by Bethany Shaw
They went through the motions several more times, until Daniel was sure she had the momentum down. Each time he held her and pulled her close, it became harder and harder to focus on their training. Her firm, supple body fit against his perfectly. There were so many things he wanted to do to her—with her that didn’t involve training.
“All right everyone. I think we did good tonight. Remember, tomorrow night is Sarah’s birthday. We’re going to get started about an hour later so everyone has time to eat and enjoy cake,” Gene called out.
The barn quickly cleared out. Nora stepped back from him and bent down to retrieve her water. “Thanks for helping me out tonight.”
“No problem. We could partner up tomorrow night. If you wanted?”
Nora grinned. “Yeah. I’d like that.” She wiped the sweat off her brow with the back of her arm. “Are you doing something tomorrow?” she asked quickly.
“I am helping with the new building in the morning, and it’s grocery day. I usually go to the store with my mom.”
“Do they have a pharmacy there?” Nora asked shifting on her feet.
“Yes.”
“Would it be all right if I tagged along? I only have a few days left of my meds and I would feel more comfortable if I were the one to pick them up.” Her eyes drifted to the dirt floor and she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
“Sure.” He hadn’t gotten to spend much time with her the past few weeks, because of his duties. If she accompanied them to the store and bakery, he could get some time alone with her—well, semi-alone.
“Great! I’ll see you then,” she sighed, letting out a rush of air. She waved and then trotted toward April, who was waiting for her at the barn door. The two linked arms and giggled about something as they exited the building.
“She doesn’t seem like your type,” Devon said, approaching him. Lark followed behind him, her eyes shifted from Devon to Daniel, then back to her lover.
“If you don’t like me teaching her, just say it,” Daniel ground out. He gritted his teeth, instantly regretting his words. If Devon told him he couldn’t train Nora, he would technically have to follow his orders.
“Actually,” Lark piped up. “I think she needs someone who won’t hold back with her. Sarah, Nora, and I have an unfair advantage. You’re a good fighter. She trusts you.”
Devon looped an arm around Lark. “Don’t push her too hard. She just got her stitches out,” Devon grumbled, giving him a sneer before the two of them left the barn.
Daniel closed his eyes and ran a hand through his hair. He just wanted to fit in here. To call this place home. Although, the more he and Devon clashed, the harder it was becoming. It occurred to him that their roles had reversed. At that moment, he couldn’t blame his brother for his retaliation. Devon had spent years being the outsider—now it was Daniel’s turn.
Chapter Six
Daniel placed the last plate in the dishwasher, before closing it. With a sigh, he leaned against the counter.
“I think we’re ready to go,” Claire said. She picked up a towel from the counter and dried her hands.
“Nora’s asked if she could come with us. I told her it wouldn’t be a problem,” Daniel stated.
Claire’s eyebrow rose up as a smile slipped over her features. She set the towel on the counter and wiped up the excess water. Once finished, she looked out the large window. His mother tucked a graying strand of hair back up into her bun. “We’ll have to take two cars then.” She shrugged. “Probably ought to anyway. Goodness knows we scare the poor cashier every time we come through there.”
Daniel chuckled. “We do buy a few cartfuls of food.”
“There are a lot of mouths to feed. Besides, I was hoping you could stop off at Lark’s bakery. If we take two cars then you can run and get the cake after shopping. With this heat, we don’t dare get it before. The icing would melt right off of it.”
“Mom-“
“I told her I’d send someone by The Cookie Jar to pick up the cake,” Claire interrupted. “She is bringing home pizza for everyone for Sarah’s birthday tonight, and doesn’t want to risk the cake. Sarah’s been having such a rough go of it lately, Lark just wants it to be perfect. Lark is really worried about her and I can’t say that I blame her,” she sighed, a forlorn expression overtaking her features. “Anyway, Devon is tending to his own affairs and you’ll already be out.”
