“Please,” I plead, shaking my head.

I can feel the man’s hesitation from his stiff posture, and then he growls, “She doesn’t want to come with you.”

Nolan’s eyes widen incredulously, “Are you really protecting a Panther? Did you forget you’re a Wolf? Hand her over to us, and we can pretend this never happened.”

The low sound of laughter pierces something deep inside me as I hear Lexi’s knuckles crack, “Thing is, I don’t like being told what to do. And you’re ...