by Alisha Paige
As they neared Corn Flower’s home, Paige was already up watching out the windows for any sign of the men. She saw Sean leading the way on horseback and raced outside in her pajamas to greet him. She ran to the end of the drive and began waving. Sean waved back. Instant guilt stirred within his gut for leaving her overnight. She seemed fine. She was an amazing woman and he loved her for taking everything in stride. He just hoped she would take his news half as well.
“Did you find the hikers?” Paige asked as the men began tying up their horses.
Sean looked nervously at Coming Wind. He had forgotten to mention the story they had told Paige. He gave Sean a knowing glance and answered for him.
“We found them on the west side of Havasu Canyon. They were a little dehydrated but doing fine.”
“Oh, good,” Paige replied as Sean leaned down to give her a kiss. Paige pulled away quickly. He smelled awful. Almost like a dead animal. What had they run into out there? He didn’t just smell like dirt and sweat.
Sean sensed her hesitation and nearly kicked himself. He must smell like a dead dog after a big kill like last night. They had brought down a heard of mule deer and feasted heartily.
“Sorry, honey. I know I need a shower,” Sean said with a grimace.
“Did you run across a skunk or something?” she asked, holding her tiny nose between two fingers.
Coming Wind roared with laughter, nearly falling to the ground. Corn Flower walked outside at the sight of her brother in hysterics.
“What are you laughing at little brother?”
“Lead this man to the nearest shower,” he said in between guffaws. “He nearly knocked Paige over with a kiss.”
Corn Flower grabbed Sean by the sleeve, knowing how bad her man smelled after a fresh kill.
“This way, Romeo,” she replied as she led him into the house and to the shower.
“I’ll get you a change of Proud Eagle’s clothes. I don’t think you or Paige will want to wait until you return to the lodge.”
The two women giggled as they both held their noses.
“Go ahead, poke a stick at the lion,” Sean replied, embarrassed that Paige was so disgusted by him. He had never gotten that reaction out of her and never wanted to again. He made a mental note to always take a shower right after hunting. He would have to learn to hide the scent in the future.
More than ever he knew he wanted Paige to marry him. They had so many things to plan and so much to talk about. Masking the scent of a kill was just the first on a long list of things he intended to discuss with her. It would be so much easier if she just knew.
As he stepped into the shower, allowing the warm spray to drown the horrid smell away, he thought of how his life had changed in one night. He decided to talk to Coming Wind about how to tell Paige. It really was the only solution. Surely she would still love him. His Aunt Bette had been shocked but stayed with Uncle Charles.
As he soaped his body and shampooed his hair he closed his eyes and imagined his life as Paige’s husband, even picturing her pregnant with his child. Would he pass the gene onto a son? He would rather have a daughter so she would be normal, but something tugged at his insides at the thought of having a little boy. He imagined teaching him to hunt and watching him grow both as a man and a strong wolf. He hoped his own son would be the alpha male one day. His chest swelled with pride at the thought when a knock disturbed his thoughts.
“Honey, are you okay?” Paige asked from the other side of the door.
“Almost done. I’ll be out in a sec.”
“Okay. Just checking. You’ve been in there a long time.”
“I was pretty stinky,” Sean replied.
“I know,” she shouted back. Sean turned the water off and wrapped a towel around his muscled torso. He flung the door open and startled her. She squealed and started to run, but he was too quick and grabbed her by the wrist, pulling her inside.
“Do I smell better?”
“You sure do. I nearly passed out,” Paige replied as he pulled her closer and tried for the second time to kiss her.
Much better she thought. Oh how she had missed him in one night. The firmness of his lips and his strong arms around her roused her instantly. He crushed himself against her. She wanted to rip the towel off of him, but restrained herself.
“Come on, honey. Let me go. We can’t do this here.”
“Do what? Why can’t I get one damn kiss from my woman?” he teased.
“One more and then hurry up and get dressed. Corn Flower made breakfast and I don’t want to keep them waiting.”
