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“It’s alpha business.” I hated how she flinched when I said the wordalpha. “But a new set of eyes might help.”
“Really?” she asked, almost suspiciously.
“Yeah, come on, I’ll show you what I’ve figured out so far.” I waved my hand, encouraging her to follow me down the aisle toward the sitting area.
I led her to the back of the room and to a table that was covered in papers and maps. Ledger had left his stuff all over, which made it easier to learn everything he did while I added to the pile.
“Someone escaped from the cage a week ago.” Her eyes widened in surprise.
“That’s never happened.” She appeared truly stunned, but my wolf picked up on her heartbeat, which was slightly elevated but otherwise the same.
“No, it hasn’t,” I agreed, looking down at the maps and blueprints. “We’re trying to figure out how she did it.”
“It’s rumored to be impossible.” Pearl’s words were quiet, and I couldn’t tell if it was from fear or curiosity.
“Yeah, Ledger and I spent all day trying to figure out how she did it but haven’t had any luck.”
“Weird.” She touched the blueprint where Ledger had marked Faela’s cell. Pearl studied the pages for several minutes before she leaned down, bringing her face closer. “What’s this area?”
“That’s the hallway between the pack sections.”
“Why are they highlighted?” she asked, pointing to the different colored lines.
“Each color represents a different pack, and that pack is responsible for guarding that area. The guards are switched out periodically, but each pack does shift changes randomly, so that there isn’t a pattern.” Which was smart in my opinion.
“Well, that’s ingenious,” Pearl muttered, making me chuckle at her appreciation.
“It is, and while it looks like a perfect system, somehow a prisoner escaped.” I ran my fingers through my hair, frustrated by the fact that Faela couldn’t have escaped without help.
I glanced at Pearl and had to hide a grin when I noticed that she was watching me in a way that I recognized because I often observed her the same way. Clearing my throat, I turned my attention to the research I’d been doing.
“I’ve been researching a different angle,” I said, gesturing to the piles of books and papers that littered the chairs and floor.
“Oh?” She hurried around the table to see what I’d collected. “Do you know the name of the prisoner that escaped?”
“Her name was Faela,” I answered, grabbing a book from the pile. Inhaling brought me Pearl’s scent. Fear.
I glanced up sharply, wondering what had frightened her when I saw that she was staring at me. My heart hammered in my chest; her eyes were filled with absolute terror.
“Hey, it’s okay. That’s why we’re researching this, so we can figure out how she did it and prevent it from happening again,” I said, trying to reassure her, but she still seemed shaken.
Before I could think of anything else to say, I stepped toward her, my arms wrapping around her and pulling her to me. By the time I realized I was acting on pure instinct, it had already happened.
Shit.
This wasn’t good. I was supposed to be taking it slow. I’d caught her in my arms earlier, and now I’d grabbed her in an effort to comfort, but I had no right.
Except… she didn’t push me away like I was expecting her to. Instead, she melted against me. She nuzzled my chest like she was marking me with her scent. I was stunned at the turn of events, but I wasn’t about to question it.
My chest rumbled contentedly the longer we stayed pressed together. I wanted to say something but feared I would ruin the moment. So, I didn’t. I just held her, silently thanking the Moon Spirit for this moment.
I leaned my head down and rested it atop hers, still marveling that she was here so close to me. Breathing in her scent was enough to relax the tension in my shoulders. This was where she belonged. Right here. In my arms.
A few more minutes passed before she straightened. I leaned back, unsure how the next couple seconds would go. Several scenarios flashed through my head, from her slapping to kissing me. The last option was a stretch, but I could dream.
I opened my mouth to apologize, but before anything could come out, Pearl’s hands cupped my cheeks. She leaned up on her toes and pressed her lips to mine.
My brain short circuited when I realized what was happening. As if on their own, my hands gripped her waist and pulled her roughly against me. I took control of the kiss, slipping my tongue into her mouth.
