The Witch, the Wolf and the Snowstorm: (Book 6, Grey Wolf Pack Romance Novellas)

by Price, E A

  Don ran his thumb down her cheek, relieved that her skin was slowly pinkening and losing the deathly blue pallor. Kayleigh was a little woozy, he couldn’t tell how much she was aware of. Her eyes would flutter open and stare directly at him but then she would sigh and close them again.

  When she was finally up to temperature Don lifted her out of the bath and they dried her. Jeanette checked her over for injuries and satisfied she was unhurt Don carried her into the bedroom the family had prepared.

  She slept fitfully for hours as Don sat by the bed. He dare not sleep or leave her side. His wolf whimpered mournfully.

  *

  10th December

  Much to everyone’s relief the storm finally broke and it was a crisp sunny winter’s day. Casey and his sisters ventured out to make snowmen and to pelt snowballs at one another. The phone line was restored so they could check on other members of the pack. Very slowly the snow started to melt.

  Don didn’t budge from Kayleigh’s side. At Jeanette’s insistence he put on some clothes, for the sake of the children living in the house, and tried to eat something, but he refused to leave her. She was feverish, drifting in and out of sleep and he would stay with her until he was sure she would be okay.

  Thoughts of Melinda and his pack skated through his mind. Had Melinda ever cared for him? What was the point of making him fall for her? What did she get out of it? Did his pack really hurt her? Was she still out there somewhere, laughing at him? He needed answers to those burning questions and there was only one place he would get them. Charming, Texas.

  *

  11th December

  “Don, Don wake up.” Gently a hand rocked his shoulder.

  He grasped the hand. “Kayleigh?” His heart boomed in his chest.

  He’d been dreaming of her. Another sexy fantasy. They were running through the woods, he in his wolf form and she in a red cloak. Yeah, Little Red Riding Hood, total stereotype! He was chasing her as she giggled and squealed in delight. Finally coming to a clearing he pounced on her bringing her down to the ground, pinned beneath him in complete submission. He shifted so he was lying over her naked, his hard shaft pressed against her quivering sex. She told him she loved him, that she wanted him, that she needed him. They kissed hungrily as he tore through her clothes ready to devour her...

  “It’s just me.” Said Jeanette.

  He slumped back, his heart deflating. He rubbed at his neck, regretting falling asleep in the chair. He should have crawled into bed with Kayleigh... although considering their last encounter he might not be that welcome.

  Jeanette smiled at him. “She’s much better now. Her temperature’s down and she’s sleeping peacefully.”

  Don lit up. “She’s gonna be okay?”

  “She’ll be fine. She might feel a bit weak for a while, but other than that...” Jeanette trailed off as Don moved to leave.

  “I have to go.” He said shortly.

  She spluttered. “But... but what about Kayleigh?”

  He gave her a hard look. “Can I trust that you’ll take care of her?”

  “Well of course but...”

  “Then that’s all that matters.” He moved towards the door. “I’ve got somethin’ I need to do and she probably won’t wanna see me when she wakes up anyway.”

  He turned, giving one last lingering look to Kayleigh’s sleeping form. She looked better than she did, but still so small and delicate. His wolf howled at him. A common occurrence these days. It tore him apart but he had to go, he needed answers.

  Chapter Fifteen

  12th December

  Don sat on the hood of his rental car soaking up the sunshine. It was a far cry from the winter wonderland he left back in Virginia.

  After leaving the Shaw’s house, he ran home and packed a small bag. Hiking into town he managed to catch a lift on a snowplough into Darlington. From there he managed to borrow a truck with snow tyres from his friend Cain and drove to Alexandria. Then it was just a flight to Dallas, renting a car and a short drive to Charming.

  Coming home after twenty years was strange. The place hadn’t changed at all. It was like stepping back in time. As he drove through town he knew a few of his old pack mates spied him. By now his family would know he was back too. Something to worry about later.

