With her hands resting on his chest, she began to move. Circling her hips, lifting and then lowering herself, she took all that he offered her and then made him beg for more. His mouth opened and he called her name, his hips lifting off the floor to meet her stroke for stroke. Kira tensed, her sex gripping him tighter, and then he exploded, losing control. Feeling a rush of joy as he filled her with his essence, she milked him of everything he had before she finally crashed over the edge to float above the Earth with him.
Chapter Eleven - Cole
They had slept together all night: now the new day was here, or was it all a dream? How could this morning be so different from the last? Only the dull ache in his shoulder reminded him of the gunshot wound; the rest of him was filled with euphoria.
“How does it feel?” she asked him, her head on his chest, her fingers stroking the skin around the bandage.
“Incredible.” He took hold of her fingers and kissed them.
“I mean your wound,” she said, giving him a playful slap.
“So did I.” He turned to look at her. “It hurts, not so much as it did. But it reminds me of how lucky I was to find you. The scar it leaves will remind me of the day we met. The day I finally found my mate.”
She kissed him, and he slid his tongue along her lower lip, and then bit the soft flesh gently. His wolf was so close, wanting to smell their mate, to feel her next to him as they ran through the meadows. Soon.
His shoulder would have to heal a little bit more first, or she would run rings around him and he had his pride. Even if, for the love of his mate, he would do anything she asked of him.
“I need to get up. I have things to do, and we need to eat.” She grabbed her robe and got out of bed. He lay back and watched her as she moved around the room, going to the window and looking out at the weather and then smiling at him as she headed for the bathroom.
“I wondered if we could go over to Fara’s today,” he asked when she came back in and began to get clean clothes out of the closet.
“Why?” she asked, pulling a T-shirt on, covering up her wonderfully curvy body. Maybe he should have insisted they stay around the house and she lavish lots of tender, loving care on him. And sex. Tender, loving sex.
“I wanted to take a look at the damage to her place and plan what I can do to help. I might even get my brothers involved. We could repair the damage so much quicker if we worked together.”
“That’s a great idea. Fara needs the work done, that’s for sure.”
“I could do with a shower first, if that’s OK?” he asked.
“Sure. Help yourself. First I should check your wound.” She came and knelt on the bed next to him, the scent of her assailing his mind, making him close his eyes and lodge it in his brain along with all the other favourite things he stored there. Like the memory of his mom.
She had died giving birth to Sol, when Cole was too young to fully understand what was happening. There was only one real, concrete memory he had of her. Just the one that he knew was fact and not his mind making it up. One Christmas, when he was four, he asked Santa for a train. They were very poor, now he thought about it. They couldn’t have been exiled from Wolf Valley for long and she was heavily pregnant; he could picture her with her big, baby-filled belly. Sol.
Somehow his mom had got the money together and bought him not just a train, but a train set with track and carriages. It was his most favourite thing; he still had one of the trains tucked away in the bottom of his closet. Throughout the day, she had sat and played with him. Making noises, bringing it to life. That was one of his favourite days. He had felt loved, unconditionally.
Until Kira, there hadn’t been one to match it.
As Kira’s hands worked on his shoulder, he acknowledged that was how she made him feel. The scent of her made him feel safe, made him feel wanted.
“There,” she said and he turned to kiss her.
“Thank you.”
“Come on. You need to shower, I need to eat.” She got off the bed, and headed for the door.
“We certainly worked up an appetite last night, didn’t we?”
She turned back to him and he could see she was blushing. “We did. Now I’m going to the kitchen.”
“Why, are you scared if you stay you won't be able to keep your hands off me?’
“Something like that,” she said quickly and left the room.
Cole couldn’t suppress his smile. She was more than he could ever have wished for, and he wanted to find out what sadness lurked in her soul and chase it away forever. Replacing it with the love they would share in their long life together.
Chapter Twelve- Kira
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Kira asked, steering the truck onto the rutted track leading up to Fara’s house. She could still picture Cole now, lying on the ground unconscious with blood pouring from his wound.
“Why, do you think she’s going to shoot me on sight again?” Cole asked, keeping his face straight.
“Maybe.” Kira shot him a sidelong glance. “Your shoulder has healed quickly. I don’t want you to open the wound again.”
“My wolf blood should help it along. Which reminds me, as soon as I’m fit enough, I want to run with you, Kira. The two of us free on top of the mountain.”
It was what she wanted too. Her wolf would feel as if it was on top of the world to have the chance to go with him across the open meadows and up through the trees. Maybe they could hunt together too. Afterwards, they could satisfy another craving.
“I’d like that,” she said huskily. “I’d like that a lot.”
“If I survive Fara.”
The old woman was coming out of her house; thankfully, she didn’t have a shotgun with her today. But the worry that had worn into her face over the last few months was still there. They might be able to fix her barn, but it wouldn’t fix everything else that was wrong with Wolf Valley. Once the place was fixed up, there was just as likely to be another raid.
Cole and his brothers might have given up stealing from the town and surrounding area, but there would be someone new moving in to take up the job, she was sure. The sheriff posed no deterrent. He was too interested in hounding the good people of Wolf Valley to worry about anything bad going on.
