“Where are we putting him?” Harrison asked, tying off a bandage around Knox’s lower abdomen. He’d wrapped him almost from the neck to the waist completely, trying to cover all the individual gashes.
“Can you help me get him into my bed? He’s too big for my tiny couch.”
Harrison climbed to his feet. “Get his feet?”
“Yes.” She scrambled up and went for Knox’s ankles. Together with a lot of groaning they moved the large man out of the bathroom and around the corner into her bedroom. At least she’d sprung for the bigger queen-sized bed instead of just a full. It was the one thing she’d splurged on when she’d moved into the house.
Once Knox was situated and covered with her blanket, she joined Harrison at the foot of the bed. He threw an arm around her shoulder and pulled her close to his side, putting a soft kiss to her temple. “I’ll stay the night with you.”
She shook her head. “No. It’s okay. He just needs to rest. There’s nothing left to do, right?”
Harrison’s signature grunt was her only answer.
“Please don’t tell anyone he’s here.”
“I don’t like this, Katherine. He’s dangerous.”
“Not to me.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I do.” She stepped out from Harrison’s embrace and met his worried gaze. “Trust me, Harrison. Please.”
He was silent, waiting for her to concede.
She didn’t and held eye contact.
“Fine. I’ll be back tomorrow to check on the wounds again in case they need to be patched up again. Without stitches he’ll open them right up again if he moves too fast or too much.”
Relief spread through her chest like the warmth she felt after drinking a nice hot cup of coffee.
“Be careful. He’s not right. Not human.” He shook his head and walked toward the bedroom door. “You shouldn’t get too close, Kat. You’re only asking for heartache. He’s trouble.”
“My heart already aches, Harrison. It’s too late for that warning.”
A heavy sigh slipped from the old man who acted more like a father than her biological one ever had. Katherine stayed rooted to the place at the foot of the bed, listening to Harrison’s footsteps fade away. Then the distinct sound of her front door opening and closing behind him. When the last rumble of Harrison’s truck had faded into the distance, she sat on the corner of her bed and stared at her barbarian.
Hers?
That didn’t take long.
4
Naomi
“So Ava and Ryder are moving into Leif’s rental?” Naomi asked, settling into the recliner facing the other two ladies of the Tribe—Penny and Tara. She sipped on her mug of hot orange spice tea and rubbed her rounded belly bump. She was only four months along, but that was four months along with triplets. Three Reylean dragon babies. A significant bump was to be expected in her opinion. The extra radiating heat had been slightly uncomfortable, especially now that the weather wasn’t icy cold all the time.
Summer wasn’t here yet, but it was creeping up faster than Naomi would prefer.
Tara nodded and sipped on her own cup. “As far as I know. He’s texted her a few times. She’s shown up to work. I saw her at the diner and told Owen. He won’t go talk to her though.”
“She can’t help who her mate is,” Penny said, adding to the conversation. “We couldn’t either.”
“True. Plus, Ryder helped her. Saved her life,” Tara said, her voice soft. “Maybe he’s not as bad as Raish and the others were.”
“Listen to you being all forgiving and shit. Your Owen would eat that wolf’s heart for breakfast just because he was associated with the pack that took you. Hell, every male in our Tribe would do the same. You’re family now, Tara. They tried to kill you and very near succeeded.”
“Okay, so no one is talking about the obvious elephant in the room. Are we going to associate with them at all?” Penny asked. She put her mug on the coffee table between the three of them with a firm thunk. “Ava was already welcomed into the Tribe. What’s the policy on that?”
Naomi frowned. “Col’s word is law. The guys will all see it that way. Their fate has already been decided. I don’t see Col changing his mind at this point.”
“It doesn’t seem fair.”
“Life never is,” Col said, his voice rumbling from the kitchen.
Naomi looked up from her mug into the brightly burning eyes of her mate. The Vraka. The chief of the Tribe here in Mystery and the absolute love of her life.
