by Rayna Tyler
By staying in the treetops, it didn’t take me long to reach the tree closest to the males’ truck. I leaped into the air and landed with a loud thud on the hood of the cab. “You boys want to tell me what you’re doing?”
The males, both wolves, jerked their heads in my direction. Their dark masks hid their faces, but from this distance, I could see the angry glint in their eyes. One pair was brown, the other green.
“Who the hell are you?” Mr. Green Eyes asked, then dropped the toolbox he’d taken from the shed on the end of the tailgate.
At the same time, the male with brown eyes reached for the bolt cutters he’d set on the ground and propped against the building’s exterior.
“I could ask you the same thing. I’m pretty sure you’re trespassing.” I glanced at the toolbox, then back at the males. “And stealing from the resort.”
“Fuck, John.” Green Eyes glared at his buddy. “I told you this was a bad idea, that it was only a matter of time before we got caught.”
“Shut up, you idiot, and stop using my name. You know what he’ll do to us if we don’t finish the job.” John gripped the bolt cutter tighter, his voice cracking with fear.
Based on his comment, it didn’t take a genius to know these two were lackeys, that there was someone else organizing the thefts. Someone who didn’t do his own work and made sure others would be blamed if anything went wrong.
I scented Reese, then out of my periphery got a glimpse of him moving through the shadows, inching toward the right side of the truck. Once these two stopped arguing, it wouldn’t take long before they detected his odor. I wasn’t sure what he planned to do, but decided a distraction couldn’t hurt.
“Hey, guys, do you mind telling me who you’re talking about? Who’s in charge of your operation?” I didn’t think they’d give me the other male’s name. They appeared to be more afraid of him than they were of me.
The only acknowledgment I got was a seething glare from both men.
“What are we going to do with her, Mick?” John asked. “I saw her at the site with Reynolds. We can’t let her leave. The boss will kill us when he finds out someone saw what we were doing.”
“Now that she’s seen us and knows our names, we’ll have to take her with us,” Mick said.
“He’s not going to like it.”
“He doesn’t have to know. She’s one puny female. There’s plenty of places on the mountain where we can get rid of her so no one will find her,” Mick said.
Puny, seriously? Having males underestimate my abilities was nothing new. My cat was stretching her claws, eagerly urging me to correct their assumption.
“Fine, hurry up so we can get out of here before someone comes looking for her,” John said.
“Why don’t you climb down off there so we can talk?” Mick hopped up on the tailgate and sidestepped the toolbox.
It appeared they were limited on brain cells as well. “What am I, five years old? I just heard you tell your friend you planned to make me disappear.” I shook my head and flexed my fingers. “Not a brilliant move on your part.”
If I could keep them talking, they’d be too distracted to shift. Because of my cat’s size, fighting would be more difficult and bloody. It wouldn’t be the first time I’d battled a larger animal. I was more concerned about Berkley’s reaction if I showed up at the wedding covered with scrapes and bruises. Minor injuries would disappear in a few hours; anything deeper would take a lot longer.
Mick snarled and dove at my legs. I jumped straight up latching on to an overhanging branch and narrowly missed his lunge. His miscalculation caused him to overshoot his reach and smack the metal surface with his chest.
“Jac, get out of here,” Reese yelled as he rushed at John and tackled him from behind. John grunted. The bolt cutters flew through the air and bounced off the shed. At the same time, Reese and John hit the ground, and I lost sight of them.
“Not without you.” I was overwhelmed by the need to help Reese, to protect my mate. I wasn’t going to seek safety, nor was I going to give Mick a chance to go after him. I whipped my legs through the air and released my grip, performing a perfect somersault and landing on Mick’s back. I dug my newly extended claws into the muscles on his shoulders and wrapped my legs around his hips.
“Get off me, bitch.” He shoved to his feet, spinning in a circle, his boots thudding on metal as he tried to dislodge me from his back. I dodged the sharp claws he swiped at my face, then bit the side of his hand when it got close to my mouth.
