by Crissy Smith
Cain shook hands with him then moved aside for Adam. Other Packs were leaving as Cain acknowledged Brent Simpson. They waved at one another in greeting. He’d only met the man once when Cain had made his first and only trip to California. Brent had been the one to show him around, and although Cain wouldn’t say they were friends, Brent was a nice enough guy.
As the parking lot started to thin out, Cain turned to Sam and Adam. “This meeting didn’t do anything. Everyone is still blaming each other, and we didn’t find out anything new.”
“Gage calls it political bullshit, but it had to be done. Otherwise, the Packs will start to rip each other apart,” Sam said.
“Damn.” Cain ran his hand over his face. He was tired and just wanted to be with Emily. “We need to end this fast. Did you get anything from scenting Larry?”
Sam smiled, but shook his head. “No. His scent wasn’t one I recognised, but I could have sworn it was in the room.”
Cain hadn’t wanted to say anything, but he agreed. “So you think it is someone who was at the meeting?”
“Son of a bitch.” Adam growled. “And we let him go?”
Cain put his hand on Adam’s shoulder to calm him. “We don’t know that it was. But it gives us an idea. We do know who was at the meeting, and that gives us a place to start.”
Adam shrugged off his hand. “That’s going to do a lot of good for the next girl.”
Sam moved restlessly, and Cain knew he could tell how close Adam was to shifting. “It gives us something,” he told his old friend.
Adam took several deep breaths before nodding. “Sorry.”
Sam slapped him on the back. “Had me worried there for a second. Well, I’ve got to run. Marissa is driving Gage crazy with all her cravings, so in turn, he’s driving me crazy sending me after things. I have instructions to stop on my way home and pick up a list a mile long. I tell you, I don’t think I want children after seeing this.”
All three men laughed and waved goodbye. Getting in the car, Cain looked over at Adam.
“You okay?”
“Yeah, but if we think it’s Larry, why don’t we just go after him?”
Sounded like a plan to him, but Cain knew they couldn’t, not just yet. “Because if it’s not, it would start a Pack war, and we don’t need that on top of this.”
“Just so you know, I’m going to rip this guy apart when we find him,” Adam said quietly.
“Okay.” With that said, he started the long drive home.
Chapter Ten
Emily ran around the large tree and pulled her shirt over her head. She had long ago learned not to be shy about her naked body, but she didn’t think that Cain would much like his brother seeing her that way.
She’d been restless all day waiting for Cain to return. She didn’t like being away from him. It also made her realise that she couldn’t go back to school with him staying inside the territory.
She needed a good long run to calm herself. The wolf inside was scratching to get out. Finally, she had been able to talk Tony into taking her out. She didn’t like having to have a chaperon, but she did understand it. If Cain came back, and she’d been hurt, there would be no telling what he would do. Or how many people would end up hurt.
Why that thought made her happy she wasn’t quite sure, but she decided to go with it.
After folding her clothes and placing them against the trunk of the tree, she knelt and welcomed the magic that would allow her to shift.
The tingling started at the tip of her toes and moved over her body quickly. Her skin grew tight, until it felt like it would burst. Bones adjusted inside her, and she felt herself float like she always did.
Then, only minutes later, she stood on all fours, tilted her head back, and yowled in pleasure. An answering call from the west told her that Tony was ready. She bounded for him, content to run and play until her man came home to her.
After dropping Adam off, Cain drove faster than the posted speed limit signs. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right. Picking up his cell phone from the middle console, he tried once again to reach Emily.
It rang four times before he got the message she couldn’t answer at this time but to leave his name and number. Dread filled his stomach as he tried his brother. No answer there either.
Cain stomped his foot harder on the accelerator, and the car shot forward. They should be answering. He had told her to stay in the main house except if Tony was with her.
Of course, if she was in trouble, and Tony was with her, that might explain why neither was answering. Cain took the next turn too sharply, and the car skidded. Correcting the vehicle, he took a deep breath and slowed down. Getting himself killed wasn’t going to help either of them.
His cell phone rang from where he thrown it in the seat beside him, causing him to swerve again in surprise. The number of the house showed on the I.D.
“Emily!” he answered.
“No, it’s your father. What’s wrong, Cain? I can feel your unease from here.” His father's voice was soft but sharp, pulling him out of his panic.
Cain laughed almost hysterically. Why hadn’t he thought of calling the house? Of course his father could sense when he was worried, so why wouldn’t he be able to sense if Tony was in trouble?
“Cain, are you okay?” his father asked again.
“Yes. Yes, I’m fine. I couldn’t get a hold of Emily or Tony, and I started to freak out. I didn’t even think of calling you,” he tried to explain.
His father’s sigh of relief was audible even over the phone. “Emily and Tony are both fine. She was so restless waiting on your return that they went for a run.”
That made Cain feel better, but he just wanted to be absolutely sure she was okay. “Can you sense them?”
When his father remained silent, Cain knew he was trying.
“Yes. Emily is very happy right now, and I believe she is outrunning your brother.”
