by DJ Phoenix
Another scream tore through the forest, and Luke nearly lost his paws from under him. He knew it was Cynthia, and his mind’s eye saw red. In seconds he was upon the edge of the woods surrounding Cynthia’s cabin. To his horror, Layla had Cynthia pinned to the ground; her snarls and growls proof of the threat she posed to his mate.
Without a second to lose, he jumped from the line of trees and crashed into Layla’s wolf. Taking her by surprise as he hit her side, they tumbled away from Cynthia. The urge to run to Cynthia to make sure she was alright racked through his body, but the need to dispatch of the threat won.
He pushed Layla back into the forest, pinning her to the damp earth as his jaw snapped around her throat. His canines pierced through the thick pelt and Layla whimpered. Her body went slack in show of submission, but he still didn’t let go.
Joe and Evan’s wolves approached the scene, their throats bared in submission. Luke didn’t take offense at his friends’ approach; instead, he focused on the slack form beneath him. She needed to pay for attacking his mate. He increased the pressure on Layla’s throat and heard another whimper.
Joe nudged his side then stepped back and shifted while Evan stayed in his wolf form. There was no way for him to talk unless he shifted back, and that wasn’t happening until Layla was dead.
“Luke, the woman is safe inside her cabin. Layla broke pack law, but she must stand trial before the elders. You are not a tyrant. That’s what makes you such a great alpha. Take control of your wolf and do this right.”
Joe was right. He needed to do this right.
Slowly, Luke took control back from his wolf and the red haze dispersed from his sight. He let go of Layla’s throat but growled, warning her to not make any sudden moves. He shifted into his human form and ordered Layla to do the same. She cowered on the floor but complied. Three menacing wolves walked up to the group; then, as quickly as a blink, three men stood in their stead. Dan, Matt and James approached, closing a circle around Layla.
Not wanting to hint at his interest in Cynthia, Luke kept his questions vague. “Is the woman harmed?”
Catching on to Luke’s cover, Matt answered. “No, she stood up and ran back inside the cabin. She was not injured.”
“Alright then, let’s head back to the clearing. Layla, you are under pack arrest. Shift and follow Joe, we will follow to make sure you don’t attempt to run.”
Layla looked up at Luke for the first time. “But Luke, how can you treat me like this? The human was just annoying me and I decided to give her a scare. You heard Matt, no harm was done.”
Luke fought back his rage and managed to keep a stoic face in place. “You attacked a human and risked our identity. I have every right and reason to treat you how I damn well please. Now shift and follow Joe. I’m through speaking to you.”
Layla sneered. “Oh yes, you did mention you were through with me. What you need to get through your thick head,” she vowed and curtsied low to the ground as she continued, “oh great Alpha, is that I’m not that easily dissuaded.”
Joe intervened before Layla got herself killed. She had no idea what she was dealing with. And even though he was losing patience himself, he knew the right thing was for her to have a trial. “Layla, shift and follow me. No more talking until you meet with the elders.” With that said, Joe shifted and they all followed.
Luke wanted to check on Cynthia, but he knew he couldn’t just show up naked. That would surely push Cynthia over the edge after her encounter with a wolf. Resigned and against his wolf’s will, he shifted and followed Joe and Layla. He would turn her over to the elders and run back home for clothes and his truck. Then he would check on Cynthia.
Cynthia
Cynthia knew she had to decide whether she would allow herself to take a chance with Luke or not. She was attracted to him, but her fear of the pain the opposite sex was capable of inflicting wouldn’t allow her to make a sane decision. Her mind was going a mile a minute, and it was just making her frustrated and angry at the fear crippling her ability to trust. Instead, she decided to concentrate on writing—the only thing she could control. She sat at the desk so she could feel the warm sunrays streaming through the open shutters. Absorbing the warm sun, Cynthia dove into her make-believe world, eager to see where her writing would take her today.
Hours into her writing a noise from outside brought her back to earth.
