by L. P. Dover
I don’t even remember looking at my dresser when I got up. If I’d seen the letter, I probably wouldn’t have spent the entire day furious with him for leaving.
Zayne moves closer, his need getting stronger. “I’m sorry I left you in the dark. I was hoping it wouldn’t come to this. Knox and Kara want to make me suffer for what happened. You can’t trust either one of them. If they find out you’re my mate, they’ll hurt you to get to me.”
I shake my head. “Knox may have made mistakes in the past, and he may be your enemy now, but he wouldn’t do anything to hurt me. I’m certain of that.”
His eyes glow, and he lifts his hands to my face. I can feel his urgency to be close to me, protecting me. “Do you still have feelings for him?”
Leaning into his touch, I place a hand over his. “That was a long time ago, Zayne. People can change.”
A low growl erupts from his lips. “That’s not a chance I’m willing to take when it comes to you. Please tell me he’s not staying here.” When I don’t say anything, his anger explodes. “You can’t be fucking serious? You may think you left the past in the past, but he wants you, Amelie. It’s not safe for you here.”
Stepping closer, I kiss him, and his arms wrap around me tightly. It’s the full moon, and I’d give anything to make love to him again. “I know how to fight, Zayne. Your brother taught me well. Besides, it’s only for a couple of days until Knox can find another place to stay.”
He presses his forehead to mine. “I’m sorry, Amelie, but I don’t trust him or Kara. As long as they’re around, I can’t let them know what you mean to me.”
“What are we going to do?”
Zayne pulls back and cups my cheeks. “I’m going to hate every minute you’re around that bastard. Don’t tell him or Kara about us. If keeping you safe means we have to keep our relationship a secret for now, then so be it. But I’m warning you; this isn’t going to end well. Knox and Kara don’t want to join our pack.”
I don’t know what to believe. Zayne knows Knox in a completely different way than I do. “I hope you’re wrong,” I murmur.
Zayne rubs his thumb over my lips. “I wish I was.”
He kisses me and deepens it the second I open up to him. I don’t want him to go. “Merry Christmas, Zayne.”
His hands slide down my face, and he steps back. “Merry Christmas, Amelie. I won’t be far.”
I nod. “I know.”
I watch him for a few more seconds before turning and walking away. Laila smiles sadly at me from the front porch. “He’s still passed out. I’ll wake him when you’re ready.”
“Not yet,” I say, climbing up the stairs. Laila follows me inside to my bedroom. I flip on the light switch and focus on the dresser. There’s not a piece of paper in sight. “Zayne said he left a note for me.”
“Maybe it slid off onto the floor,” Laila says from behind.
Once on my knees, that’s when I see a piece of paper on the floor under my bed. I reach for it and open it up.
Amelie,
I’m sorry I had to leave, but there’s no time to explain. All I’m asking is that you trust me. I told you before that everything I do is to keep you safe. This is one of those times. I’ll come back to you when all is well.
Zayne
* * *
My heart aches to be close to him. I fold it up and hand it to Laila. “I can’t take the chance of Knox reading it.”
Laila takes it and slips the note into her pocket. “Be careful, Amelie. My father may be overprotective, but he’s been in this world a lot longer than us. He’s seen all sorts of evil. If he believes there’s something to be worried about, then I’d trust him.”
I do trust Zayne. That’s what scares me. I don’t want to think Knox could hurt me, but I’ve learned you can’t always believe what people want you to see.
“I’ll be on my guard,” I promise her.
We walk back into the living room, and she stops at the front door, glancing at me over her shoulder. “I’ll wake Knox up in thirty minutes. In the meantime, you might want to check under the tree. I think someone left you a present.”
I look over at the tree, and there is a present that wasn’t there before. Laila smiles and then disappears out the door. Knox is still passed out on the couch, so I hurry to the tree and grab the gift. Specks of glitter fall to the floor from the shimmering snowflakes embossed on the shiny, silver wrapping paper.
