But this morning, not even the yards of fabric could hold her attention. She couldn’t stop thinking about Mikhail and the two apple pies she had cooling alongside the lemon one. She’d had lemons, so she’d made the extra pie. And not because she thought it might be his favorite.
Who was she kidding? That was exactly why she’d gone to the trouble of making it. She was going to be a wreck by this afternoon if she didn’t get her mind off Mikhail.
“Mikhail is moving in with us.” Rina’s announcement blew Elise’s chances of getting her mind off Mikhail right out of the water.
“Really?” Sylvie lowered the three pieces of fabric she’d been holding up to the light.
Elise wanted Rina to answer her niece’s question. What was Mikhail doing?
“Yeah. As long as Jacque is okay with it.” Rina looked to Elise. “Do you think he’ll be okay with it?”
Elise shrugged as both women looked at her. She tried to project a calm demeanor. She had years of practice. “I have no idea what my son will do.” When Rina’s excitement turned to worry, Elise added, “But I don’t see why it would be a problem. You are family, after all.”
“What did I miss?” Sue rushed into the room and dumped a large tote bag by the door. She was mated to Elias Gallagher and was the only full-human female member of the pack. Elise liked the younger woman. She was always so open and caring.
“Mikhail is moving in with Rina and Sage,” Sylvie told her. Just then, the patter of small feet came from the hallway. It was very faint, but Elise heard it. So did Sylvie.
Six-year-old Etienne Rollins, Sylvie and Gator’s son, poked his head into the room. He was quiet and solemn, very unlike his father in that way. Gator was brash and outspoken and full of life.
“What is it?” Sylvie asked. She held out her arms to her son, and he walked toward his mother and wrapped his small arms around her neck.
“Papa says I can go out exploring with him if it’s okay with you,” Etienne explained. Elise hid her smile at the way the boy didn’t really ask his mother if it was okay but made it more of a statement.
Maybe he was more like his father than Elise thought. Gator had a way of getting his way without much trouble, either.
“Papa said that, did he?” Sylvie brushed her son’s black hair away from his face.
Etienne empathically nodded, bobbing his head up and down.
Gator suddenly appeared in the doorway. He didn’t step over the threshold. Sometimes Elise thought their feminine domain intimidated the men. The thought had her hiding a smile.
It was a cozy space with several sewing machines, a long table, comfortable chairs, and a small sofa. The closet was filled with shelves that held stacks of fabrics, threads, and other sewing necessities. Another wall contained cabinets that were also filled with patterns and more fabric. The walls were a sunny yellow and the hardwood floors gleamed.
“I will take my son with me, non?” His Cajun accent was thick, and his pride in his son shone in his eyes. He winked at Sylvie and held out his hand to Etienne.
“Have fun.” Sylvie barely had time to kiss her son’s cheek before he hurried back to his father. He didn’t exactly run, but it was close.
Gator’s tattoos were visible since he was only wearing a T-shirt. He looked big and mean. Someone you didn’t want to cross. It brought tears to Elise’s eyes to watch the way he scooped his son into his arms like a sack of flour and bounced him around several times.
Etienne’s laughter filled the room. The boy was very secure in his father’s love. Her sons had never known such a feeling.
“I’ll take care of him,” Gator promised his mate. Then he swung the boy onto his shoulders and they disappeared down the hallway. Elise blinked several times to drive back the tears that threatened. Sylvie’s gaze met Elise’s when she lifted her head. She could see the understanding in her niece’s eyes.
Sue plopped down on the floor next to the half-empty box of fabric. “So what’s this about Mikhail? I thought he was staying with Louis and Gray?”
“He was, but since Sage and I have a house now, it makes more sense for him to stay with us. We even put a pullout sofa in my workroom just in case.” Rina’s happiness was contagious, and Elise felt the corners of her mouth turning upward.
While the other women talked about fabric and patterns, Elise tried to pay attention, but her thoughts kept drifting back to Mikhail. What was he doing? She knew this sudden move had to have something to do with her.
In only a matter of a few more hours, she’d be able to ask him herself.
She pushed him to the back of her mind and forced herself to become part of the conversation. The last thing she wanted was the other women worrying about her. If that happened, she’d have her sons at her door in no time, demanding to know what was wrong so they could fix it.
Her heart swelled when she thought of Jacque and Louis. They were her pride and joy. Even though she loved them, their families and this pack, there was something missing in her life.
The memory of Mikhail, naked in the morning mist, popped into her head. She pushed it aside before her body betrayed her in some way and pulled the remaining fabric out of the shipping box. Sewing and fabric. That was all she needed to think about for the next few hours.
…
Mikhail slung his duffle over his shoulder. “That’s everything.” All his clothes and toiletries were packed. He even had an extra cloth grocery bag filled with stuff. His sister had done some shopping for him since he’d been here.
Louis leaned against the doorjamb, his face unreadable. He was as tall as Mikhail, strong and formidable. They hadn’t exactly become friends in the time he’d been here, but they weren’t quite as suspicious of one another as they’d been in the beginning.
That was almost like being friends in Mikhail’s world.
