by Amanda LeMay
“Nah.” Seff grinned, left the oven mitts on the counter and fluffed his fingers through his long curls, sweeping them forward to cover one eye. “I kinda like it. Makes me look dark and mysterious, like some heartbreakin’ stud.”
“Well, you’re breaking my heart with that messy mop of yours.” Derry glanced at me, one eyebrow raised as she rolled her eyes and smiled.
Actually, Seff could’ve passed for a sexy, male model. Any one of the males on the ranch, could, but I didn’t dare say that out loud.
Suddenly both Derry and Seff stopped and stood still as they seemed to stare intently into space, listening.
“They’re back. Gunner will be calling in the troops in just a few minutes.” Derry handed her son a plate. “I’m not gonna let him send you away without a full belly. Serve yourself up and get out back and wait.” Seff leaned over and placed another kiss on his mother’s cheek as he took the plate from her hand. “When Gunner’s ready to talk to you, he’ll call for you,” Derry said as a loud howl sounded off near the front of the house. “There you go. Simone, honey, why don’t you go on out and tell Gunner supper will be ready pretty quick.”
I hadn’t heard anything beyond a single howl. My wolf senses were so weak from lack of use, they might actually not have had the chance to fully develop the way they would’ve, if Rule had allowed us to use them properly.
“I’d love to.” I turned and left through one of the three entrances to the kitchen—the two bat-wing doors reminded me of the entrance to a saloon in an old western movie.
I walked through the dining room counting the chairs at the long, wooden table as I passed: seating for fourteen. And I thought the dining table in my mother’s house had been large when it sat only ten, though not once in my life did we ever have enough company over to bother using the formal dining room. Even when my grandmother was alive, we used only our small sections of the mansion. When she passed away, with only my mother and me left, the huge, old house seemed empty. I never knew how many servants we employed, and rarely, if ever, actually saw them doing their work, though I saw the evidence since the house sparkled, my bed was always made, and my clothes were always clean and put away. I was a well-kept prisoner, but a prisoner, nevertheless.
By running away, I had taken my life from my jailer and given it over to a stranger I trusted more than my own blood to keep me safe.
As I moved through the house, my ears picked up the sounds of small, wild noises that called to the wolf inside me. Once in the living room, I glanced out the large picture window to see more wolves in one place than I had ever seen in my life.
Wolves running, jumping, leaping, and tackling each other. Enormous canines flashed and bit into fur. Wolves flew end over end, only to land on their feet and jump back into the fight.
Not a fight. An all-out brawl.
No!
The wolves that came for me must have followed Gunner’s pack back to his house. I had to stop this. I ran to the large double doors and yanked them open. I couldn’t recognize one wolf from another, but I wouldn’t let anyone get hurt because of me.
Not Gunner! Please don’t let Gunner get hurt!
I rushed out onto the porch just as several pups of different ages ran out from the side and right into the edges of the fray. I gasped as Gunner’s enormous wolf form came from nowhere, leaping into the middle of the pile. He grabbed a pup, threw him in the air, and caught him on the way down, rolled off to the side and they both jumped up and ran into the brawl again.
There were too many. I had to stop this before fur ripped and blood poured.
“No, please, stop!” The words came out squeaky and desperate through my suddenly tight throat. No one heard my plea.
A pup barreled toward me, tongue lagging to one side as he pelted up the three steps of the porch. He circled around my legs, his claws scrabbling across the weathered wood, as I tried desperately to grab for him and pull him to safety. He skidded across the wooden deck, tumbled back down the steps, stood up and shook himself before jumping back into the pile of teeth and fur and legs.
Strange. He wasn’t afraid. He was happy.
I blinked and focused on what was happening in front of me.
No snapping, snarling, or growling. And no blood. The scent of clean, male sweat and fresh earth filled the air. But no blood.
They were...playing.
I closed my eyes, breathed in and out through my mouth, trying to calm my racing heart.
They were playing. Just...playing.
I opened my eyes and really looked at the crazy scene in front of me. The adults were rough with each other, but careful with the young.
