by C. M. Steele
Reassuringly, he said that I needed to do what I needed to do, but to give him time to straighten some things out first. He’s just met his mate, and they’re busy mating every waking minute. I’m glad he found her because now he’s not such a dick. Plus, Chloe has been so worried about him for so long now. On top of the whole mating thing, Hunter’s been having mysterious problems with the vacation resort he built. There have been small fires and other issues that have delayed the opening.
I was getting ready for the day on patrol when Rocky, my cousin on my mother’s side who happens to be the Beta, shows up at my place. We don’t always get along because I’ve been ashamed of our families past and Rocky’s lack of respect for the Alpha.
“What’s up, Rocky?” I ask, attaching my gun belt to my waist.
“I hate him and his entire family,” he snarls, pacing my living room. His rage is pouring off him, and it’s got me ready to tie him down.
“Him who?” I don’t know who he’s talking about.
“I want them all dead.” But it better not be who I think it is.
“Who, Rocky?” I ask furiously.
“Hunter, and his family. I want them to pay. I shouldn’t be the Beta. I’m the Alpha. Treacherous family,” he grumbles to himself. Rocky looks a little crazed right now. His eyes are blazing and his pupils are dilated, but his words strike me to the core. I won’t let anything happen to Chloe. She may never be my mate, but I’ll do all I can to protect her.
I let out a little growl that he picks up on.
“What’s up with your fascination with Chloe? You can’t have her, so what the fuck?” He looks at me with disgust—like I was the traitor.
My feelings for her are more on display than I thought. “I don’t have a fascination with her. We’re good friends. That’s all.”
He’s almost in my face when he calls me on my lie. “Bullshit. You’ve got feelings for her you can’t act on. I think it’s another way to try to bring our family down. They know what they’re doing. She’s led you to believe it’s love and it’s going to be the death of you. They’ve been coming after us since the start.”
“Hunter isn’t after you,” I contradict. It’s clear he’s not in his right mind.
“No, he isn’t, but he thinks he can boss me around, and I can’t stand it.” Rocky’s fists keep clenching and unclenching as he paces.
“He can; he’s the Alpha.” I have to remind him that there’s a reason for the order of things. We don’t get to choose our fate. I have firsthand knowledge of that.
“Whatever. I don’t have a plan anyway, but I will get him soon,” he says before storming out of the house. Shit. I want to talk some sense into him, but since I can’t, I have to get a hold of our Alpha.
I’m just about to get on the phone to Hunter when a call comes in from the station.
Lauren, our temporary dispatcher, says, “Sheriff there’s an incident happening on the edge of town near Wheeling. I would call Deputy Ryan, but he’s handling some kids spray painting the old windmill.”
“That’s fine, Lauren. I’m on it.” She’s been added as help because Letty is pregnant. Lauren’s only fifteen, but she’s a sweet girl.
I rush over there to deal with the incident when I realize I didn’t get any details. Then it hits me. Something is off about that call. Lauren is off today. Letty’s at the station. What the hell is going on?
I call the office right back and Letty answers, “Hey, Sheriff. What’s up?”
“Is there an incident near Wheeling?” I ask.
“No. There’s no incident, sir.” I can hear the confusion in her voice, and I’m right with her.
“I just got a call from the office. Is Lauren there?”
Letty replies, “No. She’s off today.”
“Okay. Thanks.” I rush to my squad car and head to Hunter’s home. It’s a longer drive than usual because I’m all the way on the other side of town.
I get there, and he’s coming out of the house with his brother Gage and an elder from Redding, Creed Holt. I know something is wrong. Hunter’s radiating anger. Gage and Creed look panic-stricken. God, I hope Rocky hasn’t attacked, but I smell his scent in the air.
“My cousin has lost his mind,” I say as I climb the stairs.
“How do I know you’re not helping him?” Hunter howls at me.
Having known him for a year, I find it hurtful that he doesn’t trust me, but he’s known Rocky since they were pups. “Have I ever really acknowledged our kinship openly?” I challenge. My father hated that he was fated to a Lake. They moved into the territories south of here after they were exiled. After years of shame most worked their way into the new pack with pride. It took a long time for my father to get over the fact that he was related to them, but he cared deeply for my mother. It’s been a long time since they died. They had me late in life, believing it was fate and punishment for being a part of the Lakes.
