Sanctuary

by Teresa Gabelman

  “Got a knife?” she said, cocking her eyebrow as she still stared at his paperwork.

  Eric chuckled, thinking she would fit in well with him and his brothers with her quick, smartass jabs. The thought of that happening made him frown. His brothers were rough around the edges and loved to embarrass the hell out of him. Then again, he did the same with them. But why in the hell was he thinking of her meeting his brothers? What the fuck was wrong with him?

  Finally, she handed him back his paperwork, and he felt some relief. At least that was the case until she turned around, bent over to grab a bucket, and walked away. His eyes fixed on her ass. Immediately his cock strained against his jeans, and his own lip slipped between his teeth as he growled low in his chest.

  “Are you coming?” She had stopped and was looking over her shoulder at him.

  He gave a short nod as he followed her, thinking of her innocent question, but giving it a much dirtier meaning. Maybe he should have sent one of his brothers for this job. His mood turned dark at the thought of one of them being in close proximity to this woman, because he had no doubt their thoughts would be as dirty as his were where she was concerned, and that pissed him off with a rage he hadn’t felt in a long time.

  Chapter 3

  Gemma rushed to the trailer which was not only her office but housed all the food, etc. for her wolves. Her heart practically pounding out of her chest and not because she was running away from the man. No, it had been because when she had looked over her shoulder to see if he was following her, he had been staring at her ass. She couldn’t remember a time any man had really paid her or her ass any attention. At least not a man who looked like him. Holy smokes, she needed to get him the hell out of there, and fast. She didn’t have time for some good-looking piece of ass ruining all her plans. The wolves, the sanctuary, were her life and no man fit in with her life there. Lonely as it was at times, she couldn’t think of herself. She never had and with a second glance his way, she realized with him she could, and that terrified her.

  She raced past the enclosures and knew the wolves could feel her agitation. They paced back and forth, a few even stopped and howled before they once again began to pace. Slowing as she passed Luna, the oldest wolf under her protection, Gemma reached in slowly and touched her head. Luna was special; she was also the she-wolf of the whole group. She and Gemma had a special bond, one Gemma felt the first day Luna had come to her, sick and brutally mistreated. Luna’s injuries had been so bad that Gemma hadn’t thought the old wolf would pull through; she’d spent many nights inside the enclosure nursing the elderly wolf to health.

  “Hello, old one,” the man, who she’d forgotten for a second, said as he started to reach through the enclosure.

  “I’d be careful,” Gemma warned. “She hates men.”

  To her surprise, the man knelt in front of Luna, his hand resting on the enclosure as his fingers slowly wrapped around the wire. He leaned close to Luna, who watched him intently. Usually when men approached her enclosure, Luna would give a warning sneer with a deep growl, and as they drew closer, she’d grow more aggressive. With this man though, none of that happened, and they were pretty much face-to-face. Gemma was more impressed than she would ever admit. Who the hell was this man?

  After only a few short moments of wolf and man staring at each other, Luna leaned into his hand that clutched the wire. Gemma knew her eyes were wide and her mouth gaped in disbelief. Even Larry couldn’t get near Luna’s enclosure. Gemma’s eyes flew to the man who smiled at the wolf, but there was a subtle smirk which she was sure was directed toward her.

  “Really, Luna?” Gemma frowned. “He called you old, and that, my friend, is not a compliment.”

  “It is very much a compliment.” Eric finally stood, turning toward her with one last rub of Luna’s ear. “Age is to be respected, especially in someone who has had to fight every single day of their life.”

  Gemma watched as he looked down at the wolf before walking toward and then past her. It was as if he knew Luna’s story. There was no way he could know that. Gemma stared at Luna, who was now staring at her. “Traitor,” she whispered, but lovingly reached in and gave the wolf an affectionate ear rub before turning and marching past the man who’d actually stopped so he could open the trailer door for her.

  Larry was already inside getting the food ready for feeding. “Has Rudy called? We’re running low on meat, Gemma.”

  Frowning, Gemma shook her head, but her stare remained on the stranger. “No, I’ll call him in a few minutes.” She crossed her arms, tilting her head slightly. “Who are you?”

