“Wait, what’s going on?” His voice was scratchy and I felt horrible. He sounded as though he had been asleep.
“Something or someone broke in. My door frame is broken. Some of the potted plants are knocked over. I haven’t been inside yet. I was just about to go in.”
“No, no, no. Give me a little bit. I’ll be right over.”
My head shook as I grabbed the door handle. “Really, please, get some rest.”
“Nonsense. I’m already feeling better. I’ll be there shortly.”
The line went dead and I groaned, dropping my phone back into my purse. As I waited, I climbed inside and watched the woods. Although I didn’t see any wolves, I wasn’t certain whether or not they were watching. The kinship they had with the creature was obvious from his grunt. Somehow they were connected and he’d ordered the ones who fed with him after me. Was that monster still out there somewhere? Was he stalking me with the wolf pack? Was he inside waiting for me now?
I suppressed the shiver, pulling my gun free to hold. I had every intention of going in without Caleb, but I wasn’t going to deny his presence would put me a little more at ease. At least if I got attacked, he could try to kill it off before it got out and hurt anyone else. Then again, its track record for killing multiple people outnumbered the ones who escaped its clutches.
A few minutes went by before the unmarked cruiser pulled in behind my car. Caleb got out, walking around to his trunk and getting out the shotgun. Compared to the previous night, he looked absolutely fine.
I got out, meeting him between our two vehicles. He scanned the area, stopping to stare at the door.
“Son of a bitch. You didn’t go inside, did you?”
My head shook as I stared at it, too. “No. Not yet.”
“We’re going to go in and get your things. You can’t stay here anymore. You know that, right?”
I turned to glance at him.
“It found you. If you don’t get out now, it’ll come back. You’ll be next.”
He was right. I knew it in my soul. Something was after me. Something nightmares were made of and I wasn’t stupid enough to push the truth away.
“Alright. Although …” There wasn’t a motel in Wolf River. Was it even safe to stay here anymore, anyway? It could find me again.
Caleb seemed to pick up my dilemma. “The closest motel is a good half hour away. And all of the seasonal rentals are accounted for that I know of.”
I nodded, stiffly. Half an hour wasn’t a bad thing. It was an inconvenience if I needed to get here in a hurry, but I might be safer that way.
“You can stay with me if you’d like. Not in my home,” he rushed out. “I wouldn’t want to make you feel uncomfortable. I have a little guest house out back. It used to be my shop, but I converted it a few years back. I had friends that sometimes would come stay during hunting season. Key word, used to. No one really hunts here anymore.” He paused. “You can stay there if you want. No hotel fees.”
I tried to think of how long I was going to be here. Maybe another few weeks at the absolute most? It would save money. “Thank you. I appreciate the offer.”
He threw me a slight grin. “Great. Let’s go get your things and get the hell out of here. Then you can tell me about what happened last night after I went home. I felt horrible for having to leave.”
We were already walking. Already training our weapons on the door as we approached. The moment Calen turned the knob and eased the barrier open, it fell from the broken top hinge.
“Shit,” he whispered.
But it wasn’t the door he was cursing over. Large claw marks were raked down the sofa. The outcome, a white mass of fuzz littering the floor. Glass from vases and knickknacks were mingled within. Nothing prepared me for my room. The comforter and mattress were destroyed, shredded to pieces in the exact place I slept. It was shocking and terrifying. I knew what did this and that was enough to make my feel even sicker.
Feathers from the destroyed pillow floated out of my path as I walked closer. The damage to the walls that surrounded the bed was just as bad. Lines from the clawing were imbedded in the thick wood. If the creature was able to cause such havoc to such large logs, no wonder it had no problem filleting people alive.
“Let’s get the fuck out of here,” I said under his breath. “I don’t want it to come back while we’re still here.”
I put my gun down on the bed, spinning around for my suitcase. A scream almost tore from my mouth as I caught Alex in the doorway. I’d never heard him approach and I had been listening with all of my power. Apparently, Caleb didn’t either.
“Jesus,” I burst out. “You scared the shit out of me.
Caleb, looked over his shoulder and his face turned hard at the sight of Alex’s angry expression.
“I told you to stay in bed.”
Heat flashed over my skin in embarrassment and I tried to control my temper as I glared at him. I knew it was my guilt causing me to react. The statement could have meant anything. But the emotion coming from Alex made it hard to downplay. Besides, he knew I wouldn’t have wanted him to make what we had going on obvious, yet he didn’t seem to care. I couldn’t believe he’d expose us like that in front of Caleb. A detective I was working with. I felt betrayed, when in fact, it was my own fault. I’d done this.
“May I speak with you real quick?”
I surged past the detective and Alex, not stopping until I made it to the deck. Alex was right on my heels.
“What do you think you’re doing?” I whispered, angrily. “Are you trying to make it clear that something has happened between the two of us?”
Something resembling pain embedded in his face and the hardness covering his features softened a bit.
“You weren’t supposed to leave the house. I wanted to come back here with you. Something could have happened. Did you see the inside of your place?”
“I did. And we have everything perfectly under control. Caleb and I know what we’re doing, Alex. We’re trained to protect ourselves. Besides, didn’t you have stuff to take care of?”
