“Let’s start with the fact that you and Wyatt get to run all around town picking up girls while the rest of us are stuck out here doing the hard work!” Delaney’s voice rose as she spoke. The rest of the pack sat in silent shock. Delaney may have been the highest-ranking female, but I was the Alpha, and no one raised their voice to me without being put in their place. A fact that several young wolves from my birth pack learned the hard way.
“Thank you for letting me know your concerns, Delaney,” I spoke quietly and glared at her, “I realize some of the pack has been doing more physical work than others.” I knew she wasn’t one of them. While Tegan worked hard around the house, and Ryker ran patrols with Wyatt and me, Delaney whined about the new house, the tiny town, and the lack of mountains. I watched as she shrank back at my implication.
“That is one of the things that will be discussed. Anyone else have concerns or issues we need to address?” I sat back and ate as I listened to Ryker bring the pack up to speed on his concerns about hikers. We discussed having signs posted for hikers to stick to the trails due to dangerous wildlife sightings. Wyatt was put in charge of dealing with park officials and making sure it was taken care of.
Tegan quietly asked about shopping duties and expenses. I immediately put her in charge of anything to do with the house. I hoped it would help to draw her out of her shell. I made sure the pack knew to deal with their own individual needs and not leave everything up to Tegan. I looked at Delaney when I said it, and I noticed her eyes narrowed slightly.
We discussed office work, and different means of income. Our main business would be survival training. We had excelled at it in Colorado, and there were enough forests in Michigan that I expected it to be an interest for tourists. We discussed Jarren and our new arrivals, and the need to get more houses built for pack members.
“Jarren hasn’t given me much information on the new wolves, just that they’re a family. I don’t expect them to be lone wolves, but I don’t want them treated differently either way,” I glanced only briefly at Wyatt who gave an almost imperceptible nod. “If that’s all, we need to get to work. Ryker, I’ll be out to run with you in a little while.” Ryker nodded and pushed away from the table. He tried to get Delaney’s attention, but she was already bee-lining it to me.
“Alex, you can’t avoid talking about this little human you found,” Delaney spat the word human as if it were disgusting to her. I looked up at her from my plate, a little surprised at her open hostility towards a human. “I don’t know why you went back to see her today. We are too busy for you be out rutting around with some no-body waitress.”
“Watch what you say Delaney,” I stood slowly, and then looked down at her. “I’m the Alpha here. I can decide what happens with Zee. You should be more worried about all that ‘work’ you’ve been doing. I suggest you go out running with Ryker and see what he might need your help with tonight. I have more important things to worry about than your jealousy.” By the time I was finished speaking she had bowed her head as far as she could. I heard her mumble her agreement before she rushed out the door after Ryker. I watched her go, worried that I hadn’t completely won that argument.
Chapter Five
Zee
I was nervously standing by my car at the bar. A part of me hoped he wouldn’t show up, but an even bigger part wanted to know what would happen between us if he did. It was that part that had said yes to the date. That part that had convinced me to not stand him up.
I glanced down at my outfit for the millionth time. Delilah had been ecstatic about the date and had spent hours the night before trying to find me something sexy to wear. I finally shoved her out of the room and settled on a pair of jeans and a pale pink tank top with a blue flannel shirt buttoned up over it. It was casual enough for a day date and perfect for the shifty weather in upstate Michigan. Since I wasn’t exactly sure what we would be doing I stuck with tennis shoes. And, despite Delilah’s best efforts at shoving a cute designer purse at me, so I could “pretend to try looking good”, I had brought my satchel with my sketch pad in it.
I glanced up at the sound of tires on gravel to see a navy extended cab truck pulling in. It looked like I would need a ladder to climb into it. Alex opened the door and jumped out easily. I doubted I would have looked that graceful. He strode over to where I stood by my faithful little four door. I watched his eyes rake over my outfit, and his lips quirk up when he took in my choice of clothing.
