by West, Tara
Hakon lifted his chin, eyes narrowing at Eilea. “Who is she?”
Eilea stepped back, clutching the counter behind her.
“Hakon, this is Dr. Eilea Johnson.” Amara held out a hand to the frightened doctor. “She’s Agent Johnson’s niece. She helped me save you.”
Eilea placed a trembling hand in Amara’s, letting Amara tug her toward Hakon’s table, the look on her face saying she’d seen a ghost. Scratch that, a poltergeist.
“Thank you,” Hakon said, his wide mouth hitched up in a fanged smile.
“Y-You’re welcome,” Eilea rasped.
Amara squeezed the doctor’s hand for reassurance. “Gentle giant, Eilea,” she reminded her.
The doctor hesitantly smiled back, her gaze darting from Hakon to Drasko and Tor.
“Can you shift back into human form?” Amara asked Hakon.
He nodded, then grimaced. “I’ll try.”
He closed his eyes, and in a flash his beastly features morphed into her beautiful man with dark eyes, tanned skin, and high Native cheekbones.
“Holy shit!” Eilea stumbled back, falling against the counter.
Drasko snickered, leading the doctor to a chair.
She gaped up at him as he towered over her in all his hairiness.
“Think if a giant teddy bear,” he said with a wink and a fanged smile.
She visibly swallowed, silently nodding.
“Let me feel you,” Amara said, leaning over her alpha and tracing the stitches on his brow.
She jerked when a hand cupped her ass and squeezed. She frowned at her alpha, who’d slipped out of his restraints.
“Now’s not the time, Hakon.”
“But I almost died,” he whispered, flashing a devious grin.
She swatted him away and then huffed when he took her in his arms and kissed her passionately. She thought about fighting but instead wrapped her arms around his neck, clinging to him while deepening the kiss. A vortex of emotions, ranging from relief to rage to lust, swirled through her and made her head spin. To think, she’d almost lost her mate because he had to be a hero. She didn’t know if she wanted to keep kissing him or smack him upside the head. In the end, she decided to keep kissing him, melting into his arms with a sigh.
Tor loudly clearing his throat behind them brought her to her senses.
She panted into Hakon’s mouth when he released her, then gasped when he set her aside and swung his legs over the side of the bed, wrapping a sheet around his waist.
“Hakon, what are you doing?”
“I told you.” He slowly stood, rubbing his head. “I’m going home.”
Still dizzy from that kiss, Amara remained seated, wagging a finger at him. “Stubborn alpha!”
He bent over her, planting a tender kiss on the top of her head. “And you love me for it,” he murmured in her ear.
She clutched him, desperately searching his eyes. “I almost lost you.”
“Nah.” He chuckled. “I’m too stubborn to die.”
DRASKO GAVE AMARA A questioning look when she led Max to the back of their SUV. When she shot him a glare, he shook his head and didn’t say anything. Dr. Tanner had obviously gone home for the night, leaving his dog as the night watchman. She wondered if he’d just left him for the one night or if he had been staying at the clinic every night alone since Amara quit working there. She didn’t need to know. Max was coming with her, and that was final.
She hugged Eilea goodbye and then hesitated when she saw Agent Johnson standing at the front of the clinic, alternating between coughing into his fist and talking to someone on his phone. He obviously had a cold, and she felt bad that she hadn’t offered to heal him, but he’d probably refuse her help anyway. He was still cleaning up the mess Hakon had made, no doubt. The man needed rest or his cold could get worse. Good thing his niece was a doctor. Amara was certain Eilea would take care of her uncle, so she could focus on Hakon.
She continued to watch Johnson as Rone helped her into the truck. She’d been too harsh on the man. He was always calling Luc away, but how could she blame him? Luc was an amazing tracker. After all he’d done to save Hakon, she owed the agent a thank you at least, and probably an apology, too.
When Drasko pulled their SUV out of the gravel parking lot, she smiled at her sleeping infant and then at Hakon, who slouched in the backseat across from her. She sent thanks to the Ancients that her alpha was whole and safe once again.
