by Amanda LeMay
Gunner commented next on what I had told him in his office when I’d first arrived, and repeated what I’d said while at Ralph’s office.
Then it was Seff’s turn.
“Seventeen head of cattle on three different ranches. They tore ’em apart and left the carcasses. Not for food either, just killed ’em for fun. By the time they were done, they must’a been soaked in blood, ’cuz they left a trail so thick with it that anybody could’a tracked them from one ranch to the next. They jumped in the Guadalupe River and must’ve either let the current take them, or they swam upstream for miles. I went well past our territory and couldn’t find where they came out at.”
“And these are the same wolves you tracked coming into Comfort, hunting for Simone?”
“Yes, sir, all five of them.”
“Thank you, Seff.” Ralph nodded.
Seff spun his cowboy hat in his hands and walked across the dirt floor to lean against a wooden stall door. His brown eyes curved into a crescent moon as he gave me a small smile and a wink.
I smiled as Gunner’s fingers twitched against my skin.
None of the Alphas spoke while they seemed to process the testimony given so far. I looked from one Alpha to another, each male as large and intimidating as the next. Though their presence would undoubtedly frighten anyone standing before them, singularly or as a group, the undercurrent of concern they felt for me through each new piece of testimony reassured me as much as the constant touch of Gunner’s warm hands at my waist.
Kern stepped forward.
“I examined the cattle and I have to agree with Seff. They were killed for sport, not for food.”
Everyone in the room nodded in understanding.
“I’ve also examined Simone’s brands. So you all understand, what Rule did was a form of torture. Branding a wolf is not like branding cattle. It’s not a one-time deal. It takes multiple brands to achieve a scar like the ones she has. Every time he branded her, she’d heal, and he’d do it all over again. Withholding food and water slowed down her healing processes, helping the brand burn deeper and stay permanent.”
Gunner’s fingers pressed harder into my waist. Fury poured off him as the Alpha presence in the barn shifted from white-hot anger to deep, dark disgust.
“Does anyone have anything to add?” Ralph asked, his gaze flicking from one person to the next as he waited.
Gunner’s hands tightened around my waist again as he cleared his throat.
“Something else all y’all need to know about Rule.”
I tensed, believing I knew what he was about to reveal. His arms wrapped around my shoulders and pulled me into his body. His cool, damp skin so good against mine.
“Rule’s been keeping his pack under a tight rein. He’s kept them segregated and in the dark about our ways and our laws. Simone doesn’t know a damn thing about our culture, our rites, or even how many of us there are. He’s got them believing being a wolf is a condition, a damned curse. I know none of that is breaking our laws, but it’s really pushing it. Like Simone said, he’s murderin’ his own pack members and calling it punishment. Not only that, one thing Jessy didn’t include in her testimony is the fact that there are no silver wolves in Rule’s pack.”
I turned a little in Gunner’s arms, lifted my head to look up at him as he looked down at me.
“I’m sorry, Simone, but your grandma disappearin’ in the night and dying from unknown causes, that’s damned suspicious. We live too long to be dying off at such a young age.”
He thinks Rule...
My throat tightened as tears burned my eyes for the first time during the tribunal.
Rule killed them.
Gunner’s lips touched my temple. “I am so sorry, baby.”
And he was sorry.
“I know,” I whispered as I wiped the tears that spilled over and dripped off my chin.
He lifted his head and addressed the tribunal again.
“With Jessy’s help, Ralph and I looked into it, which we found is damn difficult since Rule has failed to keep any public records of births and deaths within his pack. From what little we did find, it looks as if he’s killing them off to balance out the number of births each year. And that’s not even the half of it.” He paused, looked around the barn and sucked in a heavy breath before he went on. “Simone’s mother came here day before yesterday, trying to talk Simone into going back home with her. Her mother and I got into a little confrontation over that, and from what she claimed, well, I believe Rule’s been following the old ways. He’s not only keeping his pack secluded from the rest of wolf society, he’s branding all of them, and claiming exclusive breeding rights with every female born in his pack, all of which are his direct offspring.”
