Sage would be glad when these problems were behind them and he could focus totally on Rina and convincing her to make a life here with him.
* * * * *
Rina stared in awe at the hand-carved bed. It was a thing of beauty. The headboard and baseboard were carved with the wildflowers that Amy loved so much. The baseboard also had a book carved right in the center. The pages were open and the words Once upon a time could be seen. It was perfect for a little girl.
Amy climbed up two steps and jumped onto the bed. “Isn’t it perfect? My daddy made it for me.”
The pride in the child’s voice made Rina smile. It was hard to picture big, tough Cole Blanchard painstakingly carving wildflowers into wood. But there was no doubting how the man doted on his mate and child.
Rina had enjoyed lunch. Soup and sandwiches were a common enough lunch, but she’d learned there was no such thing as an ordinary meal here. The soup was chicken noodle. All homemade. Even the noodles. Apparently, Gator had recently tried his hand at pasta making and was experimenting. Rina could report it was a huge success.
Then there were the sandwiches. The bread was a honey-oat blend—freshly made that morning by Anny and Miss Elise—layered with thin slices of ham, cheese, tomatoes, and lettuce. The tomatoes and lettuce had come straight from Sage’s garden. And the cheese was local. Sage had told her he bartered vegetables and herbs with the man in return for cheese. Delicious.
Amy patted the mattress. “Come sit.”
Rina joined the little girl on the bed. The second she sat, Amy scampered off the bed and ran to her bookshelf. Over the next fifteen minutes, she carted books and dolls over for Rina to inspect and admire. She also had a collection of bird feathers and pretty rocks that either she or her father had found.
Rina was content to let the child chatter on. This was a good place to live. A wonderful place to be a child. It would also be a good place to raise a child. She tried to ignore the sly voice in the back of her head, but it wouldn’t be silenced.
She wanted to stay.
Everyone had been welcoming. There were still some members of the pack she really hadn’t spent any time with. Louis and his mate kept more to themselves, but Gray had smiled at her and invited her drop by their home anytime. She’d only seen Corrine’s mate in passing. Joseph seemed to spend a lot of his time patrolling. She didn’t know if that was normal or because of the trouble she’d brought with her.
“Rina?”
She realized Amy was talking to her. “I’m sorry.” She patted the girl’s head. “I got lost in my thoughts.”
Amy nodded wisely. “You looked sad.” Amy crossed her arms over her small chest, her expression fierce. “You can tell my daddy what’s wrong. He’ll fix it.”
Her innocent faith made Rina’s chest tighten. She’d never been able to depend on her own father for anything other than a roof over her head. “You’re a very lucky little girl.” Her voice was rough with emotion, but Amy didn’t seem to notice.
She nodded emphatically, making her pigtails dance. “Want to play a game?”
A movement in the doorway caught her eye. Cole Blanchard was watching them. Rina couldn’t read him at all. Had no idea what he was thinking. “Rina can’t play now. She has to go with me.”
Surprisingly, the child didn’t pout. “Okay. We can play later.”
Rina stood and straightened her top. “Thank you for showing me your room.” Amy was a delight and had taken her mind off her worries for a few minutes.
The little girl smiled. “You can come back to play again.”
Rina smiled but offered no reply. She didn’t know what was happening, but having Cole come for her could only mean one of two things. Either there was news about the men stalking her or Mikhail had arrived.
If Rina were a betting woman, she’d put all her money on number two.
Cole stood back and let her pass. “Sage is waiting outside.”
Chapter Fifteen
Sage paced in front of Cole’s home, waiting impatiently for him to send Rina out. The driveway alarm had gone off and Jacque, Louis, Gator, and Armand were already on their way to greet their guest. Cole was taking Amy to Gator’s place where the other women and children had gathered.
No one was taking any chances.
The door opened and Rina hurried out. “What is it? Is Mikhail here?”
