by Eva Gordon
“And then hunts me.”
“Yep.” She stood in her stirrups and sniffed. “The Crystal Ridge Pack is here.”
“Where?”
“On the right, in the meadow.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Are they unchanged werewolves or real?”
“This pack is the real Canis lupus. The unchanged ones live near their alpha’s territory. Rylee’s pack doesn’t initiate the change.”
Gaby glanced at the beautiful wolves. “This is my second time seeing a pack in the wild. Not counting lycans.”
“Why don’t you use your charm to get their attention?”
“Won’t they freak out the horses?”
“Our horses are trained to be comfortable around wolves.”
“Oh, yeah. Duh.”
Cricket dismounted. “Go on. Do your thing.”
Gaby nodded and got off her horse. She stared at the pack frolicking in the meadow.
The wolves paused and glanced at them. One howled and the rest followed her call.
“I just told them to say hello,” said Gabby.
“Nice.”
“I’ll ask them to come to us.” She focused.
The pack of eight wolves trotted toward them and then stood as if waiting for Gaby’s next command.
“Very cool. What can you have them do?”
“I can make them beg like trained poodles or rip someone to shreds.”
“Okay. We’re friends, right?”
Gaby smirked. “Don’t worry. I’m over when you knocked me out.”
“How about having them sit all at once?”
Gaby nodded. Immediately, the wolves sat down and waited for their next command.
Cricket laughed. “Good thing your charm doesn’t work on our kind.”
“Unfortunately, lycans have too much human in them.”
“Send them off and then we can have lunch.”
Her stomach growled earlier and she wondered if Cricket heard it. Riding and the brisk cold air gave her an appetite. “Okay.” She threw them a nod to return to the forest and they did.
Cricket went to her saddlebag and pulled out a sack. She unrolled a blanket and set it over fairly dry ground. She had packed all sorts of sandwiches, cheeses, trail mix, and bottled water. “Dig in. When we go back, we can play games or watch a movie.”
As much as she missed Steele, having a girl’s day out took her mind off whether he decided to keep her or not. “Sounds good.” She took out a pastrami sandwich and bit into it. “Not bad.”
“The LIA has the best deli.”
“Good to know. Especially, if I decide to stay.”
“What? You have a better place to go?”
“Rylee said as long as I don’t spill the beans I can live pretty much anywhere.”
“Except Tomlin is still searching for you.”
“Maybe knowing his men were killed knocked some sense into him.”
“There isn’t much of a Project Sabertooth without their one and only wolf charmer.”
“You would be surprised. They have animal handlers and trainers that prepare animals to kill on command. No charm needed.”
“I don’t know. You can be far more specific on who to kill without having your animal buddies accidently get the wrong person.”
Gaby stiffened. “I only assassinated really bad guys.” She sighed. “I still have nightmares about it. I only want to be an artist, not an assassin.”
“No worries. We’ve all had to kill.”
“That doesn’t help.”
Cricket winced. “Sorry, I know you were forced.”
Gaby confessed her sordid personal history about being a foster child hustled from one abusive home to the next until fostered by the head of an evil black ops man, Giles. Not for love, but to exploit her gift. “Which is why I probably won’t help Rylee as I planned.”
“I doubt Rylee will risk you being in the field.”
“Actually, helping her stop Project Sabertooth might be the medicine I need to start again.” She didn’t think she’d ever forgive herself for being responsible for the death of another, even a bad person. At least she’d be able to live without being used as a dangerous weapon.
“I think Steele is the cure you need.”
“Yeah, but am I still his?”
“He and his brother, our all mighty king, have always been cold and standoffish. No humor button. You changed Steele profoundly, and in a good way. He laughs and there is something light about his wolf spirit.”
“I bet he’ll revert back to his old self.”
“Geez, I hope not.”
“I thought he accepted you and Slade being together.”
“He has and even gave Lev an approving nod about Rachel. Still, he was never a fan of human werewolf relationships. Until now.” Cricket’s horse snorted. She sniffed. “What the fuck?”
