Zackary pulled his hand off hers, resting it on his knee. He stared at the river.
“He used to hit me.”
Elsie’s head jerked up. “What?”
“He smacked me around a lot, so seeing him rabid isn’t so different . . .” Zackary shrugged. “He was mad all the time even before he went crazy.”
Heat flashed through Elsie’s body and her heart pounded.
“Your father hit you? That monster,” she growled.
Zackary shrugged again. “He was bigger and stronger, though that had changed before the rabid wolf got him. I could have taken him if I really wanted to.”
“No child should have to fight off their parent,” Elsie cried, her heart breaking. She wanted to throw her arms around Zackary, but he might think she was coddling him. What he’d shared with her was big. Huge. She knew it had to be hard. Most males didn’t want to admit any kind of weakness. She could imagine the only reason Zackary had shared was to make her feel better about her own monstrous father.
This male of hers was amazing. He would always put her well-being first, even at his own expense.
Zackary swallowed. “I only saw Lazarus once—the time he appeared in the glade to tell Tabor he was his father. But it was clear he cared deeply for you, both of you. When Tabor refused his invitation to Balmar Heights, he insisted the pack welcome you into the hollow. He asked Tabor to teach you how to be a wolf. No matter what he has done in the past, I believe your father truly loves you.”
Tears ran down Elsie’s cheeks.
Even if that was true, was her father’s love enough? If he’d bewitched her mother, could she ever forgive him?
Elsie crawled over to Zackary, settling between his legs. She leaned her back against him. His arms wrapped protectively around her and together they spent the remainder of the morning watching the river flow by.
“Zackary?”
“Yes?”
“Can you claim me tomorrow?”
Zackary cradled her in his arms. “I will claim you the moment you want, Elsie.”
As risky as it was to wait another hour, let alone day, she had to hold off.
Tomorrow. They’d start fresh tomorrow. They’d bury the past and create a brighter future together.
She still had three days left. Elsie would save herself from every troublesome male in her life: Brutus, William, and her father. And if Tabor didn’t want her to be happy, then maybe he didn’t belong in her life either.
chapter seventeen
Having memorized Lacy’s routine, Diego entered the glade several hours before dinner when he knew she would be filling the cauldron with ingredients for the pack’s stew. She stood with her back to him at the table, hacking meat into chunks with a large knife. Not wanting to startle her while she chopped, Diego waited until she’d set the knife down to call out a greeting.
“Hola, mi amor.”
Lacy turned and grinned. “Buenas tardes,” she returned.
Hearing her use the Spanish he’d taught her gave him a thrill even if it was only two words.
As Diego sauntered closer, the scrappy male on duty with Lacy emerged from the woods with a bucket of water. Diego stopped and frowned at him.
“I will assist Lacy with dinner,” Diego informed him, lifting his chest. “Go do whatever it is you do when you’re not helping.” The male set the bucket down and gaped at him. “You understand English, si?” Diego lifted a brow.
“Um.” The scrapper looked at Lacy, but she held her tongue and stared at Diego as though he was in charge. His chest expanded even more.
“Andale, andale,” Diego said, shooing the male with his hands. “You are no longer needed.”
The male frowned at Diego, standing his ground.
“It’s okay, Carter. Diego wants to feel useful. You can go,” Lacy said patiently.
Still glowering, the male took his sweet time walking away. Diego didn’t care if he moved at a crawl so long as he left the glade. Once reaching the clearing’s perimeter, the male stomped into the woods.
Lacy placed the hand that had been chopping meat onto her hip.
“Carter was in charge of fetching water for the stew. I assume you’re going to take over that task now that you’ve sent him away.”
“No problem,” Diego answered. “Or I could cut up the meat.”
“While I fetch the water? Nice try.” Lacy laughed at him. Diego shrugged and smirked before striding over to the bucket of water and lifting it easily. The scrapper named Carter had barely filled it halfway. Weakling.
“This goes in the cauldron?” Diego asked.
Lacy nodded. “And we need about five more of those. Think you can handle it?”
