Leashed by a Wolf by Cherie Nicholls Page B

out there and you go walking off without a care in the world, and who is left to protect you? Let me tell you, Laney-girl , do you see your brothers around here protecting you? No! It was me, my pack that had to come to the rescue!”
    “You wanna tell me why you’re screaming at my sister, dead man?” They both turned at the sound of John St. Clair’s voice as he jumped out of the back of the garage truck. Wayne wasn’t far behind climbing out of the vehicle and coming to stand next to his twin.
    “Oh look, the cavalry has arrived. Why don't you go run to them, have them protect you.” Heath glared at Laney.
    “Heath.” Clara spoke softly as she came to stand with her brother. Heath raised his hand, silencing her.
    “No, she needs to understand she can’t walk around like she owns the place. She isn’t a shifter she can’t protect herself, and clearly her family are late to the party.” Heath sneered at the men.
    “You better watch your mouth, puppy,” Wayne said as he jabbed a finger in Heath’s face.
    “You better get your finger out of my face before I decide I’m hungry,” Heath growled back. He needed Laney to leave; he needed her safe away from here, away from him, now.
    “What is wrong with you?” Laney asked from behind him before she shoved him out of the way.
    “Nothing is wrong with me. Why don’t you just let them take you home and pamper you like always,” Heath said as he turned away from the men and Laney.
    “I didn’t ask for you to bring me here, remember? You had Wall drag me out of my office, you wouldn’t let me leave, I didn’t want to be here,” Laney told him.
    Heath turned back to her so quickly he saw her jump. Good , he thought, she should be wary.
    “That’s my mistake. Now I want you to leave.” Heath bent low, making sure she looked into his eyes as he allowed them to turn to those of his wolf. “Get off my territory.”
    His chest hurt, almost choking the breath from him when he saw the tears in her eyes.
    Laney spoke, but he missed what she said.
    “What?” he asked.
    Laney took a deep breath. “Cheese grater.” Heath reared back as if she had hit him. “Good-bye.” She turned and headed to the truck.
    “You people are freaks, walking around naked.” Wayne shook his head before climbing in behind Laney, John close behind.
    Heath watched the vehicle peel out of the yard before he walked back into his house. Clara followed him. “You okay?”
    “I’m fine, I just need a minute.” He nodded before he walked into his room and closed the door. He turned the lock and walked over to his bed. His legs gave way as he reached it. Heath landed on the edge as the frozen horror and fear that had taken hold of him—from the second they had caught Christophe’s scent and realised Laney was missing—fully registered.
    He couldn’t breathe, couldn’t move, could barely think. He had nearly lost her and he had no one to blame but himself. He had instructed Wall to bring her to him. How arrogant was he? Did he really think he could protect her? She was better off with her family, with her own kind. He had no business bringing her into his life.
    Heath pulled himself up farther onto his bed. Lying back he looked at the ceiling. As much as it hurt—and oh God did it hurt; it felt as if his soul were being ripped out through his chest—he knew that he had done the best thing for Laney.
    She was safe now.
    * * * *
    A week had passed since Laney had been kidnapped. Heath hadn’t spoken to her and he hadn’t heard anything about her. Not that he had expected her to call. She had used her safe word, a word that was so much more powerful than good-bye.
    Clara had started out angry with him for shouting at Laney, but as the week progressed she had gone from sending him angry glares, to confused frowns, to now looking at him as if he were a wounded kitten that needed looking after.
    Now here he sat on the porch steps of the pack house watching his people shaking off the