“Did she braid your hair?”
“Do you like it?”
“Very sexy. You look like my little squaw.”
Sean placed his hands on each side of her face as beads clinked between his fingers. He gently kissed her, teasing her and tasting her with his hungry lips. She smelled of cookie dough and bacon. What a strange combination he thought. The two scents mingling with her own fragrance nearly drove him mad.
He couldn’t believe how hungry he was after eating nearly a whole male mule deer by himself. He wasn’t just hungry for food either. He wanted her more than ever. He wanted her to be his wife and he planned to make that very clear, very soon. He made up his mind then and there to ask her before they left the canyon. He needed a ring and he needed a place to propose. Somewhere very romantic that would mean something to both of them. An image of the two of them making love beneath the falls popped into his head. Perfect. He would talk to Coming Wind and ask him where he could get a ring. He doubted he could get a diamond in the canyon, but maybe they could come up with a replacement for the moment.
He couldn’t wait to begin his life with Paige as her husband. More than anything he wanted to share his world with her. His former life in Colorado seemed like a million miles away. Snow skiing even seemed more like a pastime to him, instead of a passion. All he cared about now was Paige and his pack and he would stop at nothing to get both.
****
The entire village bubbled with new excitement. The dusty, red canyon floor teemed with men, women, children, dogs and horses. It seemed like a holiday. Children waved tiny flags representing their Indian nation and women wore extravagant, tribal frocks, decorated with beautiful beads of every color. Gorgeous blue, red, white, black and silver feathers adorned their braided heads. There was an air of celebration everywhere.
A tiny parade wound its way through the village. In the center of the hoopla was a small boy dressed as a wolf. A gray animal pelt was thrown over his shoulders and a furry hood with large leather ears completed the costume. The boy lunged at the crowd as children squealed with glee at his antics while men walked behind him playing wooden flutes and beating tom toms.
Paige and Sean had slept late the following morning, exhausted after another day of exploring the canyon with Coming Wind and his extended family. They had hiked all the way to Moody Falls, the farthest of all the falls, but by far the most spectacular, cascading 200 feet to the aquamarine pool below. It had been named after a man who had fallen to his death, exploring the natural wonder.
It had taken three hours to hike to the falls, but Paige and Sean agreed that they would have hiked another three. The hike was well worth it and the trip has more than paid off. Paige and the other women decided to rest under a tree while the men climbed to the top. Sean yelled at Paige like a kid when he reached the top. It made Paige nervous for him to climb so high and she couldn’t wait until he reached the bottom. She tried not to think of him falling as she chatted easily with Blue Flower and Corn Flower.
Paige felt so at home here and wished she were staying longer. They were scheduled to leave in two days. A part of her was anxious to leave. Her sister, Meg, was due any day to give birth to her second child. Meg and her husband, Frank already had a two-year-old girl and were hoping for a boy. They had decided not to find out the gender. Paige thought it made more sense and made it even more exciting. She had already decided that if and when she ha
d her own children, she would wait to find out, too.
When they awoke at the lodge to cheers of jubilation, Sean peeked out the curtains and laughed. He knew they were celebrating the reign of the new alpha male. Most of the children shared in the secret and he wondered if the village would be able to keep the news from Paige before he could tell her. He grew uneasy at the thought. He still had no idea how to approach the subject. There were no books to guide him or internet site to give him tips. He was in unchartered territory.
He recalled his earlier conversation with Aunt Bette. She had suggested telling Paige straight out. A thought struck him. Did Aunt Bette know of the wolf-tribe or did Uncle Charles keep that from her too? He had been able to conceal his identity for a long time; maybe he had his reasons for hiding the tribe. Sean felt sure that Aunt Bette would want to know of her extended family. Sean dreamed of all of them together in the canyon, living happily. He felt like he belonged here now and he wanted every single person that meant anything to him to share it. Paige and Aunt Bette were all he had until now. He had a whole family of brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews. White Feather was his great, great uncle and he longed to hear stories of Uncle Charles. He made a mental note to ask Coming Wind what his uncle’s Indian name was and wondered if he would now be given a name.
