Wrangled Fate: Book One: Black Claw Ranch

by Lane, Cecilia

  He couldn’t get involved. She wouldn’t stick around. Viho was after her for some damned reason only a crazed wolf would know. She was being played. He didn’t know what Viho’s end goal was, but he was sure as fuck it’d end in blood.

  Her blood.

  His bear slashed at his insides. No one would hurt her. No one would get near.

  Tansey’s glare softened. “Ethan?” Concern swelled in her scent.

  He should warn her away from shifters and send her back to whatever town she called home. Would it even matter? She was so bullheaded stubborn, she’d probably turn right back around and try to shoot him again.

  “You should stay here.” The words were as equally big a surprise to him as to Tansey and Hunter. Fucking A, but he couldn’t let Viho get to her. “I’ll help you find your brother.”

  Or whatever was left of him after the wolves got hold of him.

  “Thanks, but—”

  “They shot at you—” he interrupted.

  “Or at you, so—”

  “So we’re decided. Until we know who Viho is trying to kill, you’ll stay here.”

  Her glower just made him grin. He liked how easy it was to rile her up. At least he wasn’t in any danger of her shooting him at the moment.

  He made a mental note to check the gun safe and add her little pistol to his personal collection.

  “Why the hell would I do a thing like that?”

  “Because Viho hates me, and he used you. I won’t do that.” Sweet fuck, he couldn’t keep his mouth shut. He inhaled again. Honey filled his nose with no trace of bubbly magic. She wasn’t fae, that was for sure. The hold she had on him was his own damn problem.

  Confusion and amusement wafted off Hunter. His eyes bounced between Ethan and Tansey. He edged further into the house. “What’s this about a brother?”

  Ethan crossed his arms over his chest and silently dared Hunter to take another step closer. “Rye is a newly bit wolf and has been missing for a month. Tansey employed Viho to track him down.”

  Hunter’s eyebrows tried to meld with his hairline. “Did you call the police? Maybe he’s just chasing tail and doesn’t want to come up for air.”

  Tansey’s eyes narrowed. “He’s not like that.”

  Her offended scent balled his fist. He slugged Hunter on the arm. “Have some respect, asshole. The man is missing.”

  Hunter rubbed his arm. “Fuck, sorry.”

  “Earn your forgiveness. Get dinner started. The others will be back by the time you’re done,” Ethan ordered.

  It put more distance between him and Tansey, too. Ethan’s bear approved. The only thing the beast wanted more was to make her meals himself and provide her a life of comfort. He settled with standing guard over her.

  Tansey tracked Hunter through the open living room and into the kitchen. “I’ve been to the police,” she sniffed. “The local cops told me they didn’t have the ability to handle anything furry and to try animal control.”

  “Cute,” Ethan said flatly.

  She nodded with a grimace. “Right? So I dug around and found a small group of lynx that had registered, but they wouldn’t get involved with any wolves. I didn’t dare go to the Supernatural Enforcement Agency after all the bad coverage and attempted murder of prisoners. I didn’t want to take the chance of drawing the wrong sort of attention to Rye.

  “The tenth time I was escorted out of the police station for yelling at the chief, Viho was there. He caught up to me and offered his services. He’s contacted people in your enclaves and tracked Rye. It’s wiped out my savings, but we’ve gotten this far.”

  “Not very far,” Ethan muttered. He scrubbed a hand over his face. Fucking Viho probably bled her dry and knew exactly where the brother was buried. “You say he’s talked to our police?”

  “First day we got near. Said they wouldn’t divulge any information, so he started working the locals.”

  “That doesn’t sound like Judah,” Hunter called from the kitchen.

  His wasn’t the sweetest clan. Or the meanest. They’d had enough run-ins with Bearden’s police force to have a semi-decent relationship with the Chief. Blowing someone off definitely didn’t sound like Judah.

  His words surprised him again with their sudden existence. “Let me make a call. Maybe I can get you a meeting. He might be able to put you in contact with other enclaves. We’ll find your brother.”

