Wren only gave me half a second to appreciate the naked body she’d clearly decided I would never get to touch before she shifted.
She was the prettiest wolf I’d ever seen — with blondish white fur that blended into charcoal gray, and intelligent golden eyes. For a she-wolf, she was enormous, though she had nothing on my wolf. He was midnight black, the size of a pony, and desperate to rub himself all over his pretty mate.
Wren’s wolf gave me a haughty huff, grabbed the bundle of clothes in her teeth and turned her back on me. The message was obvious — I hadn’t showed myself worthy of her attention, so she wouldn’t give me any.
I chuckled quietly as I pulled off my coat. You want a chase, little bird? I’ll give you a chase.
My wolf enthusiastically ripped free of my skin, barely stopping to grab my clothes before bounding after the creamy gray she-wolf. Wren had a head start, but she was oddly clumsy for a wolf, stumbling a little as she found her footing on loose rocks and raised roots. She ran like a pup after their very first shift.
Despite running away from me, her wolf continuously looked back, checking I was still on her tail. She was enjoying this.
Wren led me east, and I was vaguely aware of the moment we crossed into Fortis Pack territory, but I couldn’t have stopped myself from pursuing her, even if I had wanted to.
The Fortis Pack centurions perked to attention as Wren dashed past them, but must have recognized her scent. I wasn’t so lucky. Three snarling centurions leaped in front of me, barring my way. I briefly considered ripping their throats out for getting between me and my mate, but I urged my wolf to still when I saw the flash of panic in Wren’s eyes. She was worried I would hurt them. My wolf drew himself up to his full imposing height, his gaze sweeping imperiously over the three centurions, letting them know I could take them, but I was choosing to cooperate.
Apparently confident that I wasn’t going anywhere soon, Wren turned her back and bounded into the distance, swishing her tail behind her. Little minx.
With a defeated huff, my wolf let me take back control, and I pushed the shift.
"Get dressed," the middle centurion barked, motioning at the pile of clothes my wolf had been carrying in his teeth. At least I wouldn't have to go through this whole rigmarole naked. Small blessings.
I shoved my legs into my jeans, stifling a grin at my spiteful little mate who'd led me on a merry chase, right onto pack territory where she knew I'd be pulled up for trespassing. I should have realized what she was doing right away.
There was no avoiding speaking to the Alpha now that the centurions had pulled me up, as much as I ached to keep an eye on Wren instead. Before I’d spoken to her, I’d already been obsessed with her. I'd become ten times more enchanted by her the moment she'd glared at me with death in those big, golden eyes.
The moment when she'd dropped all her clothes kept sneaking back into my mind, haunting me. I was dressed now, but the boner would still be pretty obvious through my jeans. Fuck me, she was a goddess.
"Where are we going?" I asked the centurion amiably, letting him think he was running the show. I bit back a growl as he roughly grabbed my upper arm and steered me towards the center of the territory. I was technically in the wrong here, I didn't want to make things worse for myself. Dad would have my head if I caused an incident between the Audax and Fortis packs.
“To see the acting Alpha,” he snapped, irritated by my relaxed attitude.
"And that would be Alpha Calvin, correct?"
"Alpha George Calvin. The current Alpha's father."
Perfect.
Fortunately, it was late enough that most pack members seem to be in their homes. One centurion kept a grip on my arm while two followed close behind. It was flattering, really. I liked to think it would take at least three of them to overpower me if it came to it.
Unlike the Audax Pack, which was made up of lots of smaller buildings, there was a central pack building in the middle of the Fortis Pack territory. We entered through the main doors that appeared to lead to the dining hall, but the centurion steered me to the right, up a curved staircase and down a long, carpeted hallway.
He rapped his knuckles against a heavy wooden door, waiting at attention until an indistinct voice invited him to enter, before shoving me into the Alpha’s office, following me in and diligently guarding the door. I snorted quietly. As if I would run now.
The room looked a lot like my dad’s office — floor-to-ceiling shelves filled with books, big imposing desk, even a similar stone fireplace — but this office was much nicer. The Fortis Pack had done very well for themselves.
