Dark Wolf (Spirit Wild) - By Kate Douglas Page 0,72

at him with that wonderfully direct gaze of hers. “It’s not looking good for your father. Are you going to be okay with this, even if it results in him going to prison?”

He shook his head. “Absolutely. If he’s guilty of organizing these horrific crimes, he belongs there.” Actually, if Aldo was guilty, Sebastian knew it wouldn’t be easy to keep from killing the man himself. The murders had haunted him for weeks now. He couldn’t imagine what the women’s families were going through.

“Okay.” Lily squeezed his hand. “I just need to be sure. Eve’s checking on the military Chanku to see if there are any in the civilian population. We need to tell her what you’ve discovered and the scent link between the bodyguards and the murders. If your father is working with rogue Chanku, we really need to tell Eve. Tomorrow we’ll visit her on the astral.” She shot him a quick grin. “Without a blood sacrifice—yours or mine.”

“What about tonight?”

She smiled and ran her fingers across the front of his slacks. He’d been aroused all evening, but her touch immediately took him beyond mere arousal, straight to demanding need. She cupped him, holding his testicles through the soft fabric of his jeans, and smiled up at him in all innocence when he groaned.

“I’m exhausted. Tonight I need sleep, a shower, and a man. Not necessarily in that order.”

He struggled for breath. “How about we start with the shower and the man?” Leaning forward, he planted his hands on either side of her hips, caging her within his arms.

She glanced over her shoulder at the door to the bathroom and then tilted her head and looked up at Sebastian. “Works for me, but you’re wearing way too many clothes.”

He reached for the knot on her sarong. “So are you.”

Alex followed Annie as she trotted through the dark forest, taking the long way back to Lily’s cottage rather than using the shortcut through the caverns. He felt drunk on feelings, his mind so overwhelmed by Annie, by her love, her trust, her absolute faith in him, that he found it hard to concentrate.

He wanted her. Wanted her as his mate, as his wife, as his partner for all time. They’d linked closely during sex, but he knew it could be more.

Would be more, once they mated as wolves. He’d never felt this way around a woman, this sense of completion, as if the man he wanted to be had finally come into existence because of her.

His parents had said he would know, but they’d always hoped he’d know with Lily. Thank goodness she’d understood even before he had that they weren’t meant to be together. He loved her and would always need her friendship, but something about Annie was just . . . right. Such a simple concept, but so true.

She paused, one foot lifted, ears pricked forward as she gazed at him over her shoulder. They were close to the valley where most of the pack had their homes. Not far from Lily’s, but he knew immediately why Annie had paused.

She’d only been home a few days after so long away. He knew her parents must be worried. Do you need to let your parents know where you’ll be tonight?

I should. My father worries.

Would he stop worrying if you were my bonded mate?

She sat. Alex?

His heart twisted in his chest, as if it were growing too big to fit. So much emotion, and damn, but he actually loved the feeling, the sense that this was bigger than him.

Bigger than both of them. He’d never imagined himself saying those words, meaning them with every beat of his heart. When he spoke, it wasn’t his conscious mind coming up with the words. It was something more. Something deeper. Something totally beyond his control. I love you, Annie. I want you for all time. I think I knew as soon as I saw you today. You are so brave, so strong. You are the woman I want as my mate. The one I want to bear my children. To love me, if you can, for all time.

She stared at him as if she’d never seen him before. Almost as if she didn’t know him. You haven’t seen me for six years. How can you know?

He had no idea, but he knew. There was no doubt in his mind. I’ve never felt this way. Not this soul-deep certainty that you are mine. That we’re meant to be together. You said you loved