Contents
1. Holly
2. Chase
3. Holly
4. Chase
5. Holly
6. Chase
7. Holly
8. Holly
9. Chase
10. Holly
11. Chase
12. Holly
13. Chase
14. Holly
15. Chase
16. Holly
17. Chase
18. Chase
Epilogue
Copyright © 2019 by Lovestruck Romance.
All Rights Reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is purely coincidental.
This book is intended for adult readers only.
Any sexual activity portrayed in these pages occurs between consenting adults over the age of 18 who are not related by blood.
Rogue Wolf
A Wolf Shifter Second Chance Romance
Kathryn Kohler
Lovestruck Romance
1
Holly
“I can’t believe this is your new home, baby sis!”
“Yes, you’ve mentioned that like five times and we’ve been here all of ten minutes.”
“What can I say? This place is amazing.”
I’d just arrived at Sky Valley Estate, a sprawling expanse of land at the base of the Cascade Mountains. The Sky Valley Wolf Pack had a reputation for being wealthy, but seeing it firsthand was a whole different story.
We strolled along a flagstone path that wound its way through breathtaking gardens. Colorful sprays of flowers surrounded the walkway on either side, in preparation for the wedding of the pack’s Alpha and the week-long festivities that accompanied such a special event. The nearby hedges had been sculpted to look like wolves, their heads thrown back in silent howls, and in the center of all this beauty, like a crown jewel, was a massive, marble fountain shooting jets of water in gravity-defying patterns.
As impressive as the gardens were, the actual mansion was even more magnificent. Although, calling it a mansion was a serious understatement. It was more like a palace.
Three stories of wood and stone towered in front of us managing to blend in with the natural, surrounding beauty almost as if it had grown organically out of the ground itself. Smaller buildings of similar design dotted the surrounding forest.
“It’s not as though Colton and I will live here alone. The entire Sky Valley Pack lives on the estate. Not in the main house.” She gestured at the large central building. “That will be ours. But, it’s also the meeting house, and a kind of community center, so we’ll have our pack mates in and out.”
“How will you ever make do?” I nudged her jokingly.
She grinned good-humoredly and then her face grew more serious. “Holly, you know I don’t care about any of this. I mean, it’s nice, I’m not gonna lie, but I’d marry Colton if he lived in a rickety old shack.”
“I know. He’s your mate. Not much can stand in the way of a mate bond.” I paused, frowning. “Still, I wish the wedding ceremony was today rather than a few days from now.”
“What’s wrong with that? You’ll have some time to relax and enjoy yourself in this beautiful place. Mingle, have some fun.”
I shook my head. “Enjoy? I’d be able to enjoy myself a whole lot more if I had a date.”
Zoe grinned at me sarcastically. “And whose fault is that?”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
She poked me in the side with her finger playfully. “Oh, yes you do. If you didn’t have such impossible standards, you’d have a date.”
“I do not have impossible standards.”
“Oh, puhleeze. You find something wrong with every guy who shows the slightest interest in you, even when they’re handsome charming and well-bred.”
“What? Name one.”
She tapped a finger to her lips. “Let’s see. There was that Brian guy.”
I rolled my eyes. “Brian smelled like wet dog.”
“Well, in his defense, he is a wolf shifter.”
“Yeah, well, we shift all the time and never smell like that. I think something was legitimately wrong with him.”
“Okay, okay, what about that carpenter, Gordon?”
I threw my hands up in disgust. “Oh, come on. First of all, his name—Gordon? And second, all he ever talked about was different kinds of wood.”
Zoe barked a laugh. “Wood?”
“Yeah, it was all, spruce this, and mahogany that. I mean, like, sure, love your job, but have some other interests. I wouldn’t be surprised if he went home after our date and whittled himself a girlfriend.”
“That’s terrible,” Zoe said through a grin.
“Look,” I said, pointing a finger at her. “You know better than anyone that there’s nothing wrong with wanting to wait for the one, your true mate. Like you did with Colton.”
“Yes, I have to admit I got lucky. But not all of us shifters are lucky enough to ever find our true mates. Nothing wrong with getting together like normal humans do. Lots of shifters do it and live perfectly happy lives.”
I sighed. “I guess so. But, I don’t know if I’m ready to make the choice to settle.”
“Then don’t. We weren’t talking about finding your soul mate. We were just talking about finding a date for the wedding.”
I nodded thoughtfully. “Yeah, you’ve got a point. Now that I’m actually here, I realize that anything would have been better than flying solo. Even wet dog Brian.”
“Is it really that big a deal to be without a date?”
“Not normally, but you had to go and marry a damn Sky Valley wolf.”
Zoe made an offended sound. “And what’s wrong with that?”
“Nothing, except for their tradition of week-long weddings, and having the wedding party compete in games all week.”
“Oh, that? It’s only when the Alpha marries, and I think it’ll be fun.”