“You know Dev doesn’t like me near Lark,” Daniel grumbled, gripping the counter. The last thing he needed was another confrontation with Devon. He just wanted to fit in here and fly under the radar.
His mother sighed and shook her head. “I used to hope the two of you would be good friends. You’re not that far apart in age. Devon was entranced with you when you were born. Emmett ruined that. He destroyed the brotherly bond. And I let him do it,” her voice broke.
“Mom-“
Claire reached out and grasped his shoulder. “No, it’s not okay. I should have done more for both of you.”
“I know how impossible father was. We both did what we had to do to survive. If Dev and I can’t come to some sort of peaceful resolution, then that’s something I’ll have to live with. It’s on my conscious, not yours,” Daniel assured her. “Regardless of Dev and I’s past, I’ll do what needs to be done to protect both packs.” And maybe someday I’ll earn his trust. He thought.
His mom brushed her fingers against his cheek before pulling him into a hug. “I know you will.” She pulled back and wiped a few tears away with her thumb. “So, this girl Nora, is there something more going on between the two of you?”
Daniel groaned. Talking girls with his mom was one of the last things he wanted to do. “She’s nice.”
“The two of you should ride together in one car. It will give you a chance to chat.”
“Please don’t play matchmaker,” Daniel said, scrubbing a hand through his hair.
“And why not? She’s a pretty young woman,” his mother paused, grinning at him. “Who actually has a personality and a good heart. She is by far better than those girls you and Vincent used to sleep around with back home. That girl didn’t have to stop when she hit you, but she did. After everything that she’s seen—that she’s been through these past few weeks, she still wants to help. Nora is a good person. I know your father thought humans were weak. But when you find someone like Lark, or Nora, who are loyal and loving, you don’t let them getaway. We could have a thousand wolves here with us, but it doesn’t mean anything without loyalty—without love. Love is what wins wars, nothing else.” She took a step back, her eyes appraising him. “It’s okay to be happy, Daniel. You just have to allow yourself.”
Daniel closed his eyes, and balled his fists at his sides annoyed at how well his mother knew him—could read him. It was unnerving.
“Come on, Son, we best go round everyone up if you’re going to get that cake before Lark leaves.”
***
Nora adjusted the car vent so the airflow wasn’t blasting directly on her. She wrapped her arms around herself and shifted against the leather seat.
“You cold?” Daniel asked his hand hovering over the control dial.
“A little,” Nora admitted.
Without hesitating, he adjusted the knob.
“Thanks,” Nora smiled as her arms started to thaw. “How has your day been?”
“Good,” Daniel replied, but didn’t comment further.
Nora tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and chanced a glance over at him. “I’ve been up in my room all day studying for a test. Is it silly I’m still going to school? I mean it seems trivial compared to what is going on here.”
“No, if that’s what you want to do. What are you studying?”
Nora grinned, glad he was conversing with her—happy he didn’t think she was stupid. She didn’t know what to make of him. Sometimes he seemed interested in her like last night when they’d been sparring, but other times, like now, he was so quiet—distant almost. Regardless, she
wasn’t about to let the opportunity go. She liked him. “Art history. It’s one of those majors that doesn’t really get you too many places, but it interests me.”
Daniel shrugged. “If you’re going to pay that much for school, you ought to study something you like.”
“Yeah. I just wish I knew what to do after I graduate. I’ll have some student loans, but thankfully not too many. I was fortunate enough to get quite a few scholarships. Not to mention, I have my insurance through the school, I’ll have to figure that out after this last semester. Have you been to college?” Nora asked, curious.
“Nah. My dad didn’t see much need for education outside of what he taught us. Em was home schooled. My brother’s and I are lucky we were allowed to go to public school. That’s one of the very few battles my mom ever won against him,” Daniel mumbled.
“Your mom seems like a no nonsense woman,” Nora commented. She hadn’t really conversed with the elder woman, but Claire McKinley had an air about her. She wasn’t a woman to be trifled with. However, if what Daniel said was true, what did that say about his father?
