by Cara Carnes
Yep. He was a son of a bitch.
“Stay here. Don’t move. I’ll be right back, okay? I need to make sure the cave is clear and we’re alone.”
His attention focused on the smooth column of her throat as she swallowed. Although darkness encroached, his night vision afforded him a clear view of her beauty, despite the fear he’d induced.
Once they were settled, he’d set things right between them. Somehow. The only problem with the plan was he wasn’t entirely sure what to make right. Or how. Coming back to Los Lobos had been a stupid idea.
He’d wanted to pay his respects to Drew, check in on Ryker, and—if he was completely honest—see Dani. The latter had been the driving force behind his return. She wouldn’t know, though. She deserved better than him.
She probably had a new man in her life, a good, wholesome wolf who’d fill her belly with pup after pup and keep a smile on her face. A part of him wanted that for her, but an even bigger part wanted to shred the motherfucker who dared touch his woman.
She hadn’t mated anyone, though. No one’s scent clung to her. And she wouldn’t have left rug rats to go traipsing around looking for her brother.
Agitated by the realization nothing stood in the way of his claiming the woman he’d left, Thane harried his pace as he scented the area. Brush and other vegetation thickened the closer he got to the base of the incline leading to the cave. He hadn’t been in this area for years. No telling who or what had been in the area.
Unease quickened his approach. He didn’t like leaving Dani. Aside from today’s shenanigans, she was a smart female, though. She’d be okay long enough for him to secure the perimeter.
Thane should’ve insisted on having another dominant with him. Then again, Ryker was right in assuming no one was above suspicion until proven otherwise. Pack didn’t handle a downed Alpha well—especially when the previous one had been such a prick. Drew dying wasn’t an option. The Tao pack wouldn’t exist without him.
***
He watched the female obediently remain where she’d been left. Such easy prey. Too easy. So pretty. Innocent.
Defenseless.
Anticipation pulsated in his veins. Such utter perfection. He was drawn to her more than others, wondered if her blood would taste sweeter.
But the setting was all wrong. He couldn’t bask in the pack’s grief and rage as their daily lives took them by the scene. Forced remembrance offered the best vengeance.
Pleasure consumed him. The last kill had been so perfect. They’d never forget what he’d done, what he’d forced them to endure.
For now he’d watch, wait. Another perfect moment would present itself. Patience enhanced the experience. The next time, the pack would suffer even worse.
***
“Thane?”
Dani shuddered and scanned her perimeter in a full circle. Rocks crunched beneath her aching feet, but she didn’t care. He’d told her not to move, and she hadn’t. Not a single inch, aside from the dizzying turns she made to ensure she was still very much alone.
Damn the man for leaving her alone after terrifying the heck out of her. The odious excuse for a dominant knew exactly which buttons to press on her phobia panel. The harsh lecture he’d given her earlier had worked, though. Guilt fed her fear and self-loathing.
She’d gotten in Thane’s way. He would’ve gotten Charles secure, as safe as possible given the circumstances, if she hadn’t been with him. Slowing him down.
Trespassers. The mere thought awakened her wolf and incited a need to shift, run for the security of Los Lobos. Once she got out of this mess, she’d never forsake the comfortable, if somewhat rustic, life she had within the town. Surrounded by dominants and a pack, she’d never contemplated isolation.
Ryker could throw her out.
Tears welled in her eyes, but she willed them away. No time to cry. She had to maintain her vigil, be prepared in case the trespasser she’d slammed into circled back and tried to hurt her. She shuddered in revulsion.
Leaves rustled behind her. The wind? An animal? An overactive imagination? She whirled and stared into the swirling blackness. The moon hung, offering little light tonight—as if punishing her foolishness. She couldn’t do anything to help Charles out here.
She’d been nothing but a burden to him for so long. She sniffled and wished the painful past rushing to the forefront of her thoughts aside. Nightmarish memories lurked in the dark corners of her thoughts and waited for moments such as these—where she was alone. Defenseless.
