Wolf Untamed (SWAT - Special Wolf Alpha Team #11) - Paige Tyler Page 0,55

scanned the crowd of people beyond the police crime-scene tape to see Hobbs standing right up front, complete with his own photographer. Even at this distance, Diego could hear the guy’s telephoto camera clicking away at a hundred miles an hour. He could only imagine what the headlines were going to say tomorrow.

Dallas PD—and SWAT—Powerless in the Face of This New Threat!

But then he remembered the blood and looked down at his torn and ruined uniform, forgetting about tomorrow’s headlines. Instead, he prayed Bree didn’t see these pictures. She would lose her mind, and he hated the idea of worrying her. It frigging bothered him more than getting shot to crap by four men intent on killing him for some reason he and his teammates might never know.

Chapter 8

“I can’t believe we have to see a cartoon,” Brandon complained with the cutest little beta growl as Diego followed him up the stairs toward the top row of seats in the movie theater. “I’m not a kid.”

Diego bit his tongue to keep from laughing. Instead, he held the monster-sized bucket of popcorn in one hand while using the other to pull out his movie ticket, making sure they were heading toward the right seats. He’d never been to a theater where you actually picked out your seats when you bought the tickets, so he really had no idea what he was doing. It was obvious Brandon knew where to go since he headed straight to the three right-most seats in the back row. Probably because Bree had let him pick out the seats to make up for the fact that she had vetoed his selection, telling him there was absolutely zero chance of them seeing an action movie with stuff blowing up every five minutes. Using her executive authority, Bree had declared they’d be watching the new animated movie, and that was the end of the conversation.

While Brandon had let it be known he wasn’t happy about the pick, Diego was secretly thrilled. It had been forever since he’d seen a cartoon, and it wasn’t like he’d be able to see the movie with the guys from the Pack. Alpha werewolves did not go to see animated movies. Unless they could save face by blaming their significant others for making them see one.

As he and Brandon took their seats—leaving a space in between for Bree—Diego glanced down at the entrance to see if she’d come in yet, but there was no sight of her. She’d gotten a call from work that she needed to take as they walked into the movie theater. Knowing what it was like being on call 24/7, Diego had understood, even when she said the call might take a while. They had plenty of time before the movie started. Besides, it would give him a chance to talk with Brandon.

They’d gone to Keller’s Drive-In for burgers, fries, and shakes, sitting in his extended-cab pickup, laughing and talking. Diego had taken advantage of the privacy offered by his truck to give Brandon a few lessons on controlling his claws with some easy exercises to go along with the stuff they’d been talking about on the phone over the past couple days.

The kid had done really well, being able to extend and retract his claws half a dozen times in the hour-long session. Brandon had been thrilled and so had Bree. Diego had also been pretty jazzed, though he tried not to let it show too much. Seeing the kid already gaining some level of control over his abilities was satisfying as hell. It might be lame, but it made Diego feel good—even proud.

But a little while after dinner, Diego had picked up on a strange tension in the air. It took him a moment to realize it was coming from the kid. Brandon would go quiet every now and then, staring off into the distance, lost in thought. He was doing the same thing now.

Diego sat there in silence, wondering if Brandon might tell him what the problem was. But then he realized how stupid that was. Like any teenager was going to simply open up and talk about their problems.

“You want to tell me what’s bothering you?” he finally asked, leaning over to offer Brandon some popcorn. “And don’t try and say nothing. I’m a werewolf. I can tell when something’s off.”

Brandon opened his mouth, clearly ready to deny it, but then closed it again, his expression one of acceptance. “Are you going to be my alpha?”