Espino, Stacey - Surrounded by Wolves [Wolves of Climax 1] (Siren Publishing LoveXtreme Forever) by Stacey Espino Page A

morning—a sure sign of their guilt in Garret’s opinion.
    “If we had him that would be a gesture of war.” He winked. “The gods forbid.” The wolf retreated, walking backward without another word until he blended in with the shadows.

    * * * *

    Garret arrived early at the mine and went through some paperwork in the trailer. None of his staff were due to arrive for another hour. Sometimes he liked the solitude, a time to think without the thoughts of others cluttering his mind. As alpha, his telepathic gift never shut down. He was constantly connected with the four other men in his pack when in close proximity. It was one of the reasons he didn’t share a cabin with them. And the reason he sent Cassidy to spend the night in their protection.
    Once he made the blood bond with the other four men, uniting them as a unit, he’d begun to hear their thoughts even in human form. It had been disconcerting at first, but he’d learned to tune it out the best he could. Garret didn’t share his burden with the others. What man wanted to know he had no secrets, no privacy, no freedom even in his own head?
    The phone rang. He snatched it off its cradle. “Gregor Mining.” He tucked the phone between his cheek and shoulder as he continued to look at his sales sheets for the quarter.
    “I’m looking for a woman. Cassidy Lyons. I was told I might be able to find her at this number.”
    Garret didn’t say anything.
    “Hello?” The man on the line broke the brief silence.
    “Who told you this?”
    “Her lawyer said she was looking at jobs at one of the mines. I already tried the Rockford Mine, but haven’t had any luck yet.”
    Just hearing the name of the competition made his jaw clench. Garret was not quick to trust. The fact this male was looking for Cassidy of all people brought out his hackles. He was already on guard, not knowing who was responsible for Matthew’s disappearance. If Cassidy had wanted the stranger on the phone to know where she was, she would have told him.
    “I can’t help you,” he said.
    “Well if you hear anything, could you give her this number?” The man recited his name and a cell phone number. “Tell her it’s her brother.”
    Knowing he was her brother and not an old boyfriend or lover put him somewhat at ease. Why wouldn’t her own family members know where she’d moved? He was tempted to let Scott know Cassidy worked at the mine, but decided to hold off until he talked with her about it first. A lot of people came to Climax to escape the past, and his Cassie could be one of them.
    As he went to exit the trailer, the door swung open. Evan came in, slamming the door shut behind him. “Why’d you send her to stay with us?” he demanded, venom in his voice.
    “I’m no fool, Evan. Don’t deny you didn’t want her. All three of you, in fact.” He nonchalantly passed his friend and stepped out onto the gravel outside. It was a clear day, good for mining.
    “So you send a lamb to the wolves’ den?”
    “You all wanted her from the first moment you saw her. I gave you what you wanted. Don’t complain. I can still smell her on you.”
    “But you stayed away. Why?”
    He shrugged. Garret began to warm up the equipment and trucks for the first shift. As he climbed back down a dump truck, he came face-to-face with the man he considered his most loyal, forever subservient, pack member. There was no devotion in his eyes now, only anger, blistering and hot.
    “What’s the plan then? Surely you have the bigger picture in mind, Garret. Do you plan to make her our mate?”
    Garret scoffed. “Since when have I mentioned bringing a woman into the pack? Just call her visit a gift.” He tried to walk past Evan, but the bigger man shoved him in challenge. What should he do? It was his own fault for setting up his men. He knew Travis and Patrick wouldn’t have a problem with a one-night stand. Evan had never entered his mind as a problem.
    Evan’s thoughts were strong, like white