by Jenny Frame
Zaria smiled and nodded. “I’ll just be a few minutes.”
She had never felt such warmth as she did from the Wolfgangs and Kenrick since her sister died. This pack comfort and support was everything she had missed out on, always being on the run.
Her thoughts turned to Kenrick. She had promised to take her out running today, and deep down she felt the flush of excitement.
Where are you now, Ricky?
* * *
Kenrick jumped off her horse and handed the reins to one of the stable hands. “Thanks, take care of her. She did well today.”
“Yes, Alpha,” the stable hand said.
The name jarred inside her and made her feel queasy. “I’m not an Alpha yet, just Kenrick, okay?”
“Sorry. I’ll take care of your horse, Kenrick.”
Why was she constantly reminded of what was ahead of her? Becoming Alpha was like a big black hole heading for her at unbelievable speed, and she didn’t want to think about it, but everyone seemed intent on pushing her in.
Kenrick walked off in the direction of the ranch office. She had been helping out Flash today, since Caden was still on baby leave, and was about to head over to take Zaria on a run.
She walked into the office and found Caden with her booted feet up on the desk and her Stetson covering her face. Kenrick approached the desk and said, “Cade?”
When there was no response she spoke a little bit louder. “Caden.”
Caden jumped to her feet from sleep. “What? I’m awake, I’m awake. Not sleeping.”
Kenrick held up her hands. “It’s okay. It’s just me.”
Caden clutched her chest and took deep breaths. “Great Mother! You made me jump.”
“What are you doing here, Cade? You’re on baby leave.”
Caden sat back down on her chair and rubbed her tired looking eyes. “Lena kicked me out.”
“What?” Kenrick said.
Caden took a big drink from her water bottle. “Just for the day. She said I was fussing and getting in the way. Can you imagine that?”
Kenrick laughed. “Aye, I can. How’s the bairn?”
“He’s the most precious thing in my heart, but he’s so loud. We’re hardly getting any sleep. Lena has the worst of it with feeding and everything, and I’m hovering, I know—I’m just frightened to let anything happen to him. He’s so fragile.”
“So since you were kicked out, you thought you might as well come here for a sleep?” Kenrick said.
“Something like that. I’ll give Lena a few hours to cool off, then go back home. Every instinct I have tells me to be around our den guarding them. I’m so lucky they’re mine.”
“You deserve it, Cade.”
Caden stretched and then looked more alert. “So, what’s happening today?”
“I was out checking the cattle with Flash and Ripp. They rode on over to the meatpacking plant, and I’m heading back into town to take Zaria out for a run.” Kenrick pulled her T-shirt to her nose and added, “I better get a shower first, actually.”
Caden clasped her hands and sighed.
“What is it? Something wrong?” Kenrick asked.
“Don’t you think it would be better if I got someone else to take her out?” Caden said.
“What? Why? Dante gave me the job. I’ll take her out until the Alpha says differently,” Kenrick said with force in her voice.
Caden sat back in her seat. “Exactly because of that anger in your voice. Dante and I have noticed your protective instinct towards her since she arrived here.”
“Of course I feel protective. She’s a submissive wolf who’s been hunted since she was a child, with no wolf pack to protect her. It’s our duty to care for her.”
“We don’t even know if her story is true. Zaria is a Lupa and could be here to betray us.”
Kenrick felt anger and energy coursing through her body, but she didn’t want to fight with her old friend, so she took a breath and tried to calm herself.
“I know she’s not here to harm us. My wolf trusts her completely,” Kenrick said firmly.
Caden nodded. “You must understand my and Dante’s fear. The Lupas attacked our mates.”
“I understand.” Kenrick did get it. She would feel the same if her mate was Lena or Eden—or Zaria? Kenrick shivered and shook that feeling from her body.
“Remember, you’re only here for a few weeks, Ricky. You’ve got a whole new life waiting for you when you get home to Wulver Forest.”
“What are you saying, Cade?”
“Don’t get attached.”
