Wolf Creek Alpha (Texas Pack 1)

by Ellen, Jo

  “I’m glad the Queen trusts Lisa. She must know Lisa would never use a spell to harm anyone,” Liz said.

  They all nodded, agreeing. Knowing that Lisa would be confronting Ciar worried them all. There was no other choice. He was coming for her and she was the only one powerful enough to stop him.

  “So who’s brave enough to go get Rafe and bring him up to speed?” asked Devlin.

  Trying to break the tension, Ian suggested rock, paper, or scissors. Robert lost.

  Chapter 16

  Rafe raced up the stairs to Lisa’s room. He burst through the door without knocking.

  Lisa jumped three feet when the door flew open. She had been quietly sitting against the headboard, reading her book with her knees drawn up.

  “Son of a bitch!” she exclaimed. “What? What’s wrong?” she asked, scared now. His face looked grim when he came in. Coming towards her, he suddenly looked relieved.

  Rafe strode quickly over to where she perched on the edge of the bed. He scooped her up and settled back against the headboard with her in his lap. He held her so tightly, she couldn’t move.

  Realizing something must have happened, Lisa squirmed in his arms so he would loosen his hold. He started rubbing her back, seeming to have calmed down.

  “You ready to tell me what’s going on?” she asked.

  Drawing a deep breath, Rafe told her about Melissa’s latest vision. He reiterated how he would never let anyone hurt her.

  She appreciated his comforting words, but knew in reality that he could not keep her safe all the time.

  “I’m moving you to my bedroom. You’ll never sleep alone again. We both know you will be moving there soon anyway,” Rafe commanded.

  Knowing he was right, Lisa agreed. She’d already admitted to loving him. There was no reason to hold back.

  “I told you I loved you when we left for Ciar’s castle. I heard your words given back to me. Now I want to say them to you face to face. I love you. You are my life now and I’ll have no other. You will be the mother of my children. I know that you will help me lead and take care of our pack,” he said resolutely.

  Lisa had tears in her eyes. She looked up at him, knowing this life was the one she chose.

  “I love you too,” she said quietly. “I never imagined I would find someone that I could love so deeply. I was blessed with parents that were soul mates. It was what I always wanted, but never thought I’d find.”

  Rafe gently lifted her chin, placing his lips on hers. Slowly moving against her mouth, he gently bit her bottom lip, sucking it into his mouth.

  Lisa felt butterflies dancing around in her stomach when he rolled her beneath him, not breaking the kiss. She lifted her arms so she could run her fingers through his hair. She loved touching his long, soft hair. Pulling back from his kiss, she was then able to nip his chin gently. She moved her hand from his hair to slide under his t-shirt. As she raked her nails along his back, she felt his chest rumble when he growled.

  Feeling his hands slip under her nightshirt, she arched her back, pressing her chest to his. Gliding his hand up from her waist, his fingers stroked the underside of her breast.

  Rafe was about to pull her shirt up and over her head, when someone knocked on the bedroom door. He tried to ignore it, but they knocked a second time.

  Lisa whispered to him, “It has to be important. No one would bother us if it weren’t.”

  Rafe laid his forehead against hers, groaning. “I’d like to take you far, far away where nobody knew where to find us.”

  Kissing her hard, he then rolled over and took several deep breaths.

  “I hope you’ve made a will, you’re about to die,” he snarled at the door. He wondered who was dumb enough to disturb them.

  Lisa giggled, “Be nice, it could be your mother.” That sent her into more giggles.

  Shaking his head, he stomped across the floor, yanking the door open. “This had better be worth it.”

  A grinning Robert stood in the doorway. “Hi lass, sorry to disturb you. I see you were reading. Is it a good book?” he asked.

  “Yeah, you should read it when I’m done,” Lisa grinned at him. She was happy and nothing was going to destroy that, she decided.

  “You have three seconds left in your sorry life,” Rafe snapped.

  Sobering, Robert told him he needed to come downstairs. Niall was back and they had more information from Melissa’s vision.