Growled curses came at me from every direction, plowing into me as the Alpha power in the room suddenly amped up tenfold. I gasped as their collective power rolled off them, hit my skin like electricity, and vibrated sharply throughout my body.
Rage and fury. Intense and feral.
It crawled over me like sharp, stinging needles. Even with the heat of the day, my skin broke out in gooseflesh.
Every eye in the room focused above my shoulder, where Gunner stood behind me.
I closed my eyes and tried to block out the overwhelming emotions beating at me as Gunner’s arms snaked tighter around my shoulders and pulled me in even closer.
“Baby.” Gunner’s lips pressed into the mating mark he had given. “I’m here.”
I hadn’t realized it, but every muscle in my body had gone stiff. My heartbeat raced as I panted out every little breath.
“Guys!” Ralph barked suddenly. “For fuck’s sake, take it down a notch.” He wiped his arm over his forehead.
The power slowly shifted into something else—sadness like I had never felt before. I opened my eyes to see that same sorrow on the face of every Alpha in the room as they looked back at me.
It would’ve been better if they had snarled as a group instead of what filled the barn now. Pity.
They could save their pity. I wanted justice. Not only for myself, but for all the wolves Rule has murdered.
Ralph spoke quietly. “I think now would be a good time to break for lunch.” His eyes found mine. He nodded slowly, scrubbed his hands over his face, turned, and headed toward the big barn doors.
Dain pushed one door open while Seff handled the other. As everyone filed out, Anton, the Alpha from Albuquerque, stopped to shake hands with Kern and give Jessy a hug before they strolled out together.
I didn’t move. Gunner stood behind me, his arms still wrapped around my shoulders. I waited until everyone left the barn before I spoke again.
“He killed them.” My quiet words echoed softly off the rafters. “He’s been killing the older wolves for years and no one ever questioned why. He’s kept us so isolated from the other packs, from the world...how could we have known?” Anger flashed through me. “My mother knows. She knows and she kept it from me. She’s as guilty as Rule. She should have stepped forward and fought to keep her own mother safe. She didn’t even mourn her.”
Gunner leaned down, his mouth against my cheek. “Just so you know, the next time I see your mother, I won’t be such a gentleman.”
“And I will definitely not act like a lady.”
A sudden feeling of freedom settled inside me. I’d lived in a glass cage my entire life, the tinted windows hiding the real world outside, and now that I’d broken free, taken a chance, smashed the walls and run for my life—to my life—I knew every step I took led me to the truth.
And to Gunner.
“What happens now?” Whatever it was, I would stand and fight.
Gunner turned me in his arms and gazed down into my eyes. “Well, first, those Alpha males are probably gonna work off some of their aggression, and eat tons of Derry’s good food. There’s a good chance they’ll rest up a bit since they traveled through the night to get here. We’ll meet back in here afterward to discuss Rule’s punishment.”
Neither Gunner nor I had slept last night, either, and now, with the testimony given, fatigue was taking a toll on my brain and body. I could go for a nap as well.
I closed my eyes and laid my cheek against Gunner’s chest. “They’re not going to wait to hear Rule’s side? Not that I care, because I don’t. If it were up to me, I’d rather see him bound and gagged and branded where it would hurt the most.”
Gunner chuckled. “He’s already been contacted and told to be here tonight at midnight. And, yeah, they’ll give him a chance to defend himself, but it won’t matter much. He’s crossed too many lines. Besides, wolf justice isn’t like human justice. Alphas can tell when someone is lying, no matter how good a liar they may be. Wolf justice is also swift. There’s no hanging around in some stinkin’ jail cell, waiting for some damn lawyers to gather evidence and try to twist it into somethin’ it’s not.”
“What do you think they’ll do?”
