Page 26 of A Wolf of War

“I’m Lachlan,” he said, his bright smile crooked. “We already met, but uh, let’s not worry about that right now. What’s up, boss?” Lachlan asked, shifting his attention to Milo, who stood like a force just barely contained.

“Is Willow’s room set up?” Milo responded.

“Absolutely. I had Arlo organize the crew, and I oversaw everything until I was called into the hospital. Titan took over from there.”

“Great, thanks.”

Her room?That must mean he didn’t expect her to share his bed… which was almost disappointing, much to her chagrin.

Lachlan gave Willow a brief, polite nod before turning to go, but Milo’s voice stopped him mid-step.

“Oh, and Lachlan?”

The redhead paused, glancing back at Milo over his shoulder.

“If you ever touch her again like that, I’ll break both your fucking hands.”

Lachlan didn’t flinch. If anything, his brows lifted with mild amusement, lips twitching like he was fighting a smile.

“Of course, Milo. My apologies.”

He slipped out of the room.

“That was absolutely psychotic,” Willow snapped, arms wrapping tight around herself. “You can’t treat people like that.”

Milo watched her in silence, something dangerous flashing in his dark eyes. Then he moved—slow, deliberate, like a predator who knew exactly how close he could get before his prey sensed danger.

He didn’t stop until he was in front of her.

With a gentleness that didn’t match the tension rolling off his body, Milo raised his hand and took herchin between his fingers, tilting her face up until their eyes locked.

“You’re mine, Willow,” he said. “And I’ll have the hands of any man who forgets that. Understand me, and mind yourself accordingly.”

“I don’t belong to any man,” she whispered, chin held high even as her knees threatened to buckle. Their eyes locked like magnets, her breath hitching as she fought the urge to drop her gaze to his lips.

Milo’s smile was slow, a dangerous curve that didn’t reach his eyes.

“No,” he murmured. “You’re right. You don’t belong to a man, Willow.”

A heartbeat passed.

“After all, I am no man.”

The words stole the air from her lungs. She was trembling—not with fear, but with the brutal effort of keeping herself rooted, of not collapsing into the pull of him.

“No,” she said again, voice quivering like a string pulled too taut. “You’re not a man.”

Her lip curled, defiance flaring even as her body betrayed her with heat and need.

“You’re a monster.”

His expression didn’t change, but the flicker in his eyes said everything.

14

MILO

Monster? Yeah, alright..