Page 19 of Curvy Hostage Mate (Gold Wolves Black Ops #4)

I stormed out of the house, not caring that the door had rattled when I slammed it behind me, or that I had locked the door after promising I wouldn’t anymore.

If I hadn’t, Morgan would have snuck out, anyway.

This way, she was at least safe. Even if I was pissed off, I wasn’t going to stop protecting her.

I glanced back at the locked door, then out at the woods, still trying to get myself under control and push down that rage still building inside me. Couldn’t she see I was just trying to help her?

I needed to get out of my own head. I needed to clear my mind and just not think about things for a few minutes. The forest called to me. Without giving myself much time to think about it, I shifted.

My claws dug into the earth, dry and crumbly with winter, but still satisfying as it churned beneath my paws. I shook my head, loosening my muscles as I took in the surrounding area.

I charged through the woods, relishing the feel of the wind through my fur as I darted between trees, moving this way and that.

My wolf savored the sensation. When was the last time I had just let go and run through the trees?

With everything going on, I hadn’t had the chance to do anything like this in weeks.

It hadn’t been until I started running and caught the faint scent of rabbit that I realized just how badly I had needed this.

I charged after the scent. Even as the hare disappeared into the brush, it didn’t matter. What mattered was the hunt, and just letting my mind wander until the frustration wore out.

I kept running, going after prey when I smelled it, but not with any real urgency. Really, I just wanted to keep going, to keep moving. Every stride seemed to soften the edges of ire radiating through me, fading more with each step.

Right as the last bits of anger began to ebb, a loud, crunching sound came from behind me. I turned as a large wolf strolled into view. Will.

I shifted back to human at the same time he did, then followed him to a rocky overhang.

“Good hunt?” he asked.

“Not much prey, given the season,” I answered as I came to sit next to him, my legs dangling off the rock. “But I definitely needed the run.”

I meant it, too. I was still angry, still stressed and worried about Morgan, still not wanting to face the fight I knew was coming my way when I got back to the safehouse. But some of the aggression and frustration had left me, and I could at least think a bit clearer.

“That’s good.” Will leaned back on his arms, staring out instead of glancing at me. “Declan and I were talking earlier today. We think we might have a lead on where Cain is holding out. No guarantees, but it’s looking promising. So we’re going to head there probably later tonight or tomorrow.

“Good,” I growled, flexing my fingers. I couldn’t wait until I had Cain beneath my claws and I could tear him to ribbons.

Will raised his eyebrow, looking me up and down with interest. “All right, what’s wrong?”

“What makes you think something is wrong?” I grumbled.

“Because you’re my friend, and I know you. Whenever you’re sulking, you get that crease between your eyebrows.” He tapped the spot right above my nose. “And you also look like you’re ready to murder the first thing that looks at you sideways.”

I gave an irritated grunt.

“You also become a lot quieter, bordering on monosyllabic,” he added conversationally. That at least made a grin crack across my face, despite myself. “So why don’t you tell me what’s wrong?”

I still didn’t answer. I stared out at the stunning mountain view in front of us, bare trees sprawling around and beneath us.

I could see the glittering lights of Falcon’s Reach peaking from between the empty branches.

Even in the middle of winter, this area was incredible.

I took a deep breath, inhaling the fresh scents of the woods around us, the smell of fresh prey carried across the wind.

“You still haven’t answered,” Will pointed out, dragging me out of my reverie.

I blinked. “It’s Morgan,” I said.

Raising an eyebrow, Will tilted his head with interest. “The pregnancy?”

My head whipped around, mouth dropping open with surprise, so I looked like a gaping fish. “How do you know about that?”

“Kendra told me.” He raised an eyebrow. “You didn’t think she was going to tell her mate that her sister was pregnant?

Don’t worry, I haven’t told anyone. Not even Declan.

But you’ll want to take care of that before it’s too late.

He’s already not thrilled with you. Holding back something like this is only going to make it worse. ”

“I’ll take it under advice. Do I need to worry about Kendra’s claws in my back, though?” I asked, which earned me a laugh.

“Nah, Morgan explicitly forbade Kendra from any sort of retribution,” he explained.

“I don’t think she’s thrilled about the situation, all things considered, but you don’t have to worry about her casting spells on you or anything like that.

” He paused, considering as he gave a faint smirk.

“At least not about the baby. If you’ve done something else to hurt Morgan, I’m pretty sure all bets are off.

” The amused glint died from his eyes. “But you’re avoiding the question.

Does this have to do with the pregnancy? ”

“Not exactly,” I muttered. Though I was sure the pregnancy hormones hadn’t helped the situation, I wasn’t about to blame our argument on that. There were too many other factors. I had a funny feeling this fight would have come about sooner or later.

“Well, that clears things up,” Will quipped. “Good talk.”

I closed my eyes. “It’s complicated,” I growled.

Letting out a soft, mildly annoyed laugh, Will shook his head as he leaned backward. “Her sister is my mate. If anyone is going to understand how complicated that family can be, it would be me.”

I snorted as I bobbed my head in acquiescence. “That’s fair. I remember what Kendra was like back in the Underside. Morgan might be a bit more timid, but that fire is still there when she wants it to be.”

“And I’m guessing that popped up recently?” Will asked.

“About, oh, two hours ago?”

