by Vivian Arend
“Just really good at long-term planning,” Amy deadpanned. She slid her bishop into line with his king. “Checkmate.”
Evan sat back on his haunches. “Huh. Do that again.”
Fifteen minutes later Evan had been defeated three more times. Amy crossed her legs and sat back, a contented smile on her face. “Ready for something more your speed?”
“Checkers?”
“I was thinking snakes and ladders.”
Evan grabbed the cushion off the seat behind him and tossed it at her.
Amy ducked to one side, smiling as she stood. She lifted the board to put it away. “Go Fish?”
“Strip poker.”
She whimpered, a look of pain crossing her face as Evan’s wolf lunged upward in hope. “Be nice,” Amy muttered.
Evan was instantly contrite, especially since the suggestion had made his cock react far more than it should have. “Sorry.”
Her butt wiggled nicely as she strode to the cupboard. “Here, strategy and physical dexterity. Maybe it will distract us enough to forget…the other things we’re fighting.”
The game she placed on the table consisted of stacked blocks of wood. Evan was familiar with this one. “I’m the pack-house Jenga champion,” he warned as he got to his knees.
“So I’ve heard. That means you might have a sporting chance against me.”
Her dare warmed him. There was a challenge in it, yes, but none of the agonized aggression she’d been tossing his way ever since she’d discovered he was her mate.
Proximity was easing things along, and that was all he could hope for at this point. “Ladies first.”
Absolute concentration reigned for the next twenty minutes as they alternated moves, slipping the thin rectangular pieces of wood free from the tall tower and carefully placing them back on top. Evan made sure to focus while it was his turn.
But when it was Amy’s? He was all about watching her.
Her dark hair was messy from their outdoor romp. Her eyes sparkled as she concentrated, the merest bit of her tongue poking between her lips as she steadily pushed a block free. There was a rosy glow to her skin, and a freshness and vitality about her that made Evan long for the moment he could put the games aside and take her in his arms. Take all of that energy and enjoy it to the fullest.
She smiled with satisfaction as she held a block in the air. “You’re in trouble.”
“We’ll see.” Evan didn’t care at this point who won and who lost. Spending time with her was what he was interested in.
His competitive spirit wouldn’t allow him to lie down and let her win, though. He leaned over, carefully checking the tower that was stacked precariously enough he wanted to hold his breath. A single sneeze would send it tumbling.
There were no simple moves left. He reached for a block, momentarily distracted by the faintest hint of delight that crossed Amy’s face.
He checked again, and spotted the trap. Removing that piece was guaranteed to send the entire tower crashing. Instead he went for the only other possible move. Evan delicately placed a fingertip and nudged ever so slightly.
The tower swayed.
Forget about breathing, this was all about concentration now. One tiny motion after another the block inched free from its position. He pulled the final inch and a quarter straight to the side, sighing with relief as the tower settled.
He held the block in the air and beamed at Amy.
“I’m impressed.”
“Anything can be accomplished with enough patience.”
She took a deep breath then let it out slowly. The conversation was suddenly not about the game at all. Tension rose again in a rush, and urgent need and desire swooped around them like dive-bombing eagles. “I think I’m going to call it a night.”
Evan looked pointedly at the tower, but didn’t say anything.
Amy rolled her eyes. “You’re such a wolf.”
“You know it.”
She tipped her chin. “You win.” She raised a hand to the fragile structure and sent it tumbling into dozens of random pieces scattered on the floor.
They cleaned up the mess together. She carried the game away while Evan turned to the sink to wash the dishes. Silence, but this time far more comfortable.
He was drying his hands when she came up behind him. “Evan?”
He rotated, facing her with only inches separating their bodies.
She stared, those enormous eyes like magnets pulling him forward. “I… I’m not ready. God, I could rip your clothes off and fuck you right here if my wolf side got control, but then I think about what—”
He pressed his fingers over her lips. “I know. I understand. So I have a suggestion.”
“What?”
Did she realize her fingertips were brushing his chest? “Sleep in your wolf. She needs it.”
It was a way to give both of them what they were craving without pushing too far.
The faintest hint of a smile appeared. “I’ll wash first.”
Five minutes later he caught himself debating if he should wear a pair of boxers to bed or not, which only proved his logic centers were totally fucked up. Who cared what he wore? She wasn’t sleeping with him. His wolf howled in frustration, and the human side muttered in agreement.
He exited the bathroom and stepped into the room she’d given him.
Amy was already curled up on the bed. She lifted her head, her unique personality shining from wolfish eyes.
A shot of something close to obsession struck, and he hid the yearning under a teasing quip. “I hope you don’t snore.”
She growled.
Evan didn’t bother to pull back the quilt. Just lay down, one hand slipping into her fur. He stroked her, thoroughly enjoying the chance to pet her until she rumbled with pleasure.
“You’re a beautiful wolf,” he said as he admired her. “Your wolf and your human, both of them are amazing, and I can’t wait until we’re truly together.”
Amy rose on her front paws, head tilted to the side as she studied him.