Kira’s anger simmered under the surface. Cole turned to her, his head snapping around as though he had read her thoughts. Well, perhaps not her thoughts, but definitely her feelings.
“OK?” he asked.
“Yes. Just have a lot on my mind,” she said, parking the truck.
Before he got out, he leaned over and touched her hand, squeezing it reassuringly. “Then let me help you. I’m here for you, Kira. I want to take some of your worries and responsibilities and make them mine.”
“That’s sweet, Cole. But I don’t think you can help.”
“I will if I am the new alpha of Wolf Valley.”
It was her turn to snap her head round. “You really believe that?”
“Yes. That old guy Colin said he thought me or my brothers were here for a reason. Maybe he was talking out of his ass. Shall we see?”
“What do you mean?” she asked, her face clouding with worry.
“Fara is a member of the Wolf Valley pack, surely. So if I can influence her, I can influence the others.”
Kira shook her head slowly, trying to take that in. Was it possible? Her mate would be the new alpha of Wolf Valley and return law and order to the town, and make those who had done wrong pay for their crimes.
“This I want to see. There is no one I know who is as strong-willed as Fara. If you can influence her, then maybe…” But it was ridiculous. She just couldn’t see it happening; everyone believed that they would never again have an alpha after the death of the old one.
“Fara. Cole wanted to come over and set everything straight,” Kira said, raising a smile as she got out of the truck.
From the other side, Cole followed, although warily, still checking to see if Fara had a gun or a sho
vel handy.
“Did he now? Well. I guess we can talk about it.” Her eyes narrowed, but she wasn’t looking at Cole, at least not at first. Instead, her eyes were fixed on Kira. “You OK, honey?”
“Yes,” Kira nodded, and she knew what this intense scrutiny meant. Yesterday, Fara had guessed who Cole was; now she was looking for confirmation. “Cole is my mate, Fara.”
Fara absorbed the words and then a smile appeared on her lips, which spread into a wide grin. “Well, I’ll be.” She came up to Kira, hugging her tightly. “I am so happy for you.” Pulling back, she rounded on Cole. “If you don’t treat this lady right I will be using more than a shovel on you, young man.”
Cole pulled himself up to his full height. He towered over Fara, and with no weapon to defend herself, the old woman could be snapped in two by his powerful hands. But Cole grinned back at Fara; whatever tension between them now gone as they realised they had a common goal. “I’m just grateful she has someone like you to look out for her,” Cole said.
Fara dropped her gaze, her happiness gone for a fleeting second. “Well. I should have been there when she needed me most.” Taking hold of Kira’s hand, she looked sorrowfully into Kira’s eyes. The sadness of her words brought everything back to her. But Kira couldn’t let Fara take the blame. “There was nothing any of us could do to change what happened.”
“Still doesn’t make it easier.” Fara said.
“Make what easier?” Cole came to stand by them now, his attention fixed on Fara, as if willing her to talk.
Kira held her breath: Was Cole trying to exert his influence on Fara? Would it work? Would Wolf Valley have its hope back with Cole as their new alpha?
“None of your business. Unless Kira wants to tell you. It’s her business, not mine,” Fara answered roughly and then turned abruptly to walk back to the house. “Tea?”
Cole looked at Kira, and she could read the disappointment in his eyes. “I guess I’m not the one. Or maybe I’m just not cut out for being the alpha, just like my father. What if it’s lost to me because of the bad things I’ve done?”
“Like I said, Fara is strong-willed.”
He shook his head. “No. It either works or it doesn’t.” He stood there, his jaw tense, his fists clenched as if fighting something internally.
“Cole. You can still make a difference, you know.”
“How?” he asked, his eyes unfocused as if he was trying to put things back into perspective. His future had fallen apart and she could sense his disappointment.
“There are other ways. And we can start with this barn.”
Standing together, they looked at the state of poor Fara’s barn and her house. This was one thing they could do. Together they could rebuild Wolf Valley one farm at a time. One life at a time. If they were allowed to. But Kira knew what dangers there were lurking in the small alpha-less town.
***
“We have to go there to fetch supplies,” Cole said as they bumped back along the track leading away from Fara’s farm.
“I think we should wait until you are fully healed,” she said miserably. He was insisting that they go to Wolf Valley now to order the timber needed to repair the damage to Fara’s barn. She knew he was keen to get started, to show her he really had changed and wanted to make amends for his previous behaviour.
“What’s the worst that can happen?” he asked, studying her, but she wasn’t ready to explain everything about her past to him. Not because she didn’t trust him, but because it hurt too much. Right now, she wanted to look to the future and her new life with Cole. But was that possible while the spectre of Wolf Valley still hung over her?
“I don’t want you to end up in trouble.”
“I’m a reformed character.”
“They don’t know that, do they?”
“I doubt whether most of the people in town even know what I look like. The raids were done at night, or we were wolves. I think it will be OK.”
