Led away in handcuffs, Simon kept glancing over his shoulder as Raven was taken away in the opposite direction. He would do whatever was necessary to ensure her survival, even if he had to sacrifice his own life. No way would he let harm come to his mate.
His mate.
Finally, he could acknowledge the truth. Raven and he were mates, a fated pair, meant to be together. Living the rest of his life by her side was the only way he wanted to live.
First opportunity he got, he was busting out of here and going for her.
His two guards led him to the stairwell, making him wonder if they planned to toss him down several floors to his death. Instead, they prodded him upward. One more floor. Two. As they rounded the corner of the nineteenth floor, Simon noticed his escorts appeared to be growing winded. The one on his left, a good fifty pounds overweight, wheezed and gasped for air. The one on the right, slightly younger and in a bit better shape, was out of breath.
Simon hid a savage grin. Sometimes he knew he had to make his own opportunities.
He took one now, elbowing the guard on the left, then as the man doubled over, shoving him into the one on the right. Not watching to see how far they fell, he took off, taking the stairs two and three at a time.
Behind him, he could hear his guards struggling to catch up.
This building had twenty-one floors. Turley’s offices occupied the entire top floor. If he could get to Turley, he and Raven might have a chance. Otherwise, they were as good as dead.
He could only hope once he got to the twenty-first floor, he wouldn’t find the stairwell doorway locked.
His luck held. Panting only slightly, hearing the guards struggling up a floor below him, he grasped the doorknob and turned. The door opened. Stepping inside, Simon turned the lock, effectively halting his pursuers. They’d have to go back to the twentieth floor and see if they could find someone with a key to use the private elevator. Even if they did, Simon had just bought himself enough time to do what he needed.
No one stopped him, not in the plush waiting room, nor the antechambers after. Finally, he reached the big man’s office, the ornate door carved with symbols of power. Taking a deep breath, Simon burst through the door, ready to do battle.
Instead, he found himself facing Raven and Turley, sitting across from each other in comfortable chairs, looking at him and smiling.
Later, after Turley listened and explained the immediate changes he’d ordered, they learned Ross had been led away to be brought up on charges. The counts against him were so numerous they took up three single-spaced pages.
Cee, Beck and Zach had all been released. Simon and Raven were free to go, though Simon had been ordered back to active duty in two weeks’ time. Like all the other Protectors who’d served under Ross, he would have to undergo extensive retraining.
Finally, as they got up to leave, Simon took Raven’s hand.
“Wait,” Turley said. “Raven has told me she wants her life back the way it was before. She isn’t a danger to anyone. I have one final order. Before you start your two-week leave, return her to the place where you found her.”
He appeared to be watching closely for a reaction, even as he clapped Simon hard on the back. “Then we can all live happily ever after, eh?”
Stunned, Simon managed to nod.
The head of the Society leaned close, speaking in a low voice so only he could hear. “Are you aware of the possibility she may be your mate?”
Simon swallowed. Jerking his head in what amounted to a nod, he met the other man’s gaze. “Yes,” he answered. “Yes, I am.”
Turley nodded, releasing him. “Then you’re free to go.”
Shell-shocked, Simon turned blindly, reaching for Raven. Maybe he’d known all along, somewhere deep inside him, that she was his mate. But did she?
As their hands connected, he found himself searching her face for an answer. Unaware of his thoughts, she gave him a reassuring smile.
“Are you ready?”
“Yes.” Chest tight, he held on to Raven’s hand until they made it to the elevator, then released her.
He should have known this moment would come. He had to let her go.
On the elevator ride down, she gave him a tired smile. “I’ve got to figure out what to tell Cee,” she said. “I’m not sure if I want her to know anything about cloning, yet I have to tell her we’re family.”
He nodded, knowing he couldn’t speak, not yet. Not until he wrapped his mind around the idea of a life without her. Part of him kept hoping she’d refute Turley’s words, tell him she didn’t want to return to her mountain, even though all along she’d told Simon the same thing.
She wanted to go home.
He would give her what she wanted.
The motorcycle sat parked exactly where they’d left it. Simon handed Raven her helmet, buckling his own and swallowing to clear his aching throat.
“Do you mind if we stop to check on Theo?” Her clear blue gaze contained no hint of her thoughts.
“Sure,” he managed, climbing on the bike and waiting for her. “No problem.”
The two-hour drive back to Boulder passed in a blur.
At the clinic, they found Zach, looking well rested.
“Are you okay?” Simon clasped his friend’s arm. “I was worried about you.”
“Fine.” Zach grinned. “They asked a few questions, kept me locked in a room in the Lamplighter Motel. Finally, one of my guards got a phone call and they let me go.”
“How’s Theo?” Raven could scarcely contain herself. “Is his leg healing?”
“You know I had to amputate, right?”
She nodded.
“He’s healing well, though it’ll be awhile before he’ll be able to walk again. He’ll have to be caged for a few more days. Are you planning on releasing him into the wild?”
Frowning, she bit her lip. “I don’t know. He was never one of the strong ones in the pack, and he’s so young.”