  Hearing him, Lisa told them she was coming too. Robert left and Lisa quickly pulled sweats and a large t-shirt over her nightclothes.

  As she walked to the door, Rafe wrapped his arms around her, growling, “We’re not done.”

  “Well, duh. You went and got me all worked up,” Lisa said as she slipped away from him.

  When she entered the great room, she saw Robert sitting very close to Melissa. Squirming away, Melissa was trying to put some distance between them. Deciding to get payback, Lisa went over and squeezed between them. Turning towards Robert, she smiled innocently at him.

  Robert chuckled, knowing he’d been out maneuvered. He saw Rafe standing directly in front of him, obviously waiting for him to slide over so he could sit beside Lisa.

  Once everyone was settled, Ian began his long report. When he finished what they had concluded about the dirk, he let Melissa tell of her revisiting the vision.

  Lisa listened intently. As Melissa went on, the blood left her face. If Ciar could appear in her room, she wasn’t safe anywhere. Rafe was again trying to reassure her while rubbing her thigh. Lisa went from scared to furious in an instant. She jumped up and started pacing in front of the fireplace.

  “I am so tired of this asshole. I say we go after him. Surprise attack. I’ve been working on my magic and I’m ready to go Rambo on his ass,” Lisa said angrily.

  “Calm down, Ms. Rambo. As long as he has control with that dirk, we aren’t going anywhere. We have to neutralize his power someway first,” Rafe said.

  “Weel, Niall may have our answer,” Robert said nodding to Niall for him to tell Rafe about the Queen’s spell.

  When he was done, Rafe looked to Lisa to see how she was taking this. She looked determined, and relived he was surprised to see.

  “Do I read the spell from your mind? I want to be ready when he shows up. I’ve had enough of being scared and feeling helpless,” Lisa said.

  “Yes, lass, you do. My Queen is giving you her trust with this spell. You may never use it for evil, only against it. I know you won’t abuse her trust, but I had to tell you that,” Niall said.

  “I understand, and please tell her how much I appreciate her help and faith in me,” Lisa told him solemnly.

  Nodding his understanding, Nial said, “We should do it now, if yer ready. No sense waiting.”

  The others made room on the sofa for them to sit. Lisa took Niall’s hands in hers and looked into his eyes. She was getting used to this now. With her training and Melissa’s teachings, she slipped easily into his mind. Of course, he wasn’t trying to block her either. She quickly moved through his head, finding the spell like a beacon in his mind. Lisa drew it towards her, absorbing the spell.

  She was in awe of how simple the spell was. She was expecting some long, dreary rhyme. Well, it did rhyme somewhat, but the power behind it was what really floored her. She knew the Queen had gifted her with the power to stop Ciar now. She almost cried she was so thankful for her help.

  Opening her eyes, she looked at Niall with tears in her eyes. “I didn’t understand how powerful your Queen was. I can see her caring and love in this spell. It will work without really hurting him. I don’t think I can thank her enough.”

  Niall patted her hand. “You understand our Queen. Now you know why we serve her. She loves and protects all that she can. I believe she looks on every one of us as her children, but I would never be brave enough to call her Mum,” Niall said smiling.

  Taking in the room, Lisa told them it was time to make a plan. “I don’t want him suddenly showing up wh
ile I sleep. That freaks me out more than anything else does. The thought of someone standing over me,” she shuddered.

  Ian spoke before anyone else, “I don’t want him showing up here. I think everyone should get a good night’s sleep and then tomorrow, we go. No sense in waiting. I assume everyone in here will be going, except Mom and Melissa.”

  “I think you forget, I’m a cougar. I’ll go to help fight Ciar too,” Melissa said, staring Ian down.

  “There’s really no need, lass,” Robert said. “With myself, Niall, and my other guard Jem, Mack, Rafe, Ian, Devlin and Dunstan, not to forget Lisa, I believe we’ll be just fine.”

  “I’m coming,” Melissa stated flatly.

  Robert didn’t argue any longer. He figured he would just make sure he stayed near her the entire time they were there.

