A Wolf's Deception

by Tl Reeve

  “Well, I have no doubt you’ll figure something out.” Kalum’s gaze cut toward the other side of the chutes where pack veterinarian and family friend, Chris Banks, gave the cows a once over then looked at Graham again. “Why don’t you head back to the house and check on Fawn for me. Chris is going to be here for a couple more hours. One of the heifers is sick. Fuck knows what she got into.”

  He nodded. “Sure. Use the two-way radio if you need me.”

  After removing the tack from his horse and getting her something to eat, he made the short trek to the house. Kru’s white pickup truck sat in the driveway, which meant his mate, Gabby, had arrived for her daily visit with Kalum’s mate and Kru’s sister, Fawn. The last few months had been a whirlwind of activity with his sister-in-law announcing her pregnancy a few weeks after Christmas and then Gabby doing the same a month later.

  The cute, sassy mama had an attitude to rival most and fit Kru to a tee. The couple had endured a shit ton of stuff. Even though Graham’s wounds had healed, sometimes the images of a broken, battered Gabby filtered through his mind, turning his stomach. How one human could have as much hate in his heart as Player had astounded him, though it shouldn’t. The Tao pack’s last alpha, Magnum, had held the same hate.

  But the two women’s rounding bellies was cause for hope. And with his family expanding, the urge to find a mate weighed heavy on him, or had until yesterday when he picked up Elle from the bus stop. Seeing her again awoke the beast within him, and, after dropping her off at Miss Kathy and Clyde’s home, he’d headed for the trails and spent the night running.

  “Don’t think about it,” he muttered. “It’ll only fuck with your mind.” He opened the door to the house then kicked off his boots.

  Kip gave a happy bark from her spot near Fawn. The Border Collie had taken to her the moment they met. Fawn’s feeding her scraps of bacon and other meaty delicacies might have played a role in it.

  “Hey, Graham, you’re early.” She pushed to her feet. “Want some lunch? Lily was about to pull the fixings out for sandwiches.”

  “I could eat a bite.” He inclined his head. “Gabby, how are you?”

  “I’m a bit tired.” She grinned up at him, her hand instantly going to the growing baby bump. “But the twins are doing great.”

  “Excellent.”

  “You going out tonight?” Lily stepped around him as she followed Fawn.

  “Maybe.” If anything, he’d shift and do some snooping, check in on Elle. If he accidentally bumped into her in town, well, what a coincidence. His wolf thought that an excellent plan.

  “Aren’t you tired of running around?” Lily turned on the water to wash her hands in the kitchen sink.

  “What’s with you and our brother?” He walked to the fridge, grabbed the pitcher of sweet tea, and placed it on the counter. “He said the same thing out in the pasture.”

  “Did he?” His sister arched a brow. “Well, he’s right.”

  “Lily,” he started, grabbing a glass, “I have something to tell you, but you need to…shit, it’s going to be a shock.”

  She wiped her hands on the dish towel then laid it on the counter. “Okay, why does this sound ominous?”

  Eh, because it might be? “Elle St. Claire is alive, and she’s come home to Los Lobos.”

  ***

  Elle stood in front of the charred remains of her childhood home. The barren spot, devoid of any new grass or vegetation, reminded her of the night she’d been whisked away. Memories of her childhood flooded her mind—most of them intertwined with Graham and his family. No, don’t even think about it. However, she found it hard to do. Her wolf desperately wanted out. Her wolf wanted her mate. Sometimes what the heart wants isn’t what’s best for it.

  She had a duty to Rupert. She loved him. Though a busy man most days, working late and taking business trips, he cared for her, too. Gave her everything she could ever want or desire. He also gave her stability she yearned for after everything she’d been through. To leave him now would be a disservice to what they’d built. She’d invested a lot in this relationship. Besides, what did children know about mates? Or forever? Absolutely nothing. Graham had to realize the ten years they’d spent apart had changed them. They were adults now. They needed to walk away on amicable terms and not look back.

