Chapter One
It was the end of his shift, and Ethan Wolfe was exhausted.
He’d worked a double at the fire station so his buddy could be home for his
sick wife, and now, Ethan had to grab a quick shower in the locker room and get
into his forest ranger gear before heading out for the day.
Being a firefighter was something he’d wanted to do since he
was a kid. Hell, what little boy didn’t want to be a fireman at some point? As
he’d grown older, he’d discovered an intense love of nature as well. This
wasn’t merely because he was a werewolf. No, it went further than that.
His brothers picked on him, calling him a “tree-hugging hippie”
whenever he went off on a lecture about how the litter left by campers was
harming the animals in the woods or how they needed to tear down some of the
old hunting cabins that were abandoned or uninhabitable. They just didn’t see
the dangers those things could cause innocent creatures who lived in the…
Huh, so maybe, he did kinda sound like a hippie.
Once showered, Ethan approached his locker and prepared himself
for whatever today’s joke might be. As he opened it, he noticed the centerfold
picture of a beautiful, tanned woman stretched out on satin sheets in a very
provocative pose. It would have been sexy, if his picture hadn’t been glued to
her face.
The guys had been ribbing him for weeks over the stupid
calendar shoot he would be supervising out in the woods. They all insisted he
should just go for it and accept the invitation to model. Being from a small
town, they all were eager to see the models when they arrived and had been
hounding him, asking if he needed any help or offering to keep an eye on things
while he was being photographed.
Ethan still had no intention of allowing himself to be
plastered, half-naked, in a calendar for women to gawk at, though the thought
of seeing some of the female models posing was enough to get any red-blooded
male’s fantasies going.
However, the calendar’s annoying little photographer had been
harassing him constantly since his brothers Abraham and Erik’s weddings,
mailing calendars and magazines to him for the last few weeks. This particular
photo shoot was to have a rugged outdoors theme and would be sold nationwide
for use in various advertisements. They were looking for sexy women and rugged
men to pose in various settings…and that little pest was still hounding him.
Ethan groaned, truly hating the thought of having to oversee
what would surely end up causing him an ulcer.
Hell, he didn’t even think it was possible for a werewolf to
get an ulcer!
* * * *
Lacy Anders regretted taking this assignment almost as soon as
she’d been tapped for it, but her commanding officer insisted she was the only
one in the department who could pull this off.
Recently, the cold case had been reopened. For years, a serial
killer had been killing models then he’d suddenly disappeared. Now, five years
later, the murders had begun again. It was the same “accidental” deaths, the
same model types and the same time of year. The higher ups were positively
foaming at the mouth for the chance to finally apprehend him.
This was why Lacy was currently being ushered into a quaint
little house, in the small Mayberry-ish town of Hastings, with the rest of the
models. Luckily, they’d been able to rent out the only local hotel and this
little house for the next two weeks. This would make it easier for her to
protect the female models, while her partner covered the males.
The killer always targeted brunette models. Gender didn’t seem
to matter, though there was a pattern to the killings, two female, one male,
two female, one male. If their reports were accurate, the next victim would be
a man, and since all of the attacks had previously taken place at outdoor
shoots—and this was the only one happening for the next two weeks—all she
needed to do was play her part as a model and hope she caught the bastard
before he killed again.
There were only four female models and four male models for
this shoot, so keeping tabs on the women shouldn’t be too difficult for Lacy,
though a few seemed to be more than a little flighty. All of them were currently
flouncing around the house in their thigh-length robes while various
beauticians waited to do anything from mani/pedis, facials, hair, spray tan or
massage.
Ugh, she’d kill for a good rub down right about now, but she
needed to slink off and call in a report. Slipping out the back door, she dug
her phone from her robe pocket and dialed in, not at all surprised when the
chief answered on the first ring.
“How’s my favorite centerfold doing? Blending with the natives,
I hope.”
Lacy usually found his rumbling baritone voice soothing, but
today, all she wanted to do was wrap her hands around his throat until he
couldn’t utter one more smart-assed comment. It wasn’t as if she didn’t get
enough of that crap from the other officers who treated her like their kid
sister, picking on her although in a good-natured way.
“I haven’t modeled since college, but it’s not exactly rocket
science, Murphy,” she snapped.
