Something else about what Dante had said moments ago got stuck in Penelope's brain. There had only been two men. If her captors had put her in that shack as bait, why in the world were there not more of them lying in wait for Sawyer and Dante’s arrival? They should have been ambushed by all of them.

She clearly remembered how they'd referred to Sawyer as an animal and now she understood why. Which meant those men also knew of their existence and had plans to eradicate them. Again, their words. So this escape made less and less sense.

Penelope turned to Sawyer and Dante. "How many of your men are out here looking for me? Is this all of them?"

Both men jerked to look at her, Dante's eyes narrowing as if he was starting to get where she was going with this train of thought.

"This is many of our men, but not everyone. There are two squads and my other brother still guarding the island along with the rest of our pack. Why?"

The sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach continued to grow. Someone wanted them out here and away from their homes. And if it wasn't so they could attempt to take them out then there had to be something else they were trying to accomplish.

"You coming to get me. Exactly how easy was it?" she asked.

Sawyer's lips pressed together in a grim line before he answered. “Easier than we expected, that's for sure. Not that I was thinking all that clearly up to the moment we found you. My wolf was pretty damned upset that you were missing and potentially hurt.”

She wanted to understand what that meant, but she suspected they didn't have time to delve into details like that right now. And maybe she was better off not knowing more. But as for the other…

Crap. There were so many unknowns at the moment. And that pit in her stomach told her none of it was good. She turned to Dante. “Two squads. How many men is that?”

“Sixteen. But they aren't alone. Most of the pack is on high alert. They may not be our foot soldiers, but they are stronger than average men.”

That didn't sound like a lot and he must have seen something on her face that gave her thoughts away.

“Armed men?” she asked.

Dante shook his head. “We don't keep guns on the island. It’s not our way.”

“What? Why not? Not only are you different, but you've got a group of radicals hunting you. This is no time to be anti-gun.”

Sawyer snorted.

Dante shot him a 'look' before turning back to her. “Agent Bishop. I appreciate your concern, but we've got this. These hunters have been coming after us for decades. You don't know much about us yet, but trust me, we're more than capable of protecting ourselves against humans.”

Something about the way he said humans, as if they were inferior or something, clawed deep. And did absolutely jack to calm the wretched pit in her stomach that wouldn't stop twisting with each passing mile.

“How many of them did you see?” This time Sawyer asked the question, pulling her attention away from Dante.

“Just the ones at the bridge. They made sure we were both unconscious before we went anywhere. Just another fact I don't like. I don't know how well you know these criminals, but my hunch is they've got a plan and so far, they've executed it flawlessly.”

A dark, throaty growl from Sawyer filled the vehicle, making a shiver work its way down her spine. “You give them too much credit. They are the dregs of the human world. Every now and again they manage to get something done to further their goals, but eventually their plans always fall apart. Right about the time their egos take over.”

She nodded. “Most criminals follow that pattern. But underestimating their intelligence one too many times could factor in their favor. In this case, their behavior thus far is illogical. To dart you and capture me to then allow you to find me with ease with no consequences? It's way too easy. And if it looks like a duck, swims like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it is most certainly a duck.”

Both Sawyer and Dante frowned at her, their foreheads creasing.

“I have no idea what that is supposed to mean,” Sawyer said, the confusion stamped across his face evident.

For a moment she smiled. Recalling one of her grandmother's favorite sayings had temporarily eased some of the anger she had felt vibrating from the man/wolf who kept her off balance. “Just an old saying I heard a lot when growing up. Basically, it means that while appearances can be deceiving, if you observe someone or something's habitual characteristics then you can reasonably identify their true nature.”

Dante leaned back in his seat and let loose with a bark of laughter. “Wow, Sawyer. I think your mate might be smarter than the average human. Good thing she'll be on our side.”

Penelope frowned. This wasn't the first time she'd been referenced as a mate. “I certainly hope that word means something different to your people than it does to most species of animals. Unless of course it means that we're friends. The Australians use that word interchangeably for friendship. That I'm okay with.”

This time Dante laughed so hard he had to grip his stomach.

“Is she for real? Please make it stop before I piss myself,” he said, butting his head into Sawyer's shoulder when he doubled over with laughter.

Outrage at his amusement at her expense began to build. What the hell? This was exactly the kind of thing she was sick of dealing with. Men with egos who regularly dismissed her.

