Chasing a Wolf: Moonbound Series, Book Four by Krystal Shannan, Camryn Rhys Page B

tried to get on the elevator with them and the big man Tomás had called Alex had told them to ‘ catch the next one .’ The doors slid shut and the room shook.
    She grabbed Tomás arm. “The volcano is shaking the earth. If she wakes we will die.”
    Tomás covered her hand with his. “It’s just a machine. No volcano. I promise.”
    “Is she for real?” The one called Maggie glanced over her shoulder with a look of disbelief.
    “She is very real.” Zolin leaned down until he was at eye level with Maggie. “And neither of us has ever seen this kind of machine before. What moves it?”
    “There’s no time for schooling the natives on the inner workings of elevators,” Alex growled. “Maggie, what’re we looking at once the doors open?”
    Maggie smirked as Zolin straightened to his full height and faced Alex, a growl rumbling in his chest. “Cameras show two guards on the top penthouse level.”
    “Get out of my face and stay out of my way. Why are you even here?” Alex said.
    Lani sucked in a breath. No one spoke to Zolin in such a disrespectful manner and remained standing for long, especially when they were smaller. And most people were smaller than Zolin, Alex was not an exception. He was taller than Tomás, but the big tribesman still dwarfed him as well.
    “I am here to help Citlani. If you speak rudely of my princess again, I will not be, as you say ‘ in your face .’ Your face will be firmly pressed between my foot and this floor.”
    “Zolin, he’s here to help,” Tomás said, inching himself toward the standoff.
    Lani tightened her grip on his arm and pulled him back. “Do you want your head under his foot instead?” she hissed.
    “Geeez, testosterone much guys.” Maggie made a gagging sound and turned around to fiddle with the buttons on the wall again. A blue light flashed on the screen and she held her tablet to the light. “Alex, you take the one on the left. Zolin, big guy, you take the ugly fucker on the right. Got it? Good.”
    A bell rang and the doors opened. Alex and Zolin surged out and each disappeared from view.
    Lani held her breath and squeezed Tomás’ arm. Pain surged into her mind and she whimpered at the overwhelming flood. She’d put walls up years ago to block the emotional pain her mother was constantly troubled by. But this was different. This pain was fresh and the bond between them was weakening…fading. They needed to hurry.
    A couple of growls and then two very large thuds echoed from outside the elevator.
    “Come on out,” Alex’s voice called. “They’re down.”
    Tomás grabbed Lani and followed Maggie into the quiet hallway. Two large guards lay on the floor, one on each side of the open elevator doors.
    “Lets find her mom, find that sonofabitch, and get the fuck out of here.”
    “She’s there.” Lani pointed to a large door on the other side of the hallway.
    Tomás rushed toward it and laid his ear against the wood.
    “How many heartbeats?” Maggie asked.
    “Only one. It’s weak.”
    “She’s hurt,” Lani cried, running toward him.
    He held his hand up to stop her.
    She paused, sobs racking her body. His emotions swirled through her mind, mixing with the chaos filtering through her bond with her mother. She was safe with Tomás and his friends. They were helping her. Even Zolin was doing everything in his power to assist when he’d much rather take her back up the mountain and hide her away forever.
    That wasn’t how she wanted to live. Not like her mother. She couldn’t stay there forever. She wanted to be with Tomás—wherever he wanted to be. Wherever his home was, that would be her home. But she needed to make sure her mother was safe. Zolin and the chief would make sure she stayed that way.
    “Are you sure there’s only one heartbeat?” Citlani gasped for air. Each breath was harder and harder. Something was reaching inside and strangling her from within.
    “Move, outsider.” Zolin roared and charged the door. It