Rogue Wolf

by Terry Bolryder

  Out of the corner of his eye, Reno could see both Gunnar and Diesel staring raptly at Dani, and the thought sent a wave of jealousy through his chest.

  “Where’re Clancy and Billie?” Dallas was asking Harrison quietly.

  “Traveling,” Harrison replied. “They’re out collecting more Wild West memorabilia for her antiques museum.”

  “Shame they couldn’t be here,” Sierra said, putting an arm around Beck. “Tonight’s movie is good.”

  Beck nodded. “I’m sure it will be. Now let’s get it started.”

  Everyone muttered their assent at that, and Reno stopped to grab some snacks as Dani left to walk over to her seat.

  His back was only turned for a few minutes as he picked out treats for them, but when he turned around, a perplexing and irritating sight greeted him.

  She had taken her seat at the end of the line of chairs, but no sooner had she sat down than both basilisks had swooped in and began to argue in a series of growls over who would sit next to her.

  Like hell either of them would.

  He shoved food into his pockets and tramped over, jealousy flowing freely through his veins as he pushed both of them out of the way and sat down next to her.

  Gunnar opened his mouth, then closed it again in frustration while Diesel just sighed and seemed mildly disappointed. They took seats on the other side of Reno.

  “Wow,” she said, wiggling her eyebrows at him. “Look at you go. You must really like me or something.”

  “Nah, I just didn’t want them to take my comfy chair,” Reno replied coolly, pulling out a small bag of popcorn and handing it to her.

  Her mouth fell open. “Rude.”

  “I’m joking.”

  “I know, but still rude.”

  He just shrugged at that as the lights next to the barn dimmed and the movie began. “What can I say? I’m a complicated wolf.”

  Dani snorted. “No kidding.”

  Slowly, the group’s chatter abated until all that could be heard was the movie, although even that was difficult to focus on when his mate was so close to him.

  They were only sitting next to each other, but it was oddly intimate and reminiscent of the times they shared together. Even if this was the only movie he would ever get to watch with her, he would cherish it forever.

  About a half-hour into the movie, he scooted his chair a little closer, thinking of possibly holding her hand. He was so nervous that he felt like a teenager again.

  Hell, might as well.

  After all, he still couldn’t be sure about how much time they had. Over the last day or so, he’d heard reports in town of people looking for him, which he suspected were his family.

  His secrets were bound to come out eventually, so would it be so wrong if he just enjoyed a few moments with Dani?

  Once he was close enough, he leaned over and took her hand, interlocking her fingers in his. She didn’t look away from the movie, but he could tell from the faint blush entering her cheeks that she was feeling everything he was.

  It felt so good to be so close, to hold her hand in his and know that she was here now, at least in this moment. It almost felt too good to be true, as though if he let go, she could disappear.

  To assuage his fears, he began to slowly explore her palm, drawing small lines and tracing the wrinkles of her hand with his index finger. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her shiver, and tension began to rise in the air.

  Suddenly, he realized that he didn’t just want to explore her hand. He wanted to explore every inch of her lips and all of the rest of her as well.

  Halfway through the movie, she leaned over and rested her head on his shoulder for a second, then looked up at him.

  “You know, I still hate you for leaving like you did,” she said.

  Reno sighed. “And I still have my reasons for doing what I did.”

  Dani frowned, then looked up again, and Reno felt fierce attraction piling up in his chest, pulling him toward her to scent her, to kiss her, to mate her. But he couldn’t now, not here and probably not ever. He was lucky to just be holding hands with her.

  “Hopefully good ones?” Her voice was barely more than an optimistic whisper.

  He nodded slowly, then squeezed her hand. “You know me. Would I ever do something without good reason?”

  “You also snapped someone’s finger once because they gave me the bird.”

  “I was sixteen,” Reno replied. “And I wasn’t going to let him get away with it. Not when he was being rude to my… friend.” He frowned. What had he been about to say? Best friend? Mate? He wasn’t sure.

  She considered that for a second. “Okay, can we be friends again at least?”

  “Of course,” he said. “Friends.”

  They shared a smile, and for a second, everything was okay with the world. Whatever time they had, they would make the best of it. That was for sure.

  He stared down into her beautiful deep-green eyes a second longer before he heard a disgruntled grunt from his side.

  Diesel wasn’t happy. “I sit by Dani,” he growled, his voice a low, calm bass.

  “Sorry,” Reno replied. “Not happening.”

  There was no way he was going to compromise the time he had with her, not at least now that they were in a good place.

  From the other side of Diesel, Gunnar spoke up, eyes narrowed. “These humans speak weird.”

  “You should talk,” Reno muttered low enough they couldn’t hear. Dammit, it was weird of him to get frustrated with the basilisks. He liked the guys despite the fact that they still seemed to be more rock than humans sometimes.

  Plus, he gave them a break for being prehistoric beasts under the ground for so many years.

  “‘Cause the characters are from England,” Beck replied gruffly from the back of his truck where he was cuddling with Sierra. “Now be quiet. We’re trying to watch!”

