er'

essed the feeling. I hadn't planned on interfering with Vick's business; I was just there to observe because Vick had been bragging about the new girl who da

smashed it over Vick's skull... that wasn't fear... that wa

cant problems on my plate... like the Council breathing down my neck about the Syndicate's bloodline program. They wante

er face out of my head. That pain in her eyes... that desperation... she was on the edge of something

king numerous pictures. Just immediately after I turned toward the alley by the warehouse, I heard it-a scream and a shadow moving fast. I followed t

r a second and watched from the shadows, a cigarette burning slowly between my fingers as the two lowlifes

lm, but then I saw the terror in her eyes-real, raw, paralyzing fear

e bastards who were already on her and the other one

e ground and stepped forward

y hands off her

be loud. It cut throug

ght grip on her wrist. They turned their heads slowly toward me, and wh

ha R

ammered?"

to back away. "We did

rough the first guy's back, blood spraying like mist. One punch to the jaw cracked bone. The other

an touch any gir

"We didn't know she was yours-please!

he crumpled to the wet g

I was here...you're dead...he nodded and disa

othes to her chest. Lucy's eyes were glued to mine, widely

ping it closely around her quivering body. "You're safe,

r now. I was controlling but calm, tho

er head, hugging the coat tig

her up, but s

aid, her voice tremblin

your damn li

er hands. "Why is this happening to me?" Then she looked up at me, ey

aid, pulling her up gently into

r battered expression. She passed out in

el my presence that night; that meant she didn't know the truth yet. Since she didn't remember the night I watched her dance barefoot

s, I returned to that rooftop day after day in se

until she stepped into that room. I tried to control my wolf and pretend like I didn't recognize her just not to get into Vick's busines