“Good, because you know how important it is that we catch this
nut job…”
Lacy listened to her superior go off on his usual stint regarding
the murderer’s past victims, the types of deaths, the possible accidents that
could happen outdoors and anything else he could throw in.
It wasn’t that she didn’t know how to do her job. On the
contrary, she was very good at what she did, which was why they didn’t want her
to leave the force, but man, was she tired of it all.
“I know what to do, Murphy, so let me go and do it. Standing
outside on my phone won’t allow me to watch over these girls,” she grumbled.
“Not that there’s a whole lot to watch. A weak breeze would knock them down.”
“Not every woman can have your killer curves, Anders. It
wouldn’t be fair to the male population.”
Yeah, like she hadn’t heard that
before.
She hung up on his lingering laughter and thought back to her
early years in modeling. She’d been tapped in college by an agent who’d just
happened to see her in the mall and asked her if she would be interested in
modeling for a fashion catalog. Being a broke college student, she’d jumped at
the opportunity and discovered that people really responded to her photos. She’d
worked steadily while in school and ended up with a hefty savings account to
show for it…but that was it.
Friends in the industry were a joke. At the first opening,
another girl would gladly jump on a chance to steal a job from you. They would
offer anything from doing the job for less money to sex. All in all, models
were just like anyone else, their profession just as cutthroat as any other
highly paid position. Lacy hated it.
At the moment, she was beyond frustrated. She hadn’t given this
part of her past a thought for the last four years, but now, she was neck deep
in it again and all because of her dipshit boss.
She’d just entered the back door when she was escorted into the
kitchen area where a massage table had been erected behind a privacy screen.
The thought of a massage was enough to make her weak in the knees, but the
sight of the warm wax and strips of cloth next to the table was like a bucket
of ice water on that little fantasy.
“You’re next dear,” the little woman sang, patting the table.
“Hop up, and we’ll get started.”
“It’s amazing how chipper you guys are when you’re ripping our
hair out,” Lacy grouched.
“It’s a good paying job, and besides, it’s the guys that get
the worst deal on the waxing, believe me.”
Lacy had to chuckle at that. She wouldn’t mind signing up her
superior for a round of waxing. Maybe then, he’d appreciate just how dedicated
she was to this job.
Actually, if she was being truthful, she was getting pretty
burnt out. She loved law enforcement, but recently, she’d decided to relocate.
The city was just an endless cycle of violence and crime that left her feeling as
if the life had been sucked out of her at the end of the day.
The craving for wide-open spaces and freedom from the towering
cement and glass walls of the city was a major factor in her decision to leave.
Lacy wanted to try for a small town, similar to Hastings, but her fellow
officers continued to find cases—such as this one—where she was the only
officer able to pull off the undercover assignment. Probably because she looked
nothing like a cop.
Yeeouch!
Speaking of pulling things off, the wax Nazi was already
applying the next strip of wax to her right leg. “You know, I could just
shave,” Lacy offered.
Of course, the evil little woman just laughed and snatched the
next strip. “They said to have you ladies as smooth as a baby’s bottom from
head to toe, so that’s what we’re doing.”
“Everywhere?”
“Oh, yes. Those bathing suits are quite small. I’m not sure a
trim job will do.”
That is it! Lacy
thought furiously. This is my last case.
A few strips later and the little woman instructed Lacy on how
to position her legs for the bikini wax. Oh,
yeah, someone is going to pay for this.
To Protect His Mate
Chapter One
Stephanie Cruz relaxed in her whirlpool tub and let the
pulsating jets gently work her sore muscles. Long hours in the clinic were
wearing her down, but with the flu season in full swing, she really had no
choice but to keep on working.
She’d moved to this tiny remote town ten weeks ago, fleeing bad
memories and even worse men. The men she felt she could handle, given that she
was a damn good shot with her little Ruger, but the memories had the power to
cripple her.
With the anniversary of that horrible day looming before her,
Stephanie decided to text Abraham Wolfe and let him know that she would not be
available this Friday. The last thing she wanted was to become a blubbering
mess in front of him.
