Caress of the Wolf [The Gray Pack 5] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour)

by Lori King

  Everyone was silent with their thoughts for a few minutes before Shandi asked, “So, Whitney, what plans have you and your mates made so far?”

  Whitney frowned. “None yet. We have to get past the challenge tomorrow first. If they win and take the leadership of the pack then we will make plans.”

  “And if they don’t?” Shandi was the newest to the pack, and Whitney didn’t expect her to know everything about how it worked, but she still found the words stuck in her throat when she tried to explain.

  She threw Tawny a pleading look as she swallowed back tears.

  Tawny sighed heavily. “If they are both killed, Whitney will be dead by tomorrow evening.”

  Shandi gasped and her face drained of blood. “What? Why? Will they kill her?”

  “No, they mated her, which means that her life is bound to theirs. If both of them are killed, her soul can’t survive with only one piece out of three. If one of them survives, the two of them might be able to make a go of it,” Tawny explained with tears in her own eyes.

  Shandi’s hands were shaking as she reached for Whitney and gave her a tight squeeze. “I’m so sorry you’re going through this. I wish I had known. This should be a happy time for you.”

  “It is a happy time. I found my mates, and they are wonderful men who seem to love me and my body already. How can that not be happy? Sure we have a few hurdles ahead of us, but who doesn’t? Cadence will win the challenge, and we will start our life together,” Whitney said, stiffening her spine against all other possible outcomes. Cadence had to win. There was no other option.

  * * * *

  Something had changed within the Gray pack. Suddenly every female was paired up with a male, and they were constantly glancing over their shoulder. How could they have gone from happy and relaxed this morning to nervous and guarded this afternoon?

  It didn’t matter. At some point he was going to have to get his rocks off. He would seduce one of them one way or another. They couldn’t be surrounded by bodyguards all the time.

  God, he hated being here. He hated this pack and their holier than thou attitude. So what if they had a great Alpha, and money, and security. It didn’t make them better than him and his own family.

  A nasty idea began to take shape in his brain. A way to remind them that they were just as vulnerable as anyone else. Even in their own den. It wouldn’t be easy, but he could corner one of them, and as long as no one saw them together…

  * * * *

  Shandi’s phone rang later that afternoon and she excused herself from the crowd of ladies to answer it. Her relief at hearing Rafe’s deep voice on the other end came in a storm of tears.

  “I’m so glad to hear your voice, Angel.”

  “Me, too, Rafe, I miss you guys so much.”

  “I know. We’ll be home soon, I promise.”

  “The girls told me that you made it to the den. Did Ry get there okay? Did they find KJ and Thomas?”

  Rafe chuckled as her questions spilled out. “Yeah, he’s here. We’re all here. In fact, we obtained an extra. KJ found her mates.”

  “What?”

  “Yeah, believe it or not Thomas is one of them, and the other is a Kaplan wolf. I haven’t spent much time with him yet, but he seems okay.”

  “Oh wow! That’s…unexpected.”

  Rafe snorted. “Yeah, you’re telling me. Anyway, we just had a long sit down with Tasha and Graham. She’s sicker than we thought.”

  Shandi was quiet. She could hear the pain in Rafe’s voice, and she longed to be there for him, holding him and comforting him as he got through this. His parents, Tasha and Graham Whetstone, had abandoned him and Ryley with the Gray pack when they were little. They were adopted into the pack by Victoria and Henley Gray, but they still held a lot of anger toward their biological parents. When KJ showed up asking them for help for their injured mother, it brought up a lot of that turmoil. Unfortunately, Shandi couldn’t leave her day job as a kindergarten teacher behind until the end of the semester, so she wasn’t able to travel with them to Wyoming.

  “I’m sorry. Did she explain why they left you with the Gray pack?”

  “She insists that it was the safest place for us. I have to admit we were safe with the Gray pack, but I don’t know. I just want to lay into her for abandoning us, but then I look at her and I can see the pain she feels and the regret, and I can’t.”

  “Do you know what I love the most about you, Rafe Whetstone?”

  “What?”

