Wolf’s Fall

by E. A. Reynolds

  “Good. Then, I’m sure the change will be to your liking.” He ended the call and typed in a message to another mole.

  Valente thought Manuel could do better, then let him earn his new territory the hard way.

  Chapter Eight

  After a walk of the southern border, Nic met with Jody and Kimble in Jody’s office. Kimble wore a grim expression, but Jody was staring out of the window so he had no idea if Jody’s thoughts mirrored his mate’s.

  “Hey,” Kimble said grimly. “How bad is it?”

  “Not too bad,” Nic said. “We only lost four men and one woman. I found what I think is the point of entry, but it was staged.”

  “They were let in,” Jody said angrily.

  “Yes. I’ve already arranged to meet with my team to prepare.” He knew he’d be heading the investigation into who the moles were. It would be his job to kill them once found.

  “Good,” Kimble said.

  “I want you to postpone training Mandalay to deal with this.”

  “About that,” Nic said carefully. “I think he’d be more useful in his present job. More attacks are bound to come. Plus, he’s more than likely an empath.”

  “Empath?” Jody demanded with a frown.

  “I warned you there was a possibility,” Kimble said. “We only have three of them in the pack, and one of our best in mental combat is Seven. I was going to suggest you bring him back into security if he was willing to serve.”

  “If Manly can’t, then how can Seven?” Jody demanded, facing them wearing a frown.

  “My uncle’s specialty is combat,” Nic told him. “He was part of a covert government team of men with clairvoyant abilities. Most were remote viewers. They were able to invade targets without ever being there, which gave the soldiers that went in an advantage.”

  “He can do this for us?”

  “I don’t know, but he can train Mandy and make him, develop whatever skills he has so he’ll be useful should the clinic be hit. He can also work with soldiers, help them when it’s time to attack.”

  “Have him come see me and explain all this to me,” Jody muttered. “Kimble?”

  His mate gave him a smile. “I’ll deal with it, honey,” he said. “I know this kind of thing leaves you annoyed. He doesn’t really believe in anything beyond our ability to telepathically communicate in wolf form.”

  “It can be an interesting subject,” Nic replied. “So, Mandy’s off the hook?”

  “If your uncle can make him defense ready with the skills he already has, then, I’ll let it go at that.”

  “Good. He hasn’t been trained to deal with the bloodshed emotionally.”

  “Who has?” Jody snapped and then sighed. “Get to work or go see your mate. I’m sure you were going to him anyway.”

  “Just to make sure he’s okay,” Nic admitted. “But if you don’t mind, I’d like to catch a few hours of sleep before I get back to work.”

  Jody snorted, and Kimble chuckled. “I’m sure they’ll just sleep,” Kimble said. “I doubt Mandalay is already putting out. He’s a sweet boy.”

  “He is,” Nic agreed. “I just hope he can handle that I might have to leave him.”

  * * * *

  Mandalay set his cup of coffee on the table when Serena entered the kitchen. She gave him a gentle smile.

  “Are you okay?” she asked, coming to give him a hug. “Dad said you were probably in the clinic all night. Was it bad?”

  “Bad enough,” he admitted and then sighed.

  “On a lighter note,” she said with a grin. “How did things go with Nic?”

  He couldn’t help but laugh as he thought about last night. “Fine for a first date.”

  “Where did he take you? How was the cake?”

  His eyes widened. “I knew it! He asked you about it, didn’t he?”

  “No,” she said. “He was in the bakery trying to find out if Mom had ordered you a cake for your birthday. I told him no. That she’d gotten you a cupcake for a mini celebration at the store.”

  “That’s why he got me a cake?”

  “I told him she didn’t get your favorite.” She gave him a mischievous smile. “He asked what that was, and I told him. Then, he asked what your favorite meal was.”

  “Thanks, Serena. It was great until he had to leave,” Mandalay said. “I brought the cake with me. I was—do you think it’d be presumptuous for me to take him a piece for lunch?”

  “You’re asking me?” she asked with a frown.

