“Don’t,” Lana said quickly. “That’ll be Jayson and his friends coming to rescue me.”
“Or Avery’s backup coming for blood.”
Lana’s eyes widened. She hadn’t thought of that. Her eyes scanned the direction where the noises were coming from, and she stepped back away from the barks and howls. Jayel came alongside her, shotgun in hand, as wolves burst into the little clearing from between several trees.
“Get behind me,” Jayel shouted, pulling Lana behind her and raising her gun.
In the midst of eight or so wolves were two who shifted on the run. It was an odd sight, wolf legs stretching out in front to gain ground, then landing as the arms of men. Zane and Jayson were still running on all fours as they turned, but after a few strides, they straightened up. Zane and the wolves stopped at the sight of the gun, but Jayson kept on coming.
“Lana!” he cried out, and then his eyes narrowed at his sister. “What have you done to her?”
Jayel pumped the shotgun handle to chamber another round. “Stop right there.” He froze in front of the sprawled bodies and raised his hands. “What have I done?” she went on. “I just saved your precious mate’s life.”
Lana stepped out from behind Jayel while Jayson’s eyes took in the carnage around her. “We came as fast as we could,” he said, looking back up at Lana in horror. The anguish in his eyes matched the fear and frustration she could feel pulsing around him. “What happened? We were all the way down near the flatlands when we sensed you were in trouble.”
Lana nodded. “Titus and Randall led you away on purpose so Avery could come for me.”
Jayson swore while Zane’s eyes flared bright yellow. “And we played right into their game,” he said.
“They planned to use me to force you into their pack,” Lana said, briefly glancing at what had once been Avery’s skull. “But he had to go through Jonathan Tyson to get to me.”
That propelled Zane forward. He gaped at the unrecognizable body. “That’s Tyson?”
“What’s left of him,” Jayel said, tapping pointedly on the barrel her fingers were cradling.
“So, you really did it,” Jayson said to her. “You killed a man.”
“I killed two werewolves, you mean,” she said sharply. “Both of whom had something very nasty planned for Lana.”
“Tyson was a werewolf?” Jayson asked.
“Considering he survived Avery tearing at him with his fangs, he would have been at the next full moon,” Jayel said.
Rage flared palpably around both her mates before settling into remorse. “I’m so sorry,” Jayson said to Lana. “I should never have left your side.”
“It wasn’t your fault,” Lana said.
“I had too much faith that our bond would break his hold on you,” Zane said. “But he wasn’t just another suitor drawn in by mate pheromones.”
She shook her head. “Maybe it started out that way, I don’t know. But he was still obsessed with me being his seventh victim.”
“Jesus,” Jayson said. “I could have lost you.”
Lana ran to him. Zane was there, too, and the men hugged her close between them.
“Ánóshí,” Zane murmured to her. “Did he hurt you?”
She shook her head. “He would have if Avery hadn’t come along. He actually saved me.”
Despite the heat of their bodies pressed against her, she shivered so hard at the thought she feared her chattering teeth might chip.
The other wolves began closing in, but Jayel stiffened and raised the gun higher. “That’s close enough.”
“They’re friends, Jay,” Jayson said, loosening his hold on Lana—but only a little. “None of ’em had anythin’ to do with Mom and Dad. The two who still deserve that end of your gun are at the bottom of the mountain. But we’ll hunt ’em down.”
“I’ll decide who deserves this end of my gun.” One of the wolves, a black one with a white star on his chest, was still creeping forward. She turned the gun on him. “I said back the fuck off. For those of you who are a little slow on the uptake, I can, in fact, kill werewolves now. So don’t push me.”
“I thought you’d changed your mind,” Lana said. “I thought we were friends again.”
Jayel shot her a look that made the past half hour seem like it never happened. “I hadn’t fully decided. Although it’s clear you’re still siding with werewolves regardless of what they’ve done to me—and now to you as well. Or didn’t you notice one of them was about to rape you?”
Lana’s mates let out violent growls.