Abraham, her gruff werewolf boyfriend of the last six weeks,
would no doubt cringe at the sight of tears. She met him at the same time she
met Erik and Sarah, in her clinic. When Stephanie and Sarah had landed
themselves in a tight spot with some men from Sarah’s past, Abraham and his
brothers had arrived, only to transform into massive wolves right before her
eyes. Once over the initial shock, Stephanie had realized that these were still
the same people she’d come to care for, and the fact that they turned furry
just made them even more special.
Abraham was an ex-Navy SEAL and the very definition of strength
in her book. He was simply massive, over six and a half feet tall and
thickly muscled. He insisted on staying in shape since he still took occasional
undercover assignments with the government. He was so large and had such a dark
complexion that he was downright scary to run into if you didn’t know him,
mostly because he kept an almost permanent scowl on his handsome face—it never
failed to clear his path. Yet, it was that face that had captivated her.
Many hours spent outside had provided him with a rich brown tan
that looked so natural against his dark hair. A little long, his blue-black
mane was permanently tussled, leaving him looking like a rogue…a pure bad boy. His
eyes, though, were lethal. The silvery-blue gaze was razor sharp and could see further
into a person’s being than should be possible. In contrast to his dark hair and
skin, they were positively mesmerizing.
Stephanie feared he would see straight through her tough façade
to the fragile female she kept locked deep inside, a woman who was quickly
scrambling to the surface with the anniversary of her daughter’s death
approaching.
She traced her fingers over the long scar low on her belly that
marked where her child had been taken from her bleeding and broken body. She’d
never even had the chance to hold her daughter, to tell her how much she was already
loved. Stephanie often found herself wondering if her daughter would have
favored her or the father. Regardless, the child would have been beautiful.
She had never blamed the father for not sticking around. Besides,
if a man stuck around for the wrong reasons, there would never truly be any
happiness in the home, and Stephanie refused to allow her child to grow up
feeling like a burden. She had the means to support herself and her daughter,
so she’d told him to have a nice life and watched him walk right out of hers. He’d
never even come to see how she’d fared in the accident, though she knew the
nurses had called him.
In the year since the accident, she’d never felt the urge to be
with another man, until she’d met Abraham. His strength drew her, promising
security and stability, if she chose to accept the offer.
The offer, however, was what irritated and saddened her in
equal parts. She was his soul-mate, his other half, and he wanted to take care
of her and provide for her. All of which sounded wonderful, but she needed
more. She needed the words.
Stephanie glanced at the watch sitting on the side of the tub, and
realized her friend, Sarah, would be arriving soon. She quickly got out of the
tub to begin getting ready. It was their weekly ritual. Every Wednesday night,
they had a girls’ night, where they would cook, watch a movie and just talk. The
talks were what she enjoyed the most because they allowed her to learn more
about her new friends.
Sarah, also a werewolf, knew Stephanie had questions and
concerns regarding Abraham and her. He seemed to know her moods and claimed he felt
them whenever they were together. He’d explained that if she were a werewolf,
she would be able to sense his emotions, as well.
Way to make a girl feel inadequate.
The man was a walking conundrum. Most people feared him,
claiming he was harsh and uncompromising while she knew he could be gentle and
caring. His scowl kept people at a distance, which was where he wanted them. He
rarely smiled, but when he did, it truly was a sight to behold. He wasn’t a
social person, by any means, and much preferred the privacy of either his home
or hers whenever they got together.
That suited her just fine, especially since the phone calls had
started. At first, she’d thought they were just some kids having fun then one
day the number showed up…unblocked.
It was from the prison.
From the maximum security facility in which the doctor she’d
previously worked under now resided. She’d witnessed him administering a lethal
dose of insulin to an important key witness in a murder trial.
The poor man had already received a vicious beating as a
warning and had remained unconscious since his arrival at the hospital. He’d
posed no immediate threat. Someone obviously hadn’t thought he’d remain silent
once he awoke.
After testifying against the physician, Stephanie had continued
working for the hospital until the threats had begun. At first, they’d been
just insults, but soon, they’d progressed to threats of physical harm. They’d
insisted she retract her statements against the doctor, claiming that she would
be left alone if she complied.
Stephanie had known better. She was a single, pregnant woman with
no family, no roommates and a schedule that made making friends outside of work
difficult. Due to the circumstances, she’d been forced to once again involve
the police in the matter.