Chapter Three
“Ani, I need you to wait on table nine.”
Takaani set the tray of empty beer bottles on the counter and scowled at Gus, her bald and snarling boss, who was slurring his words after sampling too much of the merchandise.
“It’s Takaani,” she said through gritted teeth, “and I’m not waiting on that table.”
She refused to look at the drunks. Because of their obnoxious swearing and roughhousing, they were the only patrons in the bar, having scared their other customers away. Though she’d tried to block their lewd thoughts, occasionally images of them taking turns doing grotesque things to her were projected into her mind.
“You will if you want to keep your job, Ani.” Gus slammed the empty shot glass he’d been polishing on the counter. The wrinkles in his triple chins hung low, making his neck look like a sweaty nutsack.
“Last time those assholes were here, my ass was bruised for a week!” she hissed. Actually, it was more like a day, because Takaani healed fast, but her boss didn’t need to know that.
“Those assholes are my best patrons and generous tippers if you’d smile a bit more.” He waved his cleaning rag at her like he was shooing a dog. “Now go.”
Swearing under her breath, she turned to the table. They’d stumbled in a few minutes ago, intoxicated after slumming the other shithole bars in the area, and they were smiling wickedly, as if they were starving and she was a choice cut of prime beef. She’d never understood why human males were always coming on to her. With her long black hair, alabaster skin, and generous curves, she knew she was attractive, but that was no reason for men to act like rutting bulls.
“What can I get you?” she drawled, not bothering to disguise her disgust when one of them let out a rancid burp that practically fogged the room. She breathed in through a hiss, fanning away the stink of old, stale whiskey. The past two weeks had been peaceful without them in her bar. Takaani wished they’d stayed beneath whatever rock they’d been hiding under.
The leader of their six-man pack was a big guy they called Skunk, who had a bushy red beard and was in his mid- to late-thirties. He leaned over and conferred with his friends, a mixture of Natives and burly white dudes, all smelling like sweat, oil, and filth after working the oil fields, and badly in need of showers. Finally, Skunk turned to her with a look that made her flesh crawl. “Six whiskeys and you sitting on my face.”
I’d prefer her on her knees, another one of his party thought-projected into her head.
She snarled, repressing the inner wolf clawing at her gut, demanding to break free. They wouldn’t be so disrespectful if they knew what she was capable of. “Six whiskeys coming up.” She backed away, careful not to give them an opportunity to grab her ass. How she wished she wasn’t the only server working tonight, but the other girls had quit after growing tired of Gus’s moods. She would’ve quit, too, if she didn’t have rent to pay and an old truck in the shop. Once it was fixed, she could give Gus the middle finger and continue her search. She knew there were others like her in Alaska. She just had to find them.
She tossed an empty tray on the counter, giving Gus a warning look. “Six whiskeys.”
He returned her scowl. “Did you smile?” And show a bit of cleavage, he thought.
“Fuck you, Gus.” She purposely pulled up her top and leaned against the counter, rubbing her aching temples and doing her best to control her rage. “Pour the damn whiskeys.”
Ignoring Gus’s swearing, she returned to the table with the drinks, slamming the tray down and not caring wh
en the amber liquid sloshed over the rims. Let the pigs lick it up.
Before she could stop him, Skunk had his hand on her ass, squeezing hard.
Nice. Just the sort of ass I could tongue-fuck. His thoughts slid through her like she’d swallowed rancid grease. A lump of bile projected into the back of her throat.
Instinct took over, and she slapped him away, letting out a warning growl, the angry wolf shining in her eyes.
His eyes bulged and he nearly fell out of his chair. The other jackasses brayed, some falling backwards onto the floor.
“Holy shit!” Skunk stumbled to his feet, pointing a shaky finger at Takaani. “What the fuck was up with your eyes?”
One of his Native friends ripped off his woolen cap, clutching it with whitened knuckles. “She growled like a goddamn demon.”
She is a demon! Several gruff thoughts projected at once. Good. They were scared. Maybe they’d stay out of her bar.