  At least he regained control of himself before he spoke the fateful ‘I promise.’ He hated going back on his word, and he doubted the man would be found so easily.

  The hard set of her jaw softened and she slashed her eyes away from him. Getting hold of herself, he thought. She almost managed to keep hope out of her whiskey-brown gaze, but there was no hiding the overwhelming amount coloring her scent.

  By the Broken, he didn’t want to disappoint her.

  He needed to get away before he did.

  He padded further into the large living room to curb the temptation of pulling her into his arms for reassurance. She’d probably fight being so close, and he was wary of prolonging their contact. Just one favor, he promised himself. He’d set her on the path of real, genuine help, and be done with her before she pulled more trouble down around his head.

  Bear clawing to get out, Ethan fished his phone out of his back pocket and dialed the number he knew by heart.

  “Bearden Police Department non-emergency line. Please state your business.”

  “Hey, Jenny. Chief Hawkins in?”

  “He’s transporting a prisoner. Won’t be back until the morning. Can someone else help?” Jenny sounded bored, and the quick rasp in the background gave away the filing of her nails.

  “Can we get down for tomorrow, then?”

  “Sure thing. Be here at eleven.”

  He ended the call, and updated Tansey.

  “Tomorrow. Okay. I’ve waited this long. Another day won’t be so bad.” She wet her lips and turned her shoulders toward the door. “I should—”

  “Stay,” he interrupted. “We have extra space here.”

  He needed out of the house and away from her. Honey filled his nose and those gorgeous eyes were locked on his face. His blood pounded in his ears. His skin itched, his gums ached, and he wanted to give in to the constant roaring of his bear to keep her.

  Ethan cleared his throat. “Let me show you to your room. I have some work to finish up before dinner gets served.”

  The cold wash of responsibility did little to chill the fire in his veins. He couldn’t sit around after all the excitement, and he needed a distraction from the mouth-watering temptation mere feet from him. With his blood pumping, all he wanted to do was reach for her and find some relief.

  “Oh. Of course. I did sort of wreck your entire afternoon with some minor death threats.”

  “Wouldn’t be a complete day without one of those,” he joked back.

  Sweet fuck. Soon she’d have him sitting by the fire with a pipe in his mouth as they chatted about the weather and neighbors.

  One night. Then he could fob her off on Judah and get back to worrying about next month’s bills and which of his bears he’d need to bail out of jail next.

  Without another word, he started up the stairs. The creak of the wood told him she followed.

  He led her through the upstairs loft and down the hall into the family wing. His sister’s bedroom was mostly empty, but still hers. His old room had been abandoned long ago when he moved into the master suite on the ground floor. The two other rooms were meant for the clan if they ever needed the space.

  The other side of the loft was an exact copy and meant for guests that hadn’t existed in decades. He still made it a rule twice a year to shake the dust off the cloth-covered furniture and give the rooms a cleaning. His mother would have haunted him otherwise.

  Ethan pushed open the door to a spare bedroom and flipped the switch inside. A soft glow spilled out into the hallway. “Here you go. You have any clothes or a bag or something in your car?”<
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  She gestured at herself with a twist of her lips. “I just brought me. All my stuff is at a motel on the other side of the mountains.”

  “I’ll have someone get them for you. That way you won’t run into Viho.” That someone would be him. Damn his mouth for running again.

  Fur brushed against his awareness and he let his bear’s sending push through. The scent of fur and blood paired with an image of Viho unsuccessfully crawling away from certain death. The scene and stench dissolved into Tansey’s soft smile and scent of honey and gratitude.

  He made his feet move over the snarling protests of his inner animal.

  “Hey, Ethan?”

  Her words wrapped down his spine and seized control of his muscles. He stopped in his tracks and turned back around. “Yeah?”

  Light filtered through her hair and gave her a muted halo. Her throat worked twice before she asked her question. “What are you? Not a wolf, it sounds like.”

  “Bear. We’re all bears here.” Growling, snarling, clawing, wild bears with no place for a woman in their midst. Not even a tough one like Tansey.

