Corrigan Magic (Corrigan: Blood Destiny Book 2) by Helen Harper Page B

I’d simply speak to her with the full force of my authority.
    Why are you in London?  There.  No ‘how are you’ or ‘hello kitten’.  I’d let her know who was really boss.
    She shrieked in my head and I felt a flash of pain.  She’d hurt herself. Shit.
    Kitten?  The word was out before I could stop it.  I winced and tried again.  I know you can hear me.  Mack didn’t answer but I knew she was there.  I could still feel her.  Perhaps I could goad her into answering. Don’t be upset at your little wolf friend.  He had a bruise on his neck.  I compelled him to tell me who had given it to him.  The last thing I wanted to tell her was that I knew her strange scent well enough to recognise it on him.  I’m disappointed that you didn’t come over and say hello, I continued .  Or introduce me to your new … friend.
    Really, my Lord? She finally answered. Underlying the spite, was a note of pure hurt though. Are you really going to continue to imply that I spend all my spare time shagging every male I can get my hands on?
    I smiled to myself.  Gotcha.  I shrugged to myself and sat down, swiveling round in my chair to gaze out the window.  Screw it.  Hello kitten.
    Get lost, Corrigan.
    You don’t need to stay out there in the cold, you know.  Tell me where you are and I can help you out.  It’s not too late to still be one of us.  It was a long shot.  But I had to try.
    Mack sniffed.  You should stop this stalker-like behaviour.  It’s most unbecoming for the Lord Alpha.  Surely you’ve got better things to do.
    Probably.  But… I concern myself with every member of the Pack.
    Well, I’m not part of the Pack, my Lord.  Get over it.
    It occurred to me that she most definitely wasn’t going to come to me and most definitely wasn’t making any plans to leave London.  I thought about the red fever.  Civil war aside, she’d still be a damn sight safer in Scotland.  Mackenzie, it’s not safe here.  You need to–
    Staines opened my door without knocking and stared at me with wide eyes.  “It’s Higgins,” he said.  “He’s on the phone and says he’s got something important to tell you.”

Chapter Twelve
     
    “It’s good news, my Lord.”
    I sank down in relief.  “Tell me.”
    “The relapse I thought they were experiencing has all but gone.  This morning, three of the remaining affected shifters sat up in bed and said they were hungry.  We’re in the clear.”
    It felt like a huge burden had been lifted off my shoulders.  “You have no idea how pleased I am to hear it, Dr Higgins.”
    “It’s my pleasure.” 
    I hung up and glanced over at Staines who was waiting in the doorway.  When I gave him the thumbs up and grinned, he exhaled loudly and fist-pumped the air.  “I’ll go tell the others.  They’re all waiting to hear the news.”
    I nodded, unable to keep the smile off my face.  “Please do.  I’m heading out to get some well deserved fresh air.”  I stretched and cricked my neck. It might also help assuage the emptiness I felt at losing contact again with Mack.  “It’s about time I let loose.”
    “Go for it, my Lord.”
    I quickly changed into a pair of sweats and set out.  The streets of London were only really suitable for running in human form but it didn’t hurt to keep all aspects of my body fit.  I pounded the pavement, enjoying every minute.  It was more because of the anticipation of finally being about to be able to shift in peace than because of the exhaust fumes though.  I ignored the catcalls from a group of young women, clearly heading out for a night on the town, as well as the annoyed glances from a few pedestrians as I swerved by them.  Less than two hours later, I was at the gate to Hampstead Heath.
    I skirted down one path towards a copse of trees I knew was rarely disturbed by humans.  When I was sure I was alone, I pulled off my clothes and hung them on a nearby branch.  I stood there for a moment, stark naked,