“No, in fact you’ve been very clear that your mother was a Lake—not your father.” I can see he begrudgingly accepts my justification. He explains what happened very briefly. Rocky has kidnapped Catherine, Hunter’s mate.
“I knew the tensions between the families. I’m sheriff for a reason—to keep the peace.” I need to help them. Whatever Rocky has done, I’m siding with the Greys. Family or not, Chloe would be destroyed if something happened to Cat because it would hurt Hunter. As the Alpha, I owe Hunter my loyalty as should Rocky.
“Do you know where he would have taken her to?”
“It wouldn’t be too far from here. It hasn’t been long since I saw him. Hell, he still might be on the road. Did you check for tracks?”
“Yes, he carried her for a mile before getting into a vehicle, but I lost the tire tracks.” Hunter’s frustration is heartbreaking. I wouldn’t know what to do if it was Chloe.
A minute later and Hunter knows where to go. Apparently, Hunter has some sort of telepathy going on with Cat. She tells him where to find her. Rushing to his vehicle, Hunter explains that she’s at a property that used to belong to the Lake family before they betrayed the Greys and we’re exiled.
We make a plan and strike. It’s not an easy attack. We have to mask our scent and stay downwind. We can smell that it’s only Rocky and Catherine inside, but we don’t know how vulnerable she is at the moment. We have to make sure she doesn’t get hurt.
A blitz attack is our game plan, but it has consequences. Hunter and I take the back entrance while Gage, and Creed go to through the front. Rocky’s armed and ready. Creed goes down immediately, taking a bullet when he bursts through the door. A deadly fight ensues, as Hunter takes on Rocky. Hunter asked us to stay back, so we pull Cat away from the melee and tend to Creed. In the process Hunter’s shot, but he doesn’t give up or lose steam.
Cat’s a human, so she’s extra fragile. She’s also the first I ever heard to actually mate with a shifter. She’s in tears as she watches her mate fight to the death. I feel her pull out of my embrace, then the craziest shit happens. Cat shifts into a wolf and attacks Rocky, saving Hunter’s life and giving him the opportunity to deliver a deadly attack to Rocky’s throat.
Before everything is said and done, Hunter and Creed have been shot, Rocky’s dead, Cat’s a badass shifter, and the battle’s over. My family blood has been spilled and I should be enraged, yet I can only think about getting to Chloe.
As soon as we get to the hospital, Gage calls Chloe. She’s on her way and I’m so anxious to see her. The moment she walks into the front lobby, she runs into my arms. I hold her tight, like I’ve longed to do for so long. She’s crying hard, and it breaks my heart. I can’t stand seeing her in pain. I thought Gage told her that Hunter was going to make it, but then again we don’t know that yet.
“He’s alive, babe. Chloe, he’s alive,” I reiterate looking into her sad eyes.
“You could’ve died,” she sobs, squeezing herself to me, pressing her body into mine for comfort. I realize her tears are for my survival.
&
nbsp; Pulling her off my shoulder, I take her face in my hands and instinctively kiss the tears away. Kissing her forehead, I pause. I shouldn’t have done that, and we both know it. Her lips were so close. I wanted to taste them just once, but it’s not right. I squeeze her tight one more time before letting go.
“I’ll take you to the waiting room.” My eyes are refusing to make contact. I’ve crossed boundaries I shouldn’t have, but in truth I don’t regret them. I want to do it again.
“Thanks, Erik,” she whispers, and follows behind me.
Looking over my shoulder, I reply as I always do with a smile and a wink. “Anything for my favorite wolf.”
“Whatever, Sheriff. Take me to your leader!” she mocks.
We spent two hours in the hospital before she gives me a ride back to pick up my squad car.
“Thanks for staying by my side today and for being there for Hunter. I know Rocky was your cousin.”
“He’s nothing to me. I’d do anything for you.”
