“If he gets to be a nuisance, just put him down. He’ll stay there all day if you let him. He’s such a big baby.” The calico jumped up next to Anny. “And you’re the same, aren’t you, Tigger?” Anny scooped the animal onto her lap.
Gwen sat in one of the large chairs flanking the fireplace and Cherise stretched out on the couch opposite. It hadn’t taken them long to clear away from their meal. Now the inquisition would begin. Sylvie tried to relax. Having the cat with her was actually distracting her from her worries.
“So,” Gwen began. “You and Gator.” She leaned forward. “Tell us everything.”
Sylvie laughed in spite of her nervousness, maybe even because of it. She shrugged. “It just happened.”
“No. No. No. Details. We need details.”
Sylvie was quickly learning that Gwen was very blunt and held nothing back. She liked that about the alpha female even when it was directed toward her.
“Give her a break.” Anny winked at Sylvie. “She was obviously overcome by the awesome masculine specimen that is Gator.”
“Aren’t you mated?” Cherise reminded the other woman.
“That doesn’t mean I’m dead. Of course, no one is as sexy as my Armand, but Gator has all those tats and that bad-boy image.”
Sylvie laughed. “Stop it. I don’t want to hear how sexy my brother is.” Just as she knew he hadn’t wanted to hear about her having sex with one of his friends.
“He’s fine.” Anny gave a little growl. Both cats raised their heads and stared at her. Anny laughed and scrubbed behind Tigger’s ears. The cat settled down again.
“I’m sorry, ladies, but when it comes to the most gorgeous masculine form, no one beats Cole.”
Anny and Gwen shared a look. “Now she’s bragging,” Gwen pointed out. “I have to disagree. My Jacque is the most superior specimen.”
Sylvie swallowed another laugh. Honestly, she knew the bantering was for her benefit to help her relax, and darned if it wasn’t working.
“Now that we’ve settled that and agreed we all have hunky guys, tell us about you and Gator.” Gwen leaned back in her chair, crossed her bare legs and swung her foot. “Come on. Share.”
She tried to relax, but it wasn’t easy. Seymour nudged her stomach with his paws in a not-so-subtle reminder that she’d stopped petting him. She began to scratch him behind his ears and he resumed purring.
“He found me in the woods. Scared me at first.”
“Oh, honey, I’m so sorry.” Gwen nibbled on her bottom lip. “You know he’d never mean to frighten you? Right?”
“But he can be scary.” Anny shrugged when they all looked at her. “He caught me trying to sneak out once, and I didn’t know whether to run or pee my pants.” The others laughed. “Seriously, I can laugh now, but I didn’t know him as well back then.”
“There’s a lot more to him than he shows the world.” Sylvie hadn’t meant to say the words out loud, but there was no taking them back.
“You’re right.” Cherise propped her feet on the wooden coffee table and pulled one of the many throw pillows onto her lap. “Cole is the same. I think it’s one of the reasons they’re such good friends.”
“He kissed me.” Oh God, she couldn’t stop talking.
“What was it like?” Cherise asked.
“Amazing.” She licked her lips at the memory.
Gwen fanned herself. “Girl, if the expression on your face is any indication, it was better than amazing.”
Sylvie’s face heated. “It was.” She wasn’t used to sharing, but she liked feeling a part of this tight-knit group.
“I’m surprised he would take it any further than kissing out there in the woods.” When they all stared at Gwen like she’d lost her mind, she qualified her statement. “Oh, not that he wouldn’t have sex in the woods. They’re all really close-to-nature kinda guys. But that he would risk it with an obvious threat out there.”
“I think even he was surprised.” And didn’t that make Sylvie feel sexy.
“But in the woods? Against a tree?” The hopeful expression on Gwen’s face made Sylvie laugh.
“No, he took me to a small field of wildflowers. And that’s as much as I’m sharing.” Really, it was too private, too special.
“Awww,” Anny said. “That’s so romantic. I didn’t know Gator had it in him.”
