Gone with the Wolf - By Kristin Miller Page 0,67

he made her doubt it.

He knew what he had to do.

Snatching a pen and paper from the top drawer of his desk, Drake scribbled a note that he should’ve written weeks ago, when he first learned that Emelia worked for him. He ripped the paper from its bed, folded it, and shoved it into his pocket. He made a quick call to Raul, who was out and about on business, then darted to the underground parking and slipped into his Roadster. His car seemed to drive itself to the Knight Owl, as if it too wanted to return to Emelia.

Once he pulled in front of the Knight Owl, Drake knew something wasn’t right.

It was 9:00 a.m., and the bar should’ve been closed. Drake had only come here on a hunch; if Emelia wasn’t home, maybe she’d been staying in her office. Emelia’s car was parked out front, and an OPEN sign faced the front window. Every nerve in Drake’s body sizzled at the sight. He growled, chewing on the feeling that the sign was for him.

Emelia wasn’t alone in there.

Raging from muscle to bone, Drake charged around the car and burst through the door. A deafening howl ruptured from his chest when he caught Emelia’s scared gaze. She’d been gagged and bound to a chair that sat on the stage in the corner. Her blue eyes screamed fear, clutching Drake’s heart in an icy grip.

“Emelia!” he bolted into the room.

Movement to his right.

He crouched, knee to hardwood, as a burly gray wolf leaped through the air, aiming to take off Drake’s head. Drake hit the wolf in the breastbone with his shoulder, and as it continued its arc over Drake’s head, he stood quickly, tossing the snarling wolf onto the floor in a heap of writhing fur.

Another wolf charged at Drake from behind him. Drake waited, waited, waited for the perfect moment, then spun hard and fast, clocking the wolf in the snout with the lethally sharp ridge of his elbow.

This was too easy. He didn’t even need to shift to knock them down and out. But where was Silas? He had to have a hand in this.

“Hello, brother,” Silas said as he emerged from around the wall separating the bar from the lounge. “Took you long enough to get here.”

“Let her go, Silas.” Drake fumed, barely able to control his breathing. “I’m only going to ask you once, and I suggest you listen while you can. The second time I speak, your head will be rolling on the floor.”

“Temper, temper.” Silas slowly approached the stage, his hands crossed behind him. “I’d hoped we could talk about this like gentlemen.”

Metallic gray Duct tape had been smashed over Emelia’s mouth and her hands had been tied behind her back, her ankles tied in front of her. If Silas touched another hair on her precious head it’d be the last thing he did…

“Are you all right?” Drake asked, focusing hard on the fear in Emelia’s eyes.

Nodding quickly, Emelia took a few deep breaths through her nose, then shifted her gaze to whatever Silas was hiding behind his back. Drake wished Emelia had perfected the art of silent pack-speak, but nevertheless, he understood. Whatever weapon Silas held, it was worth warning him about.

“Fine,” Drake said to Silas. “Let’s talk. Call off your pups.”

The two wolves that had attacked Drake snarled and spit, circling him like he was fresh meat at a feeding frenzy. As Silas spoke in his mind, the wolves backed away, but didn’t go far. They stood against the edges of the room like well-taught soldiers, snorting puffs of air into the room.

“Hope you know that what you’re doing is an act of war. Emelia and I completed the bonding ceremony. She is my Luminary through and through.” Drake swallowed down the fear that he could lose her, so quickly after he’d found her. “Once my pack gets word of what you’ve done, it’ll be open season on you and anyone you’re associated with.”

“Maybe your pack doesn’t have to get word.” Silas stood beside Emelia, stroking his hand down the back of her hair. She recoiled against his touch, cringing as he patted her head. “You see, Drake, I am not a monster—contrary to what you might think. I simply know that our father wouldn’t have wanted a turned wolf to rule. I’m continuing his legacy.”

“Those are the words of a madman,” Drake said, stepping around a table to get closer. It would take him half a second to shift and