"She's never told me anything good about city life she enjoyed, Thomas," Buck said. "I don't think she'll want to go."
Buck talked to the girl a lot?
Mine, Wolf groaned.
The old man's eyes pinched into slits. He turned that venomous gaze to Buck and chewed the food in his mouth.
Buck threw up a placating palm. "It just seemed like something that needed to be said."
That point didn't lessen the intensity in which Thomas eyed Buck. I choked down a chuckle.
Something slammed into a wall with a loud thump.
We all flinched, scanning the end of the cabin where the sound died.
The door to Raven's room flew open and clapped against the log wall, only to catch Raven's wide-eyed dusty form splattered with dried blood as it crashed against the thumping wood in the same dirty blue jeans and black short-sleeved t-shirt she wore the first time I'd seen her.
"Raven?" Thomas gasped.
Her wild blue gaze caught hold of him, and she shoved free of the door with a swagger.
Still burning off the tranquilizer. That might take a bit longer. Her slim lithe form had fewer cells to work off the drug than a larger male.
Mine, Wolf hummed.
Oh. Yes. We're on the same page.
She practically dove onto her knees at her uncle's side and smashed a palm against his forehead.
The wall caught Thomas's head though. "Raven," he scolded, "I'm alright."
"Shirt," she commanded.
He sighed. "Raven."
She snatched at his shirt's placket of buttons.
"Come now, Raven. These Shifters stitched me up. Everything's fine now."
"I'll be the judge of that." Her elbows sawed wildly, setting the long black braid furiously swinging down the midline of her back, until she peeled the sleeve off his amputated arm.
"He was pretty lucky," Buck said.
Her profile snapped to my brother who wisely shrank back an inch from her gaze.
"You call losing an arm lucky?" she challenged.
"Sorry," Buck countered. "I meant it was a clean cut." He pointed my direction. "Colt trained with a doctor for a few years. He took care of the wound."
She flicked a glance my direction, turning most of her large eyes and full lips into my view.
Unable to see much of me in the shadows though. Maybe that's good. She's so upset at the moment that I don't want her deciding I'm good for nothing before she had the chance to put a face to my name.
Mine, Wolf snapped.
Yeah. Shut up before you look as stupid as Buck.
She turned back to the old man and studied what remained of his arm.
Undoubtedly looking for signs of gangrene. We didn't have penicillin on us when we arrived though. So, all we can do is keep watching for red lines shooting up his arm.
"Okay, now settle down," Thomas cooed at the top of her head.
She shoved off the floor, her sturdy legs beneath her, and plowed straight into a wall.
Well, she looked as if she couldn't control her body. But her fingers poked a specific spot where two walls met. A hum kicked in. Like a motor flicked on. Then one wall began sliding open. I suppose a tinker would have secret walls. Tinkers are the closest things to Shifters among Normals. And Shifter structures have secret walls.
Raven grabbed the edge of the gliding wall and yanked.
This one really needs some help. Especially since the wall isn't giving at a rate she finds satisfactory.
"Patience, Raven," Thomas droned.
She ignored him, shoving the edge of the sliding door in an attempt to open it faster, forcing her body through the widening crack.
Now, she's not that slim.
But she wedged herself into the space and vanished.
Yellow light flashed in the opening.
"Well, there will be no peace until I'm sufficiently medicated," Thomas sighed and looked like he'd twiddle both thumbs if he had two hands to manage the gesture.
His bewildered mask didn't bother making eye contact with any of us. He just stared straight across the room like a defeated man.
A flutter of light preceded the doorway spitting out the beauty with a small bottle in hand. Again, she ignored us to retrieve a tin cup filled with water and to stand beside her uncle, fumbling with the bottle until satisfied with the medication she held in her palm. "Open," she commanded.
His gaze rolled to her with the cock of his head. "Seriously, my dear, must you be so cold?" He extended a palm.
"Open."
He sighed and tilted his head like a gaping bass.
She poked something into that dark maw.