The police, unfortunately, were having a difficult time
tracking down the ones harassing her. It seemed that they were using prepaid
cellular phones and never the same one twice. Given the fact they were unable
to do anything until the goons made a move, they suggested she move.
When the calls started up again only months after she’d arrived
at her new home, she’d decided to move again. Coming to the small, secluded
town of Hastings, Tennessee was by far her best decision yet. The clinic was
large but kept regular hours of seven to six with an emergency number for after
hours, if needed. The two physicians who owned the clinic were sweet and
personable. That was a wonderful change from the snobby inner-city doctors with
whom she’d worked. Generally, their bedside manners had been lacking.
The small town reminded her of Mayberry from The Andy Griffith Show. Everyone knew
everyone, and they were polite and helpful. Just plain ol’ southern hospitality
at its finest. Men held doors for women, cars stopped to allow you to cross the
street, neighbors who saw you outside came to help you with yard work or simply
to said “Hello”.
Stephanie was content with her life for the first time. Well,
almost. She still needed a certain werewolf to say those three little words,
and then, she would be content.
The doorbell ringing, followed immediately by, “Hurry up, the
ice cream is freezing my damn hands!” alerted her to Sarah’s arrival.
Plastering on a smile she hoped looked believable, she opened
the door and gaped. Sarah had two tubs of ice cream in one hand and four
presents barely balanced in the other. The boxes were too high to get through
the door, so Stephanie grabbed for a few but ended up with ice cream shoved
into her hands instead.
“These are too heavy for you to take,” Sarah explained, moving
past her and heading toward her Christmas tree. “There,” she beamed as she
placed the presents around the mostly bare tree skirt, “now your tree doesn’t
look so depressing.”
“I didn’t think it was that depressing before, and I still have
some wrapping to do, so it would have gained a few more presents this weekend,”
she muttered.
“Sure it would. You would likely end up back at the clinic and
never get around to it, but we can do it tonight, if you want. I’ll help you,
and we can talk.” That last remark sounded like a setup, and Stephanie narrowed
her eyes at Sarah, who immediately threw her hands up in mock surrender. “He’s
making me do it.”
“Who’s making you do what?”
“Abraham. He’s worried about you. He insists you’re depressed
and getting more so every day.” Sarah studied her with the patient eye of a
predator waiting for a sign of weakness. “You can talk to me, you know? I won’t
tell him anything if you don’t want me to.”
“I know. It’s just that this Friday is the anniversary,” she
replied with her eyes down.
“Anniversary of what?”
“Of the accident. Of Ava’s death. It’s this Friday night, and I
just want to be alone that night. You can tell him it’s nothing he’s done, and
I’ll be fine. I’ve taken the weekend off, so I won’t be at the clinic after
Friday afternoon.” The oven dinged, indicating the lasagna was done, and she
turned to head to the kitchen. “Let’s not get caught in a depressing
conversation tonight, or I might just eat both of these tubs of ice cream and
make you watch.”
“Not likely, that butter pecan is mine!” Sarah shouted,
following her friend into the next room. The phone rang, and she turned. “I’ll
get it.”
“Remind whoever it is that this is girls’ night. They’ll have
to just wait until tomorrow.” Stephanie was just placing the garlic bread in
the oven when Sarah came back in with a dark expression on her face.
Uh, oh.
“You had better answer me straight, Stephanie. Who the fuck is
calling you from a prison—without it being a collect call—and has the nerve to
tell me ‘the boys will be seeing you soon’?” Sarah’s voice had dropped until a
hint of a growl could be heard. That meant she was beyond pissed. “Have you
been getting threats? And who the hell are they from?”
“Just calm down. I’m not sure how he’s calling directly from
the prison, but it’s the doctor I testified against. I’ll change my number and
keep it unlisted.” She stopped and frowned for a minute. “Actually, it’s
already unlisted. I don’t get it. He shouldn’t be able to call me.”
“And you should have told us!” Sarah screeched. Man, did the
girl have a set of lungs. “Are you so thick-headed that you can’t see that this
could be a problem? He’s just said there will be guys coming to ‘see you’.”
Sarah’s fingers clenched into tight fists after making air-quotes as she spoke.
