He didn’t dare tell the woman the thoughts going through his mind, but waited while Marty hauled his cousin across the front yard and into the house. Pack law could be incredibly annoying at times, but dammit to hell, he wouldn’t acknowledge a law that didn’t better his pack. And that slut didn’t care about anyone, let alone herself. She would never be his queen.
Marty looked glum when he walked up to the truck a few minutes later. “You need me for anything else today?”
“No. I’m headed home.” He wanted to check on Elsa. Thoughts of her helped remove the disgust he felt over Ramona.
Marty nodded. “I’m heading back inside. I want to make sure she doesn’t hurt herself before she passes out.”
Rick respected the man for caring for his den mate the way he did. The woman didn’t make Marty’s life easy, he knew, but the werewolf never complained about her. He would insure Ramona’s safety no matter what. The werewolf deserved a den that would make him proud.
Leaving their neighborhood, Rick decided to make a run past the parking lot where he’d seen Masterson to see if the werewolf was still in the neighborhood. While he didn’t see him outside the pool hall anymore, Rick doubted the aggressive pack leader had headed back to his own territory. That bothered him, but all he could do for now was put out feelers and see what he could learn about the other pack sniffing around his territory.
Chapter Nine
Sunshine trickled across Elsa’s cheek, the warmth adding to the coziness she felt under the blankets. Sleep hadn’t been this good in a long time. But what time was it?
Glass panes with simple brown curtains stared back at her as she blinked at the window.
Wait a minute.
The covers pooled around her waist when she sat up, then realizing she was naked, she pulled them up around her. This must be Rick’s bedroom. But she was alone. The events of that morning came back to her in a rush, her conversations with Rick, following him over here, and allowing him to finger fuck her in his living room.
Heat flushed over her cheeks and down her neck while she propped pillows behind her shoulders, situating herself in the middle of the large bed. She didn’t remember him bringing her to his room.
“I didn’t fall asleep while we were…” She couldn’t fathom the thought. “I would definitely stay awake for that.”
Trying to figure out exactly how she ended up in his bed, she examined the contents of his room. You could learn a lot about a werewolf from his lair. The bed she lay in was sturdy, the intricate decorations hand carved. She turned, running her fingers along the repeating pattern carved into the headboard.
Did you carve this, Rick Bolton?
The phone rang, drawing her from her thoughts. She stared at the phone on the nightstand next to her, its ring following seconds after the ring from a phone downstairs. No one was answering it. Maybe Rick wasn’t even here.
The wood floor was cool under her feet when she sat at the edge of the bed. The phone stopped ringing after six rings, the silence of the house surrounding her. She was alone in his home.
An old rocking chair, the padding on the seat worn and well used, sat in the corner of the room. Her clothes had been folded neatly and placed there. She got up and dressed quickly. Curiosity pressed through her, the idea of exploring Rick’s home before he returned distracting her.
Now was the time to learn what she could about this werewolf. More than a few things about him intrigued her, and some simple exploring might provide some answers and certainly couldn’t hurt anything.
She found two more bedrooms upstairs, both completely empty except for a few boxes shoved into the corners.
“Looks like you do live alone.” She liked that thought, although couldn’t help wondering why an eligible pack leader wouldn’t have a mate.
Trotting down the stairs, she turned into the spacious kitchen. Long cabinets lined the walls above a cluttered counter. A few dishes, mainly coffee cups, were in the sink, and the remains of a steak sat in a take-out foam container on the counter. An open bag of sugar sat next to a coffee maker, which had been left on. She walked over and flipped the off switch before turning around and glancing through the wide door leading toward the living room.
“I could live like this.” She wandered into the living room, the couch where Rick had held her catching her eye.
Moisture still clung to her pussy, while she thought of Rick caressing her, creating a need within her that she’d only dreamed about. The hard cock pressed against her while he played hadn’t been her imagination. But he hadn’t fucked her.
“You were enjoying yourself, wolf man.” Which is why it made no sense that he’d stopped and let her sleep.
Maybe its because he won’t force himself on you.
She prayed that was the reason. It would be so wonderful if she’d actually found a man who respected her freedom, didn’t try to trap her, or control her.
“Or maybe the thought of some young virgin with no experience who is running for her life doesn’t appeal to him.” She sure as hell had arrived with a load of baggage.
The phone rang again, and she traipsed back into the kitchen, staring at the extension hanging on the wall. After the third ring, she couldn’t handle it any longer.
“Hello.” She chewed her lip, wondering if she violated any local pack law by answering his phone.
“Oh. Did I dial wrong? I need to talk to Rick.” The woman at the other end sounded worried.
“This is Rick’s number. But he isn’t here right now.” She wondered if she should explain who she was.
The woman didn’t give her a chance though. “I think my water has broken. Miranda is still out of town buying more herbs. He said he would help me if I needed him.”
Rick helped whelp cubs?
“Okay. Calm down. I’m not sure when he will be home. How far apart are the contractions?”
Excited voices came through the receiver from the background. She couldn’t be sure, but it sounded like several children talking all at once.
“I’m not sure,” the lady finally said. “Maybe five minutes.”
