Laurie's Wolves

by Becca Jameson

  He grinned. “I’ll be fine.”

  “No.” She grabbed his hand. “We can’t let them win. If we separate, I’ll lose my last brain cell, and I’m holding on by a thread.”

  Corbin pulled her hand up to rub it against his cheek. “Babe, no one is winning. But I don’t have windows. I can’t leave the apartment. And it’s not safe for you here.”

  Why didn’t she believe him? It seemed the enemy was indeed winning. In fact, it seemed the enemy was everywhere—both towns, both shifters and humans.

  “Stop looking at me like that. It’s just for the rest of the night. A few hours really. I can handle myself. I’m a deputy, remember? And a badass wolf when I need to be.”

  She scowled. “You can’t exactly shift and go all American Werewolf in London on me.”

  Corbin laughed. “Not a chance. Don’t worry. I can hold my temper. I’ve got a lot of practice as a deputy.”

  She grabbed both his biceps and lifted onto her tiptoes to kiss him soundly. “You’ll let us know if anything else happens.”

  “Of course.”

  She wouldn’t be able to sleep, no matter what Corbin said, but she didn’t need to say that out loud. It would only stress him more. “Be safe.”

  Zach opened the front door as she headed his direction. He nodded at Corbin. “Keep us informed.”

  “I will.”

  ∙•∙

  Zach held the steering wheel stiffly as he began the forty-minute drive back to his condo. It was three in the morning. His mind raced with the possibilities.

  This entire situation was insane. He couldn’t imagine a way out of their predicament. If people from both towns intended to get nasty, they were in for a lifetime of pain. And he didn’t want that for Laurie.

  If his parents didn’t need him so badly at the resort and Corbin wasn’t needed as a deputy, he’d say fuck it and move his new family as far away as possible. But that wasn’t an option. Too many things were in the way.

  Even though it didn’t seem Laurie was easily going to get a job in either town, they needed to stay and see this through. Surely after a few weeks the rumors would die down, wouldn’t they?

  Hell, the problem was they weren’t rumors. They were all true. He had indeed mated with not one but two people, and indeed one of them was Native American and the other was half. There was no refuting those truths, and if the townspeople, both shifters and humans, wanted to get nasty about things, there was no stopping them.

  They lived in small-town America. There were still small-minded folks in small towns.

  “You okay?” Laurie asked, setting her hand on his thigh.

  Instantly he switched his attention to his mate. His cock stiffened. Now wasn’t the time, but there was no telling that to a newly mated wolf. He nodded. “Fine.”

  “Uh-huh. As in super-duper okay with all this. Walk in the park,” she mocked.

  What could he say? Things were a disaster. And he couldn’t see a way to fix them.

  Laurie sighed and leaned her head on his shoulder. She squeezed his thigh and inhaled deeply. Suddenly, she sat up. “Pull over.”

  “What? Here? Why?” He glanced at her and then back out the windshield. They were in the middle of nowhere between the two main towns. It was dark. Really dark. Not that they couldn’t see fine in the dark, but why?

  “Just do it.”

  Zach watched for a side street and finally made a right turn on a gravel road that led to someone’s remote house. He shut off the engine. “What’s this about, baby?”

  Laurie popped off her seatbelt, scooted away from him, and opened the cab door. Before he could say another word, she jumped down and stepped away from the truck.

  “Laurie?” She was making him nervous. He whipped open his door and rounded the truck in two seconds, following her farther into the brush. “What are you doing?”

  She didn’t respond. She stopped moving at her breakneck pace several yards from the truck, set her hands on her hips, and spun in every direction for a minute, as though looking for something.

  The spirits?

  Suddenly, she whipped off her coat and then grabbed the hem of her shirt and tugged it over her head.

  “Laurie?”

  She still didn’t look at him or speak. Instead, she stripped off the rest of her clothes and shifted right in front of him.

  “Shit,” he muttered as she roamed away as though in a trance. Zach quickly followed her lead, left his clothes on top of hers in the snow, and assumed his wolf form. He hit the ground on all fours and dashed to catch up with his mate.

