I wanted to believe that, but it was the ‘this time’ that made me realize how easily I could lose Adam.
“Do you need me for anything else?” I asked. “I need to be with Adam.”
Wade nodded and said, “No, we’re done. I’ll ask around and see if I can figure out why a vampire would be on your mountain and hopefully find out who hired them.”
When I left the office, I walked over to the log banister and looked down at the living room. Adam was still lying on the sofa, his eyes closed with an arm resting against his forehead. Maggie and Donald stood off to the side talking amongst themselves. As though Maggie knew I was observing them, she looked up and met my eyes. No words needed, I knew an accusation when I saw one.
I woke up around five in the morning. To be honest, I hadn’t slept more than an hour at a time. I kept tossing and turning, checking on Adam as he lay beside me. He was sound asleep all night, but I could feel his restlessness. His body was fighting off the silver coursing through his veins. Everyone thought he’d be okay, but I still didn’t like seeing him struggle through the blood poisoning.
I checked on him one last time before I crawled out of bed. The sheets were soaked as was his hair from sweating so much, but he was still sound asleep. Leaning over, I kissed his forehead and left the bedroom.
When I exited the hallway, I found Elle, Anthony, and Sawyer sitting around the kitchen table. Their heads all lifted at my entrance, though all of them, except for Anthony, kept their eyes anywhere but on mine. It took me a moment to realize that their strange behavior stemmed from me being their official alpha female now. The ceremony seemed like ages ago.
“Knock it off,” I said, heading over to the coffee pot.
“What?” Elle asked.
Reaching for a mug, I looked over at the table again and their eyes lowered. I set the cup down a little harder than necessary, clearly annoyed. Cringing at the loudness, I lifted the carafe and poured the coffee.
“That,” I said, “… not meeting my eyes. I’m still Anna, the newbie wolf.”
I knew it was their wolf’s way of showing me respect, but I’d always thought it was a hokey attribute. It’s odd trying to talk to someone when they won’t look you in the eye.
“You’re a rarity, Anna.”
I looked over to find Anthony watching me with interested curiosity. It still creeped me out that he looked so much like Adam. However, it was their vastly different personalities that made me not associate the two men. While Anthony never struck me himself while I’d been kidnapped, he’d watched as Eve abused me. I have a difficult time putting much stock in a person who can just standby while a misdeed is being committed.
“How so?” I pulled out a barstool and spun around to face the table, hugging my coffee in my hands.
“Alpha’s relish their power,” Anthony said. “You act almost embarrassed by it.”
“That’s because Anna isn’t a pureblood,” Sawyer said. “I don’t mean that as a criticism,” he added. “Had you been born a wolf, you’d be as stuck up as the rest of them.” He slid a sidelong glance at Anthony, but Anthony was still staring at me. The glint dancing in his eyes put me on edge.
Ignoring Sawyer’s comment, Anthony said, “Adam’s a lucky man.”
I frowned, looking away. From what I understood, Anthony always wanted what Adam had. Had I become one of those things? Just thinking about it made my skin crawl.
“So …” I said, desperate to change the subject. “What’s on the agenda for today, Elle?”
I caught Anthony’s smirk out of my peripheral, but I ignored him. The thing was, I was going to have to talk to him in private sometime soon. I needed to not only figure out what he was really doing here, but also thank him for stopping Eve the day I was attacked. Had he not, I would be dead. Being in that kind of debt to someone like Anthony unnerved me. Still, I’d give credit where it was due.
“The whole shindig begins,” Elle said. “Adam was gracious enough to call in caterers so I’m free to enjoy the festivities instead of slaving in the kitchen.”
I smiled. “That’s great. Maybe we can get in some training this morning?”
“Can’t,” Elle said. “I have to help Joe and Asher judge the obstacle course.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Obstacle course?” I shook my head. “We’re one camera short of being a dog show.”
Sawyer laughed, choking on his coffee. Elle slapped him on the back so hard his torso flung forward and he had to place his hands on the table to steady himself.
“You okay, Sawyer?” I asked.
