Free When Lust Rules by Virginia Cavanaugh Page B

had
never been great, but she would guess Luken had taken them into the empty field
to the left of her gated community. The thought brought on a whole new set of
questions. “How in the hell did Ivan get past the guard at the gate?”
    “They’re dead.”
    Nausea rolled in her tummy. So much for no more deaths. And
these could, in a way, be laid at her feet. A tear tracked down her cheek and
she swiped at it.
    “It’s not your fault.”
    She glanced at him as the truck bounced then leveled as they
returned to smooth asphalt. He peered in her direction before checking the
mirrors and then refocusing on the road in front of them. “How do you know what
I’m feeling?”
    “It’s in your scent. Remorse. Regret. It’s not an exact
science or anything. More like something you learn with time. The differences
in scent are slight most times. But under the circumstances your moods are
shifting violently so your scent changes are less subtle.”
    “Oh.” There were so many things to get used to now. Her
world had definitely been tilted tonight. Werewolves, exes, hell, what else?
Would the fucking Easter bunny pop out of the woods next with a basket full of
eggs? Her mind whirled as they sped down the curvy road.
    A break opened up in the trees lining the asphalt and Julie
sucked in a surprised breath. “Look out!”
    “Shit!” Luken tried to avoid the collision, but the truck
plowing through the field to their right collided with the bed. A big boom
mixed with the screech of metal grinding against metal. The impact brought
Julie’s side hard against the console. She cried out as the truck started to
spin, but Luken regained control at the last minute and sped away from the
other vehicle.
    “Apparently they don’t have orders to take you alive.”
    Luken’s words had her trembling. She watched as he punched a
button on the dashboard. A sound chimed in the cabin.
    “Call Javin.”
    She looked at Luken for clarification.
    “I need to put the den on alert. We have no idea how many are
following us.”
    She shook her head. “I can’t let you endanger your family
like this. Just find some place to let me out. A bus station or something.” No
way could she bring her past down on others’ heads.
    “Don’t be ridiculous. You’re coming home with me.”
    “Luken, I can’t ask this of you.”
    “You didn’t. I offered. Besides, how in the hell would you
make it out there on your own? Trained killers have set their sights on you.
I’m not trying to scare the shit out of you, but I am being realistic. My
conscience won’t let me let you fend for yourself.” Luken glanced in the
rearview mirror as the faint ringing in the background stopped and another male
voice sounded inside the truck.
    “What up?”
    “Javin, I need the perimeter patrols at max and six ready
for action on the northwest end of the den. Some bad news is following me in. I
have a human female with me.”
    “Done.” The connection was severed.
    The man named Javin hadn’t even questioned Luken. He gave
him his blind loyalty instead. It spoke a lot of Luken’s character to have that
kind of trust given to him. Did all of his pack feel the same way? Julie looked
over at Luken. He remained focused on getting them to their destination alive.
The strong set of his jaw let her know he was displeased with their situation,
yet he didn’t yell at her or send blame her way. Although she knew he had the
right to. “I’m so sorry I got you into this,” she whispered as she lowered her
gaze.
    “We have company again.”
    Her head jerked up and she looked past the broken glass of
the back window and saw a dark SUV approaching fast. Damn if they weren’t
adamant.
    The collision came from behind this time, and Luken growled
as he tried to avoid the next impact. Julie wished she could do something, but
there wasn’t any way to help. All she could do was brace for the next jolt. It
came quick, this time from the side. The tire blew out with a loud pop