“Take a seat,” the Alpha called, gesturing to the armchair in front of the desk. I strode forward, lowering myself into it confidently and keeping my chin up. Strength called to strength. The Alpha would see anything other than total confidence as an exploitable weakness.
Behind the desk sat an elderly but still formidable man that I assumed was Wren’s grandfather. Their eyes were the same striking shade of dark gold. Standing at his left shoulder was his mate. Her gray hair was pulled back into a severe bun and she was dressed like a drill sergeant. Wren didn’t inherit her grandmother’s features, but she sure as fuck got her attitude.
“I’m the acting Alpha, George Calvin,” the man announced, leaning forward and resting his forearms on the desk. “And if you’re not Alpha Ellery’s son, I’ll eat my paw.”
My relaxed facade cracked a little before I pulled it back into place. I hadn’t expected him to recognize me. “Archer Ellery, sir.” I hated deferring to anyone, but it would be suicidal to disrespect an Alpha in his own territory.
“Archer,” he mused. “Care to tell me why our centurions picked you up on our territory? Chasing my granddaughter, no less?”
I snorted. “If this wasn’t Wren’s plan from the moment I started following her wolf, I’ll eat my paw. She’s my fated mate,” I said by way of explanation when they both raised their eyebrows at me.
“Yet Wren never mentioned you,” her grandmother said, giving me a wry look. “Why is that? Is she not happy with you?”
“She is neither happy, nor with me, ma’am. I’m working on it.”
Alpha Calvin laughed. “Wren’s making you work for it, eh? ‘Atta girl. Eloise, could you get us a couple of beers? I’d like to talk to young Archer here alone for a moment.” I bristled a little at young Archer, but I kind of got the vibe that Alpha Calvin was screwing with me.
Eloise rolled her eyes good-naturedly. “You just want to tell him about how you chased me all over the Pacific Northwest for months until I accepted you.”
She headed towards the exit, barking at the stunned-looking centurion to follow her, and closed the door behind them. Poor guy, he’d probably thought he would get a pat on the back for hauling me in.
“Call me George. I’m confident we’ll be family one day, we may as well drop the pretense now.” He looked quite kindly and amused when he ditched the Alpha posturing.
“With all due respect, George, I have far less confidence in that than you do.”
George chuckled. “Eloise wasn’t exaggerating — I spent two months following her around, trying to convince her that being a Luna wouldn’t be so bad. It wasn’t me she took issue with, but the position.”
“We haven’t got to that conversation yet,” I muttered, warning bells ringing in my head. Shit, what if I convinced Wren to give me the time of day, only to find out she had no interest in being a Luna?
“I wouldn’t worry about that,” George said thoughtfully. “I don’t know Wren well, sadly, but she is not her grandmother.”
Eloise returned, handing each of us a beer which I accepted gratefully, uncapping it and taking a generous swig.
“So, what did you do?” George asked, leaning back in his chair, entirely confident I was in the wrong. Eloise perched herself in the seat next to me, so the three of us were crowded around the Alpha’s desk.
“I was a little slow off the mark in making myself
known to her,” I said carefully, very aware that I was talking to her grandparents and not wanting them to despise me right off the bat. “In my defense, I thought the hesitation was mutual. It never occurred to me that she wouldn’t know who I was to her.”
Eloise nodded sadly. “Her childhood pack was not like our packs. Her parents aren’t fated mates. Heather sacrificed the chance to find her fated mate to join the Azymus Pack, where she felt she was more valued as a submissive wolf.”
“Was she? More valued, I mean.”
“Just because there are more submissive wolves in a pack doesn’t mean they are more valued,” Eloise said with a wry smile. “My point is Wren hasn’t had an example of fated mates in her life. She felt called to keep moving north — though I think it’s likely her wolf was seeking her pack, rather than her mate — and her wolf was distraught at leaving Carson. Those are promising signs, as you well know. Give it time.”
