by Bonnie Vanak
Hot water cascaded down her face, and she winced as it hit her sore shoulder. Usually shifting into her wolf form made her heal quickly, but fighting the dark force that trapped her near the fire had expended all her energy.
She shampooed her hair using Jake’s bottle of apple green shampoo, rinsed and shut off the water. After toweling off, she brushed through her wet hair, decided to let it air dry. Molly shrugged into the robe, inhaling his rich, masculine scent embedded into the fabric, and left the bathroom.
A clanging, metallic rattle sounded on the porch as music blared. She recognized the grinding tune of Salt N Pepa. She grabbed a can of raspberry tea and went outside.
In one corner was workout equipment. Jake sat on the bench, his calves lifting a bar saddled with weights. Sweat streamed down his temples and he stared straight ahead at the nearby pine trees as he worked out in rhythm to the song. Droplets of sweat glistened in the silky hairs on his chest. Molly’s mouth watered as she watched his biceps move as he lifted a set of hand weights, timing the motion to the leg lifts.
So handsome. And strong. And there was a goodness in this wolf, a gentleness of spirit that contrasted to his male strength. She’d seen him pick up an injured baby bird and cradle it in his calloused hands, hands that had wielded an ax and felled dead trees.
He seemed unaware of her presence so she contented herself to watch, licking her lips as muscle and sinew flexed on his legs. Jake had the wiry strength of tempered steel.
Finally he lowered the bar with a loud bang and set down the weights. Jake reached for a white towel, wiped his face.
He glanced at her. “Enjoy the show?”
So he had been aware of her. Molly sat in one of the chairs. “Very much. Much better than the bird walks we’ve taken.”
He grinned, dried his chest and legs, and flung the towel aside. Jake picked up a bottle of water from the porch and chugged. Fascinated, she watched his throat muscles work. He wiped his mouth with the back of one hand and set the bottle down.
“Why the music? I thought you liked the peace and quiet,” she asked.
“It’s my go-to music. My way of dealing with stuff.” He drew in a breath. “That robe…it looks real good on you. Too good.”
Judging from the long, slow look he gave her, his gaze caressing every inch of her exposed legs, she suspected the “stuff” included her.
She understood his sexual frustration. “I do the same when I come to the park to run in the scrub. Sometimes I like to sit along the riverbank and stare at the water. It helps me deal.”
He nodded. “We all have our own idiosyncrasies. Mine is working out, yours is running in my park and vexing me.”
“Hey!”
Jake grinned again, and it took her breath away. He was usually serious, and when he smiled, her heart raced. She wished she could make him smile more often.
Nostrils flaring, he studied her. “This is a bad idea, Molly. You in my robe.”
With a desultory gesture, she plucked at the fleece. “You don’t like me wearing it?”
“I like it too much.” His nostrils flared further. “You’re not wearing anything underneath.”
She gave a small smile. “No.”
“Damn.” He dragged in a deep breath, as if pulling her scent deep into his lungs. “I like you in my robe a lot. I like my scent stamped all over you. But it’s a bad idea, Molly.”
“Because of Luke? Because you think I should mate with him to seal the peace between our two packs?”
Jake sat in the chair beside her. “Because I’m a wolf who hasn’t had sex in a long time, and you’re temptation on two legs.”
A delicious heat curled through her at the husky note in his voice. She was expected to remain innocent for Luke as his intended mate, but she longed for passion. Molly’s fingers curled around the chair’s armrests.
She watched his brown eyes darken with desire and her body tightened with yearning. “What do you want, Jake?” she whispered.
His breathing quickened and she could hear the rapid thudding of his heart. “What I want to do and what I will do aren’t the same. I want to haul you over my shoulder, take you inside, fling you on the bed and tear off that robe and kiss you all over, from the top of your pretty red head to the tips of your toes. And then make love to you until you scream my name and lie there, too exhausted and spent to move.”
“Oh,” she whispered.
“But the man in me won’t do it. I won’t use you like that.”
