“What will your alpha say?” She didn’t want to get Cole into trouble. An alpha’s word was law, and if he didn’t like the fact Cole brought her to their home, Cole might find himself being disciplined or worse, exiled.
There was nothing worse for a wolf than to have no pack. She should know. She’d spent all her adult life and part of her childhood without one.
One corner of Cole’s mouth tipped upward. It wasn’t quite a smile, but it was close enough to have her core temperature shooting up. The man was lethally handsome in a quiet way. How would her body react if he actually smiled?
“My alpha would have my head if I didn’t invite you back. Not to mention what his mate would do to me.”
Cherise bit her bottom lip while she considered her options. She was really tired and hungry and this seemed like a friendly pack. Maybe she was making a big mistake, but she trusted Cole. The man had saved her life. Killed three werewolves to protect her. She didn’t think he’d done that just so his own pack could kill her.
She was going on instinct. Taking a huge risk.
“Okay.” She gripped the strap on her backpack, knowing there was no going back. It was only a simple invitation to breakfast, but it felt like so much more. Cherise knew if she took one step toward Cole her life would change forever.
Taking a deep breath, she stepped forward.
Cole wanted to throw back his head and howl his pleasure. Only the certainty that Cherise would probably bolt if he did kept him contained. Why it was so important that she come home with him, he couldn’t say. He was acting purely on instinct, which was screaming at him not to let her go.
Cherise paused and shifted her weight from one leg to the other. “What about, you know…the bodies?” She swallowed hard and he knew she was thinking about the three men he’d killed. They were people she’d known even if they’d turned on her. That was never an easy thing to deal with.
“I’ll take care of them later,” he promised.
She nodded. “And they must have had a vehicle of some sort. I caught a glimpse of a black truck with lots of chrome while I was running from them. It probably belongs to Keith.” She’d seen it just before she’d made her mad dash into the woods.
“We’ll find it and deal with it.” The last thing they wanted was the sheriff’s office to find an abandoned vehicle near their land. They’d have to get it as far away from here as possible and fast. Gator knew a guy less than two hours’ drive from here who would take the vehicle no questions asked. The money from the sale would go to Cherise. That was only fair. It wouldn’t begin to make up for what she’d been through, but it was some justice. He didn’t know how much money she had, but it couldn’t be much or she wouldn’t have been running on foot.
That decided, Cole motioned her forward. “Follow me.” He embraced his wolf, shifted and began to trot slowly through the woods. He would have offered to carry her but instinctually knew she’d decline his offer. She was proud and more than a little skittish. And rightly so.
He kept his pace much slower than usual because Cherise was obviously operating on nerves and adrenaline. He had no idea how long she’d been on the run. His heart ached for her. He could only imagine the horror she must have experienced at finding her mama’s body. There’d likely been no time for her to mourn, to honor her mama before she’d had to run for her life.
Fury welled up inside Cole and he had to force himself to tamp it down. What kind of wolf killed innocent women?
He snorted. His former pack was no better. Cole knew many of the women there were abused by their spouses. Not all, but a significant amount. And those that weren’t physically abused weren’t exactly treated as equals.
It turned his stomach. A male protected those weaker than himself—the females and the pups. To do otherwise was wrong. It was a major reason he’d had no problem leaving his former pack behind. He’d been isolated for most of his life. But he’d made a few good friends in Gator, Jacque, Louis and Armand. Those men were his brothers by choice, not blood. And it was an unbreakable bond.
When he realized Cherise was falling behind, he halted and waited for her to catch up with him. When she saw him, she offered him a tired smile. “I’m okay. Really.” He wasn’t sure who she was trying to convince, him or herself.
He knew the longer it took to get her back to the cabin the worse it would be for her. Cole set a brisk pace but not one that was so fast she wouldn’t be able to keep up. The sun rose higher in the sky and the animals emerged from their dens and nests to start their day.
