“Don’t run, Sage,” Max snarled, and I hoped that sound could be heard down the line. “I won’t be able to control him if you run.”
“I promise I won’t if you turn back into…whatever the fuck was before Max.” I held out my hands to ward him off. “Project management Max. ‘The team needs to show they know proper OHS when it comes to audio setup’ Max. I need him, not the wolf.”
He just sniffed at that, prowling closer, looking nothing like a man and everything like a damn animal. Just as I was questioning the wisdom of letting a man who could turn into an apex predator at will into my room, a sharp knock at the door, then another let me know Lucien had made it up here.
“That’s Lucien,” I said, holding my hands out. “I’m just going to let him in.”
Max’s smile widened, flashing his fangs at me as he did so, but he nodded slowly. I slapped my hand down on the door, then Lucien busted into the room, taking in the situation with one swift glance. I was tugged closer, Lucien putting his body between Max and me, but that just seemed to piss off his brother. Max snarled, the sound something no human could imitate.
“You’re not keeping her from me, not this time!”
“Max, calm the fuck down!” Lucien’s voice cracked across my skin like an actual whip, leaving a sting in its wake, something that had me gasping, but not Max. He shook his head, as if tossing off the order and kept on advancing, something that drew a frantic little whine from me. “Not like this, mate. Smell her.”
I was hauled unceremoniously against Lucien’s chest, his arm wrapping around my waist like iron.
“Breathe her in, brother. Smell how she’s feeling.”
Max didn’t need another invitation. Somehow, I ended up sandwiched between my two bosses, jammed up against Lucien’s body, Max’s pressed against mine. The alpha couldn’t have looked any more alien than he did right now. None of the man remained in those silver eyes, those flashing fangs, in that endless stare, holding my eyes right up until Max pressed his nose to my neck. A hand slid around my jaw, twisting it away so he could bury his nose in my pulse point, taking in frantic gulps of whatever he thought he could smell.
“Fear, brother. You can smell the stink of it in there.”
“More than that,” Max rumbled back. “Much more. She’s… She smells like…”
“I know what she smells like, Max.” Lucien’s voice was crisp and clear. “She smells like she’s fucking terrified right now.”
That, that was what it took to bring Max back. He blinked, his eyes losing their animal intensity, bleeding back to blue as he stepped, then stumbled back. He still stared, but it was a questing, questioning look, not the same ‘I’m gonna eat you all up’ of before.
“Lucien—”
“I know, brother. Get your shit. Go back to your room, and I’ll try and settle Sage, persuade her not to resign on the spot. Go.”
Some of the man who I’d been working with for an hour or so returned. He packed up his laptop and peripherals with practised ease, then headed towards the door. When he paused, when he stared at me one last time, there was something mournful, something hungry in his silverish look.
“I’m sorry—”
“Later, Max,” Lucien ordered, and he nodded finally, slipping out the door.
I sagged, going to slump down on my bed and just dissolve into a nervous puddle, but Lucien kept me right where I was, so I was forced to listen to the rapid skitter of my heart, the slower march of his.
“I’m sorry you went through that,” he said, and that was what it took for me to shove myself away.
“What was ‘that’?” I snapped. “Is that why your other PAs have quit?”
“Told you about that, did he?” Lucien snorted. “Nope, that was all much more prosaic. It was usually the raging dysfunction of our leadership more than anything.” He sighed and then rubbed his hands across his face.
“Well, Max and I thought we’d come up with a solution for that.” My whole body started to tremble then, as if realising what danger we’d just sidestepped. “If we can get the rest of you to come on board.” I let out a hysterical little laugh at that. “I thought getting you guys to use project management software was the challenge here. Instead, it’s—”
“Max reacted the way almost any unmated alpha would to you.”
Lucien’s voice was overly calm and clear as he explained, but that didn’t change the fact his eyes were just as bright silver, his fangs flashing in the sunlight streaming in through the windows. I just stared at him, feeling like Bella deciding between Team Jacob or Team GTFO.
I went with Team WTF.
“What the hell…?”
He decided that was an invitation to come closer, or rather, being a fucking alpha, he didn’t ask, just came and kept on coming until he leaned into my space, forcing me to hold my ground or give way as he breathed me in. I got a low, guttural groan in response.
“I don’t speak fuckwit,” I snapped, the effect ruined by the tremble in my voice. “You’re gonna need to break that down for me using small, easy to remember words.”