He held up a hand, coughing one last time before he said, “Fantastic.” He smiled. “If Elle’s busy, I’ll train you.”
“Big surprise,” Anthony mumbled not so quietly under his breath. Looking at me, he said, “You’re an alpha now, Anna. If anyone were to notice a mutt training you, it would cement their judgment that you’re not cut out for the position. There’s already been one attempt on your life, do you really want more?”
Did all the purebred wolves think I wasn’t cut out for the position? One thing was for sure, if they found out I couldn’t fight, they would be more inclined to challenge me. However, there was no way I was training with Anthony.
“Let them think what they want,” I said. “Sawyer, I’d love to train with you.”
A small pang still hit me in my stomach whenever I looked at Sawyer. He was gorgeous after all, but that wasn’t enough to draw me away from Adam. A wrecking ball couldn’t drive a wedge between us. While my wolf and I were in love with Adam, my wolf still remembered that night at the lake with Sawyer.
Sawyer began to stand, only to be stopped when Anthony stood up, too, placing a hand on his shoulder to stop him.
“She’s your alpha now,” he said to Sawyer. “Do you want to be responsible for teaching her wrong maneuvers—resulting in her death? Now, I don’t know you very well, but I can smell your attraction to her, and I assume that means you wouldn’t want anything to happen to her, right?”
Sawyer looked at me—well, he looked at my stomach or shoulder, still not meeting my eyes.
“You’re being ridiculous,” I said. “Sawyer is an excellent fighter, and he’s my pack … you’re not. Just because you waltz in here and pretend everything’s peachy, doesn’t mean it is.” I paused to glare at him. I stood up and took my coffee to the sink, my stomach queasy all of a sudden. “You kidnapped me while your mate beat me,” I said through tight lips. My fingers curled around the curve of the sink basin, and I looked over at the table. “No one wants you here, Anthony.”
The kitchen was so quiet I was sure the slamming of my heart would wake up the entire house. Anthony and I held each other’s eyes, neither one of us willing to look away first. I’d be damned if he started dictating who I trained with and putting down my pack in the process. The tension amplified when Anthony walked around the table. Elle and Sawyer’s bodies tightened, readying for a fight. I turned, squaring my shoulders to face Anthony. My wolf writhed inside of me, anxious for a fight. Her temper coursed through my veins like wildfire, giving me a rush of energy.
Anthony approached me, resting a hand on the counter. This close, I could see the differences between him and his brother. Anthony’s eyes had more green than blue in them, and the jaded light shining behind them gave him an air or arrogance, whereas Adam’s light was pure confidence.
Anthony leaned in so that whatever he had to say would remain between him and me. My body tensed, hating how close he was to me.
“I’m here for you, Anna,” he whispered. “And by the end of the week, you’ll be happy about it.”
A snort came out on its own accord. His words sounded important rather than intimate, as though he knew something, but wasn’t saying.
“You know who tried killing me, don’t you?”
He considered me for a moment and then said, “Maybe … maybe not.”
“What’s going on?”
I blinked, looking around Anthony’s
large body to find Adam standing in the hallway. His hair was in disarray. Pieces stuck to his sweaty forehead, and his skin looked paler than normal, but his eyes were hard and staring at Anthony.
I moved around Anthony and went to Adam. “What are you doing out of bed?” It was a rhetorical question. I knew my anxiousness toward his brother woke him up. Adam gripped my hand, his eyes still on Anthony.
“I told you not to speak to her,” Adam said. “Mom and Dad may buy your bullshit, but I don’t. If you want to bring me down, do so with me personally, and leave Anna out of it.”
Anthony crossed his arms and leaned against the counter. The smirk on his face was as pompous as the glint in his eyes. The power that normally radiated off Adam was just a subtle buzz, though I knew he was pissed.
“Let’s get you back to bed,” I said, tugging him down the hall. I made a silent promise to myself that when I found the time, I would punch Anthony in the face for stressing Adam out when he needed to be relaxing.
Back in the bedroom, I helped Adam into bed and sat on the edge of the mattress. He brought my hand toward his mouth and pressed a soft kiss to it.