“But Avery didn’t, thanks to you,” Lana said. “The Forresters need to be stopped, I agree. But not all werewolves are bad, just like not all humans are good.” She gazed pointedly at Tyson, then back up at Jayel. “Which side of that fence are you on?”
Jayel’s nostrils flared. “I’m on the side of justice for victims, something you of all people should understand. Or should I have just let Tyson finish what he started? After all, he wasn’t one of the wolves who killed my family either.”
Jayson started toward her, but Jayel flinched and stepped back. “I mean it, all of you. Keep your damn distance.” She continued backing up, her eyes skimming wildly between the assorted wolves and men. “If I hear so much as one set of paws following me, I will turn and shoot without stopping to see who it is first.”
She backed into the cover of the woods.
“Sis, wait a minute,” Jayson said. “Please.”
Jayel looked at him.
“Thank you for what you did,” he said, sliding his arm around Lana’s shoulder. “Thank you for savin’ her life.”
Jayel threw Lana a quick glance before turning and disappearing into the woods.
The black-and-white wolf shifted into a thickly muscled hunk with shoulder-length blond hair. “Think we should go after her?” he asked.
“No, Seth, let her go,” Jayson said. “She means what she said.”
“I reckoned as much when she pointed her shotgun at my face,” Seth said. “I just figured we should track her while we can. I still can’t get a fix on her scent.”
“None of us can,” said another. This man’s lean, strong body had risen from a wolf whose fur was mink brown. His hair stayed the same color when he shifted. “We can hang back and follow her, see where she’s hidin’ out.”
Zane shook his head. “You’ll risk gettin’ caught. She’s confused right now. Pressin’ her now may make her decide all werewolves need her brand of justice.”
“She decided that long ago,” the mink-haired man said. “Or have you forgotten she held my mate hostage?”
“She did that?” Lana asked.
The man nodded. “She used Tara as bait the same way Avery was apparently plannin’ to use you.” His piercing green eyes flashed gold as he flicked them to Jayson. “She don’t care who she hurts in this blood hunt.”
“Nash is right,” Seth said. “She can’t be reasoned with.”
“That ain’t true,” Jayson said. “You saw what she did here, savin’ Lana. I know what it means, even if Jayel doesn’t yet.”
“It means she succeeded in breaking Talaitha’s curse.” The speaker was a bleached blond with spiky hair and wild blue eyes. He stood in between the remaining wolves, who were also shifting to human form. “She can kill now.”
“All of us can kill, Drew,” Zane said. “That doesn’t mean we choose to.”
“Her choice is lyin’ at your feet,” Nash said.
“She didn’t do nothin’ we wouldn’t have done in her place,” Jayson said. “She saved one of our mates. That’s gotta count for somethin’.”
“Jayel’s not our priority right now,” Zane said. “The Forresters have made it clear they’ll keep bringin’ the fight to us through our mates. It’s obvious the message didn’t get through when Steven and Caleb killed Jess Forrester.”
“Maybe this second failure will drive the message home,” Seth said. “They’re runnin’ out of brothers.”
�
��But the worst two of the lot are still out there,” Jayson said. “Our efforts should go toward findin’ Randall and Titus, not my sister. Endin’ them will also solve the issue with her.”
“Maybe,” Drew said. “I reckon the Forresters are top priority. But that doesn’t mean we can afford to turn our backs on Jayel.”
The group continued talking while Lana clung to Zane’s side. Naked men were standing everywhere, all of whom seemed unconcerned with her seeing bare cock wherever she turned. While she felt no attraction to the others, it was impossible not to look at them or the bloody massacre on the ground. She finally closed her eyes and laid her head on Zane’s shoulder. He stroked her hair while the men’s discussion turned to the unpleasant subject of what to do with the bodies.
“We’ll take ’em deeper into the woods and bury ’em away from here,” Nash said.
Lana’s eyes opened at that. “We’re not calling the police?”
“It’ll raise too many questions,” Jayson answered. “And no matter who we call, the local sheriff’s station will get wind of it. With one of the Forrester pack bein’ a deputy, I’d rather that not happen.”
“Stan and the rest will know what happened when Avery doesn’t come back,” Seth said.
