bad.
I
could start killing.”
“And that’s why you’re wearing a collar, too.”
He barely felt the weight of the silver around his neck. Probably because Holly had set it for the lightest possible intensity level. She hadn’t wanted to hurt him.
And he…
I want her
.
Duncan cleared his throat. He had to stay away from her. When he was near Holly, he just thought about fucking.
Or killing anyone who wanted to hurt her.
The beast was way too unstable when she was near.
Pate held up the remote he’d taken from Holly. “There are several master remotes at this facility. And the silver can’t just be amped up…the setting can be switched to kill mode.”
So Duncan had always suspected.
“You go rogue, you start attacking humans, don’t worry, I’ll take you out myself.”
Good to know.
“Now time is running out.” The lines near Pate’s eyes deepened. “If you’re not in for this plan, then—”
“You think I’m stable enough to handle this?” A question that had to be asked. “Another shift could come. I can’t—I can’t stop the shift.” He’d been so angry before when he’d been in his cell and he’d heard Holly’s screams. Enraged and afraid for Holly. The shift had swept over him, and there’d been nothing he could do to stop it.
But then, he hadn’t been sure that he wanted to stop it then. He’d wanted to attack whoever—whatever—had been hurting her.
“We wanted you to stay the night at the facility so that Holly could do her tests.” One brow rose even as Pate’s gaze dropped to his neck. “So you’d be collared.”
And you’d have your automatic kill switch?
“But you aren’t a prisoner here. You’re a federal agent. A man who has always done his job and protected the innocent. You can walk out of this building anytime you want.” A pause. “Though I’d prefer for you to leave in the next five minutes…with Saul.”
Taking that guy anywhere was going to be a risk. “I want a master remote.”
Pate immediately tossed it to him. “Done. Saul’s code is 7943.”
“And my code?”
Pate smiled.
Right.
“I know it. Holly knows it. So I’d say we’re covered on that end,” Pate told him.
No, Pate was covered.
“Are you going to tell the others what I’m doing?” Duncan asked. He’d rather prefer not to get shot down by his own team members.
Pate nodded. “
After
you’re gone, they’ll all know.”
“Not before?”
“We need to make it look real,” a soft murmur.
So it looked like he was going to do this. All right. Fine. He motioned toward himself. “I think I’ll need more clothes.”
“Back up gear and clothing are waiting outside. Go in the hall, then take the fourth door on your right.”
Duncan turned away.
“Ah…just one more thing, McGuire.”
Wasn’t there always one more thing with that guy?
“I’ve noticed that you seem to be reacting a bit…intently to Holly.”
Understatement of the century.
“You’re too dangerous to be around a woman right now in any sort of sexual capacity.” Pate’s voice had hardened. “So I’m giving you an order. Stay away from her.”
The wolf growled. The sound hung in the air.
“I’m still your director here.” Pate’s chair squeaked and Duncan knew the guy had shot to his feet. “You will listen to what I say and—”
Duncan glanced back over his shoulder. Pate’s eyes widened as he gazed at Duncan’s face.
What does he see there?
“Staying away from her may not be an option.” Not when the moon rose. He was very much afraid that when the moon rose, the wolf would go straight to her. “You work on keeping
her
away from
me
. Send her away from this place. Get her out of the town. Do whatever you need to do.”
“Why? Why her?”
“Because the beast knows I want her.”
I can still taste her
. “And he wants her too.”
Then Duncan yanked open the door and hurried down the hallway. He had a serial killing werewolf waiting for him. One that needed to get
I
could start killing.”
“And that’s why you’re wearing a collar, too.”
He barely felt the weight of the silver around his neck. Probably because Holly had set it for the lightest possible intensity level. She hadn’t wanted to hurt him.
And he…
I want her
.
Duncan cleared his throat. He had to stay away from her. When he was near Holly, he just thought about fucking.
Or killing anyone who wanted to hurt her.
The beast was way too unstable when she was near.
Pate held up the remote he’d taken from Holly. “There are several master remotes at this facility. And the silver can’t just be amped up…the setting can be switched to kill mode.”
So Duncan had always suspected.
“You go rogue, you start attacking humans, don’t worry, I’ll take you out myself.”
Good to know.
“Now time is running out.” The lines near Pate’s eyes deepened. “If you’re not in for this plan, then—”
“You think I’m stable enough to handle this?” A question that had to be asked. “Another shift could come. I can’t—I can’t stop the shift.” He’d been so angry before when he’d been in his cell and he’d heard Holly’s screams. Enraged and afraid for Holly. The shift had swept over him, and there’d been nothing he could do to stop it.
But then, he hadn’t been sure that he wanted to stop it then. He’d wanted to attack whoever—whatever—had been hurting her.
“We wanted you to stay the night at the facility so that Holly could do her tests.” One brow rose even as Pate’s gaze dropped to his neck. “So you’d be collared.”
And you’d have your automatic kill switch?
“But you aren’t a prisoner here. You’re a federal agent. A man who has always done his job and protected the innocent. You can walk out of this building anytime you want.” A pause. “Though I’d prefer for you to leave in the next five minutes…with Saul.”
Taking that guy anywhere was going to be a risk. “I want a master remote.”
Pate immediately tossed it to him. “Done. Saul’s code is 7943.”
“And my code?”
Pate smiled.
Right.
“I know it. Holly knows it. So I’d say we’re covered on that end,” Pate told him.
No, Pate was covered.
“Are you going to tell the others what I’m doing?” Duncan asked. He’d rather prefer not to get shot down by his own team members.
Pate nodded. “
After
you’re gone, they’ll all know.”
“Not before?”
“We need to make it look real,” a soft murmur.
So it looked like he was going to do this. All right. Fine. He motioned toward himself. “I think I’ll need more clothes.”
“Back up gear and clothing are waiting outside. Go in the hall, then take the fourth door on your right.”
Duncan turned away.
“Ah…just one more thing, McGuire.”
Wasn’t there always one more thing with that guy?
“I’ve noticed that you seem to be reacting a bit…intently to Holly.”
Understatement of the century.
“You’re too dangerous to be around a woman right now in any sort of sexual capacity.” Pate’s voice had hardened. “So I’m giving you an order. Stay away from her.”
The wolf growled. The sound hung in the air.
“I’m still your director here.” Pate’s chair squeaked and Duncan knew the guy had shot to his feet. “You will listen to what I say and—”
Duncan glanced back over his shoulder. Pate’s eyes widened as he gazed at Duncan’s face.
What does he see there?
“Staying away from her may not be an option.” Not when the moon rose. He was very much afraid that when the moon rose, the wolf would go straight to her. “You work on keeping
her
away from
me
. Send her away from this place. Get her out of the town. Do whatever you need to do.”
“Why? Why her?”
“Because the beast knows I want her.”
I can still taste her
. “And he wants her too.”
Then Duncan yanked open the door and hurried down the hallway. He had a serial killing werewolf waiting for him. One that needed to get
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