Cynthia looked up from her laptop and listened carefully. It was a soft whining, almost yipping sound. She stood and walked to the backdoor, stepping out onto the porch. She listened more intently as the sound came again. The sound was coming from the edge of the woods where she had spotted the black wolf just a few days ago. Deciding it must be a hurt animal, Cynthia started for the tree line. If she could help she would, and if it was beyond her capabilities she would call a vet.
As she approached the edge of the forest, Cynthia saw what looked like a grey dog laying on its side. She hurried her steps. When it was fully in view, Cynthia froze in her tracks. It wasn’t a hurt dog, it was a wolf. Scared and unsure of how to approach the injured animal, she decided it was best if she called a vet.
Slowly, she turned to walk back to the cabin. As she took her first step, a low growl reached her ears. Cynthia froze and looked back. The wolf was standing, and it didn’t look injured. She turned to face the animal, not wanting to turn her back to it. Fear threatened to paralyze her, but she fought to stay calm. She needed to get back inside, and she knew that she couldn’t run, running would send the wolf into chase mode, and there was no way she could outrun it.
God! What should she do? Screaming wouldn’t help, there were no neighbors close enough to hear her. Panicked, Cynthia looked around for a stick to guard the animal off. She didn’t like to hurt animals, but if this wolf attacked she needed to defend herself.
She looked around once again, but without warning the beast leaped and knocked Cynthia to the ground. Her head hit the ground hard, and a scream escaped her throat. Her hands went up in an attempt to keep the animal away from her face and neck.
Between struggles the wolf growled again, and another scream ripped through her throat.
Cynthia was certain no help would come. She would die here. She wasn’t strong enough to hold the beast at bay for much longer.
She felt the animal’s hot breath on her face as its saliva dripped on her flesh. Another one of her screams tore through the night. Cynthia closed her eyes and prayed for a miracle. She hadn’t been to church much in the past four years, but she hoped her prayers would be heard.
Flashes of her sister played through her mind, and she regretted she wouldn’t get to say goodbye. Her baby sister would be alone in this world. Her arms began to tire and the animal’s snout got closer to her face. Cynthia closed her eyes, bracing herself for the pain. She knew this would be painful. The animal’s teeth would rip her to shreds. As she thought a goodbye to her sister, the weight she had been attempting to hold off was suddenly gone.
Cynthia opened her eyes and saw a mass of fur rolling around a few yards away. Stunned and not sure what was happening, Cynthia sat up and tried moving her legs. They felt like they were detached from her body, but she urged them to work.
She needed to get to safety.
The animals disappeared into the forest, giving her the chance to get away. She could still hear growling and didn’t want to hang around to find out what was going on with the two beasts. For all she knew the new wolf was there to claim her as his meal.
As Cynthia stood, she felt a sting on her forearm and saw blood seeping through her flannel. Hoping it wasn’t serious, she ran toward the backdoor. Her head pounded and it felt like her heart was going to beat right out of her chest. She slammed the door shut and locked it, then turned and ran to the front door. It had been a nice day, so she had left the door ajar, taking advantage of the screen door to let the cool breeze in. In a state of panic she fumbled until it was shut and locked, then fell to the floor. She couldn’t believe she’d almos
t been killed by a wolf. She reached behind her head and felt a knot. That explained why her head was pounding.
Cynthia hugged her knees to her chest until she recovered enough to stand. She walked toward the bathroom on wobbly legs and grabbed the bottle of ibuprofen from the medicine cabinet. Her reflection showed how shaken up she truly was: her eyes were still wild, her hair was a mess of tangled knots, and she could visibly see herself trembling.
Taking a deep breath, she pulled her hair into a messy bun, careful not to touch the knot, and splashed water on her face.
In the kitchen, Cynthia filled a glass with water and took the ibuprofen. She decided a tea would help calm her nerves, so she placed the kettle on the stove and stared out the kitchen window. She didn’t know what she expected to see, but all she saw was the still darkness of the night. There were no strange noises or movements outside the cabin—nothing she needed to be afraid of—but still, her wrecked nerves played havoc with her shaken mind. The whistle of the kettle made her jump, and her hand went instinctively to her heart, rubbing gentle circles. She had survived a wolf attack, but the night was still young and, considering what a nervous wreck she was, she might just end up dying of a heart attack.
