by Katie Reus
Heat spread through her like wildfire at the hungry look he gave her. It was so quick she might have imagined it, but she knew she hadn’t.
Before either of them could say anything, the human woman in front of them with curly gray hair peeking out from her white and red knit cap half turned and gave Nathan a big smile. “And if you really need the help, I’ll hold your other hand.” She had to be in her sixties, maybe seventies.
Noel smothered a laugh and just grinned as Nathan actually blushed. He mumbled a non-response to the adorable woman and ended up paying for her hot cocoa as well as theirs.
Once they were alone sitting on one of the benches, Noel erased any distance between them and sidled up next to him. His masculine, earthy scent was heaven and a little bit of torture. A year ago she’d thought they might have something real. Then when things had gone to hell and she’d assumed he wanted nothing but fun from her, it had been easy to cut him out of her life, to pretend they’d never shared those intense kisses behind the barn.
She looked at his strong profile. His light auburn hair was a little long—definitely long enough that she could run her fingers through it. She kept her hands firmly around her warm cup. “Can I ask you about something you said earlier?” It had been bothering her all day.
He met her gaze, nodded.
“You said I wasn’t the only person to lose packmates… Did you lose someone before joining with Connor?” She knew he must have. Almost all shifters over a certain age had lost someone to violence—or even human friends to old age.
His green eyes seemed to darken before he looked away, staring out at the rink. A thick sense of joy seemed to fill the air, everyone in the holiday spirit. Two years ago she would have been in the holiday spirit but now it was a like there was a dark cloud over Christmas.
“I wasn’t part of a big pack. It was my parents, brother, and two other mated couples. Eighty years ago things were different.”
She nodded. She was only sixty and she’d been very sheltered growing up. But she understood what he meant. Eighty years ago they hadn’t yet come out to humans, so things were very different. Most packs had been small and even the bigger packs had been insulated from humans. A necessity because they’d had to move every couple decades.
“Vampires wanted the land we owned.” His jaw tightened and she knew what was coming even before he said the words.
It was a common story among shifters and vampires. One of the most common, in fact. There had been so much death and bloodshed between their species decades ago. Mostly before her time, though there were still squabbles now and then. She slid her arm through his as he talked, wanting to touch him.
“I was the only one who survived.”
Her throat tightened at his words. Squeezing his arm, she laid her head on his shoulder. “I’m so sorry.” He’d lost his brother and parents, something she unfortunately could understand. Losing packmates was one of the hardest things. Losing family members was even harder.
He leaned his cheek against the top of her head. “I didn’t have anyone to talk to for a long time. No one who would get it. I was barely a full-grown male when I lost them. When Connor found me and put together his pack, it changed everything. Gave me a purpose. I’m not saying losing them gets easier, but time makes a difference.”
She wished she could take away the lingering pain she sensed rolling off him. It wasn’t harsh or overbearing, just a subtle scent in the air. But it was enough to make her wolf agitated. She’d been so caught up in her own grief she hadn’t noticed that others might be hurting too.
The truth was, she hadn’t wanted to notice. She’d been consumed with her own needs. Now…the thought of Nathan in pain made her want to comfort him. Okay, she wanted to do way more than comfort him.
Chapter 3
“Is that Noel and Nathan?” Ana squeezed Connor’s hand as they strolled along the walkway that encircled the skating rink. “They’re holding hands,” she said before he could respond to what was basically a rhetorical question anyway.
Her mate chuckled, the deep sound wrapping around her. “Yeah, I heard he was taking her out tonight.”
“And you didn’t tell me?” Her sister had been in a funk lately and it had been starting to worry Ana. She’d already lost one sister. She wouldn’t lose Noel.
“One of the pack texted me as we were leaving. But…I should tell you I think she’s going to want to move out soon.”
“Because of Nathan?”
Her tall, sexy mate shook his head. “Maybe eventually, but no. I just have a feeling she wants to get out on her own. Away from us.”
Yeah, Ana had been getting that vibe from her younger sister lately too. “I don’t know if it’s a good idea.” Under any other circumstances she’d have been happy her sister wanted to spread her wings, but she didn’t want Noel moving and isolating herself even more. Not when she’d been withdrawing into herself.
“I agree. What do you think about Niko’s plan?” Connor asked, abruptly changing the subject.
Which was his way, she’d discovered in the last year. As Alpha he had a lot to deal with on a daily basis and he discussed everything with her. She loved that there weren’t secrets between them, that they were a team. “I think he needs to tell Gloria before she claws his eyes out.”
Connor snorted. “No kidding.” He dropped her hand and quickly wrapped an arm around her shoulders as they headed away from the rink and deeper into the park.
Ana was so glad they’d managed to sneak an evening away. For once the stars had aligned in their favor. “I think it’s a great idea what he’s planning. I’ll miss her but…she deserves to see the world.” Gloria was a beta and one of the backbone of their pack, but they’d survive without her for a little while.
Connor’s big hand slid up her waist and higher as he not-so-subtly cupped her breast. She had on a red cashmere sweater and a black peacoat but she could feel the heat of him even with all the layers of clothing.
