Winter (Rise of the Pride, Book 2)

by Theresa Hissong

  “Who found me?” she asked, trying to remember anything she could after Perry started beating her. She recalled the entire incident up until he punched her in the eye and began choking her. “God, my throat hurts.”

  “Cole found you and called an ambulance to get you to the hospital,” Winter began, but stopped when the door opened. Sheriff Lynch entered, his notepad in hand.

  “Nova,” he said, then smiled. “We need to get a statement from you.”

  “She just woke up,” Winter complained, standing to his full height. “Can this not wait?”

  “Do you want us to find her attacker?” the sheriff replied, glaring at the man who was standing over her bed like he would throw himself in front of a bullet to save her. “Let me do my job, Winter. After that, I will be on my way.”

  “I’ll talk to you and tell you everything I know,” Nova stated, turning her face toward the big Guardian. “Please, Winter?”

  “I’m not leaving,” Winter announced. “Liberty has hired Shaw Security Specialist to help find him. It would be best if I had all of the information as well.”

  “Fine, but if you find him,” Sheriff Lynch warned, “he better not be dead.”

  “Not dead,” Winter said, but there was no hint of a promise in his voice.

  “Okay, Nova,” he continued. “I need you to tell me everything you remember.”

  “Perry picked me up around eight.” Tears started leaking out of her swollen eye and she tried to wipe them away, but more just replaced them. “We went to eat and after that, he said he wanted to go back to my place. As we drove, he started asking about the pride.”

  “What did he want to know?” Winter interrupted, his fists balled up at his sides. Nova stiffened from his anger, even though she told herself Winter was no threat. He must’ve noticed her panic, because he relaxed, finally pulling a chair up to her bedside. She didn’t continue until he was seated.

  “He wanted to know how Liberty was doing and then asked if I could show him where the pride lived.” She swallowed. “I knew immediately that something wasn’t right. I told him to head to my house and we could talk there.”

  “What happened when you got to your house?” Sheriff Lynch asked, his gaze on his notes as he kept writing while he waited.

  “We never made it,” she sobbed, covering her face with her good hand. “He pulled into Mr. Kinley’s corn fields, and before I could ask him what he was doing, Perry drug me out of the car by my hair. He pinned me to the ground and started demanding I tell him everything I knew about the pride.”

  “What did you tell him?” Winter asked, his voice unnaturally calm.

  “I didn’t tell him anything,” she barked. “I would never sell out the pride!”

  “Calm down,” Winter cooed. “I just need to know what this asshole knows.”

  “Nothing,” she sniffled. “I told him nothing.”

  “What else do you remember?” the sheriff asked.

  “He started choking me.” She paused, touching her throat. “He didn’t…he didn’t touch me any other way, but he hit me several times. The next thing I remember was waking up here.”

  “What does he look like?” Winter asked.

  “He’s about six feet tall, black hair…brown eyes. He’s muscular, but not huge. He has a birthmark under his right ear about the size of a nickel.”

  “What was he driving?” the sheriff asked.

  “He was driving an older model, white Ford truck.” Nova winced as she scooted herself up in the bed. She noticed that Winter watched her but didn’t make a move to assist, and even though she knew he wouldn’t touch her, a little part of her wanted him to hold her. She’d never admit it, but she was scared. And that just pissed her off, because she was stronger than that.

  “Okay,” the sheriff said. “I’m going to transfer this to a witness form and bring it back for you to read over and sign. I’ll leave you two alone, but I’ll see you in about an hour, Nova.”

  “Okay.” She nodded, relaxing back into the pillows. As soon as the sheriff left, she rolled her head to the right, finding Winter there, staring at her. His eyes had a few small flecks of amber showing and she knew from her sister that his animal was agitated, possibly wanting to make itself seen. “Are you okay?”

  “You’re asking me if I’m okay?” he chuffed, shaking his head. The amber receded from his eyes, leaving the ice blue of his human side.