Gaby looked around. “What’s wrong?”
“Three lycans approaching.”
“Team members?”
“Nope. Kiara and her beta guards. In wolf form.”
“Shit. We should leave.”
“Ride my horse and head back to our place. Slade should be home by now.”
“Why not you?”
“I have to distract them.”
“We’ll both ride.”
“You’ve seen Steele run. They can catch a racehorse. If I bite one of her beta’s ass for being in my territory, it will give you enough time to get back and call Rylee.” She pulled out her mobile and handed it to her.
“They’ll kill you.”
“No way. The last thing she needs is a pissed off alpha male coming after her.” She handed Gaby the reins.
Gaby didn’t see any sign of anyone approaching. She tried to mount, but Spitfire pulled back. “Easy.” Time for charm. She focused and the mare dropped her head and acted like a gentle beginner’s horse.
Before she mounted, Cricket growled. “Too late.”
“What?”
“They’re here.”
Gaby let go of the reins and stared. A large black wolf stalked toward them, flanked by two huge male wolves. “Is that Kiara?”
“Yep. A tad larger than I remember.”
Kiara snarled at the two horses and they bolted.
Cricket stood in front of Gaby and bowed. “Princess Kiara, what a pleasant surprise. Not.”
Kiara shifted to human form. Shamelessly naked. Tall, gorgeous, raven-haired and a sexy body. She exposed her dagger-like fangs and smirked at Cricket. “Still part of the team, little runt.”
Cricket’s face reddened. “Saving the world from Ragnarok earned me a promotion. Beta commanding officer in charge of human affairs.”
“Is that what you call babysitting Prince Steele’s pet?”
“No disrespect, Princess Kiara, but that’s on a need to know basis.”
Kiara rolled her eyes. “That seems to be the mantra in this entire damn place.”
Cricket furrowed her brow. “How did you find us?”
“Need to know, my dear, and you don’t need to know.” She turned her attention to Gaby. “So, pet, we have not been properly introduced.”
“Her name is Gaby,” said Cricket.
“Who the fuck asked you? Runt!”
Gaby spoke. “I may have taken the oath, but I’m no man’s pet.”
Kiara laughed with a maniacal edge. “So you think you’re his wife?”
“No. Of course not. I understand werewolves can only mate their kind.”
“I forgive Steele. After all, he suffered from amnesia.” Kiara sneered. “Good thing he regained his memory and understands his duty.”
Gaby swallowed. “Yes. He’s recovered.”
“And accepted I’m his mate.”
Her heart stilled. No. “He did?”
Cricket smirked. “No offense, but there are plenty of available royal princesses.”
Kiara sucker punched Cricket. She fell flat on her back and her head smacked the ground.
Gaby knelt at her si
de and lifted her head. Blood from a sharp rock. “Cricket!”
“I didn’t hit her that hard.”
“She hit her head. We need to take her to the hospital.” Cricket still had a pulse, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t go into a coma and die.
The two betas moved in and growled at Gaby.
Kiara frowned. “Hmm. I doubt Rylee would want her so called beta in charge of human affairs struck by a newly-appointed overseer.”
Her adrenaline spiked. “What are you saying?”
“As far as the LIA knows. We are driving back to the council today.”
Would Kiara leave them here without horses and mobile service? Or was murder on her mind? Holding Cricket’s head in her lap, she looked up at the jealous she-wolf. “I’ll take care of her.” Please, just leave.
Kiara laughed. “How sweet.” She circled around them. “You and the runt can die together.”
“You can’t.” She met her fierce gaze. “Rylee will scent you on our bodies.”
“My betas are good at cleaning up after my indiscretions.”
“They’ll be suspicious.” Had Kiara killed before and then hidden her crimes?
“People go missing in national parks and forests all the time.” She smiled. “I smell a grizzly close by. Poor Cricket might have died protecting you. Or perhaps you both fell down a cliff.” She tapped her lip. “Maybe you got too close to that wolf pack and they tore both of you to pieces. Of course, those options are a bit messy.”