  Stepping onto the wooden porch, she tested the slats in front of her for stability then moved deeper into the ruins of her former life. Images of that night filled her mind.

  The wildflowers were in full bloom. Her mother would love the project she was working on. Elle bent to pick another of the flowers and contemplated which others she’d use. There were so many, and she had little space. How did one choose the prettiest flowers when they were all so beautiful? She nibbled on her bottom lip. She’d take them all. The picture would be bigger, but her mother would love it.

  Hours had passed by the time she’d finally collected all the different types of flowers available to her. The walk home wouldn’t take long, and when she got there, dinner would be waiting for her. She grinned.

  As she came to the top of the ridge, she smelled the smoke before she saw it coming from her home. Flames licked at the windows. The place was fully engulfed. She ran straight for it, dropping the flowers at some point. Her parents were in there. She had to get to them. Deep down, she knew there was no way, but she had to try.

  Unfortunately, Greer spotted her. He came straight for her, his eyes wide, crazy. He looked feral. She ran, back toward the forest. She had to hide. She had to get away from him. She wouldn’t go with him. Wouldn’t be his breeding machine. She headed for the densest part, knowing if she could find a hiding place, she could wait him out. Trees whipped past her. The dead leaves and needles crunched under her shoes. A stitch formed in her side; her legs grew tired. If she shifted, she’d do a hell of a lot better.

  Then Ryker appeared in front of her. Energy crackled around him. “You have to run.”

  She stumbled backward, trying to catch her breath. “W-what?”

  “Your parents are dead.” His features twisted as he snarled, scaring the shit out of her. “Run. Do not stop until you reach Hill City. Use your mother’s maiden name.” His dark eyes narrowed, his focus snapping to the woods where her family’s home lay. “Run. Now. Never return.”

  She ran with all her might, shifting as she jumped over a log. Her muscles protested the quick transformation. Her lungs burned as she pushed herself full tilt. When she reached Hill City, she had no clue where to go. Had she run far enough for Magnum and his men not to track her? A Greyhound Bus sign glowed in the night like a beacon.

  She approached the window, tugging at the scraps of her clothes. The man at the counter looking up from some novel he’d been reading didn’t appear disturbed by her state of dress, or rather undress. “I need a ticket.”

  “Name?”

  “Elle St.— Um, Elle Adams.” She nibbled her bottom lip. “But I don’t have any money.”

  His blond eyebrows rose. Then he reached beneath the counter and drew out an envelope which he slid across the counter to her. “This is for you.”

  She eyed the item.

  “It’s all right. Take it.”

  She opened the envelope. Inside lay several hundred dollars. What? She lifted her gaze to his.

  “Destination?”

  Ryker had told her to run. Where would she be safe? “East. As far as I can go.”

  The grunt of a familiar bear greeted her, drew her from the dark night that had changed her life. “Why’d you come back here?”

  “To remember.” Her heart still ached at the loss of her parents. She missed them dearly every day, their deaths seeming so senseless. She faced Gee. “Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes. Haven’t even aged a bit.”

  He snorted. “Why do you want to remember this?” He pointed to the pile of burned lumber, aged by ten years of weather.

  Elle shrugged. “My parents died here. Seemed appropriat
e to come back and pay my respects.”

  “You’ve spent too much time with humans. Their spirits are gone. Been gone. You lived. Move on.” His gruff words held truth.

  “Perhaps.” Could she let go without ever knowing what happened to her parents that night? Probably not. She held up her hand. “I’m getting married.”

  He grunted.

  “Aren’t you happy for me?”

  “Be happier if you’d stopped denying your wolf. Answer me this…have you thought about why you came back?”

  The ruins of her home drew her focus. Yes. To get Drew’s permission to bring Rupert to Los Lobos. They could build a house, right here, on her land. Raise a family and be happy. Childish matters of the heart had no place in her new life. This was who she had become. This was who she would be. “Yes,” she answered. “I—”

  When she glanced to where Gee had been standing, the place was empty. Crazy old bear.

