Total pages in book: 64
Estimated words: 60604 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 303(@200wpm)___ 242(@250wpm)___ 202(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60604 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 303(@200wpm)___ 242(@250wpm)___ 202(@300wpm)
“And no info on this morning’s call?” Ashley asked, although she already knew the answer.
He shook his head. “Location information has been removed from your sister’s phone and the call was too short to do a traditional trace,” he said, looking sympathetic. “I’m sorry.”
“Thanks. I really appreciate your help.”
Ben seemed to bristle next to her, as if he didn’t like her talking to him.
Zolla looked away from her and asked, “Have you talked to Stanley?”
Ben’s jaw clenched. “Yeah. He was pretty butt-hurt about me calling in a favor when I wasn’t technically a member of their pack. I don’t think I can count on their help for the meetup.”
Zolla said nothing for a long moment, just tapped the fork against the spoon. Then he blew out his breath. “You know he wants you to lead the pack, right?”
A muscle jumped in Ben’s face. “Not going to happen.”
Zolla shrugged. “Well, Stanley’s losing wolves right and left. He lost me. He’s not strong enough to lead. No one wants to follow a beta. I know that must sound ripe coming from me.”
Ben didn’t answer.
“Well, I have a contract job in Edgewater, so I’ll be out all day, unless you want me to stick around.”
Ben shook his head.
“Do you two want to hang at my place today?”
“Maybe,” Ben said. “It would be about an unlikely a place to stay, one where no one would think to look.”
“Well, if you decide you want to, here’s the address and the code to get in.”
“Thanks. I think we will go there.”
“Okay, then I’ll meet you there an hour before the meeting.”
“Good. I’ll see if Mark Ruhl will come as well. Thank you.”
Ben opened the car door for her, but instead of stepping in, she turned to face him. “What’s with the weird vibe if I even look at Zolla?” she demanded.
He avoided her eyes, looking over the top of the car toward the Flatiron Mountains, which jutted majestically in the background. His body itched to shift and run for that wilderness, to get rid of all this pent-up tension winding his crank.
“You’re acting crazy,” she said.
He knew she was right. His behavior was over the top, even by wolf standards. He dragged his eyes to meet her. “I know,” he admitted. “I’m sorry. I just can’t seem to help myself around you.”
“Well, you can relax, because I’m only interested in you,” she said, laying a palm on his chest.
Her touch burned him like a branding iron, causing him to jerk at the jolt of electricity that passed between them. But as much as he adored her, as much as he wanted her, he couldn’t have her. And pretending otherwise, when she was making her feelings plain, would be cruel.
“Ashley… I can’t.” He looked around as if the right words would be posted on a sign nearby. “I can’t do this with you.”
She stiffened. “Why not?” she asked, her voice sounding tight.
He ran his fingers through his hair. “I just can’t. I’m sorry. It’s not possible. I shouldn’t have,” he swallowed, “done what I did last night—or this morning. I know I’m an asshole. You don’t deserve this.”
Her face turned to stone and she shrugged like it didn’t matter, climbing in the car. He hesitated, his hand on the door handle. But what else was there to say? Explaining the marking thing would only terrify her. Besides, even if marking wasn’t an issue, he couldn’t get involved with her. He couldn’t let another person he cared about die on his watch. He shut her door and walked around to the driver’s side.
They rode in silence for twenty minutes before she said, “Is there another woman?”
“No,” he snapped, not meaning to sound so harsh.
She flinched and turned to look out her window.
He waited for the next question, but it never came. They made it all the way to Zolla’s without speaking another word. He pulled into the driveway and used the code he’d given him to open the garage door. When he returned to the car to pull it in, Ashley had climbed over to the driver’s seat.
“I’ll see you later,” she muttered, trying to shut the door he’d left agape.
He shoved his hand in between, and managed to slow it a bit before it slammed on him.
Ashley’s face registered horror and she shoved the door back open to free him. He used the opportunity to put his entire body between the door and the car, reaching in to haul her out.
“Stop it,” she cried, struggling.
Afraid of leaving finger bruises on her arms, he spun her around and wrapped one arm around her waist to pick her up. “Where did you think you were going?”
“I don’t know—away from here! What do you care? I’ll be at the meetup.”
His need to protect her made his teeth sharpen in his mouth and a growl to erupt from his throat.