“I’ll be patient,” he promised. “But I won’t give up.”
Something changed, just slightly, but enough to make his wolf sigh contentedly. Amy turned in a circle, moving closer. She settled, her nose resting on her tail, body tight against his chest like a furry furnace.
Maybe it wasn’t the typical first night for mates, but all things considered?
He’d take it.
Part Two
Time has got a little bill—get wise while yet you may,
For the debit side’s increasing in a most alarming way;
The things you had no right to do, the things you should have done,
They’re all put down; it’s up to you to pay for every one.
So eat, drink and be merry, have a good time if you will,
But God help you when the time comes,
and you foot the bill.
“The Reckoning”—Robert Service
Chapter Nine
Light had just begun to sneak over the mountain when she woke. Sometime in the night, Evan had shifted and was now in his wolf. They were cuddled together like two puppies, and her heart fluttered.
It felt so right.
Less than twenty-four hours had passed, and already there was a place inside that couldn’t imagine not being with him. And yet, she didn’t know for sure what came next, because that kind of trust and belonging were for other people.
Too many plans had been set in place that would have to be worked out one step at a time. Like shoving a musk ox into a china shop, things were about to get complicated.
After extracting herself from their warm, comfortable nest, she slipped outside to get some fresh air before the crazy day began.
She’d barely made it to the edge of the trees when it r
egistered. Something was wrong. No birdsong, only utter silence from the animals of the woods and her sentries. Amy listened carefully, concern increasing at the unexpected stillness.
The faintest of rattles warned her in time to turn and face the wolf who leapt at her. He hit her hard enough to knock her to the ground, his jaws snapping on air rather than on her neck as she put on a burst of speed and moved to the defense.
She scrambled to her feet to face her foe, growling displeasure at having been attacked on her own territory. There was no way anyone should have been able to sneak up on the cabin like this.
Either her sentries were in trouble, or they would be.
The wolf she faced was black-furred and vaguely familiar. Amy cursed, the sound coming out as a furious growl. She’d expected to have to deal with Shaun at some point. She’d considered the Beta of the Takhini pack as she planned her strategy for revenge on Evan.
But it was too early in the day for this kind of discussion.
He took another run at her. Even as she dodged to the side to avoid his paw swipe, the attack just made her angrier.
Fine. He wanted a lesson in hierarchy? She would oblige.
She leaned forward on her front paws, crouching as she bared her teeth. Shaun hesitated for a split second, obviously surprised at the amount of power she put behind the snarl. While he was distracted, she slashed out, claws raking his shoulder. Before he could go on the offense, she crowded forward, batting again, this time striking the side of his muzzle as if disciplining a baby.
Her body might be smaller than his, but when she rushed in and hit simultaneously with her wolf side and a physical blow, Shaun had no chance of maintaining his feet. They rolled down the slight incline, claws scrambling as they fought for freedom. A series of growls and yips escaped into the morning air.
Amy hung on tightly as he attempted to roll her one final time and get his jaws around her throat. The momentum took them farther than he expected, and she thrust out her legs to halt their motion. She jabbed a paw at his eyes, and while he was temporarily blinded, caught his throat in her jaws, biting ever so carefully.
She didn’t break the skin, but her grip and body position was solid enough he wasn’t going anywhere until she released him.
A third wolf stood only feet away, observing. Amy had sensed his arrival, but thankfully Evan didn’t move to interrupt. She was determined this first fight would end the way she needed.
Shaun finally relaxed, tilting his head to the side just enough to loosen her jaws. It wasn’t a complete offering of submission, and Amy debated biting harder to make her point clearer, but something warned her to ease back.
She let him free. Shaun rolled to his feet, shaking his fur to shed the dirt and sticks clinging to him.
Evan chose that moment to pace forward, but instead of going to his Beta, he surprised her. He moved smoothly to her side, leaned in and brushed his muzzle against hers.
Shaun shifted. His hands were clenched in fists by his side, his eyes snapped dark with anger as he sniffed distastefully at Amy. “Dammit, Evan. She’s the important business you had to take care of in such a hurry yesterday?”
Oh goodie, this was going to be entertaining.
Both she and Evan shifted to their human forms.
“Is something wrong with the pack?” Evan demanded.
Amy had to give Evan credit for asking about them first.
“Yes.” Shaun jerked to a stop then kicked his feet like a little kid with a hand in the cookie jar. “I mean, no. Nothing that needs your attention this instant.”
“Then why are you here when I told you to stay in Whitehorse and take care of everyone?” Evan’s growing displeasure was clear, in both his tone of voice and posture.
Shaun didn’t seem to get the message to back off. “Yeah, well, there’s news. I thought it was important enough to track you down.”
That raised an interesting question. “How did you know where to find us?” Amy glanced into the trees. “And what have you done with my sentries?”
The Beta of the Takhini pack looked far too pleased with himself. “They’re a little tied up at the moment.”
Fury struck, and Amy moved without thinking. She had an arm wrapped around Shaun’s throat, him on his knees before the man could blink. Evan cared about his pack mates? She cared for hers as well. “If you hurt a single one of them, I swear you will pay.”