  “I want to come too,” Anna said quietly from the bottom of the stairs. “This man made me lose my family. I’ve spent too much time running scared and afraid to live my life. I need to be there.”

  “I would really prefer that you didn’t go, but I understand why you feel the need. You have to promise to stay in the background, behind one of the other men. I’m sure our ‘loving father’ will call me out and I don’t want you near me,” Dunstan said.

  Anna simply nodded. She had her own agenda and didn’t want to give them any reason to leave her behind.

  “It’s late. Let’s all try and get some sleep. We’ll plan on leaving after everyone has breakfast, around nine,” Rafe told them.

  Ian, Robert and Devlin left to patrol the area and check in with the other guards before bed. Mack and Liz decided they would sleep at the castle tonight. The others left to go to their rooms, leaving Lisa and Rafe alone.

  “I know you’re afraid, but know that I’ll do everything in power to keep you safe,” Rafe said.

  She wasn’t as afraid as she had been. Sure, she was still scared but knowing the spell made her feel empowered.

  “What if he freezes me before I can say the spell?” she asked.

  “I’m not sure that he could freeze you, but we’re not going in blind. You are going to wear a cloak with the hood pulled up over your head. I want you at the back, behind everyone. The less chance he sees you’re there, the better. Anna and Melissa will be cloaked also. The three of you will stay behind the men. Call me sexist. I don’t care. It’s in my blood to protect all of you,” Rafe told her.

  “I have no problem with hiding behind the guys. That man still scares the crap out of me. I don’t feel the need to prove myself as some she warrior, because I’m not. Once a chicken, always a chicken,” Lisa stated proudly.

  Rafe laughed, “You’re braver than you think. I believe you might surprise yourself tomorrow.”

  He was in for a disappointment, she thought. She’d never faced anything scarier than twenty kindergartners on a field trip.

  “I think I’m more afraid for you. You’ve said several times you would protect me with your life. Each time you say that, I cringe. Do you really think I’d want you to die for me? I want you to live for me! I can’t stand the thought of him harming you or any of the others,” Lisa said quietly.

  Rafe tugged her into his lap, holding her close to his body.

  Sheesh, what was it with this guy? He was always pulling her onto his lap. She wasn’t really complaining though, just trying to keep her mind from what was to come.

  “Nothing will happen to me or the others. We will take care of Ciar. When we get back, I’ll claim you as my own. You’ve already woven yourself into my heart, my life. You are my perfect fit. I don’t have flowery words, no pretty speech. I’m ready to begin our lives together,” he told her.

  Once again, Lisa felt tears well up in her eyes. “That speech was pretty darn flowery, you know.”

  She paused, “I’m ready to begin our lives together too. But, why not claim me tonight? I mean, we’re both more than ready.”

  Rafe looked into her eyes, wondering if Stephanie had told her everything about mates. Sighing, he realized he would have to tell her what Stephanie didn’t.

  “I’m not sure how much Stephanie told you so I may be repeating what you already know. Too put it bluntly, when we mate, I bite you on your shoulder. From what I’ve learned from the pack and my Dad, we’ll see something like, umm, lights flittering around. Some have described it as sparkly. Others say fireworks exploding. I think some just get too poetic. Anyway, at that moment, our souls entwine. We will be bound together,” Rafe stopped speaking. This was the difficult part.

  “That doesn’t sound bad. Why are you hesitating, does the bite hurt?” asked Lisa.

  “How do I put this? You’ll find the bite extremely pleasurable when done at the correct moment,” he said staring at her.

  “Correct moment? How can there be---, oh, I get it,” Lisa said blushing.

  “After the mating is complete, we’ll be bound together forever. Should something happen to either one of us, it will feel like your soul’s been torn apart. The other will live, but from what I’ve seen and been told, it’s very difficult,” he told her somberly.

  Lisa sat thinking about what he had said. “It doesn’t sound that different from some human marriages. I know either one of my parents would have been devastated had they lost the other. I know not all human marriages are like that, but my parents were. I wouldn’t want any other kind of marriage. Sure, it’s hell on the survivor, but isn’t it worth it?”

  Rafe sat staring at her, not saying anything more. Finally, she got it.