“She was the alpha female of our pack back home. She had to be tough,” Daniel said in a strained whisper.
Nora had questions—lots of questions, but she sensed that this was a sensitive topic. She didn’t want to ruin their conversation by pushing for personal information. “Did you have any subjects you liked better than others?”
“I liked math.”
Nora snickered. “I hated math. I am horrible at it.”
“It’s not all that bad. I could help you with it, you know, if you needed it.”
“Thankfully, I don’t have any more math classes left. I’m actually in my last semester.”
“That’s why you wanted to finish?” Daniel asked, turning to look at her.
“I like to finish what I start. Plus, my insurance is through the school, and I really need that for my medicine so...”
“You sick or something? You don’t look sick, but you take medicine. I was just wondering,” he rambled, shifting in his seat.
“I’m not sick. It’s more preventative to keep me from getting ill.” It wasn’t a lie. He didn’t need to know that she would be taking drugs for the rest of her life, or that she was more susceptible to illnesses than others. People treated her differently when they found out. They either treated her like a piece of china or ran screaming for the hills. It was infuriating.
Daniel shrugged, and she let out a breath glad he was leaving it be.
“So do you guys get sick? Like humans?” Nora asked, curiously.
“Yeah, we’re not as prone to things like the common cold and flu’s, but we can still get cancer and have heart disease.”
“Guess no one is immune to those things.”
“Unfortunately, no,” Daniel sighed.
Daniel turned on the car’s blinker and followed the Jeep in front of them into the shopping complex. He pulled into a parking spot and shut the car off. Nora unbuckled her belt and hopped out of the car. She walked to the front of the vehicle where everyone else had gathered.
“I figured it would go quicker if we broke off into two groups,” Claire started handing a list to her son. “Daniel, why don’t you and Nora take the meats and frozen foods. Jacob and I will take the dried goods and fresh fruits and vegetables. Then the two of you can go get the cake.”
“Sure,” Daniel said, taking a piece of paper from his mom.
“Cake?” Nora asked after Claire and Jacob started toward the store.
“It’s Sarah’s birthday today.”
“Am I actually going to get to meet her?” Nora wondered aloud. “Everyone always talks about her, but I’ve never met her,” she clarified, when Daniel glanced over at her.
“She’s been keeping to herself a lot. Her boyfriend died about a month ago. It’s been really hard on her, I guess.”
“Everyone deals with tragedy in their own way,” Nora commented quietly. She could relate. “I kind of withdrew from everything when my grandma passed away. But, then I realized school was starting up and she would come back to haunt me from the grave if I didn’t get my act together and live my life.”
“I don’t think school is going to work for Sarah. I heard Lark telling Gene that she’s deferred her first semester of college, not that I blame her. Vincent spent a lot of time with her boyfriend, Preston, before he died. He said that it was nauseating how much he talked about her,” Daniel replied as he pulled a cart out of the corral.
“No offense, but your brother is a womanizer. He might mock love, but he’s really terrified of it,” Nora teased. Daniel frowned giving her an unreadable expression. She couldn’t help but wonder if she’d struck a nerve.
“Here,” Daniel said, handing the list over to her. “You’re probably better at finding this stuff than me.”
Nora met his emerald eyes and her breath caught. Their fingers momentarily entwined as she took the piece of paper from him. Heat sizzled through her digits and her pulse roared in her ears. Their hands lingered for a moment longer before Daniel abruptly pulled away. Maybe Vincent wasn’t the only one terrified of love—what if Daniel was too?
***
Fernando Juarez pulled his SUV into the dreary parking lot. The motel left a lot to be desired. Large chips of white paint were missing from the siding. The shutters hung loose and were crooked, and long cracks splintered through a few of the windows. It would be a pleasure to return to his home and his own bed. Soon, he thought. The Harris’ were young and inexperienced. He wanted revenge for Luis’ death, but first he wanted to make them sweat. Then, he would send for his reinforcements and wipe them out with one deafening blow.
