Page 48 of Same Thing

He pecked her lips, once, twice…and again. And then he did something that just wrapped around her heart. He pulled her in for a hug and just…held her.

Both of their breathing slowed, both heart rates slowly returned to normal. He pulled the covers over them and she just held onto him like an anchor.

“You’re safe,” he whispered.

Those two words drew a sleepy smile from her lips. “I know.”

Chapter Eleven

Liam watched the steady rise and fall of Nory’s shoulder. The lights were off, but his night vision was something else.

She had this plan, and he understood her logic, but…

He was Liam Northman, Alpha of the Coeur d’Alene Lake Pack, werewolf since birth and follower of laws she didn’t understand.

No one was allowed to hunt his woman.

He’d followed the rules. He had stated clearly that Nory was his to Jackson. He’d let him know his intentions, and let him know she was off-limits, and he had still pursued her.

If he was a werewolf, Jackson would’ve already been dead.

The only reason he was still breathing was that human blood running through his veins.

He didn’t want to start a war with the humans in this place, but he would be damned if a scumbag like Jackson got a free pass.

He swallowed the snarl in his throat and stood. She would sleep for a few hours more. If he was lucky, he would be back before dawn.

He shut the bedroom door quietly behind him and made his way through the dark living room. Nate would’ve heard him take the misstep on the creaky floorboard by the front door, so he was surprised when his Second didn’t come charging out of his bedroom.

He stayed frozen there for a three-count and then pushed the door open and left Nate’s house. He’d know he was going to do this from the second he’d seen Jackson’s text that said, You’re mine.

He really shouldn’t have done that.

The wolf couldn’t forgive it.

Liam had parked far away from the house so he could escape without his engine waking Nory up.

He checked behind him one last time as he strode up to his truck, but the house remained dark and quiet. Too quiet.

“Where are you going?” Nate asked.

“Fuck,” Liam snarled, barely resisting the urge to take a swing at the asshole leaning against his truck.

“Where do you think I’m going?” he gritted out, yanking his door open.

“Oh, I know where you’re going. I just wanted to see if you were going to try and lie to me.”

“Piss off,” he told him as he got in and closed the door.

And Nate, that eternal asshat, opened the passenger’s side door and climbed in.

“Get out,” Liam ordered. Now, he didn’t give orders easily, but it was admittedly satisfying watching Nate choke on his own argument and jerkily remove himself from the cab of Liam’s truck.

“I want to go,” Nate gasped out.

Liam frowned. “Stop.”

Nate clumsily stopped and turned toward him slowly.