Page 57 of Taming the White Wolf
He ducked his head down and shoved it beneath her hand. The kitchen was small and he was taking up most of the space. Werewolves were much larger than normal wolves. He was bigger than them both.
The tips of her fingers grazed his fur. When he didn’t move, her touch became bolder until her entire hand was stroking his head. “Maybe because it was dark the last time, and I was totally freaked out, but you’re bigger than I remember. Like ginormous. And your fur is so white.” She tugged on the lock of her hair. “We match. I should be terrified because you could rip me to shreds. I have firsthand knowledge of the damage a werewolf can inflict.”
A low growl of anger escaped him. Not exactly the best way to convince her she was safe, but his wolf wasn’t happy.
“No need to take that tone with me. I’m not saying I think you’d hurt me, but you could.” Typical of Zoe, sniping back to a wolf that could, as she so eloquently put it, rip her to shreds.
Taking a risk, he lowered his head and nuzzled her neck. “That tickles.” Laughing, she bent her head down to her shoulder and jerked away. Any remaining doubt vanished. She truly accepted him for what he was—a werewolf assassin who was also a man.
She put her foot alongside his paw. “Talk about a big foot.” Her heart was racing, but it wasn’t from fear. That scent burned his nostrils. When it was a target, he used it to feed his strength and determination. When it had been Zoe, it was a foul smell that scorched his soul.
Stepping in front of him, she took his muzzle in her hands. “You never have to hide any part of who you are. Not from me.” He opened his mouth, exposing long, razor-sharp fangs.
“Yeah, I get that you’re the big bad wolf. All the better to eat me, right? I don’t mind…as long as you’re in human form.” She winked and grinned as she made the erotic suggestion.
He licked his lips and then swiped his tongue over her face. “Ugh, you slimed me. Your tongue is rough.” She grabbed the dishtowel and rubbed it over her face. He took the opportunity to shift back, faster this time. When she lowered the towel, he was back in his human form, naked before her. “I missed it.”
“I’ll show you another time.” He cursed the fates that there wasn’t any time for them. Since they’d met, they’d gone from one crisis to another with no opportunity for her to catch her breath. But time slowed for no one and their enemies were even now moving against them.
“I’ll hold you to that.” There were likely a million questions on the tip of her tongue, but she asked none of them. With a brisk nod, she began gathering the remaining dishes. “We should talk about what we’re doing when we get back to the city.”
If he was alone, things would be easier. He’d track young wolves and question them. Hell, if he was alone, he’d walk straight into an alpha’s den and demand answers. That still might be his best option but having her with him complicated matters.
Adjust, he ordered himself.
While he dressed, she filled the sink and began to wash cups and cutlery, setting them on a clean towel she’d spread out on the counter. “I know you have a plan, so might as well spill it.”
“I’m considering my options.” He grabbed another dishtowel and got to work drying. It was strange to share a household chore. Living out of motels and short-term rentals, he wasn’t bothered with such mundane matters. It was all about the hunt, about being the hand of justice when he was working. When he wasn’t, it was about trying to forget the killing while ignoring the endless empty years ahead of him.
Most people never understood that the so-called normal, everyday things—the ones shared with those you loved—were the most important. Spending your day with someone, laughing, crying, and even arguing was what mattered. It was the dead silence in the empty, impersonal rooms that eroded the soul year after year.
“I’m familiar with the territory of each of the packs. It will be easy enough to scout around and detain a member or two, maybe find someone who knew either Cardelli or O’Reilly.”
“Hmm.” After she finished scrubbing a plate, she rinsed it and handed it to him. “That could work, assuming those are their real names, but it could also take awhile. And what if neither male was from New York? What address was on Ryan O’Reilly’s driver’s license?”
“Bronx.”
She turned toward him and leaned her hip against the counter. “That’s outside the area of the packs you mentioned.”
He finished drying the plate and set it on the counter next to the rest of the clean dishes. There weren’t many so it hadn’t taken long. He was stalling. He tossed the dishtowel aside. “A faster approach is to go directly to each of the alphas.” That was the way he was leaning, despite the dangers.
She nibbled on her bottom lip. He fisted his hands at his sides to keep from reaching for her. “You said we couldn’t trust them.”
“It’s a volatile relationship. They fear but need me. Rogues aren’t good for us as a species, so we coexist. Taking you with me is a huge risk.”
“You’re not stashing me somewhere and doing this alone.” She caught one of his fists and pried his hand open before linking their fingers together. “Together, remember?”
He raised their joined hands. Hers was so much smaller than his, her skin softer and more delicate, but there was also undeniable strength. “I have a way to keep both of us safe.”
She raised her eyebrows. “Do tell.”
“It’s time to make the packs aware that the lone wolves are joining forces.”
She paled and swallowed hard. “Won’t that sow the seeds of distrust even more?”
“It will stir things up. It may force someone to act. It will certainly loosen tongues.” Which was the entire purpose.
“What if one of the alphas contacts Kade or the black wolf? Will they back you or deny the association to protect themselves?”