“What’s going on out there?” Paige asked, sitting up in bed and yawning, her hair a mess of silky curls.
Sean’s thoughts were interrupted as he turned around, jumping back into bed with her.
“I don’t know. Some kind of parade. Looks like it’s a holiday of some kind. I’m surprised Coming Wind didn’t tell us about it yesterday,” he explained, feeling a little guilty for lying to her.
“Let’s get up and go see. It sounds festive. I don’t want to waste the day. We only have one day left,” she replied, crawling out of bed, stretching her arms above her head, standing stark naked.
“There’s only one party I care to attend,” Sean growled as he eyed her beautiful curves and full breasts. She was such a gorgeous woman. Her skin glowed a soft pink from a good night’s sleep and her dewy green eyes, surrounded by lush lashes fanned her freckled face.
Paige smiled slyly, shaking her finger at him. “Oh, no you don’t. I’m getting dressed. You might as well forget about it.”
Sean whined like a wounded dog. “Don’t make me beg, honey.”
Paige laughed as she disappeared into the bathroom and started the shower. Sean hopped out of bed and darted in after her, throwing the shower curtain aside, getting a good squeal out her as he manhandled her and picked her up. She dropped the soap and swatted him on the behind.
“Spank me, spank me,” he crooned.
“You’re impossible. You ought to be ashamed of yourself.”
“Funny, I don’t feel very guilty...just lucky.”
Sean picked her up and hoisted her onto his hips, wrapping her slick legs around his waist. The water trickled down his back and over her ankles as he placed her arms around his neck, forcing her to hold on. She was helpless against his firm grip, quickly giving in when he turned her into the tickling spray. He bathed her in wet kisses as warm water slid down her slender neck and back
He took her slowly, taking his time, savoring her sweet softness, as she clung to him, giving herself to him completely. In no time she was under his spell. His kisses were like venom and made her blood run hotter and slower, like honey dripping off a honeycomb in the heat of summer. She had no resistance to him and absolutely loved it. No man had ever made her feel like this.
He could walk into a room and make her breath catch. His presence reeked of virile prowess just begging to be tamed. But she didn’t want to tame him. She just wanted to be near him every second of the day. A few hours away from him made her sad and distraught, so much so that she wondered if it was normal.
The night she had slept at Corn Flower’s had been fine until everyone fell asleep and she was left alone with her thoughts and no Sean to curl up next to. She was in a house full of vibrant, caring women taking part in a child-like slumber party and she found herself feeling like a child. A lost, sad, little girl wanting to go home. All she needed was Sean and she would be fine. She reprimanded herself endlessly as she lay there, telling herself she was acting silly and immature. She told herself over and over again that he would return in the morning and in a few hours she would be in his arms again, safe and sound.
None of it helped. She decided she was miserable without him. She had a headache and her stomach was upset. Her eyes were swollen from crying softly into her pillow and the knot in her throat kept growing bigger and bigger. She needed him more than she needed anything ever. She couldn’t imagine living without him and the thought of it made her ill. She had felt like she had the flu that night and didn’t want to experience a night away from him again. It was too much to bear and it had completely taken her aback, surprising her more than she ever felt possible.
She had always been such an independent woman, even during her marriage to Rob. She had grown used to his traveling for training purposes and his long absence during various skiing competitions and then the Olympics. She had even learned to like it, enjoying her time alone. It gave her more time at the museum and she filled her weekends with visits to Meg’s home.
Her sister and she had become closer than ever and she needed Rob less and less. His last year alive had seemed strange now when she thought of it. They had acted almost like strangers when he would come home for a short visit. His behavior was much too polite and they treated each other like house guests.
