Running Wild
Page 4
“It’s a little more than I usually do, but my roommate insisted I give it a try.”
“It’s hot.” Forget leaving the game on the field. He knew exactly what he was doing. “It’s a good look on you.”
The camera light shined in my face, and they didn’t miss my bright pink lips parting in surprise.
“Give us a second before you go into the restaurant,” Tessa called from the van.
I grabbed his arm, ignoring the tinglies when I was met with solid muscle. “Go,” I said through gritted teeth. “It’s the only chance we have for a second to ourselves.”
The running back was quick on his feet and we were inside the restaurant before Tessa realized what was going on.
“Be glad you don’t have to go through this.” I glanced through the glass, and the crew was gaining on us. “Hopefully we can get a table that they can’t sit next to us at. They’ll have microphones in our faces asking us how we feel about everything.”
Sebastian stepped close to the hostess and whispered something to her. Tessa had me frazzled and looking over my shoulder.
He slipped his fingers between mine as the hostess lead us through the restaurant. I loved how easily he did it, his grip sure and steady. People trusted him to work with his hands, and I understood why.
She led us to a corner table at the back of the busy restaurant. All the tables around us were full. Whatever he’d said, it worked. Genius level move.
“Told them it was our anniversary and I wanted something cozy. They didn’t have anything private. She was very apologetic about that. But I think my twenty bucks bought us a prime spot.” He grinned as he sat down. “I might have mentioned a crazy lady with a camera giving you grief in the parking lot.”
“You did not.” But he was my hero if he did.
“No.” He picked up the menu, but there was no hiding those incredible eyes. They lit up our corner table more than the little candle between us. “But I really wanted to.”
“I’d give way more than twenty bucks to see them get hauled out of here. You’re so lucky you don’t have them trailing your every move.”
“Beginner’s luck. The stars have cameras in their faces all the time. I don’t mind. Gives me a chance to concentrate on the game.”
I didn’t have to turn around to know that Tessa and her posse had come in. A man in a suit was talking to her, and I was willing to bet it was about the camera. The woman who sat next to me in the van was nudging people at the tables and asking them to sign something. Travelling with a camera crew was so embarrassing.
We were so getting kicked out of here. Which was going to suck because I wanted everything on the menu. Maybe if I ignored them, they’d go away. “So how old is a rookie?”
He wasn’t over thirty. I didn’t usually go for younger guys, but it didn’t matter. Sebastian was Mr. Right Now, and I’d ride this wave as long as I could. I was starting to regret the Welcome to the Jungle undies.
No. You can’t fall back into your old habits. Don’t drive this guy away.
“I’m twenty-five, which is older than most rookies. I started college late and I meant to play five years, but I got hurt.”
“So you’re experienced.” I couldn’t escape all my old habits, especially saying the wrong thing.
Sebastian’s lip curled up. For the first time, he actually looked like a wolf. “Some might say so.”
I crossed my legs to stop the tingling. I was dying to say show me, wolf, but this was a nice little restaurant and Tessa had settled at her table. That ever-present camera light was pointed right at us.
“Does it bother you that I’m older than you? I’m thirty.”
“Not at all.” His amber gaze swept over me, and everything else disappeared. There was no age difference, crowded restaurant, or god-forsaken camera crew around us. It was him and me. I’d forgotten what that felt like. “I like older women. They know what they want.”
Not something that people usually said when they were talking about me. Those glowing eyes saw me in a completely different light.
“Did you grow up close to here?” Eventually, he’d have to open the door a crack and let me inside. About something other than football or the show. Sebastian had a life outside of Holiday Falls and the Bloodhounds.
He traced the edge of the menu. “Sort of.”
“I’d love to see where you grew up.” I was being selfish. He said he’d lost his family. Sebastian’s shoulders tensed like he was about to get tackled. “Or at least tell me where it is. For the blog.”