  “Baby? You’re scaring me. Where are we going?”

  She glanced at him and then looked forward again and kept moving. Her pace increased until they were at a full-out run.

  Zach easily kept on her heels, deciding to let her do whatever it was she felt necessary without interruption.

  She ran hard, dodging trees and jumping over downed logs and branches. As though she had all the stamina in the world, she didn’t let up her pace.

  Zach was in excellent shape. Meeting her step for step wasn’t a problem. Worrying about her state of mind was another story. Was she hoping to encounter a spirit along the way? Or maybe she needed to blow off steam. This would certainly do it.

  Finally, she stopped dead in her tracks. She didn’t move for long moments, staring straight ahead and then turning in a circle just as she had in human form before dropping her clothes.

  When she sat on her haunches and met his gaze, his heart beat faster. “Laurie. Baby. Talk to me.”

  She surprised him by shifting into human form. It was fucking cold. Snow was on the ground. She was naked. With her hands on her hips, she spun around again. And then she shouted into the night air. “Where the fuck are you now? Come out. Face me. What do you want?”

  He knew she was addressing the spirits. And she was magnificent in her anger. Her body was on high alert. Her nipples beaded. Adrenaline leaked from her pores, enticing him with its smell. He’d never wanted her more.

  He shifted next to her and breathed heavily as his cock grew stiff and jutted out. He could see his breath. He couldn’t feel the cold.

  Anger wafted off his irate mate. Sexy. So fucking hot.

  He couldn’t blame her for her frustration. Hell, he felt it too.

  Suddenly, without warning, she jerked in his direction and glanced down at his cock. Shocking him further, she dropped onto her knees, grabbed his thighs with both hands, and sucked him deep into her mouth.

  Zach nearly fell over backward. He wove his fingers into her hair and fought to keep from pushing her against his dick. Zero to one hundred in two seconds flat was astonishing. He couldn’t form words to describe how aroused he was.

  His mouth fell open, but no sound came out.

  Laurie sucked harder. Deeper. Almost too hard.

  “Baby…” He pulled her head away from his cock and tipped her chin back. It was cold out. She was kneeling in the snow. Though admittedly, he felt nothing. All his concentration was on Laurie and her lips. He barely noticed the weather.

  “Let me…”

  He shook his head and dropped to his knees to face her. His cock bobbed against her belly. “Not like this.”

  “Not like what?” She stared at him, her gaze whipping back and forth between his eyes at this close distance. “I need to feel you.”

  “Fine.” He grabbed her shoulders. “Turn around. All fours.”

  She hesitated and then smiled, quickly following his direction.

  The second she landed on her hands and knees, he shoved her legs apart and reached between them from behind. He thrust two fingers into her pussy and moaned. She was so wet. So hot. “Jesus.”

  She rocked into his hand, and he had to grab her around the waist with his free hand to steady her and keep her from getting away.

  “Zach…”

  “I know, baby. Let it build. Feel my fingers.” He turned them around and dragged them against her G-spot. He avoided her
clit, knowing she would shoot off the second he touched the sensitive bud. She always did.

  “Zach…” Her voice was weaker. Her head dipped as she relaxed her body and let him make her hum.

  “That’s it, baby. Just feel.” He should be cold. It was below freezing out there. Why didn’t he notice anything but his mate? Why didn’t she?

  When he thought she was as aroused as she could be without going over the edge, he released her waist, removed his fingers, and gripped her hips with both hands. Before she could catch her breath, he thrust into her tight sheath.

  Laurie screamed. If there was any living being around, it had to hear her.

  Zach smiled and fucked her harder, faster, in and out. Over and over. He didn’t let up until with a cry of sound that had no meaning, she came, her pussy gripping his cock so hard he shot off at the same time.

  He emptied his seed into his sweet mate’s body and continued to rock forward until her arms grew weak and shook. Finally, he pulled out, loving the sound of their bodies separating, knowing his semen filled her.