Elsa didn’t have a clue how to get around in this town. “I know you don’t know me.” The woman needed to calm down, so she worked to keep herself calm. “But if you give me directions, I will come over and see if I can help.”
The woman’s shrill cry had Elsa pulling the phone from her ear. “Rocky knows where I live. Bring her, too.” The phone went dead in her hand.
She hadn’t even found out the woman’s name. Elsa stared at the phone. A minute passed before she remembered discussing Rocky with Rick earlier that morning. Rocky lived next door.
Darting out the door, she hurried to the bungalow next door. Someone in Rick’s pack needed her and she knew she could help if she could just find out who the woman was and where she lived. She knocked loudly on the door. “You better be home, my dear.”
The young waitress who had served her breakfast opened the door, looking half awake. She stared blankly at Elsa, looking her over before concern appeared in her expression. “What’s wrong?”
“Hi. Remember me? I’m Elsa. From the diner this morning. You need to help me deliver a cub.”
Rocky stared at her a moment before understanding swept across her face.
She knew her concern filled the air around them, because the young woman woke up quickly.
“Shit. Julie went into labor?” She turned into her dark living room, returning a second later with tennis shoes in her hand. “Rick told her to call him. She lost her mate in the fire, leaving her with no den but her cubs.”
Elsa led the way to her car, unable to imagine a life without den mates hovering everywhere. She had more cousins than she could count and her sisters had always done everything with her growing up.
That is the life you are seeking out though, isn’t it?
The afternoon seemed to disappear as they worked side by side at Julie’s house. Twilight surrounded them before the joyful sounds of t
he newborn cub filled the house.
“You did okay.” Elsa patted Rocky on the back, while they both watched mother and cub snuggle under blankets in the small bedroom.
“I’ve never seen a cub being born before.” Rocky sat in a chair next to the bed, her expression glowing, looking proud enough to have birthed the baby herself.
The two of them turned when Julie’s older children started talking excitedly to someone who had come to the door.
“Miranda.” Rocky walked to the older woman, giving her a hug. “Where were you when we needed you?”
“I just got the message from Julie off of my answering machine.” Miranda shoved gray hair behind her ear, smiling at the children surrounding her. “There was another message from Marty. He’s looking for you.”
“We’ve been here all day.” Elsa glanced out the window, noticing how quickly it was getting dark.
“Oh. Miranda, this is Elsa.” Rocky quickly made introductions.
Elsa immediately liked the warm motherly feeling that surrounded Miranda.
“She is the one who dragged me over here when Julie couldn’t find Rick.”
“Well it’s a good thing you were at Rick’s to answer his phone. His cell phone never picks up calls. He needs a better service. Miranda shrugged out of her coat, and clasped her herbal bag in front of her. “What brings you to our pack?”
“I’m just visiting right now.”
“And she is staying with Rick,” Rocky beamed.
Rocky and Miranda grinned, trading knowing looks.
“Well, well.” Miranda rocked up on her toes. “Rick Bolton is quite the catch. You would do okay with him.”
“Wouldn’t there have to be a challenge first?” Rocky asked Miranda.
Miranda gave her a quick, harsh glance, silencing the younger girl. Elsa had no idea how to respond. She wasn’t ready to challenge anyone.
“I’ve…well, I just met him.” Shit. That didn’t sound good.
Obviously Miranda had no desire to allow her to wallow in the humiliating moment. She patted Elsa’s arm, and then gave it a squeeze. “It looks to me like you did very well here today. We could use a good bitch in the pack like you.”
“We should probably get out of here.” Rocky glanced at the wall clock, and then at the window. “It’s dark already. I bet Marty and Rick are wondering where the hell we are.”
Chapter Ten
“I’m starving.” Elsa noticed the grocery store while they drove down the main street of town. “It didn’t look like Rick had much food at his house.”
Rocky laughed. “He eats what he kills, or at the diner.”
“Do you care if we stop?”
Rocky shrugged. “Grab some munchies. Maybe some vegetables. I’ll show you this pond up north that is great for fishing. That is, if you plan to run with us later tonight.”
Elsa’s tummy flip-flopped. She had no idea who Rocky meant by us.
Don’t get too cozy with this pack. You still have no idea who you can trust, and who you can’t.
She didn’t want to pay attention to her own words of warning. Rick had offered her pack protection. That meant sanctuary. And she trusted Rick, right?
Damn. She sure wanted to. Her mental vision conjured up an image of him, naked, sprawled out on his bed, beckoning her. Dear Lord. She couldn’t wait to explore his body, learn where his scars might be, feel his skin under her fingertips. Hot and hard.
Remembering his cock eagerly pressed against her through his clothes, she wondered what it would feel like to hold him in her hands. She wanted to stroke his steel shaft, watch his expression while she controlled the moment. More than anything, she couldn’t wait to return the pleasure to him that he had given her.
“I wonder where Rick is?” she mused out loud, her thoughts still lingering on how she could make that man growl.
“Probably glorifying in how he got out of birthing a cub.” Rocky giggled, but then stopped when Elsa swerved to miss a truck that cut her off when she entered the parking lot.