“Don’t worry about your brother, Adam. I can handle him.”
“You shouldn’t have to,” he said. “If it weren’t for my parents, I would have kicked his ass off our mountain the moment he showed up.”
I smiled to myself. Though Adam was a strong alpha, purebred wolves were taught to respect their parents. As much as he hated their decision to keep his brother around, Adam would not go against their wishes. I could find the humor in the situation—a squabble between siblings—even though I knew it was much more serious. I also knew that whatever the world threw at us, Adam and I would get through it. He lived for me, and I lived for him. Not even a sibling rivalry could taint that.
“What did he say to you?” Adam asked.
I ran my fingernails up and down his bare chest in a soothing motion. I loved feeling the ripple of muscle beneath my fingertips.
“He said he was here for me, and that he might know who’s targeting me.”
“Son of a bitch,” Adam hissed through his teeth. “It’s either him, or he’s lying. You’re not leaving my side until he’s gone.” He began to sit up, and I pushed him back down.
“You’re in no shape to be out of bed. I’ll be fine.”
“Anna—”
I quieted him with a finger on his lips. Leaning down, I replaced my finger with my mouth. My wolf, along with my libido, roared to life. She would have to settle for a kiss, though; Adam wasn’t ready for sex just yet.
“You’re to stay in bed, understand?”
Adam smiled. “I kinda like it when you boss me around.”
I gave him a quick kiss. “Me too,” I said with a wink. “Do you want anything for breakfast?”
“You,” Adam said suggestively. He reached an arm up and slipped his fingers through my hair, bringing my head down to meet his mouth. I allowed him to kiss me, opening my lips to welcome his tongue. Heat blossomed between my legs at the thought of him being inside of me again. I had to stomp the lust down, though. What little strength he had needed to be used to heal his body.
“Easy there, Casanova.” I leaned back, resting a hand on his shoulder. “We’ll wrinkle the sheets when you’re one hundred percent again.”
“I’m always ready for you, Chante.” He gripped my wrist and placed it over the bulge struggling against his track pants. A delightful shiver skipped its way up my legs, settling in my center. The sheer lust I had for Adam often left me in a greedy haze. Under the right circumstances, I would have been naked already. Being responsible sucked sometimes.
“Hmm,” I moaned. “And I can’t wait to feel it inside me when you’re better.”
Adam let out a heavy breath, releasing my hand. “You’re killing me, woman, killing me.”
I laughed and stood up, walking over to my dresser. “One or two days isn’t going to kill you. Stop being a drama king.” I began to take off my pajamas so I could dress for the day. Adam’s eyes seared a path along my body, heating me from the inside out.
“Oh, I see,” Adam said. “You’re plan isn’t to kill me. You want to torture me until I’m mad with horniness. You’re a tricky, tricky woman, Chante.”
I sent him a coy smile over my shoulder before I bent over and tugged up my denim shorts. Adam’s responsive groan was enough to make me smile wider.
Once I was dressed in shorts and a tank top, I walked back over to the bed and sat next to Adam.
“How are you feeling?” It was nice pretending things were normal, but the silver coursing through his body might as well have been coursing through mine. His discomfort was my own, and no brave face could fool me into believing he was handling this as well as he convinced the others. I’d only ever seen Adam as the strong, confident alpha of our pack. Seeing him lying in my bed with a fresh sheen of sweat across his brow unsettled me in more ways than one. It reminded me how fragile life was, even for those of the paranormal persuasion. Lifting that veil and seeing the truth behind it scared me more than I’d admit. One silver bullet to the heart, and any one of us could be wiped from this world. Adam had been close, too close.
“I’ll live,” Adam said, giving confirmation to my unspoken question.
I hadn’t realized I was tense until I felt my body substantially relax. Adam had become something to me that no other man was able to achieve. I knew without a doubt I loved him, even if I hadn’t spoken those three little words yet. Even with my certainty of feelings for the man before me, I still struggled to voice them. I credited it as my fear I’d always had toward commitment, but if I was being honest, it was because the intensity of our relationship left me speechless. Saying, “I love you” didn’t seem sufficient, though I didn’t know any other words to convey what my heart was telling me every time I looked into his eyes.
