Chapter Thirty-seven

Sam got back to the hotel just after dawn. Glenna was in her bed, her face soft and innocent in deep sleep and wearing her t-shirt. He was exhausted from a night spent outrunning his demons, but the idea of crawling into bed next to her and having her again got his body humming. He could have her again. Her smooth, silky skin, her hot, wet pussy. He’d devour her and all the space he’d managed to get from his run would crumble.

And there was no way he’d sleep in the other bed. It was too far away. Her delicious scent and tangled hair would call to him until he caved.

He shook himself and headed for an icy shower instead.

When he got out, she was awake.

“My turn?” Her words were stiff and her body language echoed the awkwardness of a first meeting.

“Be my guest.” He hugged close to the wall, as far away from her as he could get, but he still nearly touched her when she passed by. “When you get out we’ll grab some breakfast.”

She just nodded and shut the door.

Sam closed his eyes and banged his head on the wall.

He needed to get her back to a safe place. Somewhere she could change in peace and he could get the hell away from her. He picked up his phone, turned it on, and called Lana.

“Where in Hades are you?”

“Calm down, Lana.”

“I will not calm down. Your phone has been off for almost an entire day. What happened? You never showed. Ian’s on his way back down to Denver to look for you.”

“We had a problem. We still have a problem.”

“Well, whatever it is, you need to get her back here. We have no idea when she’ll start to change.”

“She’s close, Lana, very close. Maybe a few days, maybe sooner than that. But we were followed and I didn’t want to lead the feds back to your place. We’re holed up in a hotel. It’s okay for now, but I need to get her somewhere safe.”

“You’re out of danger now?”

“I think so.”

The bathroom door opened. Glenna stepped out. Her curly hair was wet and dark. She’d showered, but under the clean fresh scent of soap and shampoo he could still smell sex, female and wolf. His wolf stirred in response.

“Bring her back here, Sam, before she changes in front of a crowd and runs wild.” The impatience in Lana’s voice cut through his distraction.

“Got it.” The line went dead.

If he’d called Lana before he’d walked into this room, before he’d seen Glenna naked in the bed, before he’d smelled her powerful lure, he would have definitely packed Glenna in the SUV and driven her back. But now his wolf was working on him and he knew, it would mean walking away as soon as he’d dropped her off. And while a half an hour ago he’d thought he was ready to do that, right now, he wasn’t sure his wolf would let him.

All his instincts said he should keep her to himself. Lock her in the room and fuck her until he was so fever-ridden he claimed her. Give her no choice. And he wasn’t even in the grip of the fever, yet. And if the fever hadn’t started yet, it would soon. He had to take her back. He wrestled his instincts down.

“We need to get you back to Lana’s.”

“Is it safe?”

“If they’d followed us here, we would have known about it by now. Come on, we’ll get some breakfast on the way.” He turned to go.

“Sam, I know my place is probably being watched, but I would really love to get just a few things. I have nothing from my life—no pictures, no mementos. I don’t even have any of my own clothes.” She made a face. “It sounds stupid, but even wearing something familiar would be comforting right now. I just want something to remember myself, remember my old life. Can we find out if my place is being watched and retrieve some of my stuff?” She begged him with hopeful eyes. “Please?”

He should take her back to Lana’s and get as far away from her as fast as possible. But it was a long drive to Lana’s from where they were.

“At least my photo album. It’s all I have left of my parents.” She swallowed. “And now, Sarah.”

His wolf wanted him to give her everything she asked for and more. And both he and his wolf knew once he delivered her to Lana’s he would be handing over this assignment to someone else. This was his last chance to spend any time with her. “We’ll get you your stuff, but we need to think up a plan.”

He didn’t care how dangerous it was. Didn’t care he risked his sanity with every extra minute he stayed with her. Driving back to Denver would give him almost another day before he had to turn her over and never see her again. He’d steal the time, despite the risk.

***

Glenna peeked around the corner of her sister’s office building. They were lying in wait, ready to pounce on her sister. No sign of Sarah, but Glenna knew she’d be there soon.

Sam pulled her back behind the brick building and into the alley. He’d bought her a ball cap and sunglasses at the truck stop where they’d had breakfast, as well as a new t-shirt, and now her wild hair was tucked up under the cap and her chest blazoned ‘Crystal Falls’.

“This is not what I was thinking of.” He didn’t look happy, but she was. She was going to see Sarah. “Ian’s on his way. He’ll be here in just a few minutes. We need to wait.”