“Spoilsport.” Cherise tossed the pillow at her. Sylvie barely caught it before it hit Seymour. As it was the cat raised his head and glared at Cherise.
“Okay, ladies.” Gwen rapped the arm of her chair for attention. “Since we’re not getting any more juicy details—” she glanced at Sylvie who shook her head, “—we need to discuss what we plan to do about this latest threat.”
“So you really think there is threat?” Sylvie asked. Not that she thought anyone was lying to her, but she’d figured the men might be overreacting.
“Oh, it’s out there.” Gwen frowned and rubbed the scars around her neck. Sylvie had noticed them but hadn’t wanted to ask any questions. “Pierre LaForge isn’t about to give up his quest for vengeance on his sons.”
Sylvie shivered and pulled the cat closer for warmth. Gwen was right. Every memory she had of Pierre was of a man driven by his quest for power. He was a dangerous enemy.
“Do you know how I became a werewolf?” Gwen asked her.
Sylvie shook her head. “Only that you were once human.” And that still shocked her to her core. Surviving a transformation from human to werewolf was so rare that most thought it nothing but legend.
“Let me tell you.” Gwen curled up in the big chair and wrapped her arms around herself. This obviously wasn’t an easy story to tell.
Sylvie understood why she felt a kinship with these women. They’d all been through trauma and come out the other side. These women knew what it was like to fear, to hurt and to come out the other side. They’d faced death and lived.
She settled back and listened intently to Gwen’s story. She felt a sense of dread building inside her as she heard how Pierre had attacked and almost killed Gwen. No, Gwen was right. Pierre would not give up. Not until they were all destroyed or broken or he was dead. The alpha wolf didn’t know any other way to live.
Joseph Blanchard sat on the step of his front porch and enjoyed the late afternoon breeze. It was still hot as Hades, but he didn’t mind. He was more than used to the Louisiana heat. It was in his blood.
His mate was tending her small garden in front of the house. They were alone. It was moments like these that made him the happiest. It was also when he missed his son most of all.
As always, his Corrine was in tune with his thoughts. “Do you think he’s happy?” She didn’t have to say who he was.
“I pray every day that he has found peace.” Joseph held out his hand. His mate stood, brushed the dirt off her dress and came to sit beside him. “As for happiness…” he shrugged, “…who knows?”
She sighed and leaned her head on his shoulder. He was a very lucky man. His woman was his true mate and he loved her more than life itself. He would have easily left with his son, but Corrine would not abandon the other women who depended on her. He worried constantly about her safety.
She was about to say more but he gave her a warning squeeze. Pierre walked around the corner of the house and he wasn’t alone. Two of his flunkies were with him. Robert and Jean Paul Dupointe were obviously trying to move up in the ranks of the pack with the many deaths over the past few months.
Joseph nodded at the men and then turned to his mate. “Get the men something cold to drink.” He hated treating his mate with anything less than the utmost respect but they both knew it was a deadly game they played.
Corrine jumped to her feet and all but ran into the house.
“Sit.” He indicated the chairs on the small porch.
Pierre shook his head. “I’m off to do some hunti
ng.”
Joseph knew his alpha was fishing for something. “What are you hunting?”
“I might hunt me some Gator.” Pierre laughed as if he’d said something funny. “Want to come.”
Joseph shook his head. “Thank you, but, non. I was fishing this morning.”
Corrine returned with a tray filled with tall glasses of sweet tea. She offered the first one to the alpha, then one to her husband before serving the other two. She kept her head down and started to hurry back into the house.
“Corrine.” She stopped in her tracks when Pierre spoke her name. Joseph tensed inwardly and planned how he would attack if the men made a move. Outwardly, he remained calm.
“Oui.” Her fingers clenched around the edge of the tray she carried.
“I enjoyed the jam you gave to Elise.”
“I am glad.” She waited until Pierre jerked his head and she hurried inside.
Joseph stayed on alert. “When do you plan on hunting gator?”
