Darkest Wolf(30)

“I’m more concerned about them hurting you.” Elizabeth leaned against the building, wondering how the sound of her mother’s voice could make her feel like her knees might give out.

“I’ve told you not to. We’re handling things here. They’re tough but we’re surviving.

You’re out there with those twins. I can’t stand it.”

The wobble in her mother’s voice clenched the decision for Elizabeth. She couldn’t allow this to continue for them. Not one more minute. “Mom, I need you to get a message to Drea. I’m not with Charra and Penny anymore. I’m coming back, but I’m bringing some information with me Drea will want. Tell her I’ve recently come into possession of some of the secrets from the Westervelt Wolf pack.” She heard her mother gasp but kept talking before the woman who had always loved her could argue. “I’m travelling with a wolf. He thinks I’m his mate. He tells me anything I want to know. If Drea releases all of us from the curse and lets us leave, I’ll tell her anything she desires.”

“If the wolf thinks you are his mate, Elizabeth, then…” Movement caught her eye from across the parking lot. The door to the car opened, which could only mean Rex had awakened. “I’ve got to go, Mom. I suspect I’ll be back in Florida tomorrow. When I get into town, I’ll call.” She switched off the phone, moving to intercept Rex before he got any closer. “Are you okay?” she called out over the parking lot.

“I was until I woke up and saw you had left the car. Then I was … terrified for you.” She shrugged. “I appreciate the concern but I was just getting us a room.” Rex stretched, exposing his abs from underneath the makeshift blanket he must have found in the car. Her mouth went dry as she stared at the perfectly formed muscles poking out at her.

“Did they give you any trouble?”

“What?” Her mouth hung open. She knew she must look like a landed fish. All she wanted to do was to reach out and stroke him on the chest, to feel what his skin felt like there. Was it warm and hot or rough and calloused?

“Did they give you any trouble checking in?”

She shook her head, trying to smile. “No more than what is to be expected. Come on.

Let’s go inside.”

“What? Than what is to be expected?”

Rex planted his feet where he stood, and she knew there would be no moving him until they addressed this problem—even if she would rather stick her hand in a blender.

“He objected to my face.” Rex moved forward. By the set of his eyes, she could tell he intended to go into the lobby and let the man know what he thought. She stopped him by placing a hand on his chest. Beneath her fingers, she could feel the strong beat of his heart. She had to swallow through the dryness assaulting her whole body at the contact.

“Look, I took a page out of your book and I borrowed his phone without his knowing.

Why don’t we say that’s enough?”

Rex stared down at her, a small smile finally crossing his hard features. “I’m a bad influence on you.”

She nodded. “Clearly.” Holding up the phone, she stuck it in his hand. “Do you want to call Tristan?”

He’d used that name a few times. At some point, she’d come to realize it was one of his brothers, the alpha of his pack. Rex seemed to be preoccupied with him. Maybe phoning him would take his mind off her.

She gasped as his hand came down, cupping her chin. “No, I have no interest in speaking to Tristan right now. Not even a little bit.”

“No?” Words seemed to have left her or at least the ability to speak without staring at his mouth. “Did your rest do you good? You weren’t asleep very long.” He took her hand, grasping it in his own as he placed the phone back into it. His fingers were so much larger than hers. “Elizabeth, there is something I need to do.” She blinked. “What?”

“I must feed you before you fall over.”

“Feed me?” As if on cue, her stomach growled. She hadn’t been aware of how hungry she was, but now that he’d mentioned it she couldn’t think about anything else.

When was the last time she’d eaten? She hadn’t even gotten to have a meal at the diner.

“Yes, you need to eat. I can smell how your blood sugar is dropping. We will get some food.”

“Where?” She looked around. “It’s the middle of the night. I doubt anything is open.”

Rex pointed at the lobby. “The man who objected to your face, he will help us.” The wolf who had made her life very odd since she’d met him, dropped her hand and walked with a determined stride toward the lobby.