She huffed, twitching our tail.
You know he’s flattering you, right?
She didn’t answer.
Who knew wolves were vain?
“What do you know about Luthers, beautiful wolf?” he asked.
She rested our head on his chest.
“Our pack has a legend of a she-wolf,” Sascha murmured. “She was chosen by the sun to bear an immortal pup who would create an army for a god. Any offspring that pup sired were given the name Luthers in recognition of their purpose for war. Unlike their sire, they only received immortality if they could reproduce and expand the god’s army. And unlike him, they were not a slave to the beast that resided inside them, ready to burst out and defeat their foe when the order was given. The immortal sire grew jealous, seeing himself as savage and weak in comparison. He began to kill the young of his children and his children’s children. The Luthers revolted, feeling his actions went against the very power that granted the she-wolf his life. They joined forces to kill their sire, and since that day, Luthers have governed themselves. None had his power, so none could unite the race as a whole. We broke into smaller groups, small enough that the strongest wolf could maintain harmony across the different statuses within our kind.”
My wolf was grossly interested in his words. And why wouldn’t she be? This was an explanation for her existence.
“Of course,” Sascha continued, “we could discuss the obvious inbreeding implications of such a legend. And who was the god? Then there’s the whole sun knocking up a she-wolf thing. Bit hard to swallow. But it’s a nice story, and maybe parts of it are true.”
My wolf snorted.
He stared at the sky. “When I was young, I imagined a rainbow shooting into the mother wolf’s heart to make her pregnant. I didn’t know where pups came from.”
We laughed, the sound coming out as a series of short panted huffs.
I sniffed. Spice.
We stilled.
Enemy, my wolf snapped.
Careful not to dig our claws into Sascha, we launched after the smell, a snarl ripping from our curled lips.
I smelled that at the waterfall. What is it?
Another wolf, she hissed. Bad wolf.
Greyson sprinted in pursuit, but we drew to a halt before long. The scent was gone.
It was only faint to begin with.
How do you know it’s an enemy? I asked.
Itchy aroma. He wants to hurt us.
Greyson caught up.
What is it? He circled me, hackles raised.
Something that didn’t smell good.
His circles grew tighter. Not good how?
Made us want to sneeze.
He turned his attention outward. I can’t smell anything amiss.
Nothing?
My pack frequents this area. Male Luthers have a stronger sense of smell than she-wolves, but I do not smell an enemy here. Only my pack.
I probably had a lot of enemies in the pack. And those enemies likely loved Sascha—which would change their scent for him.
Though an attack on me would certainly harm him. So this wolf had to be one twisted mothershitter.
Greyson, I’ve smelled that scent before. At the waterfall before you arrived.
A furious snarl ripped from his mouth. Why didn’t you tell me?
I thought it was a random animal. Could it be the wolf who changed me?
It made sense.
He brushed his body around mine, focus turned outward. With gentle shoves, he herded me back the way we came.
Stumbling back, I tried to hold my ground to no avail. Are we doing this all the way back? Because I have a better idea.
Rounding on me, he snapped. I snapped right back and whirled to walk away, batting him around the face with my tail.
Do what I say, Greyson boomed.
Fuck you, my wolf replied.
Oh, shit, I said in glee. She learned that one from me.
We sashayed out of the clearing and settled into an easy lope back to Sascha’s bungalow. Back on the patio by the stream, we lay flat on our stomach.
Over to you, she said.
I promise we’ll run again tonight or tomorrow morning at dawn. I won’t make the same mistake again.
I know, Andie. Neither will I. It’s my job to alert you, just as it’s your job to make time.
Alright, I hadn’t really done this part without being in a rage. I drew forth the image of my legs and arms, the way they bent and swung. I remembered how it was to be upright and feel the tickle of my hair across my back.
The change wasn’t as rapid, but I straightened after a minute and walked to my sheet, swiping it up.
“Not bad.” Sascha leaned against the balustrade.
I cocked a brow, tying the sheet around my body. “The view or the shift?”
