They might not be living together anymore, but he knew his brother was there for him, would drop everything without hesitation if Sage needed him. It’s just the way it was between them.
The shadows were lengthening and the sun was getting low in the sky. Time to find a place to set up camp and get something to eat. He’d stay overnight and get an early start in the morning. It wouldn’t take him more than a few hours to reach his truck, but he wanted one more night lying out here under the stars. He’d be home by lunchtime tomorrow and back at work by tomorrow afternoon.
As much as he loved camping, he wouldn’t mind one of Gator’s mouthwatering meals right now. The badass werewolf was one hell of a cook. The woods were too dry for Sage to risk a campfire, so he was eating trail mix, protein bars, and beef jerky. Filling but not exactly appetizing.
He veered off to his left. There was a nice spot not too far from here that was perfect for him. The small meadow would give him a great view of the stars.
* * * * *
Irina Matheson didn’t bother to look over her shoulder. She knew those men were still following her. She’d thought she might lose them when she ventured into the park. After all, hunting was illegal here.
Not that they cared. Men were all the same. Her thoughts were bitter, but she was entitled to them. Tears stung her eyes, but she blinked them away. She didn’t have time to indulge in self-pity. Not now.
She might be a werewolf, but she had three experienced hunters on her trail. And they wanted her hide for their wall. She had no one but herself to blame for her current predicament. She’d gotten careless.
She ran as fast as she dared, trying not to leave any trace of her passing. It would be easier if she could shift to her wolf, but everything she owned was in her knapsack. She’d abandon it only if there was no other choice.
It might come down to that.
Plus, there was a real chance of someone seeing her if she shifted, and that was what had gotten her into this problem in the first place. The last thing she needed were the park rangers getting a call about a wolf sighting from some camper.
Hard to believe only twenty-four hours ago she’d been working at Barney’s Restaurant, a local diner in nowhere Tennessee, and trying to figure out what she was going to do with the rest of her life. Waitressing was one of the few jobs that was easy to get. There were always women coming and going, leaving diners and restaurants shorthanded. Many of those places paid under the table. That had allowed her to fly under the radar in the early days. She hadn’t been able to do that at Barney’s. He was a stickler for rules, and she’d had to fill out all the proper government forms, but she no longer worried that anyone in her pack was looking for her.
She paused by a rock, crouched down, and listened intently. She couldn’t hear them. The sun was close to setting. If she could evade them until nightfall, she could lose them. They’d have to stop and set up camp. She, on the other hand, could see as easily in the dark as she could in the day.
Rina wanted to curl into a ball and cry, something she hadn’t done for months. It still hurt how easily her family had cut her out of their lives after she’d refused to accept a mating with her father’s choice. She still couldn’t believe her father would offer her to Alex Gribkov. The man was a chauvinist pig, and truthfully, Rina was scared to death of him. Her wolf didn’t like him either. That was good enough for her.
She stayed low and started running again. She couldn’t afford to stop yet. These men were experienced hunters and would keep looking until they had no light left. They might not even stop then.
The last thought gave her pause. Surely they’d have to stop for the night.
Of course they would. All she had to do was stay ahead of them until nightfall and then she was home free. Not that she had any idea where she was going. She’d zigzagged her way down through Canada after leaving her home in Alaska. From there, she’d made her way down through Montana and had been heading eastward ever since, trying to put as much distance as she could between herself and her former pack.
Banished.
She was a wolf alone. A terrifying prospect, especially since she’d never been on her own for one day in her life. Being alone wasn’t possible in a pack, especially not for an unmated female werewolf.
In the past fourteen months, she’d been nothing but alone. She’d kept her wolf in check all that time too. It had been the hardest thing she’d ever had to do, but she’d done it.
Until the night before last when she’d crept out behind the rundown motel where she’d been renting a room by the week. It had been such a beautiful summer night. The wind had been warm and the full moon high in the sky. Her wolf had practically clawed her way out. Rina had known she’d have to let her wolf run.
She’d thought she was alone when she’d shifted. She’d never dreamed anyone was watching her. But she’d been wrong. A regular at the diner, a man whose name she didn’t even know, had started watching her. And he’d followed her home after she’d gotten off work.
“I know what you are.” His words still sent a shiver down her spine. She’d been pouring coffee for him the next day when he’d whispered those words to her.
She’d frozen in place, and he’d leered at her with a terrifying hunger in his eyes. “You’re going to leave with me now. Unless you want me to tell my brothers about you.” He’d gripped her hip and squeezed hard. Even now, the memory if it made her skin throb with pain. “I’ve always wanted me a wolf-skin rug.”
“I have to finish my shift.” The words had been automatic.
He’d frowned and shaken his head. “Go tell Barney you’re sick and have to leave,” he’d ordered.
She hadn’t argued with him. She’d simply nodded, walked back behind the counter, and carefully put the carafe back on the burner. Then, without a word to anyone, she’d retrieved her knapsack, which was always packed and ready to go, and slid out the back door.