“We can’t wait. She’ll be here. She always comes here for lunch. If we wait for Ian, we’ll miss her.” Her heart pounded. Adrenaline spiked just under her tingling skin. “She’ll be looking for me. Roger would have told her I’m alive. He couldn’t have kept that a secret. And she can go into my apartment, get my stuff, and bring it back to us. Even with those guys watching.” She almost could feel her tail twitching.

A jolt of fear shot through her. She didn’t have a tail.

“Sam?”

“Hmm?”

“Nothing.”

She wouldn’t tell him. If she explained that the air smelled different, alive with flavors she could taste in her throat. That everything looked sparkly and bright and that she could sense him from five feet away without looking. If she told him any of that, he’d nix the plan and they’d be off to Lana’s like a shot.

She wasn’t giving up this chance to see Sarah.

Finally, Sarah came out of the building, her distinctive strawberry blonde hair confined in a conservative up-do that went with her suit. She tucked her head down and clicked her heels on the pavement heading away from them and down the street. An uncharacteristic two minutes late for her midmorning coffee break.

“There she is.”

“Shh, keep it down.”

Glenna curbed her impulse to run over and wrap her sister in a bear hug. Squish her until she couldn’t breathe. He was right. They had to stalk this prey carefully, make sure no one was hunting them. She settled down next to Sam, the more experienced hunter.

“I’ll follow her, you follow me,” he said. That was the plan, but she chafed at only being able to see Sam, not Sarah.

Sam held up a finger. “If you won’t behave, I’ll put you in the back of the SUV and do it without you.”

Their prey was about to round the corner, out of sight. Glenna’s need to follow her intensified. She nodded. He gave her a last warning look and headed out, walking casually down the street after Sarah. Glenna waited until he too had rounded the corner, then she followed him. They walked three blocks until she caught up with him next to the coffee shop.

“I told you she’d come here. Let’s go in.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea. We don’t want anyone to recognize you.”

Glenna growled before she could hold it back.

Sam’s eye’s narrowed. “Glenna, when I asked you how you were feeling, you told me everything. Right?”

“I feel great. More than great.” Anticipatory tingles ran through her. She felt like running into the coffee shop and pouncing on her little sister, rolling on the floor with her and covering her with puppy kisses.

Sam reached over and tilted her sunglasses up, staring into her eyes. “Shit.” He shook his head and ran a hand over the top and down the back of his neck. “I thought we had more time. We’re going back to Lana’s. Now.” He took her hand and started to retrace their steps back to the truck.

“No. Sam, please.” She needed to placate him or she’d lose this chance to see her sister. “We’re so close.” The door to the coffee shop opened and she ducked back around the corner. “Look, she’s coming out. She’ll take the coffee to the park and we can talk to her there.”

“Five minutes. And, if she’s willing, she can get your stuff and we’ll pick it up next week. You won’t need much for the first week or so of the change anyway, you’ll be in and out of wolf shape too frequently to worry about clothes. And as important as your photo album is, it can also wait until I’m sure it’s safe.”

She was going to see her sister!

Glenna’s spirits soared up to the bright blue sky and she giggled, clamping a hand over her lips when she saw Sam’s frown.

They followed Sarah to the park, hiding behind some bushes while Sarah went to her favorite spot by the lake. The spot where they’d met for coffee any time the weather was nice.

“Here, take this.” Sam handed her a phone.

“Why?” She pushed it back at him. “I don’t need this, she’s right there.” She quivered with anticipation.

Sam gripped her face in his hand and turned her to him, forcing her to look at him. She squirmed away from his rough grip and the frustration written on his face.

“Man, I can’t believe I didn’t smell this on you.”

“Smell what?”

She could barely focus. The prey was in sight.

“Smell that the change is this close.” He ran a hand over his hair and groaned. “You’ve got me so distracted with need for you, woman, I can’t think straight.”

Prey forgotten, his words had her craving his body again. The sun was bright, the air sparked, and this man wanted her. Pictures of their bodies tangled in the green succulent grass flashed through her mind. Her lips drew back in a play-with-me smile and a small sound grew in the back of her throat.

“Stop it.” He took a step away from her and looked around, his fingers flying over his phone. “We’d better go. I texted Ian to meet us at the parking lot.” He took her arm and started to pull her from the park.

“No.” Her mood flashed mercury fast back from sex to hunting. “If you won’t play, too bad for you. I want to see Sarah.”

“You’re going to attract attention,” he hissed.

Glenna shook his hand from her arm and focused again on her sister sitting and staring into the water, her coffee growing cold and forgotten.

“She looks sad.”

“If I’d lost you, I’d be sad too.” He pushed the phone into her pocket. “Take it, just in case.”

She snuck a quick look at him. He smelled good. She felt torn between her two needs. Seeing Sarah, and rolling in the grass with Sam. A moment of clarity struck through the glitter of the afternoon.