Chapter Eight
Kenrick went back to the Alpha’s den and got a quick shower and change before driving over to Zaria’s apartment. Caden’s words weighed heavily on her mind. Was she getting attached? The excitement in her stomach and heart as she drove to her destination confirmed that fact.
She parked Dante’s truck outside Zaria’s apartment and turned off the engine. She ran her hands over her ponytailed dreadlocks and tightened the leather band that held them together.
Was this a bad idea? Was everyone right? She wasn’t here for long and yet she felt an emotional attachment, and her wolf felt territorial over Zaria. Her wolf was telling her it was her job to take care of Zaria the way no other wolf had. It was always to wise follow your wolf.
Kenrick looked up at Zaria’s apartment windows and—remarkably—saw Zaria looking back. Zaria smiled sweetly and Kenrick felt like Zaria’s bite was sinking deeply into her heart.
I need to know her. No matter what, Kenrick determined. She got out of the car and hurried upstairs. The two wolves on the door saluted.
“Everything okay?”
“No problems. The Mater, Vance, and Kyra were here earlier.”
“Good.” Kenrick knocked on the door and heard Zaria tell her to come in.
She walked in and immediately growled low and deep in her throat. Zaria was wearing a short denim shirt dress with a brown leather belt. Zaria must have noticed her staring silently, because she looked down at her dress and brushed the front with her hands. “Is everything all right? Is the dress okay? The Mater brought some clothes for me.”
Kenrick found it difficult to form words. Her body was on fire, and it felt like there was a big neon sign pointing down at Zaria saying, This is your wolf. The one you’ve been searching for.
How could she be feeling this, and so soon? Kenrick’s mother had often told her that the Great Mother didn’t like to waste time. When she put your mate on your path, you’d know it.
“I know it,” Kenrick said.
“Ricky? What are you saying?” Zaria said.
Kenrick shook herself. What are you playing at? “Sorry. Ignore me. You look really bonnie, Zaria.”
Zaria smiled. “Thank you. Are we going running now?”
“No…yes…well, later. I thought I could take you for lunch then get an ice cream and walk down to the lake,” Kenrick said.
Zaria folded her arms defensively. “That sounds nice, but I don’t have any money and I can’t let you pay for it.”
Kenrick marched over to Zaria. “Why not?”
Zaria sighed and hugged herself. “Because dominants control submissives with money, and I promised myself I’d never be in debt to a dominant.” Zaria regretted her words when she saw the look of hurt on Kenrick’s face.
“What do you mean by that? A dominant wolf provides the meat for their family’s table, but there’s no debt involved. It’s the wolf’s duty.”
Zaria couldn’t look in Kendrick’s hurt eyes any longer, so she walked over to the window and gazed out at lots of happy looking wolves and cubs coming and going. “Maybe things aren’t as bad here in Wolfgang County, but I’ve been in debt to a wolf before, and I’ve seen my sister controlled by money.”
Zaria could feel Kenrick approaching. Kenrick’s scent sent shivers all over her body. She should not be reacting like this. She had to stop it.
“Zaria?” Kenrick’s Scottish accent sent shivers ov
er her ever-warming skin.
Zaria didn’t move, but she could feel Kenrick’s warm, reassuring presence.
“Please, turn around.”
After a few seconds she did. Kenrick held out her open hands. “I know that what you’ve been through has coloured your opinion about dominant wolves, but please, give me a chance. We are not what you were brought up with.” Kenrick reached out to Zaria’s hand. “May I take your hand?”
Zaria was surprised. No wolf had ever asked permission to touch her before. She nodded and Kenrick took her hand and placed it on her chest.
“Can you feel my heart?” Kenrick said.
“Ricky—” Zaria protested.
But Kenrick was determined. “No, please. Feel my heart and look at me.”
Zaria did and found herself falling into the deep blue eyes she found there.
“Zaria, I have never in my life hurt, physically or mentally, any submissive wolf. My mother would have flayed me alive. Buying you lunch or ice cream does not put you in my debt. It gives me the company of a beautiful lassie to share a meal with. Nothing more. Look in my eyes and feel my heart. I would rather cut off my own arm with a rusty blade than hurt you.”