“Why now?” Louis asked. “Not that I’m complaining, mind you.”
Mikhail’s lips twitched. He imagined Louis’s mate might be in for a surprise later today.
“I figured it was time to share the magnificence that is me.” As he’d hoped, Louis laughed.
“Yeah, magnificence. I’m sure it has nothing to do with tormenting your new brother-in-law.”
“That’s a side benefit.” Mikhail grabbed the grocery bag and walked toward Louis, who pushed away from the door and stepped aside to let him pass.
“Seriously, though,” Mikhail continued. “Thank you for letting me stay here. I know Jacque ordered you to do it, but you could have made it uncomfortable for me.” That was putting it mildly. Louis could have made his life a living hell, and Mikhail would have had to put up with it in order to stay near Rina.
Louis shrugged. “I won’t say it was no problem.”
Mikhail grinned. Damned if he didn’t like the man. “Now I will be Sage’s problem.”
“I wonder if he has any idea what he’s in for?”
Mikhail started down the hallway, and Louis followed him. “I don’t think he’s too worried.” He made his way to the front door.
“Maybe you’re the one who should be worried.” Louis opened the door. “You’re going to have to listen to him making love with your sister.”
Mikhail could see the glee in Louis’s eyes, but it was more mischievous than malicious. “That’s why God invented soundproofing.” And he knew for a fact the bedroom walls of his sister’s new home had been constructed with werewolf hearing in mind. With any luck, he shouldn’t be able to hear a thing, at least not during winter when the windows were kept closed. He’d worry about open windows and spring when the time came.
He stepped onto the porch and inhaled the crisp winter air. “And I can always run at night.” That was the plan. He envisioned many nights running all the way over to Elise’s place.
He turned away so Louis didn’t catch the evidence of Mikhail’s sudden arousal. “See you around,” Mikhail called as he bounded down the stairs and walked to the path that would take him to his sister’s home.
As he walked, he realized how at home he was here. He hadn’t pushed to become a fully accepted member of the pack, even though sitting back and waiting was not in his nature. It all boiled down to Elise. If she wanted him, he’d do everything in his power to make Salvation his permanent home. If she didn’t, he didn’t want the extra ties binding him. It would be difficult enough to leave his sister, even knowing she was happily mated. But if whatever was between him and Elise didn’t work out, he’d have to leave. There was no way he could stay after being rejected by her.
He heard a child laugh and detoured toward the sound. It was close to the houses, but far enough away that a child shouldn’t be out on their own. That wasn’t a likely scenario given that the pack was rabid about protecting their pups, but better to be safe.
Before Mikhail stepped through the trees to a small open area, he knew Gator was outside playing with his son. He could scent both the man and child. Gator was in wolf form and his young son was currently riding on his back, his small fingers gripping Gator’s fur tightly. Etienne was smiling and laughing, his red coat bright against his father’s black fur.
Mikhail barely had time to register the scene when the big black wolf whirled around and sat down hard. The boy immediately slid from his father’s back and took a step away, his gaze watchful and his expression solemn.
“Sorry,” he offered. And he was. The intimate moment between father and son was broken. “I heard the laughter and wanted to make sure one of the kids wasn’t out on their own.”
Gator dipped his big head in acknowledgment, but he didn’t shift, remaining as a wolf. Mikhail took that as his cue to leave so Gator could keep playing with his son. He heard the boy’s laughter start up again before he’d gone more than a few steps, and it made him smile.
He liked the Salvation Pack. Life here was much different than it had been in his former home in Alaska. This group was filled with physically powerful, intelligent men, many of who were strong enough to be alpha of their own pack. Instead, they’d chosen to band together. They had full-bloods, half-breeds, and even humans in their pack.
An interesting and eclectic group for sure. Best of all, it had Elise. He hurried down the trail to his new home. It wasn’t as good as having a place of his own, but it would afford him the freedom he needed to start courting Elise.
He grinned at the old-fashioned word. Somehow, it suited their situation. They were both throwbacks to another era. The world had changed dramatically during the course of their lives.
But one thing that never changed was a wolf’s need to mate.
Mikhail took the deck stairs in one jump and went to the patio door that led to his sister’s workroom, now his bedroom. He slid the door open and stamped the snow off his sneakers before stepping inside. Not wanting to get water everywhere, he slid them off just inside the door, padded over to the foldout sofa in his stocking feet, and set his bags down.
There was a small closet in the corner of the room, and when he checked it, he found it half empty. Hangers waited for his clothes, and there was even a small chest of drawers below to hold the rest of his belongings. It wasn’t perfect, but he’d made do in much worse surroundings. He wasn’t a man who needed much.
It took him less then fifteen minutes to put everything away and stow the bags. A quick glance at the clock hanging on the wall told him it was lunchtime. He had three more hours until he was supposed to meet Elise.
Had a day ever moved so slowly?
His phone rang, and he pulled it out of his pocket, grateful for the distraction. His sister’s name popped up on the screen. “Hey, little girl.” He loved calling her by the pet name he’d given her as a child.
She laughed. “Hey, big brother.”
He smiled and rolled his shoulders to work out some of the tension. “What can I do for you?”
