Buried and Shadowed (Branded Packs #3)(39)

Arrogant wolf.





Chapter 4


Rios had caught the scent of wolf before the knock landed on his door.

Not just any wolf.

Nope. This one was unique. An intoxicating musk that was laced with warm woman and sexual promise.

Not that she’d ever fulfilled that promise. At least, not with him.

And the fact that she’d not only turned down his numerous advances but had also done so in a way that was meant to wound his pride had left a lasting injury.

Unfortunately, his seething anger did nothing to mute his instant reaction as he pulled open the door to reveal the tall, slender female with sleek, tawny hair and vivid blue eyes.

The sight of her aloof beauty ruffled the fur of his cat, even as it made the man instantly hard with frustrated desire.

Leaning against the door jamb, he folded his arms over his chest.

“Hello, Bree.”

She gave a cool nod of her head, looking professional in her black pencil skirt and sheer white blouse. No doubt she was returning from Denver where she worked as a newscaster.

Rios, on the other hand, was wearing nothing more than a pair of yoga pants that hung loosely on his hips. It wasn’t a deliberate attempt to make her drool over his half-naked body, but he wouldn’t object if it happened.

“Rios.” She waited for him to move aside, her lips thinning when he remained firmly in place. “May I come in?”

“As I recall, you swore hell would freeze over before you willingly entered my lair,” he drawled.

An odd expression rippled over her elegant features. It was there and gone so swiftly that Rios couldn’t decipher the emotion.

“Fine.” She deliberately took a step back. “We can do this in the community center if you prefer.”

“I’m not the one who has a stick up my ass,” he countered.

This time, he had no trouble deciphering her emotion. Raw anger.

“Look, cat, I’m here because Sinclair asked me to work with you, but if you’re going to be a dick about it, then I’ll find someone else to help.”

She turned to leave. Rios grimaced, reaching out to grasp her arm.

“Wait.”

She stiffened beneath his touch. Revulsion? Anger?

Suppressed desire?

Impossible to know for sure.

Slowly, she turned her head to meet his steady gaze. “Yes?”

“Come in.” His lips twisted. “I’ll try not to be a dick.”

“Let’s hope you don’t strain anything making the effort.”

Bam. Her tart response made his cock rock-hard.

It was crazy. He’d seduced countless women. He’d even occasionally been rejected, although that was thankfully rare. But none of them had disturbed him like this beautiful wolf.

Waiting for her to step into his lair, Rios closed the door behind her and hit the overhead lights. They were both capable of seeing in the dark, but he needed a firm reminder that this wasn’t a night to ease his cat’s hunger for this female.

“Have a seat.” He waved a hand toward the leather sectional that was set in front of the large-screen TV.

She hovered near the door as if hoping he would hand her a file and send her on her way.

“I-”

“This is going to take a while,” he smoothly interrupted her protest.

Her lips tightened, but with a regal lift of her chin, she moved to perch on the edge of the sofa.

A purr rumbled in Rios’s chest as he watched the elegant sway of her ass. Damn. If he could get his hands on that fine piece of real estate…

Muttering under his breath, Rios swung on his heel and moved to the bank of computers. He couldn’t hide his scent of arousal, but he could control his traitorous cock.

“I wasn’t sure what exactly you needed so I printed off all the info we have so far,” he said, grabbing the tall stack of files before he turned and made his way back to sit on the sofa next to Bree.

Her eyes widened as he started to spread the files on the low coffee table.

“All of that?”

“A lot of it is the additional information that helps establish timelines, as well as the necessary documents to verify the truth of our accusations,” he assured her, doing his best to ignore the musky scent that was teasing at his senses.

Sinclair was right. This was important.

The most important—and most dangerous—thing they’d ever done in the history of the Unseen Pack.

And this woman was the key to swaying the humans into accepting they were speaking the truth, or condemning them all to death.

“Okay,” she said, her expression somber. Bree was clearly aware of the lethal expectations being placed on her slender shoulders.

“Where do you want to start?” he asked.

“At the beginning,” she said firmly.

“I got you covered.” Rios grabbed the top file and placed it in her outstretched hand. “We know that the first case of the virus was reported in April 1986 in a hospital in Rome.”

“Yes. Even the humans agree on that,” she said, flicking open the folder to study the medical reports inside. “What’s this?”

“The original hospital report on that patient.”

She sent him a startled glance. “How did you get this?”

“There aren’t many things I can’t get if I want them badly enough,” he said in low tones, unable to resist the urge to reach up and brush the back of his fingers against her cheek.