by M. Limoges
***
Stephen tried to sort through the entire scene that had just played out in his bathroom. Despite the jumble of his emotions, two things were evident: Kate’s reluctance to mate made far more sense, and she’d run from him again while he just stood there in the buff, like a fool.
After all their years of friendship, and by God, love, why hadn’t she trusted him enough to speak of what troubled her for so long?
If she had let him speak and not jumped to conclusions, he could’ve eased her fears with a simple explanation. Once they’d completed their mate bond, the situation would more than likely remedy itself. No doubt the gene was there inside her, just dormant. Much like his aunt’s Wolf had been before she’d mated.
Even if she never shifted a day in her life, he couldn’t care less. It didn’t change the fact he loved her, would do any damn thing in his power for her. He’d stand by her side, and they’d weather any storm together. Something she obviously had trouble comprehending. Damn stubborn woman.
He was going to have to chase after her yet again. By God, when he caught her, he wasn’t letting her go this time.
Stephen didn’t bother dressing. Instead, he stomped out of the bedroom, rushed down the stairs, and strode outside, slamming the door Kate left open behind him. He yielded to the insistent urging of his Wolf and shifted.
Determination flowed through his blood, the thrill of the hunt exciting him. Sniffing the air, he caught his mate’s scent easily. He jumped from the porch and set off at a steady clip, following after her trail.
He pressed his legs as hard as he could, his heart pounding in motion with the pads of his paws. His nails tore into the earth, spraying dirt and grass behind him. Steering a clear path, he bounded around trees and lunged over any obstacle in his way.
The chilled wind brushed through Stephen’s fur and glided over his spine. Branches nipped at his muzzle and poked at his sides, but it scarcely mattered. His sole focus was finding Kate.
Predawn light crept through the tree branches overhead when he slowed to a trot. He came to a stop at the edge of the creek midway between his and Kate’s properties where her scent was strong. His tongue lolled to the side while he panted to quiet his hammering heart. Wading into the shallow water, he glanced down at the faint image of his wolfish reflection.
Stephen sighed, the sound resembling a lower-bellied rumble.
When he found Kate, he planned to haul her back to his house for a long chat. If she argued, then he’d simply turn her over his knee and spank her gorgeous ass into submission.
The thought of Kate all bare-assed and pink prompted his tail to sway back and forth. Not a bad idea at all.
The two of them could have their talk. He’d reassure her he was in it for the long haul with her. Perhaps he could explain how dormant Wolf genes worked while he made her breakfast. Then maybe—
Stephen’s hackles rose. He lifted his head and surveyed the surrounding woods. Not a single sound pricked his ears. An eerie silence blanketed the area, which unnerved him.
Something wasn’t right.
Animal intuition screamed at him to retreat and evade. He sank his claws into the sandy rock bottom beneath the water while his leg muscles tensed, preparing to spring from the creek. A faint whistle drew his notice, and he tracked the noise, a mistake that cost him as he lowered into a pouncing stance. A dart slammed into his hindquarter, the force dropping his lower half into the water, and he released a high-pitched yip.
Stephen rose on his four paws, but his limbs grew lax. He glanced at his hind leg and the shiny metal protruding from his hip. All at once, everything shifted out of focus. His heartbeat slowed to a sluggish thump. On shaky legs, he dragged himself to the edge of the creek and sprawled on his belly.
Footsteps vibrated the ground. Droplets of water sprayed his muzzle as the motion drew closer. Stephen’s gaze flew upward and centered on one of the men from the night before. Standing over him, the bastard aimed a rifle at Stephen’s head.
An ominous grin spread across the hunter’s face. “I had a feeling you and I’d be seeing each other again.”
Then he squeezed the trigger.
A second dart punctured Stephen’s shoulder, and his head dropped like a stone on the gravel bank. His bleary gaze landed on Kate’s terrified face hidden in the bushes before he passed out.
Chapter Seven
Kate bit her fist to keep from shouting. Concealed from sight, she sat in absolute silence and looked on as the human grabbed a walkie-talkie from his belt and held it to his mouth.
