The Alpha's Heart (Wilde Creek Two) by R. E. Butler Page A

is on the opposite side of town from your house and that’s going to be a long walk without shoes or real clothes.”
    She exhaled sharply, ignoring the desire to smile because he said she had a cute ass.  “You could send someone to my house to bring clothes to me.”
    “I could, but I won’t.  I want to talk to you, Brynn, and I want to have you in the safety of my house.  If I have to hold you hostage without clothes to get you where you need to be, then I will do it.”
    She snapped her teeth.  “You’re an asshole.”
    Smirking, he shrugged.  “I’ve heard that before.”
    She looked at the clock on the wall.  It was after eight in the morning.  If she walked through town in a hospital gown she’d probably get arrested for indecent exposure.  Not exactly the way she wanted to start out the day.
    Reaching back to grab one flap of the gown and tug it forward so she remained covered, she gave him what she hoped was a lethal look and said, “I don’t like you very much.”
    He went for the door and opened it, waiting for her to join him.  “I know.”
     
    * * * * *
     
    Acksel carried a protesting, angry Brynn out to his truck and put her in the passenger seat.  She’d wanted to walk on her own, but a part of him thought she’d make a break for it and really try to walk through town half-naked.  He might have said he’d let her do that, but he absolutely wouldn’t.
    The four protectors stood near the truck, waiting for instructions.  “Follow me to my house.  Two of you shift and patrol around the perimeter and two you stand guard at the front and back of the house.  I’ll alert Sam to make arrangements for shifts in a few hours.”
    The males nodded and jogged to the SUV while Acksel got into his truck and started the engine.  Brynn was wrapped in a blanket that Gedding had provided.  He had also offered clothes for her, but Acksel had turned them down.  First he would get her to his home and then they’d talk.  Eventually she’d get clothes, but not right now.
    He glanced at her frequently as he drove home.  She was quiet and staring out the passenger window, her arms crossed over her chest.  He pulled up next to his home and turned off the engine.  The SUV parked on the curb and the four males got out and jogged around the house, except for one who went to the front porch and stood facing the street.
    “Who are those guys?”
    “Protectors.  Think of them like the police of the wolf pack.  They patrol around town and stand guard where I need them to be, whether it’s at the home of a female when her male is gone, or like today, when they will be making sure that my home is safe.”
    Her eyes narrowed.  “Why are you always talking about being safe?”
    “Because I’m alpha.  It’s important to me that my people are safe.  Not just the wolves in the pack, but my family and those that I care about.”  He reached his hand out to stroke her arm but she flinched away so he let it drop.  “Come on, we’ve got a lot to discuss.”
    He got out and came around to her side.  This time when he picked her up she didn’t protest.  She wasn’t exactly snuggling into him like he’d prefer, but she wasn’t arguing with him about her ability to walk.
    Zander, who was watching the front yard, took the house key from Acksel and unlocked the door, swinging it open and dropping the key into the bowl by the front door.  No words were exchanged, but Acksel knew that Zander would stand there for as long as Acksel told him to.  Although not a high-ranked protector, he was strong and fast and very serious about his job.
    Acksel kicked the door shut and strode through the front room and down the hall.  After he had been notified that Barry had been killed by the pack, he’d gone to the site and investigated the remains — what little there was — and then he’d asked some of the females for their help.  He could have ordered them to do it, but he was trying to be a little less