“Please. You have Steele, what more do you want?” Stall. Think of something because no one is coming to the rescue.
Kiara growled. “I want his heart and soul.”
“You do. Steele refuses to keep a human even as a pet.”
She cocked her head. “The question is do I kill you here or elsewhere?”
Her betas snarled, waiting for her command.
Gaby had no choice but to use her charm. She called on all nearby predators. Protect us. “Let Cricket live. She’s no threat to you.”
Cricket stirred and blinked. “What’s…happening?”
“I can’t leave witnesses around. Besides, she’s almost dead.” She stepped closer. “I’ll kill you first and then finish her off.”
The pack of wild wolves leapt out of the forest and surrounded them.
Kiara turned. “What the fuck!”
The pack snarled, baring their teeth. Their hackles up and muscles bunched ready to charge.
“Kill them,” Kiara commanded.
The two betas faced the pack.
Gaby stood. Now bear!
The enormous grizzly launched from the dark forest and thundered toward the betas. They turned to face their attacker. The bear mauled one of them. He fell wounded, but scrambled away as the second beta bit the bear’s rump. The beast twisted and chased after the second beta.
Kiara shot Gaby a confused look. She shifted to full bipedal werewolf form and clawed the bear. It roared but didn’t back down. The pack of wolves stood in front of Gaby and Cricket, a ring of protection.
Gaby’s arms spread and her eyes closed in complete concentration.
Two mountain lions came out of the forest, bound for Kiara and her betas. Between the grizzly, the pack and the big cats, the odds were now stacked against them. Kiara and her betas ran.
Safe from the she-wolf, Gaby commanded the animals to stand down and leave. The bear lumbered off and the mountain lions returned to the forest. The pack of wolves kept their gaze fixated on the werewolves running away.
Cricket sat up rubbing her head. “We’re screwed.”
“I had no choice.” Gaby leaned in and looked at her wound. “Looks bad. You’ll need stitches.”
“Nah. I don’t heal as fast as the average werewolf, but it’ll be better soon.” She smiled. “Thanks for saving my ass. The bitch would have killed me for sure.”
“A fellow werewolf?”
“Even while defending my territory, killing a defiant runt is Princess Kiara’s right.”
This was the first time Gaby heard Cricket refer to herself as a runt. “I doubt Slade and Rylee would see it that way.” Gaby helped her up, but she winced and sat back down. “Your wound is bad. I’ll get help.”
Cricket touched the back of her head and stared at the blood on her hand. “You can’t go alone.” She tried to get up again, but moaned.
“Don’t move.” Gaby wet a bandana with her canteen and wrapped it around Cricket’s head.
She winced. “Kiara knows you are a wolf-segen. She’ll come back with an entire pack and weapons.”
Gaby sighed. “Sorry, I got you into this mess. I tried calling back the horses, but they must already be at the barn.”
Cricket cocked her head. “So your influence is distance constrained.”
“Yes, we recorded the distance at about a half-mile.”
“Let’s hope Rylee finds a loophole in the kill a wolf-segen on sight law.”
“Not if I escape.”
“Against my better judgment, but I think you’re right.”
“No point in staying anyway.” She handed Cricket a canteen. Not with Steele looking for a proper mate.
Cricket drank and wiped her lips. “You should take the pack and all your animal friends and head back.”
“Not leaving you.”
“Then we’ll both die when they come back.”
Chapter 20
Steele sat drinking beer with Slade on the balcony overlooking the mountains that bordered Slade and Cricket’s property. The day was crisp and the sky clear blue. He had argued with his brother about taking a mate and then returned to headquarters. First, he’d talk to Kiara about his Vegas wedding. Unfortunately, he had just missed her. She went home, but would return tomorrow. Maybe she’d wait to talk to him about Gaby before going raving werewolf mad. Kiara must understand, he’d forgotten the lycan mating rules. At least no one but Rylee knew Gaby’s location. Frustrated, he phoned Rylee. She told him Gaby was here. Slade had returned from a rescue mission and picked up Steele by helicopter from headquarters to hang out at his place until Cricket and Gaby returned from their picnic ride. “I told King Conan, I won’t take a mate. At least not for now.” Unless, it kept Gaby safe.