“Hey,” Adam said, reaching a hand up and gripping my chin to turn my face toward his. “What’s going on in that head of yours?”
I gave him a small smile and shook my head. “Nothing,” I lied. “I’m just relieved you’re going to be okay.” That was the truth. “If something were to happen—”
“Stop,” Adam interrupted. “This is nothing.” He signaled to his leg where the wound hid beneath his pants. “As long as I have you, I have something to live for. Not even a vat of silver will keep me from clawing my way from death to stay beside you, Chante. We’re infinite.”
My lips curled inward, and I bit down on my upper one to keep from smiling like a fool. My eyes blurred with tears from the sincere words he so easily spoke. Where I found trouble voicing my feelings, Adam laid them bare.
“You know,” Adam said, bringing me out of my thoughts. “The ceremony was disrupted before I pledged myself to you. I had a surprised all planned out.”
“Oh?”
“Mhmm,” Adam hummed. “Tonight, we’ll complete the ceremony, low key. I’ll invite the wolves here and finish what we started.
“It can wait,” I told him. “You’re still healing and the conference starts today. It’s going to be chaotic. I just want you focusing on getting better.”
“Nonsense, you’re all I’ve focused on since you came to live here. And this cannot wait.”
“Okay,” I said bewildered. “We’ll do it tonight then.”
Adam smiled—pleased he got his way. “Now, get out of here. I should be resting, and you’re making it very hard to concentrate on anything but those tiny ass shorts you’re wearing.”
I laughed and shook my head at him. When I began to stand, he gripped my arm and pulled me back down.
“How am I supposed to leave when you won’t let me?”
A playful glint shone behind his sapphire eyes. “You didn’t really think you were going to leave without so much as a goodbye kiss, did you?”
“Hmm … I wouldn’t dream of it.”
“Protect your throat at all costs,” Sawyer said, and I nodded. “Fighting is all ab
out instinct. You really don’t have to worry about much. You held your own against Eve. Had Adam not pulled her off you, you might have been able to finish her yourself.”
“I was pissed then.”
Sawyer smiled. The sun glinted off his dirty blond hair and bronze chest. Memories of our one night together flitted through my mind. It should have been awkward, but it wasn’t. I knew he still had feelings for me, but he also knew he had to move on. Most people wouldn’t be able to remain friends after an ordeal like that. I was happy that we were both mature enough to see past it. Sawyer was a part of my pack and I his; the bond that goes with that is stronger than petty jealousy.
“Pissed off is good,” Sawyer commented. “When you’re in a fight for real, those emotions will help, but they can also hinder. Don’t allow your anger to override your common sense.” He unbuttoned his jeans and let them slip down his strong legs. I began to shimmy out of my shorts and tugged my tank top over my head. I ignored Sawyer’s heavy gaze. If Adam knew I was standing in my underwear in front of him, I’d get chewed out. Not because he didn’t trust me or because I was almost nude, but because he knew how Sawyer felt. His anger would come from the hungriness reflecting from Sawyer’s eyes. Coveting one’s mate was a dangerous line to toe, especially an alpha’s mate. I just prayed he had enough sense not to cross it.
“What do you do if your hind legs are attacked?”
“Kick out?”
Sawyer’s head bobbed up and down. “With any luck, you’ll land a blow to the eyes, and the attacker will release you. Just listen to your wolf and allow her to act solely.”
I nodded, and Sawyer fell to his knees. I did the same, happy for the ten feet or so separating us. While I liked Sawyer, the blatant desire he refused to hide made me uncomfortable and guilty. I knew it was illogical to feel guilt, but I couldn’t help it. Had I known that Adam and I would bond, I never would have gotten involved with Sawyer. What’s done is done, though, and moving forward is the only way to get past it.
I closed my eyes and called my wolf forward.
“I’m going to pin you,” Sawyer said, and I cracked an eyelid open. “I want you to break my hold by any means necessary, got it?”
Embracing the Wolf - Book #2 (Anna Avery) Page 9