“There’s a wolf refuge north of here, up near Fort Collins. I can make a call and see if they’ll take him.”
“Would you?” Her entire face lit up, making Simon’s chest ache again. Even Zach appeared entranced as he slowly nodded.
“Can I see him?”
“Sure.” Zach led her away, returning a moment later alone. “What happened to you, man?” he asked softly. “You look like you got run over by a truck.”
Rubbing the back of his neck, Simon shook his head. “Nothing time and a fifth of whiskey won’t cure.”
The wolf sanctuary could take Theo in a couple of weeks. Until then, he’d have to remain in Raven and Simon’s care. Since Simon was still staying with Zach, the vet agreed to keep him at the clinic, as long as he wasn’t a danger to any of his employees.
It turned out the professor had willed Cee his house near the Hill. Raven went to stay with her for a few days, leaving Simon alone. And miserable.
He tried to tell himself the absence would be good practice for when Raven left for good, but nothing worked. He lost count of how many times he had to stop himself from calling her and when he caught himself turning down Cee’s street, he realized he’d turned into a basket case.
Even changing didn’t help. Driving up into the mountains to let his wolf run free only reminded him of Raven’s absence.
Mates weren’t meant to be separated.
He wondered if Raven was as miserable as he, or if he’d gotten the mate thing completely wrong. Finally, he gave in to impulse and called her.
Cee answered. “Hey, Simon. We found a box of photos of Raven and my parents. They’re awesome! You should come by and check them out. We look just like our mom.”
Which meant Raven had told her. “I’ll do that, soon. Is Raven around?”
“She’s out somewhere. I think she might have gone hiking. Do you want me to have her call you?”
Torn, he finally told Cee he’d call back later, knowing he wouldn’t. When he hung up, he had to battle the urge to comb the hik
ing trails near her house in search of her.
When Zach told him a week later that Theo had grown strong enough to be taken to the sanctuary, Simon jumped at the chance to call Raven. Hearing her voice sent a chill down his spine.
Though she sounded happy to hear from him, she didn’t sound as if she’d experienced anything like the desperation coiling inside him. He agreed to pick her up in the morning for breakfast, after which they’d go get Theo and take him up to Fort Collins.
The next morning, though he tried to prepare himself, he went weak in the knees at his first sight of Raven. She came to the door in a bright yellow, cable-knit sweater and jeans, her long hair tied up in a jaunty ponytail. He got out of Zach’s SUV, holding on to the side for balance, and attempted a casual wave and an even more casual smile.
But Raven would have none of that. Grinning, she barreled down the sidewalk and jumped into his arms. Wrapping her legs around his waist, she kissed his neck, his cheek, even his nose, before finally reaching his lips.
Blood thundering, he held her, letting himself sink into the kiss. When she finally broke away, laughing and breathless, he carefully placed her on her feet and prayed she didn’t notice his arousal.
“Hellhounds, that felt good,” he said, before thinking better of it.
“Sure did.” She leaned in and gave him one more quick kiss before going around to the other side of the SUV. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
He felt a flush of pleasure. “Me, too.” Understatement of the year.
“Cee will be disappointed she missed you.” Buckling her seat belt, she grinned. “When I told her how we’re related, I thought she might take it badly, but we found a couple of boxes of old pictures. That helped.”
“Are you two close now?” he asked, unable to tear his gaze away from her.
“Sure.” Her grin widened. “We’re only seven years apart and closer than most sisters. After all, she is a clone of me.”
“I’m glad you finally told her.”
“Yeah. Finding those old photos really was something. Seeing my parents, our parents, after all these years helped heal my heart.” She sighed. “But you know what? Cee is great and all, but I really want my normal life back.”
Her normal life. Just like that, the joy went out of his day. As Turley had said, she was entitled to return to the life she’d lived before. Before him. She was right to remind him. Hell, he’d reminded himself a hundred times on the way over to pick her up.
But he’d been unable to quash the small, niggling hope that upon seeing him she’d realize they were mates and decide she wanted him more.
Zach had sedated Theo and had three assistants help them load the caged wolf into the back of the SUV.
Simon thanked him and waved goodbye, but instead of heading north, he drove west, into the mountains. Though most of the high passes were closed for the winter, he figured he could get close enough to do what he needed to do. Set her free.
At a scenic overlook, he pulled the SUV over.
“What’s wrong?” Raven sounded puzzled. “Are you having car trouble?”
“No.” He gestured upward, toward the snow-covered peaks and rugged terrain. “I came here first so I could give you what you wanted, before I completely lost all my willpower.”
Staring at him, she bit her lip. “I’m not sure I understand.”
“Go,” he told her, somehow managing to smile while his heart felt as if it was splitting in two. “We’re close enough to your old cave. I can let you both go and Theo will help you find it.”
Silent, she continued to watch him, a shadow darkening her eyes to the color of dusk.
He forced a smile. “I’m sure if you return to the same general area, you can find your old pack of wild wolves. Though you might have to fight Mandy again for the Alpha spot.” His stupid, insincere smile wavered as he pictured her battling the she-wolf.
“Go,” he said again. “Go.”