“Are you settled in yet?”
Mikhail could hear other voices in the background. “Just finished unpacking. I was thinking about lunch. I could make grilled cheese sandwiches. Maybe open a can of soup if you’re interested.” He wouldn’t mind spending some time with his sister.
“Funny you should mention lunch. I’m still over at Sylvie’s.”
“Fabric, right?”
“Lots and lots of gorgeous fabric.”
Mikhail didn’t understand why they got so excited over sewing and fabric, but he had to admit seeing Elise wrapped in the quilt this morning gave him a new appreciation for what they created with it. “So does that mean I should make lunch or not?”
“We’re having lunch over at Sylvie’s. Gator just came in and mentioned he saw you headed toward our place. Sage and Elias are on their way over and Gator is whipping up burgers and home fries, if you’re interested.”
“Sounds like a couple’s thing.” He felt more out of place when it was just several of the couples sharing a meal.
“No, Miss Elise is here, too.”
He tensed and his heart sped up. He didn’t have to wait hours to see her. “If you’re sure, I’ll be right over.”
“Gator’s making plenty,” Rina assured him.
Mikhail ended the call and tucked his phone away. Anticipation surged inside him. It might not be the wisest thing he’d ever done, but there was no way he could pass up the chance to spend more time with Elise.
He was curious what her reaction to him would be after their kiss this morning. His jeans tightened, and he growled.
Then he shook himself. “Get a grip.” The last thing he wanted to do was bring attention to the fact he was lusting after Elise. This was lunch, nothing more.
He could treat this as foreplay in anticipation of their coffee date later. He grinned and headed to the door, stopping long enough to jam his feet back into his sneakers.
The snow crunched beneath his feet and seemed loud in the still silence around him. He was only wearing a T-shirt, but the cold didn’t bother him at all. He’d grown up in Alaska, where winters were much harsher. If anything, he welcomed the chill. It helped him gain control over his body by the time he reached Gator’s place.
Chapter Five
Elise was slicing tomatoes for the burgers when a shiver of awareness skated down her spine. She didn’t need to turn around to know Mikhail was there, but she did it anyway, because she wanted to see him.
Rina greeted her brother with a hug. “You found everything you needed?”
Mikhail nodded. “I did.” The deep sound of his voice whispered through her like a gentle caress. She looked away and went back to slicing tomatoes.
“Can I help with anything?” Mikhail’s voice was a lot closer. She glanced up to see him standing on the other side of the counter.
She shook her head. “No. Thank you,” she added as an afterthought. Wielding a knife when she was so distracted probably wasn’t the best idea, so she set it carefully on the counter.
Her clothes felt unusually tight, her jeans a size too small. And she was hot. Way too hot.
“Put more burgers on,” Sylvie told her mate. “Jacque, Gwen, and the boys are on their way over.”
Elise wanted to run away and hide. She was too on edge, her wolf restless and her body slipping out of her control. That wouldn’t do. Her son was intelligent and observant. The last thing she wanted was for him to notice something wrong and start asking questions.
If Jacque sensed for one second she was upset, he’d demand to know what was bothering her so he could fix it.
It was all too much—her emotional and physical reaction to Mikhail, and her fear of causing a rift of any kind in the pack. While she knew she was physically safe, she felt under siege emotionally.
Elise did the only thing she knew that could prevent such a catastrophe. She shut down. It was a skill she’d learned early after her mating, but something she hadn’t done in years
. Yes, she was usually quiet and watchful, but this wasn’t the same.
“Are you okay?”
Elise heard Mikhail’s voice as though from far away. She’d forgotten what it was like to pull away from life, to put a mental barrier between herself and others. Her wolf growled and whimpered, not liking the turn of events. Elise tried to reassure the creature it was only temporary.
But was it?
Agreeing to spend time with Mikhail was like running with a stick of dynamite in one hand and a match in the other. She might be able to run forever with it, or it might explode in her face at any moment. There was no way of knowing.
The back door opened, and her grandsons rushed in. Nicholas and his brother, Aaron, bolted straight to her. She smiled and opened her arms to them and kissed their cheeks.
Then Jacque was there. “Mama.”
She did her best to smile at him, but it wasn’t easy. She couldn’t do this. “I have to go,” she blurted.
“Is everything okay?” Jacque asked.
Elise nodded. “I just remembered I left a roast slow cooking in the oven.”
“I’ll walk you home.”
She shook her head. “Non. I’m fine. You stay with your mate and children.” She patted his arm and quickly made her escape.
Elise knew she was running away from the situation. And while she detested herself for it, she couldn’t seem to stop herself. It had been all too easy to fall back into her default setting of self-protection as soon as she’d felt threatened. And the threat hadn’t even been physical, but emotional.
Okay, maybe it was physical, but not in the way she was used to. Pierre had beaten her, and often. He’d also sexually assaulted her, although he never would have seen it as such. She was his mate. His property.
Elise shivered and hurried into her home. She knew one of the men was following her. Probably Gator. They were always worried about her, always watching over her.
Wolf of her Own_Salvation Series Page 4