  He breathed heavily, his own arms shaking also. He reached for her shoulders and pulled her onto her knees, smashing his front against her back and wrapping his arms around her middle under her breasts. He kissed her shoulder and nibbled a path to her ear.

  They stayed that way for a long time, silence their only companion. A welcome silence that allowed them to escape reality for this brief moment in time.

  Without a word, or even a glance, they eventually separated and shifted back to wolf form. Their trip back to the pile of clothing wasn’t at the same breakneck pace.

  Zach could sense the switch in his mate’s demeanor to something calmer, less frantic. He was concerned still, but at least she wasn’t screaming at the night anymore.

  Though what worried him more, as they dressed and headed back to the truck, was her complete lack of emotion. She seemed defeated. Let down. Even her shoulders sagged under the weight of the world.

  He ached for her. And he knew instinctively now was not the time to confront her. She needed to grieve. And he knew that was what she was doing—grieving. Grieving for a life she thought she would lead until Fate brought her family to Sojourn a week ago and changed the course she’d expected to live.

  He couldn’t blame her.

  From her view, the world was a mess. A week ago, she had no way of knowing she had powers that had been dormant her entire life, the powers of a long line of shaman. She hadn’t known the two men who were now her mates. She hadn’t known the kind of strife that could be caused by bigoted humans and shifters alike who refused to embrace tolerance.

  His mate was hurting in a way he couldn’t fix. Only time would lessen her grief.

  And Zach had all the time in the world. He just needed to be patient.

  When he turned the truck around and eased back to the main road, he spotted two cars pulled off to the side of the gravel. How had he not noticed them when they pulled in?

  “Shit,” Laurie said. “There’re people in that car.” She pointed to the spot where the headlights hit the windshield. “Do you think they need help?”

  “Doubt it.” He chuckled. There’s an empty car behind them. More than likely they’re doing the same thing as us.”

  “Hiding?”

  “Yep.”

  He glanced out Laurie’s window as they passed, but the windows on the other car were completely fogged over. No way to see who was inside. Besides, he wouldn’t have bothered them anyway. If they wanted privacy, just like him, who was he to impose? If they had needed help, they would have gotten out and asked for it.

  Chapter Twelve

  The sun was coming up as Zach pulled his truck into the parking lot of his condo. He jumped down from the cab as Laurie did the same on the other side. They’d left her rental car at Corbin’s, but he figured she could drop him off at the resort if she needed a car. Or he hoped he could convince her to come with him.

  Maybe she could ski or hang with Sharon or Carlie. Anything to keep her mind off looking for a job and possibly make her feel better.

  A few hours of sleep first would be nice, but they barely had time for a nap at this hour.

  Zach rounded the hood of the truck and took Laurie’s hand as they approached the condo.

  “Wait.” She stopped dead in her tracks, her face scanning the area.

  Zach looked around, seeing nothing. “What is it?”

  “I don’t know, but I have a weird vibe.” She tugged her hand free of his and rubbed her hands together. She could be cold. She wasn’t wearing gloves, but Zach didn’t think it had anything to do with the temperature.

  He waited.

  She inched forward finally. “Someone’s been here.”

  “Who?”

  “I don’t know.” She continued to glance around.

  Zach stepped around her, concerned about the condo. If someone had been there, perhaps with ill intent, he wanted to make sure they weren’t still there. “Wait outside.”

  Laurie followed him to the door and then grabbed his arm. “Don’t open the door.”

  “Why not?” He was growing frustrated, but he didn’t want to make light of her concerns. He knew better. He’d heard all the tales of his two older brothers not heeding the warnings of Melinda and Mimi. No way in hell would he not listen to Laurie.

  But what harm could there be in opening the door?

  Laurie tugged him away from the door. “Trust me. I can’t explain it, but don’t open the door.”

  He lifted both hands in the air in defeat. “Okay. Should I call Corbin?”

  She chewed on her lip a moment and then nodded. “And your brother Trace.”