  A small smile raised her lips. “I’ve always liked bears.”

  His rebellious beast preened.

  She was close enough to touch. His fingers twitched with the urge. He already knew how soft her skin felt under his rough palms. He’d gladly welcome her ample curves against him again.

  Her pupils blew wide and her lips parted slightly. He bet she tasted every bit as intoxicating as her scent suggested.

  Mine.

  He stepped back. The spell she had on him broke when he dropped his gaze. “Make yourself at home.”

  Alpha, rancher, and man, Ethan fled the upstairs before he did anything stupid.

  Chapter 7

  Tansey woke before dawn. Muddled confusion fogged her brain as she snuggled further into warm blankets and a comfy mattress. She bolted straight up. Her motel room didn’t have an ounce of luxury.

  Her heart beat against her ribcage and she took several deep breaths before recognizing her surroundings. Sleep had been hard to find and must have stolen all her wits when she finally gave in to her exhaustion.

  With the sour panic fading from the back of her tongue, Tansey lay back down and stared at the ceiling. She needed to prepare herself for the day ahead and the ridiculously built cowboy that set it into motion.

  She couldn’t pinpoint why she readily agreed to let Ethan help and house her. Something about him made her want to trust. Stupid, she knew, especially when the only man she’d ever fully trusted vanished into thin air.

  But Ethan seemed so… honest. The quality was lost on Viho, who made every interaction feel like it was covered in slime.

  Maybe it was sheer desperation. In the space of a couple minutes, Ethan had gotten her closer to answers than Viho had in a month. Where the hell had he been when Rye first went missing?

  A door below slammed closed. Someone growled. The door opened and closed again, quieter. Loud footfalls and clinking of glasses gave away the men awake at the ungodly hour.

  The silence broke with a grumpy line of questioning. “So we’re just inviting anyone we want to stay the night? Did you two enjoy your little sleepover?”

  The kitchen must have been directly under her room. She could hear every word they said, and most of it was about her.

  “It’s not like that,” Ethan rumbled. “I’m just helping her find her brother.”

  “No seeing if she needed someone to warm her bed? Pity.” The snort of laughter cut off with a gurgle and a thump.

  “It’s coffee time, Alex. Have some respect for this sacred hour before you run your mouth,” Jesse chided. At least she thought it was him. He’d hardly said a word during the solemn dinner the night before.

  That had been an awkward affair. The bear clan had gathered around a large table. Everyone’s eyes darted between their plates, her, and Ethan. Except the man himself. He didn’t once look up from his meal. After shoveling food down their gullets like they were in a speed-eating contest, they all scattered. Ethan remained long enough to throw the dishes in the dishwasher, then retreated to his corner of the house.

  Well. She wasn’t one to make herself scarce, especially when they gossiped about her.

  Tansey rolled out of bed and tugged on a fresh pair of jeans. When Ethan rapped his knuckles on her door well past sunset, he had her bag slung over his shoulder. He’d also turned on his heels and charged back downstairs as soon as her fingers brushed against his and looped around the handle.

  She was grateful for the help, but she’d be glad to trade the ranch for anywhere she didn’t feel like an unwelcome intruder.

  The bedroom door didn’t make a sound when she threw it open. She retraced her steps down the hallway and into the loft overlooking the open floor plan below.

  No one spoke. Everyone studied the contents of their steaming mugs.

  “Good morning,” she said cheerfully. The false note in her tone grated even her nerves. More than one man’s lips tightened in a small frown.

  The quiet one—Lorne. He said the least of them all. She thought he grunted once at dinner, but couldn’t rule it out as clearing his throat—tipped his hat and slid out the back door. Alex and Hunter shot sly glances at Ethan before following just as quickly.

  Tansey frowned after the three. She tried to take a sniff of herself. Nothing wrong there. Even a cupped hand over her mouth didn’t give her anything than normal morning breath. Coffee would cover that until she could brush.