There was a flicker behind his stare as his lids lowered even more. “It’s done,” he said, gesturing toward his truck in the distance.
My eyebrows rose in disbelief and a small laugh left me. “Wow. You put a stop to things between us to go pick up your truck? That says a lot. Thank you for putting me in my place.” I took a step back, meeting his stare. “I have to go pack.”
“Erin, you don’t underst—Wait… Pack? Where are you going?”
“Going?” I turned to look at the broken front door, then back to him. “I’m leaving. I can’t stay now that some creature knows where I am.”
The anger was gone within his expression. Alex looked at the deck, bringing his eyes back up to mine. “So you’re leaving for good, then? Or…”
My mouth opened, but words wouldn’t come. If I told him I was staying at Caleb’s, he wouldn’t like it. I felt like I would be starting something where tension already existed. But I couldn’t lie to him, either. I hated lying. It did nothing but cause worse trouble.
“I’ll be staying in Detective Perkin’s guesthouse until I can find lodging.”
Alex went rigid. His head cocked to the side, only to turn slowly toward the door. When his glare came back to me, I tried to act like it wasn’t a big deal. It really wasn’t. It wasn’t as though there was any attraction between Caleb and I. We argued more than anything.
“Stay with me.”
Again I laughed from disbelief.
“I’m serious, Erin. Stay with me. I’m home more than he is. I can protect you better. You can have the bedroom. I’ll sleep on the couch.”
I couldn’t stop shaking my head. I wasn’t sure if he was trying to convince me even more by physically separating us, or what, but it only pushed me away even more. Didn’t he see how this was affecting me? I didn’t want him to distance himself. I wanted him!
“Stay,” he said softer. “I want you to stay with me.
”
Footsteps approached and I turned, glancing up to Caleb as he neared.
“I checked the house. You’re clear to go in and pack. I can wait out here.”
The men made eye contact, but Alex didn’t keep it long as he stepped closer to me. “Please. If…” he paused, beginning to reach out to me, only to stop himself. “Let me at least call my parents. They can let you stay there. Just, don’t…” His expression turned angry again as his eyes cut over to Caleb, briefly.
“Don’t do that,” I said, lowly. “This arrangement will be fine. I’ll see you tomorrow at your parents.”
I couldn’t look at Caleb as I turned and headed back inside. I wasn’t sure how much he had heard or what he got out of mine and Alex’s conversation. In truth, I really didn’t want to know. This investigation was turning into a disaster. One I wasn’t sure I would escape from unscathed.
Chapter 18
Alex
Damn my wolf! I was getting in over my head and there was nothing I could do about it. I thought after the full moon that everything would go back to normal. That this fixation with Erin would at least ease enough for me to be with her without wanting to push my bounds on hurting her. I’d had so much hope and it was all for nothing. The deep obsession was still there, so strong that it was like she was the pull that controlled my beast. And in a way, she was. All he wanted was her. It didn’t matter what form he was in—wolf or human. She was solely what he lived for. What he revolved around. Damn the moon, it didn’t hold a candle to the burn she ignited in me. But then there was feelings that came from the man in me…they were just as strong. The two mixed for one hell of a combination. An explosive and unpredictable one.
When she denied to give him the words he wished to hear, he was ready to find any way he could to make her say them. It got worse when she pulled back emotionally and said, wait. She was clearly upset, yet did I stop? No. I kept fucking her with my tongue until he got what he wanted. Even then, stopping myself from licking her pussy had almost been impossible. Ravenously, I continued, knowing she was an emotional mess. I could have reveled in her essence for hours. Fucking days, if I didn’t gain control when I had. If I would have fucked her, I could have seriously hurt her. Just like I almost had the last time. I was still too revved up with the moon’s persuasion.
But leaving had been my biggest mistake.
I thought by picking up the truck, it would give me the time I needed to cool off. To gain composure against the impending shift and try to ease back into a, me and her. My mind was searching through everything possible to make this happen. I was truly trying, but she didn’t understand my abrupt departures. And now she was leaving to Caleb’s. Caleb’s! She could have gone anywhere but to his home and I probably could have adjusted. But I wouldn’t be getting through this easily. It was going to take a damn miracle for me not to snap and do something stupid.
I glanced back at the smug expression on Caleb’s face and headed back inside after her. I didn’t give a shit what he thought. One look from her and I knew I should have considered what she wanted. I’d fucked up by throwing our business out there for him to know, but I seriously wasn’t thinking. My wolf was, and he was beyond pissed. Now here I was, making this worse. For the life of me, though, I couldn’t leave her alone.
“I’m begging you to reconsider. Just tell me what I have to do. Do you want me to stay here and you can stay at my place?”
Erin’s let out a short, but deep, exhale. “Are you crazy? Of course not.”
“I’ll sleep in my truck, then.”
Her hand paused mid-way from grabbing the brush on the dresser.
“You can’t be serious. Alex … what is going on with you? I know you and Detective Perkins don’t get along, but that’s no reason to take things to the extreme. I’ll be fine in his guest house. I doubt I’ll be there for very long anyway. Or here, for that matter.”