His lips curved, and he approached, not answering.
I tilted my chin, narrowing my eyes.
Sascha cupped my jaw, thumb brushing my cheekbone. “Running with you was an unbelievable turn-on.”
Yeah, he wasn’t alone in that. The latent thrum of adrenaline wanted me to do all kinds of wild things.
Lowering his head, Sascha trailed kisses down my throat. My head tipped back, and a sigh escaped my parted lips. I trailed my fingertips over his chest, leaning forward to place a kiss in the middle. He caged me against the bungalow wall and hooked my leg around his hips. His hands bunched in the sheet and a growl built in his throat.
Placing one hand over his, I captured his full attention and slowly traced his lips. Completing my torture, I ground into his erection at the same speed.
“Andie.” Honey eyes burned brighter than ever before. His gaze snagged on my lips, and I moistened them.
He dragged a thumb over my bottom lip, a favour I’d return in short duration.
Just as soon as he kissed me.
“Where is she?” a voice bellowed.
A slap wouldn’t have worked half so well. “What is Wade doing here?”
“I texted him off your phone a few hours ago to let him know what happened,” he answered.
“Wade doesn’t know I’m a wolf!” I scented the slight decay of Sascha’s pine.
He knew that.
“Such a dick move.” Pushing past, I ran into the bungalow for my clothes.
Fuck, I didn’t have any.
“Andie Thana, get your ass out here!”
Dread curling around my heart, I gave up the hunt for clothes and trudged down the hallway in my sheet.
Outside, Wade folded his arms when he saw me. He’d driven Ella F here.
“Hey.” I crossed the distance.
“You’re in a sheet.”
“I… ruined my clothes.”
“When you shifted into a wolf,” he said coldly.
I lowered my head. Dammit, Sascha. “When I turned into a wolf, yes.”
“That fucker bit you in Water.” He began to pace. Wade stopped abruptly, fists bunching. “When did you first shift?”
“Night before Timber.” I’d never seen him this furious. Holy shit.
“The night you wanted time to yourself. That’s why you moved out to the cabin. What the fuck, Andie?”
I closed my eyes. “I didn’t want to put you in a position where you had to lie to the tribe.”
“I already lie to the tribe for you.”
“I know. But this is another level. I couldn’t face you.”
He squared his shoulders, grey eyes flashing. “You didn’t trust me.”
“I trust you.”
“You didn’t trust me enough.”
I remained mute. “Stewards are raised to hate Luthers. Even if they don’t learn about the wolf part until later, I hear the way mothers talk about the people on the south side to their kids. It’s not that I didn’t trust you enough. It’s that I feared…”
“What?” he said, unfolding his arms.
We looked at each other.
Wade didn’t budge. “If I had to wake up to tha
t shitty text and drive over here believing you were dead, then you can say the fucking hard words in front of this pack.”
My lips twitched.
His eyes narrowed. “Don’t you smirk at me.”
I crossed the gap. “I didn’t know if your love for me would be greater than a lifetime of prejudice.”
Wade’s shoulders sagged, and I hugged him around the middle.
His arms didn’t come around me. “What do you think now?”
I peeked up. “That you might love me more than a lifetime of prejudice?”
“Don’t look at me with those eyes. You know I can’t resist them.” He returned the hug tightly.
Swallowing hard, I said, “I’m sorry.”
“You will be.”
My stomach plummeted. “Why? Who else knows?”
He pulled away to glare. “You think I’m stupid? You can’t tell anyone else—well, maybe Cameron, but definitely not your bullshit sister.”
“Don’t say that about Rhona.”
His mouth bobbed. “Wait, this isn’t why she’s so pissed, is it?”
The thought of her discovering this truth made me feel sick.
I shook my head.
Wade swore. “Whoa. She definitely can’t find out then. Can you imagine her reaction? Talk about the Kardashian episode to end all Kardashian episodes.”
Yep.
She couldn’t ever find out.