  Testing the floor of the house, she took a tentative step into what had been the living room. What she hoped to find or see there, she didn’t know, but it felt right coming back. She eased her foot forward another step.

  Rinnnng.

  The sudden sound of her phone startled her. She twitched, adding pressure to the slat for balance. The charred wood gave way.

  “Oh!” she yelped, falling on her rear. The incessant ringtone cut through the tirade of curses flowing her from her.

  She yanked out her cell and jabbed the screen. “What?”

  “Elle?” Her best friend, Kizzy Rhapsody, sounded concerned.

  She closed her eyes as she pulled her foot from the hole and gingerly stood up. “Hey. What’s going on?”

  “Rupert is freaking out. Why didn’t you tell him where you were going? He’s called all of us, looking for you.”

  She closed her eyes. Rupert always seemed so collected and calm. To hear he’d been worried about her warmed her but also concerned her. Sure, the note she’d left had been a little vague. But she couldn’t say, Hey, I went home to be a wolf for a minute and make sure you can come with me. “Well, you can’t tell him anything.”

  “Pfft.” Her friend laughed. “Like I would.”

  Breathing a sigh of relief, she stepped away from the burned-out carcass of a house. “Great. Then we shouldn’t have any more issues.”

  “Where are you?”

  “Safe. It’s the only thing you need to know right now.”

  “Safe?” She paused. “Wait, did you run away?”

  “No, Kizzy, I didn’t run away. I’m fine. I just need a few days to set everything straight. I’ll be home soon, promise.”

  “Good,” her friend said. “Call me.”

  “I will. Don’t worry.”

  After ending the call, she tucked her phone into her pocket and found the trail leading to town. As much as Rupert cared, he’d always been so involved with his work, his dedication leaving her on her own more often than not. Getting him to Los Lobos would slow him down, make him appreciate everything they had together.

  Scrolling through the contacts on her phone, she stopped at the picture of her Rupert. Safe. Secure. His all-American good looks stared back at her.

  Her finger hovered over the call button. No. Text first. As good as the cell coverage had been, dark spots remained. She’d hate if the call dropped in the middle of their conversation. She typed out a quick message.

  Thinking of you, too. Sorry I left so fast. Don’t fret. Will be home soon. ~E.

  She hit send and the little squares tracked across the screen. Message sent, she continued on. Miss Kathy had mentioned a diner in town. Lunch right about now sounded perfect. After a bite, she’d see Drew.

  Stick to the plan.

  Caught up in her thoughts while making a list of things to ask her alpha and what kind of qualifications she could give about her fiancé, she startled when a figure stepped in front of her. She glanced up, Graham’s appearance surprising her. Her wolf perked. Mate. Desire swamped her. “Sorry,” she murmured, unable to tear her gaze from his.

  “Don’t be.”

  Okay. Well. “If you’ll excuse me.” She went to step around him, only to have him stop her, his hand on her forearm branding her skin.

  “You’re making a mistake.” The snarl of contempt in his voice startled her.

  “I’ve made plenty.” She pulled free from his grasp. Her wolf howled with fury. Mate! She ignored it. “Tell me which one you’re referring to, and I’ll try to fix it later on.”

  “You’ll never be happy without your mate.”

  “I’ve done fine for a while now,” she spat. Guilt weighed on her. Her heart and wolf warred inside of her. One said duty, the other said mate.

  “Damn it, Elle. You know who we are. You know we’re meant to be together.”

  She held up her hand, showing him the ring. “I have four carats that say differently!” The minute the words left her mouth, she knew she’d made a mistake. “Let it lie. Move on. I have.”

  “I haven’t,” he growled. “A mate is for life.” He crowded her, lowering his face to hers. The freckles she’d adoringly traced as a child stood out in contrast to his tanned skin. His slate-blue eyes darkened with lust. “You need to wake up from whatever fairy tale you’ve built for yourself. This is your life.” He crushed his mouth to hers.

