“At least eighty,” I replied, addressing the group at large. “Possibly more. They’re holed up in an old warehouse about two miles from here. Heavily guarded.”
A ripple of unease spread through the group.
“We’re outnumbered,” a hunter stated.
“But we’ve got the element of surprise on our side,” another spoke up. The human rolled up her sleeves, exposing her mark—an indigo tattoo on the inside of her right wrist. “Plus, we’ve got something they don’t.” She looked at me, then at Joanna,a corner of her mouth twitching upwards. “We’ve got a badass werewolf alpha and the most stubborn hunter I’ve ever met leading the charge.”
A low chorus of agreement spread through the group, and I saw Joanna stand a little taller.
“So, what’s the plan, wolf?” Malik sneered.
My eyes widened at the sight of him before I realized who was missing. “Where’s James?”
Joanna shook her head. “He left. And took about two-thirds of the hunters with him.”
I nodded, filing that information away for later. The hurt in Joanna’s eyes made me want to reach out and touch her. To kiss her forehead and tell her we didn’t need that asshole. But for now, we had bigger problems to worry about.
“Here’s the plan,” I said, addressing the group. “I’ll lead a small team to infiltrate the warehouse from the rear. Our goal is to take out a chunk of them quickly and quietly. The rest of you will split into two teams. One will approach from the east with Maya, and the other will approach from the west with Jerome. Use whatever cover you can find to get close, then strike hard and fast. The rain is our ally, pitching updifferent scents from all over. But don’t be afraid to roll around in the mud if you need to.” I paused. “Unless…” My attention flew to the woman who held so much of me already.
I didn’t have to finish my thought before Joanna could sigh. “Only one other hunter and I in this group have magic.”
“Is that not enough?” I asked.
Malik chuckled, picking his nails with a pocketknife. “That’s like putting out a campfire with spit,Your Highness.”
Joanna shook her head. “And I’m channeling most of mine into my damn shoulder.”
Breathe…
She promised you she’d be careful.
Joanna stepped forward, her gaze sweeping over the assembled fighters. “Remember, our priority is to end this quickly. We cannot afford a drawn-out battle. Take out your targets and move on to the next. We have the element of surprise, and we need to use it to our advantage.”
This woman was incredible and worthy of fighting by my side. I swallowed my fixation longenough to address the warriors once more. “We move out in fifteen, everyone. So, take a piss or say your prayers. We stay low, we stay quiet. We stay alive.”
The group split, melting into the receding darkness and leaving only Joanna and a handful of others with me. I turned to Joanna, reaching out to squeeze her arm. “Can we talk?”
We walked without speaking as I led her behind a large oak tree a few yards away. When we were safe from prying eyes on the opposite side of the tree, she rested against the trunk and rotated her healing shoulder. “What’s up, Black—”
My lips swallowed my name before she could finish. I kissed her hard, my tongue exploring her mouth, allowing me to taste her. She responded in kind, her hands clutching at my shirt, pulling me closer.
She was perfect. So fucking perfect.
But so very wrong.
I rested my forehead against hers once we broke apart. “I needed that,” I murmured, causing a smile to lift her cheeks. “What happened to James?”
The smile fell, and she grabbed at my shirt once more. But this time, there was no desire in her touch,only urgency—her fingers twisting into the fabric. “He found out about us.”
I swallowed hard, thinking carefully about how to phrase my next question. “Is there… an us?”
She lifted her forehead from mine, a look of confusion on her face. “What does that mean?”
I frowned, about to state the obvious. “You’re human, Joanna. A fucking hunter. And I’m an alpha.”
The furrow in her brow deepened as she cocked her head to the side. “And?”
“And I can’t stop thinking about you,” I hissed, pulling away and running a hand through my hair. “From the fucking moment I met you, you’ve invaded my thoughts, and I can’t…” I paused, forcing myself to take a calming breath. “That first night, you asked me if I had a mate.”