Every sexual hormone cried out in sheer disappointment. Do it, Jake. Use me. Luke would not be so considerate. Last night he’d displayed the depth of his selfishness. A little pang went through her. She was making things worse for Jake, making things hard on him…
Molly stole a swift peek at his groin. Oh yeah, real hard.
Maybe she should leave.
Jake’s mouth tightened. “You need a place to get away and think about making the biggest decision of your life, Molls. A place where you can feel safe.”
“I feel safe here.” She set the can of tea down on the table between them. “I’d feel safer knowing what’s in the air that’s turned my uncle into an unreasonable alpha, and the Silvern pack into a group of angry males. They were always antagonistic, but never this hostile or violent.”
“Stay. I’ll make sure nothing happens to you,” he said quietly.
Her mind raced over possibilities. She had one week until she had to give Luke her answer. If she worked with Jake to find out what was raising the thermostat on the males, maybe she could find a way out of mating with Luke.
Save her pack, and herself.
She leaned forward, pulling the robe tight. “Why has the park we love turned the males into hotheads? Something around here keeps stirring them up and it’s not the full moon anymore.”
He gave her a sharp look. “I’ve been investigating for the past month and I keep seeing bad signs. Baby birds dead in their nests. Dying plants, with that odd blackness, like a fungus. But nothing I can really pinpoint as the cause. Tell me what happened when you got caught by the fire.”
“I drove here to sit by the river and think and then decided to check out the area where Uncle Robert said you were helping him conduct a burn. I figured I was safe enough. I hid in the bushes in my wolf form and watched. “
“Why did you even get close?”
Embarrassment heated her cheeks. Molly looked down and plucked at a loose thread in his robe. Jake leaned over and caught her chin between his thumb and forefinger. “Molls, answer me. Why did you do it?”
An absurd lump rose in her throat. “I wanted to see you. I just wanted to watch you from a distance, even if there can never be anything between us…”
Her voice trailed off. Pulling out of his gentle grip, she hugged herself, staring into the woods. As much as she didn’t want to mate Luke, she knew she should to keep the peace. They couldn’t risk losing Robert or anyone else in a pack war.
For a long moment, he remained silent. Then turmoil filled his gaze. “I wish it was different. I can’t bear for you to be with that dickhead Luke.”
Molly didn’t see any way out of mating Luke. William Silvern had given Robert the ultimatum. And Robert would fight to the death for his pack, even if it meant dragging them into a war that could crush her much smaller pack.
But oh, when she thought about spending her life with Luke, and submitting to his rough advances every night, she felt nothing but nausea. He’d never abused her until recently. His worst fault had been that his father spoiled him and made him soft.
There was nothing soft about Jake. He was hard and edgy, more dangerous than any other Lupine she knew. Jake did not brag like Luke. His quietness hid his real strength and then when he acted…
She’d seen him take down two adult male Lupines last year during pack negotiations, crack their heads together as they threatened to fight, without breaking a sweat.
Though he certainly looked fine sweating as he did just now.
<
br /> She turned the conversation back to her primary concern—the dark magick in the park. “Jake, you showed me the plant that was dying, as if something infected it. Could something be affecting the elements? A weird weather pattern?”
Jake leaned forward, hands braced on his knees. “Tell me what happened when the fire started.”
“When I saw you and Robert were going to start the fire, I slipped away to run in the opposite direction. I’d gotten far when the vine grabbed me. Out of nowhere.” She frowned. “It dug into my fur, got the skin and broke it. It felt like acid seeping into my skin.”
“It was not an ordinary vine. Dark magick has infested the park.” He shook his head. “I just don’t know what kind. Wish Gabe and Sienna were here. I could use Elven magick, like Sienna’s.”
The Elven were protectors of the forest, and known for healing the land. Sienna, Gabriel’s mate, had powers strong enough to combat whatever they were facing.
“Seems like tempers flare more easily. I know they do among my people when they come here. And Luke’s pack has no patience.” She smiled to lighten the mood. “It must be a redhead thing.”
