Read Online Desired By The Pack: Part Three by Emma Storm - Free Book Online Page B

don’t know. Maybe some science. Maybe more magic. I don’t know how much has been produced or how widely it’s been distributed, but I do have a lead.”
    At Cross’s raised eyebrow, Smoke bared his teeth in a cold, humorless grin. “Hunter spilled his guts before we ripped them out.”
    Beck didn’t blink at the satisfaction dripping from Smoke’s fangs, which still bore pointed evidence of his grief and rage.
    Smoke’s tactics had been benign compared to those of Mira’s bonded mate.
    “A name?” Disbelief edged Cross’s question.
    “A location, too. They’re probably low level but it’s somewhere to start.”
    Anders cocked his head, his gaze far away toward the falls. “Are we going to take this on?”
    “We have no choice. It will divide us but that might be what needs to happen. Half of us here on the gate. The rest of us tracking down what we can in the city. We need to tighten our parameters here. Smoke is doing what he can to dispose of the hunter’s remains but they were too many to just erase them.”
    Cross nodded.
    Anders’ mouth was an angry slash across his face, but he only said, “What is your plan?”
    “Two of you will stay here with Anders. Pull in the outer reaches of the territory so we can double patrols. Star’s pack is reliable but I don’t know how long Paxton will hold on. I don’t want his group on the Gate. Burn all this.” He waved to encompass the camp. “The rest of you will come with me.”
    “Jan and that baby can’t live in a den or a cave,” Maverick said.
    “No. They’ll come with me too.”
    “I go where that kid goes,” Smoke said.
    Beck nodded. Smoke’s claim was unsurprising, given the high odds he had fathered the child.
    Cross, Jared and Maverick exchanged looks.
    Jared wore a faint, knowing smile. “I’ll stay with Anders.”
    While Maverick and Cross sized each other up, Anders stared Beck down.
    “Bind her before you take her,” Anders said.
    “Get Cleo here by moonrise to relieve January. We’ll take her then.”
     

     
    7
    As soon as Cleo left with the baby, January climbed into the cabin’s miniscule shower. The water remained tolerably warm long enough for her to wash her hair, but turned cold before she managed much else. Her teeth chattered as she grabbed a towel and stepped out, and then shocked heat warmed her back up.
    Beck lounged naked in the open door. Beyond him, Anders tossed pillows off the bed.
    January swallowed and tucked her too-small towel under her arms. Beck’s lazy head to toe examination kept her painfully aware of how little flesh the towel covered.
    He’d seen her naked before but this was different. This wasn’t in the throes of Heat, when beauty mattered less than urgency.
    This was in unflattering light, minus lipstick and tummy-flattering textile technology and wine.
    “You’re making me self-conscious,” she said after a few minutes.
    He cocked his head, gaze locking with hers. “Why?”
    “We’ve never been together outside of Heat.”
    His mouth took on a thoughtful slant. “No, we haven’t. Are you going to refuse me tonight, without your mating Moon?”
    Mouth dry, she shook her head. The boundaries she’d erected no longer seemed to matter, washed away during the storm of her few days at Peace River.
    Beck’s eyes darkened and brightened at the same time. He stepped into the small room, so little space for two that his thighs brushed hers.
    “I’m sorry about Prince.”
    A lump formed in her throat. She shook her head. “He did…his choices were his. You acted out of duty and protection. I don’t hold you responsible for anything.”
    Surprise flickered in his eyes. He reached up and traced the damp join of her neck and shoulder. “Thank you.”
    Water beaded and slid from her hair, rolling down her back. One drop slid from the hair at her temple, clinging to her earlobe before falling to her shoulder.
    Hunger sharpened Beck’s features seconds before he bowed his head and licked the