by Candi Fox
“Nik, you startled me.”
The man’s smiling face came into view upon his admission of surprise.
“Good to know, Sheriff.”
Nikolas Frank said the last a little louder, likely carrying to other unseen ears. It was then a wave of energy hit him alerting him to the use of magic. He looked at the tall, good-natured man in front of him with new appreciation. He underestimated him.
“Who’s with you?”
Again, the question for unseen ears. “This is Philip Monteith, Emma’s father, and Sergei Petrov, my hired tracker.”
Several more men appeared around them with Lars Hellström in the lead. Lars, the town butcher, rode with every posse in Cooperstown since Cord took office five years ago.
Even after his wife was taken in childbirth two years ago, the man went with him to hunt down a killer. It should be of no surprise he’d be one of the leaders on this posse as well.
“Good to see you, Lars.”
“And you, my friend. Let’s get our Emma back and teach these men a lesson.”
Cord understood “our” referred to a town’s member, and not a romantic declaration. Two suitors were already enough to set the town on its ear. From the rumors that crossed his path, Evanora took it upon herself to try and smear Emma’s reputation.
Thankfully, she had no idea he took Emma’s virginity that night. What had he ever seen in Nora?
He really couldn’t tell you. Maybe he thought with his cock and not his heart. It’s the only reason he could think of to date someone his parents were so vehemently opposed to. His parents were not only loving, they were open minded, and fair.
“Anyone been inside?”
“Nik has.”
“Nik, you take point.”
He followed close behind Nik, who stopped at the tree line.
“Two guards on the wall.”
Cord gave the signal to halt, thinking of the quickest way to dispose of the men. Phillip stepped up.
“I believe I can be of assistance. If you give me but a few moments.”
He nodded. Phillip stepped forward out of the trees but stayed to the shadows. He was out of range of human eyes, yet his cat could still see as the man pulled out a strange medallion from his shirt. A soft glow emitted from it, then fog began to roll from the forest toward the fort.
“Sergei you get one, I’ll get the other.”
The men surged forward as the “inexplicable” fog hid their approach. On silent feet, he followed Nik through the hole in the wall to the stairs.
He quickly took out his target while the other men fanned out. Every man made it in before the first shot fired. He had no way of knowing who started it, but once guns were drawn, he had no choice but to use his own.
Bullets flew, missing more than they hit. With the fort mostly dark, it would be hard for the normals to navigate. He witnessed at least two more paranormals among them tonight.
A bullet nearly hit his right eye. Cord took aim, using his enhanced cat vision to find and take down the shooter.
He felled three more shooters before he began to hear the all clear from his men. An hour later, they counted the dead, the wounded and the missing.
Their group lost only three men, while only four of the robbers survived. Each of them somehow escaping, leading him to believe they shot their own to make it out.
After talking to Nik, he knew the identity of all four: Evanora Standhope, Jacque Beaufort, Gideon Doolin, and Wyatt Doolin.
“Has anyone found Emma, or seen her father?”
Nik headed in his direction.
“Spread out and look for them.”
“You know where Emma is.”
“She’s with Iron Wolf. He probably took her to his village.”
“How do you know?”
“After I scouted the fort, I spotted Emma entering the woods. Unfortunately, so did a pack of wolves. Your friend helped me with the pack, then went after Emma while I headed back here to rendezvous with Lars.”
“Let’s get the men settled, then we can go get our girl.”
“I’ll see if I can find Phillip while you gather the rest?”
“It’s a plan. Meet you back here in twenty.”
Cord went through the fort looking for men and clues. He got a good whiff of demon and werewolf. The two normally didn’t work together. Nikolas mentioned a pack of wolves going after Emma, not normal behavior for wolves.
There must be more to the story. Twenty minutes later he found Nikolas in the main building, kneeling beside a prone Phillip. He swore softly hurrying to both men’s sides.
“Gut shot, we need to get him to Warren. Real good doc there. Can do more than most men.”
Nik continued to talk; it took Cord’s brain a moment to catch up with the double meaning of his friend’s words.
“You get Emma, bring her there. I have a feeling about Evanora.”
“You think she’ll make up stories about Emma to ruin her reputation?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll meet you in Warren. Gods’ speed.”
Cord checked on the wellbeing of each man in the posse. Lars would take back the deceased and pay for the funerals. Cord would reimburse him when he got back and pay the widows money from his own pocket to make sure they didn’t starve.
Two of the men lost were from Warren. He didn’t know if either had a wife or children. He’d investigate after he found Emma. The other man he knew but not well. He left a widow and a baby behind.
Cord made a mental note to check with his father about the widows and orphans fund. The baby, a boy if he remembered, was only about six months old. He could afford to cover the woman’s expenses for six more months, but not much more than that. Not when he’d be taking on a wife of his own. As soon as he found her.
Evanora’s vicious mouth, he had no doubt, would make it impossible for Emma to have any choice in the matter. They’d be married in Warren, or if she just couldn’t stand the thought of marrying him, Nik would step up. Of that he had no doubt. Though the thought of her rejecting him did cause a pang in his heart. The cat joined him with a mournful yowl, thankfully only he could hear.