  “Eric Jackson.” The man didn’t miss a beat with his answer.

  “No, I mean who are you and why exactly are you here?” Gemma had a feeling there was more to this man’s story, and it was making her edgy. She had been inspected before, and this man was not at all the inspector type. Yes, there was an inspector type.

  “She’s not slow,” Larry said from behind her, “just thorough.”

  “Larry,” Gemma growled in warning.

  “He’s here to inspect, Gemma.” Larry grunted as he lifted and then set down a large bucket of meat. “We’ve been through this before. Let the man do his job, and then we can do ours. I got a hot date tonight with Lucy that I refuse to miss. Took me weeks of sucking in my gut, showering regularly, along with using that nasty mouthwash to land this hottie.”

  Gemma’s shoulders drooped. Larry, her sixty-year-old helper, who she loved yet wanted to kill at least once or twice a day, had a date. She was twenty-five and hadn’t seen a penis in years. She snorted at that thought. Then her eyes shot up to the stranger who stared at her intently. Her face flushed with color. God, did she say that out loud?

  “Come on.” Larry passed her after grunting with gusto while picking up the bucket of meat. “Seems Gemma is having a moment. I’ll show you around the place, answer questions or give you whatever you need to know. But make them questions short. I wasn’t kidding about missing my date with Lucy. She’s a wild one for sure, and I just refilled my Viagra script.”

  Gemma’s lip quirked, but it quickly went back to a straight line as this man named Eric took the heavy bucket from Larry. He was not only a gentleman opening the door for her, but he was thoughtful of someone weaker than himself. Shaking her head, thinking that would somehow dismiss the thoughts of this man who’d just popped into her life, she grabbed her phone. She had work to do, dammit. Dialing, she waited and then without thought let the person on the other end of the line feel her frustration. “Where the hell is my meat, Rudy?”

  ******

  Eric was happy that Larry was the one he was dealing with and not Gemma. Something about her got under his skin. His immediate reaction to seeing her in danger nagged at him. He would have been concerned about anyone in trouble, but this had been different. He had wanted to kill the wolf without even taking into consideration it wasn’t the wolf who was in the wrong. The woman should have backed off at the first hint of aggression. He knew it, the wolf knew it, and he knew that the woman knew it.

  “Okay, let’s cut the shit.” Larry stopped in front of an enclosure and faced Eric. “I don’t know exactly why you’re here, but I have a feeling it’s not for the reason you said you are.”

  “Oh, and why’s that?” Eric nudged him out of the way and walked into the enclosure with the bucket.

  “Well, because none of those Kentucky Wildlife assholes would be helping me do anything.” Larry pointed to Eric and then the bucket. “Kind of screwed the pooch with being all helpful and stuff.”

  Inside Eric cursed himself, but nothing on his expression showed he was alarmed. “Yeah, well I’m a different kind of asshole I guess. I grew up around wolves. Now if you had cattle or anything else, you’d been doing this on your own.”

  Larry stared at him for a long second. “Son, I’m just going to say this once.” Larry seemed to stand five feet taller in that moment. “You may be who you say you are, but I have my doubts. One th
ing I don’t doubt is if you have bad intentions or you hurt Gemma, I will kill you. Understood?”

  “Is there a reason you have to throw that threat around much?” Eric frowned, not offended by the older man’s concern for the beautiful woman who he worked for.

  Larry sighed before bending down, grabbing a huge chunk of meat and throwing it in the center of the enclosure. Some would think that was a cruel way of feeding the wolves, but it was what they preferred. It was closer to their natural habitat, eating kill from the earth, not a plastic container.

  “Gemma has many enemies in these parts. They want to take her and this sanctuary down.” Larry wiped the sweat from his forehead. “I honestly can’t believe she’s been able to keep going as long as she has, but that little girl in there is as tough as they come, and nothing, I mean nothing will stop her from caring for these animals.”

  Enclosure after enclosure they quietly fed the wolves. Eric didn’t ask a single question, which wasn’t smart on his part because if anyone would pick up on someone trying to pull off being a fake Kentucky Wildlife officer, it was definitely Larry, but the guy said nothing either and seemed as deep in thought as himself.

