she ducked beneath a low overhang and followed, giving Grif a perfect view of her gorgeous ass as she bent over.
He stifled a groan. Told himself to rein it in and focus. He needed to be sharper than ever. There had never been more at stake than there was now.
She was growing to trust him. With her body, her secrets, and her smiles. This morning she’d shown him how to make the paste her people used to control reproduction and then dutifully added it to her breakfast.
Now, she was sharing one of the biggest secrets of her pack: showing him and his crew the underground waterways her people used for transport and travel. It would be a game changer for their survival. What’s more, it was the first step toward bringing the missing females home.
She was giving him so damn much. And he was falling so damn hard.
That second part was one he hadn’t foreseen.
He’d thought claiming her and taking her under his wing would help her, changing her life for the better. He hadn’t realized she’d alter his world even more.
He hadn’t expected how her shy smiles and quick defense of him would sink into his bones and sinew. He hadn’t prepared for how essential protecting her would become, not just for her own survival, but his.
He could not allow her to be hurt on his watch.
But what if Dragath25 didn’t care about what he would allow?
For a male who’d clung to control his whole life, the sudden lack of it was terrifying.
“You sure we’re not walking into a trap?” Malin’s voice sounded from behind.
Grif’s mood soured even further. “Yes. I am sure.” He ducked beneath the overhang. Just his luck, the whole crew was with them, but somehow he’d ended up with Malin riding his ass.
Nayla was a blur up ahead, following Sharluff and moving faster than the rest of them. Grif wanted to shout at her to slow down, but he didn’t want to give the other male any more ammunition. Instead, he picked up his pace.
Unfortunately, so did Malin. “I’m just saying…it doesn’t pay to get too lovey-dovey. If she turns out to be a liar, or we have to kill her people to get our females back, how do you think that’s going to pan out? She won’t be so willing to spread those pretty golden thighs then. I’m just trying to look out for you.”
Turning without warning, Grif slammed his forearm across the male’s chest, pinning him against the rocky wall. “I can look out for myself—and Nayla.” He let the bastard go and stepped back before any witnesses made their way beneath the overhang. “I’m in charge of this mission. You don’t like it, head home. Otherwise, fall in line.”
Their gazes locked.
Malin’s hands fisted by his sides. “You don’t see what I do. I’ve seen this happen before. It’s new, pretty, and different now, and you think you can trust her, but you can’t. You think you can satisfy her, give her what she needs, and make this work. But you can’t. You’re too different. She’ll choose her people over you and then we’ll all be screwed. I can’t let that happen.”
Someone had done a real number on the male at some point. “It’s not your choice. I appreciate your concern for the safety of the group, but I don’t agree with your assessment. Nayla is on our side and I won’t tolerate any more threats.”
“But—”
“Watch yourself, soldier. I know you think you’re pretty tough, but I’ve come across assholes far worse than you, and I mowed them down without a second thought.”
He left Malin glaring after him, breathing a sigh of relief when he rounded the next bend and caught sight of Nayla once more.
He’d have to watch his teammate. He had a bad feeling the guy would not be backing down despite the warning.
“Sharluff say just little more.” She gestured him forward, thankfully unaware of his recent exchange, her feet light as she skipped over the rocks, her ankle much better thanks to her miracle paste.
He smiled back. He loved seeing her this carefree. Even if her statement was hard to believe. He’d been listening for the rush of water and heard nothing.
The creature brayed. Poked the dirt with his beak, and squeezed himself through a midsize crack in the cliffside that looked no different from any other.
“This way.” Her excitement was palpable. “Here. Come. Like me.” She plopped to the ground, her legs disappearing inside the crack. It looked like