She even remembered waking up on several nights, finding Rob asleep on the couch. When she had questioned him about it in the morning, he had said his back hurt and he needed to lie on something a little more firm. Paige had bought it at the time, but no longer did. Maybe Rob never loved her. She had come to realize that she cared deeply for him, but she had never experienced true love until Sean.
After making love, Sean washed Paige’s hair for her before washing her body and even shaving her legs, though he insisted he didn’t feel a hair. He took his sweet time, kissing every inch of her body, even nibbling her toes when he sat down in the tub holding each leg as he shaved them with water streaming everywhere. His hair was plastered to the sides of his face. Paige thought he looked absolutely adorable and incredibly sexy all wet and tanned, holding her tiny pink razor with his huge hands, gently moving it over the curves of her small calf.
After finishing up, he kissed her on the tip of her freckled nose and reached outside the shower curtain for a fluffy towel. Paige took it and stepped out, dripping onto the soft rug. Sean finished his shower as she slipped into a saffron colored sundress and applied lipstick and mascara. She combed out her long, wet hair as he stepped out, smiling broadly. Paige thought her heart would leap out of her chest. This man was hers and she was completely in love with the irresistible hunk.
Sean quickly dressed and they stepped outside to join in the festivities. Tribal women were setting up tables to sell crafts, blankets, baskets and jewelry. A wonderful aroma of brisket and barbeque chicken wafted through the streets. Children were seen playing everywhere. Girls danced with hula hoops, boys threw Frisbees with their dogs and brothers and sisters pulled one another around in colorful wagons.
Sean caught sight of Coming Wind with Red Hawk and his dog. Taking Paige’s hand, Sean crossed the street to visit with them. A mere two nights has passed since Sean had led the pack into their tribal hunting grounds. It felt like a hundred years ago. To Sean it seemed as though he had been their leader forever. It felt so natural and so right. He was at home and so was Paige, though she didn’t know it yet.
Coming Wind shook Sean’s hand firmly, looking him straight in the eye. Each man possessed a new kind of respect for each other. Coming Wind had stepped down for the good of the wolf-tribe. His art career demanded that he travel and he was man enough to realize that he couldn’t do both. The tribe needed a permanent alpha male and Sean was sui
ted far better than anyone. It was as if he was born for the role and Sean knew in his heart that he was meant to be the alpha male.
Red Hawk had been the boy dressed as a wolf in the parade and still wore the wolf hood.
“You sure do look fierce, Red Hawk,” Paige said, patting him on his furry head.
Red Hawk growled and they all laughed. He smiled up at Paige and showed off a toothless grin. He looked a lot like a tiny version of Coming Wind and you could easily see how proud he was of his little brave.
“I hate to see you two go,” Coming Wind said.
“I hate to leave,” Paige said with a sigh. “It’s so beautiful here, but we have to get back to the real world sooner or later. I’m sure I have a ton of work at the museum and my sister is due any day with her second child.”
“Ah. I remember you telling me that. How exciting,” Coming Wind replied with a grin as Red Hawk handed him the dog’s leash and took off with some friends.
“We will visit soon,” Sean promised as he caught a gleam in Coming Wind’s eye.
They would be visiting much sooner than Paige realized. Sean was already thinking numbers in his head and made mental notes to call a realtor and put the cabin on the market. How much could he get for it? He was willing to sell a little low, just to move sooner. The tribe needed him. The pack needed him. He needed to be with his family, but he wouldn’t leave Paige behind. He dreaded telling her and still had no idea about broaching the subject. Maybe he should tell her and shock the hell out of her and stay with her until she absorbed it all. He could explain the history of the gene and tell her about the tribe.
He hoped she would be as thrilled as he was, but somehow he doubted she would be. He was certain she loved him and knew she wouldn’t leave him. He felt like they were too close for either of them to live without the other. The love they shared was unbreakable, something most people hoped for, but never experienced in their lifetimes. He felt so lucky to have met her and even luckier to have his life come full circle and take over the pack.
