Primal Heat(Wild Lake Wolves Book 3)(33)

"Well, I appreciate that. At least."

"At the very least, I'm afraid. As you're aware, your ability to get  licensed to practice law in this state upon graduation requires you to  pass a character and fitness examination. That's if you pass the bar  examination. Frankly, I see no way you'll be able to do that. The  congressman has asked for a letter of reprimand be included in your  file. I'm going to grant that request. Now, I have no power over them,  but you need to understand that the odds of the Board of Law Examiners  ever approving you for a license are slim to none."

Nothing he said surprised me. From the moment I answered the phone back  at the Bonner farmhouse, I knew I would end up right where I was. Still,  hearing someone tell you your hard work and dreams were probably gone  for good was sobering. Devastating. I wanted to be anywhere but where I  was.

"Do I have any right to appeal that decision?"

"With the Board? Of course."

"No. Before that. I mean with you. Congressman Foster has caused a  written statement to be placed in my file. Again, I'd like to be allowed  to read it. And I also feel I should be granted permission to put a  counter-statement in that file. If I'm going to be judged, I should at  least be heard."

Stockard sat back in his chair. The fluorescent lights in his office  gleamed off his bald head. He idled at dour. Today his expression was  morose, with a downturned mouth and deep lines cutting across his  reddened forehead.

"I really don't see the point."

He took a breath, preparing, I think, to launch into another speech  about his disappointment in me. But, the landline rang in his office,  making both of us jump. He held up a finger and took the call. He  listened more than spoke. I heard only "thank you" and "I understand."  He put the phone down and steepled his fingers over the desk.

"Miss Winslow, can I ask you to be patient for just a few more minutes?  It appears that another letter has arrived concerning your case. There's  a courier downstairs. If you'll wait right here, I'll see what it's  about, and we can continue our discussion."

It was in me to tell him not to bother. He'd already made up his mind.  But, I nodded and crossed my legs, hoping against hope that the new  letter might be of help. Plus, rudeness wouldn't improve my situation.

The dean excused himself and stepped around his desk. He closed the door  to his outer office, leaving me staring out the window to the quad. I  pressed my fingers to my forehead and concentrated on slowing my  breathing. I wanted to wail and rage. I wanted to throw all of his  papers across the desk and kick the windows out. Everything I'd done I'd  do again. For Bas. For Pat. For me. I just wished the consequences  didn't have to hurt so much.

If Stockard and Foster got their way, I could get a law degree, but I'd  never be able to practice anywhere. The walls seemed to close in around  me. I'd lost my way out. At least, the one I'd built completely by  myself. I loved Bas. I could spend the rest of my life with him, but  without a career of my own, without something of my own, I would wither  on the vine.

I walked to the window and pressed my head against the glass. With  spring classes over for more than a month, the grassy knoll was empty.  Cars slowed at the stop sign. Connor and Eli's black SUV rounded the  corner. They'd been told to circle the building until they saw me come  out. Their presence comforted me, but I couldn't help also feeling  trapped by it. They knew their purpose; I felt mine slipping away.

The door to the outer office opened and closed behind me. I took a  breath, steadying myself on the window ledge. I turned to face Dean  Stockard one last time.

My blood ran cold. My spine seemed to turn to liquid as I turned around.  Instead of Stockard, Dale stood in the doorway, and his wolf eyes  gleamed yellow and filled with bloodlust.





Chapter Twenty-Six

I dodged around the desk. Dale's skin rippled and bunched, his urge to  shift nearly crippling him as he took a step toward me. I reached out  with my mind and heart, screaming silently for help.                       
       
           



       

But, it wouldn't matter. Dale was no more than six feet away from me. He  could shift and be on me in a split second. Even Connor and Eli weren't  fast enough to get between us. And Bas. God. Bas. He was miles away  with Willie Jr.

"How did you get here?"

It was a stupid question, but my mind raced, trying to think of  something . . . anything to keep him talking. If he wanted to talk, he'd  have to keep his wolf at bay. Only then might I have a chance to save  my own life.