Zaria couldn’t help but smile. “Lassie? Do people actually say that?”
A smile crept up on Kenrick’s face. “In Scotland we do.”
“Okay then, Highlander.”
* * *
Kenrick and Zaria walked from her apartment down Main Street. It had taken a monumental effort on Kenrick’s part just to get this far. She watched Zaria look around nervously and check behind her quite often. It saddened Kenrick that even here, where she was safe, Zaria was still haunted by her past.
She would love to get her claws on Ovid and Leroux and see if they could frighten someone of their own size. It went against everything she was taught to harm others for no good reason, but Ovid and Leroux gave her every reason to tear them limb from limb.
“Zaria, no one is going to hurt you. You’re safe here. I’m at your side.” That last sentence betrayed as much as she was able to admit for the moment.
Zaria sighed. “It’s hard to switch off when you’ve been doing it for most of your life. Where are we going anyway?”
“Well, there’s either the Big Bad Wolf Diner for something more basic, or the New Moon Bar and Grill. What would you prefer?”
Zaria looked down at her feet. “Not the diner. Too many bad memories.”
“Aye, maybe. The New Moon it is then. Let’s go. It’s just across the road.”
When they reached the edge of the sidewalk, Kenrick automatically reached out to take Zaria’s hand. Just as they touched, Kenrick realized what she was doing and pulled back.
“Sorry, sorry. I just acted out of instinct. I should have asked—” Kenrick blabbered.
“It’s okay, Ricky. Really. No one’s ever asked permission to touch me before, so you’re different from anyone I’ve ever met.”
“I’d never touch you without permission. I promise you.”
Zaria smiled. “Let’s just get across the road, huh?”
Kenrick smiled back. Zaria’s smile made her head turn to mush. Was that supposed to happen? “Aye, let’s go.”
After managing to navigate the quiet road, they entered the New Moon Bar and Grill. The wolves already in the bar all looked suspiciously at the Lupa wolf they had no doubt heard about through pack gossip, but when Kenrick looked all around with equal fierceness, they went back to what they were doing.
She found a booth near the back so Zaria would have some privacy.
“This is a nice place,” Zaria said.
“Yeah, the younger wolves mostly go to the Big Bad Wolf, but this is for us adults,” Kenrick told her.
“We never had anything like this in the Lupa pack lands. It makes me sick that they actually had us believing the other packs lived in poverty.”
“I’m sorry you were lied to, but you’re here now. We can show you what being in a pack is really about.”
Before Zaria could respond, a waitress Kenrick recognized came over holding menus. When she got to the table, she put her hand to her chest in salute.
“Hi, Kenrick, it’s a pleasure to have you here with us again.”
Shit. Why do people have to do that? Kenrick decided just to ignore it and carry on. “Hi, Judy, this is Zaria. She’s staying with the pack for a while.”
Judy didn’t disappoint her and gave Zaria the biggest smile. “Glad to have you here, Zaria. Take a look at the menu and let us feed you.”
They each took a menu and Judy left. Kenrick studied her menu, hoping Zaria wouldn’t say anything about the saluting. She could feel Zaria’s eyes staring at her, waiting for an explanation. “What looks good to you? I think the meat feast platter looks brilliant.”
“Ricky?” Zaria asked.
Kenrick still didn’t look up. “Hmm?”
“Why does everyone keep saluting you?” Zaria asked.
“Do they?” Kenrick tried to deflect the question.
“Yeah, they really do. You must be someone really important in the Wulver pack.”
Kenrick finally needed to look up. “Me? No, it’s just because I’m a visitor, I think. A cultural thing, a way to show respect to another pack.”
Zaria searched her eyes for a while, then thankfully looked down at the menu. “Look at the prices, Ricky. I’ll just have some soup, and water.”
“Don’t look at the prices. You said you’d let me buy us lunch. Please?”
Just then Judy came back over. “Have you decided yet?”