“What the hell!” She focused on her driving, cursing for being distracted by her thoughts.
“That was Toby.” Rocky turned, looking behind her at the truck they had barely missed hitting. “I wonder why he did that?”
“Oh. God.” Elsa slammed on the brakes when another car pulled out in front of them.
“Are you all drunk?” Rocky jumped out of the car yelling.
Elsa got out on her side. A white sedan had stopped in front of her, and the truck that had almost sideswiped her pulled to a stop at an angle behind her.
“Rocky. Are you okay?” Marty jumped out of the sedan, hurrying toward Rocky.
“Hell yes. I’m okay. But you all were trying to kill us.” Rocky glared at Marty, and then at the older man who climbed out of the driver’s seat of the sedan. “Harry.” She turned her anger on the driver. “What were you trying to do?”
Elsa turned when Toby got out of his truck and approached her from behind. Dark red hair curled around his face while his bright green eyes focused on her and then her car. She smelled concern and worry around him, not alcohol. These men weren’t drunk. Something was wrong.
Harry, the older man, pulled a cellular phone from his pocket while he walked toward her.
“Rick. We’re at the grocery store parking lot. We found her. Both of them are here.”
Tension needled through the air. All the men were high energy, testosterone was heavy in the air around them.
Something must have happened. She could tell they were all pack members, although she only recognized Marty. Rocky obviously knew all of them. But Elsa felt exposed. She hovered next to her car door, wanting to climb back into the car, but curious what the problem was.
“What the hell is going on here?” Rocky asked for her.
Elsa glanced around at the men, anxious to hear the answer.
“Rick’s had us on alert all afternoon looking for you two.” Harry’s words shocked her. She looked from one man to the other, searching for confirmation to what he had just said.
Tires squealed as a second pickup raced into the parking lot. Elsa turned along with the others as Rick pulled up alongside her car and jumped out. He looked so damned sexy in his long straight cut blue jeans and cowboy boots. He wore a denim jacket, the fabric taut across his shoulders, making his chest appear larger. He wasn’t smiling, the seriousness of his expression giving him a dangerous look.
In several long strides he approached her, his dark eyes smoldering. She didn’t detect the anger on him until he was right next to her. Grabbing her arms, he lifted her up off the ground, pressing her back against the car.
“Why did you run from me, moon princess?” His growl sent shivers through her.
“Run from you?” She stared at him. She’d spent her day helping birth a cub into his pack, and he was bent out of shape because he thought she ran from him? Thoughts of telling him a thing or two faded when she saw the aggravated look on his face.
“What the hell are you talking about?” Rocky cried out.
She turned in time to see Rocky coming around the front of the car. Marty moved to grab her, but Rocky angrily swatted his hands away. She turned to Rick, putting her hands on her hips and glaring at him.
“Elsa and I have been over helping Julie whelp her cub.” She glared at Rick. “If Elsa hadn’t taken the call at your house, that poor woman would have only had her children to help her give birth.”
Rick relaxed his grip on her, and she slid down the side of her car until her feet touched the ground. The tension in the air faded quickly. She turned, staring at the other men who suddenly looked a bit sheepish.
“You were supposed to keep an eye on her for me.” Rick’s tone softened, but he still sounded put out. “I came home to find both of you missing.”
“Keep an eye on me?” Elsa pushed her hands against his chest, needing air. “What? Are you telling me I can’t go where I want to go? Am I a prisoner?”
Rick didn�
��t answer her right away, his expression plagued with worry while he looked at her. He ran his rough hand over her hair, brushing it out of her face. His anger had been replaced with concern and worry. She had asked for pack protection, agreed to him keeping her safe. She watched him glance over her head at the small group still gathered around them.
“Thanks for your help, men. Marty, will you drive Elsa’s car back to my house? Take Rocky home, too.”
“I can drive.” She spoke quietly, his gentle stroking making it hard for her to want to do anything but stand here next to him.
“I want you with me,” he whispered, just above her ear so no one could hear him but her.
“At least everyone is okay.” Toby headed back to his truck.
The others said their good byes, while Rick backed away from her car, pulling her along with him so Marty and Rocky could leave.
“You don’t know how worried I’ve been.” He turned from her, opening the door to his truck. “Hop in.”
The cold of the truck seat seeped through her jeans, feeling good against the tortured heat welling inside her. Rick walked around the front of the truck, his long purposeful strides making him look quite the determined leader.
He climbed in, his truck door slamming shut. Silence lingered around both of them for a moment. Too many emotions cluttered the small cab area. She wouldn’t be able to breathe if one of them didn’t make an effort to clear the air.
“I offered you pack protection.” He spoke before she could sort her thoughts. “But I can’t protect you if I don’t know where you are. I thought you took off, Elsa.”
“Now wait a minute, wolf man.” She had done nothing wrong here. “I woke up to an empty house.”
“I have to earn a living.” He turned on her, his gaze piercing her.
“I didn’t know how to reach you.”
“The plan was for you not to go anywhere.” The muscles in his arms grew as she watched, the brown curls around his face becoming wilder by the minute.
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