“It’s Sunday tomorrow. If it’s not too much trouble, I uh…” she paused. “I’d like to go back to Paxton; or Shandaken. Either would do. I’ve had hundreds of dates in New York. I’ve never been on a date in the countryside.”
“I’m cool with that, but there’s a catch.” Ray warned her, his voice bass-deep as he removed his arms from her body. “We’re riding my bike.”
“That’s great!” Julia cheered, her eyes sparkling with excitement. In a split second however, her smile was wiped off her face. “Oh, no,” she sighed, squeezing her eyes shut. “Do you have a helmet?”
“You can use mine.” He winked at her. “I don’t wear it much, anyway.”
“Phew,” she whispered against his chin. “Lead the way then, pretty boy. Take us out of here.”
Chapter Six
The ride back to Ray’s birthplace contained more fun than the one to New York, and filled with even more pleasure than he could have ever imagined. This time, he had company, in the form of the redhead who had shocked him to his core with her confession. Unlike him, Julia could not hear him that well – the noise of the thunder-headers rendered it next to impossible – but, even so, neither of them stopped teasing one another throughout the ride. Every few minutes, her hearty laughter would echo in his ears, encouraging him to keep this game up. Ray no longer resembled the skeptical man who had left Paxton that afternoon. In his stead, stood the confident, easy-going guy to whom Julia had admitted “liking.”
In spite of his, obviously, much more festive mood, her request had somewhat troubled him. He would love to indulge her, but he had a problem; a problem that a kiss would not solve. Clover Lake, mostly, held the existing title for most romantic place in Paxton. He liked it, yes, but his brothers had been talking about it so much that he was beginning to get sick of it. Ray would not take Julia there. Neither would he go to any bar in Shandaken, as he meant to keep his personal life private, at least for the time being. His creativity would have to come into play.
As his motorcycle climbed the last uphill road, before Shandaken, however, Ray could not shake the feeling that he was being watched. A quick glance to the left confirmed his suspicions. A pair of red eyes looked up at him from the bush. A large, black wolf slowly emerged, exposing his fangs, as he raised his upper lip. But, before he could attack them, Dean’s menacing snarl was heard, as he jumped over the same bush. The brown wolf leapt onto his rival’s back, his teeth and fangs a flashing white. An agonizing yip, audible over the sound of the exhaust pipes filled the air, as Dean’s jaws closed around the black wolf’s neck. Their bodies began to roll down the side of the road, as Ray carefully eased on the brakes. Dean’s opponent twisted, his hind legs kicking out with force, as he found himself underneath the brown wolf. Another, agonizing yowl left his lips, his snarls raising almost to screams, as Ray’s brother clamped his snout tighter. Neither he, nor Julia said a word. Ray had seen enough. Bringing his gaze back to the road up ahead, he put his motorcycle in gear, and rode off.
Nevertheless, this scene did not make any sense at all. Ray didn’t recognize the black wolf; he was not a member of his pack. The number of questions grew exponentially in his mind as they neared Paxton. Having lost his mood for any more bantering, he did not address Julia. Ray needed answers, and was hoping that his brothers would be able to provide them. A feminine figure in their front yard, cloaked in black was the first clue. It was none other than Helena, accompanied by Raul and Monica. He could guess what had transpired, much before his motorcycle rolled to a halt. The noise of the exhaust was still lingering in the air, as he hopped off his Harley.
“I just saw Dean, ripping out some wolf’s throat,” Ray said, his voice riddled with tension, as he strode towards his brother. “He wasn’t from around here. Who was he?”
“We got company, kid,” Raul informed Ray, his face stiff, his eyes narrow with worry. “It’s in the form of a rival pack, twice as big as ours. Helena’s spies told her about them. She saw the future in her orb. You know the rest.”
“Whoa, wait a minute,” Ray said, lifting his index finger. “He was there, waiting for me. How the hell did he know where I was?”
“Jules!” Monica exclaimed, trotting over towards her friend. “My God, you look like you’ve just seen a ghost!”
