Page 87 of Wolf It Down, Knot Me Up

The guys and I haven’t been chopping anything in this area or this close to the lodge, so I’m confident it wasn’t one of us leaving a job half done. We’d never do that in the first place.

I give a short, sharp whistle in Grayson’s direction, and he glances my way. I wave him over, and he comes jogging. Then I give him a rundown and show him what we’re dealing with.

“Goddammit,” Grayson mutters. “What the fuck’s going on here? Is it just me, or do you feel like this place is being watched and someone wants to harm Lucy?”

A cool breeze swishes past, sending the branches around us into a wild lashing and rustling.

“Yep, some asshole is playing games, and my money is on that stripper prick from the other night.”

Grayson nods. “We need to start taking guard of the place because there’s dodgy shit going on. I’m gonna take photos of all this, then we’ll start chopping it up to clear up the mess.”

“Yep, and we don’t touch the crown of the pine where it’s tangled with the main box. But fuck, my instincts are screaming that something’s really off here.”

Grayson frowns, arms tight at his sides. “If I find that prick again, I’m ripping his spine out. I have no idea what his problem is, but if he’s got his sights set on Lucy, then he’s going to be in real trouble.”

He gets to photographing, and I walk the length of the trunk toward the house, my thoughts crowding, darkening in my head. I’d grown up with crime, murder, and danger. And when someone keeps having strange occurrences and misfortunes, it’s no longer a coincidence. Someone’s working on Lucy because this started the moment she arrived in town.

I curl my hands into fists at the thought of anyone planning to bring harm to my Omega. Grinding my teeth, I want to smash my fist into their face.

Roman steps out from around the corner of the house all of a sudden, hands deep in his pockets, and lifts his gaze. “Hey, Lucy wants to head into town for some errands, and I’m going with her. I don’t want her alone right now.”

“Agreed.” Part of me tenses with an urgency to rush up to her, take her into my arms, and protect her from the rest of the world. But she’s also extremely proud and independent and would fight me the whole time. So instead, I give Roman a rundown of what I found at the tree stump.

“Fuck! Someone’s causing this shit!” Roman glances over my shoulder, frowning. “Let’s clear up the parking area first, as I need a truck to drive her. And right now, it’s blocked and no way I’m letting Lucy out of my sight.”

I chuckle, surprised I have the energy, considering I’m livid on the inside that this happened right under our noses. “Fine, then you’ll give us a hand to collect the tools from the cabin and start chopping up this massive pine.”

He rolls his shoulders, head high, just as Grayson approaches us. “Let’s get this done,” he calls out, and we’re already heading toward the cabin.

The wind buffets against us, cool enough to bite, and my gut still churns. I spent my life with danger, and I’d always have a sick feeling before guns came out or shit went sideways. And right now, the same unsettling dread crawls through me.

22

LUCY

“I’m glad you joined me,” I say to Roman, holding his hand, our fingers interlaced, as I have no plans on leaving his side. Since meeting these Alphas, my life has been turned on its head, and as much as I’ve resisted the inevitable, I’ve finally started to feel like this might be the real thing. The universe is being kind to me, giving me what I’ve always desired. Alphas all of my own.

“How could I not come along if it meant spending time with you?” His hold tightens, and he nudges his arm into mine, offering me his panty-melting smirk.

On cue, I’m blushing and burning up, because I no longer belong to myself but to these Alphas who control my body.

“Anyway, I feel better this way, especially after finding out about the downed tree. And I’m getting scared now because I have no idea what’s coming for me.” My breaths are rushing as I think about it more.

“Nothing, and no one, is getting near you.” He pauses on the sidewalk that leads toward the grocery store and turns to face me. He plucks a strand of hair caught in my lashes and tucks it behind an ear. “As long as you’re at our side, you’re safe, and we’ll make sure of it. And this is why we’re not letting you out of our sight.” His thumb strokes over my knuckles.

I soften beneath his gaze, his brown hair fluttering across his shoulders, eyes so deep I’m drowning in them. Near him, I lose myself easily, forgetting where I am because the world fades away. Being bound to him makes it extremely difficult to focus on anything but that handsome face, the lips I crave, the hands I desire all over my body. Is it wrong that I press forward, needing to taste him right now?

He collects me in his arms as if reading my mind, and suddenly our lips are crushed together and my heart is drumming in my chest. In his arms, I’m safe and cozy, and my mind is at peace.

Finally, we break apart, and I’m breathing heavily. “You make me crazy,” I admit out loud, then drag him by his hand. “Let’s get these errands done, or we’re never getting home.”

He’s at my side, leaning in and kissing the top of my head. “Good plan. Then we’ll be all alone in the truck on the way back.” His voice dips to that sexy, smoky timber that leaves me shivering for more.

“You do that on purpose, don’t you?”

Breaking into a laugh, he blows me a kiss and we’re strolling. “No idea what you mean,” he continues with a delicious rasp behind his words.

I eye him sideways while he arrogantly rubs his closed fist against his chest, then brings it to his lips and blows across the knuckles as though his job is done.