She sat at the small dining table and sipped her tea. Her hands still shook, making the simple task a bit hard to manage, but eventually the hot liquid slid down her throat as she inhaled the steam escaping from the top of her mug. She closed her eyes and thought of nothing but relaxing, inhaling deeply and exhaling slowly. It felt like a futile task, but she continued with her breathing and concentration.
A loud knock at the door made her jump in her seat and spill the tea all over the table. Her heartrate picked up and her hands started shaking again. Another knock followed, and she heard a male voice calling her name. Cynthia walked to the front door as the knocks became more urgent and the voice coming through the door more frantic.
“Cynthia! It’s Luke. Cynthia, are you alright? Cynthia!” The pounding on the door was getting more and more urgent as Cynthia approached.
Hands still shaking, but relieved that it was Luke, she opened the door. “Luke? Why are you here?”
“Are you alright?” Luke stepped inside as soon as the door swung open. Cynthia closed and locked the door quickly, afraid the beast might be hiding in the shadows. “Did something happen? Are you okay? There’s blood on the door. I thought you might be hurt.” He looked at her in a way no one had in a long time, like he truly cared about her. It was strange since they’d just met, but she overwhelmingly felt safe with him.
Her lips began to tremble along with her whole body. She couldn’t hold back the sobs that escaped her lips in that moment. Luke instantly pulled her into his arms and held her as she cried. She buried her face into his shoulder and felt his firm hand rub circles on her back. She soaked up his warmth as it soothed her unlike anything else ever had. At that moment, she wondered what it was about Luke that made her feel safe even though she barely knew him.
Finally, Cynthia was able to gain composure and the sobs subsided.
Luke rubbed his strong hands up and down her arms as he pulled away slightly and lowered his face to look at her. He stopped mid arm as his left felt the blood seeping through her shirt. “You’re hurt!” He held her arm up to inspect the wound, but what was left of her shirt sleeve was in the way. He looked at her, an apology evident in his clear blue eyes as he pulled the sleeve up her arm. “This is going to hurt a bit.”
Cynthia grimaced as the material rubbed along the wound. Some of it had already begun to stick to the wound where blood had dried. Cynthia hadn’t had the brains to check the wound earlier, and at the sight of the deep gashes on her arm it was all too much to take. The world began to tilt and darkness took over as sweet unconsciousness claimed her.
Chapter 8
Cynthia
A dull pain spread through the back of Cynthia’s head. She tried to pinpoint the source, but a sharp pain ran through her right forearm as she tried to reach. It was then she realized she wasn’t alone, as a warm hand gripped her arm.
“Please don’t move your arm too much, you might tear the stitches.”
Confused, Cynthia looked up to see Luke staring at her. She couldn’t place the myriad of emotions passing through those ice-blue eyes, but she definitely saw concern, and it moved her that he’d care so much.
Glimpses of the night before played through her mind and her hands began to shake slightly. “The wolf … it attacked me. I thought I was going to die. I … I was so scared.” Her voice broke as she spoke and, before she knew it, Luke was sitting on her bed cradling her close to his chest.
“It’s alright now. I’ve got you, and I won’t let anything hurt you. I promise.”
His hand rubbed circles on her back again, and the comfort that small gesture brought relieved and scared her at the same time. No man had ever comforted her this way, not even her ex-husband. She realized she should pull away, but couldn’t make herself do it. Deep down she knew she didn’t just want this man, she desperately needed him.
She took a deep breath and looked at the man holding her in his arms. She had several dozen questions she wanted to ask, but decided on the most important first. “What happened? I remember letting you in and … you trying to help me calm myself. But then … nothing.”