I sighed. “Sure, it’s fun unless you’re a loser like me. Most of these competitions are for couples. We’re supposed to pair up with our dates, or significant others, or whatever. Which means I can’t compete.”
“Like you even care. You’ve never been the least bit competitive.”
“I’m not. But the fact that I’m sitting it out is going to be noticed by everyone. They’ll be like, oh, there goes poor Holly, the other sister, the one who can’t find a date. Tsk, tsk.”
“They are not going to say that!” Zoe laughed.
I kept going. “They’ll shake their heads in pity. I’ll be the wallflower lurking around the festivities like a cautionary tale. ‘Don’t be like Holly,’ they’ll say, ‘the old spinster sister,’ they’ll say.”
Zoe shook with laughter. “You’re crazy. Absolutely no one is going to think that except you, you nut. No one will even care.”
“I guess. Still, I’d feel a lot better if I had a date. It’s not too much to ask. I mean, I’m an okay looking girl.”
“You’re more than okay looking.”
“You have to say that. You’re my sister.”
“Fine, your face looks like a baboon’s butt. Is that better?”
“Kind of.”
/> “Look, the games don’t start until tomorrow, and most of the other guests will be showing up today. It’s not too late to grab yourself a partner for the games before then.”
I chewed my lower lip in indecision. “Somehow I doubt that’s gonna happen.”
“What about Chase Stone?” Zoe asked.
My heart skipped a beat at the sound of his name. I stopped short and turned to look at my sister, confused. “Chase Stone? Why would you even mention his name to me?”
“But, you liked him, right? Once upon a time, I mean.”
“Yeah, I thought I did. I thought he might be—” I stopped myself. “It doesn’t matter what I thought. He disappeared. Without even saying goodbye, I might add. No letter. No phone call. Not even a damned text message. I don’t know if he’s alive or dead, and I don’t care.”
“O—kay,” Zoe frowned. “I guess that’s still a sore subject.”
“No,” I said, flipping my hair in annoyance. “That man means nothing to me. I haven’t thought of him in years. I just wasn’t expecting to hear his name out of the blue. It was so long ago. What even made you think of him?”
Zoe paused. “Well, now I don’t want to say. Now that you’re all riled up. I don’t want to fan the flames.”
I took a deep breath to still my racing heart. “Zoe, I am perfectly calm. Chase could walk up to me right now and I wouldn’t even raise an eyebrow.”
A sly grin tugged at Zoe’s lips. “Funny you should say that…”
She nodded her head to indicate I should look behind me. I turned around to see a man strolling through the garden, no more than twenty paces away. A man who looked like an awful lot like an older, more grown up version of…no, it was him. Chase Stone.
Son of a bitch.
The moment I set eyes on him, my body reacted by bombarding itself with bursts of heat followed by flashes of cold. I didn’t know if I was going to pass out or throw up. I felt the blood rush to my head. Chase Stone in the flesh. I hadn’t seen him in almost ten years, but I would have recognized him anywhere.
His dark hair was cut short now. It framed that same ruggedly handsome face that still haunted my dreams. He moved with the same easy swagger as he sauntered in the direction of the main house, his forest green eyes fixed ahead of him. They didn’t seem to notice me.
Although I’d never voice it aloud, I did know deep inside that the real reason no guy ever seemed to measure up. It was because none of them were Chase. No man had ever made me feel the way that Chase had those many, many years ago. And there he was.
I hadn’t expected to ever see him again. Still, I’d spent many sleepless nights imagining what I would say to him if and when I did. The conversation had played out repeatedly in my mind, like rehearsing lines for a play. In the scenario, I’d say something biting and brutally honest. He’d struggle for words, trip over his own tongue, as he tried to explain, but I wouldn’t let him talk. I’d keep my gaze cool and calm, never letting him see how much he’d hurt me. When he finally dropped to his knees and begged for forgiveness, I would turn on my heel and walk away, leaving him to regret ever abandoning me in the first place.
Now that the moment was actually presenting itself, all of those perfectly crafted lines escaped me. My mind was blank, and I had no idea what to say or do. The smart thing would have been to avoid speaking to him altogether. Just let him walk on by. That would have been the smart thing.
Yet, for some reason, my feet moved of their own accord, making a beeline straight for him. Then, my mouth opened, even though I hadn’t given it permission to speak.
“You son of a bitch!” I screamed.
That got his attention.
Chase cocked his head in my direction. I stomped right up close to him, my fists clenched at my sides so hard my fingernails dug into my palms. I shot daggers with my evil glare. If looks could kill, Chase would be a smoking pile of ash and cinders at my feet.
“Holly,” He eyed me coolly, nodding his head.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
“I’m here for the wedding, of course.”
“What?... Why?... She invited you?”
“No. Colton and I are old friends. I couldn’t refuse his invite.”