Skunk pushed his chair in front of him as if it would stop her from ripping out his throat. “What the hell are you?”
She balled her hands into fists, jutting a foot forward. “You don’t want to find out.”
“What the devil is going on?” Gus rushed out of the bathroom, zipping up his pants, a long trail of toilet paper stuck to the bottom of his shoe.
“Nothing.” Skunk nodded to his friends and cautiously backed away from Takaani. “Let’s go.”
Gus chased after them, hands clasped in a prayer pose. “Wait! Half off the next round.”
Takaani downed a whiskey in a few swallows and wiped her mouth, willing her limbs to stop shaking. The reality of her situation hit her like a brick to the head. They’d seen her wolf eyes. What if they told others about her? She’d done such a good job of concealing her wolf since moving to Alaska. How had she let herself lose control? She’d only just moved here. She couldn’t afford to change her identity and move again. Besides, instinct told her she belonged in Alaska, and that there were others like her nearby.
The front door slammed, and Gus stomped up to her like an angry grizzly that’d woken from hibernation too soon. “What the hell, Ani!”
Takaani should’ve been concerned that she and Gus were the only two people left in the bar. After all, the guy was a total douchewad, frequently locking himself in his office with online porn. She picked up the tray of whiskeys, using it as a barrier between them. “He grabbed my ass.” She backed away from him, refusing to let him intimidate her.
“I don’t give a damn if he forced you on your knees and shoved his dick down your throat! They were my best fucking customers.” His face turned so red, she thought he’d have a heart attack. “You’re fired! Collect your shit and get out of here.”
“Fine with me.” She slammed the tray on the table and tossed her hair over a shoulder. “I’ll find another shithole to work at.” Placing one hand on her hip, she held the other one out, waggling her fingers. “Give me my pay for the week.”
“You’re not getting shit.” He pulled a rag out of his pocket and mopped the sweat off his bald head. “Your pay is restitution for ruining my business.”
Takaani threw up her hands. “Are you fucking kidding me? I earned that money.”
“You want to earn that money?” He approached her like a wolf stalking his prey. “I’ve got a way you can earn it.” You’ve been showing off that tight ass long enough.
His crude thought shot through her like he’d struck her veins with venom.
She backed up, almost tripping over her own feet. Gus caught her by the elbow. Holy shit, this wasn’t good. He hauled her up against him with painful, jerky movements, nearly pulling her arm out of the socket.
The wolf beneath her stretched her bones and clawed at her skin. Before she could rumble out a warning, he spun her around and threw her against the table, knocking the wind out of her. When he slammed her head against a hard surface, a cyclone of dizziness spun in her skull, creating a fog in her brain and making her feel like she was detached from her body in a waking dream. She struggled to catch her breath as he panted against her ear, dripping sweat on her neck and fumbling with her belt. Her jeans fell to her ankles, and he unzipped his pants behind her. He latched onto her bare ass, digging thick fingers into her skin. She snapped out of her daze, and her wolf roared to life.
She spun in his arms, first as a girl and then as a giant she-wolf. Letting her animal instinct take over, she bared her fangs, silencing his terrified scream by latching onto his neck and giving him one solid shake. The snap of bone ricocheted through her, the violent sound like the roar of rushing water. Blood pooled in her mouth before she released him, his lifeless body falling to the floor.
She shifted back into human form, and with a strangled sob, slid onto the floor while wiping the rancid taste of blood and sweat from her lips. She picked up her torn and bloodied clothes, slipping in a puddle of urine as she stumbled to the bathroom. She had to get out of the bar before anyone found her with Gus’s body, though she knew it didn’t matter. Her bloody fingerprints were everywhere. Dear God, what had she done?
HAKON ATE FOUR BASKETS of chili cheese fries and two buckets of chicken wings. Not the most nourishing meal after spending the day in a coma, but all the decent restaurants were closed for the night, so they had to settle for bar food. Her mates’ parents had offered to cook for them when they returned home, but Hakon couldn’t wait that long, so his parents and sister went ahead to the reservation, taking Max with them. She’d wanted Max to ride with her, but she didn’t want the dog distracting her when Hakon needed attention.