His face was solemn. She knew he despised the choice he’d had to make. They’d already spoken of Ava and the wolf numerous times. She understood Col’s reasoning. Trusted him. He’d made the choice he thought would keep the Tribe the safest. Even if it was a hard choice. A painful choice for multiple parties.
“The black wolf will not be welcomed into the Tribe. I will not trust the lives of our coming younglings to his care. A tribe can only be safe when all are trusted. When all are family.”
“But I am a wolf.” Tara stood from her seat and faced Col.
“You were a human first, Tara. We know your parents. We have known and cared for you before you became one of us. You are trusted.” Col said, his tone even and somewhat cold. “It matters not what your animal is. It matters where you come from. Your history.”
Naomi was used to Col’s diplomatic voice—the one he was using right now, but it bothered others. He came across unfeeling and harsh and even cruel at times.
He wasn’t.
He had a heart that could warm the coldest place on earth. She loved his heart with her whole soul.
“It’s not fair to my mate. You’re going to make him choose between me and his sister.” Tara folded her arms across her chest and left the living room to join Col in the kitchen. “Don’t you think you should at least meet him?”
“I showed a great deal of mercy, Tara.”
“You just sent Kann to tell him how it was. There was no negotiation.”
“No. There will be no negotiation. I did not send the wolf away from Mystery, merely banned him from our side of the river on pain of death. I was generous.”
“Generous,” Tara said, her voice rising. “You just said you would murder him if he crosses a river. What kind of crap is that?”
“Tara,” Naomi said, her voice pleading, hoping her new friend would let it go.
Col’s eyes flared bright, flame flickering in the dark irises. “You test me, Tara.” His voice was low and a growl rattled in his chest. “Would you have me risk the lives of my unborn young? Of Kann and Penny’s as well?”
“No, but—”
“That’s just it, Tara. There can be no mistakes or lives are lost. Those of us that came from Reylea, we lost everyone. Our whole world burned. I will not foolishly risk the life we have built here in Mystery so that your mate can have an easier relationship with his sister. The wolf is not welcome across the river.” His voice deepened with the last sentence. “Ava also will not be welcomed here as long as the wolf is with her. You and Owen should be grateful that I have granted this small boon and not gone hunting instead.”
Owen came through from the back door and stepped up to stand next to Tara. “We are, Vraka. My mate’s heart is too soft. She does not understand the ways of a Tribe. She does not understand the responsibilities that weigh on an alpha’s shoulders.”
Col nodded and left the kitchen to sit in the living room with Naomi.
“But, Owen it’s not fair.”
Owen wrapped his arm around his mate’s waist and shook his head. “Life is not fair, just as Vraka said. Ava made her choice. She accepted the wolf. This price must be paid on both sides.”
Col settled on the loveseat next to Naomi. He pulled her across his lap and snuggled her close, tucking her head beneath his chin. She loved how big he was. How small he made her feel. Safe. Treasured.
Plus, this couch was her favorite place in the cabin—next to the bathroom of course. The encl
ave of windows made it feel like she was outside. So bright and airy. It backed up to the huge wall of windows at the east side of the living room. Col had even downed a few extra-large trees along the ridge so she could sit and look up at the face of Denali.
Comfy, loved, and the perfect view so she could ignore Tara and Owen.
“Shuarra,” he said, his voice a deep rumble that blocked out the sound of Owen and Tara’s continued argument. The babies kicked and flitted about, excited to hear their dad’s voice. Feel his warmth.
Same as her.
There wasn’t a way to fix this problem. It ate at Naomi, but she knew her husband was right. She’d never fully trust a wolf that had been part of the pack that had taken Tara and caused such pain to the Tribe already. No one had escaped that fight without injuries, including her husband who was sporting several new scars.
“Breathe, my love.”
She obeyed, inhaling deeply, focusing on the swishing and flitting movements of her babies within her. Moments later the cabin was silent, empty except for she and Col’s and the babies’ heartbeats. Everyone else had left.