  “Your eyes were glowing a little,” she told him, her voice raw. Winter walked over to a side table and picked up the pitcher of water and a small matching cup. He placed it on the rolling tray and pushed it over to the bed. He maneuvered it so it was over Nova’s lap before taking a seat in the chair.

  “I would never hurt you.” He frowned, his voice softening. “Never, Nova.”

  “I know,” she whispered, feeling her eyes water. “I’m sorry.”

  “This isn’t your fault,” he sighed. “Let’s just worry about getting you home. We can talk about this whole mess later…when you are feeling better. Because, Nova?”

  “Yeah?” she replied, her voice small. His face hardened and when he blinked, she gasped because his eyes had completely changed to the glowing amber of his panther.

  “If you ever…and I mean ever, put yourself in harm’s way again, I will blister your ass,” he growled. “Do you understand me?”

  She couldn’t do anything but stare at the man who’d done nothing but protect her and had warned her away from the jerk who’d ended up almost killing her. Nova had a lot of apologizing to do.

  Chapter Three

  Liberty couldn’t sleep. Her sister was in the hospital because some asshole had used her to get information about her pride. Winter had been at Nova’s bedside every moment for the past three days. She knew the Guardian had his eyes set on Nova, but he wouldn’t even get close enough to touch her to find out if they were mates.

  She wondered if Winter even wanted a mate. He’d been in charge of watching over the old farmhouse Nova lived in alone ever since Liberty had mated Talon. Two weeks ago and out of the blue, Nova had requested Dane as her new bodyguard to keep her safe from the wolves who still hadn’t been caught. With Evie’s help, they knew there was an alpha to the wolf pack that had kidnapped her and almost killed Liberty. The pride was now on the lookout for an entire pack of wolves.

  After Sheriff Lynch had taken a statement from Nova, Winter had told them everything she’d said the afternoon she’d woken up. The big Guardian had vibrated with the need to find and kill this human, Perry. Liberty had put her foot down about the blood oath nonsense. Letting one of the Guardians go out on their own to hunt down this man was beyond stupid, but she understood Winter’s need for vengeance. She wanted Perry’s head on platter just as much as everyone else.

  Talon purred softly as he snuggled up to her back, his arm slid over her side and his hand rested softly on her flat stomach. She smiled and placed her hand over his, absorbing his warmth and love.

  She remembered when Talon had realized she was pregnant. Could it have been only three days ago? So much had happened in that time. He’d shut them in the bathroom of her office, holding her hair when she vomited the ginger ale she’d drank to settle her stomach. When she turned from the sink after brushing her teeth, Talon had been on his knees, a tear trickling down his cheek. She’d been on such a hormonal rollercoaster that day, she’d burst into tears just from him being in tears.

  “Why are you not asleep?” he mumbled groggily. It was two in the morning and Liberty still hadn’t closed her eyes for fear of seeing her sister’s battered face. “What’s wrong?” His voice had changed from sleepy to worried in mere seconds.

  “Nova,” she sighed. “I can’t stop worrying.”

  “She’s going to be okay,” he whispered. “I won’t let anything happen to her again. I promise.”

  “What if Perry comes for her, Talon?” Liberty panicked, rolling over to face her mate. His large hand stroked the side of her face, pushing a strand of
hair behind her ear. She purred softly at his touch.

  “Do you want to move her in here with us while she recovers?” he asked, almost as if he could read her mind. He’d been doing that ever since they’d first met.

  “I think it would be best.” Liberty paused. “If you don’t mind.”

  “She is family, Liberty.” He smiled, brushing a kiss across her forehead. “I will have one of the females set up a guest room for her at the other end of the hallway.”

  “No,” she said, shaking her head. “I’ll do it.”

  “You will not,” he ordered. Liberty felt her body relax with his words. “You are to rest…which you are not doing at the moment.”

  “I know,” she sighed. “I want to help them get my sister’s room ready.”

  “You can supervise, but no heavy lifting,” he growled.