He caught her in his arms. “He’s here. Take a breath, baby. Everything will be okay.” At least he hoped it would. “You aren’t alone,” he reminded her. Whatever happened, they’d deal with it together.
She looked around him. “Where is he?”
Sage could tell she was nervous but excited as well. “The others will keep him in the parking lot and away from the homes for now.”
Rina nodded and straightened her shoulders. “Let’s go.”
He wanted to wrap her in cotton batting and keep her safe from all future harm, but he knew that was impossible, nor would she want him to. Whatever happened, she’d deal with it the same way she’d dealt with everything else that had been thrown her way. Rina was a strong woman, a survivor, but she’d felt every rejection keenly.
“This way.” Sage motioned for her to go ahead of him and followed close behind. It went against his grain to let her step into the fray ahead of him, but this wasn’t about what he wanted. This was about Rina.
It was time someone put her first.
They walked in silence. Her steps quickened until he had to lengthen his stride to keep up. He wanted to give her some encouragement, but the others were too close and would hear. He didn’t care if the members of his pack heard, but he was still withholding judgment on Mikhail.
Rina gasped and stopped in her tracks. Sage stood behind her and rested his hands on her shoulders. An older man stood next to a dusty blue truck with the pack members circling him.
Mikhail’s eyes widened and he frowned. “Rina.”
She quivered beneath Sage’s hands but didn’t move toward her brother. Instead, she looked to Jacque. Sage understood her reasoning. Jacque was alpha here. His word was law.
Jacque glanced at Sage and then motioned them forward. Rina broke away and raced toward her brother. Mikhail took a step toward her and opened his arms wide. She flew into them and he enfolded her in his arms.
“God, I’ve been so worried.” The big man buried his face in his sister’s hair and hugged her.
Sage took the time to get a better look at him. He was tall. At least six-three, maybe taller. He had wide shoulders and muscular arms. In short, he was built like a werewolf—strong and powerful. He had dark brown hair with red glints running through it, just like his sister did, except Mikhail’s hair had streaks of gray at the temples as well.
It made Sage wonder just how old the man was. Werewolves aged slowly. The same genetics that allowed them to heal quickly also prevented them from aging as fast as a regular human.
Rina had said her parents were older when she’d been born, that her brother was more of a father to her. Mikhail could be anywhere between forty and seventy, considering that full-blooded werewolves had a lifespan twice that of a human.
Jacque and Louis’s mother and Cole’s mom and dad looked to be in their thirties, when Sage knew they were in their sixties.
Mikhail slowly released her and wrapped his hands around her upper arms. “Why didn’t you call me?” Sage heard the thread of hurt alongside the anger.
Rina shook her head. “I couldn’t.”
Her brother’s head fell forward until his chin was almost resting on his chest. “You didn’t honestly believe I’d back them, did you?”
“I didn’t want to believe.” Rina’s voice was barely a whisper, but her older brother flinched.
“I see.” Mikhail released her and Sage wanted to punch him. Didn’t he see she needed his reassurance?
He rubbed his fingers ove
r his stubbled jaw. “I guess I deserved that. I never challenged pack law, even when I knew it wasn’t right.” He shook his head and lowered his hand back down by his side. “It’s why I was away so much. I couldn’t stand living there anymore but I couldn’t leave you.”
Rina’s jaw dropped but she quickly recovered from her shock. “What do you mean you didn’t want to live there?”
Mikhail brushed his fingers over her cheek. “Just what I said, little girl.”
Sage caught the quick flash of pleasure that crossed Rina’s face and knew that her brother had often called her by that nickname. He’d let their family reunion go on as long as he could and now sauntered forward.
“Sage Gallagher.” He thrust his hand out and waited.
The other man looked at it a long time and then slowly took it. “Mikhail Matheson.”
“Have you been introduced to the rest?”
Mikhail shook his head. Sage turned to Jacque. “This is the alpha, Jacque LaForge. Next to him is his brother, Louis. Next to Louis is Armand LaForge, and the other one is Gator Rollins.”
