I want to rip out the throat of any man who touched her,my wolf snarls.
You want her safe,I remind him.Focus on that.
Christian looks at me.“You saw her best.Where is she being kept exactly?”
“Ground floor.Back room.Single entry, barred window,” I say, jaw tight.“That would be my best guess anyway.”
“I need to tell my mate that we found her friend,” Jameson says.
I have a moment of panic.I just found my mate, and I don’t want to share her with anyone.I need to get to know her.Need to mark her.Claim her.
Yes,my wolf howls.
She’ll want to see her friend first.God knows what she’s been through.
My wolf growls and paces inside me, not happy about that thought.
I close my eyes for one breath.
Then I shove everything else aside.
Emotion is the enemy of focus.That was drilled into me for years, but this isn’t an op for a flag, a country, or a paycheck.
This is my mate.
“We’ll split up,” Russo says.“Three-man teams.One team secures the perimeter.One covers vehicles.One extracts the girl.”
“I’m on extraction,” I say immediately.
No one argues.They know better.
Christian nods.“You and I go in then.Jameson and Russo will cover the perimeter.Julian and Cooper will sweep the back structures for additional hostiles and cover the vehicles.”
“We bring her home,” Jameson orders.
“We will,” I agree.
Everyone nods.A vow.A promise.A truth.
Because failure isn’t an option that exists.
We spend the next few hours planning.I know everyone must be excited after spending the night on patrol, but no one complains or acts like it.
We go over contingencies.Routes.Timelines.Signals.There’s nothing chaotic about any of this.Calm voices.Controlled movement.Efficient planning.
But under the surface?Tension crackles like electricity before a storm.
Christian catches my arm as the meeting breaks.“You okay?”
No.
“Yes,” I say.
He studies me for a long moment, then nods.“We’ll get her.”
I don’t respond because I know we will.There’s no other option.
Butknowingdoesn’t silence my wolf.
