Page 4 of Gunnar

He raises an eyebrow deliberately, peering at the lodge behind me.

My beast surges.

He flinches. Covers it.

“It’s about more than money.” There’s a quaver in his voice now.

“What is it about?”

“She’s a witness. High value.” He holds my gaze. “You’re the only things more dangerous than the men hunting her.”

There’s a pause.

Then he turns toward the SUV and waves his hand.

The rear door opens.

A man climbs out first, then he turns back and reaches inside.

“Come on,” he says under his breath.

“No—” A strained female voice. “Get the hell off me!”

There’s a thud, and he grunts.

A hand appears first, small, gripping the doorframe hard enough to whiten the knuckles. Then a leg, braced against the seat, fighting him. Dark hair spills forward, long and tangled.

She kicks and flails as he drags her out into the light.

Pale face. Eyes wide. Mouth open, pulling in air that won’t come fast enough.

She fights him with everything she has, but he’s too big.

Fear rolls off her in an electric wave. I hear the hammer of her pulse. I taste the adrenaline in the air.

Then her scent hits me with full force.

Everything stops.

I stop breathing.

No.

Not possible.

There’s no one out there for me. I made peace with that a long time ago. Buried it.

But now she stands in my clearing.

Scared. Fierce. Captive.

Mine.

The word doesn’t form in my head.

It rises from somewhere older than language.

“Let her go!” I roar.