Mikhail nodded at them in greeting. “Thank you for taking care of my sister for me.” He turned to Rina. “Get your things, honey, so we can get out of here.”
Sage’s stomach dropped and he growled. No way was he letting Rina leave with her brother. He seemed on the up and up, but Sage still didn’t trust him.
Rina back away. “No.”
Mikhail frowned and motioned to the truck. “We need to get going.”
“Where? Where would we be going? Do you even have a home?” Rina asked. Her agitation was making Sage angry. Not with her, but with her brother. Sage stepped behind her, wrapped his arms around her, and felt a savage jolt of satisfaction when she leaned back against him.
“I don’t have a home yet. I’ve spent the past year moving around the country, following every lead I found in my search for you.”
Rina winced, and Sage wanted to hit Mikhail. She didn’t need any more guilt heaped on her. “I’m sorry for that,” she told him.
“Rina’s been on her own for over a year,” Sage felt compelled to point out. “She’s not on her own any longer.” She was with him now, and he’d protect her to his last breath.
Mikhail studied Sage long and hard, but Sage didn’t back down, not the least bit intimidated by the older wolf. “So that’s the way of it,” Mikhail murmured.
“That’s the way of it,” Sage agreed. “Rina has a man stalking her. A human saw her shift and he’s now hunting her. We’re not sure if he still has others with him or if he’s alone. It’s how our paths crossed.”
“All the more reason to leave,” Mikhail pointed out.
“All the more reason to stay where she has protection,” Sage countered.
Jacque stirred and everyone looked at him. He had a way of commanding attention without really trying. “I suggest we take this back to the house and discuss things.”
Mikhail took in the stubborn set of Rina’s shoulders and nodded at the alpha. “Thank you for your hospitality.”
Jacque laughed. “You don’t mean that at all. You look like you’d rather chew glass.” He turned and headed toward his home. “I think I like you.”
The other men waited, so Sage nudged Rina. She didn’t budge.
“Are you coming, Mikhail?” she asked. He could hear the fear in her voice and hated it. She wasn’t sure if her brother was going to leave her. Sage decided if Mikhail took a step toward his truck, he was going to tackle him to the ground and drag him to the alpha’s home.
Luckily, or unluckily, depending on how one looked at it, Mikhail nodded. “You couldn’t keep me away.” That was good for Rina but left Sage no way to work off his aggression. He stayed close to Rina as they headed down a path that took them away from Gator’s place, where the women and children were, and to the empty pack house that belonged to Jacque and his family.
The other men brought up the rear to keep an eye on the newcomer. Rina kept glancing over her shoulder to reassure herself that her brother was still there. As much as Sage didn’t want to, he respected Mikhail. He’d searched for his sister and was facing down an unknown pack for her. That took guts…and love.
The door was open and Jacque was already inside sitting at the head of the dining table. Sage seated Rina next to the alpha and then sat next to her. He knew Mikhail was watching him, could feel the wolf’s gaze on him as he sat two seats down from the alpha. Louis sat next to his brother, ready and willing as always to protect him.
Armand leaned against the wall near the back door and Gator, not surprisingly, headed straight for the kitchen to start a pot of coffee.
“Is it true that your sister was banished because she wouldn’t mate with the alpha’s choice?” Jacque went straight on the offensive. Rina started to speak, but Sage reached under the table and squeezed her thigh. This was between the alpha and her brother.
“Yes.” Mikhail offered no more.
“You were away at the time?”
“Yes.”
The corner of Jacque’s mouth quirked up in a half smile. “Chatty, aren’t you?”
Mikhail sat back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest. “What do you want me to say? That my sister was banished while I was off leading a bunch of humans on a wilderness expedition? That they waited until they knew I was gone before they sprang the whole thing on her, hoping she’d be mated before I got back?”
Mikhail’s scowl deepened. “Hell, yes, that’s what happened. What they didn’t know was that if I’d discovered she’d be coerced into a mating, I’d have taken care of the problem by killing the bastard.”