  Eric had to admit he was impressed. Every enclosure was clean, the wolves content, and if anyone would know or have a complaint, it would be him. He knew wolves well, as well as he knew himself.

  “Ah, dammit!” Larry cursed, heading quickly out of the enclosure.

  Turning, Eric saw a shiny black pickup truck pull up on the property. Hearing the trailer door slam, he turned his attention toward Gemma, who looked enraged as she headed straight toward the new arrivals. His blood turned to ice as two men emerged, with one holding a shotgun.

  Chapter 4

  Gemma was so mad she couldn’t see straight. She was also a little scared, but more seething angry after her phone call. She knew the fear would overwhelm her soon enough. How was she going to get her meat now? It was clear who was behind Rudy’s change of heart. Her eyes caught movement on the camera. Just her luck the son of a bitch responsible was pulling onto her property now.

  Grabbing the baseball bat she kept beside the door, she slammed out of the trailer and past the enclosures with one purpose in mind—killing Lance Cutter. Or at least smacking him a few times with her bat.

  The wolves howled as she passed them, but she tuned them out. The tension and rage the new arrival brought radiated through them. But she had to deal with Lance before reassuring her wolves. By the time she reached the truck, Lance and one of his men, Jase, were already out and heading her way.

  Without pause at the sight of the shotgun in Jase’s hands, she raised the bat, pointing it at Lance. “You son of a bitch.” Gemma then positioned the bat for a good hard swing. “I just got off the phone with Rudy.”

  Lance Cutter was a handsome man, older than Gemma by a few years. He was a country boy turned millionaire by cheating, stealing, and bullying his way to the top.

  “Put the bat down, Gemma,” Lance ordered, his eyes narrowing.

  “And if I don’t, you going to have Jase shoot me?” She stopped directly in front of him. “Call Rudy.”

  “What makes you think I had anything to do with your problems with Rudy?” Lance cocked his eyebrow. “From what I hear, you are behind on your payments with him.”

  Gemma made a low noise as her fingers tightened on the bat. “You heard wrong.” Gemma rolled her shoulders as if readying herself to swing. “Call him.”

  All ease and false politeness faded from Lance as he took a step and leaned into her face. “I want the wolf that’s killing my stock, Gemma. I’m going to find it, and if you don’t point me in the right direction, Jase is going to start unloading that shotgun.”

  She knew this was not a bluff. Lance would do what he threatened, or at least order someone else to do it, and he would get away with it because he had the sheriff in his pocket. No one cared for her wolves, no one except her and Larry.

  Lance grabbed the bat forcefully from her hand, then brushed her aside as he continued toward the enclosures with Jase beside him. Gemma ran in front of them, but they continued to push past her until Jase gave her a hard shove, making her fall.

  The wolf she had just hours earlier faced down with was now growling and biting at the enclosure with an aggression that was truly frightening.

  “I’d say that one is the first to go.” Lance slowed as Jase took a few more steps closer and raised the shotgun.

  Gemma scrambled to her feet as the wolf stilled and literally stared down the barrel of the gun in an eerily calm poise.

  “No!” Gemma ran to the enclosure, putting herself between the gun and wolf. Her eyes went to Lance. “Please, Lance. You can’t do this.”

  “Get out of the way, Gemma,” Lance ordered as he nodded toward Jase who had lowered the gun slightly.

  “You’ll have to shoot me because I’m not moving.” Gemma’s voice was surprisingly calm. Her insides quaked with fear, but her voice remained steady. She even tilted her head slightly in a show of defiance. She could hear the wolf’s low rumbled growl behind her, but she ignored it, hoping it remained calm enough not to attack.

  “Do it.” Lance gave the order, his tone indifferent. “She’ll move.”

  “Boss?” Jase didn’t look too sure about pointing a gun at a defenseless woman.

  “You may get away with a lot of things, Lance Cutter, but even having Sheriff Brennan in your pocket isn’t going to help you if you shoot me or one of my wolves.”

