Page 9 of Alpha Bond

I’m weakening. Not just from hunger. The fever is beginning to rage. I lick dry lips and remember how he felt pressed against me. Big, strong, hard. So darn male.

He’ll protect me.

Not forever. Just until I’m back on my feet. Then I’ll be able to get away. Get back home. Or what’s left of it.

My next whine is audible. A low sound that’s barely a breath away from a pitiful howl. I take a step forward. Then another. And then my wolf has me jogging.

“Jagger! Jagger Law!” Strangely, I like the way it sounds on my lips. He falters but doesn’t stop. “Wait up!” He comes to a halt and then glances back.

Thank fuck!

I think…

Oh God, this is a mistake. Like a lamb handing itself to the wolves. Literally. But if it’s a mistake, it’s too late to turn back now. I barely have the strength left to run up to him. My chest is heaving with exertion by the time I reach his side. I flatten a hand over my diaphragm, willing it to settle as I catch my breath. He looks at me strangely, and I try harder to look normal.

“What’s in it for me if I go with you?” I ask brazenly. I need to know what I’m getting myself into here. His people might be just as bad as Rack’s. He raises a dark eyebrow over an equally dark-lashed eye. That shouldn’t be right. Big, muscled guys don’t get to have long lashes.

“What’s in it foryou?” His chuckle makes my hackles rise. “Well, I’m guessing survival would be high on the list.”

“Survival? And…?” I’m not about to ask if any sort of service will be expected in return. I’ll earn my keep, obviously. But for females like me, that generally only means one thing.

“And what?” He seems confused. “We’ll feed you. Get you cleaned up.” His lip curls slightly, and I’m suddenly aware of how bad I must smell. I back up a step, though I doubt it helps much. “You need a healer,” he adds.

I feel my heart stutter. He can smell the sickness on me. I’d been working so hard to hide it. The last thing any wild creature wants is for its vulnerability to be known. The sick and the weak are prey.

“I don’t need a healer!” I snap.

He chuckles again, the sound rich and rolling.

Bastard.

“Suit yourself. We have a good one if you change your mind. Though I’m pretty sure you won’t say no to a hot meal.”

My mouth already waters at the words. He runs his eyes over me appraisingly, though this time, there’s nothing sexual about it. He’s probably trying to decide if I’ll manage the trip. I still haven’t caught my breath. My knees are weak.

God, I must look a mess. I tug at the hem of the ridiculous dress, wishing the move didn’t end up pulling the already low neckline even further down my chest. His eyes flare slightly, then return to his original neutral stare. Yet something flickers in his jaw. He’s clenched his teeth.

It’s my turn to look at him now. Taller than I am by at least a head, he’s lean and muscular. A working body that’s been honed. Beneath the bulky jacket, he’s wearing a snug khaki t-shirt and combat pants tucked into boots. The shorn hair fits right in with the overall “soldier boy” vibe he’s giving off. Although, there’s a day’s worth of stubble that mars the image.

Where I come from, men don’t look like this. They work the land. Tanned and strong but…gentler. This Jagger person looks like he has too many hard edges to be safe.

But he hasn’t hurt me. He’s still standing silently now. A slight twitch at the corner of his mouth makes me realize that he’s entirely aware of my scrutiny. I clear my throat. It’s not easy when my mouth is dry.

“Where are we headed?”

“Steel Lakes. Few miles that way.” He points beyond the outskirts of the derelict buildings I’ve been hiding out in these past days. “Shouldn’t take more than a couple hours.”

Hours? Oh, God.

I don’t know if I’ll last minutes, let alone hours.

“You don’t have a vehicle?” I look around. We don’t use cars much back home, but there’s seldom cause to travel. Here, though…everything seems so far apart.

“Got perfectly good legs.” He pats a hard thigh. It’s perfectly good alright. “Why waste gas?”

I stay silent. A cold sweat is forming on my brow and upper lip. Now that the excitement is over, I realize that my legs are shaking.

“You good?” he asks. Perhaps I’ve been silent too long.