  For now he was sat waiting outside the double wide of his former future mother in law, Victoria. The trailer park was just on the outside of town. He’d been waiting a good thirty minutes but no way was he budging until he saw her.

  When he’d arrived he’d knocked on the door politely. One of her neighbours, the same neighbour who’d lived there since he’d first come calling on Melinda twenty years ago, came out to find out what was going on. She was just as nosey as he remembered. After a few minutes she recognised him, and gleefully told him Victoria should be back from her shift at the Laundromat within the hour. The neighbour then settled down to wait on her make-shift porch. Undoubtedly hoping for a good show.

  A few of the residents had eyed him curiously, but after a quick growl they had kept their heads down and kept walking. A few of the women were not so deterred, they gave him appreciative looks before being dragged away by their fractious husbands.

  After forty minutes his wolf went on alert. Victoria’s small old rusty car put-putted upside along his rental, brakes screeching.

  Victoria lumbered out of the car eyeing him distastefully. She was perhaps a few pounds heavier, her skin unnaturally tanned a few shades darker and her hair bleached a few shades lighter. But it was her.

  She heaved a deep sigh. “I suppose you better come in.”

  Much to the displeasure of the nosey neighbour, Victoria led Don into the house, sneering at the neighbour as she went. Yep, Victoria hadn’t changed much.

  Dumping her purse on the floor she switched the radio on to Mexican samba music. “Keeps away big ears.” She sniggered angling her head in the direction of the neighbour.

  She lit a cigarette and settled into a rocking chair, pitching back and forth. Don stood, his hands behind his back holding his stetson. He observed her with a blank look on his face.

  “Knew you’d turn up eventually.” She dragged on the cigarette and coughed violently. “Well it’s no good, she’s long gone and so is your money. Ain’t no point in threatening me either, I got friends in the Sheriff’s office.” She told him smugly. Don remembered twenty years ago she was sleeping with the married Sheriff. Apparently she still was...

  He remained silent. She squirmed under his impassive gaze. “Look I’m sorry okay, I had no idea what she was up to.” Her words reeked of lies, making his wolf snarl.

  Don suddenly started speaking making her jump. “Why don’t you tell me what you do know?” His voice was velvety, the calmness belying the thunder he felt inside him.

  She sucked on her cigarette, hand shaking slightly. For all her bravado she was definitely afraid of the big bad wolf.

  “Melinda always thought she was too good for this place, always thought she was something special.” She said nastily. “She was determined to get out of here, make her way in the world.” Victoria clucked her tongue disapprovingly.

  “Thing is she needed money, and that deadbeat boyfriend of hers Allen sure didn’t have any.”

  Allen... that rang a bell. Don could remember being introduced to an Allen. He was about ten years older than Melinda, a cobweb and spider tattooed on his neck and a conviction for assault. He’d thought it strange at the time that she was such closer friends with him, but hadn’t really cared. Too besotted with Melinda to notice she was sleeping around behind his back.

  Victoria exhaled loudly. “So Melinda got it into her head that she could get money out of some of the wealthy boys who live round here, cast a spell to make them fall in love with her, skin ‘em for all they were worth and then break the spell. No harm done.”

  Don’s eyes nearly bugged out of his head at that, no harm done?! “But then she met you.” Victoria jabbed the cigarette in his direction. �
��I warned her not to get mixed up with a wolf shifter, god knows I did, but she wouldn’t hear of it. She saw you in the grocery store, she knew you came from a good family and she couldn’t help herself.”

  Victoria shambled out of the chair to pour herself a whiskey. “Course she reckoned without you thinking she was your true mate. After that she panicked, you were talkin’ about bondin’ and gettin’ married. I told her the best thing she could do for her future was to go through with it. She’d never meet a john better than you. She even considered it for a while...”

  She chuckled throatily seeing Don’s horrified expression. Thank god Melinda hadn’t gone through with it, the thought of being married to her made his skin crawl and his animal livid.

