Up ahead loiter two guards. They look at us, and then look away.
But then their heads swivel back around, shock registering on their faces.
They'd just drawn out their guns when Malcolm let out a chilling roar. I blink in stark disbelief when one second he's at my side, then the next he's tearing through one of the men with inhumane strength.
I think I scream when his head is ripped off his shoulders.
The other man's trembling hand frantically reaches for his weapon. He pulls the trigger, sending off a deafening blast.
Malcolm manages to sidestep it. When the Hunter makes to shoot again, he swipes at the pistol with his claws. The man goes pale when the weapon splits into two in his hands. He looks up to see Malcolm's heavy fist flying down his face.
Once the man slumps down, Malcolm marches for me.
His claws are bloody and his eyes glow with rage and bloodlust. He looks so terrifying at that moment that I find myself tur
As I come to, flashes of memory zip through my mind. Glasses exploding.I blink.Sprays of shards raining down.I try to sit up.Tendrils of smoke curling up from the bonnet.My head pounds.A huge body shielding me.I try to sit up again but give up, burrowing into the leather seat. My tongue feels like lead in my mouth. "My poor car," I groan in a barely audible voice.The man seated behind the wheel turns slate grey eyes to me.His huge hand palms the back of my head and I start to reach up in protest when he runs his hand through my hair gently. "No concussion," he says in a smooth baritone, withdrawing his fingers while my face flames.I drag in a breath and sit up. Then wish I hadn't.The windshield is completely destroyed, the rowers broken clean at the hilts. I lean forward, the sun rays connecting directly with my face like I'd just peered out a damned balcony. I turn to Malcolm and sna
MALCOLM__The rest of the ride is done in stiff silence. By the time we're cutting through the edge of North Carolina, I'm brimming with something akin to shame. Gwen's gasp at the sight of my back replays in my mind, driving me to the brink of madness. I know it isn't the greatest sight to behold, but my own mate being disgusted with me... The steering wheel bends under my hands.Inhaling slowly, I retract my claws and push down my wolf.I feel Gwen's gaze on me but I don't meet it, determined to push her to the back of my mind just as I'd done my wolf. It would be easy. Nothing could stand in the way of my control.Gwen stayed on my mind till we checked into our first hotel.I could feel her pleasure at the state of our room, but before she could turn those glittering green eyes brimming with gratitude my way, I stride out of the room.I go to the dinner across the street.The girl behind the counter scrawls my order d
GWEN__I crack my eyes open to an empty room. The drapes billow and a waft of frigid air blows in, causing me to pull the sheets tighter. I sit up, taking in the wide expanse of the luxurious room blearily.Rubbing my eyes, I drag myself up and over to the bathroom. I brush my teeth and take a quick shower, hearing the front door open and close.When I step out of the bathroom, I stop short on seeing some clothes laid out on the bed.A scrap of lace catches my eye and I draw closer to investigate.My mouth falls open when I lift something to my eye level. A white thong."You've got to be kidding me," I mutter.My gaze draws to the rest of the clothes and I pry them apart, my cheeks turning redder the more I see. A white tank top, a mini skirt, and a lacy white bra. At the foot of the bed is a pair of strappy white sandals.The door comes open and I sense Malcolm immediately. I spin around, anger lacing my tone, "The
Malcolm leads the way out of the hotel. I stop in my tracks when I notice a shiny new sports car parked in a corner. "Tell me that doesn't belong to you.""Why?""It's friggin expensive, is why! How did you manage to get one so soon?""I have my ways.""You don't say."We walk down the concrete. Unconsciously, I inch closer to Malcolm when I see a man trail off in the middle of a call, eyes on the outline of my breasts in the tight tank top. I jump when I feel Malcolm slide a hand around my waist. I look up to see his jaw is clenched tight."You know, we wouldn't have this problem if you'd just let me wear those pencil skirts you look down on so much."His response is to tighten his hold on my waist. My skin heats beneath his touch.Once we get to the car, I pull away from him, wanting to put some distance between us.I open my door and slip in, my back meeting the softest leather. I close my eyes when my nose catches a
A shiver races down my spine when I hear another roar. It's closer this time.Malcolm.I quicken my pace, breaking into a run. I get to an outdoor restaurant and weave through the tables. "Sorry," I say when I knock down a fork.Gazes draw to me as I rush forward. I'd made it only a few paces before shrieks sounded out behind me.I spin around. While I'd carefully walked past the tables, Malcolm overturned them, mowing through throngs of people, canines bared in a savage snarl.I gasp, speeding as I turn around. I don't make it far."Shit!"A heavy weight lands on top of me. I am roughly turned around. My arms are shoved above me and held in an iron grip. My throat dries as I'm faced with the full force of Malcolm's glare.He wedges his hips into mine. All around us, humans scream, running the other way at the sight of a berserk shifter.His grip tightens and he snarls in my face. "You do not run away from me!"
MALCOLM__I watch Gwen tuck her son into bed. The territorial part of me is irked she'd birthed another man's child.Leaning against the door frame, I observe them. I'd tried to scent out what species the boy was, but I knew I wouldn't have much luck. He is still young. My gaze slides over Gwen and it grows hooded. Her eyes are soft, her voice gentle and sweet as she whispers words to Rylan's drowsy form."He won't remember half of that tomorrow."Her eyes snap up. "Malcolm..." she says, momentarily shocked, before she regains her composure. "He doesn't need to remember that I love him," she says."Is that what you've been filling his ears with?"Her chin goes up defensively. "Yes. Didn't you have someone filling your ears with those too when you were younger?"For a moment I'm rooted on the spot. My mouth works before my mind does. "My parents left us when we were younger, to fight against the uprising wrought by ot
GWEN__True to Malcolm's words, his men arrive in mere hours. Greta goes with them after bundling me into a long hug. Rylan's departure is much more difficult. He did something he hadn't done in a while. He cried. And it nearly breaks me.I make him promise he'll be strong for me. He does, and soon after he's put in the car. I watch as it drives away, never daring to tear my eyes away from it until it turns a corner, disappearing from view. Even then I still stand rooted to the spot, staring at the darkening atmosphere.Malcolm comes to stand behind me. "You should come inside." His baritone is a low rumble. Despite myself I feel a shiver dance down my spine.
I have dinner alone that night, and the next night.And the next one after that.Three days have gone by since I last saw Malcolm.And it's official. I despise him.It's not like I don't know where he is every minute of the day. Oh, no. I do. And that makes it all the more frustrating.A light wheedling from Martha told me he's presently in his office. I huff out a breath, staring up at the ceiling. A chandelier winks down at me and I start to pull my duvet over my body when I hear it.A knock on the door.I sl