Luke released his hold on her and stood. “I came to ask if I’d left my phone here earlier in the day, but when I reached the porch I noticed blood on the door. I thought you were hurt and I almost knocked the door down. Then you answered and broke into tears. When I noticed your arm was hurt you fainted before I could check how bad it was.”
“Did you stay here all night? I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to inconvenience you like this. Please, let me make you some breakfast.”
Luke tried to placate her urge to get out of bed. “Cynthia, hold on, you’ve been out for a day. You had deep gashes on your arm, and by the time Dr. Miller came to stitch you up you were burning up. You were out the rest of the night and all day yesterday. You need to rest. I’ll bring you something to eat.”
She made to stand and realized she was wearing her shorts and tank pajamas. “How did … how did I get into my pajamas? Did you dress me?!” Her eyes widened with horror to think that he had seen her naked.
Luke raised his hands in surrender. “No! Of course not. I … called Doctor Miller and he happened to be at Jack’s, so Kristy and Mindy showed up. They dressed you and are actually in the living room. They wouldn’t leave until they could talk to you and see for themselves that you are alright.” He laughed as if trying to make light of the situation. “To tell you the truth, I think they didn’t trust me enough to leave me here alone with you.” To his surprise, it worked.
Cynthia smiled, giggling slightly. “I bet they know all your dirty secrets. I’m going to have to have a talk with them if I am going to associate myself with you.” Luke smiled back, his crystal eyes sparkling with mischief.
Cynthia made to stand and Luke immediately took her hand. She felt a little woozy, but managed to steady herself. “Thank you. I think I can walk.”
Luke stared at her intently. “Okay. It’s just that Doctor Miller gave you some strong antibiotics and painkillers last night. He said when you woke up, you’d be lightheaded.”
“Oh … Oh my god! Did you pay the doctor? How much do I owe you? I have cash in my purse, I’ll just—”
Luke cut her off before she could say another word. “You don’t owe me anything. The doc is a friend of mine and came as a favor to me.”
She nodded and motioned to take a step. “Thank you.”
Luke’s hands went to hold her but stopped as she gave him a meaningful stare. He nodded and took a step back, giving her space. He stood by the window as she made her way picking out clothes. She then headed to the bathroom and emerged a few minutes later wearing a pair of yoga pants and a tank top. It was a little chilly, but with her stitched arm she couldn’t slip into a sweater, so a tank would have
to do.
As she walked into the small living area Kristy stood and ran to her side, giving her a hug. She winced as the girl’s arm pressed against her stitches. From where she stood, and with Kristy still holding onto her, she heard Luke tell the girl to be careful. Kristy immediately let go and gave her an apologetic look.
Cynthia smiled, genuinely happy to see the girls. Knowing that in such a short time she had made good friends with Kristy and Mindy made her feel more at home here than in her actual home back in California.
Mindy stood and gave her a careful hug, but even then, the hug felt genuine and affectionate. Cynthia’s eyes moistened with unshed tears. She tried to hide the emotions coursing through her, but figured she failed miserably, because before she knew it Luke was literally sweeping her off her feet. He carried her to the couch and sat down with her on his lap and held her as he had the night before.
She buried her face between his shoulder and neck and inhaled deeply. His scent was amazing and, strangely enough, it calmed her. Aware of the girls in the room, she took one last long breath and sat up straight.
Leveling her face to his, she found herself looking straight into two pools of swirling ice. Her breath hitched at what she saw in them. For a moment, all was gone, and it was just her and those intense crystal clear eyes. She knew it deep in her soul that, for some unknown reason, there was love in their depths. The realization made her feel vulnerable unlike she ever had before.
Gently, he brushed his lips against hers; it was just a chaste kiss, but it held so much promise. She couldn’t help the urge to explore every inch of him as she ran her fingers through his hair, making him shiver. A smile spread across his lips, and she found herself helplessly drawn in.
She closed the distance between them and kissed him. Their lips met, tenderly dancing to a slow rhythm; the world was non-existent as they explored each other. When she parted her lips, he took the invitation and deepened the kiss. His tongue was hot against her own, exploring and teasing.