“Calm down,” Stephanie repeated. “He’s just blowing smoke up my
ass. I’ve had him tell me this before and nothing ever happened.” Except for
the car accident, but that had been just that, an accident. Right?
“When? When has he told you that before?” Uh oh, it was interrogation
time.
“When I first got him locked up, a few weeks before my
accident. Then when I lived in Mississippi, just before I moved here.” She knew
how bad it sounded, even as the words left her mouth, but the current shade of
Sarah’s face screamed, “Run!”
“Why the hell are you
just now mentioning this?” she snarled.
“Technically, I mentioned it shortly after we met. I always
look over my shoulder, Sarah, just in case. I’m not necessarily running from
anyone, more like hiding, just in case.”
“That’s splitting hairs, and you know it.” Sarah paced the
small kitchen for a few moments before turning back to Stephanie. “Well, it’s a
good thing we’re about the same size, because I’m staying the night.”
“That’s fine…”
“Every night, unless
you’re staying with Abraham or he’s staying here.” Her arms crossed over her
chest, and her stance declared her decision was final as clearly as if she’d
screamed it.
“Sarah, I appreciate you wanting to protect me, but I’ve seen
you get injured, so I know that you aren’t exactly invincible,” Stephanie
pointed out as she pulled the bread out and fixed their plates.
“That blade was silver, and that cheating bastard used it on
purpose because it’s harder for us to heal from, but not impossible. Not to
mention that if these people coming after you aren’t werewolves, they’re unlikely
to use silver.” Stephanie made to argue, and Sarah put her hand up. “It’s me or
Abraham. If you let me stay here with you, you can wait until after this
weekend to tell him about the threat. But you will tell him.”
“Fine but what will Erik think of you staying here? Won’t he
pout if he can’t get any this weekend?” Stephanie made a pouty face and watched
as Sarah fought a smile. “I’ll be safe enough at the clinic. It’s public, and I
doubt they’d want to put on a show, so they shouldn’t be coming for me there.”
“Yeah, that seems logical, but most psychos aren’t thinking
logically. I’ll follow you in and follow you home to see if you’re being
watched. You won’t see me, but I’ll be there.” A devilish grin split Sarah’s face
before she added, “While you’re at work, I’ll go take care of my little hound
dog and gather some of my things.”
“You mean your horn dog.” They both snickered and made their
way to the table. “Well, let’s eat. I don’t want our girls’ night ruined by an
asshole who’s several states away.”
“It’s not him I’m worried about. His asshole friends could be just
miles away.” Sarah watched as Stephanie’s hand went to the small of her back
under the guise of pulling her pants up. “Still toting that gun, I see.”
“Never leave home without it,” she quipped. “Besides, it’s not
like I don’t know how to use it.”
“No, you definitely know how to use it.” Sarah smiled. “I was
really glad that you have excellent aim, too.”
“I’m working on my quick draw now.” Stephanie giggled. “Some of
the guys at the range have even told me I scare them.”
“No doubt! Most men are terrified of a woman with a gun, but
one with your aim?” Shaking her head,
she added, “I’d love to see Abe’s face if he went to the range with you. He’d
shit bricks.”
“I doubt that. He was a SEAL and a sniper, for crying out loud! I’m sure that he’s a much better
shot than I am.”
“But, honey, you’re self-taught. He was trained by the military
and has been practicing for years. How long have you been shooting?”
Sarah knew Stephanie was still learning, so Stephanie knew her
friend was trying to make a point. “Just since the accident, when I ended up
completely alone.”
Sarah inhaled, taking in a deep breath before she asked, “Why
are you nervous?”
“I’m not.” Her denial might have worked a little better if she’d
made eye contact or managed not to squirm in her seat.
“I can scent it, Steph.” Sarah sighed. “I was just trying to
point out that you have an amazing talent.”
“I’ll admit I’m a little uneasy about Abraham learning how well
I can shoot. I’m sure he probably thinks I got lucky with that shot I got in
with the wolf, and I kind of like that he feels protective of me.” She looked
down, pushing her food around her plate. “It makes me feel feminine, and I’ve
missed how it felt to have someone care about me like that.”