“They can guess,” Jayson said. “But without a body to examine, they won’t have proof.”
“Then you might want to consider sendin’ those bodies over the falls,” Zane said. “Anywhere you bury ’em, the Forresters will be able to sniff out the trail.”
“The police should know Tyson’s dead, at least,” Lana persisted.
“There’s nothin’ more for them to do,” Zane said. “Tyson ain’t a danger to anyone anymore. Justice has been served for his crimes.”
“And I’d rather not have cops gettin’ curious about the marks on him,” Nash said. “That puts all our kind at risk.”
Lana thought about it. “I guess you’re right.”
“It’s over now,” Zane said, pulling her closer. “That’s all that matters.”
“Get her inside,” Jayson said to Zane as the rest made ready to take away the bodies. “She don’t need to see this.”
“No,” Lana said. “Wait.”
She pulled away from Zane, hesitated, and walked over to Tyson with her chin held deliberately high. She gazed down at the torn, crumpled remains for a long moment, letting reality sink in. No more hiding, no more jumping at every sound. No more hurried, anxious showers or wondering how much longer she had to live. She was free.
Taking inspiration from Jayel, Lana leaned over and spit on the body. Then she let Zane lead her back in the house.
Chapter Eleven
Weeks rushed by in a whirlwind before the day Lana’s mates packed another picnic and led her into the woods. As they headed off the hiking trails, bird chatter mimicked the keen anticipation Lana felt growing with every step. She closed her eyes and let the sun bathe her face when it broke through mountain mist, burning the fog into a bright, beautiful day.
“As much as I’m grateful to Steven and Caleb for lettin’ us stay at their place,” Jayson said, “I’d be lyin’ if I said I ain’t happy for some time to ourselves.”
“Circlin’ the wagons was the smartest plan while we figure out our next move,” Zane said. “But damn if Caleb don’t snore so loud you can hear it to the next county.”
“Snorin’ ain’t all you can hear from their room,” Jayson said. “It’s made our sexy witch here a little on the shy side.”
Lana felt her face go hot. “If we can hear them, they can hear us. I don’t want them knowing what we’re doing.”
“They don’t care if we know they knock boots every night,” Jayson said.
“Yes, but it’s their home,” she replied. “I want to be a respectful guest.”
Jayson sighed. “You’d think with Steven bein’ a doctor he could afford thicker walls.”
“We should still be thankful,” Zane said. “Everyone’s doublin’ and triplin’ up. It’s worth it to have numbers on our side until this thing with the Forresters is done.”
Lana swallowed. “I know you said they won’t try to get at me again, but I admit I feel better knowing there’s always someone around.”
Jayson nodded. “I think the others are right, though. The Forresters didn’t try attackin’ Rose again when her mates killed Jess. They moved onto someone else in the pack.”
“Which is why this ain’t finished yet,” Zane said, pushing a branch aside while the others stepped through.
Jayson grunted. “It will be soon enough. Especially now that it sounds like Jayel’s comin’ to her senses.” He pulled an invoice from Manny’s garage from his jeans pocket. He read aloud from the hasty note that had been scrawled on the back. “Meet me under the tree Wednesday at noon. Come alone—no furry surprises waitin’ in the woods. Signed, Jay.”
“You really think she wants to reconcile?” Lana asked.
“I don’t think it’s a trick,” Zane said. “Whether she’ll join forces is another matter.”
“I’d rather she didn’t, truth be known,” Jayson said. “I don’t want her gettin’ in harm’s way. If she’ll just stop fightin’ us, that’ll be help enough.”
They fell silent, and Lana thought about the past few weeks while they walked. She hadn’t seen Jayel since the night of the attack, but then, Lana had moved out of the cabin the very next day. The Forresters hadn’t been spotted either, but no one was ready to assume they’d seen the last of them. Since the packs were spread out over the mountain, they had decided to join together in groups. Those with larger quarters were hosting others. Single wolves and an all-male pack had piled in at a bunkhouse on ranch land two of the wolves, Kyle and Dillon, were renovating. Seth, Drew, and their respective mates were rooming at a ranch that belonged to Kade Winchester, the alpha responsible for killing Blaise Forrester. Lana, Zane, and Jayson wound up at the stunning cabin of Dr. Steven Williams and his mates. Their woman, Rose, had also once found herself at the mercy of the Forresters.