“Not yet.” His attention suddenly shifted away from me. He scanned the restaurant and his gaze landed on something and darkened. Probably just Tessa and the camera. I was glad I had my back to them. Otherwise, I’d be too tempted to flip them off. “How is the blog?” he asked, still distracted by something behind me.
“I posted the stuff from Juneau today. Some amazing shots in the rainforest gardens. Traffic is way up already.” My readers were falling in love with Alaska as much as I was. “A couple of readers have been giving me suggestions, too. I want to run them by you first. I can’t explore as much as I’d like, since my digital babysitter likes to follow me everywhere...are you listening to me?”
His eyes were almost black, and he was frowning at something. Strange. “We need to get out of here.” His voice was soft, and I swear it had a hint of a growl.
“Come on, they’re not that bad.” I turned around to glare at Tessa, but she was tapping her beer glass against those of the rest of the crew. They were laughing about something, and for once, I had the feeling it wasn’t me. I turned back to Sebastian. Hard lines had settled on his face, and he was ready for battle. “What’s wrong?”
“Get up and pretend you’re going to the bathroom. Wait for me by the front door.” That low rumble left no room for argument.
I turned again, my gaze landing on a table of men who had wide shoulders just like Sebastian. Probably more football players, but they shouldn’t have had Sebastian worked up like that. He hadn’t mentioned any trouble with the team. Football was his life.
“Is the show making you do this?” I asked. They said they had some scenarios up their sleeve. Too bad they didn’t give me the memo. Sebastian was scaring me.
“Go,” he said, the growl clear now. The tiny hairs on the back of my neck stood.
You’re crazy to do this, I thought as I stood. My legs shook as I navigated between the tables. You don’t know this guy. I glanced at Tessa’s table, but she wasn’t paying any attention to me. If she were in on this, she’d have the camera pointed right at me. Sebastian was pulling some serious wolf shit and I didn’t know what to do, or if he’d change into a wolf in the middle of the restaurant. My gaze fell on the table of guys who were built like Sebastian. They were paying much more attention to me than the camera crew. One of them had Sebastian’s eyes. They glowed too, pure liquid lava. If I fell in, I’d get burned. He grinned at me. All wolf.
I knocked someone’s water glass off the table, trying to get away from him. Real smooth. At least that should’ve gotten Tessa’s attention. But she didn’t notice, and I couldn’t breathe. I wished I had the keys to the van. I’d get the hell out of here.
Sebastian didn’t make me wait long. He charged out of the restaurant, grabbing my arm like someone had thrown him a pass. He broke into a full run with me in tow.
“Expecting someone to tackle you?” I forced between ragged breaths.
“Not if we’re lucky.” He opened the passenger’s side door of his SUV and jumped in on the other side, barely settling before tearing out of the parking space.
Crap. I certainly wasn’t looking for forever, but I may have finally succeeded in my grand search for Mr. So-Very-Wrong.
Chapter Six
SEBASTIAN
“Why isn’t the camera crew following us?” Naomi turned around in her seat, looking for some guarantee of her safety. The best one I could give her was to get her as far away from that restaurant as
possible.
She came with you. That’s gotta mean something. More than anything your pack has ever done for you...
“Thought you said you wanted to get away from the camera crew.” I had no fucking idea where I was taking her, or if we got a head start on the pack. There could’ve been guys waiting in the parking lot, too. I didn’t have their tools at my disposal anymore, even though they once belonged to me. It did me no good to mourn the loss now.
My head was fucking spinning and my wolf was on a rampage inside me. It took every ounce of strength I had not to let him come out in that restaurant, and he was pissed. I had to get myself together or I’d kill us both.
I should’ve never come. Risked getting her involved. But my wolf wouldn’t let me bail. He had to see her. I had to see her. Damn it. The reflection of oncoming headlights made her eyes glow, and she scraped that bright pink lipstick off her bottom lip. That wasn’t the way I expected her to come undone tonight.
