Page 47 of House of Wolves
He sighs, rubbing down his face, standing next to me to take in the view of the said shit show before us. “We set off an alarm when we escaped. I turned it off before coming to get you, but you know, that was a while ago.”
Recent memories of our heated moments together rush around me. I shiver, Brick’s touch imprinted on my skin. “Honestly, I’m surprised we even made it out of there with the girls.”
Brick nods. I feel his gaze on me even as I look ahead, searing into the side of my skull. “We’re lucky. But you kicked ass.”
I throw the thought around, watching it overhead. “Hm, I guess I did.”
“And that file, even if we can’t arrest anyone for their atrocities, we have the serum. The National Department of Supernatural will be all over this town now. That file is enough evidence to really put an end to this.”
I let out a heavy sigh. It’s good news, truly, but I’ve heard it all before, in a thousand different ways. The girls are free, and Kilo is dead, but there are a hundred other men just like him. When one gets chopped down, another bursts through the murky surface just as quickly. I should feel glad, proud of myself, but I just feel tired.
Brick grabs my elbow. Okay, maybe not just tired. My body vibrates.
He pulls me into his embrace, kissing the top of my head. I stiffen at first. We’re out in the open, in the light of day, and he holds me as if I’m his. I fight my brain's instinct to reject the affection and instead lean into him, feeling a million times better once I surrender. Besides the whole buzzing vagina. God dammit I hate ovulation.
I catch Cameron’s gaze from below. He studies me oddly, but then something like understanding covers his features, and he nods with a smile. I smile back, shaking my head as if this is all a major annoyance. He rolls his eyes and returns to his conversation with the police. The cop isn’t anyone I’m familiar with. I surmise they’re special officers flown in.
“You did good, little wolf,” he kisses down the side of my face, his length pressing into my backside.
I giggle, stiffening to stop his travel. “Brick, we’ve already gone too far during enough inappropriate times.”
“What’s one more?” he says mid-kiss.
“We have a lot to discuss,” I counter, flipping to face him and lacing my arms around his neck.
He scrunches his face. “I don’t know if you know this about me, but I’m not a talker.”
I laugh. “In fact, that is one of the very few things I know about you. That’s what we need to talk about. You’re my mate. There’s still so much to figure out.” “I know, but we have forever to do it.” He kisses me gently. “But right now, you’re in heat, and I’m a wild boar that can’t control myself.”
I almost surrender, turn my bones to liquid, and let him carry me down the hill and fuck me behind a tree, but we’re interrupted. “Carmen, Brick!” Grimm calls from the base of the hill.
I groan but stuff away my desire, eager to hear from my pack’s leader. Grimm hurries his steps, throwing his arms around me in a desperate hug. It’s strange, and I stiffen. Grimm and I have never hugged before, but I relax into it after a moment. Maybe finding my mate is making me all fluffy.
He pulls back, examining me. “I can’t tell you how sorry I am. I just can’t believe you were captured moments after I was with you.”
I shake my head. “It’s fine.” I honestly haven’t even considered it. I was the one who hurried him to leave. Maybe if I had been honest and revealed more of my thoughts, I wouldn’t have put myself in the situation. But then we wouldn’t have gotten to the facility and broken the girls free.
“No, it’s not fine.” His pupils dilate. I take in his unkempt hair, an oddity for him, and the deep bags under his eyes. “I brought Kilo into our pack, put you in danger, and then doubted you.”
“I agreed to all of it. I trusted Kilo, too.” I attempt to erase the image of his lips on me, the thought sending my stomach into an upheave.
My words don’t seem to soothe Grimm. “I should have vetted him better. I did my research but clearly it wasn’t enough. Even Cameron suspected something funny with him. Not at first, but he caught on quickly. I just blamed it on his pregnancy hormones. I was blinded, desperate for someone to save us.”
I grab his arm, attempting to steady his spiral. “Grimm, we all were desperate.” I trusted him as well. Just because Grimm is our leader doesn’t mean he’s immune to mistakes.
He breathes out, studying me. “Turns out the one to save those girls was right under our noses. You did it, Carmen. I shouldn’t have doubted you.”
“Well, maybe you should have.” I motioned my eyes toward Brick, and Grimm takes him in as if forgetting he was there.
“Brick, I apologize for not trusting you, but I’ve got to say, you could have just told us you were working as a double agent.”
Brick shakes his head. “It was too dangerous for any of you to know. Also, if you knew, Kilo would have known, too. Although I’ve learned he had his suspicions.”
His guilt-ridden expression comes back in full gleam. “Fucking hell. You’re right.” He yanks at his hair.
Brick slaps a hand on his shoulder. “When’s the last time you slept?” Clearly noticing the exhaustion.
Grimm groans, pulling his phone out of his pocket and glancing at the screen as he replies. “What I need is a goddamn secretary.”
