Need the remote.The helicopter was almost on top of us now, searchlights sweeping around the arena. I changed directions, heading toward the decapitated body of my brother. Vomit climbed up my throat. I crawled through blood and gore and found the remote beneath his hand. Fumbling, I pressed the off button.
Landon’s moans stopped. I glanced at him, and he lifted his furry head.Thank God.I touched the control that said Release and heard a click. Scrambling to my feet, I ran over to him, sliding to a stop in the dirt on my knees. As quickly as I could, I removed the collar from his neck, careful of the skin rubbed raw beneath.
Immediately, he began to change. I sat back on my haunches, body shaking with adrenaline. Fur dissolved into skin; muscles adjusted in size. With my lips parted, I watched as bullets were pushed from his thigh and buttocks. His bulk shrank until his hands and knees smacked against the hard-packed dirt.
Naked, gasping for breath, and fully human, Landon lifted his head to meet my gaze. I reached for him, but stopped when he asked, “Was it true what you said?” His voice shook with emotion.
I dropped my arms, not knowing what he meant.
He cleared his throat. “You love me?”
The whole time we’d been together, I hadn’t said the words. Even though Ihadloved him, still did, I hadn’t wanted to add it to the layer of deception I’d already created, like it would have made my sins even worse.
I swallowed around the lump in my throat and nodded. “Since before our first date, I’ve loved you.”
The sound that left his lips was primal and raw, creating goosebumps across my skin. Before I could protest, he stood on shaky legs and swept me up into his arms and started walking.
“What are you doing?” I automatically linked my fingers around his neck. After the trauma he’d experienced, there was no way he should be holding me like this. “Landon?”
Thewhop whop whopof the helicopter kept getting louder. A searchlight skimmed by us. My stomach twisted. Was it more of Emerson’s men? We should be grabbing those weapons we’d left behind, preparing to defend ourselves, but Landon kept up his determined pace with me in his arms, striding away from the carnage I’d created. He didn’t stop, didn’t pause for a moment. Every part of him seemed focused ahead. I became extremely aware of his naked state, and my bedraggled one.
Adrenaline ran amok through my body, confusing my emotions. I peeked over Landon’s shoulder to where we’d left four bodies, now hidden by darkness and trees. I’d blown my brother’s head off. Though it should have horrified me, the truth hadn’t sunk in yet. Emerson had done truly sickening things. If I needed to shed a tear for him later, I’d do it in private, but for the first time in my life, I couldn’t feel the tight band around my chest.
I tucked my face into Landon’s shoulder, just below his ear. “What’s happening? What are we doing?” I didn’t understand my emotions, why I wanted to crawl inside his skin and never leave.
“Need you alone.” His voice came out rough, causing shivers to climb my scalp. “Need to make you mine.”
I lifted my head to stare at him, my heart racing at his words and the determined expression on his face. Did he also feel this strange sensation of wanting to be as close as possible?
Whatever he planned, I didn’t think he’d have time to do it. Not with the helicopter circling around near the bunker clearing. It lowered, hovered, then turned into something out of a training exercise. People rappelled down ropes since there wasn’t enough room to land safely.
Landon veered to the left, away from the bunkers.
“Landon!”
The shout came from one of those who’d dropped in. Landon stopped, turning toward the voice. The sounds of people running through the brush proceeded them. Five individuals jogged toward us in full tactical gear. The one at the front took off his helmet: Walker Hayles.
But when he got closer, Landon growled at him.Actually growled—in human form.
“Whoa, dude.” Walker held his hands up in surrender fashion. “I get it. Not touching her. We just need to make sure the both of you are okay.”
Landon looked down at me. His eyes scanning over where Cliff had hit me with the gun. It pulsed, but after everything, it wasn’t important. I’d heal.
“I’m okay,” I said, not wanting him to put me down.
“Where’s Emerson Mahn?” one of the other men asked.
“Dead,” Landon gritted out, pointing his chin toward where we’d come from. “With three others.”
Two of the guys jogged off in that direction.
Walker took another tentative step forward, his hands up by his shoulders. “What do you need?”
“For us to be left alone.” Landon’s voice still didn’t sound normal.
“Okay. All right. We can do that. And I’m going to get you some clothes.”
Landon would have taken off again, but I placed a hand on his bare chest to stop him. “What about those delivery trucks?” I glanced over at Walker.