His alpha laughed. “Soon. Not today, but soon.” Pierre finished his drink, set down his glass and walked away with the Dupointe brothers close behind him. Joseph didn’t move for the longest time. He stayed where he was and sipped his fine iced tea.
Nearly an hour passed before Corrine came back outside. She didn’t speak but went right to the garden and began working again. They stayed that way until it was time to go in for the evening meal. Even then, he let her go ahead of him. He stayed in the yard until she called him in to eat.
As soon as the door was closed behind him, he reached for his mate and drew her into his arms. “They are watching us.”
“Yes.” She shivered and he pulled her tighter to his big body.
He would protect his woman and he would protect his son. “We need to call them tonight. Then we need to destroy the phone and get rid of it immediately.’
“You will be careful.” Corrine reached up and cupped his face. “I cannot live without you.”
He took one of her hands in his and kissed her palm. “As I cannot live without you.” Joseph decided that food could wait. He had another more pressing hunger that needed attention. He lifted his mate off her feet and swung her high in the air, making her laugh. After all these years, the sound of her laugher still made his heart swell with happiness.
She ran her fingers through his hair. “Where are you taking me? Your meal is on the table.”
“Oh, I plan to eat and very well.”
She shivered and clung a little tighter. He knew she felt the same sense of desperation, of time running out as he did.
“Everything will be all right,” he promised her.
“I pray you are right.”
He lowered her to their bed and kissed her. Trouble would come soon enough. Right now they were alone, and that was all that mattered. She kissed him back and Joseph let go of all his thoughts and worries and concentrated on the woman in his arms.
Chapter Sixteen
Gator couldn’t sleep. Just like the night before, he stood by the living room window and stared out into the night. It was quiet but he was restless. He turned and peered down the hallway toward his bedroom. Sylvie was in his bed and, once again, he was alone on the sofa.
Glassy eyes appeared in the room, followed by a low meow. The black cat was almost invisible in the darkness except for his eyes. “You can’t sleep either?”
Seymour meowed again and twined around Gator’s legs. He leaned down and picked up the large cat. Seymour butted his head against Gator’s chin. They’d come a long way since the day Gator had brought him here. That day, Seymour had taken exception to him and scratched his arms.
“But we’re long past that, aren’t we, buddy?”
“Talking to the cats now?” Armand padded barefoot into the room.
“They don’t talk back.” Gator set Seymour down and the cat hurried back down the hallway toward Armand and Anny’s bedroom.
“There is that,” Armand agreed. He joined Gator at the window and the two of them stood in silence, watching and listening. With the window open it was easy to hear the chorus of the night creatures. Everything was as it should be.
“Sylvie seemed more relaxed tonight. More herself.” Armand sat down on the arm of the sofa.
“She did seem to have a good time.” He’d been riveted by her smile, and when she’d laughed at something Anny said, he’d been filled with the primitive urge to toss her over his shoulder and carry her off to his lair or, in this case, his bedroom.
She’d eaten well at supper. He’d made a huge vat of spaghetti. Anny had made a garden salad. She was always nagging them to eat more vegetables. He’d also baked some frozen dinner rolls to round out the meal. Sylvie didn’t eat as much as the rest of them, but she’d eaten enough that he didn’t worry about her going hungry.
They’d watched a movie after they’d cleared away, keeping everything light and relaxed. Then Sylvie had announced she was taking a shower and going to bed. Gator’s skin prickled at the thought of her being naked and wet in his bathroom. So close but so far. She hadn’t invited him to join her. Not that he’d expected her to. Not with her brother sitting next to her.
And damn Armand for that. The bastard had sat next to her on the sofa, blocking Gator from being by her side. He’d done the next best thing. He’d sat across from her so he could watch her instead of the movie.
Every now and then, she’d glance up at him. She was very aware of his presence. And when she’d licked her lips and her cheeks had flushed a very becoming shade of pink, he’d gotten a hard-on that still hadn’t gone all the way down.
