by R. E. Butler
“Have you ever thought about going into the restaurant business?” He asked, after polishing off the second sandwich.
She gave him an incredulous look. “My stuff’s not that good.”
“Are you kidding? You are a fantastic cook, Karly. No kidding. If you do your art stuff better than this, well, then I don’t know why you’re not in a museum somewhere.”
She blushed and it was adorable. “You know you don’t have to sweet talk me to get me into bed.”
He laughed. “I would anyway.”
They spent the rest of the afternoon talking, sitting on the couch and getting to know each other. By the time dinner rolled around, Karly had made herself at home in his small kitchen and he loved watching her. He could actually see in his mind’s eye what their life might be like together. He could picture her waiting for him after work, eating dinner together. He could even see her sweet little flat belly rounded out with his child. Now that was something he craved on a cellular level.
Unfortunately, the call came about 10 that Jason expected them at the shop in the morning because the pack had gotten the roads cleared to town. He didn’t want his little bubble to burst.
While they made love before bed that night, he kept stopping himself from saying a dozen things that ran through his mind like an errant freight train.
I love you.
Move in with me.
Marry me.
Park on my face for about a week.
But he stopped himself, mostly by biting his tongue, which eventually started bleeding. Damn sharp fangs. He was afraid to rush her, but afraid to let her go. He wanted to mark her and drive down to one of those cheesy quick stop marriage places in Tennessee tomorrow. Confusion reigned in his mind, a least for those moments when he could actually think straight. He was running on pure awe and instinct with his little sweetheart. Willing, feisty, as insatiable as he’d ever hoped for a woman to be in his bed.
And now, blissed out, drenched in sweat and other sweeter things, he loved the sigh from her mouth as she cuddled into him. “You’re wonderful, Linus,” she yawned, “and very good at wearing me out.”
He chuckled. “I would prefer that they hadn’t gotten the snowplows so soon.”
“Real world beckons.”
He bit the inside of his cheek to stop himself from asking her to move in for the hundredth time. Instead he smoothed his hand over her shoulder. “This is a damn sexy tattoo, you rebel. What’s it mean?”
“Soul mate.” She yawned again, rubbing her cheek across the small patch of dark hair on his chest, unable to keep her eyes open.
His wolf sat up. She was someone’s soul mate? He’d slaughter him. Whoever the hell he was. “Is it from someone in your past?”
“No,” her voice started to slur, “I’m your angel, Linus. Yours.” And then she was gone, a deep sigh and then the rhythmic sound of her breathing in sleep. Angel? Something pricked at the back of his mind. It sounded – familiar. But at least she said she was his. That was enough to pet the hackles on his wolf down so he didn’t go stalking off into the snow to find someone who had her heart. He wanted it for himself. Maybe that made him a selfish bastard, but he didn’t care at this point. He’d wandered across her in the snow, and maybe it was fate, but he damn sure wasn’t going to let her go. The last thought he had as he drifted off to sleep was that he’d seen that symbol somewhere else, when he was young.
Chapter 4
Karly really didn’t want to get up. She wasn’t feeling lazy; she just liked sleeping next to Linus. He was so warm, like a personal space heater, and with his arms around her, she felt perfect and safe and complete. It was a nice feeling. And all the sex was a good bonus, too. But they couldn’t stay snow-bound forever.
While he slept soundly underneath her and the sky outside the bedroom window was still dark, and the clock read a too-early 4:47, she debated staying right there and waiting for him to wake up, or getting up and making him breakfast. Her better nature of wanting to take care of her mate had her sliding slowly off him and out of bed, and pulling on the shirt and shorts that had mostly been off of her for the last two days. She shut the bedroom door so he could rest. He mentioned the night before that he was supposed to report to the garage at 8, so she figured he should be up around 6 maybe, which gave her an hour to feed him right.
Fortunately, his pantry and fridge were well stocked, along with a large chest freezer in the garage that he kept stockpiled with meat. He was used to having some of the pack over in the summer for cook-outs. She whipped up a sausage and egg casserole and popped it in the oven and made a quick loaf of banana bread. She heard the door open just before 6 followed by his yawn that had become very familiar. He came out of the bedroom already showered, in jeans, a short sleeved shirt with Pete’s Garage in faded blue script across the front, his hair still damp.
“Good morning, beautiful,” He kissed the top of her head and put his arm around her.
“Morning.”
“Have you been up long?”
“Not too long.”
“You know, a guy could get used to all this special treatment. It’s not really fair.” He groused, and when she looked up at him she could see the unhappiness in his eyes even though he was trying to joke about it.
“You deserve to be treated special. I made coffee, have a seat.”
“Yes dear,” he laughed with another kiss and squeeze before going to the table. She pulled the casserole out of the oven where she had been keeping it warm and put it on the table, along with a plate of the sliced bread.
“I don’t know how you keep putting this stuff together. I didn’t think I had the ingredients to make half the stuff you’ve made for us.”