Fun. They were having fun.
They enjoyed their wolf form.
Rule’s laws had made me feel as though I should be ashamed of my wolf side. Hide it away and allow it out only when absolutely necessary, and only during the full moon. Control of our wolf side was paramount in Rule’s pack. The first and only time I had ever seen any members of Rule’s pack in their wolf form, they’d used their teeth to kill.
I clamped my hands over my mouth as the memory rushed through me.
They tore into her. That female. I didn’t even know her name.
“Go on, Simone, go on and play.”
A startled squeak escaped my lips. “Oh, heavens, Derry.”
“Go on.” She smiled. “It’s okay.”
“I...can’t.”
“Yeah, you can. No one’s gonna hurt you.” Her eyes curved into that crescent-moon shape when she smiled. “One of ’em hurts you and Gunner’ll have his hide.” She rested her hand on my shoulder, no doubt trying to encourage me. “I’ll keep supper warm and call y’all in about thirty minutes.”
“I don’t...I couldn’t...” I shook my head. Just the thought of stripping off my clothes and willingly taking my wolf form in front of others...I couldn’t do it. Not after spending my entire life hiding my animal side, as if I were ashamed. The rules were so different here.
But so right. So natural.
“Yeah, you can.”
Yes, I could. But...
My hands drifted down to the upper swell of my breast, just above my brands. I shook my head again. “No, I can’t.”
“Yes, you can. Shift in the house. No one’s gonna see them scars covered in your fur, and not one of those males would dare stick his nose where it doesn’t belong.”
Stunned, I turned to her, my face heating in embarrassment. “Does everyone know why I’m here?”
Derry took my hand and squeezed. “You’re gonna find there ain’t many secrets ’round here. Besides, you asked for sanctuary...the pack has a right to know what they’re in for.” Her eyes softened as she let go of my hand. “Gunner’s a good male. One of the best Alphas I’ve ever met. He’ll take care of you. Keep you safe.”
Derry didn’t need to convince me of Gunner’s noble nature. He was an honorable male. I felt it in my heart, somehow. From the moment we met, I put my life in his hands and gave him my full trust.
I gazed into the yard where the pack wrestled one another openly, played a game I had never dared to play. “Do you play?”
“Sure, I play!” Derry laughed. “You should see it when Gunner’s kids come visiting. They bring their mates and as many of the grandkids and great-grandkids they can round up. They’ll all be out there roughin’ it up. It’s a wonderful sight to behold.”
I wasn’t sure if I wanted to know, but I had to ask. “How many offspring does Gunner have?”
“I’m not sure how many he produced in his Breeder days, but him and Neeta got nine—eight males and one female.” She nodded her chin out into the yard. “Brenin, that big wolf that looks just like Gunner, but without the silver—he’s the only one still living here. He ain’t the oldest, but taking over this pack is on his shoulders. And, honey, don’t you worry about Brenin. He comes off kinda on the angry side, but I think he’s just having a hard time with his dad being all puppy-dog-eyed over you.”
&n
bsp; “I can understand his attitude. He only wants what’s best for his pack and I’m...I’m a distraction. Running a pack is like running a business. My asking for help has caused an interruption in the normal day-to-day operations.”
“Nah, that has nothing to do with why Brenin’s tighty-whiteys are in a bunch.” Her eyebrows went up as she glanced at me.
“The kiss,” I whispered as I closed my eyes. Brenin hadn’t witnessed it, but he knew it happened. How could he not, when his father’s body had mine pressed up against a tall pantry cupboard, both of us breathing raggedly when he’d stormed into the kitchen.
“Yeah. The kiss. And from what I saw, it was one hell of a kiss.”
“It was just a kiss.” Just a kiss? That was the understatement of the year. The mere reminder of Gunner’s kiss had my body heating up all over again—part lust, part shame. “I didn’t mean for it to happen.”
“I know, honey. You didn’t mean to get those brands on your body or witness a murder, but it happened all the same. Those horrible things drove you here. What’s happenin’ between you and Gunner, you didn’t mean for that to happen either, but it did. And that makes you one damn lucky female.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
ONE DAMN LUCKY FEMALE?
