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Chapter Nine

S triker McCracken strolled down the hall of the hotel, whistling a song that was an ode to the lycan legend William Wallace. So far Egypt had been a great mission. He’d wanted to get laid last night, but he’d ended up closing the bar with Edee and Boomer. He had to admit he’d had fun, even without having sex .

That was rare .

He was partway down the hall, nearing his room when he saw Brooke running out of Malik’s room. She slammed the door behind her and twisted, tears running down her face .

Unsure what was going on, Striker put his arms out and caught Brooke just as she tripped. “Careful, lass .”

She sobbed and righted herself, pushing out of his hold .

His wolf stirred, scenting Malik all over her, in more than just a sexual way. It was almost as if Malik had marked her. But that was ridiculous. The Egyptian would never claim a human. None of the men he knew would. Hell, he didn’t even think they could claim one. From his limited understanding of mating, it was instinctual and only happened with one’s chosen mate. Not randomly. And only with another supernatural .

Still, he could have sworn the woman was marked by his friend .

She wiped her cheeks, dropping her boots in the process .

Striker retrieved them for her and stayed close to her, concern for her state of distress filling him. He didn’t want to think the worst happened, but he’d be remiss if he didn’t ask. “Lass, Malik dinnae hurt you, did he ?”

Shaking her head, she continued to cry. “Not physically. I was so stupid. I’d heard all about men like him. I thought I knew what I was getting into, but then he said he wanted more. He brought up moving in together and getting married. And then he freaked out and threw me out of the room. Why did I let him be my first ?”

Striker pursed his lips, at a loss for what to say to smooth the situation over for his friend. “As far as firsts, it could have been worse. It could have been an English guy. I do nae think they’re verra guid lovers. Erm, not that I’d know or anything. I do nae bed them myself, but they do nae look as if they’d be worth much in bed. Never mind. Ignore me. So, about that rat-bastard Egyptian ?”

The look she cast him said he wasn’t helping in any way .

Striker shrugged. “Can I help you find Edee? She has nae threatened to unman me in hours. She’s overdue .”

Duke stepped out into the hall from his room, looking like hammered shit. He drank enough to cause one hell of a hangover. When he spotted Brooke in tears, he arched his brows in question. His gaze snapped to Striker. “What did you do ?”

Offended one of his best friends would think so low of him, he huffed. “Och, I dinnae cause this. Malik did .”

Surprise coated Duke’s face. “Malik caused this? I’d have laid money on it being you .”

“The show of support is amazing. Do you nae have some ‘Eye of the Tiger’ you could be singing?” asked Striker .

Duke looked puzzled. “‘Eye of the Tiger’? Singing? What the hell are you going on about ?”

“I’ll show you the video later,” said Striker .

Duke opened his mouth to say something else when a huge roar sounded from Malik’s hotel room. From the volume level, it could mean only one thing. Malik was fully shifted into a lion .

“What was that?” asked Brooke, her eyes wide .

“Oh shit!” yelled Duke. “Get her out of here! Now !”

Nodding, Striker took one look at Brooke and did the only thing he could think to do in an emergency. He lifted her and tossed her over his shoulder, making her yelp and drop her boots again. If Malik broke loose and ran through the resort, it would be very bad .

Striker ran in the other direction with the woman over his shoulder, swatting at his back to be let down. The last thing he wanted was to have Malik eat the woman or maul her. He ran in the direction of the elevator and heard something large crashing from the other end of the hall .

Duke’s curses sounded next. “Fucking Egyptian! I fucking hate cats !”

“The stairs it is,” said Striker as he pivoted and headed to the stairs. He struck the door with so much force that he knocked it completely off. With the woman still over his shoulder, he hurried down the stairs, wanting to get her to safety and then get back to help Duke corral Malik .

In all the years he’d known Malik, the man had never lost control or had anything close to an issue with his shifter side. Often Striker was envious of Tut. Something had gone seriously wrong for the man to lose his shit to that point .

When Striker got the woman to the lobby, he set her on her feet gently and tried to smooth down her dress .

“Striker!”

He blushed as he realized he’d run his hands over her backside, trying to be sure she was covered fully. “Sorry. I, um, have to go now. You should get as far away from here as you can. Do nae look back. Forget you ever met him. Run .”

More tears appeared and he knew then he’d said the wrong thing. But it was the truth. For her own safety, she needed to be far away. Malik would never forgive himself if he hurt an innocent .

She turned and ran in the direction of the hotel exit. Striker started back for the stairs but realized he should probably make sure the woman got back to her own room safely. He spun around and went after her .

She was nowhere to be seen .

Had she gotten out of the hotel that fast ?

He jogged to the exit and the doors slid open automatically. He stepped out but found no sign of her. Her scent lingered, mixed with something else, but she wasn’t anywhere he could see. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted several large black SUVs. The assholes were driving way too fast out of the parking lot. If they weren’t careful, they’d kill someone .

“Humans,” he said, heading back into the resort quickly. “Here’s hoping the cat can get back in the bag .”