“Easy.” Diego lifted the bucket above his head as he walked to the cauldron. Reaching the steel bowl, he lowered the water and dumped it inside. “I’ll be back,” he said cheerfully as he headed in the direction of the river.
“I’ll be here,” Lacy returned.
On his return trip with the first full bucket of water, he dipped his fingers inside as he passed Lacy and flicked water at her.
“Diego,” she chided, unable to hide a smile.
“Si, that’s my name.”
Lacy huffed. “You’re unbearable.”
Diego smiled wide as he filled the cauldron, then hurried back to the river so he could return to the blonde beauty in the glade.
Once the cauldron had enough water in it, Diego set to work lighting the kindling beneath the pot by rubbing two sticks together.
Looking over, Lacy laughed. “We have a bow drill you can use.”
Diego batted the suggestion away with his arm. “Nah, I do this all the time. My brother and I don’t carry supplies. We mastered the skill of fire-starting years ago—among other talents.” He winked. “We’ve never needed any tools to get by,” he boasted.
Lacy returned to the table, cutting onions next.
The gusto with which Diego had been rubbing the sticks lost its satisfaction once Lacy’s back was turned. He did admire her backside, though. Light blonde hair hung from her ponytail over her slender back. He felt an urge to spin Lacy around and dance with her while serenading her with a love song his mother had sung to them when they were little.
As fire sparked from the stick Diego rubbed back and forth, he snuck looks at the blonde shifter to see if she was watching him at all. She wasn’t. Disappointment engulfed his chest, but he successfully lit the prepared kindling. He could practically light a fire in his sleep. Not that Lacy seemed impressed.
Diego blew on the flames, feeding more twigs in until the logs burned with gusto. Swiping his hands back and forth, he got to his feet and strode over, running his eyes along Lacy’s lovely backside.
“What can I do next?”
“All this needs to go into the cauldron.” Lacy nodded at the chopped meat and vegetables on the table.
They worked together filling a pan, which Diego then took and emptied into the cauldron. It splashed into the water. He went back and forth until every last scrap of meat and vegetable had made it into the mixture warming above the fire.
Diego fetched another bucket of water and dumped it over the table, giving it a thorough rinse.
“Now what?” he asked, setting the bucket beneath the table.
“Now we wait for the stew to heat.”
Diego grinned. “That’s it?”
“Every now and then I give it a stir.” Lacy walked up to the cauldron and turned the long wooden spoon several times before letting go.
Diego joined her, lifting onto his toes as he looked into the soupy mixture.
“How long before it needs to be stirred again?”
“Not for a while. The fire just got started, the water’s still cold, and there’s a lot in there to heat through.”
“Okay,” Diego said. “So now what?”
Lacy glanced around the empty glade. “I usually hang out and wait until it’s time to give the stew another turn with the spoon.”
“Hmm, I wonder how we can pass the time?” Diego tapped his lower lip three times with his pointer finger.
“You can tell me about your travels,” Lacy said with a grin. “Heath and Alec made them sound quite exciting.”
Diego pursed his lips. Usually he enjoyed recounting his adventures, but what he had in mind didn’t involve talking. It did, however involve his lips and Lacy’s—maybe a little tongue if she allowed it.
Gaze turning hooded, he stepped closer to Lacy. She didn’t look away as he devoured her in his gaze, leaning forward, caressing her cheek before he kissed her. Soft lips pressed against his hungry mouth, igniting a fire that trailed from his tongue to his groin.
Diego deepened the kiss, tilting his head to get in closer. He gave up breathing as the delicious blonde went after his kisses like she wanted this as much as he did. Lacy wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed against him. If Diego could give up clothes and wear her for the rest of his days, he’d be one happy wolf shifter. He rubbed against her, showing her how hard she’d made him. Lacy squeezed him tighter as she sucked his mouth.
Dios mío.
