to get the fuck out of my way, you’ll crawl like the worm you are out of my sight, and take your slut of a sister, too. Otherwise, she’ll pay and you already know there’s not a damn thing you can do about it.”
He was a fool for ever dismissing Nayla as weak. She was one of the strongest people he’d ever met. Still fighting, even after all she’d been through.
If he could go back, he’d do things differently between them from the start. But there was no do-over. All he could control was what happened next.
He paused at the storage room’s exit. “We’ve got a lot we need to address when I return, but we’ll get through it. I didn’t understand the situation fully before, but I do now. I’m not your enemy, but I can’t let your pack amass those weapons to be used on my kind.”
“You kill pack?” her voice trembled. “When you find females, you kill pack in revenge?”
He almost asked her why she cared. After the way that Talg bastard and the others had treated her, she should wish for their death, not worry over their survival. But he already knew the answer she would give. He already knew Nayla was sweet and kind and a thousand times more forgiving than he would ever be.
So, even though the urge to personally rip each and every one of the pack’s miserable abusing hearts from their bleeding chests throbbed inside him, he schooled his features and said only, “All we want is the missing females and peace. If your pack agrees to those terms, we will, too. But no matter what, you’re going to be okay from here on out. I will make sure of it.”
Defiance flared. Anger, too. “Never okay. I betrayed pack.”
His own anger sparked. He hated how she was beating herself up. “Thanks to you, those missing females will soon be back with their families and friends. Good was done here today. Believe me.”
Out of time, he hightailed it toward the main cavern, hating every step that increased the distance between him and where he wanted to be.
20
His “guests” had already let themselves in. There were fewer of them this time, but it didn’t make them any more welcome.
“Impressive.” Malin turned in a slow circle near the entrance to the cave, eyeing the chains dangling from the wall and floor, as well as the ominous-looking stone spanking bench.
Ryker stood right behind, checking things out as well.
They hadn’t bothered to shove the rock back in place so the suns’ rays bathed the place in a bright light that did nothing to improve the look of the setting.
Grif fought a surge of aggression. What was between him and his wild thing was just theirs. Personal. Intense. Private.
Except what she’d told him couldn’t be.
“Your timing is shit.” He rubbed a hand down his jaw. “But, as promised, I have the coordinates and the start of some intel about guarding and defense.”
“Well done.” Ryker didn’t appear surprised.
For the first time, though, there wasn’t the usual sense of triumph. Truth be told, Grif felt like shit.
“The commander and I never expected anything less.” Ryker pulled his attention away from the pile of ashes in the fire pit. “We’ve assembled an extraction team,” he paused slightly, “which you’ll lead.”
Hells, yes. Grif stood taller and did a mental fist pump. He was still in the running, after all. To his right, he could feel Malin seething.
“I need to remain here to deal with another concern,” Ryker continued. “Zale, Quil, Bain, and Malin have all returned to join you for combat and tactical engagement. Maddox, Jagger, and Nash are here as well, to give you a bit more backup. The commander also agreed to include three noncombatant females who have expertise in healing, trauma survival, and linguistics. They’re ready to move out as soon you give the command. We want these missing females brought home without delay. I assume the plan meets with your approval.”
“Yes, sir. Thank you.” To be tasked to lead such an important extraction mission was a major honor—and a big chance for redemption.
“You earned it.” Ryker surveyed the cave once more. “I assume the hostile gave you no more problems.”
The words hit like a fist to the gut, Grif’s sense of satisfaction sliding away. “She’s not a hostile anymore.”
“Call her whatever you like.” Malin cut in before he could finish, his hand caressing the handle of his knife. “I’m under orders to put the threat down before we