“Trust me, you’d be hard pressed to get rid of him. Ever.” Sarah
plopped back in her chair. “Which brings up another question, why haven’t the
two of you completed the mating? I can tell that you love him.”
“I do.” That wasn’t the problem.
“But?”
Damn, she was persistent. “He hasn’t said the words.” Sarah’s
silence prompted her to explain. “I refuse to enter into a serious commitment
without love being a prominent emotion on both sides. Lust, while nice, goes
away once the newness wears off, and I need more.”
“I see.”
I see? That didn’t
sound good. “See what?”
“Honey, most men are no better than slightly evolved cavemen. They
take a woman back to their cave, provide food, protect us, beat their chests
and expect us to swoon.”
“Great, so I guess I can forget about those three little
words.” Stephanie sighed in resignation. “I’m not going to chain myself to a
man and think that my love will be enough for both of us. Not again.”
“They’re fairly short words. I’m sure his vocabulary can expand
that much.”
Both girls dissolved into fits of laughter, while continuing to
pick on the general male population. This
was what girls’ night was all about. Relaxing and cutting loose with a friend
you knew you could confide in.
To Tame His Mate
Chapter One
Sarah Gray awoke to a sadly familiar feeling. She was being
stalked, which shouldn’t be happening. She’d been careful, covered her tracks
so well this time that she should have had a longer reprieve. So why was
something standing outside her very expensive hunting tent? This stupid thing
was guaranteed to mask the scent of its occupant. There was no way the other
packs should have found her.
Listening, she heard birds chirping, the light patter of
raindrops on the tent, a distant roll of thunder…and the unmistakable snick of
a gun being cocked.
“There’s no hunting on my land.” Well, whoever he was he had a
nice voice. Deep and smooth with a light southern drawl. “Come on out, and pack
up. I expect to not find you out here again.”
Oh, for crying out loud. “I’m not hunting,” she
grumbled. “I was just camping.”
That was a lie. For the time being, she lived in this damn
tent. There’d be no hotel or credit card trails for the others to follow, if
she could just handle roughing it until she could get to somewhere safe.
“All right then, ma’am, but this is still private property.” She
could hear him put the gun back into its holster and decided to crawl out and
face the man before he got angry.
“Listen, I’m sorry I trespassed, and it won’t happen again.” She
opened the flap, and the scent of wolf hit her.
Alpha wolf.
Shit.
“I’ll fight you if you come at me,” she warned, coming to her
feet in one smooth motion.
The man before her—well, technically the werewolf before her—merely
cocked his head and stared. He was a very nice looking guy, she noted. His dark-brown
hair was cut into a businessman-like style and his muscular build was a sight
to behold. And those eyes. They were
a pale silvery-blue, outlined by long, dark lashes. Yum! So not fair, though. Why
did the boys always get those?
“Why would I hurt you? And where is your pack?” He looked
around as if he expected an ambush.
“I don’t have a pack, nor do I want one.” Sarah sensed no
danger from him, just a wary curiosity. A pleasant change, for sure, but she
kept herself at the ready nonetheless.
“But you’re an alpha-female,” he stated.
“Thank you, Captain Obvious! So that means I have to have a
pack? Why?”
He was staring again. What was with this guy and the staring?
“Where’s your pack? Do I have to fight my way out of
these woods?”
“What? No.” He eyed her tent then zeroed in on her again. She
soon found herself fighting not to squirm under his intense scrutiny. “You’re
not camping; you’re running.”
“Yeah, well, apparently, there are a few wolves who are hard-up
for an alpha-bitch.” She quickly began to gather her things, collapsing her
tent and rolling it up with a practiced ease. “I don’t like pack life. I want a
normal life. I just want to eventually find my mate, have a few cubs, and then,
once they are older, they can decide if they want to live with a pack or not.” She
finished stuffing her tent into her bag and turned. “Is that too much to ask
for?”
“Not at all,” he responded. “Usually, someone who’s seeking to
live on their own has a job and a place to live other than a hunting tent.” He
had a nice smile. Teasing and friendly. “If you’re interested, I could give you
some work to do at my farm. There’s a small two-room cabin near the fields. You’re
welcome to stay in it if you’d like.”