“Damn…” Ray sighed, shutting his eyes. In his confusion, he had totally forgotten about his date. His brother’s mate was not overreacting. Indeed, Julia was in utter shock, not moving a muscle, staring into the void, as her friend gave her a warm hug.
“Th-They…” Julia stuttered. “They’re huge.”
“Why don’t we go inside?” Monica suggested with a smile, as she eased back. “Come on. I’ll tell you more about them.”
“More?” Ray asked himself. “They’re friends. I thought she knew about us.”
“Our intelligence is still a little sketchy,” Helena declared, clenching her jaw, as Julia stepped off the motorcycle. “The rival pack is six miles west of Paxton. My assessment is that they were merely attempting to intimidate you. If they meant to kill you, they would have sent more than one wolf.”
“You’re not answering my question,” Ray complained, a touch of annoyance in his voice. “Do I have to repeat myself?”
“We don’t know, man,” Raul replied, shaking his head sideways, as the two friends passed them by. “Maybe they caught your scent, while you were riding back to Paxton, and decided to ambush you.”
“Fuck!” Ray cried, his voice echoing in the wilderness, as he jerked his head in a spasm of anger.
“We’ll deal with them,” Raul unflinchingly assured his brother. “We just need some more information about them.”
“Indeed,” Helena agreed, her gaze fixed on Ray. “Does your girlfriend have red hair?”
“She’s not my girlfriend,” he groaned, lowering his eyes to meet hers.
“I thought you could see well in the dark,” Raul spoke, a hint of irony in his baritone.
“I can see just fine,” Helena grumbled, stiffening her jaw. “I just remembered something; If you will excuse me.”
“That’s just grand,” Ray let out a huff of exasperation, as the witch disappeared in a cloud of red smoke. “An enemy pack is on our doorstep, and she leaves.”
“She leaves because her job here is done,” Raul intoned in a firm tone. “She told us about your ambush. Don’t forget that.”
“She’s resting,” Monica interjected, as she closed the distance between her and her mate. “She’s asking to see you, Ray.”
“Thanks,” Ray gave a satisfied nod. “Exactly how much have you told her about us, Monica? She looked a little too surprised.”
“Everything;” she quickly responded confidently. “But there’s a vast difference between someone telling you about massive wolves, and seeing two of them up close, let alone fighting each other.”
“Right,” Ray said on an exhale. Drawing in a sharp breath, he jogged over to the front door of his brother’s cabin, as the scene of the fight between his brother and the black wolf replayed in his mind. Still, he had to let this go. The ambush had already taken its toll on the night by ruining his date with Julia. There was no point in trying to recollect it. He had to focus on the immediate; and the immediate, once again, was lying on his brother’s couch.
“Hey…” Julia chirped, a slow smile forming on her face, as his footfalls led her to her. “I’m sorry. I lost it.”
“It’s ok,” Ray assumed a soothing tone, falling to his knees beside her. “You must really like this couch.”
“As a matter of fact, I do,” She admitted, rolling over onto her left side. “It’s pretty comfortable. Why don’t you join me?”
“Join you?” He raised an eyebrow.
“I freaked you out,” Julia chuckled, pointing up at him, as sparks of mischief danced in her eyes.
“You’re cute,” Ray said, his lips curving into a grin, as he reached forward to cup her face.
“No, you little pup,”
she wagged her index finger in his face. “I’m a mess.”
“You look too cheerful for someone who just witnessed a fight between wolves.” He remarked, a touch of suspicion in his voice. “Why is that?”
“I forgot about it, the moment you walked in,” Julia uttered, taking on a lazy tone. “Ok, it did scare the crap out of me, but now that you’re here, I don’t want to talk about it.”
The rasp in her voice brought out goose bumps all over his body. The skinny jeans that hugged her curvy legs had given him impure thoughts from the moment he laid eyes on her that night. Ray would be lying to himself if he said he wasn’t attracted to her. Any man in his right mind would love to conquer her, right there and then. But, the news of another pack, so close to their territory, along with his fatigue, did not allow him much choice. He was exhausted, and the black circles under her eyes were a clear sign that she was minutes away from falling asleep.
