Wolf's Promise

by Elyce de Reefe

Really? So why was it you decided you couldn’t see him again? Something about not trusting him to be able to keep his temper if he didn’t get his way?

  “So I have trust issues,” she said aloud. “So sue me!”

  There was a snort, from outside the door—sounding suspiciously like someone trying to cover up a laugh. Lyla grimaced. She wanted to kick something. Not that it would help.

  She stomped back to the sitting area, She snatched up one of the throw pillows and flung it against the wall. Completely unsatisfying. She flopped down on the window seat and gazed out at the darkening sky. The room was almost a suite. She’d spent a good twenty minutes sitting in this exact spot earlier, looking out at the river valley, watching the river turn from blue to silver-grey, as deep blue shadows gathered beneath the trees. If she hadn’t been so worried about what would happen next, it might have been a very nice evening. Maybe.

  She glanced around the comfortable sitting area, hoping for a magazine she might have missed, but no. The unfortunate bookcase sat just to her right, but she’d already checked that out, twice.

  She kicked at the deep-piled carpeting in front of her, hoping to distract her attention from the only discordant element of the room. But that didn’t work either. The large king-sized bed still dominated the whole left side of the room, its tangled bedclothes a potent reminder of just who had slept there in the not too distant past. And just who might be expected to sleep there in the very near future.

  A knock on the door brought Lyla to attention.

  “We come bearing gifts.” Elizabeth’s voice was clearly identifiable.

  Lyla released her breath and rose to her feet.

  “I hope it’s a get out of jail free card,” she called, striding across to the door.

  “Cray, I’ve got it,” Lyla heard Elizabeth hiss.

  She opened the door to reveal Mari carrying a foil-wrapped plate, Elizabeth behind her, attempting to elbow Cray aside.

  “We brought you some dinner,” Mari said with a hesitant smile.

  “Please, come in,” Lyla said. Not sure what else to do, she stepped back to let them in.

  “And wine,” Elizabeth said, still trying to push past Cray. “She’s a witch, not a serial killer,” she hissed at Cray. “Get a hold of yourself.” She executed an impressive little jump-step, slipping past Cray, and followed Mari into the room.

  “So, you’re a real witch?” This was said much louder. “Does that mean you can turn Cray into a frog if he gets on my nerves?” With a fake smile, she turned and closed the door in his face. “Geez, you’d think you were an ax murderer or something. What’s that all about?”

  Lyla shivered, chafing her hands up and down her arms. She’d been trying not to think about the three men who’d apparently been waiting for her outside her house, but the mention of the ax brought them immediately to mind. She drew in a deep breath.

  “Well, they do have a point. My people and their people have been enemies for centuries. Although, until today, I never really believed they existed. I thought the whole werewolf thing was some made up boogeyman to keep the rest of us in line.”

  Mari nodded, her china blue eyes serious. She’d put the dinner plate down on the coffee table, which they were all standing around somewhat awkwardly.

  “I know. Sometimes I still have trouble believing it. And I—” Mari broke off and looked away, rubbing her hands on her jeans. Elizabeth set the wine down and patted Mari’s shoulder, leading her over to a chair.

  “Let’s sit down,” Elizabeth said, gesturing to the comfortable chairs gathered around the coffee table next to the window seat. “And eat, Lyla, you must be starving. I’ll pour the wine.”

  They all settled in, and Lyla pulled the foil off the food. It smelled delicious, but she wasn’t sure she’d be comfortable eating in front of the other two women. Elizabeth handed her a glass of wine, a nice deep red, she noted. She accepted it gratefully and took a sip.

  “It’s a lot to take in,” Elizabeth continued, “but they’re really not such bad guys. Although I never thought Lucas would do something like that.” She leaned closer, peering at Lyla’s neck. “Did he hurt you? He can be… kind of intense at times.”

  “No. He just scared the shit out of me.” She couldn’t resist running her hand up and down her throat. But she knew there wasn’t a single mark, not even any redness. She’d checked. “He was actually pretty gentle. I can’t believe they let you guys up here though. Aren’t I, like, enemy number one?”

