“You’re going to see Jolie.” It’s not a question.
For a man nearly a millennium in age, who has seen and done everything, Tobias practically vibrates with eagerness.
I only grunt in response to his accusation…because he’s not wrong.
My skin feels like it’s trying to crawl off my body from being away from her for so long, my wolf constantly growling in the back of my mind at the separation. I stride toward the high-security section of HQ with determined steps, not willing to be denied a moment longer.
The underground bunker is impenetrable, which is the only reason I was able to leave the girl unattended for so long—no one can reach her without them going through me first. Now that I’m giving in to the irresistible demand to see her, my wolf falls silent, almost docile at finally getting his way, twitching like an excited puppy on his way to a park.
It’s almost a relief not to have the mutt constantly pressing at the undersides of my skin in the silent demand to be free. I skip the elevator and hit the stairs, determined to get to her faster. As I work my way lower, a heavy weight lifts from my shoulders the closer we get to our destination.
Tobias acts like a young pup, practically skipping at my heels, a drastic change to the normally cantankerous old wolf. “Have you figured out how you’re going to get around Stanton?”
He appears unconcerned with my answer, not really worried that we’re going against Stanton’s explicit orders to keep our distance. I even agree with Stanton’s logic—the girl needs to be contained—but keeping my distance is impossible.
As we pass through the third checkpoint and approach the block containing the holding cells, I hear arguing spilling down the hallway, and I pick up my pace, not liking the idea that someone was with her without one of us present.
While headquarters stresses that wolves and vampires are supposed to be equal, neither race agrees. It wouldn’t surprise me to discover Stanton has made a universal decision to hand Jolie over without consulting us, under the guise of keeping us safe.
I don’t consider my littlesætato be a threat, but I’m not stupid enough to discount she could be dangerous, especially if threatened. When I turn the corner and see the door to her room open, I pick up my pace until I’m sprinting. I’m nearly breathless when I burst into the exam room, my chest tight at the thought of anything happening to the girl while I wasn’t there to protect her.
I scan the room, almost frantic when I don’t see her on my first sweep. When I finally spot Jolie huddled in the back of a fucking cage, everything inside me stills. Rational thoughts vanish, replaced with the need for retribution against those who dare imprison what is mine.
No one places mysætain a cage.
My fangs lengthen, my wolf snarling in outrage, and I tense, seconds away from leaping across the room. The only thing that stays my hand is she’s not in any immediate danger.
Though obviously frightened, the woman isn’t cowed by Stanton’s domineering nature. She glares at the bastard with a half feral look in her eyes, and pride puffs up my chest.
The woman is beyond breathtaking in her defiance.
My rage slowly eases at her nearness, and my protective urges rush to the forefront.
I stomp in front of the cell, or should I saycage, and outrage has a muscle jumping in my jaw. I’ve been locked up in a cage more than once in my life, and my skin ripples in revulsion at the thought of her being kept in one.
And I’m partially responsible.
Claws slice through the tips of my fingers, droplets of blood splatter the floor, and I tighten my lips against the urge to bare my fangs at the fucking vampires, barely resisting the impulse to lay into the fuckers.
I press my hand against the glass wall, allowing the scanners to read my palm print. I wait impatiently to be cleared, wait for the door to slide open, only for the screen to blink red instead.
Rejected.
Permission denied.
I release a vicious snarl and whirl toward the vampires, vibrating with rage as I struggle to keep myself from shifting. “What the fuck did you do?!”
Stanton throws his hands up in exasperation. “I came in here and found her feeding from Milo. It’s apparent that she’s using her allure to control all of you. So until you all come to your senses, only I will have direct access to her.”
Tobias’ blue eyes take on a glow so bright, they appear lit from within, a hint of fangs peeking out from between his parted lips. The wolf’s chest heaves, the fucker barely hanging on to his control. He is so far gone that speech is beyond him. He clenches his fists at his side, drops of blood hitting the floor from where his claws bite into his palms.
If the murderous look in his eyes is any indication, Stanton better watch his back.
I stalk across the room, towering over the vampire, the urge to wrap my hands around the bloodsucker’s throat nearly overwhelming. I flash my fangs at him, mine nearly twice the size of a normal wolf because of my age. “You are not in charge of us, vampire.”
“You are only here because of me. You both agreed to the rules when you joined HQ,” Stanton counters without missing a beat. “The girl is part of our mission, which falls under my jurisdiction.”
My wolf growls in outrage, the rumble filling my chest. His claws slash my insides with the need to be set free and show them who’s really in charge. “You have no right to restrict our access.”