A rabbit froze in the underbrush when he passed by, the creature’s tiny brown body blending into the foliage. Above them, a raven took flight and cawed his discontent with them crossing his territory.
Cole saw it all, from the fox peeking out from behind a rock, to the robin’s nest high in a tree and the tiny mouse skittering across some fallen leaves. But always at the forefront of his consciousness was Cherise.
He was aware of every footstep, every breath she took. Silently, he applauded her bravery and encouraged her onward. She stumbled several times but never faltered.
Finally, a rustic log house came into view. He wanted to take her to his home but knew Jacque would want to meet her first. Plus, the scent of food wafted on the wind. Gator was cooking at the alpha’s home this morning, and that meant everyone would be gathered there.
Cherise came to a stumbling halt behind him. He shifted, embracing his human form, and held out his hand to her. “Come, Cherise. Everything will be fine.”
She swallowed hard and hitched her knapsack higher over her shoulder. She studied his hand for the longest time, like a wild doe wondering if she could trust the hunter, before she reached out and curled her fingers around his.
Satisfaction flooded Cole. It was quickly followed by a wave of possessiveness, the likes of which he’d never experienced. Cherise belonged to him. He’d found her in the woods and he’d killed to protect her. That made her his.
Outwardly, he allowed none of his emotional turmoil to show. Cherise gifted him with a tiny smile before it disappeared to be replaced by an expression of trepidation.
“Trust me.”
She didn’t answer and he swallowed back his disappointment. What did he expect? She was a female in a strange pack, depending on a male she barely knew.
Then she squeezed his fingers.
Cole felt as though he’d been given the world. He straightened his shoulders and drew her forward, across the backyard to the cabin. A pair of his jeans hung over the outside railing. Put there by Gator, no doubt, expecting Cole for breakfast once he’d finished patrolling.
He hated to release Cherise but did so long enough to slip on his jeans and button them. He took her hand again and led her up the two steps to the porch.
“Remember, you’re safe here,” he told her. Then he opened the door and ushered her inside.
Chapter Three
Cherise knew what she was doing was crazy. There was no other explanation for why she’d allowed a virtual stranger—and not just any stranger, but a huge male werewolf—to talk her into going into the heart of a strange wolf pack. There was no other logical reason for how she found herself inside a rustic but beautiful home with a pack of werewolves seated around a large dining table. All of them staring at her.
Yup, it was official. She’d lost her mind.
She would have turned on her heel and made a run for it, but Cole was at her back, blocking the door. No way would she be able to get by him. He was just too darn big.
His fingers were still entwined with hers. She tried to pull away, but he tightened his hold and wouldn’t let go. “We have a problem,” Cole began.
A lone wolf slowly rose from his place at the head of the table. The alpha. There was no doubt in Cherise’s mind. This wolf carried himself with an unmistakable authority. There were three other males and two females at the table, but she ignored them. This was the male who would decide her fate. He was the final law in this pack.
; In spite of her effort to be brave, fear crept into her heart.
“I can see that,” the alpha calmly replied. “You okay?” He motioned to the healing scratches that ran down one side of Cole’s body and his arms.
“Yeah, nothing to worry about,” Cole told him. And Cherise realized he was telling the truth. Fighting three wolves and being injured wasn’t something he worried about. What kind of life had he lived that made such violence almost commonplace? Cherise wasn’t sure she wanted to know.
The alpha sniffed the air and frowned. “Who is she and why have you brought an unknown female wolf here?”
Before Cole could answer, the woman to the right of the alpha jumped out of her chair. “That can wait,” she blithely informed the alpha. “Can’t you see the poor woman’s exhausted?” She smiled at Cherise. “Welcome. Are you hungry?”
Cherise’s eyes widened as the female with tousled blonde hair and kind blue eyes hurried forward.
“Gwen,” the alpha began and then stopped and released a long sigh. “You might as well sit down and eat. Otherwise Gwen won’t let us have any peace.”
Gwen shot her mate a smile and blew him a kiss. He shook his head and resumed his seat.