“I don't appreciate being laughed at. I'll have you know that I have repeatedly tested off the charts for intelligence and have attended one of the finest higher education institutions in the country in addition to my extensive FBI training. I don't come to you blind. I did my homework long before I stepped a foot on Devils Point. I probably know more about your group collectively, than you do. Well, except for the whole shifter thing. That didn't come up in my research.”

Dante sobered instantly. “I would certainly hope not since we've gone out of our way to keep our existence as secret as possible. Even the men who hunt us on a regular basis don't want the world to know of our existence. As for the other, I'm thrilled actually. Having someone with your skill set in our pack is going to be a true asset.”

“Dante.” Sawyer shook his head in warning.

“What? You stuck your nose in her crotch after shifting in front of her and you're worried about what I might say?”

Penelope's head nearly exploded as she remembered the horror of that event as it had unfolded. The sounds of his bones crunching still made her stomach churn. The giant wolf approaching her with her helpless to do anything to stop it. “Why exactly did you do that anyway? There should be boundaries among friends. And that is most certainly one of them.”

“This probably isn't the time or the place to get into shifter dynamics,” Sawyer said. “We’ve got to get the hunter situation under control before we can relax and chat. For now, I want to hear more about what happened to you after the bridge. Any details you can remember might help us now.”

Since she feared they were all in imminent danger, she allowed him to change the subject—for the moment. There'd be time to deal with their weirdness later. He was right in one respect. These 'hunters' needed to be neutralized.

“First things first,” she said. “I need a cell phone. Mine got left behind or destroyed or something back at the bridge.”

Dante shook his head. “Nothing got left behind on the bridge except for him.” He shoved his thumb in the direction of Sawyer. “No car, no cell phone, nothing. That’s why we had no idea you were missing until that drug they gave him wore off.”

That information settled in her brain as she began recalling phone numbers she’d committed to memory. “Okay, fine. Any cellphone. It doesn’t have to be mine. Give me yours.” She held out her hand to Dante.

“Who are you going to call, Agent Bishop?”

Dante’s voice had cooled and it gave her pause, making a sudden chill sweep over her. Sitting in a car filled with good looking alpha men made it easy to temporarily forget what she’d seen just a short while ago. But she couldn’t exactly forget could she?

They weren’t human. Something she could still barely wrap her head around. And Sawyer, the man she felt wildly pulled toward, had an unusual fixation on her. They kept referring to her as a mate and as much as she’d like to bury her head in the sand and assume they meant that as a friendly term, her instincts told her differently.

They seemed to think of her as something more.

Another fact that threatened to blow the top off of her head.

“Penelope.”

This time it was Sawyer pulling her out of her thoughts as she lifted her head and met his gaze. So much beauty there despite the scars, or maybe because of them. He wasn’t like the rest of them. Hardened on the outside by evil? Yes. But she sensed a good heart underneath all that and for now that’s what she would focus on.

She closed her eyes for a moment to break the spell she felt pulling her under and took a deep breath. It was important to remember exactly why she was here and what she needed to do.

“I’ve got to call this in. We’re going to need back up. Your assumption as to what side I’m on may have been a little presumptuous. As a federal agent, I’m on the side of the law and right now these hunters, as you call them, are on the wrong side of it and appear to be the priority. After that, well, we will just have to wait and see.”

Both men frowned down at her, the heads shaking in unison.

“Involving more humans is not what we need,” Dante assured her. “Having you in this situation is dangerous enough. I’d feel a lot better if you weren’t involved at all.”

Sawyer was shaking his head in agreement.

“I can’t ignore this. We’re likely headed straight for an ambush. The least I can do is try to even up the odds.”

This made Sawyer grin, while Dante continued frowning.

“If there is an ambush, we’ll handle it. My men are more than capable of handling a few hunters.”

His overconfidence alarmed her. From what little time she’d spent with those men on the bridge, she’d gotten the distinct impression that they were not only fanaticals, but that they would stop at nothing to get whatever it was they wanted, and in this case, it appeared they wanted this pack obliterated.

“Egos aside, you could use our help. And this is still my job. I was sent here to profile a killer and it would seem the situation is a lot bigger than anyone knew.”

“Even more reason for you to stay clear,” Sawyer replied.

It was her turn to shake her head. “You aren’t listening. This is my job. Not yours. The FBI is trained and well equipped for these kinds of situations.”