His grandson, Malakai, bounded down the walkway approaching the vehicle as he turned it off and climbed out.
“Papa,” Malakai greeted, with a bow of his head. “I didn’t think you’d be arriving until tomorrow. Is everything tied up in the bayou?”
“We got all the information we could out of the few men we captured alive. How are things progressing here?” Fernando asked, walking toward the crumbling building that would be his home. He did understand that finding a place suitable for a pack of their size wasn’t always feasible, he just hoped the inside was better than the outside.
“They seem to be sticking to a regular schedule. Monday’s and Thursdays they go to the store for groceries. They’re there now, and I have four of my men watching them. Devon and Gene Harris mostly keep to the ranch and homestead. Devon leaves more often though, mostly to visit Lark at her bakery, The Cookie Jar. Her schedule remains routine. The shop is closed on Sundays. The rest of the days she opens and arrives at the store around six in the morning and leaves for the day between three and four. I have yet to see Natalia,” Malakai said, clearing his throat.
“I don’t believe we’ll see your coward of a sister until we take the ranch. She will pay for murdering your father—my son. Do you have any other information?” Fernando asked his eyes wandering around the camp. Malakai had around two hundred men here with him, but he wasn’t sure that would be enough. He had left a large contingent of men to finish overseeing the cleanup of the Bayou pack. The outside world could not be allowed to find out about their species.
“They appear to be putting up some sort of fence around the property lines. Although, it doesn’t look to be anything useful, just a regular wooden fence,” Malakai shrugged. “We could get closer to get a better look, but if we do, we risk being seen.”
Fernando nodded. “I’m sure they already know we are here. However, I want any attacks on them to take them by surprise. You’ve done well, Malakai. Come, let’s talk indoors.”
“This way, Papa. I apologize for the state of this place. It is the only place I could find relatively close to the Harris’ that had enough accommodations for our men. This is the nicest room here though,” his grandson said as he led the way to the end of the building. He inserted a plastic card into the door and opened it.
Fernan
do’s eyes widened, he was pleasantly surprised by the condition of the room. The beige carpet was worn, but the bed was made to perfection and the white walls looked freshly painted.
“Please come in and close the door,” Fernando instructed.
Malakai stepped inside and shut the door. “What is it, Papa?”
Fernando clasped his hands behind his back, taking one last look around the room before letting his eyes land on Malakai. The boy looked so much like his father with his jet-black hair and chestnut eyes. His heart clenched in his chest at the thought of his dead son.
“Luis’ death has made me realize that it is time for me to officially name an heir. I know there are lots of alphas’ who want to be my replacement. However, this is my pack. I built this pack with my sweat and blood, and I’ll be damned if I let someone outside our family take the reins. I want to name you my heir, Malakai. But first, you must prove yourself. Not only to me, but to the other alpha’s who follow me,” Fernando said, narrowing his eyes.
Malakai’s mouth opened his dark eyes shining slightly. “I would be honored, Papa.”
Fernando grinned, glad to see the boy had kept his wits about him. He will be a good alpha. “Good! Continue as you have been. I wish to observe you a little more before I declare my intention's to the pack. You’ve done well, Malakai. You’re so much like your father.”
“Thank you, Papa. I won’t let you down.”
Chapter Seven
Nora smiled and scrambled ahead of Daniel as he held the glass door for her. A bell chimed over her head as she entered The Cookie Jar and the heavenly smell of cinnamon greeted her.
“Hey,” Lark called as she looked up at them. She set the bowl and spatula she was using down and walked to the counter. “I was beginning to wonder if you all were coming.”
“Sorry, it took a bit longer at the grocery store than we expected,” Daniel said, running a hand through his hair.
“It’s my fault,” Nora sighed. “They messed up my meds and had to call the pharmacy back home.” It had been a fiasco. She was just thankful they had gotten everything worked out in the end. While she still had a few days left, it was imperative that she not miss any doses.