  “Is that a threat?” Lance’s eyes narrowed. When Gemma didn’t answer, but just glared at him, he grabbed the gun out of Jase’s hand. “Get out of the way, Gemma. I’m not going to tell you again.”

  “No.” Gemma even crossed her arms indicating she was not going anywhere. As Lance lifted the shotgun, Gemma briefly wondered if he had the balls to do it. She knew he was crazy enough. Lance Cutter had never hesitated to get what he wanted.

  ******

  Eric watched in horror, edged with a rage he had never felt before, as he made his way toward Gemma and the men. Gemma being pushed down had set his blood boiling, but seeing the man holding the shotgun pointing directly at her pushed him over the edge.

  Without hesitation, he ran straight toward the man, grabbed the gun with one hand while punching him with his other. The satisfaction of smashing his fist into the bastard’s face wasn’t quite enough, so he took his boot and held him in place by the throat as he tossed the gun to Larry who stumbled up behind him.

  “Who in the fuck do you think you are pointing a loaded shotgun at a woman?” Eric growled as he reached down to pick the man up by the shirt. Eric punched the guy again but didn’t see the second man take a swing until it was too late. The hit was hard, knocking him back a few steps, but in no way did it stop the rage that rolled through Eric’s body.

  Shaking off the strike, he back elbowed the asshole who’d hit him before thrusting a kick to the bastard who had held the gun. Eric’s booted foot hit the man in the stomach, sending him back and down on his ass.

  Eric had been in many fights, mostly with his brothers, so two on one was nothing to him. He stalked toward the man who was trying to pick himself up off the ground while the other man was still bent over, trying to stop the blood pouring from his broken nose. His self-control was slipping because all he wanted to do was rip the son of a bitch to shreds, but the sound of a shotgun going off stopped him.

  He turned to see Gemma had taken the gun from Larry. She held the shotgun pointed toward the sky, but then lowered it toward the man on the ground. Realizing she was safe, he also realized something else. She looked sexy as hell standing there all badass, aiming the shotgun at the bastard. Yeah, complete fucking turn-on and a perfect mate for an alpha. Eric was surprised by his sudden thoughts and even shook his head as if that would clear them out.

  “Get off my property, Lance,” Gemma sneered, her eyes blazing with fury. “And if you ever come back, I will shoot you for trespassing.”


  The man, Lance, finally stood, holding his stomach. “This isn’t over, Gemma,” he spat, then looked at Eric. “You’re going to regret this.”

  “Doubt it,” Eric spat back, wanting nothing more than to land one more punch to the arrogant asshole’s face. “Get the hell out of here.”

  Lance looked at Eric before turning his attention toward Gemma. “This another poor unknowing hired hand I’m going to have to chase off? When will you learn, Gemma?”

  Eric had enough. He stepped into the man’s line of vision, blocking Gemma. “You hard of hearing?” Eric growled, taking a step forward. Satisfaction swept through him when the man stepped back, fear flashing in his eyes for a brief second. “Get the fuck out of here.”

  “Who are you?” The man tried to appear strong, but Eric knew his type. He was a piece of shit who picked on people who he thought were below him. He used his status to get what he wanted.

  “You don’t want to know the answer to that question.” Eric’s voice was hard, but the half-sneered grin on his face was pure evil. One thing Eric hated was a bully, especially one who used his strength against a woman.

  “You don’t know who you are messing with.” Lance’s attempt at sounding unaffected fell flat when he stuttered the last word.

  Something then caught Eric’s attention, making his eyes leave the man for a split second. The sheriff’s car was on the road trying to hide behind some trees. The hardness in Eric’s eyes strengthened as he looked back at the man. Gemma was right; the sheriff was in this man’s deep pocket. “Yeah, I do.” Eric leaned in closer. “A piece of shit who hides behind the sheriff.”

  Lance did look toward Gemma, and no one missed the warning look he shot her. He turned, with Jase following and holding his bloody nose, got in his truck, then backed out of the lot with gravel flying everywhere. He wanted to go after the bastard but stopped himself. He hoped he didn’t regret it but knew he would because this was far from over.