“Meet me along the stream we found yesterday. I’ve got one thing we came for.”
“Be there in ten.” The static reply ratcheted Kate’s fear to a whole new level.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
Once she’d spotted Stephen approaching the stream, she’d ducked behind a tree, delaying the inevitable. He would’ve located her. How could he not? He could easily sniff out her scent. But the last thing she’d expected was the human men they’d encountered the night before to show up.
Kate focused on Stephen, willing his eyes to open. Indecision waged war in her head. If she ran for help, God knows where they’d take him. Even worse, what if they killed him? She couldn’t risk leaving him alone, especially since he’d ventured here to find her. And she damn sure couldn’t shift to attack the ass who’d drugged him. So what the crap was she supposed to do?
A tremor raced through her limbs as panic threatened to overwhelm her. She wrapped her arms around her knees. Any second, her shaky composure would splinter in two, and she’d wind up doing something stupid that would get them both killed.
For God’s sake, get a damned hold of yourself, Kate.
Closing her eyes, she sucked in a deep, grounding breath to clear her head.
Come on, Kate. You can do this. Stephen needs you. Don’t let him down.
He did need her. She may have failed him before, but she refused to fail him when he needed her most. So what if she couldn’t shift? That didn’t mean she couldn’t take the human bastard down. Her eyes snapped open, and she glanced at Stephen’s furry head. He was out cold, so she wouldn’t get any help from him anytime soon. It was up to her to make this work.
Resolve whipped through her veins. She could do this.
No, she would do this.
Kate examined the ground around her for anything she could use as a weapon. She settled on a sturdy, broken tree branch. She held the thick stick in her hand, testing its weight and grip. It would have to do. It wasn’t as if she had a lot of options.
Easing into position, she waited for her enemy to present an opportunity, any point of vulnerability she could use to her advantage. Thankfully, the dickhead didn’t make her wait too long.
He moved to Stephen’s side and squatted to retrieve the darts embedded in his fur. With his gun lowered and his attention focused elsewhere, the man presented the opening she sought.
Gathering her nerve, Kate held the tree limb in a death grip and launched herself out of the bush. Caught off guard, the idiot reared around just as she swung the branch, connecting with the side of his head.
The man fell back on his ass and clutched his bloody temple. “You bitch.”
Kate wasted no time, snatching the rifle that fell from his grasp onto the ground and aiming it at his chest. “Want to say that again?”
“You think this will stop us? This town and you people. You’re freaks.” He nodded at Stephen. “You and his kind need to be exterminated from this world.”
She raised the weapon and took aim.
“Wait.” He lifted his hand in front of him.
But Kate didn’t. With a squeeze of the trigger, a dart flew into his shoulder. She ran to Stephen and knelt beside him. Laying a hand over his furry chest, she was relieved to feel the slow thump of his heart beneath her palm. Of course, she had no idea how long the drugs would keep him under.
Well, crap. She had to get him out of there before the others showed up.
>
Certain the hunter was unconscious, Kate grabbed the rifle once more and searched through his gear for ammunition. Once the weapon was reloaded, she stuffed the extra darts in her pockets in case she ran into trouble with his buddies on the trek to her house.
Slinging the rifle strap over her shoulder, she bent down and wrapped her arms around Stephen’s middle. She attempted to lift him, but in his Wolf form, he was too bulky to carry. Resigned, she blew out a breath and hoisted his front half under her arms.
After the first few steps with his back half dragging the ground, she realized it was going to be a long walk.
***
When Stephen swam into wakefulness, his first thought was of Kate. Alarm slammed into him. Without a second thought, he shifted to his human form and bolted upright, his forehead smacking into something solid. An explosion of pain burst behind his eyelids, and he grimaced.
“What the fuck, dude?”
Cracking his bleary eyes open, he squinted at Jace, who stood over him, scowling and holding his chin in both hands.
Stephen swallowed against the dryness in his throat. “Where’s Kate?”