Okay, this definitely wasn’t like any other pack she’d seen before. The alpha female of her former pack would never have interrupted the alpha. No one would have.
She peered around the table at the others and found their expressions ranged from amused to indulgent. There was no anger, no derision.
Cherise wasn’t sure what to think. None of the men were weak. She could tell that simply by looking at them. They carried themselves with too much natural confidence. And she’d seen firsthand what Cole was capable of. He’d taken on three werewolves without hesitation, and he’d won.
Gwen wrapped one arm around Cherise’s waist. “Come on, honey. Sit down and eat something. Then you can tell us where Cole found you.”
Cherise looked to Cole for confirmation and he inclined his head. She allowed the other woman to lead her to a chair and she sank down, grateful not to be standing any longer. She set her knapsack on the floor at her feet. Cole followed behind them and took the seat next to her.
She released a sigh of relief. He wasn’t leaving her alone with these strangers. They were friendly, at least right now. They weren’t aware she’d potentially brought a war to their doorstep. Her welcome could be rescinded any moment.
“Gator made French toast and fried some ham this morning.” Gwen smiled at a scary-looking dude with black hair, piercing blue eyes and myriad tattoos who sat next to Cole. “It’s really good. You should have some.” Gwen patted Cherise on the shoulder and went back to sit beside the alpha.
Cherise hated being the center of attention. In her world, that was never a good thing.
“Would you like some coffee?” A slender woman with long brown hair and blue eyes held up a coffeepot. “We have orange juice if you’d rather.”
“Coffee is fine. Thank you.” Cherise’s stomach was in knots, but she knew she had to eat something. The last thing she wanted to do was insult the pack.
“I’m Anny,” the woman told her.
“Cherise.” She turned her attention to the alpha when she realized her blunder. A wolf always introduced themselves to the alpha first. It was protocol and good manners, a way to acknowledge the status of the wolf in charge. “Cherise Michaels.” She practically held her breath until the alpha inclined his head slightly in acceptance.
She slowly released the air from her lungs, feeling as though she’d avoided a potential landmine.
Cole seemed oblivious to it all. He reached out and snagged a large platter from the middle of the table and forked two slices of French toast onto her plate before shoveling six onto his own. Then he lifted a plate with thick slices of ham and offered it to her. “Ham?”
She shook her head. She wasn’t sure she’d be able to eat what he’d already put on her plate.
“As you probably already guessed, I’m Gwen.” The female alpha said with a smile. “This is my mate, my husband, Jacque. Jacque LaForge.” She gestured to the alpha who leaned back in his chair and simply stared at Cherise, his laser-like gaze boring into her.
A shiver of dread inched down her spine. This was not a man she’d want as an enemy, which might be exactly what happened when he discovered there were three dead wolves on his land.
Gwen blithely continued her introductions. “Anny already introduced herself, and the male sitting beside her is Armand.”
“Armand LaForge,” the wolf clarified.
She nodded and tried not to stare at the scars that disfigured one side of his face. That definitely wouldn’t be polite.
“I’m Louis.” The male seated at the other end of the table added. He looked most like the alpha. Cherise wondered if they were related.
She already knew the other man was called Gator. And what kind of name was that anyway?
“You should eat.” Cole gently nudged her arm, and she picked up her fork. The last thing she wanted to do was insult them.
Cherise used the edge of the utensil to cut off a small piece of the golden-brown bread. She popped the morsel into her mouth and chewed. Flavor exploded on her taste buds. Oh, this was delicious. Her stomach growled in agreement. The hint of vanilla was perfect.
She quickly ate another bite as her stomach reminded her she hadn’t eaten since late yesterday morning. And that had been a bland turkey sandwich from a gas station where the bus had stopped for fifteen minutes to refuel.
Silence surrounded her. Cherise looked up and realized everyone was staring at her. She slowly lowered her fork back to her plate, the two small bites she’d eaten turning to huge lumps of dread in her belly.