  “Oh, you should have heard Elizabeth rip into Lucas,” Mari said with relish. “Cray was up here,” she shot Elizabeth a quick glance, “on guard duty, or he probably would have tried to stop her, but as it was…” The young woman grinned. “She hit him with you being Pack, and human, and female—”

  “What about you, Mari?” Elizabeth cut in, her voice going higher and a little sing-song. “Where I come from, we know better than to treat a guest in our own house like that.” The exaggerated Southern accent Elizabeth used made them all crack up.

  “You didn’t,” Lyla said, laughing.

  “She did. I was surprised she didn’t hit him with a ‘bless your heart.” That got them laughing again. But Lyla noticed Mari looked troubled.

  “That’s not quite what I said.”

  “Close enough,” Elizabeth answered. “The man looked like a kicked puppy.”

  Mari made a pained face and turned away.

  “Eat, Lyla. Really.” Elizabeth gestured with her hand. “Go on. It’ll get cold.”

  Reluctantly, Lyla picked up her fork.

  Elizabeth examined her glass, rotating the bowl as if she was studying the color of the wine. “I know it looked bad down there,” she started hesitantly, “but I don’t think Lucas would really have hurt you.”

  Lyla realized she was stroking her fingers over her neck and made herself stop. She couldn’t stop the memory of that large hand closing around her throat, though. Gently. Except when she’d tried to twist free, just for that briefest moment, the hand had closed in earnest, otherwise it was more like he was just holding her there. Maybe even for all his bluster, trying to figure out what to do.

  She took a bite of the pot roast, to give herself time before she had to answer. Elizabeth regarded her for a moment, then made a face and continued.

  “He hit me with the whole, “don’t make me kill you,” thing too.” She made her voice deeper and tried to imitate Lucas’s accent. It was a dismal failure. While Lucas’s deep voice could be intensely serious even with his words softly modified by his French accent, Elizabeth sounded more like a cross between Arnold Schwarzenegger and Pepé Le Pew.

  She rolled her eyes at her poor attempt and continued. “But now that I know him better, I don’t believe he would have ever hurt me, or let anyone else hurt me either. But he takes his responsibilities as Alpha seriously.”

  “So you think that whole scene down there was just for show?” Lyla wasn’t quite prepared to give him a pass that quickly. She found herself stroking her neck again and took another bite instead.

  Elizabeth shifted in her seat and looked pained. “I think you caught him completely off guard, and he reacted badly. This thing with his sister has him really on edge.”

  “His sister?” Lyla put down her fork and took another sip of wine.

  “That’s right,” Mari jumped in. “His sister—his baby sister—is missing. Has been for months. It’s driving him nuts. The Mont-Tremblant pack, the same ones who came after you, have been hunting her this whole time.”

  Elizabeth shot a quick glance at Mari, then met Lyla’s eyes. “Also, I believe, to take her back as a mate.”

  “Creepy.” Lyla shuddered. What would have happened if Aaron hadn’t been there this morning? Come to think of it, why was Aaron there this morning?

  Mari swallowed and nodded. “Every time they go out looking and come back without her, Lucas is wound a little tighter. Not that that excuses what he did,” she added quickly.

  “We are
totally going to hold him accountable for that,” Elizabeth said.

  “Totally,” Mari echoed in her soft drawl, and for some reason that made them all chuckle.

  “Anyway, you’re under Aaron’s protection, and Lucas accepted his claim, which means, even if he isn’t happy about it, you are safe here with the pack. No one is going to let anything happen to you, especially Aaron.”

  Elizabeth turned to Mari. “Did you see him come flying over the banister like that? Now that was swoon-worthy. I’ve never seen Aaron move that fast. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever seen Aaron angry before. Trust me, Lyla, you have nothing to worry about.”

  Lyla wasn’t so sure. Aaron was angry all right. He was furious. At her. She didn’t see how this could end well. Still, it was good to hear that Elizabeth thought she was safe. Elizabeth was one tough cookie. She didn’t seem like someone who would be easily fooled. And, while she had the women here, she might as well try to get some information. She pushed her food around on her plate, trying to figure out how to phrase this.

  “So, Elizabeth. What’s it like being mated?”

  To her surprise, Elizabeth blushed crimson. Well. Lyla backpedaled.