“Take his pack away, at the very least.” Gunner’s fingers smoothed across my cheek and into my hair, tilting my face up. I opened my eyes and sighed as he scanned my face and finally settled on my lips. He opened his mouth as if to say more, but held it back. His lips touched mine as one hand slid up beneath my blouse to span the damp skin of my lower back.
“On a personal level, there’s a hell of a lot more I’d like to do to Rule.” His green eyes seemed to burn with fire.
“Would you take his life? For all the wolves he’s killed and all those he’s mutilated—if it were your decision, would you have him put to death?”
Gunner gazed down at me. He didn’t answer. He didn’t need to. His conflicting emotions cascaded around me. He would do it. He would have Rule put to death. If not for any other reason, he’d do it for me. But only if there were no other choice.
For some reason I couldn’t begin to understand, the thought of Gunner coming to me with Rule’s blood on him excited me, made my heart beat faster, pushing my own blood into my most intimate feminine places. Still, I pictured it in my mind—Gunner smearing Rule’s blood over my skin as we made love.
That’s ridiculous.
How and why would I ever want something so primitive? So wild?
Nevertheless, it tugged hard and deep at the wolf hidden inside my human form, and that wolf wanted blood.
I wrapped my arms around Gunner’s neck, pulled him down to me and kissed him deeply, shifting his still-warring emotions to focus only on me. His muscles flexed and hardened as my hands moved down his shoulders, arms, and back. I pulled his hips deeper into my body, pressed the hard ridge of his cock against my belly.
Gunner growled as footsteps approached the barn door. “What now?” he barked.
“Uh...” a male voice answered from outside the barn. “It’ll wait.” The footsteps retreated as wolf howls filled the air.
His Alpha duties came before me, before anything else, and I would need to accept that. “What’s going on?” I asked as I tried to turn toward the barn door.
“Nothing I need to deal with right now.” Gunner lifted me in his arms and walked me over to a clean stall.
“Gun—” I started to protest, but he cut me off.
“No. I don’t give a flying fuck about anything that’s goin’ on outside of this barn. Not now. All I want is you, uninterrupted, for fifteen fuckin’ minutes.” He set me on my feet, knelt down in front of me, and slid his tongue along that small strip of skin showing between my blouse and the waistband of my skirt. Shivers raced up my back, over my shoulders, and straight to my nipples.
“Hmm. Salty. I’ve been going out of my mind wantin’ to taste you again.” He nudged my blouse up with his nose, dipping his tongue into my belly button. His teeth nipped at my skin, his canines scraping softly.
Threading my fingers through his hair, I watched as his tongue and lips nibbled their way across my belly from hip to hip. His hands slid up my calves, thighs, and hips, hiking up my skirt as he went. The heat from his hands spread rapidly, settled between my legs, and pulsed hot with every beat of my heart. His fingers slipped into my panties and pulled them down the length of my legs.
“Spread your legs for me, baby. I wanna taste you.” His deep voice rumbled.
I did as he asked. The second his mouth made contact, I had to grab the nearest post with one hand and hold on to keep from collapsing as my climax quickly rushed up and took over every cell in my body.
“Oh...Gun...Gun...” I shivered. Everything inside me seemed to burst, sending a rush of heat cascading from my fingertips to my toes.
He stood, leisurely licked his lips, then worked his belt free and opened his button fly.
“Hurry,” I begged.
His mouth took mine, effectively cutting off any other words I might have wished to add. His hands slipped back up my skirt and lifted me as I wrapped my legs around his waist. He lowered me down, sliding his cock into me in one slow stroke.
“Holy hell, Simone,” he whispered against my lips. “Every damn time I slide inside you feels like the first time. I have to fight every instinct I have to just fuck you silly.”
“Yes, please.” I moaned. He was so big, so long and so thick. He filled me so full, I almost wept.
More howls sounded outside and the aroma of wood smoke, roasting meat, and other various foods floated through the humid air. Gunner stood still, his forehead pressed against mine as we breathed each other in.