  Victoria settled back into her chair. “She knew she couldn’t get any money out of you, not without going through with the wedding. Toward the end she was about ready to give up, throw in the towel. But then your family gave her an out.” She ogled him slyly, delighting in his reaction. “They came to her, offered her a huge wad of money to stay away from you.”

  Victoria stubbed out her cigarette and then lit another. She shrugged nonchalantly. “So she took it.”

  Don shook his head appalled at what he was hearing. “She came to me, beat up. Said my brothers did it. That a lie too?”

  Victoria snorted. “She had her fucktard boyfriend do that to her. Course he went a bit too far, likes beating up women does that one. But it did the trick, got you all riled up and gave her a chance to leave town with your family’s money.”

  Don stared out of the window moodily.

  Victoria got up for another whiskey. She was very aware of the fact that she was trapped in a small space with a very pissed off wolf. A wolf who might just want to take all his frustration out on her, given that her daughter wasn’t available.

  Her voice quavered. “She visits now and again, and... and she sends me birthday and Christmas cards... I have her address somewhere... I can get it for you no problem... you wanna go up there and talk to her, you do what you gotta do... I didn’t even want the money... that was all her...”

  She was on the verge of tears, real tears. Don gazed at her. The vicious woman probably aided Melinda into making saps like him fall in love with her, probably took half the cash they swindled and now she was selling out her only daughter to save her own neck. Classy.

  Don pushed back at the bellowing animal inside him until he was silenced. “I don’t care about the money. And I don’t wanna see Melinda again. Ever.” He told her quietly.

  He placed his hat on his head and slowly sauntered out of her house. Not bothering to answer the nosey neighbour when she asked what happened he got in his rental and drove away steadily.

  *

  13th December

  Kayleigh wobbled a little and clutched at Casey’s arm. He was leading her up to the steps to her apartment.

  “You know you don’t have to go home so soon. You could stay a few more days at our house.”

  She shook her head. No, she just wanted to be alone to wallow in her misery over Don. Right after she kicked Greg out of the apartment. Okay so technically it was his apartment, but he was the guilty party so really she should get custody right?

  “I just want to get home.” She said out loud to Casey.

  She’d woken up surprised to find herself at their house, the first word on her lips was ‘Don’. Everything was a little blurry after the fight... But Casey filled her in on Don finding her, bringing her to the house, and then leaving...

  His family had been great, they had taken care of her so well, fed her, clothed her, helped bathe her, which she found incredibly embarrassing. But now she was starting to feel better and she needed some alone time. Time to think about her future, no way was she staying here knowing what Don thought of her. If he wanted to mope after his bitch ex then that was up to him!

  Moving to Rose had been the biggest mistake of her life! Her heart twinged at that thought. If she hadn’t then she never would have met him at all, she never would have enjoyed what little time they had together. But wouldn’t that have been easier that the crushing sadness she now felt?

  She opened the door and he manoeuvred her inside. Greg was there pacing the floor. She’d called him to let him know she was coming.

  “Kayleigh! Thank god, I’ve been so worried.”

  He rushed toward her and Casey instinctively growled lowly. Everyone in the Shaw house had heard about Greg’s exploits with Sharron. Kayleigh was never shy about sharing. Except about her time with Don, she’d take that to the grave. That was no one’s business.

  “It’s fine Casey, thanks for bringing me home.” She ambled over to the couch.

  Casey looked at her doubtfully, alternating with venomous glares at Greg. “You’re sure you’re okay?”

  “I’m fine, thanks. I’ll talk to you soon.”

  Casey nodded and reluctantly left.

  Greg wrung his hands out, his eyes were sunken and his face sporting a few days stubble. He didn’t look like he’d slept properly in days. “Are you alright?” He asked tentatively.

  “I’m fine, just a little tired.”

  He started pacing again, his face pinched. “Was that your new boyfriend?”

  “No!” She yelled hotly, she would never be interested in Casey, she couldn’t imagine herself being interested in any man other than Don... “And even if he was you have no right to ask!”