“Do you feel like doing some hiking?” he asked in place of greeting. I didn’t answer him right away as I took in his equally casual attire. His dark blue jeans were worn in places and rode low on his hips. He wore a plain black t-shirt just like the first night at the bar. I looked at his boots and I was glad I had opted for tennis shoes.
I looked up at his face and found him smirking at me. He raised his eyebrows and I remembered that he’d asked me a question. “Hiking? Any place in particular?” I asked, unsure how much of the area he had been able to see yet.
“I found a place out near my house that I want to climb and get a look around. I thought you might be up to helping me explore a little,” he looked at me expectantly. I knew I wouldn’t tell him no. He seemed to know too, because he held his hand out to me and I took it with little hesitation. He helped me climb into his truck, so much for needing that ladder, and then he drove towards Manistee.
During the drive he peppered me with questions. We talked about my life growing up in a small town with two working parents. I told him how much I loved swimming and fishing in the many streams and lakes in the area. He made me promise to take him to my favorite fishing spot one day.
I told him about falling out of a tree in my back yard when I was eight and cracking my collar bone. He chuckled as I complained about not being able to draw for ages and eating tons of jello to try to get the break to heal faster.
When I mentioned my art, he asked what I liked to draw. I told him about trying a lot of different things. I especially loved to draw nature. The forests we were driving in were a constant source of inspiration. He asked to see some of my pictures, and I told him maybe one day.
By the time Alex had parked his car in a visitor’s lot we had covered both of my jobs, including some of my funnier finds in the cabins, and Delilah and how she was going to college to become a nurse. I had never told a guy so much about myself before and I was a little surprised at how easily I talked to Alex.
“Wow, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to hog the conversation,” I still couldn’t figure out what it was about Alex that made me braver. It was just like at the bar the day before. I had never spoken to a guy like that. He just seemed to push me somehow and I liked feeling the freedom that came with saying exactly what I had been thinking.
“Don’t worry about it,” Alex said as he helped me out of the truck, “I loved hearing you talk. Most girls aren’t quite so forthcoming. I get introduced to enough girls who try to tell me what they think I want to hear.” I thought it was a little odd to admit that on a date. He didn’t seem to think so as he continued, “Anyway, ask me whatever you want if it’d help you feel better.”
So, as I followed along behind him to the rock face he wanted to climb he told me about himself. He told me all about the mountains and forests in Colorado. I was dying to get the chance to see them one day. He talked a lot about his big family and how close knit they all were.
When he talked about his adopted sister, Tegan, I noticed his face softened. A look I could only contribute to being a big brother crossed his face when he told me about Wyatt liking her. I suspected it was hard for him to let his best friend become involved with his sister.
I asked him about who all lived with him now, and he told me about the rest of his friends who had moved with him from Colorado. I couldn’t imagine moving so far from home just to live with a friend, but the more he talked about them, the more I realized that they were more family than friends.
Once I finally exhausted some of my curiosity, he
showed me the climbing he had been talking about. I looked up at the rock face. It wasn’t overly steep, and several feet up there was a ledge. I looked at him in surprise.
“Most guys would have just taken me to a movie,” I pointed out, but I couldn’t help grinning. I couldn’t wait to start climbing and see how the forest looked from the ledge.
“I never claimed to be like most guys,” he flashed a flirty half smile at me, “Besides, you would have been bored at a movie.” He reached up and found a handhold and pulled himself up. I smiled at his statement. I would have definitely been bored at a movie. I reached up to find my own handhold and started climbing up towards the ledge with him.
We climbed in silence, each concentrated on finding solid places to step and hold on. It may not have been steep, but a lot of the rocks were loose. My shoes slipped once, and for a brief moment I was prepared to be bruised and bloodied from the tumble back to the forest floor. At the last instance Alex reached out and grabbed my arm, holding me steady until I could find a stable place to place my foot. I smiled at him gratefully and continued climbing. After around fifteen minutes of climbing we were standing on the ledge.
