A Wolf’s Deception (Novella)

by Sherilee Gray

  He turned away so he could concentrate on his phone conversation with Fletch. ‘Your sentries spotted Lance just beyond Black Hills territory?’

  ‘Not Lance, I haven’t seen that bastard, but he has at least a dozen of his high ranking males parked on our borders,’ Fletch said, sounding as pissed as Gabe felt. ‘I’ve tried to organise a meeting, to try to make him see reason, but far as I can see, he’s not here with his men.’

  ‘He’s still trying to track Tressa,’ Gabe growled.

  ‘That would be my guess.’

  Fuck. Gabe didn’t like sharing, never had. Everything he’d ever owned had ended up fair game in the camps. You couldn’t take a shit without everyone knowing. So when he’d turned eighteen and left, he left with pretty much just the clothes on his back, he hadn’t needed anything else. He’d lived in a tiny cabin with a mattress on the floor and a crate for his food. He’d stuck to himself, his business was his.

  But that changed after he joined the guardians, after he met Fletch, found a small circle of people he grew to trust. The Black Hills alpha needed to know what he was dealing with, he owed him full disclosure.

  He told Fletch a little of his and Tressa’s history, her father’s secret deal with the Harlow alpha…and that Sawyer was his. By the time he’d finished Fletch was cursing a blue streak, beyond pissed on his behalf.

  ‘We have to play this carefully. We can’t risk Lance learning Sawyer’s your son, not until we have them both here, under the pack’s protection. There are a few packs, entrenched in the old ways, the days of killing or banishing the weak, removing those that could weaken their bloodlines. I came from a pack just like it. I know first-hand what can happen. We can’t take any risks, not with your mate and cub.’ Fletch released a long breath.

  Not one for mincing words, Gabe knew what was coming next. Still, hearing it sent ice through his veins. ‘Lance might go as far as ordering your female and cub’s execution, just for the slight.’

  ‘Fuck.’ Thank God he had Fletch at his back. He was a guardian, but they were not huge in numbers. Only a couple were assigned to each area. He had people he could trust, people he’d grown up in the camps with, but they were spread out all over the damn country. It could take days to get them here. He didn’t have that kind of time. He needed to get Tressa and Sawyer to safety. The sooner the better.

  ‘I’ll keep you updated. I’d send men to you, but with the way they’re sticking to our boundaries, I’m afraid as soon as my sentries pass over, they’d track them back to you. We’re working on figuring out the safest route for you to get her in. As soon as I have the coordinates, or if they make a move, I’ll let you know.’

  Sawyer climbed onto his mother’s lap and curled in a ball, and going by Tressa’s quiet chuckle, Gabe guessed he’d gone straight to sleep. God, if anything happened to them…he swallowed, cleared his throat. ‘Thanks. I’ll wait to hear from you.’ Then disconnected.

  Tressa turned to look at him over her shoulder, like she could sense his mood change from across the room. ‘Everything okay?’

  ‘Yeah, but we’ll have to hang tight for a bit longer. Harlow pack members have made themselves comfortable at the edge of Black Hills territory. They’re blocking our way in.’

  Worry and fear dimmed her dark eyes. ‘He’s not going to give up. Lance is an unstable, bloodthirsty asshole. He’s alpha now and in his eyes I stole what he considers his.’

  He couldn’t stand to hear fear in her voice, etched into her features.

  ‘It’s going to be okay, Tress. Fletch is mapping out a safe route to get you home.’

  She stood, her sleeping cub in her arms and came to him, leaned into his side, seeking the comfort she needed. God, nothing had ever felt so good.

  ‘In the meantime, we’ll hang out, pretend we’re on holiday.’

  She beamed up at him and his heart stopped for a fraction of a second then thudded frantically back to life. ‘I like that idea.’

  He glanced down at his son, so like him, the way Tressa held him so tenderly in her arms. And it hit him all at once.

  Mine.

  They were his, his family, and he would do whatever he had to in order to keep them safe. Whatever necessary to keep them by his side.

  His beast was totally on board, so full of possessive rage over the threat to them, and near insane with hunger for his mate, he could barely breathe.

