Page 35 of Broken

Thanatos took a step toward her, and she snarled.

“Stop that,” Gunn said to her. His considerable alpha power flowed outward, authority in it.

Ireland’s wolf was apparently not impressed. She snarled louder, and gave a barking howl.

Cole could see the feral light in her eyes. If Ireland was in there, she wasn’t in control. Hell, how could she be? She didn’t even know how to be a wolf.

Thanatos stepped back, and Gunn stepped forward. Ireland was still barking and snarling, backed up against the stairs of the plane, her eyes darting as she looked for an escape path. The fur on her neck bristled.

She looked vicious, but Cole could feel that she was terrified. Of course, no reason she couldn’t be both at the same time. He had to do something, or she was going to force either Gunn or Thanatos into subduing her, and possibly end up in a cell. Which meant, because of the bracelet, he was probably going to end up in there with her.

Not the way he wanted to end this day.

He walked around Gunn, right up to Ireland, bracing himself for an attack. “Cut it out,” he said, trying to reach out mentally for the connection they shared through the bracelet. Or the one they’d had last night. Or anything. He knew from the tussle over the magic ointment that her wolf responded to his own wolf’s dominance—and a no-nonsense attitude.

“Nobody’s going to hurt you unless you start something. Except maybe me. Because I’m sore, and tired, and I’m bound by a magic spell that’s going to be a bitch to get rid of. I’m in no mood for this shit. I’m going home. Are you coming, or not?”

Everyone went still, watching. The wolf narrowed her eyes and stared at him, and then shook herself and trotted over to him, shoving her head up under his hand like he was going to pet her or some shit.

“Aww,” Sanchez said. “He’s finally got a girlfriend.”

“Fuck off, Sanchez.” He said to Ireland, “Let’s go.”

Thanatos said ominously, “And just where were you planning to take her?”

Cole flicked him a glance. He was in no mood for him either. “I just said. Home.”