  Probably her fault. She drove people off in the best of times. Of course they wouldn’t extend her any courtesy. Their loyalty was with Ethan. The welcome wagon lost its wheels right around the time she pointed a pistol at the man.

  Well, she’d been commanded to stay. If they had a problem, they could take it up with their boss.

  Tansey crossed the threshold from living room into the kitchen. The no-mans-land was clearly marked by a single step into enemy territory.

  Her skin prickled with an unfamiliar energy. Even the air felt heavier, like it had before when she thought she’d drown right out in the open. She ignored it as best as possible, and made her way to the black gold in the pot between Ethan and Jesse.

  “‘Scuse me,” she muttered as she reached for the handle.

  Her arm brushed against Ethan. Instantly, heat flooded her veins and rapidly spread through her entire body. Even her toes wanted to curl.

  Shocked, she jerked her eyes to the side and right at his unmoving chest. Up and up, over his solid chest and wide shoulders, until she peeked under the brim of his hat. Impossibly bright silver eyes stared back at her.

  Right. Shifter things. She knew better than to get near any of the Vagabonds after a fight or deep into a night of drinking. She probably triggered some instinct to hunt fresh meat with her appearance first thing in the morning. Not wanting to be on the menu, she yanked her arm away from Ethan and shuffled to the large island floating in the center of the kitchen.

  And promptly realized she had no mug.

  Balls.

  Ethan, eyes still glowing, pulled one from the cabinet behind him and set it down with a loud thud that had her wondering how it didn’t crack.

  The dark side of dawn wasn’t her favorite time of the day either, but she wasn’t throwing a damn fit. Not that she was in any position. He held the cards and the means to contact the Bearden police about her brother. She could deal with a little morning unpleasantness if it got her answers.

  Tansey continued to fix her liquid fuel in utter silence. Her first sip didn’t disappoint, and almost made up for the awkwardness still in the air. Not wanting to face the stony faces of the remaining shifters, she twisted in her seat and turned her attention to the home. She’d been too keyed up the previous night to give it a decent inspection.

  Just past the front door were the stairs that curved upward with a landing between floors. The railing ended with the smooth carvings of bear heads on either side.


  A huge stone fireplace dominated one wall. Comfortable, if old, sofas and chairs clustered around to give the feeling of privacy. A big bookshelf leaned against another wall, with large DVD collection on one side and plenty of books on the other.

  It was the kitchen that snagged her undivided attention. Exposed beams ran from one end of the room to the other. The fridge looked newer than the giant oven by about ten years, but even the older fixtures appeared carefully cleaned and maintained.

  It was exactly the sort of kitchen she hoped to run one day. A very, very distant one day, now that her meager savings had been handed over to Viho. Her employment record was wrecked, which ruled loans out anytime soon. But she’d have her own bed-and-breakfast one day, and could have all the social interaction she needed with none of the commitment she failed at.

  “Your range is huge. Hard to believe it’s just for you five,” she blurted without thinking.

  Jesse spoke to his coffee. “Not always. This place used to serve up rooms full of guests.”

  “Used to? What happened?”

  He inclined his head slightly before finally settling on an explanation. “There was a change in ownership.”

  “Check on the others, will you?” A nod to Jesse accompanied Ethan’s obvious end of the conversation. They exchanged a long, complicated look before Jesse broke and shambled off after the others, leaving them alone.

  A shiver worked down Tansey’s spine. The air felt heavy again, and not entirely unpleasant.

  “You’re up early.”

  The gruff words were at odds with the charming smile he flashed her way. Even the bright silver of his eyes didn’t feel as harsh as before. Ethan ran hot and cold, it seemed.

  “Used to be used to it. I’ve worked breakfast shift for a diner and prepped for a bakery, so early mornings aren’t unknown. Just haven’t seen them in a while since Viho never woke before noon.” Tansey took a big swig of her coffee to stop her babbling.

  His eyes darkened with what she thought was anger or annoyance. His tone was all dark velvet for more contradictions. “Did you sleep well?”