Page 44 of Silver Claw

I ached with the emptiness, despite the cuts from Anika’s tempting blade.

I needed to eat. Food would fill some of those empty spaces. I pulled into a parking lot and shut the car off, then pulled the bag of now cold food to me.

I was halfway through it, mumbling about how delicious it was, when my phone rang again. This time, though, it was Gavin Voss.

For a few seconds, I could only stare at the phone in shock. Jared hadn’t killed the bastard. “What do you want, Voss?” I asked finally.

He laughed, but the blustery loudness was gone. Now, he just sounded dark. “What do you think I want, Kaity?”

“Don’t call me that like you’re a friend.” I threw the napkins and foil into the bag with a little more force than necessary. “Have you recovered yet from getting your ass kicked by a woman?”

“I recovered faster than you did, tiny wolf. I called to tell you that because of you, my priorities have changed. Not because I’m interested in taking over this shiny city—not anymore—but because I’ve decided I want you. And make no mistake, girl. Ialwaysget what I want. Always.”

“You’re going to die here,” I said, almost gently.

“I keep searching for things to make me…settled,” he said, as though I hadn’t spoken. “Things that make me happy to be alive. Why do you think I keep going after other territories? I don’t want the packs or the places. I want the challenge. The hunt. The excitement. And right now, I don’t mind telling you that I’m real fucking excited.”

He ended the call before I could so much as open my mouth.

A few seconds later, he sent a text.

Run from me, Kait Silver. I live for the hunt. I love the chase. Tell your boyfriend that he can keep his pack and his city, but I’m taking his woman. What a thrill ride!

“Dear lord,” I whispered. I pressed on my stomach, hoping to loosen some of the knots. The Iron Fang alpha made me nervous in ways that only the demons ever had.

Luckily for me, my fear made me angry.

I could do anger.

But I really, really wished I hadn’t lost my magic. Gavin Voss had magic, though it was tied to his werewolf shift. It was strong, but my blade could handle it and even hurt him with it. As long as I kept my blade, I had a good chance to defeat his magic.

I still hadn’t started my car when Jared called. “Jared,” I said.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, hearing something in my voice.

“Voss just called me.” I told him everything the alpha had said, then read the text to him. I didn’t believe for an instant that Voss wasn’t going to go after the ones I loved.

“We found some of his warriors. They don’t know where he is. He’s hiding somewhere, recovering from what you did to him and plotting his next move.” His voice was extra calm, the way it got when his rage was ready to explode. “I’ll find him, Kait.”

“Jared,” I murmured. “Don’t worry about me. I can handle that bastard, and my blade can handle his magic.”

“You’ve proven that,” he agreed.

But I heard his worry.

“His beta?” I asked.

“Callen Chesley,” he said. “We can’t find him, either. Voss commanded his warriors to wait where he placed them, like a bunch of corralled animals, and they won’t move.” There was contempt in his voice when he spoke the word “warriors.”

“Imagine how he must treat the packs he collects,” I murmured.

“I’m sending Sam back to you,” he told me. “Keep them all with you. Call Zach and Remy. Rick?”

“He’s okay,” I said. “He’s fine.”

But he heard the doubt in my voice. “Kait,” he said gently. Then, “Do you need me?”

Because he knew the risk of Rick, as well.