  “Your heart. It’s bigger than any I’ve ever seen. This is your mom. Just because you’re angry with her, doesn’t mean you can’t love her. Accept what happened, and move on. You’re coming home to me soon and we’ll work through it together.”

  His sigh of relief warmed her. “You’re right, thank you, angel. I’m going to let you talk to Ryley now, but know that if I could I would kiss you senseless for that. I love you, Shandi Whetstone.”

  “I love you, too, Rafe.”

  Ryley came on the line groaning. “I’d do way more than kiss you senseless, babygirl. I’d rip your clothes off and—”

  Shandi heard Rafe’s growl and Ryley’s sound of pain before he came back on the line, but all she could do was laugh at their antics. “I miss you, too, Ry.”

  “Are you taking care of yourself, babygirl? Eating? Resting? Practicing shifting into your wolf so that we can go for a run when we get back?”

  “All of the above, and more. Things have been a little chaotic around here with the Diego wolves here.”

  Ryley’s growl was low and menacing. “Are they behaving themselves? They better not fuck with you.”

  “No, nothing like that. They have barely even spoken to me. It’s just Whitney…”

  “Yeah, we heard Whitney’s boinking Cadence, but Rafe and me will put a stop to that when we get home. Until then you just assure Liam that we’ll help him handle it.”

  Shandi rolled her eyes at the phone. “Ry, you are not going to handle anything. Whitney is a grown woman, who—”

  “She’s not a woman, she’s my fucking sister!”

  “Who can handle her life on her own. Put it from your mind until you get back. Then you can see for yourself that Cadence and Mateo treat her like a queen already.”

  “Fine. I guess I better let you go.”

  “I love you, Ry.”

  “I love you, too, babygirl, and if you want to fantasize about me you should look in the bottom drawer of the refrigerator. I got you a present. It’s not as big as I am, but it’ll do in a pinch. Gotta go, see you soon.”

  The phone clicked in her ear, and Shandi groaned. She could only imagine what was in her refrigerator. Knowing Ryley, it was something obscenely phallic. Returning to the living room, she was surprised to see Whitney and Tawny missing.

  “Where’d they run off to?”

  “They wanted to go back to the clearing and see if the men were almost finished. Whitney’s lusting for her mates, and Tawny is feeling lonely,” Tina answered.

  Shandi shook her head. “Smitten. You should remember what that feels like.”

  “Oh I do. The mating lust is so strong it’s painful sometimes. Of course, she doesn’t have to accept a whole new lifestyle in order to keep them.”

  Caroline frowned. “I’m not so sure about that. The Diego pack is completely different from us. I’m afraid that even though Whitney doesn’t have to change her DNA, she will have to change a lot of other things that she’s not ready to change. I feel for her.”

  Shandi agreed, and as the subject changed, she let her mind drift. Since the day she met Rafe and Ryley, she had barely thought of anyone else. They had accepted her and her health issues, even though she wasn’t able to give them the family they had dreamed about. Nothing hurt her deeper than the knowledge that she couldn’t give them children of their own, but they assured her that they wanted her anyway.

  Before they left, they agreed to discuss adoption as soon as they returned. They all three wanted kids, and the
only way to have them was to adopt them, so the sooner the better as far as she was concerned.

  Caroline yawned, and Shandi looked at her watch. “Are you all right, Caro?”

  “Yeah, just tired. The closer I get to my due date, the more exhausted I am. The twins are wearing me out. I think I’ll go take a little nap before I have to get up to cook. Victoria and Sienna are supposed to help me put the food together for the dinner tonight.”

  “Are we doing it in the clearing again?” Tina asked.

  “No, we’re just setting up tables in the front yard. Less people will be at dinner tonight. Most of them just wanted to meet the Diego wolves. Now that they have they will have other things to do.”

  Shandi stood and stretched. “I think I’ll go home and take a nap, too.”

  Caroline looked wary. “Would you mind staying here? I meant what I said. I don’t think any of us should be alone until the Diego wolves leave.”