And by her uncle's disgusted expression, I wouldn't have been so foolish to risk thrusting my fingers into that tooth-rimmed trap. But this beauty is determined.
She handed him the cup. "Drink every drop."
They must have drilled through this routine countless times. He's a pill dodger. She's the enforcer. Luckily for him, they had pill forms of medication. Now, those are about as expensive as one little sexy female with curves a man could tuck up against his side and curl around for a long night's sleep.
Thomas reluctantly took the cup and gulped down five ear-popping drinks, dropped the hand holding the cup to his knee, and met her gaze. "Down the hatch. Satisfied?"
She reached and waited.
He sighed, handing over the cup.
Interesting standoff.
She thrust the cup at Stag but didn't grace him with a glance. "More water, please."
Stag had the wherewithal to follow instructions. But he's always had the sense to do so being located so far down the familial totem pole.
Thomas reached toward his head.
"No touching your face," she barked.
His hand stilled mid-air, then dropped. The old man's mouth finally turned down at the corners. He shot her a sideways scowl. "I swallowed the pill, Nurse Helga."
She snorted. "You lost a lot of blood too. So a few more cups of water won't kill you."
Thomas finally eyed each of us with determination. "See why I'm sending her back East?"
"The only person going anywhere is you--to bed." Her body never flinched.
Never receded from what she perceived as truth. She'd win. And Wolf and I would cheer her on. Tails wagging.
"I don't feel like sleeping."
She thrust another cup of water at him.
Silently.
He didn't risk another comment and drank two more loud gulps of liquid. With a sarcastic sigh, he lowered the cup to his thigh again. "Now, you go pack your things," he said with slow measured threatening words. "Whatever you want. I don't care what you take. But you're going back East."
She snaked her arms across her chest.
Right beneath the sweetest bulging breasts I think I'd ever chanced upon.
"Do you honestly believe I'm going to leave you out here in the middle of nowhere with one hand? Because, dearest uncle, I believe you're suffering from a head injury too. Or your brain was in the hand you lost!"
He twisted toward her, planting both boots on the floorboards, scooting to the edge of the bed to face her squarely. "You can't stay here, Raven. I can't protect you anymore." He thrust his stump at her. "I've only got one hand. I can't even wipe my ass comfortably."
She canted a few inches toward him. "I know you've got a head injury because you can't count!" She thrust her hands at him. "You've got three hands. That's why I'm staying."
Oh, he'll never win that argument.
"What kind of life will that be?" he begged with exasperation. "You're young. You're smarter than most Normals. You're even pleasant to be around when you aren't distraught from slinging lead at some cut-rate shootout at the O.K. Corral. You deserve a life too. And I've already lived mine. You shouldn't have to wipe my ass for me."
Well, maybe the tinker would win. Because I'm going to have to make certain this sweet thing never has to shoot at a stinking Normal again.
She
rubbed her lips together in deep thought and sucked down a knifing breath before dropping her arms to her sides. "When I was ten and they were dragging me down to the auction house to sell me to whoever for whatever and you showed up, I thought the very same thing. That I deserved a life. And you gave me one. I'll be damned if I'm going to desert you when you need me most."
The tables had turned again. Nurse Helga wins.
Thomas' mouth opened.
"Don't you dare say another thing. We're family. And this discussion is over." She stormed toward me.
Toward the door.
"I'm in charge here, Raven!"
She didn't turn to him but plowed toward me. "You're delusional. Sleep it off. I'm going to repair the gate."
The door slammed in her wake, leaving us to the solitude caused by the echo from a female's scorn. Buck shoved off the wall and scratched the back of his shaved head. Stag returned to the fireplace and kept his back to Thomas. Luckily, I wasn't too noticeable in the shadows.
Thomas heaved backward until the wall stopped him. "See what happens when you teach a woman how to fix everything." He waved his broad hand at the door. "They get wild ideas they can do whatever they want. That they--" his words died as his eyes glazed over.
"What?" Buck asked.