She served him a big wedge of the casserole and took a square for herself. “Just experience, I guess.” She blushed slightly. She wasn’t used to all the compliments. In her father’s pack, the caretakers were supposed to be good cooks or they weren’t going to be doing the job much longer. You didn’t get praised for doing your job.
“So what will you do today?” He asked, tucking into the food.
“I don’t know, actually. My car is probably buried behind a snow plow drift in the parking lot, so going somewhere is out of the question, not that I had anywhere to go, anyway.” She felt like she was babbling and going to say something stupid, like begging him to let her stay at his house for the day. To wait for him to come home from work, to make him dinner and take care of him.
“Can I see you, uh, after work?”
He looked like he thought she would say no. Silly wolf. “I’d like that.”
He finished everything, declaring it incredible and delicious. She finished eating before him and pulled on his socks and sweats. They left as soon as he was finished eating, and he carried her out to his pick-up truck in the garage even though she had shoes. She saw his motorcycle in the garage, and he said that the whole pack rode, and he was looking forward to riding with her once the weather got nice. She wasn't certain that he even realized that he was talking about them in a future way, and she didn’t point it out, even though she found it sweet and wonderful.
As expected, her parking lot had been plowed in a way that blocked all the vehicles behind a tall wall of snow with only sidewalk sized holes leading to the units. He pulled up in front of her unit and frowned. “You live here?”
“Yeah. I wasn’t looking for a long-term place and there aren’t really that many places to rent in this area.”
He gave her a long look. “This place isn’t exactly safe, Karly.”
Shrugging, she reached for the door handle. His hand tightened on her arm. “Wait, you act like it’s not a big deal, if the place is safe or not.”
“It’s okay. I’ve lived in better places, but I’ve lived in worse places, too. I told you, I don’t usually stick around more than a few weeks in any one place and sometimes the short term places are iffy.”
“Why is that, again?” His baby blues narrowed.
She sighed. “Because I was looking for a reason to stay, and I didn’t find one before.”
He was full on frowning by this point, so she pointed to the clock on the dash. “You’re going to be very late if I don’t get going, Linus. And then the lunch I made you will have gone to waste.” He’d been thrilled that she packed him a lunch. She’d been looking for black pepper and saw a small cooler and packed him a few sandwiches and some other things.
“I’m not done being unhappy about this place.” He said finally and got out of the truck. He came around to her side, opened the door, and pulled her into his arms.
She didn’t know what to say to that, so she said nothing. She liked that he was concerned about her, but it wasn’t as if she had a choice. Allen did not have any available short-term rentals. She unlocked the door and he carried her inside, kicking it shut with his foot and putting her down. He was practically glaring at her.
“Linus?” She ran her hands around his waist, hooked them at the small of his back, and leaned into him. He sighed and put his arms around her. “I’m sorry, Karly. My wolf is like snapping in my brain about leaving you here.”
“That’s sweet. I’ll be fine. I’ve been fine. You should get going. I don’t want your boss to hate me before he ever meets me.”
He looked down at her and she could see the war in his eyes. “Yeah. I’ll see you about 6, okay, angel?”
Her heart stopped. “Angel?”
He smiled, the action splitting his lush lips. “Last night you said you were my angel just before you passed out. It was sweet.”
Holy hells bells! He kissed her once on the lips and she was almost too stunned to react to it. Gathering her wits, she said goodbye and shut the door behind him. What were they talking about that she said she was his angel? She scanned her mind for last night’s events and couldn’t remember anything after collapsing on his chest. She must have been half asleep.
Well, clearly he hadn’t heard the old legends or he would have put the two together. His wolf’s concern for her and her being an angel. So tonight she would tell him. She had her bound history books with her. Along with her two bags, the box of books was the only thing she carted from place to place. She would show him her history, her place in the Angel line, and explain the significance of their connection together. What she’d learned over the weekend was that he had been hurt so badly by his ex that he was gun-shy about relationships. Worried to rush, worried not to rush, constantly doubting himself. And he clearly didn’t think he was worth very much, thought there were other men, wolves, who were better than him.
The problem was that packs like his were getting further and further away from traditions. It wasn’t about taking away a pack’s freedom to make their own choices, it was about holding onto what made them special and great. It sounded like their full moon gatherings were more about partying and hanging out than communing. When she took him back to her father’s pack to get married, he would get to see what he called an old-school pack work. She'd seen a lot of packs. Some very traditional, stiflingly so, and some so loosely grouped together that except for the fact they all shifted on the full moon, there wasn’t anything tying them to each other. Was there a way that was better over the others? In her mind, yes. And truly any children that she had with her mate, she would want them brought up learning the traditions and culture of their heritage. If Linus had been taught properly, he would have known what she was right away. Because his wolf would have recognized her. And he wouldn’t be second-guessing himself, which was clearly what he was doing.
Last night, when they made love before bed, he kept starting to ask her things and then he would stop abruptly. That fear, that little bit of brokenness, endeared him to her, but also made her a little nuts. It would have been a lot easier if she didn’t have to explain this whole thing to him. Not that she would trade her travels for anything, though.
