Mind Mates (Pull of the Moon Book 2) by Mary Hughes Page B

wolves didn’t.” He stuck up three fingers. “Two know me well enough that they wouldn’t have done it, not if they wanted to keep their heads attached.” He folded two fingers down. “Which means it’s her. ” He jabbed the remaining finger at Emma.
    She flinched. She hadn’t betrayed anyone, but he made such a strong argument that even she was half-convinced. She burrowed deeper into Gabriel’s strong arms, knowing it was hopeless. Gabriel didn’t say anything for a moment. For that bare second Emma’s heart wilted. Her boss was a logical man, swayed by reason; besides, Noah was his kin.
    Gabriel would take Noah’s side and turn her over for punishment.
    But surprisingly her boss’s arms tightened around her, until she almost couldn’t breathe. He said, “That’s not proof. Maybe the Council Enforcer lied. You don’t have the witch skills yet to detect truth.”
    “I have my fucking nose.”
    “Granted, but Enforcers are trained to be unreadable, and they have amulets and talismans to back them up. Noah, you’re anxious about Sophia, and I sympathize. I’m concerned too. Tell you what. I was going to stop at my aunt’s bookstore, but I’ll go directly to where the Enforcer is staying. Talk to him and get Sophia released, which will wind you down. I’ll also see what I can discover about his real source. Okay?”
    “Fine,” Noah said. “Handle it. But if you don’t, I will.” He backed out, turning toward his truck.
    “Noah, wait. You passed us headed the other way. Where were you going?”
    He stuck his head in again. “Getting ready to handle things. That damned Enforcer wants power—Mason said he could see it in the little shit’s eyes. My wolf pendant has power, and it happens to be nearby. I was collecting it.”
    “Not your pendant.” Gabriel’s tone was shocked.
    “No worries, another power piece is coming along soon. In the spirit of there never being enough scat hitting the fan, guess what’s active again? That thrice-damned prophecy.”
    Emma peeked up from the hidey hole of Gabriel’s arms. The alpha’s golden eyes were glinting.
    “Cinnamon toast crap,” Gabriel said. “Another cryptic red clue?”
    “Just popped up. Something about giving in to the rage. I’m all for that.”
    “I hate prophecies,” Gabriel growled. “Bunch of gobbledygook. Meaningless until they’ve gone by, like a stop sign on the far corner of an intersection. Noah, forget your wolf, forget the prophecy. Our focus has to be Sophia. Go back to your beta and wait for me to talk with the Enforcer. I’ll get her released, okay?”
    “You’d better.”
    When the alpha prowled away, Gabriel released Emma. As she straightened in her seat, he put the car into gear and merged quickly with traffic.
    He’d been the ultimate of calm during the whole encounter, and his face was impassive, but she could tell from the way he held his body and the slight tension in his fingers that strong emotion gripped him—both desperately worried and furious.
    Maybe he’d only said what he had to protect her. Maybe he really thought she’d betrayed Sophia.
    She folded her hands in her lap. “Thanks,” she said in a small voice, staring at her hands. “For not turning me over to him.”
    She braced for his cutting “Doesn’t mean I trust you” or “You’re not off the hook yet”.
    “He’s an imbecile,” Gabriel snarled. “How could he possibly think you had anything to do with my sister’s arrest?”
    She straightened in stunned relief. “I-I didn’t. I wouldn’t. Thanks.”
    “Of course you wouldn’t. You couldn’t. It’s not in you. You’re loyal and true, and one of the kindest people I know.”
    She blinked back sudden tears. She’d thought his calling her an outstanding employee was high praise? This was the best, because he saw past the small, cute female to the core of who she tried to be. “That’s nice.”
    “That’s the truth.”
    Her heart melted a little for him