  “I don’t have that much experience dealing with guys like him. Dominant and soldierly.”

  She laughed. “Well, I should say forget him,” she said, her expression turning serious. “This is going to be a big headache once Dad realizes you’re seriously considering dating him, and from the look on your face, you are.”

  “Yeah. I wanted—I mean, I was attracted to him before I knew he was behind the letters.”

  “He’s the one?” she exclaimed, eyes wide. “Oh, my god. Dad is going to rip him a new one. He thinks those letters made you gay.”

  “They didn’t,” he muttered tightly.

  “Oh, I know.” She shrugged. “I know I don’t always act like it, but I could care less that you’re gay. Anyway, I think your snow wolf healer thing is what makes you so soft and afraid of your own shadow.”

  He made a face.

  “You aren’t like Cayson. He was a soldier, and he was tougher than you,” she said. “You’re probably just as dangerous as he is, though, when it comes to that cold bite and stuff.”

  “I’m not soft,” he said. “I just hate killing things.”

  She rolled her eyes. “You might not get a choice, bro,” she said. “That attack last night has Jody putting all hands on deck.”

  “I know.”

  “I bet your loverboy told you something. What’s going on?”

  “He didn’t,” Mandalay snapped. He couldn’t tell her. Nic had asked him not to.

  “He’s already got you hooked,” she teased. “Well, Daddy better start getting used to having two sons-in-law.” He saw the glee in her eyes. “At least he’s hot and a hunter.”

  “I didn’t know he was,” Mandalay said.

  “Can you handle the fact he’ll have to kill, and one of his targets might be a packmate?”

  “What makes you say that?”

  “There were moles here before, I doubt they all left. People even think Jody might be one,” she said. “Can you deal with him killing someone you know?”

  “If he has to,” Mandalay said. “As long as I’m not asked to participate.”

  She snorted. “God. The man has his hands full with you.” A rap on the door prevented her from saying more. “I’ll get that. I have to get to work anyway. The boss called me in for four hours.”

  “Later then.”

  He picked up his cup. He was off today but on call. If anyone needed him, he’d have to go in or make the medicine that was requested.

  “Manly, your boyfriend’s here,” Serena called.

  His heart skipped, and Mandalay headed out to the living room. Nic stood there holding a duffel and looking tired.

  “Good morning,” Mandalay said, going to him. “What’s that?”

  “Oh, I came by to check on you, make sure you were okay,” Nic said. “I’m heading over to the soldier’s quarters. I normally stay with my uncle.”

  “Why? I mean, why are you going over there?”

  “Shower and rest for a bit.”

  “You could do that here with me,” Mandalay said before he could censor the words.

  “Are you sure?” Nic asked. “I’d more than love to sleep with you.”

  His voice was low, so masculine despite the softly spoken words that Mandalay got hot.

  “You—I’ve been dreaming of having you in my bed for months now.”

  Nic grinned, and Mandalay blushed. He couldn’t believe he’d said that.

  “I—”

  “I’ve been having that same drea
m except it’s you in my bed, lying next to me, head on my chest, holding me.”

  Mandalay caught his breath. “Oh.”

  “Show me the shower. I could use it.”

  “Right,” he said. “I would join you, but I just got out.” He winced. “I mean, you probably—”

  Nic bent and kissed the corner of his mouth, and Mandalay melted against him. “Relax,” Nic murmured. “This is a judgement free zone.”

  Mandalay looked up into darkening eyes. “Even if I admitted I would have sex with you in the shower?”

  “I wouldn’t let you push me that far,” Nic said. “I’m too tired, and it’s not your style. You’d regret it, and it might take us months to get to where we are now.”

  “Where is that?”

  “That place where everything is new and undiscovered ground. That place where my every thought is about you, my every breath is just to keep me going to get back to you.”

  “Oh.”

  Nic gave him another smile before kissing him softly. “Shower.”

  Mandalay stood there for a long moment after Nic drew back, staring at him. “What are you up to?” he asked. “You’re being too good.”

