But Cole wasn’t returning. There wassomewhere else he’d far prefer to be.
He recalled Lexi, standing in the doorway ofher manor, and something inside him twisted. He wanted to return toher, to see her again, and make sure she was safe.
When she’d invited them in earlier, he’dalmost accepted, but they’d been so close to Orin, and there was achance he might still find his trail. He hadn’t, and they’d gone toBecca’s in the hopes of learning more, but he’d turned his back ontheir one possible lead.
He loved his brother and wanted to find him,but he didn’t regret his decision to leave Becca behind.
“Where are you going?” Brokk demanded as hefollowed Cole toward the trees.
“I have somewhere to be,” he muttered.
“Care to let me in on this secret destinationwhere youhaveto be?”
“Del’s manor.”
“DelanoHarper’smanor?”
“How many Dels do you know?”
Brokk stopped walking, but Cole didn’thesitate. He shouldn’t have left her alone earlier, not after theconfrontation with Malakai, and now a desperate urge to get back toher compelled him faster.
“Have you lost your mind?” Brokk demanded ashe jogged to catch up with him.
Cole wasn’t sure how to respond because hebelieved he might have lost it a little.
“Is this about his daughter?” Brokkasked.
Cole didn’t answer.
“She’s gorgeous, but Del was our friend,”Brokk said.
Something rippled inside Cole; he didn’t likeBrokk talking about her like that. “I know.”
“Then leave his daughter alone.”
“I’m going to make sure she stays safe.”
Brokk grasped his arm and pulled him to astop. Cole’s hands fisted as he kept his gaze focused on the woods,but his frustration wasn’t for his brother; it was forhim.
“She’s young, Cole.”
“I know.”
“Then what are you doing?”
Cole’s head twisted toward him, and whateverBrokk saw there caused him to release Cole’s arm and take a stepback.
“Malakai will go back for her,” Colegrowled.
“And what do you plan to do about that?”
“I don’t know.”
Cole didn’t look back at Brokk as hecontinued toward the woods and the broken road on the other side ofthem. That road would lead to the market where he encountered Lexiearlier, and beyond it was her home.
What was he going to do when he got there?Stand guard outside her manor until Malakai returned?
That wasn’t possible, but the idea of leavingher vulnerable to that asshole caused the wolf inside him to stir.A wolf that only ever stirred around her. When he flexed his hands,claws scraped his palm.