I shook my head. “And you didn’t think you’d run into me?”
“I assumed you would be here, yes.”
Anger and confusion warred within me. How the hell was he so calm? I was supposed to be the one in control. Somehow, our roles had gotten reversed.
“And you thought it’d be okay to just show up like…like…this?” I waved my arms around like a spastic octopus.
“Why wouldn’t it be? Holly, you and I were a long time ago. I figured you’d have gotten over us by now. I certainly have. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to find Colton and let him know I’ve arrived.”
As Chase slid past me and strode away, all I could do was watch with my jaw hanging open like a gaping fool.
Well, that went well.
2
Chase
I felt Holly’s eyes burning into my back as I strode briskly towards the main house. She was furious, and she had every right to be. I hated myself for everything I’d put her through.
When I’d accepted the wedding invitation, I knew I would see Holly. I just didn’t think it would be seconds after I’d arrived and that she would have grown even more beautiful in the last decade.
I’d hoped to keep a low profile, staying away from the festivities for the most part and only showing my face during the actual ceremony.
So much for that.
I wouldn’t have shown up at all, but Colton had insisted I be one of his groomsmen. He’d saved my life once and I was indebted to him. As much as I wanted to, I couldn’t say no. I was suddenly regretting my decision.
A part of me had hoped that Holly would be over things by now. That she would have moved on, found herself a mate, maybe had a few pups, and she wouldn’t even care that I was here. Another part of me dreaded seeing her with another man. My Holly. I’d never gotten over her and I knew I never would. I still thought about her every day. A man doesn’t just get over a woman like Holly.
They say time heals all wounds, but nearly a decade had passed and the wound was still fresh. A lifetime could pass and the pain would still be raw and tender.
I tried to keep looking casual and unaffected as I walked, the way I’d been when I’d spoken to her. It wasn’t easy. I fought the urge to run as fast and as far away as I could. It had taken all my will power to hide the emotions threatening to overwhelm me when she confronted me. It had physically hurt to look at her. The young girl I’d fallen in love with had blossomed into a gorgeous, sexy woman and my chest throbbed with a confusing paradox of emotions. Love and guilt. Arousal and fear. Joy and anger.
My anger wasn’t directed at her. I was angry that we could never be together. I was pissed off that fate had brought the perfect woman into my life, only to tear her from my arms and leave my heart a shredded mess. Fate had a cruel sense of humor, and the joke was on me.
I finally made it inside the house. Once out of her sightline, I sagged wearily against the wall, trying to still my pounding heart. Sweat slicked my brow from the effort it had taken to pretend I didn’t care about her. I felt like I’d just run a marathon.
I wished I could tell her the truth about why I left. That I’d had no choice. That I did what I did to protect her. But, there was no point in tearing open old wounds by dredging up the past.
“Chase,” a voice called out.
I turned to see Colton and Noah striding towards me.
I forced my warring emotions to a dark corner of my mind and greeted them back.
“You’re just in time.” Colton clapped me on the shoulder. “Noah and I were about to grab a drink.”
I nodded. “I could definitely use a drink right about now.”
Colton raised his beer bottle. “Here’s to a hell of a week.”
I raised mine as well. �
��Cheers.”
Then I took a long, much-needed swig, almost draining the bottle. My nerves were jagged. I hoped a few beers would take the edge off.
“You’ve got a hell of a setup here,” I said.
Colton glanced around at the spacious, wood-paneled room. Then, he knocked his knuckles on the long wooden bar counter. “It’s certainly convenient. As you know, there’s not much around this estate for miles. The pack has to be fairly self-sufficient. Plus, it’s a place for all of us to get together. So, it’s not like it’s my own private watering hole.”
“Still, a guy could get used to this,” I said.
“Yeah,” Noah said. “I don’t think I’d ever leave this room if I lived here.”
Colton grinned. “Well, you’re welcome to stay as long as you want. But if you think this is fancy, just wait until you see what’s been planned for the next few days. The pack goes all out when their Alpha gets married.”
“You could have asked them to tone it down,” I teased. “You’re the boss, right?”
He nodded. “Yeah, yeah, I could have, but these festivities aren’t really for me. It’s a way for the pack to bond with the alpha and his new mate, a generational thing. The last one, when my parents were mated and married, took place before most of the guests here today were born. This is a celebration that is kind of a calling in of a new era. And, a way for us to forge deeper friendships with guests from other packs.”
“Makes sense,” Noah said.
I frowned. “I understand the parties and the feasting and all that. But what’s with the competition?”
“Oh, the wedding games are an ages old tradition. Going back centuries.” Colton took a long draw off his beer. “Three different events over the course of the next few days, all leading up to the actual wedding ceremony. It only happens when the Alpha marries, so it’s a rare occasion. We’re not the only pack that does it. I remember going to one when I was a kid. It was a good time.”
Rogue Wolf Page 1