  Shandi agreed, but as she dozed off, her dreams were dark and scary. Violence from the Diego pack, and violence from the Kaplan pack. No matter where the Gray wolves turned, there was some sort of violence happening. What would happen next?

  * * * *

  There were only about twenty men left in the clearing, and most of them were seated on boulders watching. The Diego wolves were now the only ones battling, and all eight were deliciously nude. Although they varied slightly in shape, they were all absolutely enormous. Ridges of hard muscle and sinew rippled with every movement and sweat glistened on their burnished gold skin. Silas and Martin stood out in the grouping, but only because they didn’t share the same Hispanic coloring. Nor did they share the Native American cinnamon skin tone that most of the Gray pack had. Instead they resembled Tawny with their pale skin and blonde hair, and that seemed to draw the girl’s attention to them more acutely.

  “Holy shit, aren’t they a sight to behold,” Tawny whispered next to her. It wasn’t quite quiet enough because Liam’s blue eyes sent them a glare of disapproval as they observed the eight naked sweaty men fighting each other.

  They weren’t really fighting to inflict damage. It was more like a dance as they swung and countered, kicked, and evaded. “I wonder why they aren’t in their fur for this?”

  “Maybe they realized how much prettier they looked in their skin?” Tawny joked, earning her another black look, this time from her younger brothers. She rolled her eyes when she noticed it. “What is their problem? I’m allowed to look at whoever I want to.”

  Whitney laughed. “I doubt it would upset them if you were looking at men from our pack instead of Diego wolves.”

  Their voices carried, and suddenly the two of them had the full attention of all twenty men on the field. Tawny gave Whitney a guilty look before she waved. “Uh, hi guys. Just checking to see how long you planned to fight this out.”

  Chance was the first to laugh, and once he did all of the other men chuckled, too. “Dimples, I’ll gladly stop fighting and start loving if you’re in need.”

  Tawny’s pale white skin flushed bright pink, and she crossed her arms over her small bust defensively. Whitney jumped to run interference. Tawny was shy with men, so Chance’s flirting was likely to upset her if it continued.

  “Back off, Porter. Otherwise I’ll be the one putting you on your back with your belly bared.” Her voice had dropped an octave, and it caught all of the men by surprise. It wasn’t often she resorted to that tone, but occasionally she did it to get her way. When Chance gave her a small bow, it was tempered with a wink in Tawny’s direction.

  “No worries, Miss Gray. I was only volunteering to scratch her itch if she had one,” Chance responded with a shrug.

  “Perhaps if we didn’t have a constant audience, we would accomplish more.” The look Reyes gave Whitney was both interested and disgusted at the same time. Knowing what she did about him, she forced herself to stay expressionless under his searing stare.

  “Well you see, it’s a little like watching a car wreck. You don’t want to look, and you know it’s not a good idea to look, but you end up rubbernecking on your way past the scene anyway,” she shot back with enough venom to get her point across.

  Reyes’s eyes flashed, and he started to move in her direction—for what she had no idea. Maybe he thought he was going to put her in her place for being mouthy. Whatever his intentions, they were shut down by the Gray pack wolves warning growls before either of her men even had a chance to respond.

  Shooting them all a grateful look, she flushed a little when Devin gave her a disapproving frown. Okay, so maybe she should poke the bear—er, wolf—but Reyes just made it too easy.

  “We just wanted to see how much longer you guys would be out here. I’d like to steal my new mates back if you don’t mind.” She arched her brow at Reyes, who still stood poised to launch across the field at her. “My apologies for interrupting your workout, but you wouldn’t want to wear yourselves out today when the real fight is tomorrow.”

  Javier placed one hand on Reyes’ shoulder, stilling his brother, and they seemed mollified for the moment. It took everything she had inside of her not to make another nasty comment at their arrogance, but Chance saved the day.

  Moving her way, he gave her a panty-dropping smile and winked. “I’ve had enough. I want a hot shower and a cold beer before dinner. Anyone else?”

  Most of the men agreed, and a large pack of them headed toward their various cabins. Justin, Tate, and Heath marched in their direction with matching looks of irritation on their faces. Pushing past Chance, the three brothers collected their sister, scolding her for flirting as the four of them walked away. Whitney shook her head, because only brothers would think that that particular method would work on a woman. Tawny might be shy, but she sure as hell wasn’t a pushover.