  The way he felt right then? Yeah, he needed a little distance before he did something that would put them in more danger. If he mated her now, he’d be useless for fucking days, wouldn’t be happy unless he spent the whole damn time buried deep inside her. Tempting as hell, but way too risky.

  He needed some space before he settled Sawyer on the couch to sleep and took Tressa back to bed and made her his. Shit, he could almost feel her skin beneath his, imagine the way it would feel to sink his teeth into the tender flesh, to mark her, claim what was his, what had always been his.

  He shifted, cock hard and aching, and tried to pull himself together.

  ‘Ah, how about I go pick up something for lunch?’ He scratched his son’s head and noticed how bad his hand shook. ‘We can’t take Sawyer out…and I know how much you like chocolate cake. You still like cake, right?’

  Her eyes lit up, and as dangerous as it was in his current state, couldn’t stop from stealing a kiss. Lucky for both of them, she broke it first, because there was no way he could.

  ‘Okay, sounds like a plan.’

  He leaned in and kissed the top of Sawyer’s head, the warmth of his soft fur, his gentle, sweet scent going a long way to calm both beast and man.

  ‘I won’t be long.’ He walked to the door. ‘Lock this after me.’

  She nodded and when he shut the door, he heard her call out. ‘And don’t forget my cake.’

  Tressa headed towards the balcony like a lovesick teenager, wanting a glimpse of Gabe as he headed off down the street. A knock stopped her in her tracks. She chuckled to herself and changed course.

  Unlatching the lock, she opened up. ‘You can’t buy me a massive piece of cake without your wallet.’

  The face sneering down at her on the other side was one she had hoped never to see again. Lance. She tried to slam the door, but he smacked a massive palm against it, throwing the door wide open. The momentum knocked her back and she barely kept her feet.

  Sawyer whined, but remained curled in a tight ball, face pressed under her arm, his tail tucked in against her stomach.

  The large male took another threatening step towards her. ‘You haven’t made it easy for me to track you down, Tressa.’

  ‘Lance…I…’

  ‘Get your shit. We’re leaving, now.’

  She shook her head, frantically. ‘No. I’m not going with you.’

  The sneer got uglier. The mix of hatred and lust he raked her body with made her stomach churn.

  ‘I don’t like being led around like a fucking dog. Pissing me off right now is not a great idea.’ He moved closer. ‘You owe me, Tressa. I got rid of that male you tore up back in that motel room, I covered your ass. You, your cub, you’re mine now.’

  ‘They’ll come after me. They won’t let you do this.’ He matched her retreating steps, his long strides eating up the small distance between them.

  ‘You talking about that Guardian?’ He laughed, dark and low. ‘We’ve taken care of the half-breed.’

  ‘What…what did they…?’ Fear sent ice through her veins in a cold wash, numbing her limbs. ‘You killed him?’

  He growled, grabbed her upper arms.

  ‘I know you’ve always thought I was Dan’s stupid younger brother, but you’ll learn how wrong you were.’ He shook his head. ‘I haven’t killed the Guardian, even though half-breeds should be put down. I don’t need that kind of heat. He’ll be out long enough for us to get clear of here.’

  Momentary relief washed over her, until he gave her a shake then shoved her towards the bedroom. ‘Now get your shit. We have to leave.’
/>
  She chanced a glance at the door, but men guarded it, more than likely the assholes who had hurt Gabe. Her wolf charged forward and she snarled, lips peeled back, showing them how much she fucking hated them. The bastards laughed, unmoved by her involuntary show of aggression.

  Their room was on the third floor, too high to jump out the window, especially with Sawyer. Lance shoved her towards the bedroom again, but remained in the small living room barking orders at his men. Placing her son on the bed, she kneeled in front of him. If Lance got a good look at him, they didn’t stand a chance.

  ‘Sawyer, I know it’s hard. But I need you to try and shift back. Can you try for me, baby?’

  His little face scrunched up and she knew he was concentrating, trying to do as she asked. She stroked under his chin, whispered to him, trying her best to explain to a three year old how to visualise the shift, the way he looked in human form.

  The sound of heavy booted feet announced Lance’s steady approach, and she snatched Sawyer up, hiding him against her as best as she could.

