-Adrian-
"He broke."
Carter's voice cuts through the silence of my office as he steps through the door, blood still fresh on his knuckles. His expression is grim, but there's a hint of satisfaction in his eyes.
"And?" I demand, not looking up from the reports scattered across my desk. Three days since I left Little Wolf in that hotel room, and I've buried myself in work, trying to drown out the memory of her scent, her laugh, the way she fit perfectly against me.
"Amos knows about her," Carter says simply.
My head snaps up, eyes locking with his. "What did you just say?"
"Eddie finally cracked. Said Amos had people watching you in the city." Carter's jaw tightens. "They saw you with the girl. The one from the weekend."
The pen in my hand snaps, ink spilling across my fingers like blood.
She's in danger, Nox growls, immediately alert. Because of us.
We don't know that for sure, I argue, even as dread pools in my stomach.
Don't be naive. Amos will use anyone to get to you. You know that.
I'm already reaching for my phone, heart hammering against my ribs. I have to find her. Have to warn her. Have to protect her.
"Get Asher, Jax, and Killian in here. Now," I order, not looking up as Carter nods and disappears.
My fingers hover over the screen for a moment before I type out a message to the only connection I have to my Little Wolf.
Adrian:I need you to tell me what pack you guys are from.
The response comes faster than I expected.
LW Friend:That wasn't part of the agreement.
Anger flares hot and bright.
Adrian:Fuck the agreement. Where is she?
LW Friend:That isn't any of your business.
Adrian:Tell me
Time ticks by as I wait for a reply, each second stretching into eternity. I pace my office like a caged animal, clenching and unclenching my fists until my knuckles turn white. The memory of her scent—wild honey and rain—haunts me with every breath.
You're losing it, Nox observes, his voice tinged with amusement and concern. I've never seen you this worked up over a female before.
Shut up. This isn't about her. It's about keeping her safe.
Keep telling yourself that, Alpha. Maybe eventually you'll believe it.
Asher, Jax, and Killian file into my office, taking in my agitated state with varying degrees of concern. They sprawl around the room, waiting for me to explain why I've summoned them.
"Eddie talked," I say tersely. "Amos knows about Little Wolf."
"Shit," Jax mutters, straightening in his chair. "How much does he know?"
"Enough to be dangerous," I reply, running a hand through my hair. "I'm trying to find out where she is, but her friend is being... difficult."
"So?" Jax finally breaks the silence. "Where is she?"
I run a hand through my hair, frustration coursing through my veins. "I don't fucking know. Her friend won't tell me."
"Let me see the messages," Asher says, holding out his hand.
I toss him my phone, not slowing my pacing. Killian and Jax crowd around him, reading over his shoulder like a pair of gossiping teenagers.
The phone buzzes in Asher's hand, and Killian snorts, letting out a low whistle. "Yeah, I don't think you'll be getting anywhere with that one. She's a firecracker."
I snatch my phone back, scanning the new message.
LW Friend:NO. And leave us alone we are busy.
Busy doing what? Nox growls possessively. With who?
That's not our business, I remind him, even as jealousy burns through me.
Adrian:Are you always this difficult? Little wolf won't care if I know where she is.
LW Friend:Yes and yes she will.
Adrian:It is important.
I stare at my phone, willing it to buzz again. Ten minutes pass in excruciating silence. My skin feels too tight, like I'm about to shift involuntarily. Nox paces restlessly in my mind, clawing to get out.
Let me take over, he demands. I'll track her by scent if I have to.
And how exactly would that work? We don't even know which direction to start in.
Better than standing here doing nothing!
I grab my phone off the desk, fingers tightening around it until the case creaks in protest. I really don't want to air out my business, but this stubborn woman is leaving me no choice.
Adrian:Listen, I respect that you're keeping her privacy, but she's in danger. One of my enemies knows I spent the weekend with her. He could be coming after her.
The response is almost immediate, as if she'd been waiting for me to say something worth responding to.
LW Friend:She will be protected. I'll have the Alpha double up on border patrol. Now go back to your life. If you don't leave her alone, neither will your enemies.
The truth in her words hits me like a physical blow. As long as I'm in Little Wolf's life, she'll be a target. My enemies will use her to get to me—just like they did with my parents.
She's right, I admit reluctantly to Nox.
She's wrong, he snarls back. We can protect what's ours.
She's not ours.
Bullshit. You know she is.
I rub my hands down my face, feeling the weight of my responsibilities crushing down on me. "Her friend will handle things."
"So we aren't going to go find her?" Jax asks, disbelief evident in his voice.
I sigh, hating every word coming out of my mouth. "No. Her friend knows she could be in danger. Now I have to trust that her pack can keep her safe."
"And you're okay with that?" Asher snorts, eyeing me like I've lost my mind.
"Nope," I admit, popping the 'p' with bitter emphasis. "But I'm not really given a choice now, am I?"
We always have a choice, Nox argues. And you're making the wrong one.
Killian leans forward, elbows on his knees. "We can send a few guys to all the packs in the area. She has to be in a pack not too far from here, right?"
"In theory," Jax says, tapping his fingers against his thigh. "But we drove two hours to get to the city. Who knows how far she and her friends drove."
"So what's the plan?" Asher demands, his eyes flashing with frustration. "We just leave her a sitting duck for Amos?"
The thought of Amos getting anywhere near my Little Wolf makes my blood run cold. I can feel Nox's rage building, matching my own.
If he touches her, I'll tear him apart limb by limb, Nox promises darkly.
Get in line.
"I'll check in with her friend every day," I say finally, knowing it's not enough but unable to see another option. "That's all we can do at this point."
That's bullshit and you know it, Nox growls. Since when do you give up this easily?
I'm not giving up. I'm protecting her the only way I can—by staying away.
"You're really going to let her go?" Asher asks, his voice softer now. "After everything that happened this weekend?"
I turn to look out the window, unable to meet his gaze. "It was just sex, Ash. Nothing more."
The lie tastes bitter on my tongue, but I force myself to swallow it. Because the truth—that I haven't stopped thinking about her since the moment I walked away, that her scent lingers in my dreams, that the sound of her laugh echoes in my mind—is too dangerous to admit.
Liar, Nox whispers. It was never just sex and you know it.
I ignore him, focusing instead on the message I need to send.
Adrian:Fine. But if anything happens to her, anything at all, I'm holding you personally responsible.
I hit send, then toss my phone onto the desk like it's burned me. The room falls into uncomfortable silence, my three closest friends exchanging looks that speak volumes.
"What about Eddie?" Killian finally asks, changing the subject. "Carter's been working on him for hours."
I welcome the distraction, pushing thoughts of Little Wolf to the back of my mind. "Any progress?"
"He's close to breaking," Jax reports. "Gave up a few of Amos's hideouts already."
"Good," I say, my voice hardening. "Once we have everything, make an example of him."
And then we find Amos, Nox adds. Before he can find her.
Agreed.
As my friends discuss the details of Eddie's interrogation, I find my gaze drifting back to my phone. The screen remains dark. No new messages.
She'll be fine, I tell myself. Her pack will protect her.
But deep down, I know the truth. No one can protect her the way I could. No one would fight for her the way I would. No one would die for her the way I would.
Then why are we walking away? Nox challenges.
I don't have an answer for him. Or maybe I do, but it's not one either of us wants to hear.
This isn't over, Nox promises as I turn back to my guys. We'll find her again.
For once, I don't argue with him. Because despite everything, I know he's right.
This isn't over. Not by a long shot.