  To Whitney’s surprise, Chance stood in place for a couple more seconds watching the foursome leave. A disappointed look crossed his face and she frowned. “What’s wrong, Chance?”

  “She’s shy.”

  Whitney nodded even though it wasn’t really a question.

  Chance smiled. “I like her. When she opens up she’s funny and sweet.”

  She could feel her eyes widen and her mouth gaped open. “Uh, well, that’s great. I think. Um, but could you hold off telling her that until after the battle? If you’re the winner, I mean.” A flash of something showed in his eyes barely long enough for her to register it and then he sighed heavily. “Yeah. Of course. You coming for a beer?”

  “No, I want to spend more time with the guys before everything.”

  He gave a serious nod, and Whitney realized that it was the first time she could remember him being serious about anything since she met him. Chance was a playful guy, but now she could see he had a softer side. It boded well for any sparks that might develop between him and Tawny. Saluting her, he walked off in the opposite direction of Tawny and her brothers, and she turned her attention back to her guys.

  Cadence and Mateo both started toward Whitney, but Cadence was called back by Devin. “I’ll catch up with you two in a little while.”

  Mateo nodded and gave Whitney a devilish smile. “We’ll find a way to entertain ourselves.”

  I have no doubt.

  The words echoed in Whitney’s head, and she looked at Cadence in surprise. Mateo’s matching wide-eyed look assured her that she wasn’t the only one to hear it.

  “Did that?”

  Mateo nodded and then laughed.

  It seems our talents are increasing, mi reina.

  “Shitcakes,” Cadence said out loud, making the two of them laugh. “We’ll talk about that later, too, flower.”

  Whitney accepted his quick kiss of good-bye and then turned to Mateo with a big grin. He wiggled his eyebrows at her, making her smile bigger. “What are we going to do now, mi amor?”

  “How about we get you cleaned up before we do anything else,” she said, wrinkling her nose when it came into sniffing distance of his sweaty form.

  “As
long as you promise to scrub my back, mi reina.”

  They hurried back to her cabin and into the shower where she lovingly washed every inch of his body, and he returned the favor. It wasn’t so much sexual as it was intimate. The touch of a lover who knows every nuance of their partner’s body and desires to know more.

  By the time they climbed out of the now cold shower, she was relaxed and they both smelled clean again. Instead of taking her to the bedroom to dress as she expected, he led her out the back door of her cabin. Walking directly to the hammock that she had insisted Liam and Ryley help her hang last spring, he stopped and gestured to climb the soft netting like a king showing off his throne. The hammock was stretched between two thick, old cherry trees, and it was the perfect place to laze away summer days, but it was built for one, and she couldn’t remember if the packaging had a weight limit on it.

  Giving Mateo a wary look, she snickered. “Don’t tell me you think we’ll both fit in that thing.”

  His smile grew. “That’s exactly what I’m thinking. I’ll climb in first.”

  She held her tongue as she watched the big man ease down onto the sling. He obviously had a few reservations himself, because he was meticulous in finding his balance before swinging his other leg up onto the net. Once he had settled comfortably, he gave her a triumphant smile and held his hand out. “Your turn, mate.”

  The endearment swept over her like a warm wave. He had gifted her with several nicknames since they met, but that one was definitely her favorite. Forcing herself to pay attention, she studied the hammock and its occupant. “Where exactly am I going to fit, big guy? You’re taking up all of the room.”

  The way the corners of his mouth turned up had her inner wolf preening. He had wicked plans for this hammock, and it made her heart race just imagining it. Suddenly her pussy was nearly dripping with desire, and his nostrils flared. “Mmm, you smell good, amor. I think you’ve figured me out.”

  “I’m not sure this is a good idea.” Even as she said it, she moved closer to him, sliding one leg up over his hips and bracing her hands on his chest. He gripped her hips to steady her so she could bring up her other leg, and she eased her weight down on top of him.