“There’s definitely a Rain Check on that date, Ginger,” Ray whispered, trailing his index finger over her cheekbone. “We’re both tired. Goodnight.”
“Ok, but…” she faltered. “That’s not the way to say ‘goodnight’.”
She didn’t give him time for a question or rebuttal. In the blink of an eye, Julia thrust her arm around his neck, and pulled him down towards her, angling her lips. His heart began to race in his chest, as their mouths joined in a tight, passionate kiss. Once more, she had caught him off guard, but he would not complain this time, either. The warmth of her lips as they surrounded his, sent heat flowing through his veins. Ray lost himself in the moment, feeling an urge raging inside of him, an urge he could not ignore: to stop living in fear. No longer would his weakness dictate his actions. From now on, Ray would try to suck the marrow out of his relationship with her, without worrying about the consequences.
“That is how you say ‘goodnight’,” Julia whispered, loosening her grip, as she slowly lay back down on the couch. “Sweet dreams.”
“Oh, they will be,” He said with a nod. “Trust me; they will be.”
Chapter Seven
Sunday mornings had always been a perfect time for a gathering in the brothers’ yard during the summer. The morning chill, combined with the shade that their cabins provided, made it ideal for them to discuss progress on the reconstruction of their workshop, over a cold glass of coffee. This particular Sunday morning would not be an exception, but for one, major difference: Ray would much rather be spending it with Julia, picking up where they left off the night before. After all, their workshop was almost finished. All it needed was a motorcycle lift, which would be delivered on Tuesday, and the boys could start working again. There was no point in chatting about it. However, broad daylight was not suitable for a date in Paxton. It was summer; it would only be a matter of time before they were both drenched in sweat. Moreover, their options were limited. There was not much they could do, other than a stroll in the woods. Ray had to be patient. Nighttime was much crisper, and much better suited for a romantic date.
A few minutes after 8am, he made himself coffee, and went outside, patiently waiting for his brothers. Raul was the first to join him. If anything, Ray expected him to be tense. This situation with the rival pack was unprecedented. Still, this was not the case with Raul. On the contrary, he was all smiles and seemed relaxed, as if oblivious to the dangers that lay ahead.
“Good morning, pretty boy,” Raul teased, assuming his seat across from his brother.
“Morning,” Ray gave a short laugh, swirling his straw in his glass. “I don’t need to ask where you heard that name, do I.”
“Lesson No.1: Girls like to gossip,” Raul declared, as his smile widened to a grin. “Right after you left last night, Monica wouldn’t let Julia go to bed. She pretty much adopted her. She wanted to know more about your date. I left our bedroom door open. Boy, I got to tell you; eavesdropping’s never been so much fun.”
“She gossiped about me?” Ray pointed at himself.
“Oh, man…” Raul blew out a frustrated breath. “Are you being intentionally thick? I mean, first it’s the ‘mating with humans’ thing, now this? Come on, kid. I thought you were smarter than that.”
“I’m not being thick,” Ray rejected that notion. “I just don’t know what she could possibly have to say. Nothing much happened last night.”
“Not according to her.” Raul’s teasing tone became even more intense. “She said you guys kissed by the pier. It had her…” he held his hands shoulder-width apart, flexing his index and middle fingers of each hand, “swooning. She also called the bike ride ‘so amazing that she wished it had lasted longer’, and that you guys kissed again on my couch. That’s not ‘nothing’ in my book.”
“Ok, a few things happened,” Ray admitted with a hasty nod. “I’m just surprised she brought them up.”
“You shouldn’t be,” Raul advised, slightly leaning forward. “Women take kissing very seriously. For them, it’s a lot more than just the ‘opening act.’ Anyway, you should know that last night wasn’t the first time she gossiped about you.”
His brother’s statement added to his surprise. Obviously, Julia had been interested in him for a while now, but had never bothered showing it, or, if she had, he had missed the signs.
“What are you talking about?” Ray wondered, keeping his voice down, in an attempt to hide his emotions.
“She did it again, on my mating ceremony. She also asks Monica about you, when they talk on the phone,” Raul explained, mischief flickering for a moment in his eyes.
