The Wolf Within (Purgatory #1)(36)

Holly put her hand on Duncan’s arm, stilling him before could get any closer to Pate. “He’s not putting you in a cage.”

“I won’t do it,” Pate agreed, but one eyebrow rose and he added, “I think you’ll put yourself there.” Then he headed for the double doors. “In case you’re curious…” Pate said, throwing the words over his shoulder, “the other alpha is in Containment Area Five.”

Then he was gone. Holly was all alone with her werewolf.

Not mine. Why did she keep thinking of him that way? Duncan wasn’t hers. Was he?

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I had no idea they were going to drug you.”

His hands curled around her shoulders. He pulled her body closer, forcing her to face him.

Did he seem…um, bigger? He did.

“Duncan, I—”

His mouth was on hers. Hot. Hard. And she just decided to forget talking right then. She kissed him back, almost desperately, as her fingers locked around his arms and her nails sank into his skin.

He had her flush against his body now. That wonderful heat of his seemed to singe her right through her clothes. She could feel the heavy thrust of his arousal. Okay, yes, he’d come out of that drugged state very aware.

Her heart raced in her chest. Her body trembled. Not with any kind of fear, but with pure eagerness.

His head lifted. His eyes were shining. Definitely not the stare of a mortal man. She didn’t care.

“Why aren’t you afraid?”

Because I’m as much of a monster as you are.

He shook his head before she could think of a response that didn’t sound so brutally cold. He wasn’t a monster. Or…hell, she didn’t think of him that way.

Even if she saw herself as the nightmare in the room.

“You’re the only one I trust here,” he told her.

Her breath rushed out. “Duncan…”

“Something’s going on. Holly, I know that alpha.”

“Well, you’ve been hunting in the city. You probably—”

“I’ve seen him in my nightmares.”

That froze her.

“Werewolves killed my family when I was just a kid.”

She knew that. That attack had been what had placed him on the path that led to Seattle’s Para Unit. He’d wanted to protect others. To stop the same fate from knocking on their doors and leaving a trail of blood behind.

“When I look at Connor, I hear the screams from the attack.”

She barely controlled her flinch.

Sometimes, when she looked at Pate, she could hear her own screams. From my attack. She’d tried to hide that weakness from him. Pate carried enough guilt on his shoulders. But after what she’d said minutes before, she knew that he already realized she saw hell when she saw him.

“I. Know. Him.”

His arms were still around her. Her nails still digging into his skin.

“Help me,” he said.

Holly nodded, and she knew that she could refuse him nothing.

***

Connor was caged and collared. And he looked pissed off.

Duncan marched into the alpha’s containment area. Elias was stationed near the cell door. When he saw Duncan, Elias immediately straightened to his full height. “Jeez, I’m so sorry, man—”

Duncan lifted a hand. “If you’re really sorry, then you’ll give me ten minutes with this guy. You’ll walk out, get yourself a drink, and not mention to anyone that I’m here.”

Elias stared back at him. His partner’s eyes—ex-partner—were guilt-ridden. “I’m sorry I couldn’t kill you.”

Connor started laughing from his cell. That bastard laughed a lot.

Elias shook his head. “I know it was what you wanted.”

Death? Duncan glanced over his shoulder. Holly was behind him. It had been her security card that had gotten him access to this area. Seeing as how his access had been revoked.

But she’d come with him, not hesitating even a moment when he had to sound straight-up crazy.

Maybe I am crazy. Maybe the madness of the wolf was setting in, but right then, “Death’s the last thing I want.” He figured Elias needed the warning. Things had changed. Fucking fast. “You come at me with silver, and you could be the one to die.”

Elias backed away from him. “But…your family…”

“Family…” A dark mutter from Connor. “Can’t erase their sins, can’t claw them to pieces.”

Duncan frowned at him. Connor had risen and come to stand less than a foot away from the silver bars of his cell. Connor was the only prisoner housed in Containment Area Five.

Connor was rumored to have killed dozens of paranormals and at least eight humans in the Seattle area. All within the last year.

Psychopath? A psychopathic werewolf was a living hell on earth.

“Though I have tried the clawing technique a few times,” Connor added as he glanced down at his hands. “Pity werewolves heal so fast.”

Elias edged away from the cell. “Holly? You coming with me?”

“She stays,” Duncan said immediately. He didn’t want Holly out of his sight. No, more than that. He needed her close.

Wanted her close.

Elias’s gaze darted between them. He and Elias had worked well together just days before, but in that moment, their camaraderie seemed long gone. Maybe it was due to the fear that lingered in Elias’s stare. The hint of terror that he couldn’t quite hide.