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repositioned himself. Once his equipment was under control, he turned and faced her.
    She narrowed those pretty green eyes at him. “I’m assuming from your phone call last night that we are not going to Jonesboro.”
    “Not right now.”
    She shook her head. “As much as I appreciate what you did for me, I think we need to have a talk before I agree to go anywhere else with you.”
    “There’s no need for a conversation. It’s simple. You were kidnapped. I rescued you. I’ll keep you safe until I can get you to your father.”
    She gave him an astonished look. “My father?” She narrowed her green eyes in suspicion. “Did my father call you?”
    “Not me personally, but he contacted my Commander.”
    “Commander? You mean from the military base that is stationed in Little Rock?”
    He stared at her for a minute. Though no one spoke about what they were, everyone living in the compound was a werewolf. They tried to blend into the human population, even going so far as to set up a military base where the Guardians could train. The U.S. Government had known about the existence of werewolves for decades. The government made a pact with the werewolves to protect their secret in exchange for service in special operations in various branches of the military.
    “Our wolf Pack, Ava. He contacted our wolf Pack.”
    She gave a little laugh and smiled. “Wolf Pack. Is that the code name for your team?”
    He took a step toward her. “Why are you acting like this?”
    “Like what?”
    “Like you don’t know you’re a wolf.”
    “Is that slang for female?” She gave a brittle laugh as her smile faded.
    “Look at me.”
    She looked him in the eye. Females rarely looked him in the eye. They were too afraid.
    He stared into her green gaze, looking for the lie.
    He sucked in a harsh breath. She wasn’t lying.
    “Ava, how can you not know what you are?”
    “Know what?”
    “That you are a wolf.”
    “Right. I guess that means you’re a wolf too.” She smirked.
    “Yes.”
    “You’re like those freaks that kidnapped me?” Her smile faded and her face paled. She scooted toward the edge of the bed and stood, slowly easing toward the door.
    “Make no mistake. I’m nothing like those wolves.” He had a code of duty and honor he lived by. Rogue wolves lived by their desires, killing and stealing without remorse.
    She held her hands palms out as she continued to back toward the door. “You know what, I think I can get home on my own. I’ll just go ask the desk clerk to call me a taxi.” She reached for the doorknob.
    The second she opened the door, he sprang. Grabbing her around the waist, he slammed the door shut and pressed her back against it.
    “Just let me go and I swear I won’t tell anyone that I ever met you.” Her voice was a whisper caressing his cheek as he leaned into her. His cock twitched.
    “I can’t let you go.”
     
    Chapter Three
     
    “My father can pick me up and take me home.”
    “It’s not safe, Ava. You can’t go home.”
    She stilled and her green eyes widened. “What do you mean?”
    “They bombed your house in Jonesboro and our Council Hall in Little Rock.”
    “Oh, God. Did anyone get hurt?” She covered her mouth with quivering fingertips.
    “I don’t know. Barrett didn’t have time to give me the details. He said not to bring you back there and to keep you out of sight until he could find a safe house.”
    She shook her head. “I don’t understand. Are you saying they bombed the Council Hall because of me? Because you saved me?”
    “Yes.” He took a breath. She seemed more concerned about the Council Hall than her own home.
    She shuddered. “This is my fault.”
    “That’s not true. None of this is your fault. If you want to blame someone, blame those fuckers who took you.” He tilted her chin with his fingertips, forcing her to look at him. “Do you understand what they were going to do to you?”
    She blinked back the tears swimming in her eyes, trying