Dustin stared at Akila, his brown eyes filled with anger.
She closed her eyes, unable to keep them open any longer. They burned with her skin, and the fever pounded hard in her head, like the time when she went to a human rock concert—too loud for the sensitive ears of a lupus werewolf.An hour later, she woke up to a rustling sound of Dustin going through her purse.Lipstick, hairbrush, wallet full of cash, no credit card, no driver's licence, no name.She could have told him.He gaze met with her's, he threw the bag on the table, frowned, but didn't bother to ask her any questions. A man of his word. Good qualities of a pack leader.She must have fallen asleep again because his muffled voice woke her up while he was talking to the deputy chief in the hallway. She smelled strong coffee, and then it was all gone.Until someone screamed, something fell to the ground, and a string of curses ensued.Akila's eyesDustin HOVERED OVER Akila while simultaneously REACHING FOR THE NURSE'S CALL BUTTON and having one of his hands on hers. Despite the fact that the pain was so intense, she decided against taking any more pain medication and made her felt like a zombie. This was the case despite the fact that the pain was felt by every nerve ending in her body. Nurse As soon as Jessica entered the room, she cast a curious look in both directions, first at Akila and then at Dustin. Dustin remarked that it sounded like the woman was in a lot of pain. “No.” Akila gave a slight nod of her head. "I can manage." There is no point in continuing to put up with it. Nurse Jessica extended her hand in the direction of the IV line. "You might as well make yourself at home." “No.” As Akila attempted to disengage herself from the intravenous line, she narrowed her eyes and shot the nurse and Dustin a menacing look. "I'm good. I don't want any more." Not only Dustin, but also Nurse Jessica smiled ever so sligh
Who is this woman? Akila slowly opened her eyes, the clarity of her thoughts not yet returning. She had no choice but to discontinue taking the dreadful medication that left her feeling so out of control. Lucas entered the room in a stealthy manner. "Lie still. "Return to your sleep," She paid no attention to him and made another attempt to get the water. As soon as she leaned over the bed railing, dog paddling began in her stomach and head, and she felt herself quickly going under. Damn it, woman." Lucas put his hand on her shoulder and gently pushed her back while maintaining a stern and anxious expression on his face. Nurse Jessica barged her way into the room without knocking. The question "What's the matter?" "She absolutely needs those restraints to be put back on." Akila glared at him with contempt. “Water.” She slowly raised her hand and pointed to the container.She had already blacked out twice and was on the verge of doing so once more. "Is she attempting to get the
Being evasive on purpose? Or confused again? “No, the hooded man in the copper coat.” Instantly, her already pale face turned whiter. “Asta?” She scowled. “No one.” He clenched his fists. “If he's from your pack and he followed you here, angered you'd be investigating this, it might be something.” Closing her eyes, she shook her head. “Fine, when we catch the bastard, we'll find out all we want to know.” He paused, waiting for her to give in. When she didn't, he started in on her again. “He broke into your room, got physical with you--” “I.. I don't think he broke into my room.” “How do you know?” She didn't respond. “Got physical with you then.” Dustin barely curbed his rage. Why did she protect the bastard? “Little angry.” Dustin paced across the floor. “He was a little angry? I'm a little angry. Who the hell is he? And where is that damned letter? In your bag? Did you even have a bag?” Deputy Frank knocked on the door and poked his face in. “A deputy sheriff's here who
In astonishment, Dustin raised his brows. Why in the world had the two women come all the way to Colorado? “Surprised me, too. I got the impression she was a local girl. I was trying to find out where she was from and started mentioning some of the wildflowers native to Colorado. She offered me the names of others she'd seen. I asked if she was from down South, but she said, 'No, Denver.' So when I got the notice some guy in Oregon is claiming she's missing from his pack, I was pretty darned surprised. What do you want me to do?” “Sit on it. I need to find out what's going on before she goes home.” Dustin couldn't believe he said it. But something didn't ring true about this Anton character. And Dustin wasn't letting her out of his sight until he found the shooter. “If you hear anything more, let me know.” “Sure will.” The deputy gave him a sly smile. “I wouldn't let her go either, if I were in your shoes.” Dustin let the comment slide, figuring the deputy didn't know the situat
Laura and Octavia fought with each other next to Akila's bed, as she tried to ignore the yelling. Lucas leaned against the doorframe, shaking his head. Until Dustin and the doctor stalked into the room and Dustin shouted, “Enough! What the hell happened?”It appeared as though he had been startled, since his face had lost a little bit of its color, and he was looking at Akila a little too intently. It was actually her neck. She inhaled deeply and steadied herself with that breath. Now that the boss guy has arrived, all is well with the peace and quiet."She hit me!" Octavia let out a loud scream. That's right, and if they hadn't held me back, I would have done it again!Dustin remarked in a collected tone, "We can see." "I want to know the reason why."Akila struggled to find the words to express herself, but the IV had been reattached to her arm, and she could hardly concentrate on what was being said, let alone keep her eyes open. She suspected that stronger medicines were being pum