I didn’t understand. Which wasn’t surprising, since there was way too much I didn’t understand. So I stood there speechless, staring out at a pack of wolves playing like pups in Gunner’s front yard. In plain sight.
“Isn’t this dangerous?” A touch of panic raced through me. “What if someone drove up? What if they flew over?”
“We’d catch their scent or hear them way before they’d see us. Gunner’s got a good nose on him. He’s also got sentries out there roaming around, twenty-four-seven. Anyone comes near this ranch, they’ll let us know. Besides, every one of them wolves is on alert right now. And this play, that’s nothing but a show of solidarity to those wolves who are after you.” Derry turned and faced me, her expression curious, but also sad. “Can’t you tell?”
I shook my head slowly, ashamed to admit it, but having no other choice. “No.”
“First thing.” Her arm came around my shoulders and squeezed for a second before she moved away. “Living in the city will totally screw with your wolf senses. Too much coming at you all at once. You get to the point where you just block it all out, or risk losing your ever-lovin’ mind. Second thing, we’re in the middle of bum-fuck Texas. It’s okay to have your senses wide open. In fact, it’s kinda mandatory to survive.”
Derry stepped to the edge of the porch, placed two fingers of her right hand in her mouth, and let out a high-pitched whistle so loud I jerked my hands up to cover my ears. The playful wolves moved like a flock of birds as their heads came up and looked Derry’s way. Every wolf moved in unison, and took off at a dead run around the side of the house, leaving only Gunner standing there, looking up at me.
“Well, I’m gonna start getting supper laid out on the table.”
“Where did they go?”
“’Round back to wash up.” She grinned. “There’s a pretty nice pool out back. Nice Jacuzzi, too. You’re welcome to use them.”
“Thanks, but I didn’t think to buy a swimsuit.” Not that I would wear anything as revealing as a swimsuit ever again.
Derry’s eyes softened as she looked at me. “I’m sorry, honey. Listen, if you wanna take a dip in the pool or soak in the Jacuzzi, you let me know and I’ll make sure no one disturbs you, okay?”
I nodded, though I wouldn’t ever need to call on her.
She gave me an understanding smile then disappeared into the house.
I looked out to the yard. Gunner’s gaze held me to my spot. He lowered his head and stalked toward me. Thick muscle rippled beneath his fur as he closed the distance between us. My heart pounded. I could barely breathe. But I wasn’t afraid or anxious. What raced through my blood as I watched Gunner move had nothing to do with fear or anxiety. It was a strange sort of tingling sensation that traveled up my spine, urging the wolf in me to come forward, to offer up my belly in submission.
He made me feel wild. Reckless. Out of control.
Years of denial kicked in as I clenched my suddenly aching teeth. No changing. No shifting. I’d spent seven days letting my wolf run free. That side of me was a dark place. It drove me. It controlled me. It scared me.
Gunner’s claws scratched at the wood on the porch as he wound his big body around my legs and hips. My fingers sifted through his sun-warmed soft coat, dug deeper and felt the heat of his body.
“I had no idea wolves were so incredibly soft.” The words floated out of my mouth on a whisper. “Or so beautiful.”
Gunner took one more turn around my hips, his big, bushy tail swirling in a happy sort of way. He snuggled his muzzle, cheek, and ear into the valley between my breasts, then lifted his head a little higher to lick my lips and chin in one full swipe.
I giggled as I wiped my mouth with the back of one hand and pushed Gunner away with the other. “I hate to say this, but your wet, wolfy kisses really can’t compare to your lips and teeth and tongue.” His wolf kisses called to the female inside me and she ached to be free, to feel this male all over me in my wolf form.
He snorted, but seemed to grin anyway. He gave me a gentle shove with his head, pushing me toward the front doors.
“Okay, I’m going.” I stepped inside and headed in the direction of the dining room. Behind me, I heard Gunner’s claws clicking on the slate-tiled floor, going the other direction. I turned just in time to witness his shift: his fur disappeared, his back straightened and brought him upright on his tanned, muscular legs. I swept my gaze up and up, from his feet to his calves to his thighs to his perfectly shaped ass.