He banged my lower back against the frame of the rear window. Pain radiated along my side, and I groaned. I refused to let go and dug my nails in deeper, his blood soaking the shirt beneath my fingertips.
He screamed, lost his footing, and toppled over the side of the truck’s bed. Unfortunately for me, he twisted at the last second, his larger body landing on top of me, forcing the air out of my lungs with a heavy whoosh.
I choked and coughed, the need for air stronger than the need to keep my claws firmly in place. Mick rolled and was on me in seconds, straddling my waist, his fingers wrapped around my throat. I clawed at his wrists, scraping skin, trying to get free. He was too strong, the pressure on my neck too great.
Reese was nowhere to be seen, and all I could think about was whether or not my bold decision to engage the males had caused him harm or gotten him killed. Not that it mattered now. Not at the rate my vision was blurring, my body spiraling closer to unconsciousness and possibly death.
A feral, agonized growl ripped through the air. An instant later, Mick was wrenched away from me. I heard a loud bang accompanied by the crackle of breaking bones.
“Are you all right?” Reese was on his knees at my side. “Where are you hurt?”
He grimaced, then cupped the side of my face and tipped my chin to examine my neck, which was probably covered with red marks. He brushed his fingertips over the painfully tender area, his touch gentle and caring.
“I’m okay.” I reassured him by placing my hand over his. I was relieved not to see signs of injury on him.
“Promise me you won’t ever do that again.” He sat back in the dirt and pulled me onto his lap.
It was a promise I couldn’t make, so I remained silent and let him cradle me against his chest, the action soothing for both our animals. I lifted my head and held his gaze. “Reese, I...” My apology was swallowed by his kiss. A devouring kiss, an intermingling of mouth and tongue so possessive that it left me breathless and panting.
When he finally pulled away and my pulsing heart slowed enough for rational thought, I whispered, “Thank you for helping me.”
“You’re welcome.” He groaned and lifted me off the ground, keeping an arm around my waist until I could stand on my own. “I suppose arguing or telling you I told you so wouldn’t do any good, would it?”
“Probably not.”
“Have you always been so strong-willed and stubborn?”
I took his smile as a good sign. “Pretty much.”
He shook his head, defeated. “We should be getting back.”
I glanced to my left and spotted Mick and John unconscious in the dirt, a result of Reese’s impressive handiwork. “What are we going to do about them?”
He pulled his cell out of his back pocket and stared at the screen. “With no service and without cell reception, we won’t be able to get anyone out to the site, including the police.”
The radio Bryson had given me was in my bag. I didn’t mention it because I didn’t want to interrupt his evening with Leah. “Couldn’t we take their truck and use the landline back at the lodge?”
“Not a bad idea.” He grinned and tweaked my chin.
“Do you think whoever they’re working for will come looking for them?”
“It’s possible.” He grabbed the toolbox off the tailgate and carried it into the shed, returning a few seconds later with some rope. “We’ll take them with us just in case.”
“I’ll be right back. I need to get my
camera,” I hollered over my shoulder, already sprinting toward the tree where we’d been hiding.
When I returned, Reese had finished securing Mick’s and John’s hands and feet with the rope. He picked them up one at a time and not so gently tossed them on the bed of the truck.
I climbed into the passenger seat of the truck and waited for him to join me. “Well, that was fun.” I hoped a little humor would alleviate the tension I sensed radiating from Reese.
“How was that fun?” He furrowed his brows. “You got hurt.”
He knew as well as I did the marks would be gone by tomorrow, that my shifter body would heal the marks long before they turned into bruises. “I know it didn’t go as well as I’d hoped, but now you’re a lot closer to finding out who’s behind the thefts.”
He grunted and started the truck. “Is that your way of saying I was right and you should have listened to me?”
I flashed him a wry smile, then snapped my seat belt into place. “Not even a little.”