“Great.” Dustin raked his hands through his hair as he thought about something. "Now that I think about it, I clearly recall smelling the odor of decaying leaves, but I did not detect the scent of any lupus garous in human form. All I could smell was that god awful perfume Asta was wearing." Do you suppose the perpetrator was trying to conceal his scent by using hunter's spray made for humans?I'm going to inquire of Uncle Martin whether or not there were any rotting leaves in the neighborhood, and I'll report back to you. Now that you bring it up, I definitely caught a whiff of it. But do you recall the shade of brown I caught a whiff of?Since he was in wolf form at the time, he was unable to strangle her.“True. What are your thoughts on this Anton? Are you sure that we shouldn't try to get in touch with him?"We do not have any idea who he is in reality. Tommy is looking into the matter right now. What I want to know is whether or not she carried a bag with her, and if she did, wh
When you read it, you might find it more comfortable to sit down. "Asta has already shared the contents of the letter with me." He ripped the letter out of the envelope without even seeing that Lucas was standing behind him, craning his neck to have a look at what was inside. "Then you already know that your partner had a husband who is still alive," you said. Dustin snapped his head back and fixed his eyes on Laura, his expression indicating that he did not believe what she had said. Laura had an arrogant look on her face as she crossed her arms over her chest. He was well aware of it. The worst of his nightmares came true. Lupus Garous didn't divorce.They only mated again if they had lost their life mate or if they had discovered someone else who they couldn't live without. They were committed to one another for the rest of their lives. This meant that a female had never been sexually active prior to her first mating, unless she was a widow or had, in extremely unusual circums
Odin's teeth!” In a couple of bounds, he was beside her bed, digging hisfingers into the bag, trying to rip it open, his heart thundering. Before Akila was fully conscious, she felt she was suffocating, the room pitchblack, yet with her wolf vision, she should see clearly. She tried to move her hands, buther wrists were bound again.She could barely breathe as something pressed against herface. Something clinging and black. No oxygen. Blacking out. Where were her guards?Inside the room? Outside… Holes began to appear in the plastic as someone frantically tore at it and finallyripped it away. She gasped for air. Dustin's anxious face and the blinding lights of thea hospital room appeared before her, while he continued to tear at the bag. Filling her lungs, she tried to reach out to him. He paused while ripping the tapeoff around her neck, and took her hand and squeezed tight. “Jesus, Akila.” He didn'tsay anything more, just held onto her hand and gazed into her eyes. Lucas
Dustin let out a muffled cuss word while holding his breath. He had intended to tell her pack where she was as a gesture of goodwill, but now he had every intention of crushing the brute who was responsible for the women's suffering. "I inquired as to what she meant, and her response was, You know, get a hobby or something."It was her intention to flee. I didn't become aware of that until after she had been gone for a few weeks. Lowell covered the fact that she had fled, most likely in the hope that he would locate her before anybody else found out that she had permanently abandoned him."Akila, he will not harm you again in any way. I promise. Who is Anton, then, if Marcus was your pack leader and Lowell was Asta's mate?Akila's eyes became much more open. "My dear brother. What do you know regarding him?"Your leader told Deputy Sheriff Smith from Green Valley that he was looking for you," "Anton's a pack leader?, Where?”"Portland, Oregon."; "Portland.""Did you tell him that I
Dustin's entire body went numb as he stared at the letter that Asta had written. He couldn't believe what he was reading. He read the note once more, this time concentrating on deciphering the underlying message that she was trying to convey.He got up from his seat and left the dining room after finishing his meal. How was it possible for him to be so oblivious? The woman he'd mated had feelings for someone else? Who? He'd kill him.Dustin couldn't recall entering his office or sitting down at his desk when he got there. He stared at the letter for a moment, and then, grabbing it in his fist, he yelled, "Lucas!"Lucas strolled into the office while wearing a bewildered expression on his face."Get Akila in here right away."Lucas's brows furrowed, and he hastily nodded before shutting the door behind him.Mike came in a minute later, his eyes widened as he walked in. "Dustin, what's the matter? Lucas claims that you are prepared to murder someone. Do you want me to listen in on the c
Thank goodness he had reliable brothers.Lucas, his laughter gleaming in his eyes, shook his head. "Should we tell everyone on guard duty that Akila sometimes goes out at night?"Mike furrowed his brows."What did I miss exactly last night?"Even though Dustin was sure Mike was aware, he pressed him for additional information.Which he had no intention of doing. He started to say something, but Mike and Lucas had already turned from the living room to the front door. Dustin turned around and saw Akila with her legs and feet exposed and her hands locked as if in prayer, his long flannel shirt going to her thigh.He started staring at her hair, transfixed by the enticing waves.He could not take his eyes off of her gorgeous, silky hair.Her hair is even more crimson than her sister's, yet not nearly as golden as the woman's in his dream. How could he not see that she was the one he was meant for? Because Asta lied about having a dream and because she changed their names.“Ahem.” The magic