  Trace was a deputy at the local sheriff’s department. He still lived in Sojourn in Melinda’s tiny apartment while they waited for their home to be built on the edge of the Native American territory, near Rebecca. He probably wouldn’t arrive any faster than Corbin.

  Zach felt a tingling sensation race up his spine at the same time Laurie’s eyes widened and she gasped. For the second time, he too was privileged to see the black smoke moving in. It surrounded their feet first and then coalesced between them and the door to the condo.

  Zach stepped back, taking Laurie with him, his grip probably too firm on her arm.

  She reached out a hand to touch the smoky substance.

  It gave him the willies, but he let her. Surely the spirit meant no harm.

  “It’s a warning.”

  “I’m a believer, baby. You don’t have to tell me twice.” He stepped back farther, pulling on Laurie, who seemed reluctant to move away from the smoke. It was so thick, it blocked the door almost completely from view.

  Zach pulled out his phone and called Trace, who answered on the first ring. “Zach?”

  “Yeah. Sorry it’s so early. We seem to have a problem here.”

  “What?”

  “Laurie had a feeling.”

  “Don’t ignore those.” Zach sounded more awake now.

  “I wouldn’t. Anyway, she doesn’t feel like it’s safe to enter the condo. And I’m inclined to agree since the moment we reached the door, one of those black aura things popped up between us and the condo.”

  “Shit. I’m calling the station on my other phone. Don’t hang up.”

  Zach listened to the muted voice of his brother on the phone with the sheriff’s office for a minute, and then Trace was back. “They’re on their way. And I am too. It’ll take me about forty to get there though. Get away from the condo.”

  Suddenly Zach was no longer listening to his brother. Melinda’s voice came over the line. “Get back. Get Laurie away from there. It’s not safe.”

  Zach almost grinned. “On it.” He threaded his fingers with Laurie’s and pulled her farther away, past the truck and into the parking lot.

  Trace returned. “Melinda’s in a dither. I guess she’ll be coming with me.”

  “Of course.”

  “We’ll be there soon. Someon
e from the station will get there faster.” Trace hung up.

  Laurie faced the condo, but he could see she was somewhere else. She nodded subtly a few times, but her gaze was on nothing. She was undoubtedly communicating with Melinda. Of all the weird things that had happened in the last week, Laurie’s ability to speak to her sister telepathically in human form was by far the weirdest.

  Zach took the opportunity to alert Corbin. “Corbin?”

  “What’s up? Did you get some sleep? It’s so early.”

  “No. Long story. But we have an issue. We haven’t even been into my condo. Laurie had a premonition. We called Trace. He’s on his way. Deputies from his office are on their way.”

  “I’ll leave now.”

  “I hate for you to do that. It might not be necessary. Could be nothing.”

  “You think it’s nothing?”

  “No.”

  “I’m on my way.” Corbin broke the connection.

  A sheriff’s vehicle pulled into the lot, quiet with no lights. Two men climbed out of the car. One reached for Zach’s hand. “Mark Zimmer. I work with your brother.”

  The second guy introduced himself as Deputy Steve Fouler and then turned toward the condo. “What’s the problem?” He wandered closer.

  “Not sure.” Zach chuckled, but not with humor. “Something’s weird. Or maybe we’re just jumpy after the night we’ve had.” At least that would explain away some of the paranormal. Neither of these deputies was a shifter.

  “What happened?” Mark asked.

  “Some people on the reservation thought it might be funny to throw bricks through the windows of the apartment we were in. We just got back here hoping to get some sleep before I need to be at work.”

  Laurie took Zach’s hand and squeezed. “I have a weird feeling.”

  Mark lifted a brow. “You have a weird feeling?”

  She nodded. “Humor me,” she mumbled.

  Mark nodded indulgently. “Okay. Have you been inside?”

  “Not yet,” Zach said. “The closer we got to the door, the more ominous it felt. We backed off, and I called Trace.”

  “Uh-huh.” Mark turned around and called to his partner. “Check out the perimeter. Let’s not open the door yet.”