“Of course,” I agreed easily. “I won’t leave her alone — I barely did before and the urge to be close to her is even stronger now we’ve made eye contact — but I won’t push her for something she’s not ready for.”
“Good. Would be a crying shame to mess up that pretty face of yours.” George gave me a single nod, tipping his beer to me, eyes twinkling in amusement.
“That would be a shame. My pretty face is probably all I’ve got going for me in Wren’s eyes,” I chuckled.
“Come to dinner tomorrow,” Eloise said thoughtfully. “I wanted to put on a big welcome party for Wren, though it seems obsolete now since it’s unlikely she’ll join the Fortis Pack. It’s still a homecoming of sorts though, and worth celebrating. Her fated mate should be there.”
Grandma was totally Team Archer.
“Thank you. Can my packmate, Miles Rubio, come along? He traveled to Huntingdon with me.”
“Joe Rubio’s son?” George interjected. “Of course. Fortis and Audax packs have always had a strong relationship. I look forward to seeing that flourish.”
Hopefully.
George’s phone dinged and his eyes glanced down at the screen, his mouth tipping up at the corner.
“And now I must ask you to leave, I’m afraid. Wren has just arrived on the territory with an overnight bag. Looks like she’s taken us up on our offer to sleep here. A rather rapid change of heart.”
I snorted, and George grinned.
“Then I owe you thanks. I hated her staying in that motel,” Eloise sniffed.
“I’d say you’re welcome, but this has really worked out quite badly for me.”
George laughed. “Patience, pup. We’ll make sure you get plenty of time with her tomorrow. And just to be clear, I will wholeheartedly endorse her punishment of you.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less, sir.”
I took his outstretched hand, giving it a firm shake. Eloise linked her arm through mine, guiding me from the study and down the wide staircase out of the pack building.
“Tobias?” she called. I kept my face neutral, even as my hackles raised. “Escort Archer to the gate, would you? As our guest,” she emphasized, giving him a pointed look. “I’ll see you tomorrow, dear.” She patted my arm and gave me a slight smile.
“I’d love to hear how you were escorted into that building as a trespasser, chasing her granddaughter no less, and are leaving as a guest,” Tobias muttered, shooting me a dirty look.
“I’ve been told I’m a charming bastard,” I volunteered, a little swagger in my step. Wren wasn’t mine yet, but I’d be having dinner with her tomorrow. The progress eased some of the crushing weight on my chest and the tension in my wolf.
“Why were you chasing Wren?” Tobias growled. “While she’s staying here, she’s under my protection.”
I was in his face, his shirt fisted in my hand before he could move. “Wren is under my protection, no matter where she is, because she is mine, period. Get me?”
Tobias didn’t struggle; he stood tall and held his ground, scanning my face intently. “Huh. When Joe called, I figured she must be Miles’ mate. So, why is it Wren has lived in Carson for three months and never met you?”
My grip tightened on his shirt, a growl rumbling from my chest that was all wolf. “That would be my business, and I don’t recall inviting you into it.”
Tobias’ lips twitched, and he held up his hands defensively. My eyes narrowed on him before I let his shirt go, pushing him back a little before resuming the walk towards the border.
“Wren’s been through enough,” Tobias said quietly from behind me. “If you’re going to keep jerking her around, leave her alone. She deserves better.”
“She does,” I agreed, “but I’ll never leave her alone.”
Tobias left me at the border and I stripped again, shifting into my wolf form and carrying my clothes in my teeth through the woods to get back to the motel. My wolf didn’t fight to get back to Fortis territory where he knew she was. He seemed to understand there was work to be done.
As disappointed as I was that she’d be so far away from me tonight, I probably would have spent all night with my ear against the wall listening to her sleep like a lunatic if she’d stayed in her motel room. A little space might be a good thing.
For her.
I pulled on my clothes at the edge of the parking lot, where traces of her scent still lingered in the air. For once, there wasn’t a trace of the sickly lavender she used to cover up her natural scent. I inhaled it deeply, savoring the smell I had deprived myself of for so long.