She’d made it as far as the wood before she’d heard him calling her name. He must have followed through on his threat to call his brothers, because two other men had joined him in his hunt. They’d gotten terrifyingly close at times, but she’d always managed to evade them.
She cursed her father for not teaching her more survival skills. As far as he was concerned, only her brother had needed to learn how to track and hunt. Her sole purpose was for breeding.
Thankfully, her brother, Mikhail, had taught her the basics. She owed him her life.
She leaned against a birch tree and listened. She could no longer hear the men moving through the underbrush. Maybe they’d stopped to set up camp. She could only hope. The light was nearly gone now, the sun mostly hidden by the mountains.
If her luck held, she could be hours ahead of them by sunrise. All she needed to do was to find a bus stop somewhere, buy a ticket, and get far away from here. California was looking mighty good. Or maybe somewhere farther south.
She didn’t care where it was as long as it was away from the men chasing her. Luckily, she’d gotten paid two days ago and had enough money to survive for a week or so. After that, she’d be living on the streets and eating out of garbage cans.
Wouldn’t be the first time, but she’d thought those days were behind her.
Her luck would change for the better. Wasn’t she due?
She almost snorted as she pushed away from the tree and slipped through the forest. Fate couldn’t be counted on to be fair. She almost stumbled and righted herself. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been this exhausted. Her werewolf genes might give her an edge in strength and stamina, but even she needed to rest sometimes. She’d been running hard since early this morning and hadn’t eaten anything other than the half-melted chocolate bar she’d had in her bag.
She stumbled again and barely caught herself from ending up facedown on the ground. An owl hooted and a squirrel scampered up a nearby tree
.
Rina froze in place. She was no longer alone.
“Are you lost?”
Chapter Two
Sage was just finishing up his meal of beef jerky and trail mix when he heard a noise nearby. It wasn’t a normal sound, so he left his campsite to investigate. He was careful, not sure who or what might be out here. Might be nothing more than a black bear or a roving elk, or it could be another hiker.
Still, it paid to be cautious, so he kept to the shadows. The sun was down, but it still wasn’t quite fully dark. He’d just check things out. If it was a lost hiker, he’d offer assistance. If it was an animal, he’d give it a wide berth.
He saw the woman stumble and catch herself. She seemed to be alone.
“Are you lost?” he asked, keeping his voice light and non-threatening. She was far away from any of the trails. She must have gone off the beaten track at some point and gotten turned around. It happened faster and easier than most people imagined it could.
She raised her head and his heart skipped a beat. She was tall for a woman. He pegged her at around five-nine. She had a lanky, athletic build but was too skinny, like she’d missed more than a few meals.
The thought of her going hungry angered him.
Her hair was dark and cut short, framing a heart-stopping face with high cheekbones, a straight nose, and a firm chin. He couldn’t quite make out her eye color in the dim light, but he could see the fear and mistrust glittering in them.
Every muscle in her body tensed for flight. Sage didn’t want her to go, didn’t want to lose her. He didn’t question his instincts that were screaming at him to protect her. He put his hands out in front of him and held them palm up. “Hey, it’s okay. I’m not going to hurt you.”
She glanced over her shoulder and then back at him, still not saying a word.
“If you’re hungry, I’ve got some food. It’s not much, just jerky and trail mix, but you’re welcome to it.”
She tilted her head to one side and studied him. Her stillness gave him pause, but he tried once again to reassure her. “My name is Sage. Sage Gallagher.” He took a chance and stepped toward her. “You’re way off the trail, but I can help you find your way back.”
She shifted position slightly and the evening breeze caught her scent and brought it to him. Every cell in his body surged to life. He inhaled again, this time more deeply. He had to be wrong. What were the odds of him running in to a woman like her here in the vast wilderness of the park?
But what his senses were telling him couldn’t be denied.
“You’re a werewolf.”
Shock held Rina in place. How did he know? How could this stranger know who she was? And he was a stranger. He’d never eaten in the diner where she’d worked, never laid eyes on her before.
She would have remembered him.
He was tall. Well over six-feet and all of it pure sculpted muscle. The tank top he wore hugged his torso and displayed impressive biceps and shoulders. His well-worn jeans hugged his thighs like a second skin. His hair hung down to his shoulders in a silky curtain and his eyes were filled with a concern that was a balm to her ragged nerves.
He knew what she was. She had to get out of here.
As if sensing she was about to bolt, he took a step back. “I won’t hurt you. I’m like you.”
She hadn’t thought anything he could say would shock her more than his first pronouncement. She’d been wrong. “You’re what?”
He briefly closed his eyes and made a low noise in the back of his throat. “I’m like you,” he repeated. He raked his hand through his hair and dropped it back by his side. The action pulled his tank top tight against his stomach, drawing her gaze. “We’ll, not quite like you. I’m a half-breed.”
Her upper lip curled. Half-breeds were useless, an abomination. At least that’s what she’d been taught. Yet here was one offering to help her while her own family had turned on her.
His breath came out in a huff. “Yeah, I can tell you’re thrilled by that. Listen, I’ve got some food if you want it. It’s up to you.” With that, he turned his back on her and walked away.