  Fisting the front of his shirt, she meant to push him away, yet, with each swipe of his tongue along the seam of her lips, she fell deeper under the spell he wove. Unable to deny him, she opened to him. His tongue stroked against hers, coaxing her to take from him. She moaned, pressing her body to his muscular form. The thick outline of his erection fit to her hip, exciting her. His arms banded around her, and, in those few seconds, she felt safe. Secure. Wanted.

  Rupert.

  “No,” she yelped, untangling herself from him. “We can’t do this. I’m engaged!” The hysterical quality to her voice did nothing to cover the thread of desire coursing through her. “Please, stay away from me while I’m here. I’ll be gone in a couple of days.”

  “God dammit, Elle. Stop talking about your fucking fiancé.”

  “Well, you need to get used to it.” She rubbed her mouth with the back of her hand, but it did little to diminish the hot taste of him. “I’m marrying Rupert.”

  “We’ll see.” He stomped away from her.

  “Yes, we will!” she yelled at his retreating form.

  Chapter Four

  Elle sat at a table in the diner, alone, trying to gather her wits. Her lips still tingled from the brutal yet sensual kiss Graham had bestowed upon her. His slate-colored eyes glowed with arousal while desire laced her blood and need pounded through her veins. Rupert didn’t kiss her in such a way. Not even close.

  Picking up her fork to eat her Cobb salad, she went over what she planned to say to Drew. He could trust Rupert. His father was a good senator. His family was very…conservative. She frowned. She wasn’t campaigning for them. She only wanted Drew to give her fiancé a chance and allow him onto pack lands. They’d travel back to North Carolina for visits.

  Drew is going to love him and his conservative values. Why don’t you say he’s also a gun toting member of the NRA while you’re at it?

  She pushed her food away, her stomach roiling with guilt.

  Her phone rang.

  She pulled her cell out of her pocket. Kizzy’s image grinned from the screen. Elle sighed. Leaving her life in North Carolina behind wouldn’t be as easy as Shawn said. She tapped the screen to open the text message.

  Me again. Are you sure you’re okay? You didn’t sound okay. If you need me…. ~K2E2

  Her best friend since she moved to Charlotte, Kizzy had a kind spirit and a penchant for all things geeky. She lived and breathed Star Wars, and when she realized their initials could form a cute homage to R2D2, she signed everything with it. Leaving her behind had been hard. She loved her friend dearly, but Elle knew the rules—no one could know about Los Lo
bos or the Tao Pack.

  Really, I’m fine. If I need you, I will call. ~E

  She paid her bill and left the diner. So much had changed since she’d fled Los Lobos. Everyone appeared, happy. An air of freedom surrounded her pack mates as they meandered around town. Such a stark contrast to when Magnum had been alpha. She didn’t scent their fears or heartache. This, she could get used to. She could see herself spending the rest of her life in Los Lobos. She had a purpose, now, as she strolled through town. In order for her life to be complete, she had to shore up the finer details.

  As she stepped up onto her alpha’s porch, the door opened and Betty greeted her. “Welcome home, Elle.” She wrapped her in a hug. The warmth of the embrace had Elle smiling. “I’m so glad you made it and the rumors weren’t true. Come on in.”

  She followed Betty to Drew’s office. The door stood ajar. Inside, Drew sat behind a handcrafted oak desk. To his right stood the man who’d saved her life. Ryker. His imposing figure filled the room. A shiver of dread slithered down her spine just as it had the night he sent her away. The urge to run consumed her.

  Then…. Oh my God. One corner of his mouth twitched. Is he…smiling? She looked away, not sure of what she’d just seen.

  Laughing slightly, Betty guided her forward. “Yes, things have changed since you’ve been gone.”

  Elle stood before her alpha and his enforcer, gaze cast toward the floor.

  “You know, when Ryker told me he saved you, I thought he was full of shit. I guess I owe him twenty dollars.” The chair Drew sat in squeaked. “Welcome home, Elle St. Claire. You’re allowed to look at me.”

  When she raised her gaze, Drew gifted her with a brilliant, comforting smile. “Thank you, Alpha. It’s good to be home.”