Page 60 of Taming the White Wolf
“This is Devlin. I’m assuming Kade is keeping you up to date on what’s happening. I’m about to confront the alphas of New York and tell them we’re working together to try to flush out a rat and a mage. If you’re not going to back me, I’d appreciate you keeping your silence if contacted.” He ended the call.
“Do you think he’s part of whatever is going on?”
He pocketed his phone and shook his head. “I might be reaching, but I believe this goes back to our transformation into lone wolves. That’s more than eighty-five years of planning, likely more. If the wolf involved was an adult back then, he’s passed the prime of his life. Unless the mage hooked up with the wolf recently, time is running out for the wolf involved.”
“And he’ll be getting desperate.” Wasn’t that a fun thought?
“Yes.”
“Mages are human? Not another species like werewolves?”
“Mages are always human. They live longer than most, a by-product of their work, but they eventually die.” He huffed out a breath. “The ones that dabble in dark magic use blood spells to steal the life force from other humans and paranormals to keep themselves young and prolong their lives.”
Her stomach lurched. “I remember you told me that.” She wasn’t sure why she found it surprising. Cultures since the dawn of time had made human sacrifices to their gods for various reasons. To live longer, some people would do anything, including killing another. It was both gruesome and terrifying. “Is that… Is that why they want me dead? Why the wolves keep trying to kill me?”
He tugged her to her feet and wrapped her in his arms. Leaning against him, she let the heat from his body chase away the chill. “No. The mage would need you there to complete the ritual. I’m not sure what they’re trying to accomplish with your death—other than make me go on a rampage.”
“Maybe they weren’t going to kill me, at least not right away.” It was an odd thought, but given the new information, it made sense.
“Cardelli was going for blood.”
She shivered and burrowed closer, not needing the reminder. “He got off on my fear. Maybe he was supposed to bring me to someone. As long as I was alive, maybe they didn’t care what kind of shape I was in. You killed the second attacker too fast for us to know what his real intentions were.”
Every muscle in his body tensed. “You may be right, but we can’t afford to take a chance.”
She rubbed her nose against the soft cotton of his T-shirt. “Either way, I end up dead.” If not immediately by being torn apart by a wolf then eventually drained to keep a mage alive. Both options were gruesome and not something she wanted to dwell on.
Pulling away, she glanced out the window at the city she’d made her home. The streetlights were beginning to flicker to life. The wait was over. “Let’s do this.” Rather than take her purse, she tucked some money in her pocket. She wanted nothing that might encumber her. If she died, it wouldn’t matter if she came back for her belongings or not. If she survived, they’d still be here. “I’m not waiting around or cowering. If they want a fight, we’ll give them one.”
He snatched her off her feet, his mouth slamming down on hers. There was heat, desperation, and a bone-deep longing that made her soul weep. She wrapped her arms around his neck and tangled her tongue with his. Whatever the outcome, this was one thing she’d never regret. The longer she spent with him, the more convinced she was that he was the real magic, not some contrived spell by some mage. Naive, maybe, but it bolstered her confidence in herself and in them as a couple.
Passion and love had eluded her until she’d crossed paths with Devlin. Predestined, fate, or the machinations of a wolf and a mage, it didn’t matter. For whatever time they had, she’d embrace it while doing her damn best to make sure they both came out alive at the end.
Maybe that was no more than a fairy tale, but if magic was real, why shouldn’t it work for them instead of against them?
One huge hand cupped the back of her head as he continued to devour her. The other was splayed under her ass, keeping her a foot off the floor. His enormous strength was such a turn-on, especially when it was tempered with gentleness. He always seemed to know how much of each she needed.
When they parted, they were both breathing heavily. She glanced longingly at the bed then patted his shoulder. “We should go.” As much as she’d love to do nothing more than spend a night making love, that wouldn’t happen until they were safe. The most they could have were stolen moments.
He lowered her back to the floor and rubbed his thumb across her lips. “Promise me you’ll do as I say.”
Any other time, she’d bristle at the mere suggestion, but this was his world and these were his people. “I promise.”
…
All conversation ceased when they stepped into the private clubhouse in Brooklyn. Classic rock continued to be pumped out over the sound system, but all eyes were on them. A wave of hostility slammed into him.
Zoe sucked in a breath, sensitive to the changing energy. Her heart was pounding, but she held her ground beside him.
Keeping his expression placid, he waited inside the entrance. A low growl came from the nearest table. Devlin ignored it. He wasn’t about to allow himself to get dragged into some dominance bullshit. Killing a pack member straight off would not endear him to the alpha.
“Welcome.” A tall, lean male wearing faded jeans, biker boots, and a plain black T-shirt strode toward them. “This is an unexpected surprise.” Golden eyes flickered over both him and Zoe, missing nothing. “I’m—”
“Stan Rostenkowski.” He kept extensive files on all the packs. It paid to be aware of all the players.
The alpha halted six feet away, hands on his hips. “And you’re Devlin Moore, the white wolf. To what do we owe the honor?” His words were perfectly polite, but his tone suggested quite the opposite. This unexpected visit was pissing him off and making him nervous.
“Information. I get what I want, I go away. I’m sure that would please you and your pack.”