“Sam, what’s happening to me?” The glitter had gone out of the world and she felt suddenly sober. “I feel like I can only focus on one thing at a time, like the world has narrowed and gotten way too big at the same time.”

“It’s coming, and it’s coming fast.” Sam reached out a finger and slid it along her cheek, tracing heat on her skin.

Glenna rubbed her face into his hand. “Mmm, you feel good.”

“Christ. Glenna, I know you want to see Sarah, but—hey, look at me.”

She did. His gorgeous blue eyes were warm and serious. He cradled his hands along the sides of her face. His mouth was so close, only inches away and she could taste him. “Sarah will still be here next week. Your stuff will be too. Come with me, back to the truck.”

All she could see was Sam. All she could smell was Sam. The hunt and Sarah faded away. Warm scents of spice and male and something she’d never smelled before, something deep and wonderful layered under the cheap hotel soap and shampoo.

Home.

Glenna lifted her face to his and their lips met. Hot licks of need spiraled through her blood, and the kiss went wild.

Glenna moaned. She pushed her hands under his t-shirt and splayed them along his muscles. She pulled him in. Close, then closer.

“Whoa, slow down.” Sam’s breathing came in heavy pants. “Let’s go back to the truck.” Glenna went willingly, her change-fed passions pushing everything from her mind. The only thing now was following this man and going somewhere he would slake her thirst.

***

Sam maneuvered Glenna into the Suburban. He looked over his shoulder. This hadn’t been his first choice of parking lot, only one way in and one way out, and super crowded. But it was downtown Denver at noon and they were lucky to have found anything at all.

He was in deep trouble. He didn’t think he had the fever, didn’t want to catch it with Glenna, who was so tied to the human world that he wasn’t sure she’d stay with the pack. But God he wanted to fuck her.

He never should have touched her.

He was nothing like her former fiancé. Nothing like her world. He saw how polished her sister was, how slick Sarah’s apartment had been. Roger’s suit and tie, the way he talked. That wasn’t the world of the pack. At least not the wolf shifters who lived on the sidelines of society. And it wasn’t the world of a short-order cook without a restaurant turned pack enforcer.

As soon as he climbed into the front seat, she was all over him. Hands stroking up his thighs, face burrowed into his neck.

“Glenna.” He took her hands, moved her over to her side of the vehicle. “Glenna, I can’t drive like this.

“Drive?” Her eyes were glazed, her face flushed. “Sam, we don’t need to drive, we can do it right here.” She was back on his side, practically in his lap, her heat cupping his erection. Her sweet, sweet mouth moved over his. Her lips devouring him until he skated the edge of giving in and taking her here in broad daylight in the alley.

He worked to climb out from under the onslaught of woman.

“Okay, sugar, can you sit on your side while I drive? Or do we need to put you in the back?”

She panted and shook her head. Her pupils were black pools nearly taking over the blue of her eyes. “Don’t put me in the back, Sam.” She was going under fast. Her reasoning had become animalistic. She’d be focused on her basic needs from here on out. Freedom, food, water. And sex. He remembered the constant craving for sex.

He needed to get her to safety.

“Can you sit there, not touch me?” he asked.

“I will. I promise.”

He had his doubts, but they were running out of time. “Good.” He started the car and began to back out. There was a sickening sound of metal hitting metal and the old Suburban shuddered with impact.

“What the...” In the rear mirror was the shape of a black SUV. They were boxed in on all sides by parked cars and now the SUV in the back. His skin prickled. He never should have brought her back to Denver.

“Okay, Glenna, listen to me.” She nodded at him, but her hot hand had snaked its way to his leg and was climbing up his thigh. “You need to get out of the car and run as fast as you can, run and hide. Ian will be here soon. He’ll find you.” Tracking in the city was hard, but Glenna, with her change-powered scent, should be easy for the beta to find. God, he hoped so.

The front doors to the SUV opened.

Adrenaline punched through his system and his wolf roared to life. They were here for his woman.

He shoved Glenna back to her side of the truck. “Run, Glenna, now.” He got out, forcing himself to focus on the two men in black suits and dark glasses and not on Glenna getting out on the other side. The urge to shift flowed in his veins. His wolf wanted out, it was time to fight.

He pushed it savagely down. Baring his teeth in a semblance of a smile, he walked to the back of the Suburban. “Hello, gentlemen.”

The taller one with darker skin pulled out a badge. “Sir, step away from the vehicle.” His shorter, white partner had stepped around the other side and approached Glenna.

“What seems to be the problem?” The need to protect hazed his vision. Why hadn’t she run? If she didn’t get out of here, he’d shift and give these men exactly what they thought they wanted. A live wolf shifter.