A tear slipped over my cheek and I ducked my head as more followed. Crap. I sniffed, and Wade held me at arm’s length.
Horror painted his features. “Oh fuck, are you crying?”
I didn’t think he’d still want to be my friend. I gulped in air as sobs wracked my chest.
“What do I do?” Wade said frantically.
Sascha spoke from behind me. “I don’t know. Make her stop somehow.”
“I don’t speak female, wolf man. You want to bone her on the regular, you make her stop.”
He all but shoved me into Sascha’s arms, who held me close, resting his chin atop my head. Our good juju seeped under my skin immediately, and I recovered the strength to close my tear ducts.
Embarrassing.
Maybe overdue.
And maybe I’d hide here for a while.
“Thank you,” Sascha said.
Wade’s salted caramel took on a slight burned tinge. “It wasn’t for you. And I’ve heard that you’re holding out on the final mating meets. That’s bullshit. You know Andie wants them over and done with.”
A few growls rose around us.
Sascha didn’t share that tidbit with his pack?
“That’s between Andie and me,” Sascha said stiffly.
Did he think I’d told Wade the reason why? I hoped not.
“Actually, as leaders, this is between you, Andie, our tribe, and your pack. Pull your head out of your ass, Sascha. Your lives don’t just belong to you.”
Big ouch.
Sascha didn’t say anything, and a quick sniff told me he was considering Wade’s remark.
There was something undeniably sexy about men who could do that.
I think so, my wolf rushed to say.
I rolled my eyes, untangling myself.
Wade dug around in Ella F and held up a bag. “Clothes for you. Because I’m a genius. You can thank me alongside begging for my forgiveness when you organise and execute a King Wade Day in my honour.”
I meekly took the bag and padded past the silent Luther to change in the bungalow.
When I returned, the pair stood in silence.
“Cool.” I cleared my throat. “I apologise again for risking your life, Sascha. I won’t let it happen again.”
He nodded vaguely.
“You risked his life?” Wade said.
“She nearly killed herself by avoiding the shift.”
Wade’s gaze landed heavy on me. “That true?”
“Yep.”
Wade directed me to the car and peered back at Sascha. “Maybe your head isn’t up your ass, Luther. Maybe it’s only your finger.”
My grin faded as Sascha walked around to my open door.
He braced against the car, and though he’d put on sweatpants, the front-row seats to his ab show were more than enough for my libido.
Holy fuck.
Wade slid into the driver’s seat and cocked a brow at Sascha’s stomach, then my flushed face.
Ugh.
Sascha crouched, resting a hand on my thigh. “Please be careful, little bird.”
I heard what he didn’t say. No matter that he didn’t smell an enemy during our run, I did. Someone was following me.
“I will. I’ll also add that you’re very lucky this worked out or I’d never have forgiven you.”
The Luther tapped his nose. “Your smells intertwine when you’re together. Not luck. You needed a friend, whether you believed it or not.”
“We have a friend smell. Cute,” Wade said.
Sascha leaned closer. “About the meets. We’ll continue without delay. It’s selfish of me to do otherwise. Message when you’re free.”
Hesitating, he kissed my cheek.
Fresh heat poured into my face. I didn’t even need to look to know Wade’s smirk was dialled to Cheshire cat.
Sweat licked my palms. Should I do something? Stay like this?
Sascha released my thigh.
His honey eyes locked on mine. “I’ll see you soon.”
19
“What’s her name?” I asked.
Wade took the car keys from me and pocketed them. “Jessi Angell.”
Sounded like a boutique sports clothing brand. “Anything I should know?”
The time for making an effort to meet every steward had started today. Tuesday afternoons were now blocked out for the job. For someone who wasn’t big on most people, Wade knew everyone, which made him the perfect person for introductions.
I knocked, and a short woman answered.
“Head Steward,” she gasped.
“Jessi, isn’t it?” I held out a hand that she automatically took, blurting a “Yes.”
