Meaning the recent attack.I kept my face neutral.
“Joshua’s correct,” Sam agreed. Grey nodded. They all looked relieved.
“What does that mean for me?” I asked, pushing.
Joshua sighed regretfully. “It means we too are asking for your patience. We need to ensure we are doing what is best for the pack.”
Playing my role, I scowled. “Fine. But my patience is limited. I can already feel another dream gathering. I’ll give you an hour to decide, or I’m going to jump on the next unMated I see and start biting.”
Standing quickly, I fled out the door as if angry and almost ran into Luke. Thankfully, I’d been wearing my I’m-annoyed-and-leaving face and not my ha-ha-you-fool face. He caught my arms so I wouldn’t bump into him and pulled back, his eyes searching my face. The hall was empty except for us.
“I thought you were waiting in the room,” I said.
“I didn’t actually think you’d come back,” he commented letting go of my arms.
“I told you I would.” How could a man be so annoying yet so endearing?
A corner of his mouth tilted up in a half-smile, and he threaded his fingers through mine. We walked back to the apartment in silence. Though my mouth was quiet, my mind was not. He didn’t just hold my hand, he held my heart. I really started to doubt my wisdom. What a joke. Me. Wisdom.
He opened the apartment door for me. I eased onto the couch and closed my eyes.
The cushions next to me dipped as he sat beside me. His arm curved around my shoulders, and he pulled me to his side. “You look tired.”
“I’m always tired.” Hopefully not much longer though.
Pressed into his warm side, I relaxed and the dreams swirled. Thankfully, less than a minute later, someone knocked on the door.
Luke eased me from his side to answer it. Sam stood in the entry. “Luke, we would like to speak with you.” His voice held regret. Luke glanced at me, seeking my permission to leave my side.
“I’ll be fine,” I assured him.
He walked out with Sam, and I waited for the main player, lightly touching the knife still strapped to my leg. As I anticipated, another knock sounded on the door.
“Come in,” I called.
Joshua opened the door with a smile. “Bethi, hello.” He closed the door. “We are breaking the news to Luke now. Actually, we are isolating him to give others a fair chance. We called a few candidates to the woods just outside the Compound if you would come with me.”
“Perfect,” I agreed, not bothering to contain my happiness. Joshua watched me closely as I stood. The stitches pulled when I tried to straighten so a cringe wasn’t hard to fake. “I’m not sure I’ll make it that far.”
He frowned slightly, considering me before stepping close. “If you’ll allow me, I’ll carry you.”
“Thank you.”
He bent down, placed an arm behind my knees and my back, and with a quick move, he lifted me into his arms. I settled high with my arm around his shoulders.
“Joshua, I should warn you. There’s another dream coming on and I’m not sure how long I’ll...” I lightly sighed and dropped my head on his shoulder. I should have been in theatre. “I’m not sure how long I’ll be able to stay awake.”
There was no dream, at least, not one that I couldn’t resist. The light scent of his shaving cream filled my nose. Underneath that, I could smell the real Joshua. Woods, sky, and mud. It held no appeal to me whatsoever.
“Don’t worry,” he assured me, turning toward the door.
I nodded my head, the movement bringing me closer to his neck. All my attempts with Luke had taught me something. Don’t dart in until you were sure he couldn’t get a hand up fast enough. Joshua didn’t see it coming. I ducked in and bit him hard before we made it to the door.
He gasped, a mix of pleasure and fear. I wiped my mouth on his suit jacket. Ew. His taste was worse than his smell.
The arm supporting my legs slackened, and I loosened my arms around his neck, fearing for my stitches. The blade I had strapped to my leg was trapped between us. His eyes met mine as my legs slowly slid to the floor. The arm at my back kept me pinned as he searched my face. Panic flared within me, but it was not my own. I waited patiently for him to sort through what I had just done.
“What did you do?” he finally managed. Apparently he couldn’t sort through it on his own.