  Nic chuckled softly. “A shower and sleep.”

  Mandalay led him upstairs to his bedroom. Serena was occupying the biggest guestroom of late, which left him with only one other choice. He couldn’t put Nic in that tiny room with the twin bed and Mandalay wasn’t going to ask him to leave.

  “Are you hungry?” Mandalay asked.

  “Too tired,” Nic said. “When I get up.”

  Mandalay sat on the bed while Nic showered. He wasn’t sure he liked the fact the man wasn’t trying to make a move on him. It wasn’t natural. He couldn’t be all wolf, and Mandalay didn’t think Nic was afraid of Serena.

  He leaned back against the pillows, smiling. He was still surprised by how Nic had acted last night.

  Mandalay closed his eyes, and what seemed like only seconds later, the clean scent of soap was wafting to him. He moved and the solid frame next to him kept him from rolling off the other side.

  Nic didn’t say anything, and Mandalay realized that was because he was sleeping. His breathing was deep and even as he lay on his back. Mandalay watched him, tracing the lines of his handsome face with his eyes.

  There was a tiny scar on his chin, a long one across his chest with a white wolf with blue eyes partially covering it. There was a black tribal tat encircling his bicep. The design seemed to be built around a stylized M.

  He reached out to touch it, wondering what it was for. He noticed the slash on Nic’s other bicep that looked as if someone had gone after him with their claws, and Mandalay wished the man dead, the wolf inside him growling.

  After another pass over his body, Mandalay laid down next to Nic, resting his head on his shoulder just like he had in all of his dreams.

  Chapter Nine

  Nic woke six hours later to the weight of his mate nestled against him. The wolf huffed softly as he cuddled closer. The animal was content despite the looming threat of violence and danger. The attack was an isolated incident, but he expected more after his chat with a hyena he ended up killing.

  The man had pleaded for his life and had been willing to tell him everything he knew, including the name of a contact of Blacktooth and Wildhead’s inside the pack. He hadn’t told Jody yet because of some things the man had said.

  He wanted to talk to his father before he acted.

  Nic kissed Mandalay’s forehead and then climbed from the bed and grabbed his cell phone from the dresser before heading down to the kitchen. Pretty soon he’d have to take extra precautions in order to keep his mate from knowing his mind.

  Once there, he washed his hands and put on some coffee before dialing his father.

  “Hello, son,” his father said warmly. “How are things going with him?”

  He smiled. “Okay.”

  “Are you doing what I taught you? Taking things slow? Letting him know he’s important before you take him to bed?”

  “Yes.” He chuckled. “I’m being a gentleman.”

  “Good, then I’m looking forward to meeting him soon.”

  “Dad, I called for another reason,” Nic said.

  “What is it?” he asked, and Nic heard the concern in his voice.

  “I heard something last night that left me a little worried.”

  “Tell me,” he said.

  “We were attacked, and I managed to get a hyena alone long enough to question him. He told me Jody worked with Blacktooth, and he was aware of what was going on.”

  “I think he was working with them at one time,” his father said. “But I heard something about him being undercover. He still might be. I doubt he’d throw away his brother’s legacy for drug money.”

  “The guy said Jody was working with a guy named Marvin, and the attack will lead to Jody giving Blacktooth either free passage to deal in their territory or to own part of it.”

  His father was silent for a long time. “I don’t know what to tell you except tread lightly. I’ll see what I can find out. What does Jody have you doing?”

  “I’m the hunter, and I have a small team that will help me investigate the attacks and search out moles.”

  “Be careful. This could be a set-up by Blacktooth to cause dissention. If it’s true, though, you could be in a world of danger in the long run. What does your gut say?”

  He shook his head, lips pulling into a tight line. “Trust few.”

  “That’s what you do then,” he said. “Your mate?”

  “My gut says to keep him close,” Nic said. “I can’t lose him in this mess. I won’t.”

  “Okay. Keep me informed, and I’ll do the same.”

