolves’ burned down nightclub with police tape stretched around the scene. “We know Special Agent Carina Chase is alive, and that’s all we’re prepared to comment on at this time. The death of Special Agent Murphy and the events that led up to that discovery and after are under a full internal review.”
A reporter pushed a microphone closer. “And if someone who knows of Special Agent Chase’s whereabouts is out there, what would you like to say to them?”
Harlan looked directly into the camera. “I say, bring her back where she belongs. We want her safe, we want her protected. Carina, if you’re watching this, know that we won’t stop until you’re found and those who are responsible are brought to justice.”
A chill raced along my spine with the sincerity of his words.