“Why are they howling?” I panted out, not really caring why, so long as they stayed away from the barn.
“They’re lettin’ off steam... playin’.” His lips moved softly over mine. “I got a better way to let off steam right here.” He pulled out and thrust upward, quickly setting a brutal pace.
“Yes...” I moaned into his mouth, my entire body lighting up again as he pounded into me. “I like your way much better.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
LES AND TAN BARRELED out of the rear kitchen door and barely avoided running me down as they flew past.
“Whoa, boys!” Gunner shouted as he jerked me to the side.
Their arms were stacked with large bowls full of food covered with clear plastic wrap.
“Sorry!” Tan spun around to keep from slamming into us, then ran off toward the long tables set up outside, close to an enormous, rock barbeque.
“Excuse us there, ladies and gents!” Les smiled as he moved quickly past. “Derry’s got us running food here.”
He stopped in his tracks and turned to glance first at Gunner, then at me, and back to Gunner again. A low rumbling vibrated in the air around me, against my skin, and throughout my muscles. Les stepped back, his eyes wide, his head tipped to the side as his nostrils flared ever so slightly. A huge smile spread across his face. He gave Gunner a quick nod, and hurried out to the tables.
Cool air drifted from the interior of the house over my warm skin. I was so not accustomed to the Texas heat and humidity, which had noticeably increased since we had gathered in the barn first thing that morning.
“What was that all about?” I glanced up to find Gunner’s face set hard.
His expression softened immediately as he smiled at me, his eyes shimmering. “They smell me all over you.”
“Oh.” After what we had shared in the barn only a few moments before, I knew the scent covering us both would broadcast our recent lovemaking to any wolf that came near.
And I was fine with that.
I glanced out toward the tables and barbeque to see Les and Tan talking with Sky and Denny, who were tending the smoky grill, flipping meat of some sort as they talked. They glanced at me and Gunner, identical smiles on their faces. I should’ve been embarrassed, but I couldn’t find it in me. Happiness took the place of any shame or guilt I might have felt in the past. There was no need to conceal the fact that I’d had great sex with a gorgeous male. And not only sex, we’d made love. In his bed. In his shower. In the barn. No one in this pack would judge me as dishonorable, nor attempt to shame me for wanting and having so
mething I craved with all my heart.
I gazed up at Gunner. The edge of the mark I’d given him peeked out at the base of his neck before disappearing beneath the collar of his dark T-shirt. His cheeks and throat were covered with salt-and-pepper stubble he hadn’t had an opportunity to shave off since the morning before. His goatee-framed lips that had kissed almost every inch of my body curved into a grin. My fingers had ruffled his dark brown hair. He hadn’t bothered to smooth it back.
The instant I met him, my life had gone from unbearable to divine. We shared something profound and precious. For the first time in my life, I felt sure enough, and safe enough to give someone everything I had. All of me.
“Gun...I...” Say the words.
Say, I love you.
I gasped as the thought surfaced, blossomed to life in the center of my chest, and spread like warm honey throughout my veins.
I was in love with Gunner Bodolf.
Seriously, passionately, undeniably in love with him.
Suddenly, Gunner wrapped his arms around me and pulled me hard into his chest. His lips at my ear whispered anxiously, “Simone, promise me you won’t leave.”
I clutched his T-shirt in my hands and held on. “I promise,” I whispered as my heart seemed to flip right into my throat. “I won’t leave.”
I couldn’t leave him. Even the thought of being separated from him made my stomach clench tight. In all my short, little, meaningless life, I had never cared for someone so deeply, so strongly, nor had anyone cared for me in the same way. Though he’d grown up and lived his entire life in this wolf culture, and he understood how finding one’s sakana worked, he still worried. He’d been mated for years, quite happily it appeared. Shared nine offspring with his mate, and she’d walked away as easily as if she had quit a tedious, low-paying job with a lousy boss. I wasn’t sure if I’d ever understand her reasons for leaving—but it didn’t matter.