“Listen, that’s really nice of you, but—”
He cut her off and pointed to the darkening sky. “It’s about to
be raining harder, and I have no urge to be standing out here when it lets
loose.” He turned to walk away. “The offer’s good, if you decide to take me up
on it.”
“I don’t even know your name.” She nervously chewed her bottom
lip. She was so tired of sleeping outside, but did she dare trust this guy?
Sure, he was hot as hell and her inner wolf certainly took an
interest in him, but it could be a trap. What would she do if he led her into
his pack’s main living area? She was always ready and willing to fight. Hell,
on some days, she went looking for one, but something felt different here. She wanted
to follow this guy.
Fuck it.
She was just about to tell him to lead the way when he turned
and extended his hand. “I’m Erik Wolfe.”
She smirked and he flashed her a crooked grin.
“No jokes about the name, sweetheart. I didn’t pick it.”
She nodded. “Fair enough. I’m Sarah Gray.” Taking his hand, she
gave it a firm shake. “I guess I’ll take you up on that offer. I could use the
money since I can’t use my credit cards anymore.”
“Maxed out, huh?”
“Nope. They track me when I use them. Right now I’m off the
grid, so-to-speak.” She carefully kept a few feet between them, just in case.
“Then I’ll be sure to pay you in cash so that you won’t have to
worry about hitting the bank to cash a check, either.” He reached for her, and
she jumped back and into a fighting stance. “I was just going to carry your bag
for you.” He looked insulted that she would assume the worst of him. If the man
only knew the things she’d been through.
Sarah straightened, feeling like an ass nonetheless. “Sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it.” He started walking again, and she fell
into step behind him. “There’s nothing stocked in the cabin, so I’ll have to
bring you some things out. I’ll take you into town tomorrow, and you can choose
some groceries for the place, along with anything else you may need.”
“You don’t have to do that. I’m perfectly capable of providing
for myself,” she remarked, feeling a little defensive.
“You’re underweight,” he pointed out.
“So sue me. I live an overly active life, but I do manage to
eat, drink and sleep. Those are three major factors to surviving,” she argued.
“But you probably get the bare minimum required to keep you
alive.” He stopped and faced her. “I agree with everything you’ve said. No one
should be forced to live in a way they don’t want. I’ll help you, Sarah, but
you need to be in top shape. If they do come for you, it’s just us against
them.”
“It’s not your fight. If I catch sight or scent of either one
of those packs, I’ll leave. I won’t cause you any trouble if I can avoid it,”
she promised.
Erik gave a shrug and began down the trail again at a slightly
quicker pace. “I didn’t think that you would.”
“Well, okay. Just so that we’re clear.” What was this guy’s
damage? Why did he want to involve himself in someone else’s mess? Did he enjoy
being the knight in shining armor for damsels in distress? It was too bad for
him that most of the knights she’d met ended up being douche-bags dressed up in
tinfoil.
It was also a shame that he seemed to hold no interest in her,
because he was certainly a handsome wolf, and one of the few she might have
welcomed an advance from. For a brief moment, Sarah considered the fact that he
could be gay. It would account for why he hadn’t tried to come on to her as all
of the other alphas had, unless he was already mated.
“Of course.” He gave her a small smile, as if she were a child
who’d amused him. And that irritated her. “We’re almost there.”
They were walking through an orchard now, the trees heavy with
bright green and red apples. A few lay on the ground and appeared to have
become a snack to birds or possibly rabbits.
“As you can see, it’s time for the apples to be harvested. Since
Halloween is in a few weeks, I’ve got several orders to fill. There’s a harvest
festival, the local grocery mart and several individuals,” he explained.
“All right, I can get started on that as soon as I put my
things down.” Sarah looked around. There were about fifty trees, by her guess. That
could take a while. “Do you want them in crates, boxes, buckets—?”
“Whoa! We’re not doing this in the rain. Just relax today, get
a good night’s sleep and we’ll try for tomorrow. There’s no need to rush.” He
pointed ahead. “There’s the cabin.”
The small wooden structure was adorable. Little, green shrubs
lined a small porch, and she saw white curtains through the windows. He opened
the door to allow her inside, and it creaked loudly as it swung in.
He winced, looking embarrassed. “I’ll fix that.”