He stroked her tongue while grinding against her. Lacy’s fingers dug into his shoulders, causing blood to rush his pelvis. He slid his hands down her back slowly, caressing her through the thin cotton of her dress as he went. When he reached her ass, he cupped both her cheeks in his palms and pulled her against his groin. Lacy’s feverish kisses continued. Diego warred with the urge to take it slow and the need to bury his cock inside her.
When his hands gripped the hem of her dress, Lacy grabbed his wrists in a surprisingly tight grip and broke off their kiss.
Taking in deep, gasping breaths, she shook her head.
“That’s as far as I go. I’m holding out for my forever mate.”
Diego’s mouth gaped open. He had the biggest boner straining against his jeans, swollen lips, and the taste of Lacy lingering on his tongue.
“You’ve never mated another male before?” he asked in shock.
“I know it’s uncommon,” Lacy said.
“But—” Diego didn’t know what else to say. He rubbed the back of his neck, staring at Lacy perplexed. “Not once? Not ever?”
Lacy shook her head, the end of her ponytail sweeping from side to side. She chewed on her lower lip, staring at him with flushed cheeks and puffy pink lips. Damn, she was cute and sensual—kinda a tease, too, but that only made her more desirable. Diego wanted to be the first male to bring her to climax and empty his seed inside her . . . the only male. His chest puffed up at the thought.
A crazy thought occurred to him. He zeroed in on her lips, sure it wasn’t possible, but still curious to know.
“Had you ever kissed a male before?”
Lacy grinned and gave a slight shake of her head.
“You’re kidding!” Diego exclaimed.
“No, I’m not. You are the first male I kissed. I . . . liked it.” The pink flush in her cheeks turned deep red.
Diego ran a hand through his hair. She was an unexpected delicacy meant only for him. He had to have her, all of her. No one else could. They could keep their grubby paws off his beautiful blonde virgin tease. Realizing he’d begun pacing in front of Lacy, he stopped and chuckled to himself.
“Very well, mi amor. I was waiting to tell you this, but I might as well share. I’ve intended to claim you since the moment I saw you.”
Lacy adjusted her ponytail, which had been knocked askew when they’d kissed, then looked at him head on. “If you want me, you will have to claim me and reside in Wolf Hollow.”
One moment he was soaring, the next, plummeting from the edge of a cliff.
Diego’s smile slipped off his face, avalanching to the ground below, along with all the plans he’d imagined for his future.
chapter eighteen
Elsie slept easier after being comforted by Zackary all day.
She was ready to put the past behind her and begin a happy future with her wonderful forever mate in Wolf Hollow.
She was ready to break the curse.
Too excited to eat breakfast, Elsie sat on a log with Tabor and Sasha, tapping her foot relentlessly over the earth.
Tabor looked over and squinted. “What’s up with you?”
Elsie stopped shaking her foot. “What do you mean?”
“You’ve been acting funny lately.”
“Funny how?”
Sighing, Tabor looked to Sasha for help, but the pureblooded she-wolf continued eating her porridge without comment. When Tabor cleared his throat and raised his brows, Sasha set her bowl in her lap. “If Elsie has something she wants to share, she’ll do so when she’s ready.”
Elsie flashed Tabor a triumphant smile. “You have such a wise mate, Brother.”
Tabor grunted. “Fine, but you know you can tell me anything.”
“Uh-huh.”
“I mean it.”
“I know.”
Tabor rubbed his jaw. “So, anything you want to discuss?”
“Not particularly.”
When Tabor next turned to Sasha, she stood.
“I think I’ll have a little more,” she said, rubbing her flat belly. The motion caught Tabor’s attention. He jumped to his feet, accompanying Sasha to the cauldron.
Elsie smirked. Sasha certainly knew how to make her mate heel.
Feeling guilty about tripping Hudson, Elsie offered him a bright smile when they met up at the edge of the glade.
“Good morning, Hudson. It looks like it’s going to be another beautiful day.”
Hudson nodded. “Hard to believe we’re heading into fall next month.”
“How do shifters keep warm in the winter?” Elsie asked curiously.