Wade intervened. “The head steward is trying to get around to meet us all. Do you have ten minutes for a quick introduction?”
The ten-minute hint was appreciated. The first four visits took over two hours—I couldn’t blame stewards for wanting to ask the same questions, but I felt more like a politician with each passing second.
What are your plans for the tribe?
Do you think we can win?
We were so shocked when Herc’s will was read.
How is Rhona doing?
We followed Jessi inside.
Whoa.
Plants took up nearly every available space in the cabin. A potted tree behind the flower-print sofa was so large it now grew sideways along the ceiling.
“You like nature,” I said after a beat.
She flushed. “Well, yes. I think it’s our duty to love nature. I’ve always felt a call.”
That was something I could appreciate. “I felt the same when I set foot into this valley.”
“Sometimes, when I’m upset, I just go out and hug the trees. Makes me feel good inside.”
Wade coughed into his water.
I schooled my features. “If it makes you happy, I’m all for tree hugging.”
Her gaze turned dreamy. “Yes. Happy and peaceful.” A wrinkle formed between her brows. “Rhona’s made concerning comments at trainings—about a more violent approach to the game.”
Dammit.
I tapped a finger on the threadbare side of the sofa. “I’m sure you can appreciate that my sister has lost two grandparents and her father to Luthers. Her views are a way of expressing her current grief. I assure you that there are no plans to take a more violent approach against our opponent.”
The training propaganda was an issue, but I’d started waking at 4:00 a.m. to cram study, shift, and run. I made it to the manor for the first head team meeting at 8:00 a.m. when dawn training ended. I wasn�
�t sure how to stomp on the problem without being physically present.
Jessi sighed. “I’m glad to hear it. Do you think I should talk to Rhona about hugging trees?”
Wade piped up, “Please do. I think she’d greatly benefit from it. Don’t you think so, Head Steward?”
Bastard. I nodded, shooting him a death look. “Absolutely.”
A few minutes later, Wade interrupted our conversation on whether dirt had feelings. We walked to the door and I shook her hand in both of mine.
“Andie,” she said. “I mean, Head Steward, it’s so nice of you to stop by and see me. I don’t play a big part in Grids—I never much liked shooting the tranquiliser gun—but this tribe means everything to me.”
“Jessi, you’re an essential part of our tribe and the game. I mean that with complete sincerity. If you ever have a question or concern, my door is wide open.”
We left to her repeated thanks.
“Sweet lady,” I murmured.
Wade slanted a look at me as I pulled Ella F out of the bumpy driveway. “You know, you’re kind of amazing at this.”
I scoffed. “Whatever.”
“I’m serious. You connect with people so easily. That double-hand handshake is inspired. I’m almost envious.”
“Don’t be. A connection is easy to fake. Very few of my relationships progress past that—and most that did ended in a burning ball of flame.”
“Your mum and Herc?”
They were the two main ones. “Yes.”
“To be fair, I’m not sure they could have lied more than they did.”
I blew out a breath. “Tell me about it. And that’s not all.” Now the dog was out of the rucksack, it made no sense to hold anything back.
I filled him in on Murphy and my suspicions about Pascal and the journals.
Wade blew out a breath. “You think Herc killed him? That’s really hard to imagine.”
Unless Pascal fessed up, I’d never know for sure. “It’s a possibility I can’t deny after how easily he drew a gun on Sascha.”
“Since you brought up the werewolf himself, what’s happening there?”
I sighed. “I keep going back to what happened in Sandstone. Herc knew that killing Sascha would hurt me, but he still fired. So, did Herc come to protect my life at all? Or did he come to protect the image of me as a Thana and his eldest daughter? On one hand, I feel like I lost Herc too soon, but I also don’t stand with slaughtering someone you hate or disagree with. I’ve let go of enough anger to see that Sascha was defending himself and me too. In my mind, that’s an acceptable reason for what he did. I believe Herc was in the wrong that night.”
Moon Claimed: Supernatural Battle (Werewolf Dens Book 2) Page 20