“Don’t bother. It’s like a free security system.” She wouldn’t
mind hearing every time the door opened. “Is that the only way in?” she asked,
already mapping out potential escape routes.
“Yes, but you shouldn’t have any problem fitting through the
windows, if needed.” He studied her with such intensity she had to look away. “How
bad have things been for you?”
Uncomfortable with the way this conversation was going, Sarah kept
her answers short, not quite willing to share the unpleasant details her
current situation had led her to endure. “Bad enough.”
“You need a break. You’re running yourself down. That’ll make
you sloppy and unfocused.” He looked at her bag and frowned. “Is that all you
have?”
“What can I say? I travel light. It means I have less to leave
behind when I have to run again.” She shrugged and looked around. “This is
really nice.”
The main room was cozy. Dark wood made up the walls and floors
while warm-colored rugs in deep greens and blues had been placed before the
fireplace, under the dining table and by a large, brown leather sofa. The small
kitchen, off to the side, consisted of an older top-and-bottom fridge, a
microwave and a short counter with a porcelain sink. The place was a little
dusty, but judging by the lack of scent in the small space, there hadn’t been
anyone inside for quite some time.
“The bedroom is through there.” Erik pointed to the only door
besides the entrance. “I’ll be back shortly with some things for you. If you
need anything before then, I’ll be at the house. It’s just beyond the fields.”
“Fields?” Sarah asked as she opened the door and peered into
the bedroom.
“Yeah, I grow vegetables, too.” He peered inside the room, as
well, before asking, “Will this be all right?”
A four-poster bed dominated one corner of the room. A single
nightstand and a lamp served as the remaining furniture. “Thank you. It will be
nice to sleep in a bed again.”
“How long has it been?” He shook his head and apologized, “I’m
sorry, it’s none of my business.”
“Four months,” she whispered. “But I’m free. So all the
sleeping on the ground has been worth it.” She placed her bag on the floor and
nudged it under the bed.
“I’m glad you decided to accept my offer.” He shook his head
again, and for a moment, Sarah thought she detected pity in his eyes. She
wasn’t looking for anyone’s pity, but his next words stayed her tongue. “You’re
a brave woman, that’s for sure. Most would have given up by now.”
“I’m not most women.”
“And I’m glad. I find most women to be clingy and predictable.”
Okay, so maybe he wasn’t gay. He pointed to what she assumed was a closet. “The
bathroom is through there. It isn’t much, but the water’s warm and clean. I’ll be
back shortly with some supplies for you.”
He turned to leave, and she called. “Thanks again.”
“Not a problem. I’m glad for the help.” Then he was out the
door.
Erik was certainly different from what she was used to in a
man. He didn’t crowd her, seemed to respect her privacy and understood why she
was running. Most importantly, he wasn’t judging her. He was helping
her. Giving her a job and a place to stay. The only problem with this was the
fact that her wolf was literally panting after the man. Her inner canine had
wasted no time taking in his scent when he’d been next to her either. There was
no sign of a mate or any other female that she was able to detect and that made
the beast very happy. Well, hell, she couldn’t say anything since her human
side found him extremely attractive, as well. And why wouldn’t she? He was a
solitary soul, like her, so it was only logical she’d be drawn to him.
Right?
Right.
Sarah eyed the small bathroom longingly and decided to at least
rinse some of the mud off of her legs and maybe give the clothes in her bag a
quick wash, not willing to actually shower until her host came back. Old habits
died hard, but she wasn’t quite ready to put all her trust in someone she’d
just met. So, after gathering what she needed, she plugged the tub and turned
the faucet only to have it groan in reply.
That ominous sound didn’t bode well, and she immediately reached
to turn off the valve, but the ancient pipe burst and water erupted from the
busted line, drenching everything in the room.
Reeling back from the blast of frigid water, Sarah scrambled to
her feet determined to find some sort of shut-off valve before her host’s
bathroom was completely flooded. However, she’d no sooner gotten to her feet
than she fell right back down as she encountered a slick spot on the wet floor.
Twisting in an effort to catch herself, Sarah cried out when
her knee suddenly buckled with a sickening crunch leaving her sprawled on the
floor, as water continued raining down from the busted pipe.
Well, shit.
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