  “You’re bossy,” she teased.

  “Yes, I am,” he chuckled. “Now, sleep.”

  Liberty snuggled down into her mate’s arms, loving the way he curled around her body protectively while she slept. He’d been even more affectionate since she’d realized she was pregnant.

  Panther males were drawn to the females who were expecting and her alpha was just as bad as all of the Guardians who watched her like a hawk, not letting her lift a finger. Liberty understood their nature now that she was one of them, but she wouldn’t be able to handle their constant worry for another eight and a half months. They were going to have to let her do something on her own or she was going to go crazy.

  Winter shivered when he stepped off his small porch. The days had grown shorter and the cold temperatures had settled into the south. A squirrel scurried up the tall pine tree in his front yard and his panther didn’t even perk up at the possibility of a meal. They were both too concerned about Nova.

  His cabin was the second home down the gravel road leading into the woods from the alpha’s house, but it was still surrounded by trees as if it were in the back of the property. He’d built his own place once he was officially brought into the Shaw Pride. He could’ve moved into the renovated old barn with the single Guardians, but he didn’t want to be around the others. In the beginning, once he had been turned, he didn’t feel like he was one of them. Those days had been hard, learning how to control his panther and accepting his new life. After time had passed, things had changed for the better. He had been put in charge of the security company Talon owned, leaving Savage to move over to the construction company his alpha had inherited from his father.

  Winter stepped back inside his front door, grabbing an old patchwork quilt off the back of the couch, and then walked to his truck, laying the folded blanket on the seat. He drove around to the front of the alpha’s house and stepped out of his truck. Before he could reach the porch, the door opened and Liberty walked out, closing the door softly.

  When she looked up, Winter’s heart skipped in his chest. The alpha’s mate looked tired, dark circles were smudged under her eyes. Her hair was in a loose braid and she looked at her feet as she walked down the steps.

  “Hold up,” Winter said, halting Liberty with his words. She cursed softly under her breath, taking a deep breath before looking up at him. “What’s wrong?”

  “Tired,” she replied, taking a step around him. “I’m going with you to get Nova and if you tell Talon, I will hurt you.”

  “Ah, no,” Winter replied, his voice firm. “I am not going to get my balls handed to me because my alpha’s mate is running off when she obviously should be in bed…resting.”

  “Do you know how tired I am of resting?” she snarled. “Winter Blue! Don’t you dare…Well, damn.” Winter ignored her threats, marching himself right through the front door of the house. He didn’t have to go far before his alpha was rushing down the large staircase, his eyes frantically searching for his mate.

  “She’s outside,” Winter said, hooking his thumb over his shoulder.

  “Thank you,” Talon said gratefully, heading out the door.

  Winter waited inside, not wanting to get between the two. They’d work out their differences quickly and then he’d be on his way to pick up Nova from the hospital. Today was going to be the day they brought her home to live at the main house for a few days until she healed.

  Talon had called him earlier that morning, advising him that Liberty and one of the pride’s females had set up a guest room for Nova. Some sense of peace had fallen over Winter, knowing she would be close to the pride and protected. It was safer that way. He really didn’t want her at the old farmhouse. She was still too weak to be taking care of herself.

  The door opened and Talon walked inside, a snarl curling his upper lip. “She is going with you. I cannot go with you because I am needed on the phone with the sheriff’s office concerning a missing person’s case. You bring them both back here as soon as possible and do not let my mate do anything exhausting.”

  “Yes, sir,” Winter replied, fighting to keep a smile off of his face. His alpha was hard as stone when it came to his pride, but his little mate owned him heart and soul. There wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do to keep her happy.

  “She’s waiting in your truck,” he growled. “Call me when you are on your way back and I will have food waiting for both of them when they arrive.”

  Winter walked out of the house, finally laughing to himself when he slid into his truck. His eyes swung over to look at Liberty, who was chuckling softly. “Oh, hush,” she laughed.