Like Mike does when he's too exhausted to sleep, sleepwalking. Mike claims she made a lot of noise while sleeping I was wondering where she was going," Lucas said. That's why I let her out of the guest room, he said.Dustin quietly put the rifle away again. Akila made her way to the bed cautiously.His preferred sleeping position. His mouth became very dry. She drew back the duvet.After returning Lucas's gaze, the latter shrugged. "Mike sleepwalks, and the doctor warned us not to wake him up. I suppose we can can say the same thing for Akila."Dustin rolled over to make room for Akila to enter the bed. She closed her eyes as he pulled the blanket up to her chin."Guess you have guard duty for the rest of the morning."Lucas walked out with a sly grin on his face and locked the door behind him.Akila couldn't recall much besides leaping onto Crassus's back to protect Asta's face from Crassus's fist. Crassus's blow to Akila's head, followed by the sting of his retaliatory twist of her
WHERE IN THE WORLD HAD DUSTIN LEARNED THE NAME OF HER BROTHER? Akila wanted to ask, but she couldn't . It is preferable to leave Dustin unsure of who her pack leader was. Did he have any idea where Anton was at the moment? Perhaps Laura would, provided Akila asked innocuously enough. Right.Akila feigned to be asleep when Dustin talked to her. She felt compelled to depart and seek revenge for her sister's death. There was a growing possibility that Marcus would find her if she stayed any longer. Dustin would probably tell the leader what happened to Akila and her sister. Honorable bearing.Marcus would then make her go back to her house.Two hours later, Dustin left the room and, for once, didn't leave a guard inside. After getting out of bed, she began to pace. She needed to find out if her folks were still alive. But how could she accomplish anything when he constantly guarded her?Up the stairs, someone ran. "Are you staying with her for a couple of hours?"Bryan enquired.“Yeah."
Dustin started to speak, but stopped when Mike yelled from the bottom of the stairs, "Keep it quiet down there, that's a lot of noise". To her suprise, Dustin walked over to her and touched her forehead before feeling her cheek with the back of his hand. Clearly, there is no fever. Although he appeared to be somewhat relieved, the furrow in his brow did not disappear. By tomorrow morning I think I'll be just about ready to run laps.A slight grin appeared on his face. Couldn't say that I'm shocked if that happened. He didn't move, just hovered over her, leaving her to wonder what he was up to. He took a quick peek at her still-full water cup. Once again, he was staring directly at her. Inquiringly, "Do you need anything?" Nope, thank you.All right, all good then. He opened his mouth to speak, then closed them again. Whatever it was that bothering him, it was now beginning to bother her. He was standing motionless on the carpet by the bed, and she guessed he was there to questi
In fact, she intended to read his lips. She pleaded, "Say something," but he grabbed one of her fingers and began sucking. The desire to try again prickled her skin, but she shook her head, yanked her finger free, and tried again. This time, he brought his fingers to her lips and she said, "Wildhaven." However, he did not use the word again. She enquired, "What.. is.. your.. name?" Did she know he was there even though she couldn't see his face? He pressed his tongue into the seam between her lips and kissed her passionately, but she was still intent on discovering his identity. She pressed herself against his chest and he felt the pressure. “No. Tell me the truth, Who are you? As she asked him, he shook his head. Didn't he get her question? Or he was simply not ready to tell her. Does he have a mate already? Oh, this is just too ridiculous. A romantic fantasy was all he was. She turned her back at him, wanting him to be a genuine person and not an illusion trick made in her m
I wanted my family to move and settle down in a different town, somewhere new. However, they wouldn't listen to me.She got a pat on her hand from Laura. What do you mean, "ties too strong to the pack?" Akila remained silent throughout. They were outsiders, with no place in the pack. Simple ties to the soil. However, it was unwise to give away too much information. Besides, she probably already had. When she failed to reply, Laura stepped in. "Dustin informed me that he is taking you back to your pack. But I think he's changed his mind because of the way he kissed you. Do you really want to go back to them? The expression on Akila’s face grew angry. My parents were murdered!" I won't be back. I'll have to mate with the leader's brother because he's the alpha. I'm not going back there again. You can't go on a lupus garou hunt for your missing sibling on your own either, without any help. What if you never do track him down? You risk being exposed, harmed, or even killed. Tell me a
Dustin sat in his favorite leather chair in the living room, motioned for mike to begin the brief meeting, he eagerly hoped for Bryan who was standing at the door of the guest bedroom to overhear everything Laura and Akila were discussing behind closed doors. "Uncle Martin called and said he's re-creating the crime scene in the hospital coffee drugging case. Also, Mike said, "Doc Oliver still isn't over the coffee. One of the lab technicians found that it was GHB, A date rape drug.. “Crap. Did you get fingerprints? “Tons. The coffee pot , but Unfortunately, everyone uses the coffee pot so everyone's fingerprint was on it. OK then. Have you got anything for me? Eric was serving pizza when Dustin questioned him. Carol berry wants to be a nurse at the hospital but I heard that you turned down her application to be a nurse at the hospital. She came to me to try to see whether or I not I could make an effort to persuade you.For the time being, my answer remains negative. She can alwa