Her mom never left her birth-pack. Her father, either. When he came of age, he knew that she was going to be his. When she turned 21 several years later and that connection solidified, they had waited for each other. Maybe Karly didn’t wait to have sex because she’d known subconsciously that none of the men in her father’s pack were going to be hers, she didn't know. In the long run, it really didn't matter. Linus was hers now, and they’d be together forever.
Picking up the phone, she dialed her mom who would be done with the breakfast dishes by now. As the phone rang, Karly could picture her bustling around the kitchen as she cleaned. Her mother taught her to take pride in her work, and to always do the best job, even if it was a lowly job like washing dishes or sweeping the floor. Everything that made up the home was important because the pack was important. Pack and home were words that were interchangeable in the world she’d grown up in.
“I found him, mom.” She gushed as soon as she answered her cell.
“You did? How wonderful! Tell me everything.” She heard the sound of liquid pouring, the clink of a spoon, and the creak of wood. Her mom sat down with a cup of coffee to listen to her, as if she was still home. So Karly did the same as she shared the story with her, making a small pot for herself and sitting at the two person table in the efficiency kitchen.
She told her about nearly dying and being rescued, her embarrassing wantonness and not remembering his name but then making up for it, and the weekend that Linus and she spent together. She and her mother had an open relationship. Although her mother would have preferred her to remain a virgin until she met her mate, she had armed her with the knowledge to protect herself both physically and emotionally, and helped her have a strong sense of self-worth.
“And he’s fourth?”
“Yeah. He’s the sweetest, most shy wolf I’ve ever met.”
“He sounds perfect for you, darling, but of course he would be. It’s a shame that his pack has lost the traditions by modernizing. It’s what the alpha believes is pretty much the fate of many packs now. Younger alphas that want more freedom and less responsibility so they abandon the very things that make them unique.”
Karly agreed wholeheartedly. “I’ll tell him everything tonight. If he needs some time to come to terms with it, then I’ll give that to him. But I could tell he was on the verge of telling me he loved me, asking me to move in with him. He just didn’t understand that I already belong to him.”
“Your father will be thrilled your wandering days are over.”
She snorted lightly. “He’ll be thrilled? I’ve been on the road for over a year. I just can’t wait to settle and put down roots.”
“I’ll send word to your brothers. We’ll plan for you to come out for a visit in the spring when the weather clears. We can plan the wedding then.”
“Sounds good to me.” Although some might consider that things were moving too fast, Karly knew from what she'd witnessed over the years that once wolves found their mates, they really didn't care to waste time to make them theirs forever.
“Take care then, my daughter, and call if you need anything.”
Karly hung up and finished her coffee. As she rinsed off her mug and put it in the dishwasher, there was a knock at the door and her neighbor’s shrill voice came through the door, “Did I see you come home, Karly? It’s Lola. I brought muffins.”
Sweet, lonely Mrs. Beckinson. Karly would buy her a new puppy to replace Jacques. It completely escaped Karly's attention that she was probably worried all weekend. She opened the door and Mrs. Beckinson hugged her with one arm, holding a small muffin tin in a hot pad with the other. She smiled at Karly and her eyes crinkled at the corners and then she started to cry. Karly pulled her gently inside and shut the door, and led her to the kitchen table.
“I’m so sorry, Mrs. B. I found him, but I slipped on ice and fell and passed out from the cold. A man happened to be out and he rescued me, but Jacques was already gone. I’m not even sure where it happened, but I can ask my friend if he can remember so we can find him, and give him a proper burial.”
She wept quietly. Wido
wed, no kids, and living in a week-to-week place because the mortgage on the home she shared with her husband for thirty years had ballooned at the end and she lost it right after he died. That little rat dog was all she had in the world.
“I’d like that, dear. I was so worried about you. I never thought you might get hurt out there, but when you didn't come home I didn't know what to think. Where did you stay?”
“The man that found me, his name is Linus. He lives in Allen and he saved my life, and I stayed with him for the weekend and I’m so sorry you worried. I would have called if I had my cell phone with me or knew your number by memory.” She made another pot of coffee, knowing that her morning was now shot because she wouldn’t leave until after lunch at least. But Karly could plan her dinner for Linus. Six o’clock couldn’t come fast enough.
Mrs. Beckinson told her stories about her little dog while they ate her homemade blueberry cream cheese muffins. She was an excellent baker and she and her husband had run a successful catering company for years but he was the driving force behind it and she was just the “pretty cook”. Now she lived off her pension and sold baked goods at flea markets in the summer.
Karly shifted the topic slightly and told her about Linus and Mrs. B. swooned over her romantic good luck. She was one of those gals who read a lot of romance novels. She believed in the knight in shining armor rescuing the damsel in distress and then plowing her for days afterwards. Not that there was anything wrong with that. It’s rather what happened to Karly.
Karly made cold-cut sandwiches for them and then Mrs. B. left, leaving two muffins. Karly had already made meat sauce while she visited and made a pan of baked ziti, a loaf of white bread and put a salad together. After she cleaned the small place, which was little more than a front room, kitchen, bedroom and bathroom, she took a shower and got ready.