Zaria start to say, “Just s—”
But Kenrick cut her off. “Two large meat platters, large fries, and two lime Wulver Spring waters.”
“You got it,” Judy said.
She walked away and Zaria said, “Why did you do that?”
“Because I want to have a nice meal with you and you’re being stubborn. I have money and no one to spend it on except myself. I think I can spend it on a meat platter for two without me claiming any rights over you. You told me you trust me.”
Zaria closed her eyes and took a breath. She was fighting every instinct inside herself. She knew in her heart that she trusted Kenrick, but it was so hard to make her head understand this wasn’t a Lupa wolf trying to get something from her.
She opened her eyes and said sarcastically, “The Wulvers must pay their jack of all trades well.”
Kenrick smiled, clearly knowing she’d won this round. “Aye, they do.”
When their meal came, they became relatively quiet. Both were enjoying the meal so much. Zaria had never eaten meat like this. It was so juicy and there was so much of it, and she allowed herself to let go and enjoy it. A few times she felt Kenrick’s gaze on her as she ate. Kenrick looked away immediately but Zaria saw it unmistakably.
Zaria should have felt threatened, but Kenrick didn’t make her feel like when Ovid ogled her, or any other Lupa wolf. It didn’t feel wrong or make her feel objectified in any way. Kenrick’s appreciative glances were sweet, especially her red cheeks when she realized she’d been caught.
It also made a thousand fresh spring forest leaves flutter in her stomach, and who could blame them? Ricky was gorgeous and different to any other wolf she had seen. She was like some kind of rock god, with a physique hewn from the wild Scottish mountains, and a wildness infused in her by the ancient Caledonian forest in which her ancestors had made their home.
Her mane of dreadlocked hair was crying out for Zaria to touch it, and at one point she got a flash of holding on to it as Kenrick lay on top of her. She shivered. Attraction and the urge to mate was a new emotion and she would need some time to process it. Luckily she wouldn’t be here for long to be tempted.
Chapter Nine
Kenrick led them down to the lake, and they sat on the sandy beach that bordered the water. At the ice cream shop, Zaria had been overwhelmed with all the choices, so Kenrick just ordered the biggest ice cream cone they did, with all the
sprinkles and added extras for both of them.
She looked to her side and watched Zaria hungrily licking her ice cream. Kenrick felt a deep hunger low down in her sex at the sight. She was glad they got ice cream because it might cool her body down.
Kenrick forced herself to look away, which went against all her instincts. It was the same in the restaurant. She had never found a woman eating meat to be a turn-on before, but now it was, and Zaria caught her looking a few times.
It was the last thing she wanted. Zaria had spent her life being appraised sexually and being made to feel like a sexual object by the dominant wolves she knew, and now she was appraising her too. She had to show Zaria she was different.
“This lake is beautiful,” Zaria said. “Is it as big as Wulver Loch?”
“No, Wulver Loch is bigger, but this is pretty enough in its own way, and it’s loch not lock.”
“Huh?” Zaria asked.
“People outside Scotland get the word wrong. Imagine you’ve got something caught in the back of your throat when you say it.”
Zaria laughed. “You paint a lovely picture, wolf.”
“Try it,” Kenrick said.
“Loch.”
“Hey, you got it.” Kenrick gave her a high five.
Zaria pointed up to a point across the lake and halfway up the mountain where cars were parked. “What’s up there, Ricky?”
“It’s the lookout. Tourists park there to go on some of the walking trails, but the teenage wolves use it for something quite different.” Kenrick winked at her.
Zaria smiled. “You mean a make-out spot?”
“Maybe,” Kenrick replied coyly.
Zaria took a few licks of ice cream and said, “So, you’re related to the Wolfgangs?”
“Yeah, all the British and Irish packs are. We take pride in our blood connections, and in our wolf pioneers who left to set up new packs in the New World, as it was at that time.”
“The Lupas don’t really have that kind of extended family. We come from a mix of Eastern European and West Asian packs, but we never kept up our history or connections. We had countless battles and wars with them in the past, that’s all I know.”