Sawyer grabbed her hand. “We aren’t trying to belittle what it is you do. I’m sure among humans the FBI is an important resource. But this situation is different and involving more people is dangerous to everyone, including us. You really think you can call in the FBI and that they are going to just accept we are a different species that can shift into wolves?”

His question caused her to open and then just as quickly shut her mouth. She could barely believe they shifted into wolves and she’d seen it with her own eyes. There was also the fact that if she didn’t report everything she’d discovered on this case, she’d be jeopardizing her career.

“I’m required to check in. And call for back up when I need it. If ever there was a situation for that, I’d say this is it.”

Dante narrowed his eyes. “You always do everything by the book, Agent Bishop?”

She bristled at his question. “Rules are there for a reason, Mr. Warren.” She was gearing up to give him some serious what for in regards to playing by the rules. Her father had always been a stickler for regulations and routine and her entire life had been influenced by that. So what? A sense of order often gave her peace of mind.

But before she could continue, the driver who'd been quiet until now made an incomprehensible noise from the front seat, pulling her attention away from Sawyer and Dante.

She followed his gaze through the windshield to find an eerie glow above the tree line that partially lit up the night sky. Beyond that faint reddish light, smoke poured from the trees.

Holy crap.

“What the fuck?”

Sawyer's agitated question was quickly followed by a series of growls.

“Stop the truck!” Dante shouted.

Before Penelope could grab something to hold onto, the brakes were stomped and she jerked forward nearly crashing her head into the seat in front of her. A hard hand grabbed her arm and judging by the current now sizzling through her blood, she knew Sawyer had stopped her fall without even looking. Was this sensation something to do with whatever science or maybe magic that made it possible for him to transform into a wolf? There had to be some kind of chemistry anomaly to explain this.

She squeezed her eyes shut for a moment before opening them again. There were so many questions tumbling through her mind right along with the realization of the almost overwhelming attraction she felt for him.

If not for Dante scrambling from the vehicle and leaving a trail of clothes in his wake, she would have remained transfixed by the heat coming from Sawyer's touch.

It was an odd sensation of calming warmth that directly warred with her mind as she tried to focus on her surroundings and not the deep desire for something else pulling at her.

A moment later, Dante reappeared through the open doorway. “Stay with her,” he demanded. “No need for revenge is as important as protecting a mate. You know this. That’s an order.”

She looked between Dante and Sawyer, finally noticing that Sawyer already had his free hand on the door handle and a hard expression stamped across his face. And while he nodded towards his boss, the muscle in his jaw ticked back and forth several times. Whatever this was, he was being forced to hold back and he didn't like it.

“What's going on?” She swung her head back to the door, but Dante was already gone. As were the two men from the front seat.

“They'll get across the island quicker on foot.”

She scrunched up her forehead, hardly able to believe that they’d move faster than a vehicle.

“Babe, you shouldn’t underestimate our wolves. They make us more than capable for this kind of thing.”

Her frustration grew as she finally realized they’d run off intending to leave her behind. With barely a grunt of acknowledgement, she scooted toward her door and grabbed the handle.

Sawyer’s hand tightened on her arm, stopping her from getting out. “What are you doing?” he asked.

“What does it look like? I’m getting out of the backseat so I can move to the driver’s seat. I’m not staying behind like some child incapable of taking care of business. I’m a trained agent, if anyone should be on the scene it’s me. Now let go of me and let’s go. I have a feeling every second is going to count.”

A rumble sounded in Sawyer’s throat a second before he released his grip. “You can grab the passenger seat. I’m driving.”

She didn’t hesitate before scrambling from the vehicle and moving to the abandoned front seat. She grabbed the buckle while Sawyer did the same before shoving the vehicle into gear.

As they lurched forward, she stole a sidewards glance at her driver. From this angle the scars that ran along his face and exposed arms and hands were pronounced as he squeezed the wheel in a grip that looked like death.

“What?” he asked.

Caught. She turned her gaze back to the front windshield and the disappearing road in front of them. “I don’t know. I guess I expected more of an argument. So far, you and your gang have been pretty heavy handed with your orders. It’s clear you don’t like having a woman in charge.”

He turned, his facial expression difficult to read. “We’re a pack not a gang. And if my Alpha were a woman who’d proven herself, I’d like to believe I’m enlightened enough to follow her.”

She snorted in response. “Keep telling yourself that. Maybe one day you’ll have a chance to prove it.”