Slade gave him a sidelong glance. “Let me guess, he threatened to take your title?”
“Not quite. Unfortunately, my nephew is not well, and my niece is a beta. I’m a much needed royal spare.”
“If Maxwell is not well, then Margo has no choice but to become the next queen, not you.”
“That and I told my brother it’s not necessary since he’ll live long enough for Margo to ascend the throne.” He scratched the stubble on his chin. “You appear happy with your choice of Cricket over your title.”
Slade finished his beer and sighed. “I’d give up a thousand titles for Cricket.”
I feel that way about Gaby. “If only I can do the same.” The king let Slade keep his Yukon territory.
“I get it. The only way you’d be allowed to mate Gaby would be if she was a Stallo woman.”
Slade didn’t know Gaby was a wolf-segen. Not only was she human, but their ancestral enemy, a person who could point out a werewolf. They had the mother of all relationship complications. Steele raked his hair back. “You’re right. I have to give her up.”
“Not so fast. If you and Gaby agree, she can remain your pet. That is if your future mate allows it.”
“I wouldn’t do that to Gaby.” He sighed. “We must part.” After he said goodbye to Gaby, he’d pay Kiara a visit. The bitch needed a lecture about entering his private den without permission. He’d tell Kiara he would choose another mate and she shouldn’t blame Gaby for their fake marriage. Convince her not to shame him in front of the council.
“Before I met Cricket, nothing but duty mattered. Then I lost my pack. She saved me from morphogenesis.”
The condition where a werewolf refused to shift. Prince Maxwell’s current affliction. “I was such a dick for being closed-min
ded.”
“You’ve come around.” He stuck out his hand for a shake. “No hard feelings.”
“Good to know.”
Slade raised his bottle of beer. “Cricket and I support your relationship with Gaby.”
“My only goal is making sure Gaby is safe from Kiara.”
“Unless you accept her as a mate, it’s none of her business who you keep as a pet.”
“She found out Gaby and I got married in Las Vegas.”
“How the hell did she hear that?”
“She invaded my den and found our only wedding picture and my ring.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“I wish I was.” He sighed. “I’m hoping your pilot can drop me off at Kiara’s estate. After I explain things to Gaby.”
“Of course, he can take you anywhere, but why the fuck to Kiara’s?”
“She needs to know I don’t intend to have her as a mate before she challenges Gaby to a fight.”
“Would she resort to that archaic law?”
“Why not? She’s told the whole damn world I’m her intended.”
“Kiara wants greater royal prestige. And you buddy, are it, even if you’re just a spare heir.”
“She’ll need to look elsewhere.” The sound of horses gladdened Steele’s heart. “They’re back.”
Slade stood and looked over the railing. “Shit.”
“What?”
“No riders.”
Steele’s adrenaline spiked. “Kiara found her!”
Slade growled, shifted and took off toward the trail. Hot on their scent.
Steele shifted and joined him at a dead run. Please, let there be a better reason their horses returned without them.
Gaby fretted. Cricket fell into a deep sleep. She peeked beneath the bandana covering Cricket’s wound. The bleeding had stopped. Although her injury could be internal. The wolf pack guarding her and Cricket turned their attention toward the forest. They growled, but slowly backed up. Kiara must have returned with more men. Gaby’s pulse quickened. She gently patted her cheek. “Cricket, wake up.”
Cricket opened her eyes. “Was I asleep?”
“Yeah.”
“Sorry, what’s up?”
“The wolves are alarmed. Kiara might have returned.”
“Huh?” Cricket sniffed and then smiled. “Hubby is earlier than expected.” She shook her head and winced. “Pretty sure he freaked when the horses returned without us.”