Free Wolf's Promise (Caedmon Wolves) by Ambrielle Kirk

you were held prisoner for being an enemy?” she asked.
    He nodded. “He seems to think he owns the l and where they captured me. But the history with Darius and I go way back. Even before he was banished from the pack, we held a serious grudge.”
    “A grudge?”
    Nick dropped his gaze to the floor. “Over a silly dispute.”
    “What did he want from you?”
    “He probably wanted to get Devin’s att ention more than anything else,” he said. “Did Darius tell you why he held you captive?”
    Selene swallowed the lump that suddenly rose in her throat. “He attacked me.”
    “Attacked you how?” His seemed to hold in his aggravation, but the sound of his voice was angry and forced.
    “Apparently, his wife cannot have children.”
    Nick shook his head, his forehead creased in confusion. “Why would he keep you against your will?”
    “ He tried to rape me and said I would carry his child.”
    Nick shot up to his feet instantly. “You’re kidding, right?”
    She shook her head slowly.
    “That snake!” He clenched his fists hard against his sides, and the veins rose on his neck. When he turned to her, his fangs were barred . Upon seeing her state of alarm, he took deep breaths and his irate demeanor subsided. “Did he hurt you?”
    “I was thrown in the cell with you for refusing and lashing out. If he was going to do that to me, it wouldn’t have happened willingly or easily.”
    “I’m sorry this happened to you,” he said, returning to the seat beside her. “He will pay for this.”
    “We’re free from being caged like animals, that’s all that matters.”
    He cringed.
    Suddenly, she realized what she’d said was uncalled for. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”
    “No, I am an animal. There’s no changing that. ”
    Selene took his hand in hers. “Tell me about the powers of the Caedmon.”
    He leaned back in the sofa. “Some of us are stronger than others, depending on h ow far removed one is from the founding tribe. The ability to shift at will is a given. Heightened agility, strength, endurance .. .”
    “So you shifted at will to save me.”
    “I don’t think I could have remained in human form even if I tried. The downside to having a wolf spirit is that sometimes they take charge. Not only did I want to protect you, but so did the wolf .”
    She turned his hand over and traced the dark lines on the inside of his palm. “You barely know me. Why not just leave me? You killed two guards to save me. Won’t that cause more of an uproar between Darius and the new leader?”
    “It was bound to happen, Selene.” He shook his head. “From what I learned, Darius had plans to cause mayhem before you were captured. Even before I crossed the property line.”
    “What were you doing out there anyway?”
    “ I thought it’d be refreshing to bring back some good memories for a change. I’d climbed the mountain before as a young boy with my father. We’d sit on the mountain top for hours waiting for sunset and then sunrise. He’d tell stories and I’d listen. I missed him. I missed that kind of company. ”
    “Watching sunset and sunrise must be beautiful. Something I’d love to see.”
    “It is. I’ll take you one day…whenever you are ready to face your fear of heights.”
    She smiled, and brought his palm to her cheek. It didn’t bother her that he was also an animal. There was a wolf inside, but from the very moment they’d met he’d been nothing but gentle with her. Plus there was this urge that she kept having. An urge that had never surfaced before for any man.
    “I want you to kiss me again, ” she said.
    “You do ?”
    Her face grew warm. What had gotten into her? She’d never demanded a man kiss her before. “ I liked it before. I want you to do it again. ”
    Nick grabbed the small of her waist and drew her closer. “You are addicting, Selene.” His mouth was inches away from hers.
    “So are you,” she whispered.
    “I don’t want to hurt