The wolf opens his mouth, and a silver key lands in the snow.
“The key to my collar!” With a shaky hand, I pick it up and insert it into the lock, but it won’t turn. “It’s not working, the key’s not turning.”
That’s when Garrett’s hand covers mine, taking the key from me.
“I wasn’t sure you could shift back. All that blood…”
“Not mine.”
“You killed them?”
“Only the one. Tore his fucking heads off.”
“Heads?”
“The one on his neck… and the one behind the buckle.”
I’m not sure if I should be sickened or shocked by what he did for me. The wordgratefulcomes to mind.
At last, we hear a click. “Hold steady.” Garrett pulls the two halves of the collar open, steps aside with it, and flings it into the woods.
Relief sweeps through me. Then pure heaven surrounds me as his hands caress my neck, massaging the tiny pin pricks left by the spikes.
I turn fully into his embrace, not the least bit self-conscious that we’re both naked. He hugs me and I whimper at the contact, the knowledge that hecares.
“We have to go, Angel. Now, before they realize the truck never made it up that hill.”
“My friends call me Lina.”
“Good for them. To me, you’re Angel.”
“I’m no angel, Garrett. You don’t know what I’ve done.”
“We can compare notes on our worst deeds later, after I get you somewhere safe.”
“Home. I want to go home.”
He hesitates, then nods. “Just tell me where and I’ll get you there.”
That’s an impossible task, even for a shifter like Garrett. He’s smart, courageous, strategic, but home is… gone.
I cock my head as I stare into those bright teal eyes “Why did you risk yourself for me, given all I’ve done?”
“You haven’t done anything.”
“You’re evading my question,” I snap. I need to know where I stand with this male. Why he came for me.
“Did you lure shifters for the WSSO?”
He knows the answer. My victims were in that first truck.
“It’s okay if you did, Angel. I mean, not okay, but I understand.”
I wish I understood. “They didn’t give me a choice, but yes, I lured them.”
“To others, the answer is, ‘No, I didn’t lure shifters for the WSSO. I was used as bait.’ Make it clear they forced you.”
“What others?”