From that height the ground was much farther down than I had expected. The forest around us was beautiful, just like I had imagined. The colors ranged from brilliant emerald to dark pine green. The sun was casting shadows that could let a person imagine most anything in the leaves, like finding a rabbit in the clouds. I couldn’t wait to start sketching. I could already picture how I would work the shadows.
Alex seemed content to lay back, propped up on his arms, and look out over the forest. I sat down in an area where the shadows in the trees were catching and I pulled out my sketch pad and pencils. I started out gazing at the pines, birches, and oaks that made up the forest in front of me, but I kept finding myself looking at Alex.
He was in profile and I could see his muscles flexing beneath his skintight shirt. A strip of tanned skin showed between his shirt and his jeans. Shadows played beautifully along his jaw line, enhancing his masculine face. I stared briefly and then hurriedly worked to get an outline of him in profile down in my sketch pad before he had chance to ask what I was doing or move.
Chapter Six
Alex
I could hear Zee’s pencil scratching on the paper, and I turned a little to see her facing me. “What are you doing?” I asked. She shooed me back to my original position and I chuckled at her bossiness.
“Just drawing, sit still, will ya?” Zee fussed at me as I moved around a bit to get more comfortable. I stayed as still as possible while she scratched away, even though a huge part of me wanted to pounce on the beautiful woman. She smelled so sweetly of the forest around us and it was easy to be with her.
I gazed out over my new territory. I had been right, the cliff allowed me to see quite a long way, and while I knew the forest well from my runs, it was nice to see it in its entirety. I glanced out of the corner of my eye at her still in deep concentration. She may not have realized the significance, but I was showing her my world. I briefly wondered if she would be able to accept me as a wolf as well as a man.
I sat long enough in one position that my elbows were aching from digging into the rocky ledge. Still, I didn’t dare move, except for my eyes to watch Zee drawing in my peripheral view. She was concentrating so hard, glancing up at me then drawing or shading on her pad. Occasionally she would shake her head and erase a little. More often than not her bottom lip was caught between her teeth and her eyes were scrunched together. It was an adorable look and I couldn’t bring myself to stop her. As the sun drifted closer to the noon hour she suddenly stretched and seemed to come out of her trance like state.
She glanced up at the sun and seemed surprised. “Wow, I’m sorry. You must be ready to get out of here,” she looked at me sheepishly, “I don’t usually draw live models. You should have said something ages ago.” I sat up and stretched my arms to try to relieve some of the kinks. I hopped to my feet and brushed off my pants before reaching for her hand to help her to her feet.
“No worries, doll,” I winked at her, “I can’t remember the last time I was objectified for such a long time without having sex.” Her cheeks turned pink with embarrassment, but she swatted at me playfully. “Do you want to come to the house for some lunch? It isn’t far from here.” I hoped she would say yes. I wasn’t ready to take her back to the bar yet.
“Yeah, that would be nice” Zee answered, “I’ll try not to zone out on you this time.” She grinned at me and started packing up her sketching supplies. I shot Wyatt a quick text that I would be bringing Zee by the house, so the pack knew not to show up in wolf form. When I looked up from my phone she was watching me expectantly.
“Ready?” I helped her start the climb down the cliff. It was quicker going down and when we reached the bottom she started immediately towards the truck. I moved to follow her when I suddenly caught an unwelcome scent. I scanned the trees as I followed a little slower behind Zee. I spotted the reddish colored wolf hidden in the trees. Her eyes were focused solely on Zee in front of me. Delaney, I thought, and a growl rumbled low in my chest that I knew only my pack mate would hear. The red wolf bared her teeth for a moment at Zee, then her eyes flashed to mine. I glared back until Delaney ducked her head and slinked away into the shadows.