She checked under the blanket draped over Hrod’s carrier for at least the tenth time. Thank the Ancients the baby had slept through the sounds of the loud patrons at the other end of the bar, carrying on about some demon woman who’d refused their advances. Even from a distance, she could smell the strong odor of unwashed bodies and stale whiskey. And they wondered why a woman would turn them down.
Her mates shook their heads in disgust, scowling at the pack of six drunks. Hakon complained that the food wasn’t settling well. Amara imagined it was warring with the sedatives. She leaned into him, placing a hand on his stomach, feeling the explosive combination of bad food and strong drugs. She let her healing magic soak into him.
He took her hand, kissing her palm. “Thank you,” he mouthed, his eyelids half closed.
She stroked his stubbled chin. “You need rest.”
He nodded. “Let’s go.”
After Drasko paid the bill, he returned to the table and abruptly halted, looking as if he’d struck an invisible wall.
Hakon shot up. What is it?
Drasko’s nostrils flared. I smell something unfamiliar, Drasko projected into their heads.
“Food?” Amara asked.
Drasko shook his head. A wolf.
Rone scented the air. I smell something, too.
It’s a female. Hakon’s deep bellow rumbled in her skull. She’s scared.
Though Amara’s senses weren’t as good as theirs, she, too, smelled something odd and yet strangely familiar. Her hand flew to her throat. A lone wolf?
They nodded.
Her heart clenched. She remembered being a terrified lone wolf. They had to find this girl and take her to the safety of the reservation.
I wish Luc were here, Rone said. He’d find her.
Drasko fished his phone out of a pocket. I’ll alert our fathers. They can send Van after her. He snarled when a young man approached, his gaze centered on Amara.
She looked into a familiar pair of hazel eyes, Amara swallowed hard. Did she know this guy?
“Amara?” He looked apprehensively at Drasko, clutching a woolen cap in his hands. “Is that you?”
She eyed the stranger as recognition slowly set in. How could she forget that messy mop of auburn hair and dimpled chin? Holy shit! “Roy?”
He nodded, then pointed a shaky finger at her. “It is you!”
She clutched the table, relieved she was sitting as h
er bones went limp from a mixture of excitement and apprehension. Her baby cousin! The child she’d never thought she’d see again after running away from her uncle’s house had grown up into a young man. But how? He’d been so young when she left. She did a mental count on her fingers, realizing he would be around nineteen.
When Roy advanced toward her, Drasko jumped in front of him. “That’s close enough.”
Sliding out of the booth, Amara said, “Drasko, this is my cousin, Roy.” She squeezed her second alpha’s arm.
“What are you doing in Alaska?” she asked Roy. He was awfully young to take off to a faraway state.
He cast a cautious glance at Drasko. “I could ask the same of you.”
She shared wary glances with her mates.
Don’t tell him too much, Hakon projected.
She turned back to her cousin with an apologetic shrug. “I came here for work.” Which wasn’t a lie. Instinct had led her to Alaska, and soon after, she’d started working for Dr. Tanner.
“I’m working here, too.” His smile faded. “You took off without saying goodbye.”
A wave of guilt washed over her. She’d taken care of her cousins as if they were her own children. Her aunt had all but forgotten about the kids after her husband’s accident, focusing mostly on him and then on her various side boyfriends.
“I had no choice,” she said on a sigh, not wanting to say more. She was going to have to leave Roy again. There was no room for him in her new life. How would she explain her four husbands? And Amaroki law forbade wolves from exposing themselves to humans unless in extreme situations, such as Hakon’s pipeline blowing up. Amara couldn’t tell her cousin she was a she-wolf, living on a reservation with hundreds of other shifters.
“My mom said you stole her jewelry and snuck off.”
Anger flushed her cheeks. Why was she not surprised her cruel aunt would make up lies about her? “That was Grandmother’s jewelry. It was left to me in her will. Your mom stole it from me, and I stole it back.”