"Shit."
Connor stopped dead among the trees.
He'd been on Braxton for the better part of an hour, keeping well back, masking his scent, moving only when the man moved. He'd been careful. He'd been very careful.
And then he'd blinked, and the trail had simply ended.
He turned a slow circle, scanning the trees. Nothing. No sound, no scent, no movement. He'd been watching the man's back not thirty seconds ago.
He was still standing there working it through when an arm locked around his throat from behind.
Connor threw his weight forward to break the hold, but the grip only tightened.
"Why have you been following me, Gamma?"
"Take your hands off me, Alpha."
Braxton squeezed harder. "I could kill you out here and nobody would find you until spring. Answer the question."
Connor forced out a scoff. "You can't kill a King's guard. You know exactly what that would cost you."
"Would you like me to test that?"