She didn’t move. “Why?” she asked softly. “Why are you pushing me away?”
“This is what you want, right?” Without waiting for an answer, he continued, flinching inwardly at the bitterness in his voice. “All I can do is give you what you want, what you’ve asked for all along. Your old life, your freedom.”
She unfastened her seat belt, sending a flutter of panic through his chest. “You’re letting me go?”
“I’m giving you what you asked for. Your happiness.”
“And you think this is what I would like?”
“Isn’t it? This is what you’ve told me all along. Even today, when I picked you up, you said you wanted your normal life back.” His voice broke.
Doggedly, he forced himself to continue. “I don’t want you to go. If it were up to me…” He didn’t dare finish, mostly because he knew he couldn’t.
“If it were up to you?”
He shook his head. “Raven, don’t you see? All along, I’d hoped that once this was over, I’d be able to give you what you needed. That I would be enough for you. That together, we could make our own happiness.”
“Ah, Simon.” Her soft smile felt like a gut punch. Though he searched her eyes, he found no pity in her gaze. When she reached out and laid her hand along the curve of his jaw, it took everything inside him not to flinch away. “Do you promise?”
“Promise?” He rasped the word.
“To love me as much as I love you. Forever.”
His throat appeared to have closed, and now all he could do was jerk his head in a nod, scarcely able to believe, hardly able to breathe.
“Then, I’ll tell you what I want.” She came closer, so close their bodies nearly touched. So close he had to clench his hands into fists to keep from touching her.
“I want you,” she told him. “Only you.” Leaning over, she slanted her mouth over his for a deep, soul-shattering kiss.
He kissed her back, fighting with himself, juggling joy, incredulity and stubborn disbelief. And fear, most of all fear. That he could actually envision such happiness, such complete and utter joy, and then learn it wasn’t meant to be.
Confused, he didn’t understand. She wanted to live as a wild wolf, head of her wild pack in the wilderness, didn’t she?
As if she’d read his mind, she shook her head. “Not anymore,” she told him. “Not without you.”
At first, the words didn’t register. When they did, the tightness in his chest eased somewhat.
“Why?” One word was all he could manage.
“Because I love you. You’re my mate.” Her brilliant smile took his breath away, as did her second kiss, and her third.
Once he could breathe again, he held her, feeling as though the earth spun wildly, ground shifting under his feet. There should be fireworks, he thought. Trumpets blaring, clouds parting, rainbows.
Even as he lifted his gaze, waiting, a stray sunbeam fought its way through the clouds, lighting up Raven’s mountain as though by spotlight.
“There.” She pointed, gazing up at the peak as though she’d once again read his mind. “There’s your sign.”
He didn’t bother to ask her what she meant. They both knew. Raven. His mate, his love.
She loved him. He could scarcely take it all in.
She raised her head, studying his face, her own expression serious. “Commonly, the person being told I love you should say it back.” A flash of doubt crossed her beautiful face. “Unless…”
“Don’t even think that.” Finally, at last, he could give her this. He could tell her how he felt. Though a simple thing, these were words he’d never said to anyone, anytime, anyplace.
He cleared his throat. “I love you,” he said. Then, because his voice sounded rusty, he said them again. “I love you, Raven. You’re my mate. Forever and always.”
With a sigh, she melted into him and kissed him again.
Drowning in her, he managed to pull back. This was too important. There could be no misunderstanding or questions or doubt. “Raven, are you sure? You know we ca
n’t live in a cave up in the mountains?”
Only love blazed from her impossibly blue eyes. “I know. And I still love you.” One corner of her mouth lifted. “Before you ask again, yes, I’m positive.”
“Even if you have to spend a good deal of your time living among humans?”
She grinned. “Even if. As long as I have you by my side, and we change often, I’m good.”
“And Theo,” he reminded her, indicating the huge, yellow-eyed wolf, still unconscious in the cage. “You could keep him for a pet, if you like.”
“No. I wouldn’t do that to him. He’ll do well at the sanctuary. He’ll find a new pack, maybe even a mate.” She moved back to her seat and fastened the belt. “We’d better get him there before the sedative wears off.”
Reluctant to let go of her, nonetheless he put the SUV in Drive and began turning around, to go back into town and pick up the highway north into Fort Collins.
“On the way there,” she flashed an impish grin that warmed him all the way to his feet, “we can discuss where we want to live. I’d like to live close to the mountains.”
“Is that all?” he teased, loving her so much it hurt.
Gazing up at him through her lashes, she took a deep breath. “No. My one other requirement is a good school district for our children.”
Children. With her words, his last shred of doubt vanished. They’d have children, make a family of their own.
As the road curved to reveal Boulder spread out below them, the clouds once again parted, bathing the sprawling city in bright sunlight. Taking a deep breath, Simon realized his future, their future, contained endless possibilities for happiness, joy and more. A wealth of emotion, all waiting to be experienced.
And love of course. Always love, with his wild wolf mate right by his side.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-3597-1
WILD WOLF
Copyright © 2009 by Karen Whiddon
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the editorial office, Silhouette Books, 233 Broadway, New York, NY 10279 U.S.A.
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