Free Taken by the Pack by Anne Marsh

know about Jackson’s presence in her clinic was now painfully, obviously the right thing to do. She couldn’t risk doing anything else, not with drugs and murder in the picture. She had student loans, an electric bill that wouldn’t end, and two full-time staffers who were counting on their paychecks clearing the bank. Throwing away their security wasn’t fair.
    Jackson prowled out of the shadows. He snaked a hard arm around her waist and tugged her back against his front. Too late . “Regrets?”
    He had no idea. She pulled carefully against his hold. No sudden movements, but no backing down, either.
    “Let me go.” She kept her voice level. Working with animals had taught her that much. Animals sensed fear and Jackson was part wolf. She just didn’t know which part.
    “That’s not a no. ”
    Absolutely. “Jackson.” His name part huff of irritation, part sigh. Being mad at him was constructive. The attraction, however, was still an unwelcome problem.
    “You got that straight.”
    Out in her parking lot, Cruz popped the door on his cruiser and leaned in, snagging his radio. She still had an opportunity to call him back and do the smart thing. He looked back at her clinic and, even though she knew he couldn’t see her or Jackson, she imagined forming that one word. Help. He would, too. This could all be over. She opened her mouth.
    “ Shug .” Hard fingers pressed against her mouth. “I can’t let you do that. You decide to scream and I’ll be takin’ action.”
    “This is wrong.”
    “You bein’ here with me?” He sounded more amused than angry.
    “I don’t recall inviting you to hit the cabinets up for parting gifts on your way out the door.” She flicked her fingers toward the backpack.
    “It’s not what it looks like,” he said.
    “Of course not.” Another wave of exhaustion hit her, hard enough that she almost didn’t care. Except that she did. Had all of Jackson’s loving been a ploy to get her to drop her guard so he could rob her blind. It didn’t feel like the right answer, because if he’d really wanted to make off with her supply of drugs, why had he revealed himself to her? The shifter thing didn’t fit either.
    “You don’ believe me.”
    “Exhibit A says you’re a liar.”
    He grunted. “I won’ ever lie to you, shug .”
    “Mmmm. And I believe you because we’ve got such a long-term, committed relationship.”
    “You need to trust me.”
    “Right. Because a five word demand is going to make me do that. Cruz claims you’re a murderer.”
    “He didn’t say that precisely.” The arms around her didn’t loosen.
    “You heard him?” She twisted, trying to see his face. He looked focus and preternaturally intent, like he was expecting a whole different brand of trouble to come waltzing through her front door. He didn’t, however, looked shocked or flabbergasted or any other color of upset. Cruz’s news hadn’t been news to him.
    “Wolf. Remember?” She caught a quick flash of teeth. Did he have canines? She couldn’t tell, didn’t know how she’d feel about that.
    “It’s hard to forget,” she growled. “Particularly since you keep bringing it up.”
    She didn’t know how she felt about Jackson’s lupine side. The strangest thing was that, on some level, she felt like she knew him. They’d had one date. If she was being generous, they’d spent a grand total of four or five hours in each other’s company, excluding the time he’d spent passed out in his wolf form while she worked on him. Those minutes didn’t make a grand total anywhere near high enough to justify the sense of rightness she got when she was near him.
    “If you don’ wan’ me listenin’ to you, you need to put another fifty yards or so between the two of us.”
    “Good to know. If I was splitting hairs. ”
    “Ask your questions.” His mouth brushed her cheek. She was cocooned in warmth. How on earth was she supposed to form a logical thought?
    “Cruz said that you were a