Coveted

by Stacey Brutger

  “Tell me about your home.”

  He only stared at her suspiciously. Shayla rolled her eyes, doing her best not to drool over his bare chest. “It’s not like I won’t see it in a few hours, anyway.”

  Nothing.

  Not even a peep.

  “Fine. Tell me what you miss most about your home. You’ve been gone a while. Do you have someone there to watch over it for you?”

  A small smile quirked his lips, as if her question amused him. Shayla gave a huff, disgruntled by all the mystery.

  He finally exhaled loudly, giving in to her badgering. “I miss Ava Moore. Her beauty. The peace that always comes when I’m around her.”

  Her stomach gave a queer lurch at the longing in his voice. A woman was the last thing she’d expected. Lovers, sure, but not a steady girlfriend, not with his Neanderthal ways and suspicious nature.

  And from his description, she was beautiful.

  Heat burned her face, the warmth having nothing to do with the fire. She took the torch and jabbed the flames. Wood settled. Sparks floated in the air. It was foolish, but despite all her protests, she’d kind of been thinking of Aiden as hers.

  Shayla watched as sleep claim Aiden once more. She chipped away at the mud caked around her nails, wondering what he must think of her. Her impromptu mud bath ensured no square inch of her remained clean. Worse, she would meet this paragon he spoke of looking like a pig after a good wallow. She could never stack up against the other woman.

  Shayla put the torch down, watching the fire consume the tip, exhaustion catching up to her for the first time since the adventure began.

  She’d gotten into this mess by daydreaming about love. Her family was right, her gift brought nothing but trouble. First, she gained a stalker, then almost gotten herself killed a handful of times in the past few hours. Apparently there was such a thing as too much adventure. Funny how running for your life put things in perspective.

  It was time to grow up and put this foolishness aide. Aiden was attractive but all wrong for her. It was time to stop believing in fairy tales.

  A low hum caught her attention. She jerked her head up and cursed herself for staring into the flames. Her night vision had been destroyed. Yanking the torch out of the fire, Shayla launched to her feet, turning to keep her back to the flames.

  The moon peeked out from behind the clouds, sending the shadows dancing. Her gaze strayed to Aiden, but she refused to wake him because she had an overactive imagination. She needed proof first.

  A scurrying sound startled her, and she flipped around like a cat, sure someone was sneaking up on her.

  Was that a shape?

  Shayla twisted to follow the movement, sending the flames of the torch swaying.

  Whatever was out there was too big and fast to be human.

  The silence bothered her most. It was bad enough to be stalked, but stalked by something you couldn’t see or hear was petrifying.

  A dark shape skimmed along the ground, heading directly toward her, too fast for her brain to register what she was seeing. Shayla swung the torch on instinct. The impact slammed up her arm, and she nearly lost her hold on their only weapon.

  Cinders soared through the air.

  The animal yipped and retreated.

  For now.

  The beast was huge, with angry yellow eyes that gleamed in the darkness. When the creature charged toward Aiden, Shayla lifted the torch and stepped directly in his path. “No you don’t.”

  Arms wrapped around her from behind, forcing her weapon down. Shayla struggled, jammed her elbow back and connected with something solid. Her captor gave a satisfying grunt of pain, and the grip around her loosened enough for her to suck in a lungful of air to scream.

  Chapter Nine

  “Settle down.” The voice was just a rasp of sound. “They’re my…hounds. My clan won’t be far behind.”

  It took Shayla precious seconds to realize it was Aiden who held her, not some monster. She immediately stopped struggling, worried she’d reopen his wounds. He lowered her until her feet touched the ground, but didn’t release her, for which she was pathetically grateful when even more of his overgrown hounds emerged from the darkness.

  “Why didn’t you say so sooner?” Exasperating man. The warmth of him eased some of her nerves. Then the whine of a machine caught her ear and grew louder. One of the enormous dogs turned toward the noise, lifted his head, and emitted a spine-chilling howl.

