Page 18 of The Wolf's Captive

“And you are?” Malone moved to stand in front of me, putting his hand back when I tugged on his arm.

“Louis.” Bowing his head, the alpha narrowed his gaze on Malone. “And you?”

Clearing his throat, Malone offered his hand. The alpha could obviously recognise another alpha when he saw one. “I’m Malone Blakesley from the Brighton Pack.”

“Leader of the pack, you mean,” Louis said.

The incline of Malone’s head was slight, confirming the other alpha’s suspicion.

Perspiration lined my lip as I watched the pair scope each other out. Zoe had warned me that Louis didn’t want me to leave the city. I hadn’t quite understood why. Even now, his brooding presence baffled me.

“Tell me,” Louis said, “how an alpha from England has arrived in my city?”

Malone glanced at me, his eyebrows slightly raised, although not enough to draw attention. It was an invitation to explain why he’d had to fly to another country. I couldn’t help the pang of guilt that squeezed my chest.

“It’s my fault.” Stepping forward, I took Malone’s hand. “He’s my mate, and I… stayed away too long, enjoying the delights of Paris. I was due to go back a few days ago and got carried away.”

Would the alpha detect my blatant lie? Or would he decide that I wasn’t worth it? Hopefully he would just let us go on our way.

His eyes narrowed even more as he studied me, his energy so intense, it sent a shiver throughout my being. I stayed as still as I could, staring into the man’s eyes and daring him to question me.

“I can’t let you leave,” he said, waving the waiting taxi away.

The driver who had been standing beside his door nodded and quickly climbed into his vehicle.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Malone snapped, his cheeks heating pink.

Louis held his hands up in surrender, making sure to keep his shoulders low and his head tilted forward slightly. “I have a confession. I need the hybrid’s help.”

“I have a name,” I snapped, gripping Malone’s elbow in an attempt to calm him. “And how do you know about me?”

Malone’s shoulders had squared and his jaw was tight. I got it, some arsehole was demanding something from his mate. I was pissed, too. However, we didn’t have time for a standoff if we wanted to make our flight home.

“Do you want a love spell?” I quipped, fighting the smile that wanted to break free. “Or a wet dog eau de perfume?”

Okay, so I was a little more than miffed that my honeymoon reunion had been brought to an abrupt end by the Paris alpha. I’d been looking forward to holding hands in the back of the cab before teasing Malone on the plane. What? I’d been celibate for too long. It wasn’t natural for a mated wolf.

“Victor told me you might be able to help. My sister is in labour,” he blurted, his bloodshot eyes pinning me to the ground with their stare. “And the doctor we hired used silver.”

A gasp rasped from both of our mouths as the alpha waved towards a car that waited on the other side of the road. “I wouldn’t ask if I wasn’t desperate. I heard that you saved a wolf who had silver lodged in his neck. Please, will you save my sister and her baby?”

Glancing at Malone, I raised my eyebrows, inviting his input. He nodded once, taking my hand in his and squeezing it hard.

“I’ll try to help her,” I announced, swallowing hard as fear gripped my muscles.

Louis clicked his fingers towards the vehicle at the same time as grabbing my hand and shaking it. “Thank you!”

His shaky breath made my own heart speed up. If the alpha was panicking, there couldn’t have been much time. How in the world had a doctor with silver instruments managed to get close to Louis’s sister?

“Take their bags,” Louis ordered when his driver approached. “Please, come.”

Malone picked up his suitcase and followed us across the road. Throwing it into the back, he joined me by the door, taking my hand as Louis indicated that we should get in.

For a moment, I paused, wondering whether the man was tricking us. When Malone nudged me in the side, I climbed in, trusting my mate’s intuition. He would’ve been able to tell whether or not Louis was lying.

The alpha climbed in the front, turning in his seat as the driver joined us, instantly starting the engine and pulling away.

“I don’t know what it’s like in England, but we’re traditional here in Paris. We allowed my sister’s labour to go naturally, until our midwife said that the baby was stuck and we’d need help. I called in the emergency doctor straight away.” His cheeks turned an angry purple. “He knew my rule about no silver, but clearly he was an enemy, because he forced a piece of silver metal…” Shaking his head, he choked before blinking rapidly. “…inside my sister. It’s wedged…”