She lifted her head and looked around. Even Penny had slipped out. Probably to shoo everyone over to her and Kann’s cabin. The main building was done, but most of the interior still needed some finishing. Owen and Tara had chosen the place for their cabin, but it would be a while before the materials started arriving to begin the build.
Penny had been amazing. The crews she’d paid for and flown in to do the building worked around the clock and were ruthlessly perfectionistic, just like Penny.
“Rest, my shuarra.”
“It sucks.”
Col sighed. “I agree.”
“There’s no forgiving him, ever, is there.” It wasn’t really a question. She knew the truth of the situation and though her heart was sad for Owen and Ava’s situation, she was relieved that the wolf would not be welcomed into the Tribe. Maybe that made her a bad person. She didn’t think so but doubt still raised its shadowy head every once in a while.
“Do not trouble your heart, Naomi,” Col said, his voice barely a whisper. “The black wolf knows his place. He does not wish death. Both he and Ava were grateful to be allowed to remain in the town. They will respect the boundary I’ve drawn.”
He splayed his big palm over her belly and rubbed his thumb back and forth. He buried his nose in her wayward curls and inhaled deeply. “Have I told you how beautiful you are, mate of mine, mother of my young?”
“Not recently,” Naomi said, a smile tugging at her lips.
He growled louder and turned her body so that she straddled him on the loveseat. “Then I shall have to tell you several times. Immediately.”
Naomi burst into giggles. Giggles quickly drowned out by Col’s immediate assault on her lips. Her mate knew exactly how to pull her out of her funks. How to make her laugh. How to make her instantly horny.
Her dragon fire warmed inside of her. Her beast was pleased to be so close to Col.
“The bed would be more comfortable.”
Col’s eyes lit with fire and his solemn mouth curved into the gorgeous alluring smile that she so loved to see. “That wish I can grant.” He stood, easily lifting her with him and carried her off to the bedroom so they could devour each other properly.
Ava
“I don’t like it. We shouldn’t be out in the open.” Ryder yanked on her hand, pulling her back toward Connie’s car.
Ava narrowed her eyes at her mate. “We can’t stay with Connie any longer. We’ve been in her home over a week. Owen said he and Tara have moved and that we can have the place he and I were renting from Leif. Everything is settled. Didn’t you listen to Kann at all?”
“The dragon isn’t going to like me staying in this town, Ava. We should just go. We can start over somewhere else. Anywhere.”
“I lost my whole Tribe. My whole family on Reylea. Owen is all I have left and I’m not leaving this town.” Ava jerked her hand free and growled at Ryder. She understood her mate’s hesitation. She wasn’t the one with a pain-of-death threat hanging over her head. She got that. Still, the Li’Vhram alpha had promised there would be no trouble as long as they stayed on the east side of the river that ran through the west side of town. They had the run of the town, they just couldn’t go over into Denali.
“I lost everything too, Ava.” Ryder’s voice was dark, hollow. “I watched my best friend lose his mind and then I betrayed him. And my pack. I watched your people slaughter mine and I protected you instead.”
The fight dispersed from Ava like air from a popped balloon. “I’m sorry. It’s hard for both of us, but this is home for me. My brother is here. I might eventually have nieces and nephews. I can’t just leave. And maybe…just maybe their Vraka will eventually change his mind.”
Ryder scoffed and shook his head. “Not a Li’Vhram. He does know that the border he drew puts my surviving pack members with him, separated from me. I need to go search and see if anyone survived. They could be out there dying.”
“No.” Ava said, her voice unwavering. Owen had been forgiven his anokan status by a Li’Vhram. Mercy had been shown once. The dragon could change his mind with time. She just had to make sure they proved they were worthy of that change. “We respect the boundary. No. Matter. What. I won’t lose you too.”
She walked up the steps to the single-wide she and Owen had shared together since they arrived in Mystery months ago. Six months seemed like an eternity now. She never thought she would care about this frozen tundra and town when she first arrived, but now, she had friends, and a home and a job.
