The Hunger (The Lycans 3)

We were close to my father’s estate, and I knew with the fight happening with Luca and attention diverted, I’d be able to take one of the cars and slip away. Hopefully. Theoretically.

This was easier than taking her inside my ancestral home and trying to convince my family that what I was doing wasn’t the worst fucking thing in the world. It wouldn’t have mattered anyway. I couldn’t think rationally enough to convince myself that this was wrong. And as I thought about that, as I really felt what it was like to finally have my mate, a low growl ripped from me at the very thought of someone taking her from me.

And then I really felt like a fucking bastard because of all the shit I’d put Luca through, all the animosity and anger, when all he wanted was his other half. He hadn’t been able to help himself, just like I hadn’t. Because all we thought of, all we saw and felt, was that pull to get to our mate and keep her close.

I quickly made my way to the rear entrance of the estate, the twin gates coming into view and the land after that would give me a clear shot to the massive garage that held all the vehicles. It was bi-level, with not just the luxury all-terrain, tactical, sports utility, and functioning equipment the Guard used held within.

After punching in the code, I pulled the gate open, shut it as quietly as I could behind me, and made quick work across the property. My senses were alert as I scanned the grounds and prayed like hell none of the sentries were close enough to scent me. The last thing I needed was them interfering, because as feral as I felt right now, I knew I’d be brutal in my need to protect this female in my arms and keep them back. Fuck, I didn’t even want another male looking at her. The very thought of full-blooded Lycans near my mate…

I shook my head as rage filled me.

At the thought, I held her tighter, my fingers curling against her slight form. I looked down at her, the end of her ponytail swinging side to side with each step I took, strands that had come loose sticking to her temple and forehead. I wanted to brush them away, to really get a good look at her face. I wanted her to open her eyes so I could see what color they were.

She was delicate, the most beautiful creature I’d ever looked upon. She was the most precious thing to me, and if it killed me, I’d make her see how she was mine and how I couldn’t let her go. I’d rather die than let that happen.

Once I was keyed into the garage, I knew I had only a small window of time before somebody knew I was here. The entire estate was set up with state-of-the-art security, where every code that was entered was logged in and alerted. We had a command center where members of the Guard monitored the property 24-7. And if they weren’t here in minutes after me getting into the garage, me logging into the rear entrance would solve that and let them know. So I had to be quick.

I grabbed one of the keys off the hook, not caring which car they went to, and pressed the unlock button. The lights of a black Range Rover flashed, and the horn honked once.

I quickly made my way over to it, pulling open the back door and sliding my female onto the leather seat, mindful to be gentle. She didn’t stir, and I was careful with her limbs as I shut the door.

I opened the bay hatch of the garage, then crouched by the driver side and started to feel around under the wheel. I knew every vehicle we had carried a tracker, and the last thing I wanted or needed was for someone to find me.

Once I pulled the little bastard off and flung it onto the workstation, I grabbed my cell that was in the back pocket of my jeans and took the battery out, tossing both pieces on the passenger seat in front.

Critical thinking kicked in, and I was smart enough to rush over to one of the utility closets, pull out one of the black duffel bags that were put together by the Guard, and fill it with essential supplies. I’d given Cian and the other Lycans a hard time when they’d been creating these, throwing out that we were, after all, wolf shifters and didn’t needed to pitch a tent in the middle of the woods. But I’d never been more thankful for Cian’s military-wired mind and the need to have all of this organized, catalogued, and accounted for than I was right now.