“Amy. Let him go. Please.”
She had no intention of setting Shaun loose until she was satisfied he’d learned his lesson, but the fact Evan had said please made the difference. She relaxed her grip, but shoved between Shaun’s shoulder blades at the final moment to send him sprawling to his hands and knees.
He mumbled something, and she rolled her eyes. “Working with you is going to be an absolute joy. Yes, I am a bitch, thank you very much.”
Evan stepped forward as Shaun scrambled to his feet, brushing the dirt from his knees. “Where are the Canyon members?” Evan asked.
Shaun pointed into the trees. “When I realized I’d tracked you into the heart of Canyon territory, I figured I’d better make sure no one could make a move on us. I found some rope in one of the outbuildings then snuck up on the sentries. They’re where I found them.”
Bastard. “You go and untie them this instant,” Amy snapped.
He rocked on his feet as her order slammed him, but the fool still had the audacity to cross his arms and glare haughtily. “You’re not my Alpha. I don’t take orders from you.”
“You want me to kick your butt some more to prove you will take orders from me?” She leaned forward, ready to take another swing, but Evan raised a hand.
“You made your point. Shaun’s being an ass like usual.” Evan turned to the dark-haired man. “Let her sentries loose then get yourself back to the Takhini pack house.”
“But, Evan,” Shaun protested. “You need to hear me out. Justin’s team called this morning, and they’ve got crazy news.”
Shaun continued to glower at her, his gaze filled with suspicion and concern. Amy couldn’t blame him for his misgivings. There were big changes coming in his life, and she was the cause of most of them.
Evan snapped his fingers in front of his Beta’s face to get his attention. “You said there was nothing that needed my attention. Do you really want to do this now?”
“There’s probably not much you can do about most of it,” Amy offered. “Isn’t that right?” she asked Shaun.
His eyes narrowed and his expression grew colder. Then he deliberately ignored her and faced Evan.
“I thought figuring out my mate was insane, but you picked an even crazier woman than me to get stuck with.” Shaun sighed as if the weight of the world were on his shoulders. “Fine. I’ll go back and make sure everything is waiting for you. Come back as soon as you can. And, dude, I suggest you keep your wallet hidden while you’re around this chick.”
Evan smacked him lightly on the side of the head. “Go. And don’t forget to release the Canyon wolves. We’ll see you later.”
Amy stepped forward before Shaun could disappear. “If I hear you’ve been unnecessarily rough with any of them, I won’t be pleased.”
“What will you do? Send me to my room without supper?” Shaun snarked.
He should have seen it coming. Amy gave him plenty of time to react, but he was obviously still figuring out who exactly she was. And while she would never have used violence on one of her own pack members, Shaun was Takhini. A few sessions inflicting unexpected pain were exactly what she’d anticipated would be needed to bring Shaun around to the idea she was going to be his Alpha. Whether he liked it or not.
Her sucker punch hit him in the gut hard enough he curled around her fist, air rushing out in a choking gasp. She patted him on the head as she pulled her other hand free. “I would never deny a growing boy his meals, but you m
ight have to sit at the little table for a few weeks until you’ve learned some manners.”
Shaun straightened, that look of distrust lingering in his eyes, but a hint more respect in his body language. “I’ll see you at the pack house, Evan. If you bring the she-dragon, consider handcuffing her for all our safety.”
He headed into the trees, shifting as he ran.
Evan draped his arm around her, chuckling softly. “That went well.”
It shouldn’t have felt so easy to lean against his body and soak in his warmth. “You know he’s right. Nothing will be simple in the coming days.”
He turned her on the spot, his strong hands caressing her bare shoulders, an unexpected smile on his face. “He likes you.”
Amy snorted. “Thanks for letting me deal with him on my own.”
“Oh, I understood completely. And I’m serious. I think he’s very impressed with you, once he gets over the shock of how the hierarchy has changed. If he wasn’t safely mated, I might even be a little jealous.”
Now Evan was being ridiculous, not to mention he was doing this thing with his thumbs against the skin of her neck that made her want to lean in and lick him all over. The desire made her uncomfortable on all sorts of levels.
“I’m more powerful than him.” Amy gestured toward the cabin with her head, the motion breaking the physical contact between them, which was sad, but necessary. His touch made it tough to think. “In the end, he’ll acknowledge it. He just might not like it.”
“He doesn’t have to like it for it to be real.”
That brutal truth applied to them as well. The mating urge was there. The yearning to wrap herself around the solid man at her side and never let go grew every minute, cancelling out the impulse that suggested she stomp down hard on his unprotected toes. She focused on a new topic before the sexual tension could build again. “I can’t believe he tied up my sentries.”
“I wouldn’t be too upset with them. Shaun is awfully sneaky when he wants to be.” Evan followed her back to the cabin. “You may not want to hear this, but the fact he got away with it kind of proves my point about how strong Takhini is. Just think. One man, working alone. How many sentries did Shaun put out of commission?”