Life in this world was so different from Reylea. Life here required things her old world didn’t. There were so many rules and regulations to follow. She had to be careful when she shifted. Avoid her hunter neighbors. Avoid livestock. Cameras. This world was scary and wonderful at the same time and now she had Ryder too, but he wanted to take her away from everything she was just learning how to manage.
The compromise Kann had presented from the dragon had been an automatic yes for her, but Ryder had issue with being relegated to a territory. She was just glad the Tribe was going to let him live at all, but she didn’t say that. It’d been her nightmare since the first time they’d ventured outside Connie’s house. That his scent would be discovered and that would be the end.
Now at least they could have a life. Stay close to Owen. Raise a family in relative safety. And hopefully one day her brother would eventually forgive her. And maybe even the dragon would change his mind.
A girl could hope.
5
Katherine
Katherine entered the Jenkins grocery store after she’d closed up the community center a few hours earlier than normal. No one would really care. There weren’t any activities scheduled tonight, so she didn’t have to be there.
She had popped over to the house at lunch to check on Knox. He had been sleeping like a rock buried by an avalanche. Hopefully tonight she would be able to get him to eat something. This morning before she left for work, he had turned down breakfast. Freezer waffles weren’t that great, but they weren’t terrible. But then he hadn’t eaten anything for lunch either. She couldn’t help but worry.
“Katherine, sweetheart. How are you?” Henrietta Jenkins waved from behind the counter where several other people stood in a line waiting to check out.
“Evening Mrs. Jenkins, how’s your husband?” She grabbed a green plastic basket from the stack next to the door and slipped the handle over her arm.
“He’s doing okay, thank you for asking. We don’t have another appointment for Charles until next month. The doctors are impressed with his continued strength.” Henrietta flashed her a bright hopeful smile, but Katherine could see the truth and worry etched in the dark circles beneath the eyes of her best friend’s mother.
One of the other ladies in line asked a question about Charles and it snowballed from there until the whole line of people was chatting and peppering Henrietta with q
uestions. It’s not that Katherine didn’t want to talk to Henrietta, but she needed to hurry today.
She had to get back to Knox before the man woke up and tried to do something stupid like get out bed alone. Alien werewolf or not, he was still male and therefore was highly likely to do something that would open up his wounds again.
Big growly alpha men all acted the same, no matter what world they were from—I can do all things by myself.
Katherine smiled to herself and ducked down the dry goods line. She needed a few bags of rice, pasta, and some cans of sauce and veggies. Maybe some bread. She hadn’t met a man yet who would turn down a warm slice of bread. She strolled down the aisle, plucking a bag or box of this and that.
She grabbed a bag of ginger snaps and then moved around to the rack of sandwich bread and rolls. Linda had been by with her fresh stuff today. Cinnamon rolls along with fresh French bread. Katherine snagged one of each along with a plain loaf of sandwich bread. Peanut butter and honey sandwiches were a staple in her house.
A few more things made their way into her basket and she headed for the counter. Henrietta wasn’t there. This time it was her best friend Tara—Henrietta’s daughter, also mate to Owen who according to Knox was a freakin’ bear shifter.
How all this was even real still boggled her brain.
Katherine wiped a sweaty palm on her pants leg and smiled up at her friend as naturally as she thought was possible. Tara wouldn’t know anything about Knox. She shouldn’t. Unless they really were hunting him.
Oh, God. What if they are? She forced a normal breath and hoped Tara couldn’t hear the racket inside her chest from her crazily beating heart.
“Hey Katherine, sorry I’ve been MIA lately. Owen and I are just getting settled. We totally need to pick a night and hang. Just us girls.”
Katherine nodded and pushed her tight lips into a smile for her friend’s benefit. “Of course.” She waved a hand dismissing Tara’s excuse as no big deal. “Whenever you get settled for real just let me know. I can’t even imagine your brain right now.”
Wolf At The Door: Soulmate Shifters World (Soulmate Shifters in Mystery, Alaska Book 5) Page 4