Chapter Thirteen
REESE
After three strong cups of coffee, the caffeine pumping through my veins had worked its way through my haze of exhaustion. It had been late when Jac and I returned to the lodge, then waited for the Hanford police to arrive and take John and Mick to jail. It was even later by the time I’d explained to my siblings and their mates what had happened at the construction site. Thankfully, my parents had already retired and I didn’t have to suffer through their extensive questioning or listen to any parental lectures.
While we’d waited for the police, Preston and I had done some interrogating of our own. We’d learned the males worked on the framing crew, but they’d refused to give up the identity of the man responsible for masterminding the thefts. Whether they’d meant to or not, they’d given me an obscure detail that might lead to the location of my stolen property. During one of their many arguments, Mick made an offhanded remark, referring to the nickname for an area on the mountain that only someone who’d grown up here would know anything about.
I adjusted the blinds on the patio door to let in more of the early afternoon sun, then pushed aside my concerns and focused on the day’s event.
“Explain to me again why tying this thing around my neck is important.” Nick walked out of my bathroom tugging on the ends of the tie draped beneath the collar of his white shirt. Keeping with the groom-not-seeing-the-bride-before-the-wedding tradition, he was using my room to shower and dress. I wasn’t sure why Mandy thought it was important since they’d spent the previous night alone in their cabin.
I understood his frustration. It had been some time since I’d worn any kind of suit, military or otherwise. My wolf didn’t like the constricting clothing either, but did his best to tolerate them.
Berkley had stellar taste when it came to fashion. She’d done an excellent job selecting Nick’s outfit. It was the first time I’d seen him wearing anything besides a T-shirt, jeans, or sweats. He had yet to put on his shoes and socks. My brother would go barefoot all year if I hadn’t insisted he keep his feet covered around the human guests and employees.
“Because you want to make your mate happy.” I took the ends of the silky material and folded them so they would slide easily into place. “And you need to look presentable in your wedding photos.” Thinking about the pictures we’d be posing for later reminded me I hadn’t seen Jac since shortly after we’d returned to the lodge. She’d conveniently escaped to her room before having to answer any of my sister’s questions.
I’d heard her leave her room early this morning and hadn’t heard her return. If I didn’t already know that she was down at the cabin with Berkley and my mother helping Mandy get ready, I’d be worried that she was sneaking around doing something I’d warned her not to.
“Speaking of photos, how’s it going with Jac? Has she agreed to let you claim her yet?” Nick wiggled his brows.
Jac’s refusal to accept me as her mate and my nosy family’s comments on the topic continued to rub my nerves raw. “None of your business.” I adjusted the tie under his collar a little tighter than necessary.
“That’s a ‘no,’ then.” He growled, smacked my hand away, then worked the tie loose so he could breathe better. “You should talk to...”
I knew what he was going to say and held up my hand. “Save it. I already got the same advice from Preston. I’m not asking Mandy and Berkley for help.”
“You might change your mind if Jac decides to leave after the wedding.” He opened the closet, took his suit coat off a hanger, and put it on.
A wave of panic tightened my chest. “What are you talking about?” I knew she might leave, but I’d convinced myself that I had more time, that I’d be able to get past her preconceived views about the kind of male I was and win her over.
“Just that I overheard Berkley talking to Mandy. She said Jac keeps evading the question, hasn’t accepted the photographer job yet. Berkley’s afraid she’s not going to stay.”
There was a loud rap, then the door leading into the hallway opened. “Hey,” Preston said as he walked inside. I never understood why the damned cat couldn’t wait to be invited into a room before he entered. “Berkley wants to know if you two are ready?” He glanced at Nick’s feet and grinned. “You planning on going barefoot?” Preston strolled across the room and leaned against the dresser with his legs crossed at the ankle.