My mouth fell open in awe. I didn’t stop there, though.
His lower back widened into huge, muscled shoulders and strong arms. He turned and faced me. I stood there, speechless.
He’s magnificent.
I couldn’t stop staring. There was just so much of him.
Oh, my.
Oh, wow.
Oh...dear ancient gods...
It started in my cheeks, the pleasing burn that swiftly rushed through my entire body and settled in my midsection. The room closed in like a kiln as I tried to breathe. And when I sucked in a breath, all I could smell was him. I wrenched my gaze upward to find Gunner smiling back at me.
“I’m gonna get washed up. Throw on some clothes. Go on.” He lifted his chin in the direction of the kitchen. “Get yourself some supper before the boys eat it all.”
And then he was out of my sight.
I found the closest chair and gracelessly plopped myself into it. I’d seen naked men before. Full frontal, up close and personal. But compared to Gunner, they were no more than boys just out of their teens. I had to admit, my experience was extremely limited, but still. I leaned forward, held my head in my hands with my elbows planted firmly on my knees to keep my feet from running down the hall in search of the Comfort pack’s Alpha male. Throwing myself at another female’s mate was the most dishonorable thing I could do.
Stupid. Silly. Reckless.
“What is wrong with me?” I muttered.
I stared out the huge picture windows. Miles and miles of land as far as I could see. From the road, I’d seen an orchard of neatly lined trees, and acres and acres of rolling hills where cattle grazed peacefully. From inside, I could see the house was elevated enough to block out the circular driveway and look out over land that had been left untouched and untamed by man. After running for seven days, feeling the dirt between my toes, letting my inner wolf run free—though the animal side of me was a little frightening, especially when the need for food kicked in—I would never be able to live in a city again.
“Perfect.” I sighed.
“Simone?”
I jumped. My eyes locked on to his.
I saw you naked. Totally. Mouth-wateringly. Naked.
Gunner stood with his hands on his hips. Worn
jeans, dark blue button-down shirt, rolled-up sleeves, with the collar of his white T-shirt peeking out from the V of the top button.
“You okay?” he asked softly.
I’m okay. I nodded and smiled, probably looking like a mild form of village idiot. “I’m not used to...” Seeing you naked. “...seeing...so many wolves in one place.” Which was also true. “Rule’s pack never spent any time together as a pack. As wolves.” Naked.
“They can be a rowdy bunch sometimes, but I trust my pack. Trust ’em like they were my own flesh and blood.”
I nodded, not knowing what to say. If Gunner trusted them, then so did I. Naked or not.
“C’mon.” He took my hand, pulled me up from the chair, and linked my arm around his. “I really wasn’t foolin’ when I said you should go ahead on in and eat. Those males work hard and we don’t stand on ceremony here. And since we’ve got company in the house, there is a good chance Derry is in there threatenin’ them with a wooden spoon if they think to fill their plates a little too high.
“I wouldn’t blame them. Seff gave me a sample of Derry’s roast and it’s delicious.”
Gunner stiffened a bit and mumbled under his breath, “Seff,” but kept walking toward the dining room. “That boy better have a damn good reason for comin’ back. I oughta kick his ass right out of Comfort.”
“Gunner.” I pulled at him to stop. “Jessy told me Seff’s been exiled and I’ll admit I have no idea what that entails, but he was there when we needed him. He protected us. He kicked one wolf out the door, slugged the other and threw him out, too. If he hadn’t been following them and showed up when he did...I would’ve made sure no one was hurt because of me.”
Gunner’s face had been wide open while I explained, even understanding, then suddenly froze. His brows came down as every muscle in his body tightened as the realization of what I’d said became clear.
“Oh, hell no. Hell no! You will not give yourself up to that bunch. Ever” His hands closed around my upper arms and gave me a little shake. “I don’t give a flying fuck what they say to you or how they threaten you, you will not go back to that pack—and I’ll repeat it again: ever.”