  “Sorry. That’s so personal, don’t answer that. What I mean is—” Lyla felt her own cheeks heat, but she forced herself to continue. “Aaron said something about me, um… needing to take a… mate, so I’d be safe from that other pack. He said something about a moon ceremony. I was just wondering what that was all about.” Now her cheeks were flaming. He’d also said something about a bond, but she wasn’t sure she was up to mentioning that just yet.

  Elizabeth leaned forward. “You and Aaron are going to have a Moonrise Ceremony?”

  Mari bounced in her seat. “Oh! Really?” She glanced to Elizabeth, looking slightly alarmed.

  “I knew it! Aaron is so cute. So sweet. He’s going to make you so happy. Can you believe it, Mari? Our little Aaron is getting married. Moonrised.” She waved her hand. “Bonded.” She rolled her eyes. “Whatever.”

  She turned to regard the younger woman. “Where are we in the moon, Mari? Is it growing, or shrinking?” Mari just shook her head. Lyla had no idea what she was talking about, but Elizabeth rushed on. “I can’t believe I don’t know this. I’m getting married to a werewolf—I need to know these things.” She leaned toward Lyla, a huge grin on her face. “So, tell us everything. How did he ask you?”

  “Well… um. We haven’t actually discussed it.” For some reason, she didn’t want to mention that they had pretty much broken up. She was still trying to reconcile the idea of anyone referring to Aaron as little. Although, he did kind of have that adorable quality… Her stomach gave a little flip. Married to Aaron— what would that be like? Maybe—

  “Wait. What do you mean, you haven’t discussed it?” Elizabeth didn’t sound happy.

  “Well… he did mention it. That I would need to… um… with somebody.” This was harder to talk about than she’d thought. Even though she felt pretty close to these women, the truth was, she hardly knew them. “But we didn’t actually discuss doing it with— each other.” Lyla took a deep, calming breath and sat back in her chair.

  “Oh.” Elizabeth shared a look with Mari. “Hmmm. That kind of throws it open then, doesn’t it?” She raised her eyebrows and grinned. “You’ve met them all now… Let’s see.” She tapped two fingers against her chin, a smile of pure delight on her face. “There’s Gage, of course, but he’s such a— I don’t know. Reminds me of… well, maybe a golden retriever puppy. You know? All eagerness, and no finesse. Don’t you think, Mari?”

  Mari grinned. “He’s a bit of clown, but he’s really a good guy.” She glanced at Lyla and shook her head. “But, no. I don’t see it.”

  “No,” Elizabeth agreed. “Not Gage.”

  “What about Dean?” The words were out of Lyla’s mouth before she thought them through. The memory of his beautiful green eyes smiling encouragement at her flashed through her mind. He’d been the only one not the least bit disturbed by the fact that she was a witch. He’d seemed more intrigued than anything. “What am I saying? He’s much too young. He’s got to be, like, twenty-five.”

  “Dean is thirty-three. Gage is actually the baby of the family, well, except for Mari. He’s only like twenty-eight. Aaron is forty-four, I think?” Elizabeth turned to Mari. “And our illustrious Alpha, Lucas, is forty-five. But he has a crush on our little Mari here—so he’s out.”

  “He does not!”

  “He totally has the hots for you.”

  “Elizabeth—”

  “Which means he is completely robbing the cradle,” Elizabeth shook her head in mock admonishment and grinned. “Lucas, you dog, you.” She turned to Lyla. “Mari is just a baby. Twenty-six.”

  “I’ll be twenty-seven in June.”

  “Really? Oh, we have to have a party! Do you think your sister would come?”

  Mari’s mouth opened, but for a moment, nothing came out. “Um… I don’t know. It’s a long trip. And she has the kids.” Mari paused. “Maybe.” Her eyes filled with tears. “It would be great to see her.”

  Elizabeth pulled the smaller woman into a hug. “Don’t cry, Mari. I’m sure we can work it out. We’ll send one of the guys down to pick her up, if necessary.”

  “Really? You think they would?”