The doctor, Caleb, and Rose had been gracious hosts, even buying a cat condo for poor Sage, who was miserable about rooming with so many werewolves. But Jayson was right—time alone was a sorely missed commodity. Lana felt a flicker of heat at the thought of how they might make use of that time during their picnic.
There was silence as the men guided her for several more steps. “Okay,” Zane said. “We’re here.”
Lana blinked in surprise when they approached Jayson’s tree. The cherry tree was green and no longer laden with the blooms that now lay shriveled and trampled on the ground. But what drew her eye was the short, wooden board suspended by ropes from one of the lower limbs.
“What’s this?” she asked as they walked over. “A swing?”
“Jayson put it up yesterday,” Zane said. “Like it?”
She watched Zane’s flexing muscles in admiration as he set down their basket and spread a brown blanket beneath the tree. He wore tight blue jeans and a white T-shirt that he stripped off as soon as the blanket was down, as if undressing was a natural part of picnic preparation. Which it should be, as far as she was concerned.
“Figured I’d go ahead and hang it,” Jayson said. “You know, just in case.”
Lana smiled as he, too, shucked off his denim shirt. “Isn’t that a bit premature?” she asked, slipping her purse off her shoulder as she wandered to the blanket. The thought of what lay inside the bag made her stomach flip. “We don’t know that we need a swing yet.”
“Of course we need a swing,” he said, and his eyes glittered with a familiar gold that triggered a warm rush in her stomach. “Don’t we, Zane?”
Zane was right behind her when he spoke. “Absolutely. Who’d have thought Jayson could be so ingenious?”
She turned her head so Zane had access to her lips, and he sampled her hungrily. She could feel the heat rising off his bare chest, sense the need rising lower in his body.
“Why do I get the feeling you have
altogether different plans for this swing than I thought?” she asked.
His smile gave her all the answer she needed. Jayson took her by the hand and walked her to the swing, where they set her down on the flat seat. The gently swaying motion reminded her of the day she’d sat on the porch with Jayson at the rental cabin.
“Ready?” he asked.
She pulled her braid around her shoulder and nodded.
In silence, the men unfastened what remained of her braid, releasing the spell and letting her locks flow around her shoulders. Each pulled a comb from their pocket and together, they ran them through the strands that hadn’t hung free for many months.
“So beautiful,” Jayson said. “I hadn’t realized just how long your hair really is.”
“Braiding makes it look shorter,” she said, mesmerized by the gentle pull of their combs and the awestruck expressions on their faces. Zane’s hair was down, too, and feathery strands near his face wafted on a breeze.
She reached for the men, hooking a hand behind both their necks to pull them closer. They shared a three-way kiss that Jayson deepened by pushing his fingers into her hair and moaning against her lips.
Zane ran his hands beneath her sweater, sliding the pink knit up to expose her braless breasts. She gave an involuntary shudder as his fingers teased her nipples. As much as her body was ready for what her men clearly wanted to give her, she tightened up when he moved to slip the sweater over her head.
“Can we really do this?” she asked. “I’m not sure I can wait much longer to check what’s waiting in my purse.”
“Let’s find out,” Zane said, flinging her sweater aside before dropping his jeans. His cock was hard and ready as he moved around behind her. “Lean back against me,” he said.
She complied, and his hands circled her breasts. His tender caress on her nipples immediately drove her pulse into a rapid beat.
Jayson had stepped out of his jeans and began unsnapping hers. “Lean back just a little more, darlin’,” he said, and he tugged on her thighs so she slipped down on the swing.
She sucked in a breath, afraid she might fall, but Zane kept her steady. Jayson stripped off her pants and left her naked on the swing. Her bottom barely had contact with the seat now—the base of her spine rested there, with one man supporting her upper half while the other parted her thighs wide.
Disorderly Cowboys [Lone Wolves of Shay Falls 6] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Page 20