Sam backed up away from the fed holding the badge. “We aren’t causing any trouble.”

“Were you aware there’s a warrant out for this woman?” The man’s suit smelled of sweat and stale air conditioning and the fast food sandwich he’d eaten for breakfast.

“No, there must be a mistake.” Out of the corner of his eye, Sam could see Glenna on the other side of the Suburban. She not only wasn’t running, she’d moved up next to the fed, almost making him take a few steps back. She had a look on her face he recognized from years of living with wolves. Come and get me, sucker.

The shorter fed spread his hands wide, in a wrestlers approach. “Ma’am, if you’ll just come with me.”

Glenna sniffed, her pert nose wrinkling in disgust. “I’m not going anywhere with you. You reek of lies.”

She was an idiot, but he was proud of her anyway. The wolf in him was even prouder.

“Now, ma’am, I’m not going to hurt you. Just relax.” He reached for her. Glenna slapped his hand away and bared her teeth.

“Hey, sugar, remember what I told you.” Sam eyed the man in front of him. He could take him. His muscles tensed, ready to jump.

“Easy there.” A voice came from behind him.

Edward Lasasso, the fed from the day before stood at the front of the Suburban, aiming a gun straight at Sam. If Lasasso was here, fed B wouldn’t be far behind. Sam looked for him and found him on the other side of the Suburban with his weapon aimed at a snarling Glenna.

“Calm down, sugar.” He needed her thinking and human.

“We don’t want any trouble,” Lasasso said.

Sam went to move, but the short fed next to Glenna reached into his pocket and pulled out a syringe. He grabbed her arm and plunged the needle in. She scraped her fingers down his face and he let her go. “Fucking bitch!”

“Sam.” Her face blanched. The sedative took effect and her body dropped.

His vision hazed with red. He lunged for the fed in front of him, grabbing his arms and twisting so he was between him and Lasasso. He wrapped his arm around in a chokehold.

“Easy.” Lasasso nodded to the man standing over Glenna’s body. “Marsden, put her in the back.”

Sam got ready to twist. “Leave her or I’ll kill him.”

“Easy, big fella.” The last fed was creeping around the front side of the Suburban. Once he got there, Sam would have both guns aimed at him. No chance both of them would miss.

Sweat dripping down his face, he throbbed with the need to shift. He couldn’t lose it now. Shifting would blow everything. He’d lose Glenna and reveal the pack.

Marsden picked up Glenna’s limp body. Sam applied pressure.

“Put her down,” the man in his grip wheezed out. “He’s choking me!”

“If you kill him, you have nothing to bargain with.”

His prisoner passed out. The need to finish the man off pulsed through him, but Sam ignored it. If he killed him, he’d have a bounty on his head. He didn’t need that. He let go of the dead weight, dropped low, and shot around the SUV keeping it between him and the feds with guns. He lunged for Marsden who had his hands full of Glenna and went for his throat.

He had seconds to realize he’d failed before the bullet grazed his head.

Sam staggered and fell hard on the pavement. The world blurred as he watched Marsden shove Glenna in the back seat and slam the door closed.

“You don’t have any choice now.” Lasasso stood over him. Sam looked deep into the barrel of his gun. “Either you hold still and let us handcuff you, or I shoot you again. Either way I have what I want.”

Marsden pulled a pair of cuffs out of his pocket.

Sam howled, his body contorting with his last effort not to shift. And from a distance he heard an unbelievable answering howl. And another and another. Adrenaline shot through him, the pack was coming.

Ian and Marcus ran into the parking lot, another Ram’s Haven enforcer behind them. Caleb, black-eyed, black haired, and tougher than sin. Sam had never been so grateful to see another group of men and he twisted and landed a heavy punch on Marsden’s face. The man stumbled back

He didn’t even see the other enforcers taking on the rest of the feds, but as Marsden ran for the SUV, he heard the thuds of their bodies hitting the ground.

“Marsden!” Sam lurched to his feet and lunged, the SUV’s door slamming shut on the tips of his fingers. The engine started. Sam grabbed the door handle, his adrenaline narrowing his focus to nothing but his prey.

Marsden put on the gas, driving the SUV through the tight parking lot. Sam hung on, his body flung from side to side. His arms burned, but Glenna was in the car. He couldn’t let go. Marsden took a hard right as he exited the lot and Sam hit the metal post that delineated the exit’s opening. He let go, falling to the ground, the skin on his legs burning from the road rash. No way was the fucker leaving with Glenna.

His clothes shredded as he shifted to wolf. He ran down the pavement after Glenna and the SUV, howling as they drove out of sight.