She shifted slightly, looking over her shoulder at the empty sidewalk behind them. “Planning on getting frisky out here?” she murmured, turning fully into him.
“Maybe,” he murmured, bending his head toward hers.
As his kiss deepened, his tongue teasing her own, she automatically leaned into him, wanted to wrap her body around his. Then an unfamiliar scent made them pull back from each other almost at the same time.
She turned to see a human couple coming from the direction of the park, laughing and holding hands, oblivious to anyone around them. A part of Ana envied people who didn’t have to be on guard all the time.
Even out here with her mate, she knew that they couldn’t truly let their guard down. They couldn’t grab a quickie in the park even if she really, really wanted to get a little wild with her mate right now. She didn’t even care that there was a light layer of snow on the ground. Sometimes her wolf side wanted to throw caution to the wind and revel in her sensuality, her more primal side.
Sighing, Connor wrapped his arms around her shoulders again. “I say we find a place to park on our land instead of going home right away.”
“Is ‘park’ code for something else?” She wrapped her arm snugly around his waist.
“Definitely.” The word was a soft growl before he kissed the top of her head.
A shiver of anticipation streaked through her. She loved when he got all growly. “So who do you think will get mated next?” she asked a few minutes later as they headed back downtown to where they’d left their truck.
Energy hummed through her. She was ready to feel her mate’s hands on her, to be skin to skin, and couldn’t wait much longer.
“Matt and Eva.”
Ana nodded. “I think so too.” At one time Connor hadn’t liked Matt, had thought he was a threat to the pack. That seemed like a lifetime ago instead of just a year. It was hard to believe how much things had changed in so short a time.
“It’ll be good for the pack too.” His voice was matter-of-fact.<
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She understood what he meant. If one of their packmates mated with a human with strong ties to the community, it would be positive for their image. She hated that they even had to think in those shallow, political terms, but it was a fact of their lives. They had to care about image to survive in this world. Liam mating with December—the sheriff’s sister—had ended up being a very good thing for the pack.
“And I like to think that Noel and Nathan will get together too.” She hoped so anyway. She wanted her sister to be truly happy.
Connor didn’t say anything, just pulled her closer as they turned onto Main Street. When they passed a children’s clothing shop, Ana’s heart rate increased the tiniest bit. Though she tried to hide her reaction, her mate missed nothing.
“What?” Connor frowned down at her.
She gave him what she hoped was her most wicked grin. “Just thinking about the ‘parking’ we’ll be doing soon.” Which was mostly true.
She never lied to Connor but right now there was something she still wanted to keep to herself. Just for a few more days. She would tell him on Christmas morning. At least that was her plan.
After taking a dozen tests, she was certain she was pregnant. And her doctor’s appointment had only confirmed it. During her last heat he’d worn condoms because she didn’t think they were ready for cubs. Looked like they were going to have to get ready.
Right about now she was pretty freaked out. Things had finally settled down at the ranch and the thought of bringing a cub into this world terrified her. Not only that, but the Alpha having a child was a big deal. Their baby could be targeted simply because he or she was Connor’s.
Still…a bubble of excitement had started to grow inside her at the thought of having a baby, of holding a cub of her own. She’d basically been a mom to so many of her cousins over the years, and the thought of having a cub that she and Connor had created together?
Yeah, pretty amazing. Still, when she told her mate they were going to have a baby, she wanted to have her head fully wrapped around the fact that their lives were about to drastically change.
* * *
Nathan grasped Noel’s smaller hand in his. She was petite and though she looked fragile, he knew she wasn’t. Strength hummed through her and he felt the subtlety of it in her hold.
As they glided around the skating rink, he had no problem holding her hand for balance. He was a freaking warrior, trained through and through. And he was an apex predator.
Balance was not a problem for him.
But if he got to hold Noel’s hand? Then he could be a terrible skater for the next couple hours. They’d been out here for an hour already, talking, skating and taking hot cocoa breaks.
Her cheeks were flushed pink when she looked over at him. God, what he wouldn’t give to see her look like that under different circumstances. To see her hair tousled around her face, her cheeks all red after he’d made her come against his tongue. He wondered what she would taste like, how responsive she’d be. He shifted uncomfortably, trying to get his body under control.
“What? You need a break?”
“Yeah, maybe on one of those benches over there.” His gaze fell to her mouth again, but he quickly looked away. Focusing on her perfect, lush lips wasn’t conducive to keeping his body under control.
As they reached the farthest section of the elongated skating rink and the benches he’d been talking about, he moved a little closer to her. He wanted more than to just hold her hand. He wanted to pull her to him, to feel her underneath him, skin to skin. No barriers.
Turning to the cluster of empty benches, the front edge of his blade caught on the ice. As he pitched forward, Noel grabbed onto him. He wrapped his arms around her and twisted so that his body would take the brunt of the impact. He probably could have righted himself, but damn it, he wanted to feel her against him and would take any excuse he could.
As they tumbled into a fluffy section of snow between two empty benches, she let out a squeal of surprise and spread her hands over his shoulders as she pushed up slightly. “Are you okay?”