  “Thanks, Dad.” He ended the call and turned his attention to making them a light meal before heading upstairs to brush his teeth and dress.

  Mandalay was awake when he exited the bathroom.

  “You should have woken me,” he said sleepily. Mandalay yawned widely, and Nic smiled as he pushed hair out of his eyes.

  “You needed the rest.”

  “Do you expect more trouble anytime soon?” Mandalay asked.

  Nic sat down on the bed on Mandalay’s side. “Not soon, but there could be more to come.”

  Mandalay studied him. “Why is this happening? Why do they want to bring us into their fight with the panthers?”

  “I’m not sure, but I’m investigating.” Nic gave in to his urge to kiss Mandalay’s jaw. “You’re so cute.”

  Mandalay rolled his eyes. “I’m not a new toy, Nic.”

  “No. You’re my mate,” he said softly. “I’ve waited to have you in my arms for so long.”

  “Believe me, you aren’t alone,” Mandalay replied, cupping his jaw. “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve laid awake at night wishing you’d come and take me away from my boring little life.”

  “I’m here now.”

  Mandalay smiled. “Mmm. Are you going to work all day?”

  “Most of it, but I had hoped we’d be able to spend the rest of it together.”

  “I like that idea,” Mandalay said. “I can make us lunch before you go.”

  “I already made sandwiches,” Nic told him. “If you get up now, we can have them together.”

  “I’ll be right down,” he said.

  Nic kissed the tip of his nose. “I’ll be done by six.”

  “Come straight here, and I’ll have dinner made.”

  “Okay.” He stood. He’d have to find a way to convince Mandalay to move in with him for a while. His gut told him Mandy wasn’t going to be safe on his own much longer.

  * * * *

  Mandalay was quick to freshen up before going downstairs. Nic was sipping coffee at the table in the middle of which was a platter of sandwiches.

  He smiled. His mother had been the only one to ever make him a meal, but Mandalay had hoped his mate wasn’t a macho pig who wouldn’t take time to pamper him once in a while becaus
e he’d always give his all to the man he loved.

  “Hey.” Nic smiled and started to get up, but Mandalay waved him back to his chair.

  “My dad actually does that when my mom enters a room and comes to the table,” Mandalay said. “It’s so sweet and old fashion.”

  Nic shrugged but didn’t sit until Mandalay had taken his chair.

  “Did you have a chance to talk to Jody yet?” Mandalay asked as he slid into his chair.

  Nic studied him with whiskey eyes so full of warmth, Mandalay could hardly breathe. The man was going to own him before he even mated him.

  “Yeah. He’s willing to halt the training as long as you train your other abilities,” Nic told him.

  “Thanks,” Mandalay said and sighed in relief. “I know it seems sort of like I’m wimping out, and I guess I am, but I just don’t want to take lives like that.”

  Nic reached across the table to touch Mandalay’s hand and his slightly calloused fingers sent electricity shooting along the nerve endings of Mandalay’s hand. And from the surprise in Nic’s eyes, he’d felt it, too.

  Nic cleared his throat and said, “I don’t think you’re a wimp, pretty baby. Not every man is cut out to be a soldier.”

  “True.” Mandalay put his other hand on Nic’s briefly to squeeze his fingers before releasing him. “I’m glad you understand.”

  “Are you going to be home all day?”

  “I have some cleaning to do around here, so yeah. Why?”

  “My uncle wants to come by for a meeting,” Nic told him. “I’d prefer to be here, but he might not adhere to my wishes.”

  “What’s his name?” Mandalay picked up a sandwich.

  “Seven. I’ll send you a picture. Don’t let anyone in that you don’t know well, okay?”

  Mandalay frowned and nodded slowly. He took a bite of his sandwich and chewed slowly. He didn’t know if he was ready for this because it was just another way to shape him up for combat.

  But he might have to defend himself if no one else, so he may as well be able to live through it, he supposed.

  “Do you think someone’s going to attack me?”

  “No,” Nic said quickly. “I’m just being overcautious.”