The hard grip of his jaw loosened and a sort of sadness washed over him. The sudden feeling so palpable it overwhelmed her.

“Not likely,” he said quietly. “At least not on Devils Point.”

She wrinkled her forehead, unable to hide her confusion. “Why not?”

“Over the years our female numbers have dwindled. We’ve had to go out of our way to find suitable mates, and until recently there hadn’t been that many.”

Something gripped her stomach a moment before she realized what it was. Oh yeah, it was the whole mate thing he kept saying when he referred to her. That tiny hope she’d clung to of him meaning they were friends unraveled before her eyes.

Of course that didn’t mean she’d lost any of her constant curiosity. The more he said, the more he fed into it, apparently. “What do you mean by going out of your way to find mates? What exactly do you do?”

As soon as the question left her mouth the air between them thickened. She watched his jaw harden and his eyes slowly narrow. Either he’d said something he shouldn’t have or she’d hit a nerve. Or maybe both.

“Does this have anything to do with you and your friend continually referring to me as a mate?”

“No. You came to us, remember? Whatever fate brought us together, it wasn’t by design. We had nothing to do with that explosion at the club. That’s all on hunter shoulders.”

She swallowed, her throat feeling suddenly closed.

“Us together?” Why she kept asking him questions she didn’t understand. The answers he gave her were not what she wanted to hear. Yet, she continued to ask.

Before he could answer, a loud eerie howl sounded from somewhere in the distance snagging both of their attention.

“Shit.”

Her pulse jumped at Sawyer's outburst. “What is it?”

“We're too late.”

She frantically searched the near darkness in front of them as they plunged into the smoke-filled roads of the island. Fear prickled along her skin. “Too late for what?”

“They’ve already found them.”

“How do you know? Do you have some sort of ESP?” This gave her pause. If they could communicate telepathically or see the future or something that would be an even bigger game changer. What chance did human kind have against those kinds of advances?

He shook his head. “No. It's all in the howl. A lot can be said over a great distance if you simply listen for the different inflections. Wolves communicate. And we're no different when we become one with the beast.”

Penelope bent forward and rubbed her temples. This was all too much to take in. She didn't know if any of this shocking information would sink in as factual details or if she'd wake up in the morning to find out it was all a dream. Her head shot up. Maybe that's it. She really was dreaming and only needed to find a way to wake up.

“What's wrong?” her dream Sawyer said.

“I've just realized that none of this is real.”

His forehead wrinkled. “What's not real? What are you talking about?”

“This.” She waved her hand in front of her. “All of it. The whole changing into a wolf thing and us racing into some unknown disaster amidst an entire pack of howling wolf men. It's all a dream. It makes perfect sense.”

His gaze slid sideways for a second. “Seriously? You've just reduced the last couple of hours to a dream or are we talking about even longer? The bridge perhaps?”

She flounced back against the seat, her frustration growing. “What the hell else am I supposed to think? This. Can't. Be. Real. This kind of thing can't exist. It's fantasy. Strictly meant for movies and books.”

The vehicle came to a sudden halt, Sawyer shoving the gears into park.

“What are you—?”

He turned toward her and leaned in close. “Oh this is real, babe. Whether you want to face that or not is another matter. But after tonight this mess will all be over and you and I can sit down and actually talk this out. I like a nice fantasy as well as the next guy, but make no mistake, this is as real as it gets.” As if to emphasize his point, his fingers curled around her arm and dragged her closer.

The edge in his tone had caught her attention as did the smoke beginning to fill the vehicle. It was difficult to be sure, but it looked like Sawyer had suddenly gone pale, making his scars more prominent than before and the muscle in his jaw jumped repeatedly. Not to mention he was breathing heavier than before. Tirade be damned. Something wasn't right.

“What's wrong?” The question no sooner left her mouth when it dawned on her. They weren't inside of a burning building, but they were surrounded by smoke. This had to be a stark reminder of the ordeal he went through inside Club Diablo the night it burned.

“Oh shit. Are you having a panic attack?”

He growled in response, even going so far as to bear his teeth and they weren't all human considering some of them were long and pretty much pointy looking.

“Please don't do that shifting thing right now. I won't know how to help you if you do.” She grappled for her seat belt buckle and clicked it free.

“I might not be able to stop it.” The words came out kind of garbled, but she understood them.

“Then focus on that.” She searched around the seats for a bottle of water or anything that she might be able to utilize to diffuse this situation. She had a fair amount of training when it came to this kind of thing, but she—dammit—she needed something to provide as a distraction.

