“What are you doing?”
“Your wolf needs comfort. I might not be like you, East. I can’t shift, and I can’t lick your wounds or let you kick my ass until they don’t hurt. But I have this. Our heartbeats. Feel that. Focus on it.”
“You think I’m going to kill him.”
“Aren’t you?” Her words were without judgment, and I fell for her just a little more.
“Would you think less of me if I did?”
“Hell, no. I’d think you’re taking justice into your hands. It’s not like some random human could take him on.”
“Sheriff Wayne took the report,” I said because I had a feeling she knew who—and what—he was.
“Good. That means they’ll at least arrest him, right?”
“Not if she doesn’t press charges.” I blew out a heavy breath and, haltingly, told her the story of my childhood. I ended with the Sheriff’s admission that this made incident number two this year. “But it doesn’t matter because she won’t let them charge him.”
“What about the pack? Will they do anything?”
“He says Tobias wants to talk to me.”
She blew out a breath. “That’s something.”
I shook my head. “Not really. My word will mean about as much as a stranger’s.”
“But you’re a werewolf,” she said, confusion knitting her brows.
“I have no sway unless I join the pack.”
“Oh.”
We fell silent, and I could see her lost in thought. My instincts said they’d drifted from my old man’s violence to her own experience earlier tonight. Watching her worry, for the first time, I considered joining the pack again—just to formally accuse the asshole who’d put his hands on her. If I’d been one of them, he’d already be banished. Or dead. And I would’ve had every right to do it myself.
“Travis isn’t going to stop,” I said quietly.
Her hand dropped from my wrist. She stepped back, forcing my hand to let go of her throat. “I can handle him.”
“He’s a wolf, Cat. A beast who’s lost control.”
“What do you suggest?” she snapped, rubbing her forehead.
Let me kill him.
“Report him to the sheriff. Let him handle it. As a cop. And a wolf.”
“What makes you think they’ll stop him?” she shot back. “He’s one of theirs. I’m a human. No one.”
I closed the distance and hauled her up by the arms, half-desperate at her words. “You’re not no one. Not to me.”
Cat stared up at me.
I cursed myself for handling her so roughly after all she’d been through tonight, but I couldn’t make myself let her go. Instead, I waited for her to shove me away. Maybe even throw me out.
A second later, she fisted her hands in my shirt and yanked my mouth to hers.
The moment our lips met, my beast knew it had me.
Need spiked, hot and fast, eliminating any chance I had at taking this gentle and slow. My mouth claimed hers in the way my wolf had been dreaming about since it laid eyes on her.
My hands tightened around her, hauling her tighter against me.
Her lips parted, giving me access, and my tongue swept inside.
Cat made a soft noise, and I nearly ripped off her clothes right then.
Lifting her into my arms, I started down the hallway.
Cat gasped as I broke the kiss.
“Which room is yours?” I demanded.
“End of the hall,” she said, breathless.
I carried her into the room at the end of the hall, and when I didn’t see Rudy lurking anywhere, I assumed I’d gotten it right.
Crossing to the bed, I tossed her onto the mattress. She looked up at me with those doe eyes, and I could see the words already forming on the tip of her tongue.
“Don’t say it.”
“How do you know what I’m going to say?” she asked.
Breathless. Flushed. Fucking gorgeous.
“Because it’s written all over you.” I inhaled and almost groaned. Sitting on the mattress beside her, I leaned down and whispered, “I can smell your desire from here, baby. Don’t shut me out.”
She shivered, and I licked a line from her throat to her mouth.
“I can’t do this,” she said, wriggling out of reach.
She scooted across the mattress and got to her feet.
I narrowed my eyes at her then rose and stalked to where she stood.
“You want me.” It wasn’t a question.
“You’re leaving.” It wasn’t an accusation.
Just fact.
Damn.
“Come with me.”
Where the hell had that come from?
“What?” She stared at me like I was crazy. Maybe I was.
“Come with me,” I repeated. “When I leave.” I grabbed her hand. Held it tight. “Let’s see where this goes. Away from here. Together.”
She yanked her hand free. “I can’t go with you. That’s crazy.”
“It’s not crazy. You want me. I want you.” My wolf needs to claim you. “Come with me.”
“East, the clinic.”
“There are clinics everywhere. You’ll get a job.”
“It’s not just a job.” Her voice had hardened. I tried to figure out what I’d said wrong because based on the way she’d just shut down, I’d definitely fucked up. “That clinic belongs to me. I own it.”
I blinked. “I didn’t realize. That’s amazing.”
“It passed to me when my parents died last year. You know, the funeral you never showed up for.”
“Cat, I’m sorry. I didn’t know, or I would have been here. But the clinic...” I tried to get back on even footing. “That’s great.”
“It’s been a mess,” she said, not giving an inch. “They were in a lot of debt.”
“I didn’t realize.”
“You didn’t ask.”
“I . . .”
“You also didn’t ask why I live with a roommate. Or why I chose to sell my parents’ house, the only place that I ever knew as home. In case you’re wondering, I was forced to sell.”
“What? Cat, I—”
“My parents’ car accident was tragic and untimely, but it was also expensive. Between medical bills, burials, and their terrible money management skills, they left me alone. In debt. With a flailing business. And just when I think I’m treading water again, you show up. And I’m drowning.”
When I reached for her, she scooted away, creating a distance between us I felt in my bones.
“You’re right. I’ve been so wrapped