She took a hesitant step left, placing herself in the center of the narrow trail, and sat. Drawing her knees to her chest, she wrapped into a small ball like she always did when the thoughts became too much.
Thane and Charles always took away the dark, made the bits and pieces she remembered from the past disappear. Neither of them was here, though. And Charles had more than enough of his own dark to fight away. She needed to be strong, prepare herself to fight the demons Sonya’s loss would awaken in him.
Ryker and the rest of them wouldn’t understand what her loss would do to him. Dani did, though. She’d lived it, somehow survived Thane’s loss. Now he was back, eviscerating her with reminders of how alive she became around him, how easily her wolf reacted to his.
What was she supposed to do?
The two men she loved most stood on opposite sides of a battle, and she had no clue who to believe, who to trust. Though her heart knew Charles would never hurt Sonya, her mind now worked what-if scenarios fed by a tumultuous life she’d buried deep.
Maybe Charles had surrendered to the depravity running in their veins. Maybe he’d become like their father, abusive and twisted. As the youngest, she’d remained insulated from the harsh upbringing at his hands, thanks to Charles.
Sure, she got the beatings for being bad and sat through her share of terrifying screaming sessions. But she’d always known Charles would be there—ready to take it all away with a gentle hug and inaudible murmurs she pretended to understand.
Then there’d been Thane.
The silent, dark protector prowled into her life and laid claim to her heart and soul. She’d never shared her tumultuous home life with him, but she sensed he suspected. The time they spent together hadn’t been about rehashing what she couldn’t change. With him, she escaped into a wondrous fantasy where only they existed.
She rested her head against her knees and closed her eyes. Bugs chirped, leaves rustled. Every sound left her skin crawling with a visceral need to run, escape the shit storm of her own making. If Thane came back for her, she wouldn’t give him grief.
She wanted him to find Charles.
Though the two hadn’t been besties, they’d developed a grudging respect for one another as far as Dani noticed. They’d each cared for her in his own way. At least, she’d thought so.
She wasn’t sure what to think about Thane anymore. Pulling herself together before he returned would be a great idea, but she couldn’t find it in her to give a damn. Not when so many people she cared about were at risk.
She should’ve stayed in Los Lobos, trusted Thane and the other dominants sent to find Charles to do their job. Sure, they’d be pissed that he might have something to do with Drew and Sonya. But Ryker had ordered him brought in alive.
The order should’ve been enough for her. Why hadn’t she trusted her pack to do right by her and Charles? When had she become so toxically jaded that she risked her brother’s life by foolishly thinking she could find him faster and easier than skilled trackers?
The only thing she was qualified to handle in the screwed-up situation was maybe making tea or coffee for the pack women as they helped Betty. She didn’t trust herself to console the woman. How could she understand what she was going through?
Dani wasn’t mated. Betty was pregnant.
Ah, hell. She’d forgotten about the little peanut growing in the alpha’s mate. Their exuberant joy lately had been downright contagious within
the pack. Betty’s smile and Drew’s smug I’m-a-proud-papa-in-the-making grin made everyone chuckle and puff up in pride. The Tao pack thrived under their leadership, their example.
Was he even alive?
God, what would Betty do without him if he died? Dani tried to put herself in the woman’s position and couldn’t fathom it. Sure, she’d lost Thane and mourned him. But he’d still been alive. Huge, huge difference—the epic point being he’d willingly left her because she hadn’t been enough of a reason to put up with Magnum’s shit.
No. Drew wouldn’t die. He was too strong, too tied to his mate and the future they had together. Unlike Thane, he wouldn’t leave. Oh, wait, he had once. But he’d come back and handled his past, owned the mistakes, and carved out a future. A happily-ever-after life with the woman he loved.
For a fractured second Dani hoped she had such a perfect second chance unfolding. Then she’d realized Thane never meant to stay in Los Lobos. Sure, he’d planned a reunion of sorts, probably a very awkward and brief encounter over stale beers or lukewarm pickles at Gee’s.