When she came up empty handed and looked over again at Sawyer, there was only one idea she thought might work. She peeled the jacket from her shoulders and shifted around the front seats until she was across his lap and facing him.

“What are you doing?” he asked, his words still coming out harsh and rough.

“Whatever it takes to get you through this.” She gently grabbed his face and locked her gaze with his. “Now look at me and only me. Think about me. About what I am to you. Who cares where we are or what chaos surrounds us. For the moment, we're alone and we’re together and you've got answers that I need.”

Sawyer shook his head. “Got to get out there.”

“Nope. You said you've got a whole pack, right? Let them deal with the assholes out there for a few minutes more. Focus on me, Sawyer.”

He nodded, his teeth audibly grinding. Then there was the eerie dilation of his eyes along with their golden glow color change. If she were in her right mind, she would run as fast and as far away from this island as she could get.

Yet, she didn't. She wanted—no needed—to help him. She started by stroking her thumb across his bottom lip.

He was seriously the whole package when it came to looks. Full lips, strong bone structure, nose perfectly proportionate with his face. Thick, brown hair that she imagined her hands running through when they made love. The image of them intimate together formed in her mind so crystal clear it could have been real.

“Penelope,” Sawyer choked out.

Her body jerked, forcing her attention back to their situation instead of her wayward fantasies. “I'm sorry, did I hurt you?” Somewhere in that few seconds of distracted thoughts she’d leaned forward until their lips were barely a breath apart.

“No.”

That single word rumbled from his mouth in a way that sent a shiver racing up her spine. This kind of attraction confounded her. The only way she could think to describe it was—magnetic. Her previous encounters with men were thought out, even prepared for. They certainly didn’t include even an inkling of wanting to jump someone she barely knew in the front seat of an SUV.

“Babe, shifters have heightened senses. We can see and hear far better than any human, but one of our most prized abilities is our sense of smell. Different emotions carry unique scents and that allows us a distinct advantage when faced with a dangerous or perplexed human.”

She squirmed in his lap, still trying to regain her equilibrium. Unfortunately, this close proximity between them did little to ease her sudden craving for so much more.

“Are you listening?”

She bit her lip and nodded despite the fact she wasn’t focused on his words. His voice on the other hand, that she heard loud and clear all the way to the tips of her now curled toes.

“That also means I can scent your need.”

“Uh huh,” she said, his words completely lost on her.

“Penelope!”

The sharp tone of his voice broke through the din of her thoughts, forcing her to meet his gaze. “Wait. What did you say?”

“Your arousal.” He hesitated. “I can scent it. And as your mate, potential or otherwise, it is my duty to take care of that need.”

That definitely got her attention. She reared back, pushing against his chest. “Your duty,” she choked. “What the hell? I am not now or will I ever be someone’s duty.” The fog in her brain began to clear and she turned to climb back to her seat. What had she been thinking? She’d been thinking he needed her help that’s what and instead he’d used some sort of pheromone trick to ensnare her.

Jesus, if she was going to be dealing with a bunch of man- wolves she was going to have to get up to speed on the animal kingdom and what kind of tactical advantages they might have before they used them against her.

To her horror, her leg got stuck under the steering wheel and he grabbed her around the waist to still her before she could get free.

“It’s not like that. Being able to take care of a mate is a gift. Something to treasure. Not an unsavory obligation.”

She whirled on him. “If you tell me something stupid like my pleasure is your pleasure, I’m going to kick you in the nuts. So help me…”

She didn’t know what to expect from him next, but it certainly wasn’t the loud rumble of laughter rolling out of him. The sexy sound was almost enough to make her lose her mind again. Almost.

Instead she shoved at his hands and twisted her leg so she could crawl out of his lap and back into her own seat. “Does shifting into a wolf also come with a heaping helping of insanity on the side?” she asked.

Her question only made him laugh harder. And despite the mixture of annoyance and embarrassment still running through her, she could barely control her lips from curving into a smile. She even had to slap her hand across her mouth to stop it.

At least he wasn’t in panic mode anymore. She’d managed to accomplish something.

“Babe, if what I’m feeling right now is insanity, sign me up. Mating might actually be a little crazy. I mean we are talking about explosive sex, which may or may not include biting and then of course there is the inevitable breaking of furniture that is bound to lead to dirty sex. So, yep. I’m in.”