“I always knew you had a hard head, but damn, man.”
Ignoring his friend, Stephen shoved the covers off and threw his legs over the edge of the bed. “Where is Kate?”
Jace threw up his hands to stop him. “She’s downstairs in the kitchen.”
“What the hell happened?” Stephen rolled his shoulders, groaning from the ache in his upper body. Shit, had a bull trampled his chest then sat on him for good measure? He glanced around, and it dawned on him he was in Kate’s bedroom, in her bed. “How did I get here?”
Throwing the blanket over Stephen’s naked lap, Jace plopped down on the edge of the bed beside him. “My sister brought you.”
Stephen’s mouth dropped open. “Kate?”
“Yeah, the last time I checked she’s the only one I have.”
He ignored the smart-assed comment. “Is she alright? Was she hurt?”
If he hadn’t passed out, he more than likely would’ve expired from heart failure when he’d seen her frightened face in the bushes. And he hadn’t been able to do a damn thing to help her.
He grabbed Jace’s arm. “Tell me. Is she okay?”
“Jesus, chill out, Stephen. She’s fine.” Jace spoke in a soothing tone. “I wouldn’t lie to you about that.”
Stephen’s shoulders slumped in relief. “What happened to that asshole? Did the pack get him?”
“Something like that. Kate laid him out with one of his darts. Then she carried you through the woods.” Jace snorted. “Well, more like dragged. Gee came by to check on you at Kate’s insistence. But he said you’re fine. Just needed to sleep off the drugs.”
No wonder his upper body hurt like hell. He lifted his arm, stretched then winced at the twinge of pain. “What about the other two from last night?”
“Kate called me once she made it back here with you. She was pretty shaken up, but she let me know the situation. I called up some of the pack, and we went hunting. We found them trying to flee without their unconscious buddy. Apparently, they didn’t mind leaving him to fend for himself. Damien and Wes gathered up the three and took them to Drew.” Jace slid him a knowing glance. “They won’t be a problem any longer.”
Pride swelled in Stephen’s chest. There was no doubt in his mind Kate had saved him. Despite her inability to shift and their earlier argument, she’d risked her own life for his. Hell, if that didn’t say I love you, he didn’t know what did.
“You said Kate’s downstairs?”
“Yeah, cleaning everything in sight. You know how she gets when she’s agitated.”
“I have to see her.” He jumped to his feet and managed a step toward the door before Jace caught his arm.
“Can I give you a bit of advice first?”
He glanced at his friend in question.
“Take a shower.” Jace waved a hand in front of his face. “You definitely smell like you’ve been dragged through the woods.”
Chapter Eight
Kate wiped the counter for the thousandth time. Though the joints in her arms burned and her body was ready to call it a day, she continued to scrub down every surface in her kitchen.
A portion of her anxiety had evaporated once she’d managed to pull Stephen into her house and bolt the door. Even after Jace assured her all three of the hunters had been dealt with and Gee swore Stephen was unharmed, Kate remained on edge. Restless mess was a more apt description.
The only way to stop her hands from shaking was to clean something. And still, she kept seeing that asshole standing over Stephen with his rifle aimed at his head. What if she had failed to protect him? What if the other hunters had found them before she’d gotten them both to safety? Too many what ifs ran through her mind.
Then there was the matter of what was left unsaid between them. She hadn’t forgotten why he’d been in the woods in the first place. However, her self-pity was miles away from what it had been three hours earlier. In fact, she was pretty sure it was apprehension turning her stomach in knots.
Kate threw the dishcloth in the sink and leaned against the counter. Dropping her head, she rubbed the knot of tension at her nape. A few stiff drinks, a long soak in the tub, and a full night of sleep sounded heavenly at the moment. Suddenly, a warm hand covered hers. Startled, she whirled around and almost smacked into Stephen’s bare chest.
He leaned into her, pressing the small of her back into the countertop. Fresh out of the shower, she inhaled the crisp cleanness of his tanned skin. His short, sandy-blond hair stuck out at angles as though he hadn’t bothered to comb it. She balled her hands into fists to keep from reaching up to smooth it in place.