  “I’m sure of it. You’ll see. I bet Gage would do it in a heartbeat. And we’ll have the best damn party anyone’s ever seen.” She patted Mari’s back. “I’ll be great. But for now—”

  She turned back to Lyla, “we still have to find Lyla a mate.” She raised her eyebrows suggestively. “What about Jesse? I wonder how old Jesse is? Old enough—that’s for sure.”

  “Jesse?” Lyla felt her insides quiver. “I’m not…” the image of his long, lean perfection crossing the room to her, flitted through her mind. Her stomach did a slow roll.

  “I know he has that whole—I’m-too-sexy-for-my-shorts thing going on—”

  Lyla had to laugh. That was Jesse.

  “But he does have his own brand of smokin’,” Elizabeth continued.

  There was a thump from outside the room, very much like someone had kicked a wall.

  “Oh my God!” Elizabeth exclaimed, one hand over her mouth. “I forgot he can hear us!”

  “He can hear us?” Lyla squeaked.

  “They have very good hearing,” Elizabeth whispered, leaning toward Lyla.

  “Don’t worry, honey, you’re hot too,” she called through the door. “But you’re taken.” There was another thump.

  Elizabeth bit her lip. “Um. Excuse me for one minute. He doesn’t like me talking about Jesse. For some reason.” She made big eyes at Mari, who stifled a giggle. “Oh, sure,” Elizabeth hissed. “You can laugh. Jesse doesn’t come within ten feet of you. Lucas would flatten him. Be right back.”

  For the first time since Lyla had met her, Elizabeth looked uncertain as she stood up and slipped from the room.

  “Is she going to be all right?” Lyla asked.

  “Oh, um… yes,” Mari said, waving a delicate hand. “He’s just a little touchy about Jesse.”

  Lyla wished the young woman looked more confident, but sure enough, Elizabeth joined them a few minutes later, looking flushed and happy. After that, they talked much more quietly and didn’t mention any of the guys specifically. Elizabeth was the one to address the elephant in the room.

  “So. Lyla. You’re a witch? Do you like—” she waved her fingers in the air, “do spells and stuff?”

  That started a discussion on magic and spells, and Lyla tried to explain that she really wasn’t that much of a witch. Sure, she could do the basics, but she spent a lot more time working on her stained glass. Still, she was surprised that the women were so accepting of it all. Then again, they did live with werewolves.

  And Lyla learned that the Moonrise Ceremony, which was what they called their traditional mating ceremony, took place on the new moon. Elizabeth informed them that was three weeks awa
y. The same day as her wedding.

  “Of course it is. I should have known that was why Cray insisted on the day.”

  Lyla tried to find out what that meant, but Elizabeth only said it had to do with farmers and not starting anything important while the moon was shrinking—whatever that meant.

  “So, that means you have three weeks to figure it out,” Elizabeth continued. When she saw the look on Lyla’s face, she hurried on. “Or not. There are always other months. Take your time.” She patted Lyla’s hand. “There’s no rush.”

  But Lyla had a feeling the one thing she didn’t have was time. Sooner or later, Aaron was going to walk through that bedroom door.

  Chapter 11

  Lucas glared at Aaron, doing his best to contain the anger and frustration roiling through him. This was his best friend. His second-in-command. The person he was supposed to be able to trust above all others. And instead, Aaron, steadfast, reliable Aaron, had brought him the headache to rival all headaches.

  “I told you she was trouble,” he grated. “Even I could tell that much from her scent. I might not have access to the ancient scent libraries, like our Lore Master here—”

  “Apprentice Lore Master,” Dean cut in.

  Lucas rounded on him. “Would you stop that? Merde—”

  Lucas rubbed the back of his neck, trying to ease the tension there. Every time Dean denied being Lore Master, it was another reminder that he had yet to commit to joining the pack officially. He was only here to help with the search for Aster. The two of them had been close friends during college, and Dean knew her well. He was an asset Lucas couldn’t afford to pass up when it came to trying to find her, and someone he very much wanted to add to his fledgling pack. If the cagey bastard would ever agree.

  He turned back to Aaron. How in the wicked-hills was he supposed to handle this? Aaron regarded him steadily, jaw tight, expression hard. And not the least bit apologetic.

  “Well? Nothing to say?”

  “I’m not the only one with an inappropriate attraction to a human. I seem to remember a certain—mated—female—”