The woman turned him on. He had only to be in the same room with her to want her.
“I think she’s beginning to relax around the rest of us,” Armand noted. “Anny told me the women all enjoyed themselves today, even if she wouldn’t tell me what they talked about.”
“We’re probably better off not knowing.” Gator wasn’t sure he wanted to know what the women talked about when they all got together.
“You’re probably right,” Armand conceded. “I guess I should go back to bed.” He pushed off the end of the sofa. “Night. Call me if you need me.”
“Will do.”
Gator listened as Armand went back to his room and softly shut the door behind him. Alone with his thoughts once more, he tried not to think about Sylvie snuggled in his bed. He inhaled deeply and slowly released his breath. He should be thinking about his new home. That was something he wanted to start on as soon as possible. Not because he was so keen to live alone, but because he wanted to have something to offer Sylvie—a home of her own.
He wanted to build her a place where she’d feel safe, where she’d feel as though she belonged. He’d get her input on everything from where the house should go to the finishes. He wanted her in on every step of the process.
Maybe it was sneaky of him, but he was okay with that. Armand might have some ideas about his sister living here with him and Anny when the rest of them moved out, but Gator planned on wooing Sylvie away with him.
A phone rang. Gator cocked his head and listened, wondering whose phone it was. He was surprised when he heard Sylvie shuffling around. He strode out of the living room and didn’t even bother to knock before entering his bedroom.
Sylvie was bent over, digging in one of her bags. He eyed her sweetly rounded behind through the thin fabric of the summer nightgown she wore. He was admiring the view when she straightened with her phone in her hand.
“Who is it?” he asked as he closed the door behind him.
“It’s the number of the phone to my contact in the Louisiana Pack.”
“Let me answer it.” Gator held out his hand. “Just in case.”
Sylvie hesitated but handed him the phone. “Oui,” he snapped. There was silence on the other end. He softened his tone. “This is Gator.”
He could practically sense the relief on the other end of the line. “Oh, Gator. It’s so good to hear your voice. Is Sylvie all right?” The voice was female and one he knew well.
“Yes, Corrine, she is well. Would you like to speak with her?” He could hear a male voice in the background and assumed it belonged to her mate. Sylvie hovered next to him, anxious to talk.
The door to his room pushed open and Armand walked in with Anny, Cole and Cherise close behind him. The men were wearing jeans and the women were hastily tying their bathrobes. The men had heard the phone ring and wanted to know what was going on. And the women, of course, were right behind them. His room was big but seemed much smaller with everyone crowded in.
Gator held the phone out to his best friend. “It’s your mama.”
Cole reached out and practically grabbed the phone. “Mama?”
Gator swallowed hard when he heard Corrine gasp and then begin to cry. Enhanced hearing was both a blessing and a curse at times like this.
“I’m fine, Mama,” Cole told her. He gripped the phone so hard Gator feared he might break it. “I’m mated.”
Cole’s mother began to sob and Gator heard a male voice take over. Joseph Blanchard. Cole straightened and Gator almost laughed. He was bigger than his old man, but Cole had nothing but respect for his daddy. Leaving might have been the polite thing to do, but Gator wasn’t about to miss any of this conversation and neither were the others.
“You are mated?” Gator heard Joseph ask.
Cole reached out and tugged Cherise closer to him. She wrapped her arm around his waist and leaned against his chest. Gator envied them their closeness. He glanced at Sylvie. She was standing alone with her arms wrapped around herself.
He couldn’t stand it any longer and went to her side and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. She didn’t say anything but she did lean into him.
“Oui. Her name is Cherise and you’ll love her.”
“She is your choice. Of course we will love her.” Joseph had a big voice like his son and he was easily heard even when he was obviously trying to keep it low. “We have little time,” Joseph continued. “Pierre and his new flunkies were sniffing around here today. They are up to something.”
Wolf from the Past: Salvation Pack, Book 4 Page 17