  In minutes, a number of ATVs circled the fire before coming to stop, their lights blinding her to everything. Only Aiden’s nearness prevented her from bolting.

  “Aiden?”

  A large man lumbered forward, a big shadow outlined by the beams from the ATV headlights. Shayla tensed, uncertain if he was friend or foe. Aiden released her and very carefully settled her between him and the fire.

  Protecting her.

  “I never expected to see you again.” The two men hugged, pounding each other’s backs so hard she winced.

  “You either, Mac.” Aiden stepped back first. The ATVs shut off and the rest of the men, giants all, surrounded Aiden. They shook hands, touching him as if to reassure themselves he was alive. Her gaze jumped from one man to the next, marveling at the awesome size of them. They also were the most physically fit group of guys she’d ever seen.

  Like a slap in the face, things began to make sense. He was their leader. Coupled with his investigation, she could only assume they were some kind of military or private security.

  Feeling like an interloper, Shayla broke camp, trying to ignore her disheveled state. None of them were paying any attention. When she turned to retrieve her bag, she came face to face with a wolf. His ruff stood at attention, a low rumble vibrated in the air, and he crouched, advancing one slow inch at a time.

  Menace pooled around him.

  Stalking her.

  Waiting for her to run.

  A very crispy wolf.

  “Sorry.” A pang of remorse for hurting him kept her from backing away.

  Until he bared his very long, very pointy teeth.

  Suddenly running felt like a very good idea. She carefully backed up a step.

  “Nice doggie.” Her voice emerged as a squeak.

  The low rumble just stopped. The animal cocked his head as if listening to something only he could hear. Fluffy ears perked forward in greeting, and he bounded closer.

  “Connor!” At Aiden’s sharp command, the wolf recoiled, tail down as he retreated. “I would prefer you didn’t drool on the woman who saved my life.”

  The wolf circled around her, his sad eyes latched onto hers as if she were a toy he’d been ordered to drop. She twisted to keep him in view, a little bit charmed by the beast now he wasn’t threatening to eat her. The animal walked over to Aiden and promptly sat by his feet, leaning against his master’s leg, but continued to watch her closely.

  When Shayla glanced up, the gaze of every man was trained on her. It took all her self-control not to fidget. With false bravado, Shayla lifted her chin. “Are we going to stand around chatting the whole night, while your boss bleeds all over the place, or are we going to move before they come after us again?”

  The men gawked at her a moment longer, then turned toward Aiden. He gave a sharp nod at their unspoken question. “She comes with me. She is my…guest.”

  Guest…so why did that sound so ominous? Shayla watched the men efficiently finish breaking camp, eyeing her with a bit too much curiosity for her liking. A group of men stood around Aiden, their hushed whispers reaching her ears, but they were too far away for her to understand their conversation.

  Every time anyone came near her, Aiden would stop talking and call them over. She couldn’t figure out if he was trying to protect her or them.

  Swallowing her unease, Shayla wondered if she should make a break for it after all.

  * * *

  Aiden studied Shayla, his body tense as he waited for her to flee. The primitive side of him wanted her to run so he c
ould give chase. He wasn’t sure how she’d come to be in his life, but he wasn’t going to give her up without a fight.

  As much as his conscience protested at what he was about to do, he had no choice. Not only was she too vulnerable without him, she was the key to getting his men back. They were nearly extinct. They couldn’t lose any more.

  “Let’s move out.” Aiden strode toward the ATV and dug out a shirt. He sat, then stared at Shayla. He didn’t want to ride with her, he needed time to clear his head, but the thought of her sitting next to one of his men, her arms wrapped around them, had his wolf snapping his teeth.

  When Mac walked up to Shayla, something in Aiden cracked. “She rides with me.”

  Mac’s eyebrows winged upward, but he didn’t speak, just retreated to his own machine.

  “You’re wounded. I’m sure you would prefer to ride on your own. I can hitch with one of your men.”

  “No.” Never.