"It won't help you."

"I'm not alone, Dale. You have to know that. And you also have to know who and what I am now."

"Bas Lanier's whore. That's what I hired you for. So, in that, job well done, sweetie."

"I'm Bas's mate, you asshole. And you knew the second he walked into the  room with me. If you lay a finger on me, the pack will kill you. You  won't get out of Michigan; you won't get out of this room alive."

Dale moved so fast. I saw only a blur, and he was on me. He grabbed me,  wrenching my arm hard backward. He pressed his teeth to my neck. My  flesh burned; my stomach roiled. His touch was poison to me, and my  entire body tried to reject it. My pulse roared in my ears like thunder.  Bas could sense me. But, he was so very far away. Still, I felt a  change in the pack. Connor and Eli coming closer, running fast, but it  may as well have been slow motion.

Bas flew. I felt Alec's pulse join with him. My own muscles twitched as I  sensed their wolves spring forth. Powerful. Lethal. But filled with  bleak despair. Even they knew they would be too late if Dale decided to  strike.

"Where will you go, Dale? How far do you think you'll get?"

"Far enough," he hissed in my ear.

"There won't be anywhere far enough. He wants to rip your bowels out and  make you watch." Bas's words filled my head. I felt Alec's presence  too, trying to calm him. Be smart. Be patient. Keep him talking.

"Kentucky," I said, though I felt as if Bas were speaking through me.  "Mammoth Forest. The chief pack there will give you sanctuary. But  you'll only get there if I'm still alive. If you take me with you."

Christ! I was negotiating myself into being his hostage. But, I  understood. The only weapon I had was time. The only weapon Dale had was  me. Bas would never let him live if he killed me. I only prayed his  life still mattered to him. What if whatever waited for him with the  southern packs was worse?

"I should have killed you straight out. I see that now. That's where I  made the mistake. I'll give you that much credit, Abby. I misjudged you.  I thought you'd be dumber than you are. Easier to manipulate. So, kudos  to you. You outsmarted yourself until this very moment."

He shoved me hard. The force of it sent me airborne and slamming into  Dean Stockard's wall of law books. Seven thick volumes of the Northwest  Reporter came crashing down on my head. Pain blossomed across my  shoulder as the joint popped. The fear in my heart gave way to deadly  rage. I felt Bas inside of me, taking my pain for his own. Without him, I  might have passed out.

Dale came toward me, his body crumpling and contorting, unable to control his wolf. He wasn't done, though.

"You win, Bas," he said. He spoke to me, kneeling down to put himself at  eye level. Cold menace widened his pupils, and his golden irises blazed  hot. His fangs protruded, distorting his jaw. His words were barely  intelligible, his mouth quickly losing the form to speak.

"But I win too. You thought marking her would protect her. I waited for  it. Because now, you'll feel the pain of her loss forever."

Oh, God!

Dale dropped to his hands and his wolf sprang forth, dripping saliva  from his yellowed fangs. His yellow eyes went red as he arched his back  and got ready to strike.

Movement by the door as Stockard came back into the room. He screamed and pressed himself against the wall.

"Run!"

The voice was mine. Dale was gone; only his raging wolf remained. Once he ripped me apart, Stockard would be next.

The door to the hallway splintered and exploded off its hinges. Through  the blinding pain in my shoulder, I dove to the side. A flash of red  clouded my vision as all hell broke loose.

Bas was there. He was everywhere. Filling my head with red murder. His  wolf covered me, then turned on Dale. Dale's cold, gray wolf circled,  his snout nearly touching the ground as he growled. Bas advanced,  keeping his body between me and Dale's. I crawled away. One powerful  lunge and Dale could still kill me.

Then Alec's white wolf blazed through the door, flanking Dale's rear.

Alec and Bas formed a circle of deadly menace. Dale had nowhere left to  go. Alec struck first, tearing his fangs into Dale's hindquarters. He  should have dropped to the ground. But, fueled by adrenaline and the  desire to kill, he stayed on his feet.