by Dena Christy
Maybe she was one of those crazy people who like to get up at the crack of dawn, even when there was no reason to get up at all. He closed his eyes with the thought that he could just go back to sleep but there was no point until he knew where Honor was. He sat up on the edge of the bed and stared straight ahead for a moment. What if she wasn’t as cool with them sleeping together as she had been last night? Going into heat had forced the issue and she had been a virgin. What if she was having morning after regrets?
He hoped she wasn’t, because as much as he knew that this mating with her was not permanent, making love with her felt right deep down in his bones. He had wanted Honor from the moment she’d showed up at his house, and it was an itch that wasn’t close to being scratched.
He stood up and pulled on his jeans, and went into the bathroom. It looked like his day was going to start earlier than he’d planned, but there was hope that perhaps he could persuade Honor to come back to bed.
Once he left the bathroom, he checked the room down the hall, to see if maybe she’d gone in there to sleep, but the bed in the guest room was untouched. He came to the top of the stairs and the house was silent. He scanned the lower level of the house and there was no sign of her. Had she gone for a run?
He hurried down the stairs, not liking the thought of Honor being out in the woods alone. While he was certain that nothing would happen to her out there, the protective instincts inside him didn’t want her to be out there alone. Eden Creek wasn’t so far enough away that someone from there couldn’t sneak over here by way of the forest that covered the whole area going from East Brook, through Cold Bay, and into Eden Creek.
He heard the faint sound of her laughter coming from the direction of the front porch, and relief went through him when he realized that she was still here. He didn’t want to wonder why the thought of her gone made panic rise through him. She was free to go wherever she wanted. He stood and listened to see if there was an answering voice to indicate that she was talking to someone on the porch. All he could hear was the sound of Honor’s voice, which meant that she was talking to someone on the phone.
Who could she be talking to this early in the morning, and why was she doing it on the front porch? Honor didn’t seem like the deceptive type, but it didn’t stop the green-eyed monster from flaring to life inside him. He pushed it down ruthlessly. Honor had given him her innocence last night. There couldn’t be another man in her life already. While there would be no shortage of men interested in her once they went their separate ways, as far as everyone knew she was his mate.
He went to the kitchen and got a cup out of the cupboard, thankful that she’d made coffee before she’d gone outside. If his day was going to start this early, he needed a boost. And maybe once he had his coffee he would feel like today was just like any other day.
The front door opened and Honor came back inside. She looked surprised to see him in the kitchen, and his breath caught for a second when a slow smile spread across her face.
“I didn’t expect you to be up. Isn’t this early for you?” She walked toward him, and he wanted to peel the heavy cardigan she wore off her body. Its bulk hid her from him and he felt absurdly jealous of the way it wrapped itself around her. He wanted to be the one wrapped around her.
This really was too early in the morning if he was going to be jealous of a sweater.
“Yeah, I’m not usually one for bouncing out of bed at the crack of dawn. But I woke up, expecting to find a certain woman in bed beside me, and she wasn’t there. So I got up to investigate.”
“I’m not usually up this early either, but I couldn’t sleep so I thought I should probably get up.”
Rafe poured his coffee, took a sip and let out a satisfied breath. Now he was going to start feeling more normal.
“Why couldn’t you sleep?”
A blush crept up her cheeks, and she looked down at the floor. “I’m sure you can appreciate that I’ve never shared a bed with anyone. I found it difficult to stay asleep last night.”
The reminder that she had been a virgin didn’t upset him as much as it had last night. In fact, it made the possessiveness that she usually stirred in him rise to the surface. He was pleased that she’d never shared a bed with anyone other than him. A more civilized man wouldn’t take such enjoyment out of her untried state, but then he’d never claimed to be a civilized man.
“Do you want to go back to sleeping in the guest room?” He thought it best if he offered her the option, although he hoped she wouldn’t take it. Unlike her, he’d slept a lot better than he usually did, and that had to be because she was in his bed with him.
She looked at him and blushed again. “No, I’d like to sleep in your bed, if that’s okay.”
“That’s fine with me, darlin’.” It was exactly where he wanted her. He had no idea how long this mating was going to last, but there was no point in pretending that the sex between them hadn’t happened. It had blown his mind, and he wanted to experience it again for as long as they were together.
She came over to where he stood and poured more coffee in her cup. Her hair was slightly mussed, and she wasn’t wearing a scrap of makeup, and as he looked down at her he thought he’d never seen anyone more beautiful. And for now at least, she was his.
“I talked to Mercy.”
So that’s who she’d been on the phone with. Rafe didn’t want to examine the relief that went through him that came with the knowledge that she’d been talking to her best friend, and not to another man.
He took his coffee and went to the sofa. He sat down on it and sighed as he took another sip from his cup. He didn’t really want reality to intrude on the bubble they’d built for themselves while staying in his house, but he needed to know what the current situation in Eden Creek was since it had a direct impact on his mating with Honor.
“How are things going with the pack? Is Barrett the stellar alpha that he promised to be?”
Honor came over and joined him on the sofa. She sat close to him, and he couldn’t resist the urge to put his arm around her. It felt right having her close to his side.