I glanced at Zee and I was relieved to see that she didn’t seem to have noticed the strange scene that had just unfolded. I knew it was time to get Delaney under control. She had risked a lot to come this close to a human. I didn’t realize that her obsession with becoming my mate had gotten this bad. I’d hoped having her work with Ryker would get her to pay the receptive male a bit of attention. I seemed to be wrong.
“What’s your house like?” Zee asked as I started the truck. I considered how to answer her question as I pulled onto the narrow road. I figured she would be shocked either way, so I decided to give her an ambiguous description so I could see her reaction when we pulled up.
“It’s a two-story log cabin,” I couldn’t help but to smile happily as I described the home I had fallen in love with at first sight. “My parents gave it to me, and being very into nature, they went with something that wouldn’t disturb the surrounding beauty.” We were nearing the house and the trees thinned slightly to allow space for a narrow driveway. I glanced at Zee as I pulled through the last line of trees into the open space in front of the pack’s home. Her brown eyes were enormous as she took in the dark wood, the gabled roof, and the porch with a wooden porch swing. She didn’t speak, just sat staring, making me concerned with what she thought of my home.
“It’s beautiful,” she breathed almost reverently. Her eyes were sparkling as they flicked around the exterior of the house, taking in every part of it. I watched her slide slowly from the truck and I couldn’t help thinking that she would love living here. I shook my head and followed behind her. She walked up the steps, trailing her hand along the rough-hewn railing of the stairs. She walked over to the swing and I heard her sigh as she ran her hand along it as well.
I opened the door and waited for her to walk in. She gasped when she saw the floor stained dark walnut and the log walls. “Do you want a little tour?” I suspected that I already knew her answer, and I was rewarded by her enthusiastic nod. Zee walked through the house with me slowly, taking in each room I showed her. I love watching her reactions. She gazed up at the open ceiling in the foyer with a little smile. When we walked into the kitchen with its wooden cabinet and black marble countertops, she actually clapped her hands and I expected her to jump up and down. In the living room she stopped completely at the stone fireplace. It took up most of one wall, and the stones were stacked with a rustic feel that I found appealing. When Zee sighed happily and smiled, I knew she agreed.
“How ‘bout I see what I can put together for us to eat?” I asked heading towards the kitchen. I didn’t expect her to follow me, so when I felt her small warm hand slipping into mine, I was surprised. I looked down
at our joined hands and then her face. Her eyes looked a bit dreamy as she looked around. Suddenly a little line formed in her brow as she seemed to contemplate something.
“I thought your friends all lived here, too,” she looked around as if she expected people to start popping out of the woodwork, “Where are they all? I was hoping to meet some of them.”
“Well you’ve already met the most important person that lives here,” I teased her playfully. She shoved me a little and gave me a stern look. I feigned a hurt look and she broke out in giggles. Her laugh was amazing. It sounded perfect in my house and I couldn’t wait to hear it again. “They’re probably out exploring. We’re an adventurous bunch, and we all love being outside. Don’t worry you’ll meet them all soon enough.” I’d caught Wyatt and Tegan’s scents, mixed with the strong scent of arousal, when we passed the office. I suspected they would make an appearance once they both had the nerve.
In the kitchen, I sat Zee at the table and went to work putting together sandwiches from the groceries Tegan had bought that morning. I made a large plate, knowing the food was bound to attract a wolf or two. I also pulled out some pre-cut vegetables, and silently thanked Tegan for always having food prepared for people’s ease.
I was sitting the plates of food on the table when Wyatt strutted into the room, looking pleased as a male peacock displaying all his feathers. Tegan walked in, much more docilely behind him, her face flushed and her eyes on the floor. Wyatt touched her hand and she glanced up at him and smiled shyly.
“Zee, you already met Wyatt,” I motioned to the flirty wolf, who gave Zee a wink before snatching one of the sandwiches and dropping into a chair. I glared at him a moment but then looked at Tegan. “And this is my little sister, Tegan. Tegan this is Zee.”
Falling Hearts (Hearts of Wolves Book 1) Page 3