“He’d better show patience with you,” Jake muttered.
“If I join Luke’s pack, I’ll fit in perfectly with my hair. I think that’s one reason he wants me. I’m a red wolf shifter, like my paternal grandmother.” She sighed. “He’s such a vain creature. I’d become a trophy mate.”
“You’re pretty enough to be a trophy mate, but you’re too smart, Molls. Too good for him.” His dark brows drew together. “Unless you love him.”
“Love? That’s a luxury in a mating.” Molly shook her head, forcing a smile. “So I’ll spend the rest of my life mated to a moron who has two brain cells fighting each other. Life could be worse. He could be really stupid.”
Jake chuckled, but there was no laughter in his eyes. “You should be with someone who cherishes and loves you.”
She gave him a sideways glance. “What about you, Jake? Will you ever take a mate? You said you don’t need a female in your life.”
“Once I thought I would, when I lived in Montana. But that time is past.” He drained the last of the water. “I started fresh when I moved down here. No mate, no pack. Just me, protecting the park and the wildlife and the vegetation.”
No pack. She couldn’t understand it. Molly had never lived outside the pack. “You should be in a pack. Pack is everything for Lupines. They provide protection, support…”
Jake’s jaw tensed. “No thanks.”
“Why did you leave?” She knew it was a rude question, but she pressed on, needing to know what haunted him.
“Old story.” The water bottle crushed in one clenched fist. “Don’t care to talk about it.”
“You need family, Jake. I can feel your pain. I can smell it. Pack is like family, they will—”
“For goddess sake, will you quit yammering about the glories of pack?”
She flinched and threw her hands up to protect her face. “Don’t shout at me. Not you. I can take it from anyone but you.”
Jake squeezed his eyes shut, and then sighed. He opened his eyes. “I’m sorry, Molls. Didn’t mean to yell. It’s been a bitch of a day.”
As he reached out his hand, she cowered. Molly drew back instinctively, even though deep down, she knew Jake would never hurt her.
“What did he do to you?”
His voice was deadly quiet. She compressed her lips and shook her head.
“Molls, what the hell did that bastard do to you? Why are you scared of me when I yell? I’d never hurt you.”
His deep voice rose a note, and she sensed the tight control behind it. “Did someone else scream at you? Luke?”
“Old story,” she shot back. “Don’t care to talk about it.”
He went quiet a moment and then his gaze softened. “I deserve that, and more. Talk to me. We’ve always been friends, able to share stuff. You’re the only one…”
Jake didn’t finish the sentence, but she could have finished it for him. You’re the only one who cares.
This brave, strong Lupine walked alone and had no one watching his back. Surely he must get lonely at times, even if he didn’t admit the truth. She could see it in the tight set of his mouth, the haunting loneliness in his expression.
Intending to reach out and offer a comforting squeeze to his calloused hand, she turned. The sudden motion caused the robe to slip off her injured shoulder. Jake saw and he swore in a low voice. His jaw tensed.
“That son of a bitch!”
Hastily she pulled up the robe. Too late. He’d seen the bruise.
“Did Luke do that to you? Is he the one who is yelling at you, hitting you? I’ll beat him to a pulp, that—”
“Don’t.” She drew in a deep breath. “If you care for me, you’ll do nothing. Luke commands power in the pack, and no one will listen to you. You’re…”
Not wanting to hurt him, she didn’t finish the sentence. He finished for her. “A damn lone wolf. Well, this lone wolf is not letting you return to your uncle’s pack. You’re staying here.”
Molly’s heart skipped a happy beat, but she knew how dangerous this was. “I have to go home eventually.”
“Home, where that bastard can find you again?” Jake scowled. “I’m offering you sanctuary here in my trailer.”
A thrill raced through her. Jake cared. He truly did. But then her spirits dropped. Staying here would create too much friction.
“Unless I can get Uncle Rob to tell Luke I went to visit someone for the rest of the week.” A wan smile touched her mouth. “Maybe a bachelorette party with my college girlfriends, Alexa and Jessica. I just have to convince Uncle Rob that it’s a good idea.”