“Hardly. According to Mercy things are not great in Eden Creek at the moment. He’s using intimidation on the more resistant members of the pack, and those who have spoken out against him have gotten beatings for their trouble.”
“That’s not surprising. He’s a weak man and an equally weak alpha. Violence and intimidation are going to be the only way he’ll hold on to power, and even that will be a short-term solution.”
“I know, but I have a feeling that things are going to get worse for the pack before they get better.” She took a sip of her coffee and a thoughtful look crossed her face. “If the more desperate members came here, do you think Logan would take them into the Cold Bay pack?”
“Is Mercy thinking of leaving?” Rafe knew that Logan was adamant about not getting involved with the upheaval going on in Eden Creek, but he might not have a choice if that turmoil spilled over into Cold Bay’s territory.
“Not that she said as much, but she never made it a secret that she hates Barrett. There is also her connection with me, which I’m sure Barrett sees as a relationship with his enemy. And I asked her to do something for me that might be viewed as going against her alpha, so I don’t like the thought that she could be alone and vulnerable because of that.”
“What did you ask her to do?”
“I’m sure you can appreciate that I can’t go into Eden Creek, not with the way things stand with Barrett. I asked her if she could pack up Quinn’s clothes and donate them. And there are some things from the house that I want. Just clothes mostly, but I can’t exactly ask Barrett for permission to go to my house and do it myself.”
Rafe’s mouth tightened for a second. Why did Barrett have to be such a dick? Honor had an empty house sitting in Eden Creek, and she couldn’t move on with her life until she disposed of her brother’s things. It was bound to be a difficult task for her without Eden Creek’s alpha maki
ng things that much more arduous.
Which left the question of how Mercy was supposed to deliver Honor’s things to her without angering her alpha even further.
“How is she supposed to get your things to you? It’s one thing to pack up your brother’s stuff and donate them, but to get your things to you she’ll have to cross the border. I’m sure Barrett won’t like that very much.”
“I know, so we have a solution. Once she has my things together, she’s going to meet me at the border between Eden Creek and Cold Bay and I’ll get my stuff.”
“No way.” The thought of Honor going anywhere near the border of Eden Creek and Cold Bay was out of the question. Anything could happen to her out there, and he was sure that Barrett wasn’t above snatching her and dragging her into Eden Creek. “You aren’t going anywhere near the border.”
“Rafe, be reasonable. Nothing is going to happen to me. We both know that deep down Barrett is a coward. As far as he knows I’m your mate and a member of the Cold Bay pack now. If he did anything to me, he has to know that you’d come after him.”
Damn right he would. If Barrett did anything to her, he’d put him in the ground. But that didn’t matter, because until Barrett was no longer a factor in Eden Creek, she wasn’t going anywhere near there. Barrett was a coward, and a stupid one at that, and a man like that was unpredictable. But he could recognize that Honor needed more of her things than she’d been able to pack in her hurried flight to his place.
“I’ll go with you. Once Mercy lets you know that your stuff is packed and ready, we’ll go together. That way I can make sure that you’re safe.”
He expected an argument, but there was none forthcoming from Honor as she leaned forward and put her coffee cup on the coffee table. She sank back and snuggled up to him. He set his coffee cup on the end table beside him so he could put both arms around her.
“Thank you.” She put her hand up against his cheek. He wanted to tell her that there was no need to thank him, that she was his mate and that made her entitled to his protection. But she was so close to him, and they had the whole day ahead of them. And there were better things for them to be doing than discussing Eden Creek.
“Let’s go back to bed.” He didn’t give her a chance to answer before he pulled her to her feet and lifted her into his arms. “You need to get used to sharing a bed with me, and there is no time like the present to practice.”
He cradled her against him and carried her toward the stairs. For the time being, she was his woman, and he would not waste however much time they had together with talk.
11
It was Honor’s first shift back at Sawyer’s Place since she’d gone into heat, and she was glad that she’d asked Logan for this job. While it would be nice to spend all her time with Rafe, he had to work and she didn’t like rattling around in that big house by herself. It left her alone too long with her thoughts, and at least when she was here she was busy enough to keep thoughts about where she and Rafe were headed at bay.
Her talk with Mercy the other day had shown that Barrett’s grip on power was eventually doomed to failure. Where would that leave her and Rafe when the reason for them being together was gone? Would she have the strength to walk away from him if he didn’t want to be her mate once Barrett was no longer alpha?
She had no idea what the answer was, and she didn’t want to think about it. Maybe if she and Rafe weren’t intimate with each other, maybe if the mating between them didn’t feel so real, then perhaps the answer would be easy. But their mating did feel real, and she didn’t want it to be over. A small part of her hoped that Rafe was feeling the same way.
“Is anyone in there?” Alex snapped his fingers in front of her face, and she was jolted back to reality. So much for the notion that being here would keep thoughts about Rafe at bay.
“Sorry, I was thinking.”