The further her mind rooted down the dark tunnel her thoughts took, the bleaker the outlook became. She allowed the weariness of the day to envelop her. Maybe if she surrendered to the inevitable end to the shitty day, she could wake up and pretend it never happened.
Yeah, Sonya would be alive. Charles would worship her endlessly. Drew would beam his I-knocked-up-my-mate smile. Thane would slither in and right back out of Los Lobos without her ever knowing. Okay, she could handle three out of four working out.
Chapter Four
Dani awoke encased in warmth and the distinct scent of Thane. His name tumbled from her lips as she snuggled into the heat and basked in the sensations swirling within her. As she blinked away the dregs of sleep seizing her senses, she noted a few awkward things.
Fiery tendrils of awareness flickered across her skin—her very bare skin—where a large hand splayed on her hip. Her cheek rested against a bare chest she recognized all too easily. Thane. Her pulse rattled the moment her mind reconciled her current state with his physical presence against her.
A thin blanket covered them both. Remnants of a fire smoldered at the mouth of the cave, several feet away. Soft, pale light from the early morning beamed through the thickened foliage outside and splashed onto the cavern walls and floor just enough for her to scan the area.
Thane’s chest rose and fell in a smooth and steady rhythm. Remaining still would be simple. But, as the previous day’s hell awoke in her mind, restlessness made her move. She shimmied from his one-armed grasp and padded over to the clothes strewn out along a rock on the other end of the cave.
Wet.
Great.
But wet meant a river or stream nearby, which meant she could wash away the grime and filth from yesterday. With luck, she’d be back before he even noticed she was gone. She wandered to the outside of the cave before summoning her shift. Pain ricocheted through her, bringing forth the weariness and pain from yesterday’s trek.
A good cleansing soak would go a long way toward healing her body and soul. By the time she’d awkwardly turned wolf, angst and hormonal unease almost made her pad back into the cave and wake the slumbering oaf who’d incited primal needs she’d forgotten existed.
He’d taken her clothes off. Tended to her. How had she slept through it all? The last thing she remembered was the bleak, inky blackness of the night settling around her as she waited for his return.
Whatever.
Damn hormones could wait. Too many people relied on him finding Charles. Scents of vegetation and foliage gave way to moss and crisp water as she headed east. Following Thane’s scent had always been fairly simple. She wasn’t a tracker or anything spectacular, so she assumed it was because her wolf was so attune to his.
She padded into the water until all paws were covered by the frigid water. Though the crisp breeze chilled her in human form, her wolf more than welcomed the cold gusts of wind whipping along her pelt. The frigid waters lapped against her lower legs, but she didn’t care. The crisp, clean-scented air filled her lungs with each breath.
The crackling dawn offered hope. Today would be a better day. Thane would find Charles. All would be well. Drew would be okay. He’d wake up, heal. The pack would carry on.
She owed Thane an apology for her behavior yesterday. He’d been patient, given the circumstances. Any other dominant would’ve left her and continued the hunt. No, none of the Tao pack would leave a female alone and defenseless.
As she wandered a little deeper into the river, a foul stench permeated the area. She raised her snout and sniffed. Human? With urine and fecal undertones.
Gross.
Having zero desire to hang around as the interlopers crunched through the underbrush on the opposite side of the narrow river, Dani backed up slowly. She watched the rustling branches of the squatty trees. Her pulse raced as three men appeared in front of her.
Run!
“Well, what do we have here, boys?” The stranger’s voice behind her startled her into a snarling crouch when she whirled to face him.
A rifle lay perched over his scrawny shoulder. Unkempt and greasy dark-brown hair and a scraggly beard covered most of his pockmarked face. Crazed blue eyes filled with too much pupil roused her unease. The human wasn’t right, somehow. He reeked of foulness and…beer. Lots of it.
“Here I was thinking those two boys were taking us for a ride, telling us they knew where smart game worth hunting was. I’m thinking this little bitch right here is real smart. See how she’s watching? Like she’s listening.” He stepped closer.
