Taking off, she ran full-out to intercept the big white wolf streaking through the trees.
He was alone.
And that was the last mistake the bastard would ever make.
“You really shouldn’t be out running the same day the doc lets you go,” Micah said as he and Nix kept pace with Zan in the hallway leading to one of the exits. Micah kept bobbing in front of him to make sure Zan could see his lips.
Zan did his best to keep from punching either of his friends as he made his escape. “I don’t need a fucking nanny.”
“You need a keeper.”
Nix grasped his arm, urging Zan to stop and pay attention, then took the opportunity to double-team him. “Neither of the docs will be happy to find out you’re ignoring orders to rest.”
“And you’re going to tell them?” He shot them both a sour look.
“Of course not,” Nix said smoothly. “But they’ll find out anyway, and you’ll get benched.”
“Mac said rest, not crawl under a rock and hibernate. Besides, letting out my wolf is good for the healing process.”
They couldn’t argue that one, though he could see they wanted to.
“You wouldn’t just leave, right?” Micah asked, clearly anxious. “Jax said you promised.”
“Is that what’s really bothering you guys?” He shook his head. “If I decide to go, I’ll be up front about it. I’ll put in my notice and say good-bye like a man, not run like a coward.”
“That’s not much of a comfort,” Micah griped.
He sighed. “That’s all I can tell you for now. I’m still thinking things over.”
Nix shifted in place and looked him in the eye. “While you are, I want you to know how grateful I am for what you did for me. You took quite a risk to put me back together, and I won’t forget it.”
Zan gave him a half smile. “We all take risks every day. But in your case, I had extra incentive or a certain nurse would’ve been heartbroken to lose his mate.”
Nix gave a laugh, shaking his head. “I don’t know that he’s my mate, man. I’m not showing any symptoms of being sick like the other guys did before they Bonded.”
“Do you and your wolf feel a pull? Like you both need each other?”
“Yeah, but with none of the nasty side effects.”
“Interesting.”
“How’d you manage to turn the conversation away from yourself?” Nix gave him a playful shove. “We’ll let you go for your run, but don’t be gone too long or we’re coming after you.”
“Yeah, I hear you—well, not really, but you know what I mean.”
Both of them made faces at his bad joke and moved off, finally leaving him alone. He had no doubt they’d go straight to Jax, and soon Zan would have a trail of wolves behind him who just suddenly decided they needed to go for a run as well.
Idiots, all of them. But he was damned glad to have them in his corner.
Taking advantage of his brief period of alone time, he left the compound, walked into the forest, and undressed. He welcomed the change, and it flowed over him, though not without some discomfort this time. His fatigue and the pain in his head affected his speed and efficiency, but he managed. Once he was on four paws, he shook himself and started off at a leisurely trot.
He really needed some time in wolf form to relax. Enjoy nature, take himself out of his own head and away from the constant challenges for a while.
Gradually, it began working. The tension seeped from his body until he was relishing his time in the forest, taking in all the sights and wishing he could hear the calls of the birds, the breeze through the branches, the babbling creek nearby. Soon enough, he told himself, when he was healed. He’d hear all of those things and more.
He was so lost in his thoughts, it was a shock to come upon a break in the trees—and see two white wolves about forty yards away. The smaller of the two was streaking toward a large one he instantly recognized as Nick.
As the smaller wolf slammed into Nick and sent them both rolling, Zan took off in their direction. Mind going cold, he focused on his commander’s attacker.
He had a wolf to kill.
Three
Zan raced for the pair of wolves, heart thudding in his chest.
The smaller white wolf was snarling and snapping, trying to get Nick pinned. Going for his throat. But as he neared, he realized the commander was making only evasive maneuvers to protect himself. He wasn’t attacking in return. What the fuck?
Maybe Nick wasn’t counterattacking because, despite his opponent’s fierceness, the other wolf simply didn’t have the size and strength to best him. Unfair fight. Zan, however, had no such problem taking out the asshole.
Rushing in, he hit the wolf from the side and sent them both skidding across the ground. Immediately, he leaped on the intruder’s back before he could gain his footing, driving him into the dirt and leaves. The other wolf was no match for Zan’s weight and couldn’t throw him no matter how he struggled. Blood lust roared through his veins, and he lunged, sinking his fangs through thick fur into the wolf’s neck.
Female. The wonderful scent, like cinnamon spice, hit him like a truck at a hundred miles per hour, and he froze, some primal instinct cutting through his fury like a hot blade through wax. Suddenly, he couldn’t finish her off. Distantly, he heard Nick shouting, his voice much clearer than it should be, though he wasn’t sure how.
Then something strange began to happen. A warmth started in the center of his chest and spread outward, like ripples in a pond. It grew into an intense heat, searing his lungs and stealing his breath and, to his embarrassment, became the fire of arousal. He wanted to let go of her neck, but couldn’t.
A thread, bright and golden, seemed to spin from his heart to the other wolf, and he could swear he felt an answering thread from her twine with his. Solidifying and strengthening until there was an explosion of light that rocked him backward, finally breaking his hold.
Immediately, the female shifted into human form, kneeling on the ground and rubbing at the spot where he’d bitten her. Vivid blue eyes flashed cold fire at Zan as she spat, “What the fuck did you just do?”
He was awestruck. She was beautiful, short hair so pale it was almost white framing an angular face. Her breasts were full, waist narrow, and her limbs were long and toned with muscle. He figured she was tall, maybe as tall as he was. She also was beyond pissed, and he couldn’t think why. He shifted back as well, finding his voice.
“What do you mean, what did I do?” he asked, incredulous. “First of all, you’re trespassing, and second, you just tried to kill my commander. You’re lucky I didn’t rip out your throat.”
The venom in her eyes was a little scary—and a lot puzzling. “Why didn’t you? That would’ve been a lot less complicated than the situation we’re in now.”
“Lady, the only situation here is that you’re now in custody. And as a rogue and a hostile unknown shifter, you’re going to be locked up for a good while.”
Her laugh was sarcastic. With a start, he realized he had actually heard that in her tone, and even if he hadn’t been able to see her lips, he could’ve almost made out her next words. “You mean in your top-secret compound everyone in the county knows about?”
“That’s the one,” he said, ignoring the jibe. Glancing at Nick, he noted that his boss had also shifted back, but oddly enough, he kept his eyes averted from the intruder. In fact, the woman was studiously avoiding looking directly at Nick, too. That was odd, since wolf shifters were frequently naked around each other before and after their shifts. It would be pretty stupid to be self-conscious about something so natural.