A kernel of admiration grew inside of Sage. In spite of the threat the older man represented to his and Rina’s relationship, he liked Mikhail. It was good to know that Rina had someone in her life who loved her, other than him, that is.
It meant a lot to her. Sage could see it in the way she swallowed heavily. He could tell she was struggling to hold back her emotions.
Her brother sat forward and leaned across the table. He put his hand out and she reached for it. They twined their fingers together. “Hell, Rina. You know I’d never have let them hurt you like that.”
She nodded. “I think… I think deep in my heart I did. I just didn’t want you to have to fight. I didn’t want you to lose your home, your family, or your pack. It was easier for me to leave.”
“They didn’t think you’d do it.”
“What do you mean?” Sage asked.
Mikhail eased back into his seat, releasing his hold on his sister. “They didn’t think she’d actually strike out on her own. We’re a pretty isolated pack, and she’d never been very far and never on her own.” Her brother smiled, and Sage could see the pride in his face. “Shocked the hell out of all of them. You did good to get out of the area quickly. Gregor did send some of his men after you, but your trail was cold by that point.”
Rina paled, and Sage growled under his breath. He almost hadn’t met her. So many moments had conspired to get her on the same trail as him that night. It made him break out into a cold sweat to think how easily their paths might never have crossed.
He reached down, caught her hand and linked their fingers together. It was fate that they’d met, and he was keeping her.
Rina didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. On one hand, she was so happy to see her brother, to know that Mikhail loved her enough to give up his entire life for her. It was a shock to realize she’d had a narrow escape from her pack. She could have been caught, dragged back to Sitka, and mated against her will. It didn’t occur often, but it did happen.
Then there was Sage. He was growling one moment and then holding her hand in gentle support the next. She knew he didn’t like Mikhail, not totally. She appreciated the fact that he was on her side in this entire mess, but she also wanted her brother a
nd the man she cared for to get along.
Cared for. That was a lukewarm way of putting it. What she felt for Sage was explosive and deep and profound.
She was at a loss as to know what to do. Commonsense dictated she leave with her brother and take her problems with her. That’s what the logical side of her nature told her. But her heart was screaming something totally different. She didn’t want to leave Sage. Her wolf didn’t want to leave him either.
“Some help here,” Gator called from the kitchen. Armand sauntered over and grabbed several coffee mugs, distributing the first ones to Jacque and to her.
“Thank you,” she murmured.
“No problem, chère,” he told her. Surprisingly, Armand handed the next mug to Mikhail before taking one for himself. Gator ambled to the table and set a mug in front of Louis, another in front of Sage, and then sat.
“You’re being awful accommodating,” Mikhail pointed out.
Jacque took a sip of his coffee, totally unhurried. “You’d prefer I ripped your throat out?” The question was asked in a mild voice, but the threat of violence was very real. She might not know the alpha well, but she could tell he was not a man to back down from anyone.
Mikhail shook his head. “No, I appreciate the restraint. It just makes me wonder why.”
The alpha shook his head. “We are a peaceful pack.” Gator snorted under his breath as the alpha continued. “Unless provoked,” Jacque added. “Make no mistake. We will protect what is ours.” He looked straight at her. “And Rina is ours now.”
Mikhail growled, but Rina shook her head, silently pleading with him not to cause problems. Sage tightened his fingers around hers. The atmosphere in the room shifted, growing tenser by the second.
“What does Rina have to say about that?” her brother asked.
All eyes landed on her, all supportive, none condemning.
“Be honest,” Mikhail told her.
“I’m scared.” There, she’d said it aloud. “I don’t want to bring trouble to this pack. They’ve been nothing but kind and welcoming to me. I haven’t been here long, but I like and respect them a lot.” She needed to make her brother understand. “They’re not like our pack. They’re different.”
Wolf in his Heart (Salvation Pack) Page 16