  Her eyes narrowed, a warning he was quickly coming to learn meant she was about to argue with him. To forestall her, he gave a sharp whistle. The men mounted and took off in a spray of mud. When only he and Shayla remained, he raised a brow. “Ready?”

  The woman was filthy, hardly a spot of her skin visible. He’d hoped being back with his men would stop this attraction nonsense, but if anything, he was more agitated. The instant one of his men came within three feet of her, his wolf went ballistic.

  And despite everything they’d been through, she had yet to complain once. She was tough, he’d give her that, but she was still just a human.

  “Bully.” With a huff, Shayla stomped toward him, the sexy sway to her hips that causing his fingers to curl into fists so he wouldn’t reach for her.

  Only when she was seated behind him did his wolf finally settle. The reaction unnerved him. How could this little woman have so much influence over his wolf when he had so little?

  He didn’t like it.

  What he liked even less was the way she clung to the machine, keeping as much space between them as possible. He told himself he was glad. Several times. The more distance between them the better.

  Wolf chose that moment to place his paw against the inside of Aiden’s skull and press down as if to push out that thought. The pressure thudded through him, and he gritted his teeth, just as stubborn.

  The thing that annoyed the crap out of him the most wasn’t his wolf’s actions. No, it was her decision to keep him at arm’s length that hit a nerve. It was one thing for him to make that decision, but what drove her?

  Did she have a boyfriend?

  A lover?

  A growl rumbled up his chest at the possibility, and he turned the key to cover the sound. Eager for the distraction, he revved the engine and took off for home.

  With a squeak of alarm, she clutched at his hips. Muscles flexed at her innocent touch, and a shock of static hit him like a fist. He hardened so fast it was painful.

  “Idiot man, what are you trying to do? Make me fall off?”

  Any pain from his wounds disappeared, stolen by the press of her lush curves against his back as she leaned forward to berate him. That she would dare should’ve infuriated him. He was the alpha. But he couldn’t work up any outrage while she clung to him. He could almost pretend she cuddled up to him because she cared.

  He heard her mutter ‘barbarian’ under her breath, and he hit the gas, spurring the ATV forward. Now that she was touching him, he refused to let her retreat. He ran his fingers lightly over her hand, ignoring the flaking mud, completely fascinated by the silky skin beneath. It was a compulsion he couldn’t resist.

  He knew the contact was wrong, that spreading his pheromones would make things harder for both of them later, but he couldn’t stop himself. She remained so unaffected that it seemed fair that she suffer the same fate.

  Only when he was sure that she wouldn’t let go did he finally relax for the first time since their escape. An hour passed in silence. She shivered against his back, her teeth chattering, and he cursed that he had nothing to keep her warm.

  Except him.

  As soon as he processed the thought, he knew it was his wolf. His beast was trying to protect Shayla as if she were his mate and not a tool he planned to use for the good of the pack.

  His wolf prowled under his skin, claws purposely scraping along his bones. That this might be his last chance to feel her touch had his heart thumping heavily against his ribs.

  His teeth elongated, and his nails sliced the ends of his fingertips like a thousand needles piercing under his fingernails.

  Mine.

  Breathing heavily, fighting the change, Aiden finally relented. “Fine.”

  He grabbed her hands and tucked them under his shirt. She stiffened. He waited for her to pull away, but much to his shock, she shivered and inched closer.

  “Thank you.” The words were so soft, only his wolf allowed him to hear.

  Her hands were like ice, the touch of her skin burned, but he scarcely felt the cold. He reluctantly dropped his hold on her arm, relieved when she didn’t shift away. “We’ll be there soon.”

  Shayla shivered at his husky voice. She shouldn’t be snuggling up to him either, not if she valued her sanity.

  One thought passed through her mind.

  Sanity was way overrated.

  She’d mourned a little when he put on a shirt, wishing she had touched him when she had the chance. Now she had the luxury, she took full advantage by trailing her fingers over his chest. She’d expected to encounter a gaunt frame, all skin and bone, not hot skin and sleek muscles. Shayla no longer felt cold. She was barely aware of her fingers exploring him, bombarded with too many sensations to process…except the pure pleasure that filled her every pore.

