Page 26 of Wolf's Vow

The pack was as close to the boundary with the Hollow as they could get. There were two territories between us, but they had actually found the narrowest point.

Killian and I had shifted just on the border of their territory. I was in my combat pants, boots, and a T-shirt. Killian had turned away when I shifted, and I knew he was being respectful of his alpha, but I wanted to remind him it wasn’t necessary. Nudity was not a big deal, but I bit my tongue.

He’d described the packlands and their homes on our approach, but I’d stopped listening when a door swung open and out stepped a giant of a man.

The man, who made Killian look as young and inexperienced as Henry, walked toward us. I heard Killian scoff as I stepped back, while the man, seemingly wrapped in stone and shadow, approached.

He washuge. Muscular and inked—tribal tattoos snaking down his arms like war marks from another life. I couldn’t even begin to imagine the pain he must have endured getting that work done. Shifters rarely had tattoo marks; the shift erased the ink humans used, so ours was laced with ash and magic. This man was either a lunatic or had a very high pain threshold. His eyes met mine, and I decided it was both.

His hair was loose, long, and wet-looking even though I could see it was dry, and I knew it wasn’t greasy. It fell around his face like a curtain of menace. His piercing blue eyes were unreadable in the way a predator’s are—calculating, silent, patient. A cigarette hung between his lips as he stopped an arm’s length away from me, and I didn’t know where to look first. The tight black jeans and the black tank top stretched over vast muscles, the cold stare, or the tattoos. He was dangerous, from the way he moved, the way he looked, and the way he watched me, and all I could think washow the hell is this guy a beta?

If rage, regret, and raw magnetism had a lovechild raised on vengeance and bourbon, it would be this male in front of me.

“Who’s this?” His voice was the sound of gravel falling down the side of the mountain.

“Rowen,” Killian said simply. He stepped forward and they clasped forearms. Killian looked at me as he stepped back. “Rowen, this is Diesel. Wolfe’s beta.”

Diesel? Like the fuel? It made sense. He definitely looked like he needed to come with a warning.

Diesel’s gaze traveled over me slowly, not in a sexual way. I was pretty sure he’d weighed and measured me in one long glance. I was also sure he’d calculated how many parts he could chop me into to feed him and his family over the winter.

“Hi.” I wasn’t sure what else to say.

He didn’t speak. He might have dipped his chin, but his attention was already back on Killian. He took a pull of his cigarette, and then he snubbed it, blew on the head, and tucked it into his back pocket.

There were many females in my pack who would line up to get their hearts broken by Diesel, I was sure of it.

“It’s time?” Diesel asked.

“He says it is.” I saw Killian roll his eyes like he disagreed.

Diesel was looking at me. I had the urge to step closer to Killian.

“His cabin’s empty. Put her there.” He turned and walked away, and I knew I was gaping after him.

“Come on,” Killian murmured. “Wolfe’s is this way.”

I saw one or two of the pack who had come to the Hollow weeks ago, but I knew I had never seen Diesel.

“Um…” I looked over my shoulder. “Where was he when everyone came to Blueridge Hollow?”

Killian glanced at me. “Who? Diesel?” I nodded and he shrugged. “Here?”

“You don’t sound sure,” I said as I followed him into one of the structures.

“He would have been here or in one of the other shelters. Diesel likes to keep moving.”

“He seems…” Well, I couldn’t lie and sayfriendly.

Killian opened the fridge and peered inside. “You need stocked. I’ll send someone with food.” He straightened. “You don’t need to worry about Diesel; he’s loyal to Wolfe.” Killianheaded to the door and hesitated. “Just…don’t piss him off, okay?”

“Why?”

Killian looked out the door and then back at me. “Only Wolfe can calm him down if he loses it, so…don’t be you. Don’t push him, don’t test him. Because I’m not Wolfe, and if D wipes you out, or the territory out, then don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“Wh-what?”

“I’ll send someone over to you in a bit.” He walked out.