The alpha addressed Cole. “What happened?”
Cole paused and set his fork back down on his plate. He reached for his coffee and took a large swallow. “It was quiet this morning and I was getting ready to head back just after dawn when I heard a noise. I went to investigate and discovered three male wolves crossing on the land.”
“Louisiana wolves?”
Cole shook his head. “No, strangers.”
The alpha growled low in his throat. Cherise shivered and reached for her coffee for a fortifying sip. Her hands shook, but she ignored that and gulped the hot coffee, needing the caffeine boost.
“And where are those wolves now?” Jacque leaned forward and placed his hands on the table.
“Dead. I didn’t have time to dispose of their bodies yet. I’ll get to that right after breakfast. I thought it was more important to bring Cherise back there.” Cole leaned back and draped one big arm over the back of her chair.
As Cherise watched, Jacque raised one eyebrow in question. Cherise carefully placed her mug on the table in front of her. She wanted two hands free in case she needed to fight her way out of here. Not that she thought she’d have a chance in hell of doing so.
Oh, why had she agreed to come back here with Cole?
He caressed the back of her neck, stroking his thumb over her nape. A shiver went through her that had nothing to do with fear. Heat branched out from where he touched her, bathing her body in the most wonderful warmth.
“They were hunting her,” Cole added.
The air grew thick with pure menace as Jacque slowly rose to his feet. Cherise couldn’t look away as the alpha pinned her in spot with his golden-brown gaze. “They were what?” he asked.
Several growls permeated the small space. She didn’t know who they came from and didn’t really care. Jacque was the real threat in the room.
Cole, seemingly unconcerned by the growing unease, continued on. “They were members of her former pack. And they were hunting her down to kill her.”
“Why?” Jacque asked the question quietly, but Cherise jumped as though he’d yelled it. Speech was beyond her. She’d thought she’d known what real fear was, but the alpha wolf before her was one scary son of a bitch.
Cherise started to stand, but
Cole applied pressure on her shoulders, keeping her in her seat. Anger flared inside her, allowing her to break the alpha’s gaze and glare at Cole.
She’d had enough. It was time for her to stand up for herself. “Because I can’t shift.” She faced the alpha and then let her gaze flow over the others, meeting varying degrees of anger as she did.
“What do you mean you can’t shift?” Jacque asked.
Sweat coated her skin, making her clothing stick to her body. Still she faced him bravely. If she was going to die, she wasn’t going to disgrace herself by acting the coward. She wouldn’t shame her parents’ memory like that. They’d both died to protect her.
“No one really knows why. I was severely ill as a child, which is unusual for a werewolf pup. Maybe that had something to do with it, maybe not. All I know is as my friends got older and started to be able to shift, I couldn’t do it.”
Jacque slowly resumed his seat and studied her intently. “But you’re a full-blooded werewolf.”
It wasn’t a question, but she responded. “Yes. I was born into the Pike County Pack in Kentucky. When it was obvious there was a problem, my daddy was called to face our alpha. I don’t know what happened, but my mama always assumed our alpha sentenced him to death. We never saw him again. She took me and we ran.”
Cherise took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Her wonderful daddy, so gentle with her and her mama, so protective, so brave. He’d died for them, buying time while they’d run.
As if sensing her unease, Cole picked up her story. “From what I heard, Cherise and her mama have been on the run for years. Laying low, living in major cities.”
“Is that true?” Jacque asked her.
Cherise could sense all eyes on her and nodded. “Yes, we knew we had a better chance of hiding out among full humans. We worked whatever jobs we could get that paid under the table. We didn’t want any records that could be traced.” And that meant a lot of years of hand-to-mouth existence, living in tiny apartments in bad neighborhoods. But they’d always managed and they’d always been together.
A sob threatened to break from her lips, but she swallowed it back. She would not break down in front of these strangers.
Wolf on the Run: Salvation Pack, Book 3 Page 3