  ‘You ready?’

  She turned away. ‘I won’t be long.’

  ‘My brother was too soft on you. Let you get away with too damn much.’

  Dan had been a bully and an asshole. If he thought Dan had let her get away with anything, he’d lost his mind. She glanced at him over her shoulder and his nasty gaze raked her from head to toe.

  ‘I’ll enjoy bringing you to heel after I make you my bitch. My mate.’

  She spun around, shook her head. ‘No, you can’t be serious.’

  He growled, looking more pissed than she’d seen him. ‘What? You think you’re too fucking good for me? Well, tough shit. As the new alpha I get first shot at you. You won’t be so goddamn smug when I have you on your knees.’

  Jesus, making him angrier was stupid. She had to bide her time, do her best to stop him from doing anything rash. Softening her tone, she did her best to wipe the disgust from her face, kept her gaze low, submissive.

  ‘I’m sorry, Lance. I don’t think I’m too good for you. It’s just…you’re the new alpha. I know plenty of females that would love the chance to be with you.’

  She nearly choked on her words. The only females that wanted him were viscous, power hungry bitches who’d do anything to be an alpha’s mate.

  Some of the rage slipped from his face and his fists unclenched at his sides. ‘Good. It’s decided then. Being with you will save the bullshit of searching for a female, plus…’ He moved in, crowded her, ran the back of one rough hand down the side of her face. ‘I want you, always have. The decision was easy.’

  Oh God. She was going to throw up. It took everything she had not to wrench her head back, to slap his hand away.

  ‘I need time, Lance, I just lost Dan. I’m grieving. I guess that’s why I ran.’ She looked up, risked meeting his hard gaze and let the lies slip from her tongue. ‘I’m not myself. I needed space away from the familiar, the memories. I wanted to visit with my mother.’

  She touched his arm, squeezed gently. His nostrils flared and he licked his lips. ‘I’m sorry I worried you.’

  Those sharp eyes didn’t soften, they dipped to her lips. ‘Yeah?’

  ‘Yes. I didn’t mean to cause you so much trouble.’

  ‘How much time do you need, Tressa. I’m not a patient man. I’ve already waited four years to have you.’

  Keeping all the disgust and hatred from her face, she did her best to convince him she was sincere. Her son’s life depended on it. ‘I don’t know. I’m sorry, I can’t give you an exact date…but I…’

  ‘You need to prove it, Tressa, prove you mean it…that you mean what you say.’ His voice had gone rough with lust and she wanted to shrivel in on herself. ‘Put the kid down.’

  There was no way she could refuse him. If he worked out she was lying, that she was manipulating him, he’d lose it. That would mean a whole lot of bad things for her and Sawyer. She turned and placed the warm bundle in her arms on the bed, intentionally steering him towards the piled up blankets. Like she knew he would, her son scrambled underneath, taking cover.

  When she turned back, Lance didn’t hesitate, he moved in, pushed her back until she hit the wall behind her. ‘Do you know how long I’ve wanted to taste you? How many times I had to listen to Dan brag about how good you were? How he liked it when you fought and scratched and sunk those sharp little fangs into him. It made me insane, made me wish it was me you marked with your teeth and claws.’

  Keep it together, Tressa.

  She shook her head. ‘I didn’t know…you felt that way.’

  He rubbed up against her, letting her feel his erection. ‘You do now.’

  Then he dipped his head and kissed her. It was hard and sloppy. He used his teeth, biting hard enough to make her yelp then slid his tongue over her lips demanding entrance. She couldn’t do it. He repelled her on every level.

  She was about to scream in frustration and shove him the hell off, when someone cleared their throat. ‘Lance? I’m sorry to disturb you, but…’

  Lance wrenched away, a growl tearing from his throat. ‘What?’

  ‘Black Hills pack members, they’ve been spotted just a few miles from here. We have to move.’

  He snarled, turned back to her and motioned to the small hump under the blankets. ‘Give me my nephew. I don’t want you getting any ideas about running again.’

