Free Deadly Seduction (Feral Protectors 3) by Liv Brywood Page A

Someone’s following us. I can feel it.”
    He peered into the forest. Sunlight streamed through the trees but a few areas were dark with shadows. He studied them for movement but nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
    “I don’t see anyone.”
    She gulped a breath and rubbed her forearms. “I swear I heard something.”
    He touched her shoulder. “We can go back if you want.”
    Her brows knitted together. “I don’t want to ruin your first trip out of the den. You’re probably right. I still get jumpy when I’m in the forest.”
    “It’s understandable. But you’re safe with me. I’ll protect you.”
    She arched a brow. “Really?”
    “What?”
    “You can hardly walk.”
    “Trust me, if someone tries to hurt you, I’ll rip their heart out before they have a chance to touch you.”
    “Why?” she asked.
    “What do you mean why?”
    She looked away. “You’re being so nice. I guess I just don’t understand why.”
    He gently pulled her into an embrace. “I protect the people I care about. Even though you’re not an official member of the pack, I’d still fight to the death for you.”
    She raised her head until her lips were just inches from his. “I hope you never have to.”
    He cradled her cheeks between his palms. “You deserve to feel safe.”
    As her eyes searched his face, the need to protect her awakened every inch of his body. He closed the distance between them and captured her lips with his. He’d intended to kiss her slowly, softly, but a fierceness rose up from the depths of his soul to consume him.
    He tried to hold back, but when she moaned and parted her lips, he took it as an invitation. His tongue slid into her mouth and molded against hers. The contours of her mouth ignited a fire in his belly.
    As he pulled her against his rock-hard body, his hands slid down her back. She was so little, so delicate. He was drowning in the softness of her skin. He wanted to pull her down to the grassy patch next to the stream and kiss every inch of her. But he didn’t want to go to fast. He didn’t want to scare her, so he gently pulled away.
    Her chest rose and fell rapidly. A mixture of awe and confusion flickered across her face. He wanted to kiss her silly, but he was content to wait. He would take her lead from now on. He couldn’t risk pushing her too far too fast. Her response was enough to give him the spark of hope that he needed to pursue her.
    “Are you ready to head back?” he asked.
    Her tongue flicked out to wet her lips. “Okay.”
    A few yards away beyond a thicket of bushes, a branch snapped. He whipped around toward the sound. Two rabbits bounded out of the brush.
    He released a breath and laughed. “I guess I’m getting jumpy too.”
    Fear returned to steal the brightness from her eyes. She grabbed his hand and tugged. “We should get going.”
    He took one more look around. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, so he turned and followed her down the path.
     
    ***
     
    Mazus stepped out from behind a tree. Rage coiled in his belly. The damn wolf girl was ruining his plan. Poisoning Nosh’s tea had almost worked, but she’d managed to save him, again. She needed to be eliminated. But not quickly. No, he’d take his time with her. She’d already known fear, so her tears would be that much sweeter.
    The next time she wandered too far away from the den, he’d grab her and take her to a cave where no one could hear her scream. He’d spread her soft little thighs and take what Nosh was too weak to claim for himself. Mazus wasn’t stupid. He read the lust in the alpha’s eyes but could also tell he hadn’t acted on it. Just another bit of proof that Nosh was too spineless to be alpha.
    When Mazus took his rightful place as alpha, the pack would bend to his will or face exile. Or maybe he’d just kill everyone who didn’t accept him as their new leader. That would be better. He couldn’t risk having anyone return to challenge his authority.
    In the meantime, he’d