  She waited for him to flinch from her touch, but he seemed to lean into it, silently asking for more.

  When they stopped some time later, she jerked her attention away from her fascination with his body to see they’d reached the summit of a large hill. Aiden cut the engine.

  Shayla peeked around him, expecting to see a house, maybe a small village.

  “Holy shit. It’s a frickin’ castle.”

  Overlooking the valley loomed an enormous castle chiseled out of sheer rock. Majestic turrets thrust up against the sky defiantly. The castle pulled her back to an older time. At least forty feet high, the surrounding wall stood tall and proud, guarding the occupants like sentries. Beyond, a turbulent sea swelled and crashed in rebellion, further protecting the castle from any threats.

  The first rays of sun spilled over the vista, a bright splash of color. The cold stone of minutes before burst into vibrant warmth.

  Breathtaking.

  “Welcome to Avamoore.”

  At the name, Shayla looked everywhere, sure some statuesque woman would be waiting on the parapets to welcome her man home. Wolves and men prowled about the castle grounds in equal numbers.

  No girlfriend.

  Her brows furrowed. “No women.”

  As one, beast and man alike tipped their heads back and howled in a weird harmony of welcome.

  A shiver worked down her spine. Memories of her Grandfather’s fanciful stories filled her mind. Vampires, fae, witches…

  Shayla swallowed harder.

  …and werewolves.

  But that was just childhood foolishness.

  Fairy tales.

  Right?

  Chapter Ten

  Aiden drove through the bailey, hyper-aware of the woman at his back. Shayla had gone deathly still when his wolves howled their greeting of welcome. He should be happy. Relieved. He had no business allowing this attraction to continue. As soon as they entered the bailey, everything between them would change, end brutally when she learned she couldn’t leave.

  Unless he could convince her that staying was her idea.

  As he surveyed the keep, the once-familiar buildings felt foreign. The surrounding walls of the castle towered over him. His breathing became shallow as he struggled to suck
in enough air. The handlebars of the ATV creaked under his grip as they halted in front of the entrance hall. His wolf stilled, ready to spill out of his skin at the thought of being trapped behind another set of walls.

  “Are you all right?” She ran her fingertips lightly down his arm, the hesitant touch making the world slide away until there was only her.

  He inhaled sharply, her citrus scent washing over him, and the tightness in his chest slowly dissipated. “I will be.”

  He dismounted and studied her, his heartbeat slowed to normal as he met her blue eyes. Panic receded under her calm, and some of his composure returned. Those sharp eyes of hers passed over the castle, and pride puffed up his chest when he saw them widen appreciatively, ridiculously pleased that he could impress her. Once he was back on his feet, she’d see him as a different man.

  Someone worthy of her.

  “You grew up here.”

  “Yes.” It wasn’t a question, but he answered anyway. He gripped his hands behind his back to keep from stepping to her side and tucking her back up against him. Shayla turned, her attention finally coming to rest on his men.

  “Those men are like you.”

  When she continued to gawk at them, Aiden narrowed his eyes, battling the raging jealously that prickled along his skin. “Like me?”

  Then he noticed her gaze had landed on only a specific few.

  His Firsts, the strongest of his wolves, warriors who could shift into the fabled two-legged werewolves.

  Her focus couldn’t be an accident.

  The world narrowed down to her. Sounds faded. His heart thumped twice in denial before the alpha in him took control. All his concern for her feelings shredded as ugly suspicions rose. Could he have been wrong and invited his worst enemy into his home?

  * * *

  As silence descended, Shayla quickly replayed what she said and wanted to curse her overly superstitious mind. She turned to find Aiden dissecting her. The chill around her intensified, and it was all she could do not to redden at her slip. It was one thing to listen to fairy tales as a child, it was another to actually believe them.