I rip through the paper, and underneath is a medium-sized green box with a golden logo engraved on it. I’ve seen it before outside of a shop in downtown Jackson Hole. When I open the box, I gasp at what’s inside. It’s a hand-blown glass Christmas tree figurine with a small note attached to it.
Merry Christmas, Amelie. I thought you could add this to your extensive holiday decorations.
Zayne
Holding it close to my heart, I move to the window and peer out. I know Zayne is out there. “Thank you,” I murmur, knowing he can hear me. I set the figurine on the fireplace mantle and throw away the ripped paper. I can’t bring myself to get rid of the note, so I hide it in my closet along with the box the Christmas tree came in.
My time is almost up, so I hurry to the living room and sit on the couch, closing my eyes to make it appear as if I had fallen asleep. Knox stirs, and he jerks awake. I gasp and clutch my chest, pretending to be alarmed.
Knox peers around as if disoriented. “What the hell? I don’t remember falling asleep.”
I stretch my arms out. “Neither do I. Guess it was from all the excitement today.”
He glances over at the clock on the oven. “It’s the full moon tonight. We can go for a run.”
There’s a look in his eyes that I’ve seen before. Maybe Zayne was right; Knox does want me. It’ll definitely make things more complicated.
“I think I just want to go to bed,” I say, getting to my feet. “There are two guest bedrooms, so feel free to pick either one. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Knox smirks. “You never answered my question before I passed out.” His eyes darken with need, and his focus lands on my lips. “Do you remember what happened after we had dinner with your parents that Christmas night?”
We ran through the woods, but in human form, since he was trying to conceal his true identity at the time. We made love in the forest, and he told me he loved me for the first time.
“I remember, but that was a long time ago, Knox. We can’t just pick up where we left off.”
He shrugs. “No, but we can try.”
Instead of a reply, I say nothing at all. Knox smiles at me, and I turn on my heel, wondering what the hell I’m going to do. I know where my heart stands, but I don’t want to be caught between two wolves. Unfortunately, it’s looking like I might not have a choice.
23
Zayne
Two Days Later
One day, I could handle, but now it’s going on two, and I’m going out of my fucking mind. I haven’t spoken to Amelie, which only makes it worse. Knox has no intention of finding his own place to stay. It’s been two days, and I’ve waited patiently for him to screw up, but he’s smart. I don’t know how much more I can take with him being so close to Amelie. I’ve seen him through the windows, trying his best to get close to her, but Amelie always manages to find a way around him.
“Are you going to let the poor tree go?” Colin asks, keeping his voice low.
Looking over at my hand, I didn’t realize my fingers had cut into the bark. When I pull my hand away, blood oozes down my skin. “If I can’t kill Knox, I have to get my frustration out somehow,” I grumble.
Colin slaps me on the shoulder and peers over at Amelie’s cabin. “Anything new?”
I shake my head. “Same old shit. I just want that bastard away from my mate. I don’t know how long I can keep this up.”
Colin sighs. “Go home and take a break. I’ll watch over Amelie for a while. You’re not going to do her or yourself any good if you let this anger take over. That’s whe
n people make mistakes. And mistakes lead to death.”
“Fine,” I growl. “I’ll go home. Call me if anything happens.”
Colin nods. “I will.”
Running through the forest as fast as I can, I push my body to the limits. The anger builds inside of me, and I use it to fuel my speed. I can feel the rage threatening to break free, but luckily, Christmas Eve night with Amelie has kept that at bay. Unfortunately, I don’t know how long that will last.
When I get to the field behind my house, I slow my pace as the snow starts to fall heavily from the sky. My muscles burn like fire, and my clothes are drenched even though it’s only twenty degrees outside. I can feel the green stone in my pocket, waiting for me to touch it. For the past two days, it’s been my only link to Amelie. I reach in, and my fingers brush against the smooth rock. Visions of Amelie play through my mind as I walk the rest of the way to my house. However, when I get to the front door and find it open, I go on alert. It’s not until I walk inside when I smell the intruder.
