Savage Silence: A Dire Wolves Mission (The Devil's Dires Book 4) by Ellis Leigh Read Free Book Online Page B

to ease his discomfort. Too bad for him. She was pissed—at him, at herself, at the situation. And she was going to make sure they all knew it.
    “Yeah.” Thaus seemed surprised to hear her soft rumble, but she simply shrugged. He shook his head with a small smile before pulling a phone from his pocket. “We need to go, Ariel.”
    But her Alpha knew her, knew her fears and limitations. And he obviously felt a need to protect her, even from her own mate. “What are your plans? You can’t just drag the Omega off the mountain.”
    “I’m not dragging Ariel anywhere.” Thaus’ fingers flew over the screen even as his eyes met hers, the stress he placed on her given name not lost on her. “I’m asking her to go north with me. I have a safe house there in the perfect spot to defend, way more advantageous than the valley we’re in now. I’ll call my team, and we’ll eliminate the threat.”
    Lathan didn’t look convinced. “The mountains get more treacherous north of here.”
    “Exactly.” Thaus repocketed his phone, still watching Ariel. Still speaking to the Alpha as if he somehow mattered. “It’ll take my team a day or two to get here. If we’re lucky, the Glaxious will think Ariel went with your pack on the road. That mistake should give us time to hole up and get backup in place. But it needs to be somewhere fortified and protected. Which means north. I know those woods and that mountainside better than even Chilton ever could. I’ll keep her safe.”
    His words were to Lathan, but the meaning was for her, the direct honesty a subtle reminder of the mating bond wrapping them tighter together. As was the look of sincerity in his eyes.
    “And when your team gets there?” Lathan asked, eyeing Thaus in a way that made Ariel bristle. He knew her secrets, knew more about her past than the rest of his pack. And he knew how hard it would be for her to handle a houseful of strangers. Especially if they were the size of her mate.
    Thaus, on the other hand, had no clue why Lathan questioned him. “My team and I will take out Chilton, break up the Glaxious pack, deal with whoever is lurking in the woods around their land, and remove the threat to Ariel.”
    “And you think it’s going to be as simple as that,” Lathan said with a disbelieving huff, earning him another low growl from her. Ariel’s wolf apparently had no trouble finding her voice, either.
    Thaus must have heard the rumble, though it was hard to tell. Just a small lift to one side of his mouth gave him away. Bigger than the tic she’d fallen for already, this was more like a smile trying to escape. Ariel would have liked to see such a man smile.
    “None of this is simple,” Thaus said, back to being Mr. Serious. “But it’s necessary for Ariel’s protection, and something my team is better equipped to handle.”
    “And a new mate during all of this? Can you handle that as well?”
    Ariel darted a look to Lathan then back to Thaus, seeking some sort of reaction from her new mate. Something more than a tic or a smile.
    What she got was a chilling look shot at her once-Alpha and a strong statement she had no trouble believing.
    “I can handle whatever I must to keep her safe. That’s my primary goal in all of this—save Ariel.”
    Lathan watched Thaus, sizing him up, before turning to her once more. “Ariel? You don’t have to leave us if you don’t want to. I know I talked to you about running, but we can bring you with us instead of just pretending to. The pack will do their best to protect you.”
    Every eye turned her way, every wolf waiting for an answer. But it was Thaus who held her attention. The man she couldn’t look away from. The man she felt certain she’d be safe with. It was Thaus, in all his hulky, scary glory, who pushed her to finally find her voice.
    “I’m going with him.”
    Thaus nodded once, in motion as soon as she voiced her opinion. “We should leave, then.”
    Ariel gave Lathan a sort-of smile. The most