“Hey, Sunshine.”
The warmth in his voice and lopsided grin he wore drew a shiver from her. She couldn’t make her mouth form a proper sentence to save her soul. Those blue eyes of his captured her and wouldn’t let go.
“Are you two about to get physical or what?”
Jace’s voice shattered the trance. She squeezed from in between Stephen and the counter, her cheeks heating.
“Damn it, Jace. Why do you always have to sneak up on people?” She shoved past him and yanked open the refrigerator.
“Uh-uh, come here.” He snagged her around the middle and pulled her into a tight embrace. “Give me a hug before I take off.”
Kate wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head on his chest. “Thank you. For everything.” And she truly meant it. Her brother hadn’t hesitated to help when she’d called.
He placed a kiss on the top of her head. “Anything for you, sis. Love you.”
“Love you, too.” She lifted her head and pecked his cheek.
“Alright, you two get some rest. Michelle and I will drop by later to check on you.” With one last pat to her back, he crossed the kitchen, cuffing Stephen on the shoulder on his way out.
The slam of the back door punctuated the silence in the kitchen, reminding Kate she was all alone with Stephen again. All of a sudden, her stomach pitched with nerves. Crap, she didn’t even know what to say to him.
“Kate.”
The deep timbre of his voice did funny things to her insides. God, she couldn’t do this today. She was too much of a wreck to have a civilized discussion with him. Feigning indifference, she marched to the sink, twisting on the faucet to rinse out her dishtowel.
She didn’t bother turning when she spoke. “I don’t have it in me to fight with you today.”
Warm, solid arms slid around her, and the wet cloth fell from her grasp. She tried to twist away, but he held onto her hips with a firm grip and buried his nose in her hair.
“I don’t want to fight either, Sunshine.” His breath bathed her ear in warmth. “Come rest with me a little while.”
Too tired to make a fuss, Kate allowed Stephen to lead her out of the kitchen, up the stairs, and down the hall to her bedroom. Bemused, she stumbled to a halt when
they entered her room.
“You changed the sheets?”
He shrugged and glanced away, but not before she spied the stain of color on his cheeks. “Your brother said I didn’t smell too pretty, so I thought the least I could do was clean up.”
Despite her nervousness, she laughed. “Sorry. I couldn’t help it. You were too heavy to carry.”
Grinning, he squeezed her hand. “You could’ve dragged me through a mile of shit, and I’d still be eternally grateful for what you did to help me. I might not be here if it hadn’t been for you and your quick thinking. You saved my life, Kate.”
Uncomfortable with the odd praise, Kate fidgeted with the hem of her shirt. “About last night—”
“Wait.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her into his side. “Come lie with me.”
***
Stephen watched uncertainty play over Kate’s features before she gave in. He guided her toward the bed, and when she would’ve crawled beneath the fresh linens, he stopped her.
“Take your clothes off first.”
She threw him a scandalized look, and he bit his lip to stifle his laughter. Before she could mutter a complaint, he jerked her close and kissed her open mouth, sinking his tongue into her delicious heat. Just when she responded and melted against him, he drew back and stared down into her flustered face.
“No fighting, remember?”
Her mouth flapped open and closed twice before she frowned. However, she shocked the hell out of him by complying with his request. Grabbing the bottom of her shirt, she yanked it over her head and tossed it on the floor, followed by her bra, jeans, and panties.
When every stitch of clothing was gone, she grumbled. “Happy?”
Stephen laughed. He spun her around and swatted her bare ass, pleased at her little squeal of surprise. “Sure as hell am.”
Once Kate was settled on the bed, he eased his jeans over his hips. Her gaze tracked over his nude frame, lingering on his erection. Anxious to feel her smooth skin against his, he wasted no time reclining on the bed beside her. Damn, he couldn’t wait to lose himself inside the silken heat of her body once more. But first, he needed to clear the air between them.