Determined not to lose his mate he headed after her, asking Sergei to track the criminals. Now that he knew of Nora’s involvement with them, he searched his mind for signs he was under a spell or potion.
This is not the time, focus on our mate. His cat snarled at him. Cord brought his attention back to the trail. It took him little time to find Roy. He quickly loaded everything onto his saddle and stripped off his clothes, folding them neatly and putting them in the saddle bags.
He pointed the big gelding toward home and slapped him on the ass. Cord watched as the horse galloped out of site. His parents would understand the meaning of a rider less horse.
Slipping silently into the woods, he reached out with the cat’s senses to make sure he remained alone before he shifted.
From a distance he looked like any other cougar in the area. Upon closer inspection you would notice to be larger, far larger with a huge golden mane of fur.
He gained more muscle in both his hybrid form and his cat form. He weighed around six hundred and twenty pounds when shifted into cat form
Just over four feet at the shoulder and eight and a half feet long on four paws, more for the two-legged hybrid form. Luckily, his cat tended to be out of sight most of the time. The cat knew his way through the woods, his senses keener than Cord’s human ones.
False dawn broke the sky as he ran through the woods. His thoughts only on finding Emma.
Chapter 30
Emma
She ate and with his help bathed before meeting the elders and other members of his tribe. Wolf or the young woman translated for her as she met each person in the tribe down to the smallest child who was only a few days old.
While most gave her a warm welcome, she could tell others were apprehensive about her presence and what it could mean to them. She planned to ask Nik and Cord about the t
reaties in the area.
The information she’d received so far was biased towards the white settlers, with a plentiful helping of painting the natives as the boogie man or the devil.
Thus far Wolf and his people were far from savage or ignorant. Their village, like most cities, had a hierarchy, a governing system and everyone had their place within the tribe.
Still recovering, she opted to turn in early while most of the tribe gathered around the evening fire singing songs.
She closed her eyes, the drums lulling her to sleep. The sound of the tent flap being moved aside awakened her. Wolf stood at the opening, moonlight streaming down on his dark hair. Glints of midnight blue blended with the raven’s wing black.
Her breath caught in her throat as he entered the tent and slowly began to take off his leggings leaving only the loincloth on, he sat on the edge of the pallet of blankets.
“Should I sleep elsewhere?”
She shook her head. She wanted him to stay. Wanted things she could never have, or could she? Who would know?
Emma moved over making room for Iron Wolf to lay down. Once he settled in, she tried to ignore him, the warmth of his body, his pull.
Bravely, she reached out, laying her hand on his chest before trailing her fingers down to the top of his loincloth.
He grabbed her hand. “Do not start a fire you cannot quench, little dove.”
Without a word she gently pulled her hand free from his grasp before her fingers continued to play on the taught skin near his hips.
He moaned, his hips raising off the pallet to meet her touch. In one swift motion he rolled her on top of her, crushing his lips to hers.
He tasted of venison and savory herbs. Of wildness and freedom. His mouth slanted over hers, possessing them, demanding she keep up with his passion. Their tongues danced, before he sucked her bottom lip into his mouth, biting it with firm pressure.
She cried out as pleasure and pain seamlessly glided through her awakening body, blazing a trail straight to her core.
Her nipples tightened into stiff peaks; juice flowed from her, soaking the blankets that were beneath them. Each touch of his hand brought her closer to the edge of no return.
Strong, calloused hands glided over her bare skin, down her sides, resting on her hips. His lips left hers as he trailed kisses down her jaw line. Catching the lobe of her ear in his mouth, he sucked on it before biting it gently.
Little nips down her neck to her collarbone had her ready to explode.
“Please,” she begged.
“Please what little dove?”
“I need you.”
“I’m right here.”
“I want you inside me.”
Good lord, did I blurt that out? Relieved when she heard him chuckle.
“Patience.”
The response was torn from her lips as he sucked a nipple into his mouth the same time one long finger slid inside her. Her hips bucked against his hand.
She writhed and moaned, panting. The pleasurable torture she experienced almost too much. Pleasure continued to build under his magic touch. When he slid a second finger deep inside her, a wave of heat blossomed from her core, shooting red hot molten lava throughout her body.
Her nerve endings on fire, she screamed out in pleasure, not caring who could hear her. Seemingly oblivious to her plight, he switched nipples, continuing to stroke his long fingers in and out of her.
Another wave of pleasure rode her body when he hooked his finger on the way out, hitting some unseen spot and making her hips come up off the blankets, thrusting into his hand.
“That’s it, little dove, ride my hand.”
He felt so good, yet she wanted more. She wanted him buried deep inside her. Emma reached down stretching her arm as far it could go, she moved his loincloth aside, taking a firm grasp on his cock. It was his turn to moan as she slowly stroked him.
“That feels so good,” he growled at her.
A thrill of pleasure ran down her spine. She liked that growl. Wanting to hear more, she stroked him faster. He growled at her again.