Although he's my favorite brother and quite intelligent, he can really be an idiot sometimes.
Thomas stared at the door, deeply lost in thought for two breaths, then blinked. "Women think they don't need men."
By his stunned expression, Thomas just realized that she needed him.
Buck waved at Stag. "Give me a hand."
They both left, flashing the cabin interior with sunlight before pulling the door shut at their heels.
Like Thomas' statement declared it time for us to help his niece. I'd be more than happy to just as soon as I filled the tinker in on what I plan to do to right his toppled world.
Thomas just sat there.
Thinking. He needed some time to himself. To deal with the fact he wasn't going to get his way. He sat there, stewing for some time, shirtless, his hairy chest rising and falling, his brown boots crossed where he'd propped them back up on the low stool. A tired maimed old man who looked like he could take on the world but lost too much blood to stand up and kick tail. Poor guy. Surely knowing that sending her away only meant he couldn't protect her from what's out there was eating him alive. But he had some time to think. And I need to explain my plan to help him out. I carried a chair over to his pallet and descended onto the creaking wood.
He snapped out of his daze to study me. "It's Colt, right?"
I nodded. "I have an idea, Thomas. See, my sire has too many Shifters underfoot at home."
Thomas's eyes squared.
Thoughtfully. Good. "So, I'm going to send Buck to ask my sire for a few extra Shifters to help out here until you feel comfortable working things on your own." A good pact for both parties given we could prove to Thomas he wasn't being used by us. And he'd make a good ally with all his machinery and devices. Besides, he knows Buck. And, well, there's Raven. Wolf wants a little bird of his own.
"Do any of these men, by any chance, need a mate?" he asked.
Mine, Wolf began scratching at the underside of my ribs.
And he'd called us men instead of animals. "A few." But that's a mute point. I'm the only important one when it comes to discussing Raven.
Thomas' gaze stared through me.
Lost in planning. Scheming again about how he'd protect Raven.
He nodded, joining me once again. "That sounds like a plan."
Perfect. "Good. I'll send the messenger to my sire. You stay here. Rest. I'll help clean up."
"You all would be wise to steer clear of Raven's path. She's angry right now. And I learned a long time ago not to interfere with her when she's working."
Well, I can't have her injuring herself because I wasn't there to help. But I nodded and left him smiling where he sat. Although, he would have cringed if he'd walked into the catastrophe unfolding outside.
Buck was all over Raven. He wouldn't shut up. Wouldn't leave her alone. And now they fought over the handle of a heavy steel cart loaded with a gas tank and a welding torch.
"Go away, Buck."
"Things will go faster if you let me pull this for you."
She didn't cower from a Shifter like a sane person would. And her twisted sneer only reddened. "I don't need a man to pull the cart. I've done this for years. Alone. Go away." She snarled the last two words so loudly that certainly Thomas could hear inside the cabin.
The fool only upset her more.
She spotted me and scanned me up and down, her hand firmly attached to the cart's handle like it anchored her to the ground when her expression reflected she must be floating.
With the widening eyes of someone just seeing something for the first time. Something appealing by the admiration dancing in those blue gems she had for eyes. Even her grimace smoothed into an astonished expression of slightly-parted lips that could have uttered a breathy awe or two.
Mine, Wolf stirred low in my groin, growling as he toyed with me.
Forcing me to choke down the sound or risk ticking her off even more.
Buck swung a bitter gaze my direction.
She didn't notice. Rather, couldn't see his face the way she stared at mine. But my brother's disgust sent my gut twisting to the point of retching. Buck wants her.
Mine, Wolf whined.
No. Buck's. Shit. How in the Gods-be-damned hell had he not told me about this? So, I'd only been back in The Wild since spring. Not to mention, a Shifter finding a mate is pretty damned important. And why is my Wolf champing at the bit for Buck's chosen female?
Now, he's pissing her off with every breath he takes.