“Be safe, Erik.” I know right then and there I need to keep my distance until I get this longing under control.
Do you want to hang out today? I text Chloe.
I haven’t seen her for a week. It’s hard to be away from her, but I need to get over my strange fascination with her before I say goodbye for good. With the major threat of Rocky gone, I feel like I can break away, but it’s not working. The more I want to leave, the more the pain in my chest grows.
Sure thing. I’ve got time. Do you want to come over to my place? she replies right back.
That’s what I love—she’s quick to answer me, even when she’s mad at me. Do I want to come over? I always want to come over. Sometimes I just want to hold her in my arms, but I can’t.
Sounds great. How about at 7? My shift ends at 6. I text back.
Perfect. Two sausage pizzas?
She knows me. I can eat a pizza all by myself. You know it, babe.
Chapter 3
I look out into the night sky and the rain is coming down hard. I have a meeting in an hour, but it doesn’t look like the rain’s going to slow down any time soon. My frustration with Erik and this rain are going to drive me mad. “Damn it, why is it storming? I have to get back to the meeting with the inspectors for the final touches on the hotel,” I complain to myself while sitting in the diner and constantly checking my favorite watch I got for my birthday. I’ve got to wait until it lightens up because I don’t want my plans to get wet.
I’m looking over my notes while I sip my drink. Being late isn’t my only reason for wanting to get out of here. Despite the storm, I’m not alone. My friend/tormentor was the only other customer in the coffee shop. We had a fight last night after dinner. He’s been irritable lately—well, more than usual—but I’ve been no better. It’s my fault as much as it’s his for our latest argument. The man makes me crazy. Last night was our third dinner this week, but it ended in a huge argument.
“Maybe you shouldn’t have come here to get your favorite latte,” Sheriff Smith remarks like a prick. I knew he was going to harass me. Erik was being a bastard since yesterday. We had dinner together because both of us were loners, and on normal days really enjoyed each other’s conversation. After dinner, we went to my house, and we watched the second movie in the Twilight saga. I felt the pain of the one wolf who loved the other wolf who found his soulmate. It was like a bruise to my soul because I knew one day, Erik would find his mate, and it wasn’t going to be me. We both suddenly picked a fight with each other, and he left without saying goodbye.
“Maybe you should mind your own business. Don’t you have a job to do instead of eating donuts all day?” I snap back at him.
“Do I look like I eat donuts, Chloe? Hell, you don’t look like you eat at all. I’m surprised you’re in here,” he strikes back as he looks up and down at my body condescendingly. It stings. He’s looking at me like I’m hideous to him. I’ve never felt so uncomfortable in my skin. He’s never remarked on my figure before. We’ve always be so friendly and close.
“Go jump in front of a truck,” I hiss at him as I drink my latte defiantly.
“Ooh, that’s the best you got, sweet Chloe?” he sneers. I hate the way he’s acting. It’s like our words from last night ended our Détente we’ve kept over the past year.
“Why are you being such a jerk, Erik?” I ask angrily.
“Because I enjoy how crazy you get,” he responds, creeping closer to me. The look in his eyes is different than it’s been before. He’s mad at me, but looks at me like he’s sad. I don’t care for it or his attitude.
“How’s this for crazy?” I say, grabbing my iced caramel latte and tossing it on him. I’m shocked by what I’ve done, but he provokes me. Sometimes I never want to see him again. Yet the same thought brings me nothing but pain. I stare at him, waiting fearfully to see if I’m going to find myself in cuffs, or to see if he tells me he hates me.
He slowly wipes it from his face and inches toward me. Giving me a menacing grin and tilting his head, he snarls, “Miss Grey, that wasn’t a very smart thing to do.”
His formal way of referring to me pisses me off. “Well…you shouldn’t push me,” I reply.
He grasps my wrist in the empty shop and pulls me close. My heart’s racing, and his fingers burn into my flesh. “Chloe,” he whispers with his lips mere inches from mine. “Don’t fight with me. You’re lucky this place was empty.”
“I’m sorry, Erik.” I just want him to let me go because I’m tempted to do something stupid—like kiss his hard mouth.
