Page 44 of Eternal Light

His what?

“You know, the one you make when you don’t want to tell Gideon you didn’t like the healthy broccoli cookies he made? Or that the last song Jay showed you sounded like a jingle for Chuck E. Cheese?”

Oh—that face. He’d told Luca those truths, explained that he hadn’t wanted to hurt anyone’s feelings with the cold, hard facts.

Damn, he should have known that was going to bite him in the ass.

It’s the problem with sharing absolutely everything with someone—even the thoughts in your head.

“Luc, let’s get out of here, and then I’ll tell you everything I know. Maybe we can find a phone and call someone to come pick us up.”

“Jay and Gideon? I feel like they’re really far away.” The beta rubs between his pecs and then up over Jamie’s pack bite.

Nix’s stomach rolls at trying Gideon’s phone and not getting—nope, not going there, or Nix will be immobilized. “Shit—the BBS. Gray must be freaking out, too. How long until you’re really sick?”

“I don’t know how long we were out. But it’s low-grade now—maybe another few hours before I’m puking my guts up.”

That means Gray is most likely feeling it already.

It also means he can’t waste another minute—time to put his plan into action. “Do you think you could fake it to get BigAndStupid so we can get out of here?”

Luca looks uncertain, but Nix’s baby is brave, and he nods his head. “Let’s do it.”

Nix takes up his position behind the door and lets his wolf come forward. There’s immense power and cunning to be found when he lets the wolf run things.

“Help! Help! I’m hurt!” Luca calls. “Hey, Gigantor! I’m going to die in here! And then what will that zombie-ass-motherfucker do to you?”

BigAnd—maybe-not-as-stupid-as-they’d-thought—bangs on the door. “Shut up, omega-bitch. If I come in there, you’re going to be sorry.”

“I’m already sorry! I’m bleeding from my brain!” Luca coughs and then makes a gurgling sound before he spits on the floor.

It’s so believable that Nix can only stand there in awe. Who knew Luca Wilde could act?

“You’re bleeding?” the big man grumbles. “Shit.” There are footsteps away, and then there are keys jingling, and Nix points so that Luca gets back on their cardboard bed. In a stroke of genius, he bites his wrist and smears the blood on his face.

Nix’s wolf growls at the sight, not liking the visual at all.

“I’m going to open the door. It’s reinforced steel, and if I don’t see both of you on the boxes, I’m shutting this, and I’ll take my chances with Withers. Got it?”

Shit, there goes that plan. Instead, Nix throws himself on the makeshift bed and pretends to still be unconscious. It’s not ideal for leverage or the element of surprise, but Nix still has options, and his wolf is ready.

“My mate is still unconscious.” Luca coughs again and spits. “Are you going to help me or what?”

“I’m fucking serious!”

“Yeah, yeah,” Luca mutters under his breath. “Help me! I am so scared!” he says, much louder.

Nix wants to laugh but holds his breath, scent and bonds still tightly under wraps. He can’t afford to be distracted now.

BigAndStupid cracks the door open. Nix tracks him through his lowered lashes. “What the fuck did you do to your face? It wasn’t like that when I brought you in.”

“I don’t know. I woke up like this…” Luca whines pitifully.

“Shit, you better not actually die.” The big man grabs Luca’s chin and, in doing so, puts his other hand on the floor for balance.

Nix grabs his wrist and wrenches it up behind him, standing before the bigger man can even catch his breath. But he’s already swinging. Turns out, like Logan, he fights with brute strength and sheer determination.

A meaty fist slams into Nix’s shoulder, spinning him around. Nix spins, landing a roundhouse kick to the center of his chest. The man grunts but catches Nix’s foot.