Page 16

Chapter 16

Prowl

Daff’s hand squeezed mine.

Her attempt at reassurance was sweet but unnecessary.

She’d filled the deepest cracks in my soul, sealed them closed with her embedded inside.

She was a part of me now.

My sanity. My peace.

My home. My heart’s sole purpose now was to keep beating for her.

Because I wouldn’t survive losing her.

“Are you ready?” She asked.

Lara, the guards and whoever else stood waiting outside for us to emerge were braced for me to lose my shit.

To be overwhelmed by the onslaught of scents and react violently.

I knew I wouldn’t.

My instincts had claimed the anchor they’d needed.

My lion had needed a purpose.

A family. He’d needed his mate and had recognised her in Daff.

Others might question my theory, but every warped cell in my body knew it to be true.

So no, I wasn’t worried about leaving our quarters the way everyone else here was.

My restlessness, my concern, was about keeping Daff safe.

The need to protect her was what had me in a heightened state.

And with no way to prepare, to know exactly who or how many were waiting for us?

I was gritting my teeth, holding back a growl that would have us hustling back into that room and behind that goddamn door.

Admittedly, I’d happily stay locked in there forever, just the two of us.

But Daff deserved better than spending her days trapped in there with me.

What if she started feeling claustrophobic and needed more space?

Or wanted to go outside, and I couldn’t follow?

Someone could hurt her or try to claim her.

Take her as their own, so she never came back.

“Look at me, big guy.”

She was facing me, one hand on my chest, the other on my jaw.

“Deep breaths. You’ve got this. I know you do.”

I gripped her tiny wrist, basking in the softness of her skin as I kissed her palm.

Her lips curved into a smile.

“Think of those cubs waiting for you. How happy they’ll be to see you.”

“I’m fine, Angel. As long as you’re safe, I’ll be fine.”

Her face softened.

“Nothing’s going to happen to me.”

Yeah, because I sure as shit wasn’t going to let it.

“Ready?” Henry asked.

I nodded, not looking away from her.

“Yep,” Daff answered, moving to my side.

“Jean, Lara, Doc Lucus, King and two more officers are waiting outside. The immediate area has been temporarily cleared.”

The bands around my chest eased with the information.

“Noted.”

“They’d prefer you exit separately. Daff first, you second. We’ll cover your back.”

My growl erupted before I could think to stop it.

Now was not the time to be putting everyone on edge.

Were they still not convinced that I’d gladly kill myself before I’d ever hurt her?

“We go together. Physical contact works best for us,” Daff said, jaw set in defiance.

“What are your orders?” I asked, forcing myself to look away from her.

He was human, in full tactical gear, with The Compound’s standard two guns strapped to his belt.

The larger of the two, a Taser that would kill anything but us, was drawn and aimed at the floor.

His shoulders were braced, but his hands were steady, the radio strapped to his shoulder silent.

They were all good things.

It meant there’d been no last-minute changes and that he was alert, but not feeling trigger-happy.

“First and second have a shoot-to-kill order. We have incapacitate. If you remain stable through the meet and greet, we’ll escort you to the cubs. First and second will remain outside, third and fourth will follow you in. All four will accompany you on your return.”

“The meet and greet?”

“Ready. They’ll wait for you to approach.”

“Okay. You ready, Angel?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be. You?”

“Ditto.”

She sucked in a loud breath as the officer beside her spoke into his radio.

“Prowl’s ready to exit.”

“Confirmed. Area is still clear, opening the door now.”

I tightened my grip on Daff’s hand, keeping my eyes trained forward despite the urge to look at her, knowing she was watching me.

The outer door swung open.

Early afternoon light spilled onto the floor, the rush of fresh air bringing with it an onslaught of scents.

Males. Human and hybrid.

Lara. Soil. Decomposing leaves.

Floral notes.

“Ready when you are, Prowl.”

Two steps, three blinks, and I was outside, adjusting to the sunlight.

Jean, Lara, King, and the vet stood dead ahead, the guards on either side braced with guns drawn but aimed low.

The rest of the area was cleared as promised, though I could hear voices floating from not too far away.

The urge to yank Daff to my chest and shield her with my body ran feral, the need pulsing through my veins with each heartbeat.

Rationally, I knew King, my only genuine threat, wouldn’t take her from me.

No one here would except maybe the jerk-off.

Just the thought of that bastard taking her away, touching her, breathing the same air as her, had rage choking my lungs.

“Breathe, big guy.”

I inhaled on her command.

Breathed in her scent and enough rational thought to cut that line of thought.

Doc Paula had already weighed in on that, and Lara had the final call.

I had to trust in that—in them—to get through these next few minutes, just long enough for the bastard to watch me emerge and leave without incident.

I stepped in his direction.