  That seemed to silence the basilisks, thankfully. Although, Gunnar didn’t seem any less confused. Still, none of it really mattered to Reno except the fact that Dani was next to him.

  He still didn’t know how exactly things were going to play out, but for the first time in a long, long while, he finally felt peace in his heart. Even if they couldn’t be together in the long run, it calmed his heart to be around his best friend again, the woman that his wolf knew was his mate.

  11

  Dani fumbled around in the inky darkness that enveloped Dragonclaw Ranch like a heavy blanket, broken up by only a few lamps that hung on tall poles at odd intervals, small swarms of insects buzzing around them.

  Thankfully, she at least knew her way from the temporary house she’d been set up in to the main ranch house at the center of the spread, even if her legs were still a little wobbly from the two beers she’d had.

  It had only been last night when she’d participated in movie night at Dragonclaw Ranch. And the feel of Reno’s hand on hers was still stuck in the back of her mind. The whole thing had been sweet and familiar and… scary.

  He’d been standoffish all day today, watching her from corners or from across the table at lunch but not saying much.

  Then again, she’d probably been distant with him as well. It was hard not to, wondering how this was all going to pan out. Wondering when she’d get back to her normal life, taking photos and trying to erase the past from her mind. Wondering if she even wanted to go back to life as it was or not.

  But on a day like today, the past wouldn’t go easily. And this time, Reno wasn’t even to blame.

  She hit the stairs leading up to the porch and went quietly up them, not wanting to wake Harrison and Marian on the second floor. They’d said if she needed anything, she was more than welcome to just come and grab it from the pantry inside at any time.

  Granted, Dani wasn’t sure if a quarter past one was an acceptable time or not, but she’d be quiet.

  It was dark, and it took a minute for her eyes to adjust as she headed for the pantry. It also took all her concentration to
not run into things in the blackness.

  She hadn’t planned on getting tipsy earlier. She was just up late, restless as usual, and looking through old photos. And then she’d stumbled upon old pictures of her mom. Pictures from when she was a kid. Pictures of her and Reno and her mom at the park. Pictures from the celebration the two of them had together when her mom had beaten cancer the first time, back when Reno had already disappeared from her life.

  Tonight marked the first anniversary of her mom’s passing with Dani no longer living in her childhood home.

  It had been three years now, but for some reason, the absence of all the familiar things that had surrounded her—photos, keepsakes, paintings, rugs—made her feel so very, very alone right now. And though she’d coped with being alone a long time, sometimes the aloneness got so heavy that the only way out was to just keep breathing and make it through.

  Everywhere she looked these days felt empty. Well, except for a pair of ice-blue eyes intent on avoiding her.

  She kept tiptoeing, making for the pantry door. On the way, though, her foot caught a chair leg, and it rumbled and squeaked for a moment. She stood totally still, really hoping to not wake anyone after such kind hospitality.

  She heard light footsteps, nearly impossible to make out, and braced herself for discovery.

  Instead, the front door opened behind her, and the shadow of Reno appeared in the doorway. “What are you up to?” he asked neutrally, a slight hint of mirth in his tone.

  “I’m… getting something,” she replied.

  Reno chuckled, strolling in and moving confidently in the dark like he owned it. “Oh? What could it be at this time of night?”

  “Um, a drink,” she said, figuring it was better to straight up state what she was looking for than lie more.

  She was tired of lies.

  “Here, let me help, then.” With almost feline grace, he slid past her, disappeared into the pantry, and reappeared with a bottle of amber liquid. “Though, something tells me you’ve already had a couple. What’s up?”

  She snatched the bottle from his hand, annoyed by the grin she could see on his face in the dark. And those eyes, like the pale blue you see at the edge of the horizon on a sunny day, stood out in the low light.

  “I don’t need your help,” she said, sounding more slurred in her speech than she felt. “You’re only good at breaking hearts.” She set the bottle on the table and went to move a chair to sit down, but it creaked, making her jolt again.

  “How about we go outside and talk?” Reno asked calmly, picking up the bottle and two glasses in one big hand, then taking her hand in his and leading her toward the door. She wanted to pull away, but he was being sweet, and she liked the way the calluses on his fingertips and palms caressed hers in ticklish ways.

  “What, no comeback tonight?” she asked, surprised by his sudden lack of antagonism.

  He knew about her mom’s passing, but surely he didn’t know the date.

  A minute later, he had her sitting down outside on a thick log that had been indented by years of use. And without a single retort, he poured her a shot and handed it to her. “If you’re being brave enough to wander into Harrison’s house in the middle of the night, something’s got you bothered, Dani. Not even Beck would be foolhardy enough to try it.”

  She held the glass cup in her hands, swirling the liquid around in a circle, wondering what she should say.

  Then she decided she might as well tell him. After all, what good was holding back right now? And in spite of their tiffs and strong-worded disagreements the past few days, she saw only kindness and patience in his gaze as he looked down at her.

  She threw the shot back, letting the burning, warm feeling tickle her throat before taking a breath and clasping her hands in front of her.

  “It’s been three years since Mom died. Today marks the day.”

