Page 79 of Wolf It Down, Knot Me Up

“I don’t see an issue.” But I climb off her and take her hand, drawing her to her feet in a second flat.

“Anyway, just give me a bit more time, about the whole future thing. Things are just moving fast for me, I guess, and I’m scared to let myself have this, terrified that the moment I say yes, the universe will find a way to rip you all away from me.”

“Hey. You’re not alone anymore, and there’s no rush either. I mean, none of us are going anywhere for a while at least.” I shrug with one shoulder, and she grins. “Also, before I forget, we’re moving into the lodge tonight so you’re not alone while Ethan’s away, okay?”

“I’d like that so much. I really would.”

God, she’s stunning. She’s suffered enough and now deserves just to be loved, but once she’s ready to let us fully in.

“Okay, well, let me get these flowers into a vase first, then I need to be off,” she says, moving to collect the bouquet.

“Yep,” I say, staring at that ass as she bends over. “Guess that’s my cue to head out into the woods to work.”

She leaves the room, and I’m on her heels. Down in the kitchen, she fills a glass vase and works the flowers into the jar at the counter, humming under her breath. And I’m at the rear door, the wind at my back, my sights caught on my little bird.

When the hell did I fall so fucking hard for her?

19

LUCY

I’m peering out the kitchen window, and the storm is trying to tear the mountain apart, while the Alphas are out there, somewhere. Rain is coming down sideways, slamming into the lodge, and pines are bending over in the wind, not to mention the thunder cracking overhead. I flinch each time it snaps and lights up the night sky.

“Where are you all?” Please be okay. I lift my phone again, staring at my calls to their cabin in case they stopped there. I wish they had cell phones. But reception in the woods is crap on the best of days. Still, they should have been back by now.

And driving out there to find them is suicide. Knowing my luck, I’d get the truck stuck in mud. Then I’d be out there alone in the dark.

“Nope, that would be a stupid idea,” I mumble as I go check on the lamb stew with bread dumplings bubbling away, which is pretty much ready. The mousse is in the fridge, and I shake one of the filled glasses. It’s set. Just as I reach for the whipped cream, something bangs violently into the back door with a crack.

I flinch back out of the fridge, whirling around to stare through the window in the door at the figure standing out there. The door handle is jiggling. Whoever’s there is huge, and for one terrifying second, my whole body freezes as I picture the masked guy from last night returning.

“Lucy! Let us in!” Roman calls out.

“Oh, shit!” Relief falls through me instantly and chases away my fear. I rush forward, then frantically unlatch the deadbolts and yank open the door.

All three of the Alphas pour inside, and I step backward. The storm rushes in with them, water sheeting onto the floor, wind howling into the kitchen along with random leaves. And I throw all my weight against the door to slap it shut, then I lock us inside.

The men are toeing off their shoes near the mat at the door.

“Oh my God, you’re drenched all the way through. What happened?” I’m unsure where to look. They’re dripping, their clothes pasted to them, hair plastered to their heads. Rain is rolling down their faces, and they’re heaving for breath.

“The truck got bogged down,” Grayson starts. “About a mile or so from the lodge. A low spot in the path sank with all this rain. When we checked, the tire had also busted.”

“And no way we were changing that in this weather,” Wolf explains as I offer them each kitchen towels to dry their soaked faces and hair.

“So we ran the rest of the way,” Roman states. “It almost killed us, as we all nearly tumbled down a ridge trail.” He’s chuckling now.

“Fuck, that was close,” Wolf says, roughly rubbing the towel all over his face.

“Plus, Wolf screamed,” Grayson adds.

“Fuck off. I did not,” he snaps, then glances my way, mouthing silently, I did.

It’s impossible not to laugh.

“What’s cooking? Because I need it now!” Roman drifts toward the oven. “I’m so hungry I could eat you up.”

I cut him a teasing stare. “Lamb stew with dumplings and it’s ready. Go and get dry first. All of you.”