Maybe sending him away will help her calm down. Help him pacify his damned mate. Talk about the things you do for a brother. I donned my alpha face and stared down the two inches I had on him, into the golden glow of his Wolfen eyes. "We need to talk."
He blinked slowly, yet not forcing his Wolf to back down into the chasm deep inside a Shifter's chest where we keep our beasts.
So, he's annoyed with me. Well, he'd thank me when I got him out of his mate's hair. Why in the hell doesn't she smell like him? He's a fool for not marking her yet.
Buck gave up on the staring match and left Raven at the cart.
Realizing she stood with what she wanted, she sank back into the that I'm-going-to-right-the-world trance of hers and heaved the creaking mass toward the gaping gateway.
I caught up with Buck who appeared to stand a good inch taller now. Probably because he wanted her to see him as equal to me after she'd eyed me over like a tasty morsel.
Mine, Wolf whimpered.
Shut up, mutt. Your brother's territory. Read the danger sign and weep. Buck needs to understand I know my place. That I've got his back.
Buck reeled on a heel and faced me with a challenging tick to his squared jaw.
Hell. I'd keep it simple and task-oriented. Hopefully, he'd spare me the tirade. "Thomas and I discussed things."
"Oh yeah?" His face twisted with malice.
Not the answer I wanted. Nor how you answer your alpha. "I need you to don your Wolfskin and find our sire."
"Why me?" he practically sneered like back when he was eight years old. "Why don't you go?"
"Look, Buck. This is your territory. Nobody doubts that. But you're irritating her as much as the old tinker. She needs to be left to work through what's happened here. She can do that while you're gone."
The tension in Buck's features eased back toward the happy-go-lucky person I had always preferred being snowed in with for months--far from everything else out in The Wild. Even his eyes flicked back to the green eyes he was born with.
"I call the Guardian shots though," I clarified. "You get your tail up to Apple Top and find Vermin. He needs to send me two more Shifters. And don't let him send teens. I want men. Cousins. Brother-in-laws. Anyone cap
able of holding tight at our outpost if left alone or wintering with me. Explain that, or you'll be spending the winter with whoever he sends while I camp out down here in this cozy compound."
His gaze darted to Raven and back to meet mine.
"Go on. I'll send Stag back to our outpost to tend to things." I turned to head off to find Stag.
"What did Thomas say after I left?" Buck called.
Why is Buck's neediness so surprising at the moment? I snaked my arms across my bare chest and tried to sound mature. Rational. Or I'd never get Buck on the trail. And Raven was far enough away that I could talk softly and still reiterate I'm in charge. I stared his large questioning form down. "He's frustrated. He wants what's best for his niece. And as she said, they're family. I could tell by his posture that's what's on his mind."
Buck's gaze wandered back to Raven.
All I could hear was the soft clanks from her jacking with metallic objects over behind my back. Hell, if I had my heart set on her, I'd be as contrary as Buck when facing my alpha. "You're wasting time. And she doesn't have time for anybody right now."
He nodded slightly and patted my shoulder. "Look after things." He turned and stepped away.
I could have grabbed him for being my best friend and trusting me. I could have squeezed the air out of his lungs from frustration. Wanted to scream because he got the girl. But I smiled and just sank deeper into this pit of resignation I keep digging deeper and deeper with each stupid thought--that I'd have to stand down and let Buck have her.
No, Wolf whimpered.
But people aren't animals. I won't let my Wolf get the best of me. Especially with my favorite brother. I watched Buck veer toward Raven who stood with her back to us.
She had the prettiest backside. Long slim legs. Just enough curve to her hips to show she wasn't male. A high and obviously tight squared little bottom that begged for squeezing. In all my days, I'd never found a woman that made my Wolf howl and snap at first glance.
Buck reached the gate, shot me a hesitant glance with a grim straight-lipped smile, and cut right, disappearing through the gateway.
I'd done it.
I'd sent him away.
And deep down in that Gods-be-damned pit, I know Wolf talked me into it.
I'm the shittiest brother alive.
I don't deserve to serve the clan for being so self-serving.
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