  “He’s right.” Winter sobered, turning the key to start the truck. “You need your rest.”

  “Just take me to the hospital,” Liberty groaned. “The quicker I get my sister here to keep an eye on her, the quicker I will rest and make everyone happy. Geez, you guys are annoying.”

  “You know how we are about the females who are with young,” he reminded her as he pulled out onto the road that ran in front of the pride’s land.

  “Is it just the magical mojo that makes you all gravitate toward me?” she asked, leaning her head against the window.

  “I guess it is.” Winter shrugged, not commenting on her constant use of “magical mojo” when referring to anything about being a panther. “When we are near you, it’s like we are almost cubs again and feel the pull toward our mother.” Winter frowned at his words. He wasn’t born a panther, but knew the feeling all of the panthers were experiencing when anywhere near Liberty.

  “Is that why everyone stares at me?” she asked, never opening her eyes.

  “Yeah,” he answered, taking the onramp to the highway. “Plus the fact that you are the alpha’s mate. We all love our leader and you are a part of him. Your scent is comforting to us and it draws us toward you. It’s part of our nature, Liberty.”

  “Great,” she sighed. “I’m freaking cat nip.”

  Winter tossed his head back and laughed so hard his ribs protested from the action. Talon’s mate was full of fire and her sister was exactly the same. He was going to enjoy seeing how his leader handled both of them living under his roof.

  They sobered as they arrived at the hospital a few minutes later. Nova was sitting up in the bed, but she looked as though she should be resting alongside her sister.

  “What’s wrong?” Liberty asked as soon as she cleared the door.

  “I just want to go home,” she said, avoiding eye contact with both of them.

  “What happened?” Winter snapped, his protective side raged when Nova looked up in fear.

  “Nothing happened.” She frowned. “I just want to go home.”

  “About that,” Liberty paused, casting a glance over her shoulder. Winter stepped forward, but not close enough to touch either of the women.

  “I’m taking you to the pride house,” Winter informed her, holding up his hand when Nova began to argue. “An order is an order, and Talon wants you there until you are better.”

  “He doesn’t order me around,” Nova growled. The action itself was full of her usual bratty fire, but Winter noticed she was more standoffish than
normal.

  “Well, he orders me around and I’m taking you there,” Winter replied, his icy blue eyes sparking amber. He knew his panther was prowling just from the yellow haze that coated his vision. “And there will be no arguing from you. Now, have they discharged you?”

  “Yes,” she huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. She wore a pair of gray sweatpants and a thin, long sleeved shirt. Even her normally rosy cheeks were pale. Her long, brown hair was in a bit of disarray, but she was still beautiful, even with the purple bruising around her eye.

  Winter cleared his throat and stepped back, turning away from the two women when he realized he’d just let his thoughts wander to how much this little human appealed to him. She wasn’t his and she’d made that perfectly clear when she’d pushed him away for voicing his anger at her dating the man who eventually tried to kill her.

  “Let me braid your hair,” Liberty said, interrupting his thoughts. He was glad she stepped in, because the awkward silence was going to eat him alive.

  While Liberty prepared Nova to leave the hospital, Winter left the room, heading for the nurse’s station. The lady behind the desk followed him down to the room, pushing a wheelchair to take Nova down to his truck.

  “I’ll pull the truck up to the entrance and meet you downstairs,” he said, turning away from the room. His panther was agitated and he didn’t understand why. He’d done his job, coming to the hospital to get Nova and escorting Liberty there and back to the pride house so both women could get their rest.

  That was his job for the day. He’d do it and then shift so he could spend the rest of the day in his animal form, letting his human mind take a break from the constant images of Nova’s battered face and body.

  “Liberty,” Nova sniffled. She felt like she was falling apart. Ever since Perry had attacked her, all she wanted was for Winter to hold her and tell her everything would be okay.

  But he wouldn’t touch her.

  “Yeah,” Liberty replied, sadness in her voice.