At Balmar Heights they were able to power the electric fireplaces with magic. The villas had fireplaces on both levels, in multiple rooms. Some were the old-fashioned wood-burning stoves. Elsie had always found it cozy. As far as Wolf Hollow went, she doubted cook fires provided enough warmth to shifters in skin.
“We single shifters spend the coldest months mostly in fur,” Hudson said. “For families with kids too young to shift, they bundle up and spend lots of time inside their dwellings.”
Elsie shuddered. “I’d go stir crazy.”
Hudson chuckled. “Yeah. Mates take turns shifting and going for runs. The kids get pretty fed up, too, and end up coming out for playtime and exercise. They’re pretty hardy to the climate, even in skin.”
“Hmm,” Elsie said, thinking. “It would be really nice to have a communal enclosure that was heated for the children in the winter. You know, a place where they could play games and stuff—get out of their huts and treehouses.”
Hudson scratched his head. “Uh, yeah. That sounds great, but how would we heat it?”
“With a stove,” Elsie suggested.
“Good point.” Hudson laughed.
“Do you plan on ever claiming a mate?”
Hudson’s laugh turned into a choking sound. “After Vallen took Rebecca from me, I didn’t think I’d ever love again. I ended up asking Jordan, but I wasn’t really in love with her; I just wanted to stop her from making a mistake.”
“You don’t think she should be with Raider?”
“They seem to be into one another so whatever,” Hudson grumbled. “I mean, if she wants to give her former friends the cold shoulder, that’s her decision.”
“Love sorta sidetracks people. I’m sure she’ll come back around in time,” Elsie offered.
“Doubtful,” Hudson answered moodily.
Elsie smiled. “Or you can make new friends, like Zadie and Nudara.”
Hudson perked up, his eyes glowing a little brighter. “Yeah, they’re pretty cool.” He elbowed Elsie playfully. “You are too. Can we be friends?”
Elsie placed her hands on her hips. “I thought that we already were.”
Hudson chuckled. “I suppose so.”
They walked side by side while the trail was wide enough then switched
to single file where it narrowed. Elsie went first, picking her way through the brush toward the clearing.
“As your friend, I need to apologize for letting you get stuck with Zack,” Hudson said to her back.
She whipped around and narrowed her eyes. “Hey! Zackary is my friend. There’s more to him than meets the eye.”
Hudson lifted his arms in a calming gesture. “Don’t bite my head off. I’m glad he’s being nice. If he wasn’t, I’d have to set him straight.”
Chase lay on his back, eyes closed, in the clearing. Walking closer, Elsie couldn’t tell whether he was asleep or resting his eyes.
“What a lazy ass,” Hudson joked.
Chase stuck his tongue out, eyes still shut.
Zackary stood in front of the bushes, filling a basket with berries. Eager to get his duties out of the way, Elsie thought with a wry smile.
Chase rolled over, stretched his arms above his head and yawned. When he’d finished, he smacked his lips. “Well, not much more of this before the new pairings. I like this new practice of trading. Great idea, Elsie.”
“She’s full of ideas,” Hudson said with a teasing smile.
“Well, see you later,” Chase said.
Elsie waved. As the males headed to the woods, Hudson paused beside the tree with the heart. Elsie’s heart rate picked up, worrying he had noticed the initials and would turn back around asking questions. But when Chase gave Hudson a playful shove, the boys laughed and disappeared into the forest.
Arms swinging, Elsie joined Zackary in front of the bushes.
“Hey,” he said, smiling at her.
“Hey,” she said back.
“I thought we could get the berries picked first.”
“Good idea.”
Elsie took up the second basket and began filling it, her heart pattering. By the end of the day she would be a claimed female. She imagined herself holding hands with Zackary in the glade, sitting together to eat their morning and evening meals on a log with Justin and Wiley. Every night, they’d find someplace private to make love before drifting off into sweet slumber wrapped in one another’s’ arms. Her vision of partnered bliss fizzled when she thought of her brother. This could only happen if Tabor chose to forgive and forget past grievances once and for all.
Moon Cursed (Wolf Hollow Shifters Book 4) Page 19