And I knowexactlywhere she is. I spin on my heel and reach up at the perfect time. I catch her hand, high over her head and clenching a pocketknife, clearly an attempt to stab me.
Jay’s eyes widen. She underestimated me by thinking I wouldn’t hear her coming. If I were any other wolf, I might not have.
With a grin, I chuckle at her surprise. “Found you.” I squeeze, crushing her hand in mine.
She cries out in pain.
I hold out the palm of my hand under hers and catch the blade before it falls. While she’s keeled over at my strength, I inspect the knife, holding it up to the light. It’s pretty dull, but with enough force, it could do some damage.
I laugh, so I don’t scream. “Did you think this would kill me?”
“If I wanted you dead, you would be,” she says with the utmost confidence.
Feisty little thing. I like that in a woman.
“Seems I should’ve stripped search you. “I trace the blade up to her chin. “Do you have any more weapons on you?”
“Uh—no,” she stammers.
Mate is a terrible liar, my wolf says.
Dammit. I like that, too.
“I don’t believe you. “I use the knife to slice her clothes, tearing away the fabric.
“Hey!”
I scan her body for any sign of a weapon, but the only one I find is my own kryptonite within her curves. “Turn,” I instruct.
She rolls her eyes but does as she’s told.
Damn, that ass of hers. I wonder how she’d look spread open for me...
I mean, for safety reasons. I have to check.
I tap on the inside of her thigh with the blade. “Spread your legs.”
It’s quick, but I pick up on the subtle shift of her weight to her toes and her knees beginning to bend.
The subtle signs of a prey about to flee only trigger the predator within me. I snatch her before she can get the chance. With one hand, I bind both of her hands behind her, pinning her back to my front with the knife to her neck.
She squirms against me.
“Let go of me!”
“You try to stab me and then want me to let you go?” Menacingly, I laugh in her ear. “I don’t think so. I’m just getting started.”
I jerk her toward the cage and shove her in, shutting the gate behind her.
She stumbles inside but recovers and spins to face me. “What do you want from me, anyhow? I never did anything to you!”
As I’m tucking the knife in my back pocket, I whip around baring my canines at her through the bars. My wolf surfaces,joining in my aggression. “That’s where you’re wrong. I know who you are,” I growl.
She crosses her arms. “And who do you think I am?”
I’ve thought about this day for so long. I’ve played out every single scenario in my head, over and over. And now it’s finally here.
“You’re the rogue who killed our alpha.”