They reached the end of the track and she had to make a decision. Perhaps he was right; she had to get over the ghosts of the past to begin her new future, although the thought of simply turning the truck in the opposite direction and driving until she ran out of road seemed a much safer option. But to do that would be to abandon Fara and her other friends. No matter what had happened and how scared she was for Cole’s safety, that could never happen.
At the last minute, she made up her mind and turned the steering wheel to the left, taking them towards Wolf Valley and whatever might be waiting for them there.
Chapter Thirteen- Cole
Cole felt her tension as they drove towards Wolf Valley. He couldn’t figure out what was wrong with her. Yes, he knew that Wolf Valley was lawless, even though they had a sheriff. He tried to figure that one out. Was the man an incompetent fool, or did it go deeper than that?
“So, the sheriff?” Cole asked.
Her hands tightened on the wheel. Without taking her eyes off the road, she asked, “What about him?”
“You tell me. Why doesn’t he control Wolf Valley? That’s his job, isn’t it?” Cole asked, watching her expression change. Her mouth turned down at the corners and she chewed her bottom lip. Something was wrong here.
“He took the job on, not because he wanted to keep the town together, but because he wanted to line his own den.”
“So he takes bribes?” Cole asked.
“Yes. If you pay him enough money, he will turn his attention elsewhere.” She still didn’t look at him. “That’s what worries me, Cole. You see, you and your brothers stole from the people of Wolf Valley, but never paid him off. I’m surprised you’ve never had a visit from him. You did live in Wolf Valley, didn’t you?”
“Yes. We went back to where my mom and dad used to live before they were exiled.”
That got her attention.
“They were actually exiled?”
“Yeah, my dad had an affair, when, you know, mates are supposed to be bonded. Anyway, we came back to live in what was left of his house. The house is a falling-down dump.”
“Do you think that’s why the sheriff never came out to see you? I mean, he must have known where you live. It makes no sense he didn’t come and pay you a visit.”
“No idea. Unless he thought we were a threat. You know, that one of us was the new alpha. If so, he might have thought it better to let sleeping wolves lie.”
“True.”
The road opened up, and small farms appeared more frequently, lining the road into Wolf Valley. By the time street lights appeared, they were into a more suburban area: big houses, ones that must have been worth a fortune years ago, but now many of them looked deserted, boarded-up windows and overgrown gardens, telling of their owners’ escape from the town.
“I didn’t know it was like this,” Cole said as they drove on.
“Haven’t you been to Wolf Valley at all?” Kira asked.
“No. If we needed supplies, we went into one of the other towns. We’ve kept ourselves away from here.”
“Well, there is the hardware store. Are you sure you want to do this? There are other stores in other towns. I could just keep on going.” Her voice was hopeful, although she began to slow, knowing that he was set on this.
“Park over there. We go in, order the supplies, and then leave. Nothing to draw attention to ourselves. Although I wouldn’t mind meeting this sheriff of yours.”
“Not while you are injured Cole. Believe me, you want to be fit when you meet him for the first time.” She parked the truck and got out, looking around nervously.
He wasn’t sure how it could be too bad. He was with her; he would keep her safe, despite his wounded shoulder. But she looked as if she were about to be sick by the time they stood outside the store.
“You want to wait in the truck?” he asked.
“No. We stay together.”
“It really can’t be that bad. I can protect you,” he said, placing his arm around her shoulders and pulling her close to him.
> “It’s not that…”
“Why, hello. Kira, isn’t it? Haven’t seen you in town for some time. And I don’t think we’ve had the pleasure.” The voice behind them wasn’t friendly; this was no local welcoming committee.
Kira tensed, and the feelings he sensed from her made him understand that whatever had happened here, this man was responsible. His wolf’s hackles rose; he bared his teeth, snapping to be released. But Cole knew he had to stay in control. There was a sense of danger crowding in on his mind.
Turning, he saw why. The sheriff was close by, and behind him there were shadows in store doorways, watching, waiting. This man, the sheriff, was as close to an alpha as this town had, and Kira was right. That was not good for the town or anyone in it. A kind of menace emanated from him, making Cole’s skin crawl.
Cole was certain that he had just come face to face with the root of the problem in Wolf Valley. The root of its evil.
Chapter Fourteen - Kira
His voice made her feel sick to her stomach; even her wolf cowered in a corner, whimpering pitifully. This man, the man who called himself the sheriff, haunted her dreams. Dreams that always ended the same way, with a single shot ringing out.
“Ahh, you are the sheriff of Wolf Valley,” Cole said, the hard edge in his voice making her stomach churn with fear. She knew he could look after himself under normal circumstances— it was evident in the way he held himself and the strength in his body. Yet the sheriff could take the strength, the very life-force, from a person with one pull of the trigger.
“I certainly am.” The sheriff eyed Cole up and down, and then grinned at Kira again, knowing he was twisting a knife into an open wound. “I see you’ve picked up another stray dog here. Your dad would be so proud of you for keeping up your charity work.”
She couldn’t find her voice. Couldn’t answer this man who had taken so much from her.
Reclaim the Wolf: BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance (Wolf Valley Raiders Book 3) Page 5