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"I've already told you,” he said, trying to keep his voice low and even. “There was no dog."
Her eyes squeezed shut. Her jaw clenched. She was trying to keep her temper on an even keel, he could tell.
Garrett let out a low sigh. He had no choice but to tell her the truth. She'd find out soon enough anyway. “It wasn't a dog that you helped. It was ... a wolf."
Her eyes flew open and she stared at him in shocked disbelief. “A wolf?” She shook her head vehemently. It moved from side to side against the thick beam. “No. I mean, come on. No way in hell would a wolf let me get that close to him. He would've bitten me—or torn my throat out."
"Not this wolf,” he said as he continued to look deep into her eyes. He felt an unfamiliar stirring, one that worked its way through his entire being and caressed his soul. Garrett knew Serena Lamond was destined to be his mate. Convincing her of that wouldn't be easy, though. “He knew you were trying to help him."
Her mouth continued to quiver and her body trembled. Still, she made no move to go inside where it was warm and dry. And safe. “Did he—it—jump out of the back of the truck on the way here?” She nodded. “Yes, of course. That's what happened."
Garrett slowly shook his head. “No, Serena. That's not what happened."
Her eyes widened. “How do you know my name?"
Still trying to remain unthreatening, he said, “I've lived in Silver my whole life. I know everyone."
She only contemplated his answer for a moment before obviously accepting it. Then she said, “What happened to the lightning?"
Her question took Garrett by surprise. So much so that he wasn't quite sure what to say.
Serena continued on, her voice a bit shaky as her teeth started to chatter. “It's still raining buckets and the thunder continues to rumble. But ever since I stopped my truck for the ... dog ... there's been no lightning. Considering how intense it was previously, this is a little weird."
He nodded. “The electrical storm passed."
She crooked an eyebrow at him. “It passed?” Glancing up at the cloudy sky, she added, “Hardly."
"Look, I can explain everything to you. But we should talk inside. It's not safe out here."
Her gaze shifted to him. “What do you mean?"
"Serena, there are things about Silver you don't know. Please ... come inside with me."
Suddenly, she demanded, “How did you know it was a wolf? In the back of my truck? You were unconscious and ... and...” She shook her head. “It was gone when you came to, so ... how the hell do you know it was a wolf?"
His jaw tightened. More than anything, he wanted to make this easy on her. He didn't want to scare her half to death with truths she was clearly unwilling—unable—to accept right now. But there were evil machinations brewing in Silver that she knew nothing about. And every moment that passed was a wasted opportunity to set things right.
Garrett needed to get her inside.
Garrett needed to make love to her, claim her as his own. Before his enemies got to her first. Before Braeden attacked her...
The time for delicacy had passed. He reached out and clasped her wrist with his hand. She flinched, but didn't pull away. Her eyes, however, grew large and questioning.
"Come inside,” he coaxed. “And I'll tell you everything you want to know."
"Everything?” she whispered.
He nodded. “And I promise you'll be safe."
Suddenly, the low snarl of wolves drifted on the cool night air. Garrett knew time was running out.
Serena shifted, moving away from the column and toward him, her body still shaking. “What's going on? What the hell is this?"
Garrett's jaw clenched for a moment.
"Mating season."
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