  She half expected him to judge her. After all, most people either had a habit of making grief about themselves, or they suddenly became automatons who spat out trite, meaningless pieces of advice that did nothing to help.

  Instead, he sat down next to her on the log, big body hunched up, not forcing any physical contact but showing Dani he was present with her all the same.

  “I’m so sorry, Dani. I didn’t know.”

  She went to pour herself another glass, but her eyes were getting blurry with tears, and she nearly missed her cup. Then Reno’s big hand was on hers, steadying her shaky fingers, doing for her what she couldn’t quite do for herself right now.

  “How are you holding up? How are you feeling?” he asked seriously.

  She threw the next shot back, caught off guard every time Reno acted like the Remi she knew. “I don’t know how much you even care to know. It’s not like you were there or anything.” She wanted to take back the mean things she said, but he’d hurt her too deeply to ignore his absence in their lives as things had slowly fallen apart over the years.

  His face fell, eyes looking down at the dirt. “I found out when it happened. I wanted to come to you more than any other time since I’d left. She was like a second mom to me.” He smiled in a way that didn’t reach his eyes. “Hell, she was more like the only adult I could look up to. I can’t imagine your pain right now.”

  She swiped at a tear that had been welling at the corner of her eye. “What, do wolves make bad parents?”

  He grimaced. “Not all wolves. But mine? Absolutely horrible.”

  She half laughed, half cried at that, and just the warm glow of his company made her feel a little better about everything for the moment.

  “Here, should we go back to your room?” he asked, standing and taking her hand in his.

  But she stayed planted where she was, and Reno’s hand tugged lightly on hers but didn’t force her to move. “No. It’s too lonely there. Too empty.”

  “Do you want to go back to your place in town? It isn’t safe, but—”

  She shook her head. “No. It would feel the same.”

  At that, Reno just carefully sat back down on the log next to her, a little closer this time, putting them hip to hip.

  “I’m sorry I couldn’t be there for you, Dani. You deserved more help than you had. You deserved to have your best friend there,” he admitted, sadness in his eyes. And when he put an arm around her, she didn’t want to push it off.

  “Life gets to all of us in the end, right? That can’t be helped,” she replied.

  “Tell me all the things on your mind. Tell me everything.”

  And with the help of a little liquid courage, she did. Told him about her mom’s fight with cancer. How she’d beaten it once only to have it come back several years later. And that time, it finished the job, leaving Dani alone in the world without any further ties than the memories she’d either packed up and brought with her or sold back when she moved out of Colorado. All the while, Reno listened intently, laughing when something was funny, somber when she told him all the details he must have missed, listening next to her on that little log in the center of Dragonclaw Ranch.

  By the end, it was too much, though. And when she’d started to sob, she felt warm hands, picking her up and placing her in Reno’s lap as he cradled her against him, allowing her to use his shoulder to cry on.

  “Let it all out. I’m here,” he said softly, and for minutes and minutes, she did, all the stress and unshed tears flowing freely like rain down her cheeks until there were no more left.

  Leaving her empty, a little drunk, and feeling warmed from the inside out by Reno’s big, strong body.

  The silence around them got thicker as even the crickets seemed to decide it was time to give up chirping already.

  And all she wanted to do was stay in his arms forever.

  “Why did you leave, really?” she asked, not expecting an answer, just enjoying the feeling of not being alone anymore.

  Reno paused a long time, eyes narrowing on nothing in the distance. Then he took in a long breath and let it out slowly.

&
nbsp; “I had to. My family was going to use you against me while they turned me into a weapon for their schemes. I couldn’t let that happen. The only way to make sure you and your mom were safe was to remove myself from the equation completely.”

  Her gaze went wider, and she looked up at him. But as soon as he’d had that far-off look on his eyes, it was gone, and he was grinning sweetly and shrugging.

  What he’d said was vague for certain. But it was a least something.

  “Sorry, that probably doesn’t make any sense, does it?”

  “It makes more sense than whatever I’d imagined before.” And it was true. For some reason, knowing he hadn’t hated her, knowing he hadn’t left because she was just his loser friend and he had bigger things to do, was comforting. Not because his life had been hard. He hadn’t meant to do her harm, even though it was inevitable anyways.

  She at least had her best friend again.

  “I think Mom would’ve approved of this,” she said, snuggling a little closer to Reno. The thick muscles in his chest and arms as they surrounded her were making her more than a little warm right now. Thank you, liquid courage.

  “Knowing Martha, she would’ve insisted we get hitched immediately.”

  And Reno was right. Whenever they were together, her mom had had a twinkle in her eye like she’d known something the two of them hadn’t.

  For the first time in what felt like forever, Dani laughed at the sheer, absurd audacity of the world. And after a moment, Reno joined her, the rumbling of his chest and the smile on his face a welcome distraction from the soul-deep loss she still felt.

  Even in the midst of the darkness, bright moments like these had always sustained her.

  Dani just hoped and prayed this wouldn’t be the only one with the man she still desperately wanted.

  After a minute, she found her hands playing with the buttons on his shirt, curious to see what those pecs looked like hidden under the thick material.