“Damn, I forgot.” Nick plopped on the edge of the bed, then pulled a pair of black suede shoes and dark socks out of his duffel bag. He glanced at Preston and said, “Since you’re here, maybe you can talk some sense into my idiot brother. You know Berkley will find a way to blame us and make our lives hell if Jac leaves.” He finished slipping into his shoes, then stood and adjusted the belt on his pants.
Preston frowned and pushed away from the dresser. “Seriously, Reese. You need to make this right before Nick and I end up sleeping on the floor.”
I glared at my soon-to-be-ex-friend. “You’re my sister’s mate, so I understand why you’d be concerned. But I don’t see how this will affect Nick.”
“Because if Berkley is upset, she’ll tell Mandy, then the two of them will...” Nick shook his head.
I rubbed a hand down my face. “Are you saying the fate of your sex lives hinges on whether or not I claim Jac?”
“Yes.” They bellowed their emphatic response simultaneously.
BERKLEY HAD DONE A great job turning one of the lodge’s meeting rooms into a chapel complete with a wide aisle down the middle of two chair-filled sections. If the bridal packages she was developing were profitable, we’d eventually build a separate chapel to accommodate bigger groups. During several of our marketing discussions, she’d also talked about building a gazebo for couples interested in having their weddings outside.
I peeked through the partially opened door leading into a larger area where the actual ceremony would take place. The room was filled with family, employees, and the people from town who were either close personal friends or those we did business with. There were a lot of people, human and shifter alike, who liked and respected Nick and Mandy.
Bryson had been assigned usher duties and was busy escorting the new arrivals to their seats. I noticed he’d seated my parents on opposite sides of the aisle, no doubt complying with my sister’s explicit instructions.
The bridal party, except for Nick, who was standing near the makeshift altar inside the chapel, was nervously waiting for the ceremony to begin. I had to give my brother credit. Wild wolves had a natural aversion to crowds. It took a lot of effort to control his wolf around this many people. It also showed how much he loved his mate.
I closed the door and went back to pacing, eager to get things moving. After Nick had dropped the Jac-might-be-leaving bomb, I was even more anxious to see her. My wolf was going nuts. If Berkley hadn’t made it a point to let me know Jac would be arriving shortly, I would have gone to the cabin and dragged her here myself.
Roy Jensen, Mandy’s father,
slipped into the room behind me. “Hey, Reese.” He patted my shoulder, then headed straight for his daughter. He took her hands, gave her an admiring look, then pressed a soft kiss to her cheek. “You look so beautiful, sweetheart.”
“Thanks, Dad.” She smiled and squeezed his hands. “Is Barb coming?”
Mandy’s mother had passed away when she was young. Barb was her father’s widowed next-door neighbor who had been their friend for years and was currently the love of his life.
“She wouldn’t miss it. She’s already inside saving me a seat,” Roy said.
Mandy hadn’t wanted anything fancy and kept the bridal party small. Roy was there to give her away. Preston was paired with Berkley, and I was paired with Nina.
A click of heels coming from the hallway next to the open doorway on the opposite side of the room drew everyone’s attention. A few seconds later, Jac appeared with her camera bag slung across her right shoulder. Her gaze locked with mine as she gave me the briefest of smiles, before shifting her attention to the others in the room. “How is everyone doing?”
She’d looked gorgeous in the sundress she’d worn two nights ago, but it had nothing on the dress hitting midthigh and accentuating her petite frame. Thin straps exposed her bare shoulders, and the sheer black fabric with a floral print matched her garnet eyes. I couldn’t stop staring, my mouth was hanging open, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t move my jaw muscles.
“Nervous, but great,” Mandy answered with a beaming smile.
“I can’t thank you enough for doing this for us.” Berkley walked over to Jac and gave her a quick hug.
“It’s my pleasure.” Jac set her bag on the floor, then retrieved her camera and glanced around the group. “I know we talked about this before, but I wanted to remind everyone that I’ll be taking pictures during the ceremony, then immediately afterward, I’ll start taking the group photos.”