Funnily enough, it was that move that convinced her to trust him. At least a little. She was tired and hungry and could risk taking five minutes to eat and get her bearings. He’d be able to tell her exactly where she was. He might even drive her to a bus station. He must have a vehicle nearby.
Rina nibbled on her bottom lip and her stomach growled, a reminder of just how hungry she was. Inside, her wolf was silent and watchful. The farther away the half-breed got, the more her wolf yearned to follow. It was natural for her to want to be with another of her kind. She was a pack animal at heart.
Giving in to instinct and hunger, Rina cautiously followed Sage Gallagher and hoped like hell she wasn’t making a mistake.
Sage wanted to go to the woman, toss her over his shoulder, and cart her back to his camp. But he’d dealt with enough wild animals to know when to give one space. She might be partly human, but right now, instinct was driving her every move. Her wolf was more in control than maybe even she understood.
If he tried to force her to come, she’d fight him every step of the way. By walking away, he was giving her all the power, giving her choice.
Whoever she was and however she’d come to be here, she was running on empty. She was scared, tired, and alone. He could fix that. He could feed her and help her with whatever her problem was. And if she followed, she’d no longer be alone.
A sense of rightness filled him.
Sage tilted his head to one side and almost smiled when he heard the lightest brush of dirt behind him. She was following. He kept up a slow, steady pace until he was back at his camp. He sat down on his sleeping bag and pulled his knapsack onto his lap.
“Have you been drinking enough water?” It was easier than most folks thought to get dehydrated, which was a much bigger problem than hunger.
When she didn’t answer, he looked up from his bag. She was standing at the edge of the small clearing like a wild animal too afraid to accept the hand of kindness being offered to her.
“I’ve got trail mix, beef jerky, and protein bars. What’s your pleasure?” He took what he had left of all three and set them on the far end of his sleeping bag. “Your choice,” he told her.
Her gaze flitted around the campsite. He could have told her he was alone but figured it was better if she discovered that on her own. She wouldn’t take his word for it.
Once again, she glanced over her shoulder.
Certainty was like a fist to his gut. “You’re running from someone.” He was as sure of that as he was of his own name.
She took a step back, and he sighed. “Listen, you’ve got nothing to fear from me, but if I’m reading this situation correctly, you do have reason to be afraid of whoever is following you. Let me help you.”
“Why?” Her voice was low and sultry with the hint of an accent.
“Why what?” He wasn’t quite sure what she was asking him.
“Why would you help me? What’s in it for you?” Her gaze flickered to the food and then away. He swore he could hear her stomach growling.
“Why wouldn’t I help you?” he countered. “I was raised to help anyone in trouble, especially another of my kind.”
Her frown deepened. “My own family cast me out.” She bit her bottom lip as if she’d said more than she’d intended.
Unfortunately, it was all too easy for Sage to believe her. After all, his father had left his pack when he’d met his mate, because she’d been a half-breed and he’d known his pack would never accept her.
“I’m sorry to hear that.” He motioned to the food. “Help yourself.” He rolled to his feet and moved away from the sleeping bag. He hoped the space would give her enough of a sense of safety so she’d actually eat something.
She kept one eye on hi
m and another on the food. She went for the protein bars first. She grabbed one, ripped off the wrapping, and stuffed half of it in her mouth.
Sage kept talking, hoping it would help her relax around him. “I’m from the Salvation Pack, not too far from here. We’re a small pack, but we have both full-blooded and half-breeds.”
She swallowed and ate what remained of the bar before tearing open another wrapper.
“What’s your name?” Being able to call her by name would help put her at ease. When her frown deepened, he lost his temper. “Listen, I’m not asking you to divulge state secrets. I just want to know your name.”
If he wasn’t mistaken, a ghost of a smile skirted the edges of her lips. Her full, kissable lips. “Irina Matheson. You can call me Rina.”
“Irina Matheson,” he said slowly, savoring her name.
“Rina,” she corrected as she polished off the second protein bar and reached for the beef jerky.
“Drink some water too, Rina. Canteen is right there.” He pointed to his knapsack.
She paused and thought for a long moment. “Thank you.” She reached for the water bottle and drank deeply.
Sage lowered himself to the ground, figuring if he was sitting, she might relax more. “You can sit and enjoy your meal. I’m no threat. Not to you.”
Rina nodded and carefully sat on the edge of his sleeping bag. He liked seeing her there. Maybe a little too much. His unruly body kicked into high gear and his cock swelled. Good thing he was sitting down and it was dark. He didn’t think she would appreciate his lusting after her. It was totally inappropriate given the situation, but his body refused to listen to him. He decided to ignore it as much as possible.
He waited until she’d eaten some of the jerky before asking his next question. “Who is after you?”
Rina was nowhere near full. Her werewolf metabolism required a lot more calories than a normal human, but at least she no longer felt as though her stomach was gnawing on her backbone. The protein bars were fairly tasteless but filling. The beef jerky wasn’t half bad.
Wolf in his Heart (Salvation Pack) Page 2