  He looked pained, almost on the verge of tears. His voice was strangled. “Kayleigh... I’m so sorry about what happened... I really did love you... I just...”

  “Loved Sharron more.” She filled in the blank.

  “I wanted to tell you, I just didn’t want to hurt you.” He was mired in self pity. Kayleigh considered letting this drag on a little longer but she was tired and all she really cared about was having a bath and going to bed.

  “Greg, the truth is I was having second thoughts. When I found you and Sharron...” She shuddered at the memory, she definitely did not enjoy watching other people have sex! “I was on my way over to break things off.”

  “What?!”

  Kayleigh groaned. He actually looked hurt by what she said. He had been cheating on her and he had the audacity to actually be hurt by her admission that she didn’t want to marry him anyway! Asshole!

  “Really? You’re really upset by that Greg? Really?”

  He looked down at his shoes like a little boy. “No I guess not.” He muttered sullenly.

  She chewed her lip pensively. “So what are we going to do about the apartment?”

  He went back to looking sheepish. “I’m moving away with Sharron, she says she’s had enough of small town life, she says everyone’s too judgey for her.”

  Kayleigh almost scoffed, yeah can’t imagine why...

  “So we’re moving to Vegas. We’re leaving in a couple of days, I’ve already moved all my stuff over to Sharron’s place so we can decide what we want to keep and what we want to take. We uh, thought it would be for the best.” He rubbed the back of his head.

  Yeah, more like Sharron thought it would be best... “You’re really happy with her aren’t you?”

  Greg grinned, unable to contain his joy. “Yeah I really am.”

  She smiled warmly in return. “Then I’m pleased for you. I really am.” She got up and hugged him.

  “Then I guess this is goodbye.”

  “Yeah I guess so.”

  As she shepherded him out the door he told her that he had let the landlord know he was moving, and that she’d be in contact about the rent. He told her which bills were due, that he had left his share for them. She nodded not listening to a word.

  When he was finally out the door she kissed him on the cheek. He gave her one last prolonged look before leaving. She shut the door, locking and dead bolting it. Alone at last.

  *

  Kayleigh lazed in a scorching hot bath, revelling in the smell of her pumpkin pie scented bubble bath. She leaned her head back
and closed her eyes. Her thoughts drifted.

  She was being chased through a castle. Her white nightgown billowing behind her. The animal, the beast was after her. It wanted to ravish her! She wouldn’t let him. She was engaged to be wed, she wouldn’t allow this strange creature to have its way with her.

  She tried every door, they were all locked. Panic but also excitement bubbled within her. She could hear him getting closer. The clack of his claws on the ground, his deep panting breaths.

  Yes finally! One of the doors opened. She slipped inside and found herself in a grand bedroom, dominated by a massive four poster bed with red silky sheets. Hearing the scratches outside she scrambled under the bed.

  The door was slowly pushed open, she almost cried in alarm. She could see his hairy paws walking round the bed. He let out an almighty roar and she squealed. Oh god had he heard her? She held her breath waiting for him to get her, but nothing happened. After a few seconds she heard the door closing.

  Breathing deeply she slid out of her hiding spot. She reached for the door only to be captured by strong masculine arms. She screamed as they wrestled her back to the bed. She closed her eyes and beat her fists as he lay over her trapping her under his weight. He grasped her flailing arms and pinned them over her head.

  “Kayleigh, look at me Kayleigh.” She froze at the honeyed voice.

  Her eyes fluttered open. “D... Don?” She stammered.

  It was her fiancée lying over her completely naked, his throbbing manhood pressing inescapably against her nightgown covered sex.

  “I want you Kayleigh, so badly.” He crooned nuzzling her neck.

  “But the creature?!” She whined, her body coming alive at his nearness.

  He looked her in the eyes, his shone amber. Had they always looked like that?

  “I am the creature Kayleigh, I can turn into a wolf. I got so excited at seeing you that I couldn’t control him, he wanted to see you too.”