  She touched his arm again, tried to reach that part of him that had feelings for her, warped as they were. ‘Can’t we just talk to them, explain the situation. I can do it if you like, explain how silly I’ve been…just get someone to take me…’

  ‘It’s a sound plan, Tressa…if I could trust you. But I don’t. The only place I’ll talk to any members of the Black Hills pack is if they’re on Harlow land. Now give me the kid.’

  ‘But…’ He shoved past her and moved towards Sawyer. ‘Lance, please, just give me a minute.’

  Limbs loosening, she prepared to shift, to fight him with everything she had. He yanked the covers back to reveal her son and her knees nearly gave out, weak with relief.

  Sawyer sat there blinking up at them, naked as the day he was born—in his human form.

  Chapter 10

  Gabe hit the stairs to the third floor, struggling to stay upright. Sharp, drilling pain hammered through his skull in time with his racing heartbeat. A faint scent hovered in the enclosed space, a scent that sent dread and fear spiking through his gut.

  Wolf.

  The bastards had attempted to cave in his skull.

  Fighting nausea, he took the steps two at a time. He didn’t bother with the door handle and kicked it off its hinges. The scent was stronger in here, overpowering everything else and making his beast claw to be set free, to take out the threat to what was theirs.

  ‘No.’

  He ran to the bedroom, Tressa’s bags were gone. He could still smell her fear and anger, the scent of her desperation. He’d promised he would protect her, fucking swore nothing would happen to her and Sawyer and he’d let them both down.

  He yanked his phone from his pocket. He couldn’t do this alone.

  ‘Fuck!’ He spun and slammed his fist into the wall. He had to get them back.

  Waiting for Fletch and his men to arrive felt like an eternity.

  The Black Hills alpha walked in, took in the state of him, a hard look on his face.

  ‘I fucked up. They came in here, they took them…shit.’

  Gabe’s voice was rough, blended with the beast and he didn’t have it in him to call it back. He shoved his hands through his hair, happy for the bite of pain that pulled him back to earth even as white hot rage and fear surged through his blood stream.

  Fletch approached slowly, like he expected Gabe to flip the hell out at any moment. When he tried to speak again, he realised why. His fangs were extended, long and sharp and on full display. No doubt his face had started to change as well.

  Fletch continued to watch him closely, a
frown on his scarred face. ‘We’ll get her back, Gabe. I promise you that. No matter what you think, you’re pack and so is Tressa.’

  He nodded, unable to speak past the knot in his throat. He’d never liked asking for help, was used to going it alone, but he’d take whatever help he could to get Tressa and Sawyer back. He wasn’t stupid enough to think, rage and determination was enough against the entire Harlow pack.

  They drove for what felt like hours. Four SUVs and Gabe’s Nova, filled with Black Hills pack members. Not enough, not by a long shot, but a show of strength the Harlow alpha couldn’t ignore. No one stopped them when they entered the other pack’s land. They were expected.

  What would he find when he got there? If they’d been hurt…

  ‘Keep it together,’ Fletch said from the driver’s seat. He was driving Gabe’s car since he was in no fit mental state to get behind the wheel. ‘You can’t let them see how much you’re hurting. They can’t know this is more than a mother wanting her daughter back, not yet.’

  ‘I know, but…fuck.’ The arm rest snapped off in his hand and he looked down cursing.

  Fletch shook his head. ‘Who needs arm rests right?’ He glanced over at him. ‘Take a fucking deep breath. I know you’re going out of your mind right now, but we need to play this just right.’

  Fletch was right, Gabe knew it. But everything in him screamed to tear Lance’s throat out, stand over his twitching body while he bled out at his feet. ‘I’ll try.’

  They didn’t talk as they drove the last few miles. What was there left to say? This negotiation either worked or all holy hell broke loose. He spotted wolves running alongside them occasionally, darting in and out of the forest, making sure they knew they were being watched.

  They rounded a bend and the packs compound came into sight. It was similar to Black Hills, all roughhewn wood and logs to blend in with the forest surrounding them. There was a large building to the right he assumed was the main hall and meeting rooms. Plus a few other buildings he guessed were accommodation for their juvenile males and the alpha’s offices. Beyond that, smaller cabins were dotted around. The packs living quarters.