There was a slightly feral edge to it, the smell of her wolf. My wolf missed hers already. He was a total goner for her even though she’d dismissed him and ran from him. He was eager to show her he was worth her attention.
I let myself into the room Miles had booked for us, groaning in gratitude as the smell of pizza filled the room.
“It’s on the table,” Miles said, nodding at the pizza box. He was stretched out on one of the twin beds, feet hanging uncomfortably over the edge, absently watching the news on the crackling television.
“She was here,” he said as I dug into the cold pizza. “Grabbed her stuff and left. Slammed the door so hard I thought it might fall off the hinges,” he added with a chuckle.
“You don’t seem too surprised about that,” I commented, raising a brow at him.
“She’s a Luna.” He shrugged. “As proud and dominant as you. You could have shown up with roses and busted out the big, romantic speech from The Notebook, and her pride would still demand that she punish you.”
“Which is why I didn’t do either of those things. I intend to make it easy for her to punish me. We won’t be able to move forward until she has. What?”
Miles gaped at me. “That’s remarkably thoughtful of you.”
“It’s been known to happen.”
“It really hasn’t.”
“Shut up. Anyway, we’re going to dinner with the Fortis Pack tomorrow, they’re having a big to-do to introduce Wren to the pack.”
“First, how the fuck did you get invited to that because I’m sure Wren didn’t ask you. Second, doesn’t that bother you or your wolf? You don’t want her to be welcomed to Fortis, you want her to join Audax.”
“I’m not too worried. Eventually, I’ll win her around and she’ll join Audax because I’m sure as hell not giving up. I doubt she’d even want to join Fortis. Unless the Alpha and Luna are really strong, her wolf won’t answer to them.”
“Fair enough,” Miles replied thoughtfully. “So how did you score the invite?”
“Her grandparents are acting Alpha pair while her uncle is out of town. They’re Team Archer.”
Miles snorted. “They’re Team Fated Mate, more like, but sure. Let’s go to dinner tomorrow and see how long it takes for your fated mate to claw your face off once she sees you there.”
Chapter 12
Wren
I shuffled into the dining hall to join my grandparents for breakfast, aware of how shit I looked. After I’d ensured my so-ca
lled fated mate was picked up for trespassing on pack lands, I’d announced to my grandparents that I would be staying here and gone straight to the room they’d set up for me without hesitation. I mean, I’d done what I set out to do. Right? If the Fates were on my side for once, he’d still be locked up this morning.
Unfortunately, my wolf wasn’t as vindictive and her incessant howling in my head kept me up all night, wanting to know that he was okay. I’d probably have been up all night anyway trying to process what Archer — aka Sandalwood Sex-Smelling Dream Wolf — had told me.
In every scenario I’d imagined where I met the wolf that smelled like a god, him claiming I was somehow predestined for him had never featured. Mostly, I’d envisioned him trying to run me off his turf like every other shifter I’d encountered before. I’d been prepared for that. This situation had thrown me for a loop.
And pissed me off.
And broken my heart.
Because whether fated mates were an actual thing or not, I hadn’t once scented a lie in Archer’s words. He had believed the things he’d said, believed he was my soul mate. Then rejected me anyway.
It’s not like the sensation was new to me. I wanted to attribute the ache in my chest to hurt pride, but I knew it ran deeper than that.
He didn’t get to just turn around and change his mind because it was convenient to him. To show up, arrogant as fuck, acting like it was no big deal that he’d cast me aside before he’d even bothered to get to know me.
“Wren,” George said cheerfully, pulling out a chair for me before taking his seat at the head of the table.
“You look exhausted,” Eloise noted from her spot opposite me, not unkindly.
“I’d usually attribute that to a successful first meeting of fated mates, but I know that’s not true in your case,” George chuckled. Gross, gramps.
Wait. What?
“He told you his theory then?” I growled, yanking the plate of hash browns in the center of the table towards me with a little more force than necessary.
“It’s true, isn’t it?” George asked bemused.
Fire & Gasoline: A Shifter Romance (Audax Pack Book 1) Page 13