The scent grows stronger the closer I get to my bedroom. The door is cracked, and when I push it open, I see Kara, naked and spread wide on my bed. Knox had to have warned her that we were tracking them somehow; I had no clue she was in town. Kara smiles and bites her lip suggestively, thinking it’ll turn me on like it used to, but all I do is stare at her unimpressed.
“Surprise,” she announces.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” I snap.
She pouts. “It’s good to see you again too, Zayne.” She grabs one of my pillows and breathes it in. “I was curious to see if you’ve brought any women here. I don’t smell any on your sheets. I thought for sure you’d have a mate by now.”
“No,” I growl.
She tosses the pillow to the side. “That’s because we were meant to be together.”
Her clothes are on the floor, so I pick them up and throw them on the bed. “Get out, Kara. No amount of parading around naked will make me give in.”
Kara’s anger blasts through me, but I stand firm. She snatches her clothes and gets dressed, her eyes shifting to her wolf’s. “There’s only one reason why you’d turn me down,” she snarls. “And that’s a mate. Who is she?”
“If I had a mate, I’d be with her right now.”
Kara storms up to me. “Maybe you just were. But one way or another, I’m going to find out.”
She grabs her high heels off the floor and takes off out of my house. I watch her disappear through the forest, and I have a feeling she’s headed straight to Knox. As long as Amelie doesn’t give anything away, we should be fine. But, with Kara here, it’s even more critical for me to stay away from Amelie.
24
Amelie
When I woke up and ventured into the kitchen this morning, I was shocked to see a completely different-looking Knox. His hair was no longer a dark shade of brown, but a bright blond like all the other royal arctics. Even his body has changed; he’s more muscular than he was twenty-five years ago.
He doesn’t have to keep who he is hidden anymore. I can’t be angry at him for keeping it from me for the two years we were together. It was my fault for not being smart enough to ask questions; I was naïve, and I paid the price for it. I’m not that same woman anymore. When I think back to how I was, it appalls me. I could’ve spared myself so much pain and heartache if I didn’t trust so easily. Assuming everyone is good was my downfall; I try to see the best in people. For the longest time, I believed no one was born evil, but my perspective changed after I mated Jaret. He was evil incarnate.
My phone beeps again for the hundredth time this morning. Instead of me being the mother hen, Tyla’s taken the job from me. When she found out that Knox Channon was the same Knox from our past, she’s given me her support, but she’s also made it her duty to check on me every hour of every day. I needed someone to be on my side, to believe that Knox could really want a fresh start. However, she disagrees with him staying with me. Hell, I know it’s a recipe for disaster, especially when you have two unmated males who want you.
“Looks like the milk’s going to evaporate away if you keep boiling it,” Knox teases.
Gasping, I didn’t realize he was right beside me. I quickly move the pot of milk to another burner and turn off the gas. “Sorry about that. I got carried away with my thoughts.”
I look out the kitchen window, and the snow starts to come down harder. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see Knox stare at me, but I don’t want to look at him. “What were you thinking about?” he asks.
“Just life,” I say, pouring the hot milk into two mugs and adding the chocolate. Once the chocolate has melted in both of our cups, I add whipped cream to the top and carefully pass one over to Knox.
It’s been two days since I saw Zayne last, and I can only imagine how furious he is to see Knox and me together. He’s probably out there in the woods right now, watching us. I’d be angry if he were with another woman. All I hope is that he trusts me.
“Want to go outside and watch it snow?”
I peer up at him, and he smiles. “Sure. Lead the way.”
We walk out onto the porch and sit down on the wooden swing. “When do you have to go back to work?” Knox asks, taking a sip of his hot chocolate.
I blow the steam away from my cup. “Right after New Year’s, but if it keeps snowing like this, I might have more time off.”
His grin widens, and he taps his mug to mine. “Here’s to more snow.”