“Or here...” Just like that real pain bombarded me. Not the kind that came from making a mistake while hunting prey. Or from broken bones or transitions during a change. I was experiencing rejection. She was pulling away from me. Giving up on me? Yes, my chest was melting on the inside, and the pain had nothing to do with my obsession, possession, or lust—the ones I thrived on. No. Now the hurt arose from the truth. Effects that were pure.
It suddenly wasn’t about Caleb. It was about Erin and possibly never seeing her again. Being at Caleb’s would take her that much further away. And what if she refused to acknowledge me while she finished this investigation? At the cabin, I could have brought her dinner. Or tried something to get back in her good graces. Now it would be that much harder.
I didn’t want her to go. My brain comprehended that we didn’t know each other well, but the pining in my heart told me that I wanted to. So many questions began to shoot off in my mind—tiny bullets of regret. They were picking me apart, bleeding me out for ruining things before they had even started. Again!
I had to fix this. I had to. There was just no way around it.
“If that’s what you want. You’re still coming to dinner at my parents’, right?”
Had I said that? Was I really letting her go with that son of a bitch, Caleb? God, I was, and the repercussions were immediate. My ribs shifted and I breathed through the lifting, trying my best to pretend the sharp pains weren’t about to bring me to my knees. Erin seemed to catch my grimace. She paused, studying me before she continued.
“I’m still going. I told your father I would.”
A stiff nod was all I could manage as it went back into place.
“Alex…?” She took a step forward, still searching my expression for something. I wondered what she looked for, but she said nothing. Before I could ask, she frowned, turning and pushing the brush into her suitcase. As she zipped it closed, I battled with whether I should give it one more go. She decided for me when she picked it up and turned back to face me. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
There was no reluctance. She began to walk and I followed her out. Erin and Caleb headed to their cars while I walked to mine. Each step was harder than the next. The new emotions I was going through left me in a fade. There, yet not. In that moment, I wondered if I wished we’d never met. Had she not crashed so close to my home, perhaps I could have gone on with my routine. I would have never smelled her blood and became stuck on the idea of her as my meal. But going over things was pointless. We would have eventually ran into each other during the course of the investigation and I knew she would have captivated me one way or another. We were like magnets, drawn to each other by lust—connected by death
The truck engine roared to life and I sat there waiting as Caleb left and she followed. Even after they were gone, I remained. When I finally put the truck in drive, I found myself headed to the main road. Where I was going, I wasn’t sure. Trees blurred to the sides of me, mixing and becoming nothing more than a mass of nothingness, just like my thoughts. I was on auto-pilot, trying to figure out what I should do and what I shouldn’t.
I found myself turning on an all too familiar road. One I had avoided since I’d run away. A deep sigh left me and I slowed as I caught a glimpse of my parents’ white home peeking through the trees. The truck came to a stop on the side of the road and I put it in park. My mother and father had always been there when I was faced with uncertain decisions. What would they say now if they knew the truth of what my life had turned into? Even as I tried to guess, I wasn’t sure. I would have done anything to hear their words of wisdom concerning a solution to the entire situation.
Light faded, time passed, and darkness soon engulfed the Wisconsin sky. The moon was still bright, tugging into the depths within, calling to my wolf. Headlights from behind broke through the fog in my mind and I blinked, cursing. There was only one home on this road and unless my parents were having visitors, I was busted.
A red glow showed behind the vehicle and I shook my head. What the hell was I doing? One woman comes into my life and suddenly I’m break
ing all my rules? Jesus, these were my parents I was putting in danger. It was bad enough that she was my focus. Now to have all three of them?
The truck stopped next to mine and the window rolled down. My dad’s interior light illuminated his curious expression. I rolled down my window, not at all sure what to say. My dad didn’t give me a chance before he threw me a smile.
“You came for the pie didn’t you?”
My head slowly shook. “What?”
“There’s no shame, son. Not very many people can withstand the temptation of your momma’s apple pie. See.” He lifted a tub of ice cream. “She’s been baking up a storm since I told her you were coming over. I’m glad you decided to drop by a day early. She’s going to be excited to see you.”
My mouth opened, an excuse right on the tip of my tongue.
“Come on, let’s go.” He smiled, taking off before I could say a word. My grip tightened on the steering wheel while I hesitated to put the truck in drive.
Son of bitch. What are you doing, Alex? Are you fucking stupid?
I sure felt like it as I headed toward where my father was turning into the driveway. Within seconds of me pulling in behind him, his horn broke through the silent night. My stomach twisted and I turned off the truck, getting out to join him as he exited his own vehicle. I kept my head angled down, the guilt over what I was doing weighing me through the ground. The front door opened and I took in my mother’s confused expression through the glass of my father’s truck window. My wolf vision gave me perfect view of her face. I knew the moment she put everything together. Her eyes went from my truck to my father’s. There was a wildness in her stare as she searched the area around him. But where I stood, I was hidden. Overpowering emotions left me with no control. I walked forward to come stand at his side, watching the wringing of her hands stop. A ragged breath left her lips and then she was running right for us.
“Oh, God,” she wheezed. “Alex!”
WOLF (Wolf River Book 1) Page 16
