Power Unleashed by Savannah Stuart

she kicked up sand and it didn’t settle when she
    skidded to a stop on the stone steps of her sister’s back patio. After she changed into her
    human form, she slipped her dress over her head. As she did, she saw Adam in wolf
    form on the beach barely ten yards away.
    He just stood there, watching. It felt as if a fist was squeezing her heart. She wanted
    to talk to him, give him an explanation, but she couldn’t. She was too afraid. If she
    admitted what she was, he’d have no choice but to turn her in to The Council. They
    might be mates, but they hadn’t officially bonded and they didn’t know each other that
    well.
    When she bent to grab her panties, he started trotting toward her. Even though she
    knew she was being a total chickenshit, she stumbled back and raced for the back door.
    Paz had no doubt her sister was still awake and probably waiting to ream her out, but
    she’d rather face Marisol than an angry Adam.
    * * * * *
    Adam stared helplessly at Paz’s retreating figure. Anger and humiliation hummed
    through him. They were mates. He knew it and no doubt, she did too. Whether she
    wanted to admit it or not. He loped up the stone steps to see what she’d left behind.
    When he saw the scrap of black lace material that definitely belonged to her, he grabbed
    it in his mouth before running back to his beach house.
    After he’d shifted and settled back into his house, he was still angry as hell. As he
    went through what had just happened in his mind, nothing made sense. He’d said they
    were mates and she’d run like a scared rabbit. Sure, he was feared and respected as The
    Council’s enforcer, but apparently his position in the hierarchy wasn’t good enough for
    her.
    Maybe she’d just been interested in a fling? No. He quickly brushed that thought
    away. She hadn’t admitted it, but he was fairly certain she’d been a virgin. At the most,
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    Power Unleashed
    she had little experience with the opposite sex. He wasn’t even sure how he knew that.
    Everything had just seemed too fresh to her.
    That left one thing. She just didn’t want him to be her mate. Whatever the reason, it
    didn’t matter.
    Grabbing a beer from the fridge, he frowned when he saw the time. It was after
    midnight, but it wouldn’t be that late on the West Coast. He grabbed his cell and
    scrolled through the list of names until he landed on the one he wanted. Jacob Freeman.
    After four rings Adam was about to hang up when his old friend answered. “Adam
    Tucker, holy shit. How are ya, brother?”
    Despite his foul mood, he smiled. Freeman was one of the few wolves he actually
    trusted. Relatively speaking, he was a newer Alpha of his own pack, but he was wise
    for barely being a century old. “Can’t complain. How about yourself?”
    “I’m in the fucking desert right now freezing my nuts off.”
    Adam frowned. “I thought you were living in Washington.”
    “I was…I am. Currently, I’m hunting someone,” he growled.
    “Everything all right?” He hadn’t heard that the Freeman pack had any problems
    lately.
    “It will be. Shit man, this isn’t Council business if that’s what you’re worried about.
    I’m trying to track down my stubborn-ass mate.”
    “What?”
    He sighed. “She’s…you know what, don’t worry about it. It’s under control. I know
    you didn’t call me to bullshit so tell me what’s on your mind.”
    At least he wasn’t the only one with mate problems. The thought was somewhat
    comforting. “You still got that contact at the Florida Department of Transportation?”
    “Yeah. Got one in New York and in Illinois too.”
    “I need access to some traffic cameras in the greater Miami area.”
    “Tell me exactly what you want and I’ll see what I can do.”
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    Savannah Stuart
    Adam quickly ran through the dates and times of the attacks in addition to
    requesting video feeds of all the surrounding areas.
    “This sounds like heavy shit. You need any help?” Jacob asked when Adam