  “You don’t want to mate with me tonight. You’re afraid something may happen to you!” she yelled at him jumping up.

  Rafe immediately grabbed her and pulled her back into his lap. She was sitting between his legs with her back to his chest. She felt his chest rumble when he spoke.

  “Mating is very special. I’m not rushing through it with you. I want to spend hours with you, not worrying about what will happen tomorrow. But you’re right about one thing, I don’t want you mourning me should something happen.”

  Lisa squirmed trying to get him to release her.

  “No, be still. I don’t believe I’ll die tomorrow, but I can’t help but worry about you. Should something unforeseen happen, I don’t want you torn apart if I can prevent it.”

  Amazed, Lisa replied, “You don’t think I would be devastated? Mated or not, I will be shattered if anything happened to you,” she told him, twisting around to look at him.

  Rafe groaned. “That’s not what I mean. I don’t want to make it worse than it already would be,” he explained.

  Lisa slumped against him. All this drama, she thought. Why couldn’t she just have a normal life? Nah, she didn’t mean that. Tired of waiting, she decided it was time to proposition him.

  “Okay, I can accept that. So why can’t we just do it, you know, without the biting? What, are you a virgin, or just morally against unmated sex?” she asked him mockingly.

  Growling, “No, I’m not, to both questions. I know that when I’m inside you, I won’t be able to resist biting you,” he told her bluntly.

  “How many women have you bitten?” she asked, furious now.

  “No you don’t, you’re staying right here,” Rafe told her when she started her struggles again.

  Lisa was doing her best trying to pull away from him. He was too strong for her to win. Giving in, she slumped back against him again, huffing angrily.

  “Are you ready to hear me now?” he growled in her ear.

  Lisa seriously thought about throwing her head back to bust his nose with the back of her head. She was pissed and frustrated now. She crossed her arms over her chest and gave one quick nod.

  If she had turned her head, she would have seen his grin. He loved her attitude. If she were mad, you knew it. She didn’t do the silent treatment.

  “I have never bitten another woman. I have not been tempted to mark another woman. I am tempted to bite you, so don’t push me.”

  Lisa relaxed against him
. She understood he had a core of steel and wasn’t going to change his mind. She knew he was doing it, or not doing her, for her own protection, so she decided to give him a break.

  Rafe sighed as he felt her relax. He would be glad when this was all over and he could claim her. When her head tilted back against his shoulder, he wrapped his arms around her middle and held her to him. Reaching up one hand, he tilted her face towards his to kiss her. It was a soft kiss, just a small sample. He rubbed his lips across hers, and then he turned her head to rest against his neck.

  Lisa breathed in his scent. He always smelled so good. She found herself getting sleepy, so she closed her eyes for a short rest. She had shifted her legs up over his thigh, with her butt resting against his lap.

  He could tell when she fell asleep. Her breathing evened out and it had gotten deeper. It had been a long and stress-filled day. He stood, heading for the stairs and his room. Passing his brothers in the hallway, he quietly let them know they could go sleep in their own beds. His room was closer to his brothers, not as far away as the guest room Lisa had been in.

  “She’ll be in my room. If Ciar did happen to show up tonight, you’ll know,” he told them. He knew he’d send out a howl so loud, they would come running.

  Rafe entered his room, shifting Lisa so he could pull back the covers. She mumbled as he laid her on the sheets. Gently tugging off the sweat pants, he tossed them over to a chair. The shirt would be harder to remove without waking her, but he decided it had to come off. Shifters put out a lot of body heat and he didn’t want her moving away if she got too hot.

  Working the shirt up, he got one arm out then the other. Lifting her head, he got it pulled off. She opened her eyes a moment, smiled, and then went back to sleep.

  “Now I know. You’d sleep through an earthquake,” he said quietly.

  Lisa didn’t hear him. Rolling over, she hugged a pillow, oblivious to him.

  Undressing, Rafe slid into bed. He wrestled the pillow from her for a moment before she settled down against him. Exhaling, he closed his eyes. Tomorrow was going to suck.