She could tell he was dedicated to his pack, and she wouldn’t want to take him away from that, but surely the pack would survive their Alpha taking a mini break in Hawaii?
She smoothed her hands down the turquoise dress he had bought her, remembering the feel of his hands. The physical draw to him just seemed to get stronger every moment. Her eyes flicked to the laundry room, thinking of the steamy encounter that had taken place only a few hours before.
She hoped that he hurried back, she wasn’t averse to repeating the experience...
“About damn time.”
“Wha...”
Before Rosalee could say anything a sharp shock wrenched through her body. Everything faded to black.
Chapter Twelve
Adam pushed the doors open to the station purposefully. His wolf snarled viciously in his head.
Liv was sat at the reception desk. She stood up as if to speak to him but seeing the deadly look on his face thought better of it and sat back down.
At Rosalee’s insistence he had dropped her back at her house, now that they had arrested the person responsible for breaking into her house she felt easier about being back in the house alone.
He’d much rather have taken her back to his house and argued that point with her. She countered that the quicker she sorts out the house the more time they spend together. He had reasoned that if she agreed to sell him the house and land she could set the thing on fire for all he cared. At which point she had huffed and made noises about how he was only after her land.
His wolf had whined that their mate was hurt. He felt guilty and caved in, much to Rosalee’s delight. He had dropped her at her house and told her to stay put, he would be with her shortly.
He wanted to deal with this quickly and get back to her. He had yet to persuade her to bond with him. The more she told him about her life the more he worried it was unlikely that she want to stay in Rose with him.
She had lived like a gypsy, moving from place to place, never settling. She’d been all over the country and even outside the country. The fact that he had never lived anywhere other than Rose made him feel a bit inadequate, although he acknowledged that he wouldn’t have lived anywhere other than Rose even if he had the choice.
The pack was his family. His life. The thought of living without his pack was troubling, but the thought of not being with his mate was intolerable.
His wolf howled. Caught between a rock and a hard place. If Rosalee didn’t want to stay in Rose would he leave with to be with her? As difficult as it would be, yes he would. If she would have him. The pack would survive without him, but he wouldn’t survive without Rosalee.
His wolf grumbled angrily at the thought of leaving his pack, but whined at the thought of losing his mate.
Adam made his way back to the cells. Keen to sort out the asshole who had been scaring his mate and invading her house.
He pushed the door open to find Alec and Gabe stood outside one of the cells, Don was sat at the desk idly leaning back in the chair twirling his Stetson in his hands. Gabe leant against a wall and Alec stood rigid, his massive arms folded over his chest.
Adam looked past them to the crumpled man in the cell. The cell door was open, there was no way he would get past the wolf shifters so it made no difference. He was sat on the bunk cradling his head in his hands. He looked small and pathetic. Slowly he lifted his head. It was Dennis Hardison the bobcat shifter, who worked at the Diner and who was training to be an EMT.
Adam was a little taken aback. He was aware that Dennis had been arrested a few times for underage drinking, but he knew Dennis had problems at home, and had actually been supplied the alcohol by his own mother. In spite of this Dennis had strived to be accepted onto the EMT training programme, often working two jobs to support himself and his brothers and sisters.
Dennis’ eyes were red rimmed and didn’t seem to focus on anything. When he saw Adam Dennis stumbled to his feet swaying lightly, his face paling even more. Gabe strolled into the cell and gently pushed Dennis back down until he was sitting.
Adam’s beast snarled. This man needs to be punished for hurting their mate. His fangs and claws lengthened. “Drunk?” Barked Adam, his voice deep and menacing.
Alec shook his head. “Nope, doesn’t smell of alcohol, and he passed a breathalyser.”
Adam paced up and down never taking his eyes off Dennis. “Drugs?”
Gabe kept a hand on Dennis’ shoulder. “I don’t think so, it looks more like he’s been in a trance.”
Don cleared his throat. “We found a candy bar wrapper in the Bennett house, led us to Dennis.”
Adam stared at him, eyebrows raised. “A candy bar wrapper? After using wolfsbane and cows blood to cover his scent the first two times he broke in, he then gets caught out by a candy bar?”