The Lone Wolf's Rejected Mate (Five Packs #3)(77)

I start for the path, but the second I make a move, Killian emerges around the corner from the direction of the lodge. He looks like I feel, but at least he’s clean. I still have dried human viscera all over me, stuck in my hair, my ears. Well, it’s mostly human viscera. My lips peel back from my teeth as Killian saunters over, and he reads the expression correctly as a smile.

“You look like shit,” he says.

I grunt.

“Go get a shower. I’ll hang out here for a bit.”

Instantly, the urge to bail is replaced by an unshakable determination to stay right fucking here. I cross my arms.

Killian shrugs. “Suit yourself, but I’m standing downwind. You smell worse than you look.” He circles to stand at my left. “We’re gonna need you at the lodge before long. The human bureau has to fly in, but they’ll be here within the hour.”

My wolf rumbles.

“I don’t like ’em either, but we can’t leave ’em to Madog Collins this time, even if we wanted to.”

“Why not?” Madog handles the humans, and we let him think he’s in charge of all of us. That’s the deal.

“He’s gone off to find himself or some such shit.” Killian snorts. “Or Moon Lake offed him around the time Cadoc took off to start his new pack, and they’ve managed to keep it quiet.”

“Seriously?” Madog Collins is as close to a king as North American shifterdom has. He’s an institution, and a canny, vicious motherfucker to boot. I can’t imagine anyone taking him out. I wonder if Abertha’s heard anything. She was born to Moon Lake pack, and she keeps a place there. There seems to be no love lost between her and Madog, though. She spits every time she has to mention him by name.

“I guess the whole plan for a united shifter nation under Moon Lake is a bust.” Killian smirks. “What with Madog M.I.A., and his own pup founding a new pack. It’s anarchy now.”

“You like to see it,” I say.

Killian nods. “You do.”

We stand for a few moments in silence, listening to the murmurs of the females and the nighttime animals taking up in the woods surrounding this cluster of cabins. I neither scent nor hear anything that doesn’t belong, but my nerves don’t unwind. They can’t. I can’t see Mari, and there is a raw pain flowing through the bond. Abertha’s supposed to be healing her.

I should go in there.

And do what? Say what?

We’re back here, and everything that for a moment in time seemed so clear—protect Mari, keep her safe at all costs, keep her calm, soothe her fears—none of that is necessary now, at least not in this moment. So what do I do?

Who’s the bigger threat to her now—the humans behind the kidnapping, or me?

I feel as trapped in my indecision as I felt when I was chained in that box, and the claustrophobia riles my wolf, his growl rising, unsettling the females. Killian’s wolf hears a challenge, and his reply rattles Killian’s ribs. Unnerved, the females inch even further away.

“Maybe you should take a minute. Walk it off.” Killian gestures toward my rumbling chest.

“Maybe I should,” I say. I fold my arms tighter.

After a few more moments of quiet, except for our vocal wolves, Killian clears his throat. “I saw the bite.”

Out of nowhere, a wave of pride warms my chest.

“So you’re gonna take her out to your place, now?” he asks.

My whole body tenses. The urge to run rides me hard. Mari’s so small. The tips of her fingers can barely curl between mine when we’re palm to palm.

And in case I’m in danger of letting myself forget, my brain casts up the memory of my wolf’s claw slicing through her soft skin, the horrible scent of her blood in the air.

But then I think about walking away, and I want to puke. I want to fight something that can fight back. I glance over at Killian.

Immediately, he takes a step back. “No way, man. I got G-men landing in fifteen, and Moon Lake nerds plugging all kinds of computers into the outlets down the lodge, and when they trip the breaker, Dermot’s gonna lose his fucking shit. I don’t have time to regulate your emotions with my fists.”

Regulate your— “What?”

“That’s what Una says your deal is. She says you use violence and aggression to regulate your emotions.”

I don’t know where to start with that. “You don’t?”

“I do, but it’s different.”

“How?”

“I do it in a ring. You roam around the foothills, killing shit. That’s just a little more badass.”

I raise an eyebrow.

He tosses a shoulder. “I can admit it. I’m evolving as a male. Ask my mate.” He pauses. “Actually, take my word for it. Stay away from her until you get that business tamped back down.” He gestures again at where my wolf’s growls are vibrating my pecs.

“I should get out of here,” I say, but still, I make no move to go.

“Do what you gotta do, but you need to talk to the humans. I know you’re thinking you can track the hunters, but it’s been almost a full day, and we’re dealing with an organized and well-funded operation. There’s not gonna be signs; I don’t care if you are The Mercenary.”

“That’s a dumb fucking nickname,” I say.