Will’s hair swished behind him as he reclined further. “You’re having a lot of fun being cryptic, aren’t you?” he asked dryly.

“What can I say? I enjoy making things unnecessarily complicated and vague. It’s just part of my style.”

Will’s lip twitched upward, but for the most part, his expression remained stern, almost taciturn.

“You know I’m not going to be able to give you any sort of advice if you don’t actually tell me anything.

If you don’t want my input, that’s fine.

But if you do want it, you’re going to have to give me a bit more information. ”

I huffed. “You always were obnoxiously reasonable.”

“I try,” he retorted. “So are you going to tell me, or should we get back to hunting?”

The moment he asked, I realized that I really did want his advice.

As much as I wouldn’t admit it, I felt completely out of my depth.

I didn’t know how to handle Morgan. I wanted to help her, but I didn’t know how to protect her and keep her happy at the same time.

If anyone might have insight into Morgan’s family, it would be Kendra’s mate.

Finally, I let out a deep breath and started talking. Once I started, I couldn’t stop. I told him as much as I could. Will listened with his normal stoic silence, nodding every so often. As I finished, he remained silent for a long moment, staring out in speculation.

Eventually, he said, “Do you know two of the first things Kendra asked for when she got to my house?”

“No.”

“A key to the house, and no locked doors. She told me the locked doors reminded her of how trapped she’d felt in the Underside and all the time before.

They made her feel restricted and confined.

The key to the house made her feel like she could come and go as she pleased.

” Lost in memory, he gave a small smile.

“She told me the first week she was here that she was terrified of being trapped again. I promised her I would do everything in my power to make sure that never happened.”

I stared, not bothering to hide my surprise. “And you weren’t out of your mind with worry every minute? Especially with Cain still on the loose?”

“A bit. So I found other ways to keep her safe where she didn’t feel stuck or trapped.”

“Okay, but what if I can’t find any other way?” I asked. But Will was already shaking his head.

“You’re not getting it. What I’m trying to say is that Morgan’s had it even worse than Kendra. Longer confinement, and more or less tethered to that asshole without any say to the contrary. It’s hard not to blame her for being upset that it’s continuing here.”

“But—”

“Give her some leeway,” Will interrupted, giving me a stern look.

“She’s been through a hell of a lot in the last months, and several years, for that matter.

Kendra’s only told me bits and pieces about what she had to deal with.

If Morgan had to go through the same, I wouldn’t blame her for being upset. ”

I let out a huff. “I don’t know what it is about her. I just see her, and this overwhelming protective instinct comes over me. I can’t help it. I don’t want her to feel smothered, but the idea of letting her do anything remotely dangerous just sends me into an almost fugue state.”

Will cracked a grin, a knowing glint in his eyes. “That was how I felt about Kendra the moment I saw her,” he said. “You can make of that what you will.”

I went silent for a long moment, my mind churning as his words washed over me.

His situation with Kendra was different.

But was it? There had to be some reason I wanted to keep Morgan safe to the point of being an idiot.

I had never treated another woman this way.

I hadn’t felt this way about anyone before.

I felt drawn to her, even now when I was angry.

I wanted her safe. More than that, I wanted to be with her for the rest of my life, always at her side.

And I could only think of one reason that might be.

I loved Morgan.

The moment I thought it, I realized it was true. I loved how sweet she was, that secret fire that she held back from everyone, her smile. I loved how determined she was, and how she always wanted to help, no matter what.

Relief washed over me as the understanding slammed into me like a speeding truck.

I loved Morgan.

And I had just left her locked in a cabin, treating her the way I had promised I never would again.

Fuck. I needed to talk to her. I clambered to my feet.

“I’ve got to get going,” I said. Glancing over at Will, I saw an amused, knowing smirk as he looked back at me.

“Thought you might.” He let out a puff of air, watching as the white fog that came from his mouth swirled and dissipated around him. “Good luck.”

I gave a short nod, then wasted no time shifting and racing back to the cabin.

Now that I had finally realized how I felt about Morgan, everything felt clearer.

Things made sense again. A weight that had been pushing down on my shoulders for days now had lifted.

I loved Morgan. I loved our baby. I didn’t want whatever this was to end when Cain died.

And I wanted to tell her how much I loved her.

And Will was right. I couldn’t keep her locked up like a trophy. I wasn’t Cain, and she wasn’t an object. We could sit down and talk, figure out a plan that worked for both of us. We could work this out together.

All of that hope and excitement died as I got near the safehouse. I knew something was wrong the second I saw it. Something about it felt off. It felt cold, empty. The lights were off, and the area felt devoid of life.

I shifted back to human, the wolf inside me pacing anxiously, letting out agitated growls. He liked this even less than I did.

Slowly, I tried the door, breathing easier when I found it still locked. But that brief flash of respite evaporated the second I pulled open the door onto a dark, empty cabin.

“Morgan?” I called.

No answer. I frowned. Her scent was stale, several hours old, as if she’d left not long after I had and hadn’t come back.

I raced through the house, trying to catch any smells that might give me a clue as to what had happened.

There were no other scents. No one had come and grabbed her, then. She had gone off on her own.

I ran outside, continuing to try catching her scent, but I couldn’t smell her, or anyone else.

Where was she?

My blood ran cold. I knew exactly where she had gone.

She’d gone to find Cain.