Moving his body farther away, he kissed down her chest to her navel flicking his tongue before sliding his head in between her legs. The moment his tongue touched her wet folds, she cried out in pleasure again. Her body shook with another orgasm.
His deft tongue made slow laps from back to front before swirling around her clit. Just when she thought the pleasure too intense to bear, he drew her clit into his mouth, suckling on it.
Stars exploded behind her eyes as her body soared to unknown heights of pleasure. She panted, trying to catch her breath. Wolf lapped at her juices, drinking them all down before moving back up her body and kissing her.
She tasted the sweet tang of her own juices on his tongue as they kissed. She moaned again, running her fingers through his long, dark hair. What seemed like forever passed before she felt the head of his cock press up against her lips.
Her hips rose to meet him as he slid painstakingly slow inside her. His girth stretched her deliciously. Finally, he began to move slowly in and out of her, a faint roll of his hips had the head of his cock hitting a spot inside her that sent her racing to the edge with every thrust.
A slight ringing began in her ears as she drew ever closer to the edge of being driven insane from the pleasure. Emma’s hands clenched on his back, her nails digging in until she felt it give.
He moaned as red welts formed on his back in wake of her nail marks. “You make me forget myself, woman.”
What sounded like a growl came from his throat as he increased his pace. Driving into her mercilessly, one rough thumb finding her clit. A loud scream tore from her throat the same time he came deep inside her.
With a few final thrusts he rolled over, pulling her on top, still inside her. His arms coming to cradle her close to his chest. Their breathing came in rapid pants. Sweat trickled down his chest.
Emma rested her head on his chest. Listening to his breathing, she soon fell asleep.
Chapter 31
Emma
“Wake up, it’s time for you to go home.”
She opened her eyes to see the same young woman standing over her sleep pallet, with a stern look on her face. She felt beside her, the blankets were cold. Confused, she sat up, looking for Wolf.
“Where is Wolf?”
“Outside with your Sheriff.”
Her heart fluttered.
“Cord’s here?”
“Yes, now hurry.” The young woman shoved a bundle of clothes at her. “He had a vision during the fire and left last night to meet the white lawman. So, he can get rid of you.”
The girl turned on her heel and left. Emma’s mind reeled. Why did this girl suddenly hate her? If he left last night, then what transpired between them? She searched for a sign of him, any sign. When she found none, she realized it must have been a dream. What a dream; it felt so real.
She shook out the clothing, finding a simple cotton shirt, a colorful wrap skirt, and moccasins in her size. Dressing quickly, she hurried outside, finding Wolf and Cord in deep conversation. She looked back and forth between both men, before Cord looked up, their eyes locking. He stopped talking to Wolf and headed toward her. In a few long strides he wrapped her in his arms and crushed his lips to hers. He kissed her until they were both breathless.
Tears of relief and joy flowed from her cheeks. Though she knew Wolf and his tribe would not hurt her, more than anything she wanted to be in Cooperstown.
“How did you find me?”
He smiled showing his even white teeth dimples showing. “I’m good at tracking. Are you all right? Did the robbers hurt you?”
“No, Wyatt wouldn’t let anyone hurt me. He helped me get away.”
“How so?”
“All along the trip he took me into the woods and let me gather herbs, he had me cook the whole way. It, appeased Gideon, but also allowed me to make a sleeping stew and escape.”
“Do you think it was a coincidence or di
d he purposefully aid you?”
Emma thought back on all of Wyatt’s actions. “He aided me. I have no doubt. Whatever his shortcomings, he put himself between his brother Gideon and I on more than one occasion. That man gives me the creeps. He’s pure evil.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of him, but first we’re going to get you home.”
“Did my parents arrive?”
“Yes.”
“Oh no, they are going to be terribly worried about me.” Another thought struck Emma. “Oh Cord, Evanora is in cahoots with the robbers. I heard her at the camp. She and that Frenchman.”
“I found evidence at the camp, thank you, Emma.”
“Is someone headed back to town to let them know? I mean, she has everyone in town fooled. It’s horrible.”
**
Cord
He pulled her into his arms, kissing the top of her head. Poor thing went through so much. He half expected her to be crazed out of her head from having to endure such an ordeal.
On the way to Warren, he’d tell her about her father and his plan to marry her as soon as possible. He caught her looking at him, at Wolf. There was something in her eyes, something different in the way she looked at him.
Maybe he imagined it because he wanted her to look at him that way. Unguarded desire. His thumb came up under her chin and he lifted it to look into her eyes only to realize they were the exact same height. He never realized how tall she was.
There’s a certain amount of intimacy gained when you stand eye to eye. He studied her bright green eyes, her full pouty lips, a pale shade of rose, and her skin just a few shades darker than the proper ladies seemed to favor.
He thought the color looked good on her. It gave her a certain spice, a flair that no one else had. Her hair was the deepest brown he’d ever seen with lighter strands running through it, making it look like someone had taken a paintbrush to it.
“Has anyone told you you’re breathtakingly beautiful?”
