Wolf on the Hunt by N. J. Walters

the other. Even Shadow sat back and watched him. There was no doubt as to who was the apex predator in the room.
    “We’ve been attacked several times in the past year by members of our old pack.” Louis growled and Gray shivered. This was a very dangerous man. “We’ve all managed to survive, but not without casualties.” He turned and his brown eyes seemed to glow. “We’ve killed many of our attackers.”
    Gray was going to be sick. She slapped her hand over her mouth and dashed toward the bathroom. He called her name, but she wasn’t stopping for anything. She barely made it before she lost her lunch. She felt him hovering behind her but ignored him.
    She flushed the toilet and concentrated on taking several deep breaths. A shudder racked her entire body. He talked about killing people so easily. This was the world her mother had been running from. Had she known how brutal it was or had she simply been frightened when she’d discovered what her lover really was?
    Gray would never know.
    Water ran in the bathroom sink and then a cold cloth was pressed against the back of her neck.
    “I’m sorry,” Louis told her as he wiped her face. “I shouldn’t have been quite so blunt.” He frowned and continued to wipe the perspiration from her face.
    She didn’t understand this man at all. He hadn’t attacked the hunters when they’d been trying to kill him, yet he talked of killing members of his own pack.
    “I need to brush my teeth.” The sour taste in her mouth was making her feel sick again. She pushed his hand away and concentrated on the task of putting toothpaste on her toothbrush. She didn’t look at him as she took care of the mundane task.
    She was in the house with a self-confessed killer. Then why did she feel safe with him? Obviously, she needed her head examined.
    When she rinsed her mouth and was minty-fresh once again, she turned to face him. He was leaning against the doorjamb with his arms crossed over his chest. His biceps bulged and a muscle in his jaw flexed.
    The scowl on his face made her take a step back. His expression grew even darker.
    Way to go, LaForge. He hated that his blunt manner had made Gray ill. She’d been such a rock through the entire ordeal, but everyone had a breaking point. Telling her point blank that he’d killed people he knew. Yeah, not his finest moment. No wonder she was afraid. It was a wonder she wasn’t screaming the house down.
    Now she was more afraid of him than ever. Her skin was pale and clammy, but it was the fear in her eyes that nearly brought him to his knees.
    “I won’t hurt you, chère ,” he promised her. “I’ll never hurt you.”
    She nodded, but he could tell she didn’t quite believe him. And why would she? She barely knew him. Still, it hurt. His word, his honor, was everything to him. He was a protector by nature and he’d never experienced such a deep-seated need to safeguard anyone as he did this woman.
    He reached out and gently brushed a strand of hair off her cheek. “I won’t let anyone else hurt you either.” That was a pledge to her and to himself.
    She frowned. “You can’t promise that. We barely know one another. Why would you even care?” Gray took a step toward him and gave him a pointed look. He knew she wanted him to move so she could leave the bathroom.
    He took a step back but she still had to angle her body to get past him. Her arm brushed over his bare chest. They both sucked in a breath and she hurried back to the kitchen with him right behind her.
    He caught her arm and turned her to face him. “I care.” More than he should. More than he had a right to. If he really cared, he’d walk away from her.
    He leaned down, noting the way her pupils dilated and her nostrils flared. He could scent her soap and the toothpaste she’d just used. There was a tinge of fear surrounding her, but beneath it was something much sweeter.
    Louis groaned and brushed his lips over hers. They were so soft and warm. He kept