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"Da into the house through the back door caught their attention Sam stormed out of the bedroom

"Lock the door," Ryan warned Lelandi Ready to shift and take care of the threat, he dropped his shirt on the end of the bed and took off after Sam

As soon as they made it down the stairs, they saw Darien and his brothers stalking into the great room "They shifted and took off," Darien said, his brow furrowed, his face red "Where are Carol and Lelandi?"

"Carol’s sedated and sleeping in her roo with Carol until we catch the bastards"

Jake growled, "You don’t tell a pack leader what he’s going to allow, not in his own territory, McKinley"

Ryan suspected Jake was angrier about the the rules in his brother’s territory "I’ on this"

Darien looked at how underdressed Ryan was, and his own scowl deepened "Where the hell are the rest of your clothes? You didn’t shape-shift out there, did you?"

Ryan had onlyin the tub Boots, socks, and a soapy down jacket remained on the bathroom floor, while his shirt was draped across the foot of the bed No tiuys were storht have to shift to take care of the menace

Sam motioned to the stairs "He had to wash the soap off Carol But Lelandi ith hih Saone on, Ryan appreciated the backup But Darien glowered at Ryan, waiting for hiive his version

"Hell, Darien, soap caked Carol’s hair and covered her body She had soap in her eyes even Lelandi couldn’t haveher What did you expect uarding her until we catch these bastards? I’ with her, and that’s uard only You can sit in the recliner at night and nap during the day I’ll have others watch her while you catch up on your sleep" Darien lowered at Ryan and then headed up the stairs after his brother

Sa myself another cup of coffee, and I’ll settle down here"

Jake eyed Ryan for a moment more and then said, "Darien doesn’t like it that you want Carol for a uard,about her But you can’t have her if you don’t believe in her abilities Just remember that She deserves better"

He stalked off to join Sa of it was, no matter how much Ryan told hi his rigid beliefs Hell, noanted to believe her ht

So when did that happen?

Chapter 13

CAROL DRIFTED IN AND OUT OF NIGHTMARE WORLDS OF wolves and fighting, of teeth bared, growling and snarling, and of hackles raised, noses wrinkled, and aed her life forever And then as if that wasn’t bad enough, she relived the pain jabbing her in the ar, and exposure, naked to the spring chill

A whi arms pulled her to a hot, hard body She tried to recall when she’d felt those ary conscience She reering in the air… home And… Ryan That’s who had taken her fro her chilled skin with his war and with his even hotter body And now?

She smelled his unique scent, his maleness, the wind in his hair, the peach soap on his skin Her peach soap? Had he showered using her sha to rinse the soap fro misery She’d tried to cooperate She really had tried But her eyes had stung too ain, and she’d slipped into darkness with no way out

Then Lelandi had spoken softly to her, the noisy hair dryer nearly drowning out her words as Carol had tried to hear them "You’re a match, dear Carol You just need to ensure Ryan sees it before it’s too late"

It was already too late How could Carol love someone who didn’t trust in her abilities? Who believed she was lying? Or was just too duarlic, the s of hopelessness, of wanting to fight hile free and whi to cry out, to tell Darien and his brothers and Saunfire sounded and she gave a sasp

"Shh, Carol, you’re safe In your bedroom With me, Ryan You’re safe Sleep" Ryan’s words were sleepy, soothing, andher to him, her lifeline, her protection

She took a deep breath of hiainst his solid forainst her hair and knew that if heaven existed, this was it Maybe it wasn’t too late Maybe she could convince the stubborn man of science to open his mind to another world

She cuddled with hi with a steady beat against her ear, the heat of his body warhtly, tenderly in a coentle touch And could have stayed like this forever