Jake shook his head. “Molly, you can’t keep living for your pack and mate that bastard just to keep the peace. Luke will continue beating you and one day he won’t stop.”
“That’s what pack is,” she said, deeply troubled. “We stick up for each other. I have to do what’s best for my people.”
Had Jake forgotten everything about the close bonds of Lupine packs? She owed her family and her uncle. And she had to discover what kept setting off the males.
“Something is making Luke act this way. I must find out what. It has to be something in the environment of this park.”
He frowned. “It could have something to do with the odd fungus affecting the plants. The vine screamed when I cut it and that fire stank of methane that wasn’t natural. I’ll do more checking around the perimeter tomorrow.”
“You’re the one who knows this place the best.” She picked up her tea and drank. “I love this stuff. I didn’t know you liked it as well.”
His gaze grew solemn. “I bought it for you. Hate the stuff. Always keep it in the fridge just in case you stopped by and needed something to drink.”
Deeply moved at his thoughtfulness, she touched his arm. “Thank you. You’re the only one who’s sane while everyone else turns into raging male hotheads. Every time they come here, they get worse. Will you let me stay here and help you find out what’s going on?”
“I’d do anything for you,” he said in a husky voice.
It was dangerous, staying here at his trailer, with the sexual longing riding her. “Good thing it’s not the full moon. You only want me during the full moon. You’re too honorable otherwise,” she said, trying to make light of the situation.
Jake leaned close. Amber flickered in his gaze, signaling the rise of his wolf.
“The wolf inside me wants you during the full moon, the sunrise, the sunset, in the middle of the day, sweetheart. The wolf in me wants to dominate, claim and possess you. So I’m not as damn honorable as you think. Because I’m sitting here, sex on my mind, dying to taste you again and then get you naked.”
A shiver snaked down her spine. His seductive blend of pure male, spices, clean outdoors and musk made her body soft and pliant.
And she was coming into her heat, little fact she’d manage
d to hide from Jake. But soon the Lupine would know. All males sensed it. It drove the mating frenzy, to breed and populate the pack.
“Jake,” she breathed.
A long hiss of breath eased from his lungs. “Don’t worry, Molls. I can control myself around you. It’ll be damn hard. But I’ll do it.”
He pushed back the chair, picked up the crushed water bottle and went inside. Molly sat in the chair, wondering what the hell she’d gotten herself into.
Jake promised to show restraint.
But could she do the same?
Chapter 6
A few hours later, Robert dropped off her suitcase.
She’d convinced him she wanted to stay, to have time to think and a place where Luke wouldn’t look for her. Robert had given Jake a long, thoughtful look and told her that he wanted her to be happy.
“Maybe you’ll find what you’re looking for,” he’d murmured.
After Robert left, Jake put fresh sheets on the guest bed, added a soft blue blanket, and clean towels for her shower. After, he cooked a stew with carrots and peppers, and plenty of beef. The savory aroma made her salivate, and she joined him in the dining area off the kitchen as he ladled out the stew.
But her rescuer ate in silence, reading wildlife journals at his elbow. Molly ate stew, simmering with quiet annoyance.
“Hello?” Molly waved her spoon. “This is excellent, but would taste much better with a little conversation.”
Deep brown eyes met hers as he glanced up. Jake sipped his water. “What?”
“What? What? Typical male Lupine, no conversation at dinner, just dig into your meal and pretend I’m invisible.”
Jake folded up the wildlife magazine and looked at her. “What do you want to talk about?”
His surly tone indicated he was equally frustrated. Maybe wildlife magazines took his mind off sex. “What are you reading?
He opened the magazine to an article about the mating habits of wild wolves. So much for taking his mind off sex…
“And you’re reading that because?”
“It’s porn for Lupines.”
As she flushed, he laughed. “I’m joking, Molls. I help fund a wildlife project out west that rescues wolf packs and relocates them. I like to send them articles they might find useful. This one talks about how to construct an acceptable den to raise pups.”
