...“I would never betray our own.”
“I believe you.” Wood really did. And Daniel clearly knew what kind of torture could be brought to bear. “And I don’t think you’d do it on purpose.”
Daniel relaxed, like the man heard the truth in his words.
“I bet you’ll learn quickly enough. You seem like you’d catch on quick.”
Daniel could be a huge asset. And the man was motivated.
“I’ll do whatever I need to.”
“I have a few…friends who’ll want to know what you know. So we can strategize.” He was pretty sure the guys would want in on going after a group that was kidnapping entire packs. It was pretty high on his own agenda now and the only reason he wasn’t pushing forward immediately was because Daniel wasn’t ready.
“Friends? Are they your packmates?”
“We don’t really have packs here in the city. We’ve come together out of necessity. When you’re hunted, you tend to band with others who are hunted, too.” Actual packs would be too dangerous, make them vulnerable.
Daniel’s head tilted. “No packs?”
He shook his head. “That would give them a single target comprised of a lot of people.”
“But we live in packs. That’s who we are.”
“And how did that work for your pack?” he snapped. Didn’t Daniel understand? More people in a group, more targets. They couldn’t live as a pack, not in the city.
Daniel’s cheeks heated and the man didn’t answer, just turned and walked away from him. Wood grunted. He hadn’t meant to upset Daniel. Still, his words had made his point.
“Daniel…”
Daniel looked back over one shoulder. “Yeah?”
“I didn’t mean to be nasty.”
“It’s okay. You’re right.” Daniel nodded, then headed down the hall away from him.
“You need to come back and eat some beans.” As an olive branch it wasn’t much, but it was all he had.
“They’re yours. Thank you.” Daniel looked lost, worried.
“You need to eat, too.” He held out a hand.
“I probably need to get my truck, head back toward the mountains.” Daniel reached for his hand.
He took it and squeezed. “You don’t want to do that. First of all, we moved the truck so nobody would get suspicious. Second of all, how are you going to get revenge all on your own?”
“I don’t know.” Daniel smelled so good.
“So stay.” He kept holding Daniel’s hand, looking into those eyes.
“I…” Daniel’s eyes dilated.
Fuck. He wanted. He swallowed, pushing that down. Daniel was still healing, grieving.
Then the scent of arousal hit his nose, hunger. Need. Desire. He wasn’t the only one who wanted, not by a long shot.
All his good intentions flew out the window and he brought his lips down onto Daniel’s. The kiss set a fire inside him. Daniel’s surprised moan was enough to have him step closer. He’d never connected with anyone from the first touch like this, not wolf nor human. It was more than just physical, stronger than that...