Page 33 of His to Claim

A new battle had begun.

When Max dropped me off at my Harley, I stood by my bike for a full fifteen minutes staring up at what I knew to be the windows of Vanessa’s apartment. The morning light was beautiful, the glow of the sun banking off her building creating stunning reflections.

I’d gathered the scent of the two pack members the moment I’d driven down the street. Max had made good on his promise. For that I was grateful. However, from what I’d seen in the beast’s eyes, I doubted the rogue wolf was finished with his mission.

Or his desire to feast.

I would return within hours to protect her, and while I’d been called to a council meeting later in the day, I would find answers and when I did, my retaliation would be swift.

There was no doubt in my mind, no need to question the beast who was indeed clawing at the surface, my heartrate off the chain. Even my blood pressure had skyrocketed, the need so intense. I could gather her scent even past the stench of gasoline, plastic, and steel.

I craved her.

I longed for her.

She belonged to me.

She. Was. My. Mate.

* * *

Beast

Fuck.

Damsel in distress. The woman had ignited every cell in my body from the moment I’d walked into the bar. Sighing, I stared at the morning light, taking several deep breaths even as my cock remained hard. Why the fuck were my cells so alive, a ravaging desire something I wasn’t used to?

Not my choice to work with the two assholes but an insistence from my employer. My instinct told me I should have finished them off. The necessity was already evident. Eventually they would talk. All fucking humans squealed like pigs. The assignment was becoming an irritant, more like a damn game than a quick easy in and out.

I stood outside on the back deck of the little house I’d rented, remaining completely naked. I tipped back my head, taking a deep breath and holding it in. The morning was spectacular, every smell and sight more beautiful than I’d noticed before. I’d spent the entire night as my wolf, enjoying the spoils of being a powerful creature.

However, I’d evaluated my performance far too many times. I’d failed on several counts, infuriating me even more. I couldn’t allow the loose ends to remain, including the damn wolf who’d caught me in the act. While he wasn’t on the list, there was no doubt he’d already alarmed his pack.

Goddamn wolves.

I dragged my tongue across my lips, her scent still crawling all over me. I’d heard of such a thing, but I wasn’t prepared for the ramifications or the level of thirst. I certainly wasn’t a damn family man, had no intentions of settling down. The concept actually made me laugh.

My grip on the railing was firm, the strength in my fingers denting the salt-treated lumber as if the substance was nothing but rubber. I felt glorious in body and mind, more alive than I’d been in years. The joy of allowing my wolf freedom was almost perfect.

Almost.

Then I’d gotten careless, the transformation into my beast not calculated but stupid. For all I knew, two of the three guns used had been found. I’d at least managed to circle back, snagging the one I’d used and tossing it where the cops wouldn’t find it. I had plenty of weapons. That wasn’t the problem. The bullets were.

And my employer would be pissed at the possibility of discovery.

I was a trained killer, not a damn fool. I should have known there could be complications, but I hadn’t anticipated a wolf protecting the female. I wouldn’t make that mistake again.

I was the descendant of the most powerful breed of wolves, born and bred from the fires of hell. I shook my head, snarling. The assignment was crap.

I took another whiff as a moment of anger rushed in. Our kind had seen the beginnings of Earth, the evolution of man making us extremely dangerous, although the Wolfen believed they were superior. Only because of their numbers. Only because we were facing extinction. Well, I’d do my part to eliminate as many of them as I could. I chuckled darkly as I rubbed my hands down my chest, marveling in the structure. When I heard my phone ring, I hissed given the interruption.

What I couldn’t stand was being kept on a chain like some damn puppet, money or no money. Maybe I would need to do something about that.

I stormed inside, yanking the phone from the counter. “Yes?”

“You weren’t successful and two of the men are down.”

The fucking voice was just as grating as always, driving my rage to the surface. How the fuck did the news travel so damn fast? “The humans you selected were inept. It was my understanding that you didn’t want her killed, did you? Simply terrified.”

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