This was me. Imploding every time I was on the verge of something great. I didn’t have a chance to tell Naomi why I graduated years after I should have. Because I’d wanted to protect her from this. Now, as we drove away from the restaurant, it was pretty obvious she was in the eye of my own personal storm. I had to figure out a way to tell her I should’ve been pack alpha, but instead, my pack wanted to kill me.
“I was kidding. I think we should agree that I’m the funny one.” It was dark on this part of the road, but her gaze bore into me. “And you’re the mysterious one. If you want to change any part of that, I’d suggest you become less mysterious. Like right about now.”
“All you need to know is that there were some dangerous people in there.” Guys I’d grown up with. The ones I thought would have my back forever until I proved I didn’t have theirs.
“Holy shit, you’re kidnapping me.” Her head fell against the seat. “You have two choices. I can call the production company, or I can call the police.”
“You’re not calling anyone,” I growled. “I’m protecting you.”
“From those guys in the restaurant?”
“Those are the ones.”
“They looked like football players, but I’m guessing they’re not.”
I shook my head. Protect her, my wolf demanded. She’s in danger.
“Your family’s not really dead, are they?”
Shit. She didn’t break under pressure. “The good ones are.”
“Thank you for telling me the truth,” she said softly. “I think I should call someone.”
“No.” My wolf threatened to burst through the surface of my skin. I had to get out of this car. I’d kill us both.
“Listen, I know we don’t know each other and you can’t trust me—"
“I’m the one who can’t be trusted,” I cut off that line of bullshit reasoning. As my mate, I’d give her anything. Even if it didn’t look like the right thing. Like now. Naomi startled in the passenger’s seat. Shit. “That’s not what I meant. I won’t hurt you. I’d never do that. It’s just, I’ve had people turn their backs on me. Accusing me of doing the same. I won’t hurt you, Naomi. I’ll keep you safe.”
“How long are you planning on keeping me?” she asked, spitting out the last words.
Forever. Shut up, wolf.
“No longer than necessary.” Fuck. That came out wrong. I had practice in the morning. The rhythm was finally coming to me, or as Landon said in the huddle, the game was starting to slow down. I let my pack take everything away from me once, and I would not let them have the Bloodhounds.
Or Naomi. Especially Naomi. My wolf raged at the thought. Fuck. What was happening to me? The team could go on without me, as much as it would fucking suck, but this woman had no idea what she was in for. I was supposed to treat her to crab legs, not abduct her.
I chuckled, I was thinking like her already. Naomi glared at me.
“I’ll bring you back to the compound tonight,” I said.
“Bring me back now.” Her voice was thick with fear. If I had half a brain I’d bring her to the airport and buy her a one-way ticket home.
“Not until I know what I’m dealing with.” My brother could’ve had intel on the show. It was only a matter of time before he found out I was back. Holiday Falls was too close to Faraway Island—he’d scented me here. And now he’d gotten close enough to my mate to pick up her sweet scent, too. No. She couldn’t be left alone. And I couldn’t leave her with an idiot production crew that had no idea they’d exposed the women to imminent danger.
But I couldn’t run anymore. This time, I’d lose everything I’d worked for to protect the one thing that actually belonged to me. Even if she didn’t understand my motive yet. There was no easy way to say she was bound to me and all my shit forever. I’d scared her enough for one night. Once I got Naomi someplace safe, I’d tell her why I ran—from my family and my pack.
“If you’re in danger, you shouldn’t be alone.” Her words were velvet against the blackness that surrounded me. Something soft that made me feel like things would be okay. “Tessa’s blowing up my phone. I’ve got to tell her something. They can send help.”
“They can’t help us. Not with this.” I pushed back the growl that rumbled from deep inside. Not now. I’d scared this woman enough since ripping her out of the restaurant. My wolf was on fire—he’d been so docile ever since I turned my back on Stefan. And he was hangry.
Naomi gasped. “What the hell happened?”