I shrug. “Honestly, it works either way. Each student was sent home with their own computer right before the break to be prepared if we have to miss school. I can put all of their lessons online. That way, they won’t get behind.”
Knox chuckles. “It’s crazy how much things have changed in the last two hundred years. When I was young, my mother did my schooling and then I went to work. It didn’t matter how old I was or if there was ten feet of snow on the ground. I had responsibilities.”
I laugh. “Kids today will never know what that’s like. Granted, I didn’t have a lot of responsibilities as a child, but I did have to walk to school in bad weather.” We rock a little more, and I clear my throat. “So, have you figured out where you’re going to live?” The question has been on my mind the past two days, but I didn’t want him to think I was pushing him out. Having him under the same roof is a ticking time bomb waiting to explode.
“Kicking me out already?” he teases.
“No,” I say, hoping he can hear the sincerity in my tone. “I just figured you’d want your own place.”
I meet his gaze, and he smirks. “Don’t worry. I’ll be out of here in six days. The cabin I plan to rent will be available then.”
It feels like a huge weight has been lifted off my chest. “Nice. Where is it?”
He finishes off his hot chocolate. “It’s about fifteen minutes from here. So you can come to visit.”
Instead of replying, I just smile and focus on my drink. “Tell me some things about yourself. What have you been up to the past twenty-five years?” I look over at his muscular arms and chest. “You’ve changed a bit.”
Knox bursts out laughing. “Glad you noticed. Besides helping Kara with Channon Vineyards, I opened up a boxing gym in Virginia and started training fighters.”
Eyes wide, I meet his gaze. “Wow, that’s awesome. How is that going for you?”
His grin widens. “Pretty amazing, actually. Two of my fighters signed with agents and are now fighting professionally.”
“How are you going to stay in Wyoming when you have all of that on the East coast?” I ask, genuinely curious.
He shrugs as if it’s no big deal. “I’ll go back now and again to check up on things, but I hired someone to take over. Kara did the same with the vineyards, but she’ll have to go back more frequently. We spent a lot of time and money on that business.”
“I bet,” I say, knowing what all it takes to have a vineyard. Chase and I talk about it a lot when he comes into town. “I have
a friend who has a vineyard in California.”
Knox nods. “You’re talking about Chase Maheegan, right?”
“How did you know?” I ask.
He snorts. “He’s our number one rival. We compete against him every year in wine tastings all across the country.”
I can’t help but smile. “I’m not going to lie; Chase makes the best wine I’ve ever tasted. I honestly don’t think anyone can beat him.”
Knox stares over at me, his gaze narrowed. “You’re not involved with him, are you?”
“No,” I laugh, thinking back to some of the conversations Chase and I have had. He’s flirted with me at times, but it was just for fun. “Chase is just a friend. I’ll be thrilled when he finds his mate.”
“What about you? When do you think you’ll find your true mate?”
My eyes move past him to the forest. I don’t know if Zayne is out there or not. Several of the wolves in my pack have been taking turns keeping an eye on us. I’m sure Knox knows he’s being watched, but he hasn’t said anything about it.
“I’m not sure,” I lie. “More wolves are finding their true mates every day.”
Knox sets his cup down on the porch and takes my hand. “When I left you to find my sister, I planned to come right back to you. I wish you knew how much I regret leaving. I’ll never forget going back to your house and seeing it abandoned. You left without a trace.”
I scoff. “Not exactly. The Sierras found us.” However, that was with the help of Laila and her magic, but I can’t tell him that. Laila is Zayne’s daughter, and I don’t plan on getting her involved in their rivalry. With a heavy sigh, I look out toward the forest. “It all worked out in the end. I’m safe.”
The energy of a royal wolf draws close, and I stiffen. It’s not Zayne, nor is it any of the others in my pack. This is all female, and she’s pissed. Knox lets my hand go and walks over to the porch stairs with his eyes fixed on the trees. A smile spreads across his face, and he laughs. “My sister’s here. You finally get to meet her.”