Cain could picture Emily in her small timber wolf body running from the bigger black wolf. While his brother was big and powerful, Emily was smaller and faster. She had almost outrun Cain the first time they’d gone out.
“Thanks. I’m only about thirty minutes away, but I could feel something wasn’t right.” He still had that feeling, but it had lessened. He still felt on edge, just that something wasn't right.
“It’s probably just your bond. You’ve been away from her for too long. I’ll have Kyle go tell them you’re almost here.”
Cain felt a growl try to escape from the back of his throat at the mention of the other man.
“Cain.” His name came out as a warning.
He shook his head to clear his mind. “That would be great.” Then he hung up and once again sped home to his waiting mate.
Cain pulled to the gates and waved to the guard inside. Antonio waved back as he pressed the button to let him in. Cain looked in his rear view mirror, still uneasy.
The drive to the house seemed to take hours even though it was less than ten minutes. He had his seat belt off before the car came to a complete stop.
Lifting his head to the wind, he concentrated on the sounds and smells around him. Then, using the mating bond, he tried to find Emily.
He could sense her behind the house still in wolf form. She was only about a mile away. He started to go to the house until another smell reached him. One mixed with hers. He knew that smell. It had been at the meeting.
Cain took off running while pulling at his clothes. He shifted as he ran which was as painful as it could get. Once on his four feet, he could run faster. That didn’t stop the black and grey wolf from coming up from behind and passing him. So Lamont could sense the trouble too.
He picked up speed and ran next to his father into the woods. His ears picked up a loud growl then a whimper. He ran faster, jumping over fallen branches instinctively as he headed in the direction of Emily.
When he and his father broke through to where the sound of battle was already taking place, he immediately s
ought Emily.
His brother, in wolf form, was fighting a larger wolf while another went from snapping at the strange wolf to blocking Emily from it.
Lamont howled and headed into the fight. The strange wolf threw his brother off his back and met his father.
Cain ran to Emily to make sure she was okay. Her small frame was hunched down and little whimpers were escaping her. The wolf guarding her moved aside as Cain approached. Looking in his eyes and smelling him, Cain knew who he was. But if Larry was the wolf protecting Emily, who was his father now fighting?
Cain nuzzled Emily’s neck and could have cried himself when her small tongue licked his paw. He shifted away from her and nodded at Larry.
The other wolf understood and moved to stand guard in front of her once again. Cain next checked on his brother who was lying on his side, panting. Tony was injured but alive. He turned to the wolf that now stood muzzle to muzzle with his Alpha.
Lamont darted in and nipped at him, but the other wolf was faster. Cain waited patiently while Lamont distracted him until the perfect moment. Then he jumped, knocking the other wolf off its feet, causing him to roll. He tried to regain all fours again, but Cain pounced and held him down.
They rolled, teeth clashing, as they both tried to get the upper hand. Distantly, Cain could hear Emily’s whines and his father taking care of Tony, but he couldn’t look back and give up his attention on the attacker.
The wolf made a move to get his back legs under Cain. It was just what he had been waiting for. Adjusting his body weight, Cain got a hold of the wolf’s neck. He slammed him down hard once, then again. His sharp canines sunk farther into the fur until the other wolf gave up.
Going limp, he submitted to Cain.
Cain remained on alert as other members of his Pack—both in wolf and human forms—joined them. It was Antonio who spoke quietly to Cain, telling him to release. But the wolf inside Cain wouldn’t let him. Instinct told him to rip the wolf’s throat out for endangering its mate.
Then his father was there in human form, adding his voice to Antonio’s. But it wasn’t until Emily dropped next to him, human and naked, and placed her hand on his head that he could.
Letting go of the wolf, Cain crawled into her lap and started his own shift back, staring into her eyes the entire time.
Chapter Eleven
Cain held Emily in his arms as she shivered. Antonio had taken off his shirt and jacket and given them to her until he could return with her clothes, which Cain was grateful for. He was raw enough without having to think about her naked in front of everyone.
He still could not believe that the attacker had been Brent Simpson. He turned and glared at the other non-Pack member present.
“You knew,” he accused Larry.
“I had my suspicions,” the other man told him, shrugging. “I wasn’t sure, so I decided to follow him when we left the meeting.”
Cain was still shaking with rage at the thought of any man putting his hands on his mate. Emily’s soft hand turned his head towards her.
“He saved me, Cain. I had gotten separated from Tony when he went to investigate another smell. I was trying to make my way back to my clothes when the other wolf appeared in front of me.”
Cain tightened his hold on her.
“He came out of nowhere. One minute he was standing in front of me, and the next, he attacked.”
“Shh…” Cain ran one hand over the back of her hair, letting the silk fall through his fingers.
“No, I want to tell you,” she insisted.
Cain nodded, knowing she needed to get out what happened.
“He had me pinned down, and I really thought he was going to kill me. Then, all of a sudden, he was gone. Larry had pulled him off of me, and they started fighting. Then Tony ran in and joined the fight.” Tears welled up in her eyes. “I’m so sorry, Cain. I just wanted to run.”