I glanced in the rearview mirror. My amber wolf eyes glowed back at me, lighting the cab of the SUV up like fire. I pulled off the road, skidding to a stop in the low brush and dirt of the mountain foothills.
Naomi screamed.
“F-follow me. No matter what happens. S-stick...with...me.” Each word was harder than the last as my humanity faded in the scalding heat of my shift. I practically fell out of the car. My animal had been neglected for too long, and it was clumsy. “Find...a...cabin.”
“Okay. Holy shit, you’re ripping off your clothes. Not that I’m complaining, it’s a little unexpected...is that fur? What the hell is happening to you, Sebastian?” Naomi’s quick footsteps crunched behind me. If I could still talk, I’d tell her to shut up. I’d led her into unprotected territory. My brother had no claim to this forest, but human rules no longer applied here. Bringing her here was dangerous, but I had to face this threat head-on. I’d run from my brother once. This time, I’d stay and fight like a wolf for what belonged to me.
I hadn’t seen anything but the reflection of my own eyes last time I checked the mirror, but that didn’t mean we were alone. Another wolf would have every advantage, whether it was my brother or not. They were more familiar with the land around here, and much more comfortable with their animal.
My muscles stretched my skin to the limit and I fell on my hands and knees. Shifting used to be seamless. Now it felt like death. Sweat poured from my body, more than it ever did during a game. That life—the team and the game—belonged to someone else right now. Not me. The heat was fucking unbearable as my animal fought for freedom. My skin melted away, sweet fucking relief.
Naomi shrieked again. “Your face is changing.” She took a few cautious steps closer. Makeup stained her cheeks.
My claws broke through my fingers and pierced the soil. I didn’t remember it feeling like this. So free. I pushed the memories down—the good along with the bad, and told myself I wasn’t that wolf anymore. But it never went away. Especially when I was under attack.
“You’re really a wolf,” she said softly, punctuated with a stilted chuckle. “I thought it was a figure of speech. But here you are. An animal.”
I nudged Naomi’s leg with my snout. She stifled another scream, but she didn’t run. Damn, she smelled good. So much more intense like this. Vanilla and something spicy mixed with her fear and pulsed with every frantic thump of her heart. I tipped my nose up to her, inhaling her scent and the crisp mountain air. Every creature in the forest would find her irresistible.
She was my mate. I no longer doubted my wolf, now that we were one. Naomi was mine.
A familiar scent burned my nostrils, and any foolish notion of love faded to a dream. My pack. We’d been followed, or led to a trap.
Giving her another nudge before I trotted off, I had to hope she’d follow me. I couldn’t protect her if she didn’t.
“Shit. I turned my ankle.” Naomi hissed a sharp breath and dropped beside me, clutching a fistful of fur. “I rolled it.”
She put her head against my flank. I wished she could understand me if I spoke, but it would only sound like a growl. I nudged her and she braced herself. “It hurts like a dirty bitch. I’ll keep going. Go slow, okay?”
I pressed my body against hers as we kept going. I had to find shelter for us. It would get cold fast, and there was no telling how long I’d be like this. A howl ripped through the night.
No mistaking my brother’s call. They were here.
“That’s for us, isn’t it?” The crunch of her footsteps faded. “I know you can’t answer me. But it makes me feel less crazy if I keep talking.”
We came upon a cluster of cabins. A few of them had lights on, but most of them were dark. I circled the first one, but the smell of humans was too strong. Another wolf wailed, closer this time. Naomi rubbed her arms and looked around the cabins.
“What if I knock on one of the doors and tell them we got stranded up here? Can you pass for a dog?”
I growled.
She made a face at me. “Maybe not. I can still call Tessa, once we get inside. It will be awkward, but then whoever’s after us won’t be able to do anything to us because she’ll roll up with two cameras and a boom op. Everything they do can and will be used against them in the court of public opinion. And maybe a few talk shows.”