He lets me go, and I feel the coldness all around. Suddenly, I want him to hold me again. “No, I’m sorry, Chloe. I don’t know what’s gotten into me today, but I want you to know I didn’t mean to say anything bad about you. I didn’t mean any of it. Yesterday got out of control. I’ve been upset by other things and I let them get me in a bad mood. I think you’re beautiful. Are we still friends?”
I melt at the fact that he called me beautiful. “Yes, of course we are still friends. I won’t let your shitty temper ruin it. I didn’t mean to dump my coffee on you.” I turn and grab some napkins and hand them to him.
“I think you did…but thanks for the napkins.” He gives me that crooked smile that makes me insane and does stupid shit to my heart. He tosses the dirty napkins on the table behind me and I see that his shirt is wet. I feel like a total bitch even if he did deserve it.
“Oh my gosh! I got your uniform soaked!” I start patting him down with extra napkins.
He stops my hands on his chest with a low rumble ripping from his throat. “Don’t worry. I have spare clothes in the car. Chloe wait until the rain stops before you head out. I don’t want anything to happen to my favorite wolf.” He winks at me, then walks out of the coffee shop without looking back.
The owner, Roger, one of the many pack members, gives me a smirk and says, “You know, if it wasn’t for our shifter nature, I would say you two have that sexual connection like those movies where the two main characters fight like cats and dogs, then end up together.”
“Like ‘You’ve got mail’? I like that movie,” I remark. Cat’s got me watching romantic movies, or maybe it’s the other way around. Either way, we curl up on the sofa and veg out to love stories.
“I don’t know. I just watch whatever Eve watches, when she asks.”
“Well, it’s not our lives. It can’t be our lives. We’re not mates; soon we’ll meet our mates, and then we’ll still be teasing each other.” I get more despondent as I say the words my heart refuses to believe.
“Okay,” he mocks, then hands me a replacement caramel latte. Everyone but my brother Hunter knows that I’m constantly hanging around Erik. He’s been too busy recovering, getting the resort up and running, and not to mention worshiping his mate to notice.
“Thanks, Roger,” I say, rushing out the door to get to my meeting on time. I have to drive back to the resort to meet with the final structural inspection team. It’s wet and storming. Th
e rain’s coming down so hard that even despite my exquisite vision, I can hardly make out the road in front of me. I call the resort to tell my brother that I’m running late.
“Chloe, it’s fine. You know that you don’t have to control everything, right?” He laughs.
“Ha. That’s rich coming from you, you know?” He’s all about control.
“Well, I’m the Alpha. I do have to control everything. You know I don’t know who my Beta is going to be, but I swear it should be you.”
“That would be freaking awesome, but we know it’s not possible. The same family can’t have total control. Anyways, I’ve got to let you go. The road is starting to clear up. I’ll be there as soon as I can.” It’s not that clear, but I hate being late and refuse to wait until who knows when for it to stop.
I hang up with Hunter, itching to run to the hotel, but I have all the plans and notes that can’t get wet. I’m about to start driving again when I see bright lights coming toward me slowly. It’s a squad car; it’s Erik. I roll my eyes because I know he’s going to get on me for driving in this shit.
He jumps out of his car quick as hell and is at my window in a flash. “Chloe, damn it. Are you okay? Why didn’t you wait for it to stop like I told you?”
“Because you’re not my keeper, besides I’m fine. I let it lighten up, but I have a meeting to get to. I pulled over because the rain got too heavy to see the road.” I know he’s only being concerned for me, but seeing him when we can’t be together gets to me, especially because I need him.
“I know it’s coming down hard. You’ve got to be careful, babe. They just towed your inspectors out of a ditch.”
“Are they all right?” I ask, trying to ignore the “babe.” It’s too much for me to deal with.
“They’re fine, but they’ll be staying at the resort tonight. There’s debris all over the road a mile ahead. Pull into the brush, and I’ll give you a ride to the resort with whatever you need to take.”
I try to lift that scowl he’s giving me, so I give him a wink with a buttery sweet, “Thanks, Sheriff.”
