“Thank you for bringing me here.” She understood why he had. It was an apology, of sorts. His response was a short nod.
Despite her protests, Derren walked her back to her lodge. He’d be a damn liar if he claimed it was simply a protective act. The truth was that he was buying some time with her. He might have delayed having to leave her, but . . . “You look tired.” There were still dark smudges under her eyes, and her olive skin lacked its usual healthy glow.
“It’s been a long day. I’ll be fine by morning.”
“Good.” She turned to go inside, and Derren found that he couldn’t just let her go—not without tasting her just once. His hand shot out, grabbed her shoulder, and twirled her around. Then he was on her. His hands fisted in her hair as his mouth devoured hers. His tongue plundered her mouth, sweeping against her own. She tasted just as she smelled: exotic and sweet. And nothing had ever tasted better.
Shocked, Ally stiffened against him. A part of her—the part that was wounded by her experience with Zeke—wanted to push him away and maintain a distance between them. Another part of her wanted to thrust her fingers through his dark hair and meet his kiss.
The latter part won, and Ally’s body burst to life. A satisfied growl rumbled up Derren’s chest, vibrating against her nipples, as one strong hand collared her throat. Bristling at the possessive move, she scratched his scalp with her claws. Snarling, he tightened his hold and—
Their mouths broke apart, panting, as a howl split the air. Her thought processes like mush, it took Ally a moment to discern it was the howl of a full-blooded wolf; it wasn’t one of alarm. Forcing herself to release Derren’s hair, she let her arms fall to her sides. But she didn’t back up—that required more strength than she had.
Derren wanted nothing more than to back her into the lodge and taste and explore every inch of her, to drive deep inside her as he’d dreamed of doing every damn night since he brought her here. But she was tired, and what she needed was rest. If he followed her inside, it would be the last thing she’d get. Besides, although she wanted him, he could see she was still wary of him. He wanted there to be nothing but need in her eyes when he finally had her.
He brushed his thumb over her mouth. “You taste better than anything else I’ve ever tasted.” And he wanted more. He’d have more. Just not right now. “Get some sleep.” With a restraint he hadn’t known he possessed, Derren walked away.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Receiving a text message from Nick summoning him to his office, Derren abandoned his paperwork—gladly, since it was past eight o’clock in the evening—and immediately headed there. He found Nick, Shaya, Eli, and the enforcers waiting inside. The dark energy radiating from Nick was enough to make Derren stiffen. “Something else happened?”
Standing behind his desk with Shaya at his side, Nick sighed. “The day after the grenade incident, I contacted Donovan, asked him to look into whether any other packs are having the same kind of trouble. My theory was that if our culprit’s style is to use various forms of attack, it would be something they have done before. He contacted me ten minutes ago. There’s no indication that any other packs have undergone the same experience. But he found something else.” Nick paused, seeming to take strength from the hand Shaya was rubbing up and down his arm. “We’re on a hit list.”
A boom of stunned silence followed that announcement. Derren had thought of many different possibilities that might account for what was happening, but he hadn’t considered this.
It was Roni who finally spoke. “Could you repeat that?”
“A hit list.” Nick’s voice hardened. “Someone wants us dead. And not just us. There’s also a hit out on the Phoenix Pack.”
Curses rang throughout the office.
“Does Trey know?” Marcus rumbled.
Nick shook his head. “Not yet. I’ll call him once our meeting is over.”
“It explains everything.” Eli seemed to be talking more to himself than anyone else. “It wasn’t one person using different forms of attack. It was different people trying to cash in on the bounty. Hyenas were responsible for the poisoned animals, and foxes really did attack.”
“It even explains the use of the rifle grenade,” stated Zander. “Most hits are taken care of with firearms.”
“The hyenas and foxes who attacked were all probably lone shifters.” Marcus fingered one of Roni’s ash-blonde curls, as if touching her calmed him. “They often become guns for hire.”
Anger mixed with Derren’s shock, making his voice a growl. “Who put the hit out on us?”
“That’s just it, we don’t know.” Nick’s jaw hardened.