He couldn’t answer as he stared up at her. It was impossible to find his voice with her body tangled with his. Her bright amber eyes glowed ever so slightly, her expression pure joy, and for a brief moment he was reminded of the first time he’d kissed her in the pack’s barn. He’d pressed her right up against one of the stall doors and she’d wrapped her legs around his waist, urging him to do more than just kiss her.
Now, when his only answer was his growing erection, she sucked in a breath, her fingers digging into his shoulders. Her breathing grew erratic, her pupils dilating as she stared at him.
Laughter and the sounds of others skating nearby filled the air, but they were far enough away from the majority of the people that no one could see them.
“I want to feel you under me, want to be skin to skin,” he rasped out.
Her eyes widened as she sucked in a breath. “Nathan…”
“We have chemistry.” Because screw simple friendship. He’d take it if that was truly all she wanted, but she couldn’t deny the electric energy that seemed to spark between them.
The dark scent of her heat tinged the air, her arousal making him lightheaded. “That might be true, but I wasn’t kidding when I said I’m a mess. It would feel too much like I’m using you for something physical.”
“So?” Saying the word gutted him, but the truth was, he’d take her how he could get her. It didn’t matter what he’d told her before, that he didn’t want to be used. This was his opportunity to reel her in. He’d make it so good for her she wouldn’t be able to stay away. It was a starting point to winning her heart anyway.
She blinked.
“I’m okay if you want to use me.” Not exactly a lie as he leaned down to brush his lips over hers. All the thoughts he’d had of going slow dissipated as her mouth parted under his on a soft, acquiescing sigh.
His tongue flicked against hers, and in the back of his head he knew he needed to pull back before this went too far. But his wolf refused to listen.
Noel pulled back suddenly, her cheeks a darker shade of red than before. “I’m not okay using you,” she whispered even though he could scent her desire.
“Noel—”
A terrified scream rent the air.
“Help!” A young male voice yelled again.
Nathan was up on his skates in seconds, pulling Noel up with him as another scream filled the air.
“There!” Noel shouted, unlacing her skates as he did the same.
Past the skating rink guard, a small child was on the edge of a small frozen pond—and someone must have fallen in, given the splashing and muted cries for help.
Without pause the two of them jumped over the railing of the rink. It might be freezing out, but he barely felt the cold through his socks, and Noel wouldn’t either due to their higher body temperatures. Even if he’d been able to feel the icy cold, he’d still be helping.
“Help my sisters!” The boy continued screaming, his terror raw, palpable, urging Nathan on.
“You swim?” he asked Noel even though he figured she did.
“Yeah.” Her breathing rate had increased but she kept pace with him, racing over the fluffy snow. “He said sisters. There might be two of them.”
He’d caught that too. Nathan stripped off his jacket and shirt as they neared the bank of the pond, ignored the cries of the boy who was in a clear panic, just screaming now. There were other shouts of alarm far behind them but he tuned those out too.
The icy surface of the pond chilled his feet as he skidded out onto it. The majority of it was frozen but cracks splintered out over the surface in areas.
“The hole is icing over.” Noel’s voice filled with panic as she followed him.
There was no more splashing and his own fear for the safety of the girls in the pond ratcheted up his heart rate. No one was dying here today. No parent was going to bury their children.
The need to prot
ect, to help, drove him on, Noel a steady presence at his side. A crescent moon illuminated the icy surface as they moved out deeper and deeper into the middle.
The ice cracked beneath his feet and they both stilled, scanning for signs of life. No one should have been on this pond. Clearly the kids had ignored the posted signs. Not that it mattered. They were freaking kids and needed help.
“There,” Noel murmured, pointing to a flash of pink under the surface of the ice.
Two little girls were flailing under the now iced-over hole, one just barely moving her hands.
They moved as a unit, ignoring the continuing cracks as they hurried over the ice. Two sets of hands pressed up underneath the ice, the fear in the girls’ eyes clawing at him.
He crouched down on the ice. “We need to break through. But they’re not going to understand when we tell them to move back.” Because they were maybe ten years old and were terrified out of their minds—and likely close to hypothermia and drowning.
“I’ll break through on the right, next to this girl,” Noel said, lifting back a fist, not waiting for him.
Doing the same a few feet away, Nathan slammed his fist into the ice, smashing through it like glass. His knuckles split but he ignored the pain. He pounded and pounded until it gave way beneath him. Out of the corner of his eye he was aware of Noel doing the same.
Icy water rushed over him as he fell into the pond, all the muscles in his body tightening in a natural instinct to save warmth as he wrapped an arm around a limp little girl. No, no, no. He would get her out of here.
“I’ve got this one!” Noel was shoving a barely conscious girl in all pink onto a solid slab of ice. The girl’s teeth chattered as Noel climbed up behind her and it was clear she was breathing.
Moving quickly, Nathan did the same. Moments later they both scooped the girls up and started making their way back to shore. Even though he wanted to sprint, he was very aware of the cracking—too much pressure and they’d go right back in.
“Stay back!” he shouted to the little boy who’d stopped crying but looked as if he was ready to rush onto the ice. A crowd of people were running over the snow toward them.