“Oh, baby, it’s not your fault.” Cain let her bury her head in his chest as she cried. He looked up and met Larry’s gaze.
“Thank you.” It wasn’t enough. It would never be enough to him. But this man, who he had suspected, had saved his mate’s life.
Larry shrugged and half-smiled. “I should have told you what I thought, but I didn’t know for sure. Besides, I don’t think anyone would have believed me.”
“Why not tell your Alpha?” Lamont asked, walking up and handing Cain Emily’s clothes, which Antonio had found not far away.
Larry barked out a laugh. “Things run a little different in my Pack. If Riker had come into what you had, he would have watched the fight and then offered the winner a job.”
“Sounds like you need a new Alpha,” Cain commented.
The shadow that crossed Larry’s face was brief, but he had seen it.
“Maybe I do,” he whispered softly. He looked around the area surrounded with family and friends, his face showing a bit of longing. Then he backed away until he blended in with the trees and was gone.
* * * *
“Cain?” Emily rolled over and reached for him as she called out his name. The bed beside her was empty. She sat up and saw him sitting on the end of the bed.
“Cain?” She moved up behind him and wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her breasts into his back. “What’s wrong?”
“What’s wrong?” He laughed out bitterly. “You could have been killed yesterday while I wasn’t even here.”
Emily sighed and crawled onto his lap. “I could have been killed even if you had been here.”
He shook his head. “He knew I was with Adam, and he could beat me here. He went after you because you’re my mate.”
Emily understood. “And you blame yourself.”
“Of course I do.” Guilt laced his words.
She placed her hands on either side of his face and made him look at her. “You love me.” When he started to respond, she put her fingers over his lips. “You love me, and you’re afraid because of that I’ll get hurt.”
When he didn’t deny it, Emily knew she was right. “But here’s another thing. I love you too. I love you so much that when you’re gone, I find myself going crazy thinking about you.” She placed a soft kiss against his lips as she moved her hand. “There’s always going to be danger, Cain. Whether I’m with you or not. I’d rather know that you’ll always be looking out for me than have you push me away because of it.”
“That’s just it though. I’m so selfish that I would rather have you in danger than give you up.”
Emily smiled, hoping he would understand. “I need to be with you, Cain. Always. I don’t want you to ever give me up.”
He visibly relaxed and under her bottom started to come to life. She wiggled and nipped his bottom lip. “Seems to me someone is feeling better.”
With strong hands, he cupped her ass and pulled her tighter against him, her wet sex sliding over his skin. “I’ll show you just what I’m feeling.” And he kissed her.
Emily had never known a kiss to be so sweet and promising in her whole life. He drugged her with his caresses and tenderness.
Cain broke away, and she tried to follow. “One more thing.”
“Enough talk,” she demanded, reaching to fist his hard cock.
“Just have to tell you this…” he panted as she started to stroke him.
“What?”
“I talked to my father last night. We’re going to promote Antonio to Enforcer so he can take the out-of-town jobs.”
Emily’s hand stilled. “You’re staying here with me permanently.” Joy filled her at the thought of not having to be separated from him again.
“Well, no.”
Emily’s heart jumped in her chest. “No? But you just said you wouldn’t give me up.”
He looked at her for a full minute before a smile broke out of his face. “I’m not.”
“But…I don’t understand.”
“I’m going back to school with you. You’ll finish the semester and then we’ll return here together. To our home.�
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“Cain!” Emily smothered him with kisses.
He grabbed her face and their eyes locked. “I would do anything for you, honey. And this is just a small thing. You want to finish school, so I want to support you.”
Once again, tears fell down her face.
“No crying! This is a good thing,” he complained.
Emily scrubbed the tears from her face with the back of her hand. “Happy tears, Cain. You’ve made me so happy!”
“I’ll always try to make you happy. But, when we return, I will take my post back as Enforcer for the territory. Are you okay with that?”
“Yes! Yes! I know that’s who you are. I understand that!”
“Okay, then enough talk.”
She squealed as he flipped their positions, so she was on her hands and knees on the bed and his hard body was over her.
“I also want to start a family after you’re finished with school.”
“A family?” Emily’s breath caught as he teased the entrance of her pussy with his thick erection.
“Yes, a family. So we need to practice making one.” With those words, he thrust deep inside her.
Her head fell forward as he started to pound into her from behind. Sensations ran rampant through her body as each stroke took her higher. A family. She would finally have a family.
“But we also need to take care of one more thing,” he told her, not slowing the force of his strokes.
Emily couldn’t believe he could talk right then. “Hmm?”
“I asked my father permission to mate officially.”
Emily’s body tightened and she knew she was close. “Mmm.”
“Say yes. Say you want to mate with me,” he ordered.
Emily slammed back into him. “Yessss…” she hissed her agreement. She felt his canines against her neck. “Yes.”
He pierced her skin as she screamed out his name and her body exploded.
About the Author
Crissy Smith lives in Texas with her husband, daughter, and three Labrador retrievers. When not writing or reading, she enjoys hunting, camping and shooting.