A growl rose from her throat and she took a couple of steps back. Splashing from the other side turned her halfway, until her gaze could sweep from the men across the way and the one nearest her. How had so many humans found them?
“Always knew wolves were smart, but I’m thinking he’s right about these being better hunting. Though I think we should take this one back with us. My old rotty would enjoy going a few rounds with this one, I bet,” one of the men said.
“Like your mangy mutt could handle this gorgeous bitch.” The man nearest her approached. “You the one who killed our guide?”
Guide?
“Doesn’t matter. Clyde’ll pay good money for a female this size. Not sure what he wants with all these animals we keep hunting. Smart animals. The man’s nuts, but his money’s sure good.” One of the men stepped forward. “Let’s collect her, get going.”
Her insides clenched when she realized they were talking about the trespassing wolf shifter Thane had killed. He’d brought humans? To hunt? Disgusted by the thought, Dani focused her agitated mind on getting away. She wasn’t a fighter, even it if was against humans. Besides, they had guns.
Howling and signaling a sleeping Thane translated to disaster in her mind. The fool would rush out and get himself shot. The three across the bank had backed up to stand beside the water, rather than wade into it. Clearly the frosty morning breeze when combined with brutally cold water was too much for their human bodies to handle.
Good.
“Let’s get this one handled. It’s colder than hell, and I wanna bag one of the big males we were promised.” The man nearest her moved his rifle off his shoulder.
Wolf shifters reverted to human form when killed, not that Dani wanted to think about that right now. The unwelcome thought appeared in her brain when she realized time was up. Act or die.
Decision made, she plunged into the water and made tracks for the deeper interior. Despite her body’s natural ability to acclimate quickly, the icy depths hampered her movements as she paddled to an unknown destination.
Away.
Get away.
The thought kept her moving. Shouts and cursing broke out behind her. Rifle discharges made her yelp in shock as the water around her splashed with impact.
They’re shooting at me.
Run. Paddle faster.
&
nbsp; “What the hell?” Thane’s enraged voice boomed from behind her.
Her heart pounded so furiously, Dani swore its frantic beats punctured her chest. Terror kept her paddling in place a moment, but another shot smashed the water beside her. Too close beside her. Her right leg burned despite the numbness.
Keep going. Get farther away, out of range. That’s what Thane would want. Sounds of battle rose behind her. A few shots fired, each one sending her pulse into a fast tempo until her hearing tunneled to her erratic heartbeat and the fight.
Her mind sought an explanation for the unfolding events. Had the humans battling Thane shot Drew? Guns weren’t exactly a hot commodity in Los Lobos. But, no. The possibility didn’t track right. They’d appeared to just arrive in the area, which meant they wouldn’t have been around when Drew was shot.
Why was she even thinking about that right now? Panic. Hysteria. Shock.
The excuses boomeranged in her as she dragged herself out of the water and collapsed in a wet, frozen heap on the ground. Breaths sawed in and out of her lungs, desperate pants as she forced enough energy forward to stand and shake the excess water from her pelt. Fear forced her gaze back downstream, where Thane battled with three of the men.
Wait. Three? Where did….
“Gotcha, bitch!”
Dani yelped in pain as something impacted with the side of her neck. A growl rose from her belly as she snarled and snapped at the human. Fresh blood coated the rifle’s butt as he raised it to strike her again.
Warm, coppery liquid flowed along her tongue when she sank her teeth into the man’s meaty thigh. Nausea pitched her stomach. She tugged, clenching her jaws tight until her prey yelled. Pain shot along her temple. Blackness and dizziness made her stumble.
“Fucking mutt! You’ll pay for that. I oughta kill you now and forget about the extra money I get for bringing you in alive.”
Confusion kept her silent as she realized she must’ve blacked out at some point. Ropes bound her legs together. The human heaved her over his shoulder and terror made her yelp and growl. Where was Thane? Why wasn’t he swooping in and saving her?