“It’s fine, but you have a customer.” Alex inclined his head to the far booth as he smiled at her and she smiled back before she grabbed her order pad. She went around the bar and walked toward the booth. The customer’s back was to her so she didn’t know who it was. Not that it would matter since she didn’t know everyone in Cold Bay yet. One other good thing about this job was that it gave her a chance to meet the members of her new pack. She just hoped that her tenure in the Cold Bay pack was a permanent one.
She stepped up to the table, her smile in place as she looked at the customer. It faltered when she saw who it was. Bobby Swan, a member of the Eden Creek pack, sat in the booth looking very much worse for wear. There was a cut on his bottom lip, and he had a magnificent shiner coloring his right eye. She cast a quick glance at Alex, but he was busy at the bar. Perhaps he hadn’t seen Bobby walk in and had only seen the sleeve of his coat from where he stood at the bar. She didn’t think that an Eden Creek wolf would have been able to pass through the doors unless Alex hadn’t seen him walk in.
“Bobby, what are you doing here?” She kept her voice quiet and was thankful that the bar was relatively empty. The last thing that needed to happen was for trouble to land here in Logan’s place of business.
“I need your help, Honor.” There was a desperate look in Bobby’s eyes and Honor’s heart went out to him. He was a decent man, who worked hard to provide for his family and stayed out of trouble. The bruises on his face told her that he was one of the wolves who was negatively impacted by Eden Creek’s regime change.
“I don’t know what I can do to help you.”
“Can you talk to Logan, and see if he will accept me and my family into his pack? I can’t keep my family there anymore. Barrett’s gang of thugs are running wild, and those who aren’t on team Barrett are being threatened. I was solidly behind your brother, and Barrett knows it. I don’t know if he ordered it, but his goons tried to extort protection money from me and I refused. You can see the results. I need to get my family out of Eden Creek.”
“Bobby…” Honor didn’t know what to say. She’d always like him and his mate, Loraine. They had two very young children and were good people. But she didn’t know what he expected her to do. The only reason she could stay in Cold Bay was that Rafe had claimed her as his mate. “I don’t know what I can do to help. Even if Logan agrees it won’t mean anything if Barrett won’t release you from Eden Creek.”
“I already had a talk with Barrett, after this happened.” He pointed to the bruising on his eye. “I told him that I wouldn’t go to the council with what was happening in Eden Creek if he let me, Loraine and our kids out of the pack.”
“I’m sure that went over real well.”
“About as well as you’d expect. But after he blustered about friends on the council, he told me to get out of his territory. The kids and Loraine are at the motel here in town. I’m hoping we can make a home here. I’ll talk to Logan about our situation, but could you vouch for us, to smooth the way.”
Honor sighed. “I’ll talk to him and vouch for you. He’s in the office. I’ll be right back.”
A knot formed in her stomach as she walked away from the booth and toward Logan’s office. Alex gave her a questioning look and she just shook her head. She bit her lip as she knocked on Logan’s door and when his voice gave permission to enter, she walked in and closed the door behind her.
“Honor, what can I do for you?”
Honor took a deep breath and decided that the best way to approach this was to be honest and direct with Logan.
“There is a wolf from Eden Creek, named Bobby Swan, who would like to join the Cold Bay pack. He’s here at the bar.”
Logan sighed and set his pen aside. “I thought I made it clear that I didn’t want to get involved with the politics of your old pack. I can’t take him in unless he has permission to leave Eden Creek. It was hard enough to get you out of there, and I don’t have any spare females who can mate with Bobby to keep him here.”
“That wouldn’t work since Bobby is already mated. As for Barrett, he’s ordered Bobby out of his territory.”
“And why would he do that? This Bobby isn’t going to bring trouble into my pack, is he?”
Honor came to sit on the chair across from his desk and leaned forward. “Bobby is a good man. Barrett’s thugs were trying to extort protection money from him and when he refused they beat him. He told Barrett that he wouldn’t expose what is happening to the council if he let him leave the pack. He has a mate and small children, and all he wants to do is keep his family safe. I’ll vouch for him, but if you talk to him you’ll see for yourself that he’s a solid man and won’t bring trouble to the pack.”
Logan closed his eyes and ran his hand through his hair. “I knew there was going to be trouble as soon as Barrett took over but I didn’t think it would happen this fast. I’ll go talk to him and if I believe what he has to say I’ll let him into the pack.”
“Thank you, Logan.” Honor stood as Logan got out of his chair.
Logan nodded and walked out of his office. Honor followed and went behind the bar where Alex was cutting limes. He looked up at her with a question in his eyes.
“What’s going on?”
“We may be getting a new member in our pack.” Honor watched as Logan went over to the booth Bobby was sitting in and sat across from him. “Things are getting bad in Eden Creek, and it’s starting to spill over.”
“I hope this is a good thing for you.” Alex went back to his work and a frown creased Honor’s brow.
“What do you mean?”
Alex looked at her with a soft smile on his face. “Eden Creek’s alpha may be fooled by your mating with Rafe, but those of us who know him know that you weren’t mated until he announced it to the whole bar. I just hope that once Barrett’s tenure in Eden Creek is over that Rafe doesn’t go back to being his old self again.”