“Right,” Ray uttered, pursing his lips, as he dragged his gaze away from his brother. “I’d ask you why you haven’t told me yet, but we got bigger fish to fry right now.”
“I was too busy with Marianne, kid.” Raul said with a hint of sadness in his voice. “What we’re dealing with now isn’t easy, but it sure as hell isn’t going to frighten me. We can handle it.”
“What’s your plan, big brother? Ask Helena to smite them? Otherwise, I don’t see any other way to get rid of a pack twice as big as ours.” Ray’s ironic tone caused his brother to clench his fists. The rattle of a growl in the Alpha’s throat made him regret ever speaking these words.
“I didn’t take on Warrick to have some mutt take away what I got,” Raul assumed an emphatic voice, his eyes glowing yellow, as his beast peered out of him. “I had to go through hell to be with my girl, and I’ll destroy any fucker who even thinks about taking over my town. Maybe you don’t understand the value of finding your mate yet, but, believe me, someday you will. As for your question, no witch is going to do my fighting for me.”
Finishing his sentence, Raul unfurled his fists, and gripped the edges of the table.
“I’m sorry, Raul.” Ray said, using a much lower tone, understanding that his brother was about to burst out of his seat.
“Strap on a pair, you stupid mutt!” Raul cried, the veins on his neck bulging as he banged his hand onto the table. “Whatever happened to the guy who’d take on his entire pack for my sake, huh?”
“Oh, damn…” Ray sighed, his lips thinning into a tight look of displeasure. “I guess our fight against Marianne messed me up worse than I thought.”
Much to his liking, his apology had an effect on Raul. Within seconds, his chest was not heaving as much as it did. The look of rage dissolved from his face, as he leaned back in his seat.
“Look, you lost your nerve. It happens to the best of us,” Raul said, his voice returning to its usual, calm tone. “That witch was tough, but we defeated her. I’ll send out our best scouts, Martin Jackson and Jimmy Greer to have a little talk with them, later today. There’s a pack meeting tonight at Joe’s diner. Nine o’clock. Don’t be late.”
Ray wished his brother’s conclusion was wrong; yet, it wasn’t. Raul was right. The battle against the witch had taken a toll on him. Ray had lost his confidence. But Raul also reminded him of the man he used to be, before his kind was ever involved with humans: Defiant, powerful, and never cowering bef
ore danger. At that point, a strong desire woke up within the young wolf. An urge to protect himself, his family, as well as his land, no matter the cost or the number of rivals he would have to face. It brewed inside of him, like the summer lightning and thunder storms that so often drenched the valley he called “home.” Ray would defend everything that he held dear, or die trying.
“What’s on your mind?” Julia’s cheerful voice interrupted his thoughts. There she was, smiling, as she paced towards him. Still, the sight of her two friends behind her was not as pleasant. Monica and Kate both had small travel bags in their hands.
“Some pack stuff,” he claimed, as his stomach churned with concern. “Are you guys going somewhere?”
“Yeah,” Julia chirped, bending down to kiss him on the lips. “Tomorrow is Monica’s day off. We’re going to New York. We’re spending the night there. I’d invite you, but, it’s girls-only.”
A wave of disappointment washed over his face. All the same, it didn’t last long. Ray had a meeting to attend, and those usually took hours.
“Go ahead,” He urged, as his lips curved slightly with a smile. “I’m busy tonight, anyway.”
“I’ll be asking too much again, but…” Julia faltered with her mouth only inches away from his. “Will you come to New York tomorrow? I’ll make it worth your while.”
“I’ll try,” Ray winked up at her. “I promise I’ll try. I’ll call you.”
A sense of sadness struck him, as he watched the friends putting their bags in Kate’s car. The two of them had given meaning to his brothers’ lives, and the third one was clawing her way into his life. Their absence, though short, would be felt. Even he had been used to having them around, and he would miss them. It was then that he realized that Monica and Kate didn’t have power over just Raul and Dean. They were parts of his world. They were his family.
Chapter Eight
A Wolf's Touch (Wolf Mountain Peak Book 3) Page 3
