by Tl Reeve
Shit.
He pulled off the highway and took the hidden dirt lane to the town of Los Lobos. His new home had been built courtesy of Ross Luparell and his construction company. They’d finished his house in no time flat, which surprised the hell out of him. Plus, Ross gave him the option of adding on if need be. About the only thing he wanted was a bed to lie on when he slept. The rest of the fancy doodads were for show. When he bought his bed, he’d tested several different styles to find the right one. Now, he slept like a baby.
He turned off the dirt road onto the main street and drove through the darkened stretch of town. At the second dirt path to the left, he turned once more and crept along the rutted way. He’d have to fix it soon. With the snow coming, those ruts and holes would become potential danger spots.
The lights from his headlights bounced off the trees and fence poles leading to his home. In the distance, a rather large, imposing figure loomed near the front steps of his porch. He’d know that stance anywhere. Hell, the hostility in it rolled over him in waves. Coming to a stop a few feet from Gee, he sat for a minute, trying to figure out why the damn bear would be there to see him at such a late hour.
Might as well get out.
True, or he could wait him out. At some point, he’d get tired and walk away. However, when the bear cocked his brow, Sayer shut off his vehicle then got out. “Gee.”
“Sayer.”
“Why are you here?” A gust of bitterly cold wind fluttered the end of his coat, chilling his overly sensitive skin.
“Where is she?”
Huh? “Who?”
“Don’t play games, boy. You know exactly who I’m talking about.”
He shook his head. “Sorry, I don’t.” He stepped around the imposing form in front of him, only to have the bear stop him in his tracks.
“She is your mate. She should be here, at your side.”
“I’ve got no clue what you’re talking about, old man. I don’t have a mate.” He wrenched his arm free—not that Sayer won their little pissing contest but more like Gee let him go.
“You going to lie to me?” Drew rose from the rocking chair in a darkened corner of the porch.
Shit. Shit. Shit. “No, Alpha. I’d never lie to you.”
“But you would to Gee?” He limped toward him, his brow cocked. “Answer his question. You stink of Elle’s human companion, Kizzy.”
He closed his eyes and scrubbed his face. “She doesn’t belong here.”
“She’s your mate. I would have expected you to come to me when you knew.”
“And tell you what?” He shook his head. “She’s human. She shouldn’t be here.”
“Ah.” Drew gave a short nod. “I understand. What you’re so eloquently saying is, with the human mates in the pack, we’re leaving ourselves vulnerable. And we shouldn’t trust them.”
Well…. “No, Alpha. I’m not sure I can be a mate, first of all, and, second, she’s human. I don’t want…you know. I’m not good for this type of relationship or commitment.”
“So you’ll fuck your mate away from the pack and suffer?” He shook his head. “There’s always got to be a few stubborn ones.” He gave Gee a knowing glance.
“Excuse me?” He curled his lip. “Isn’t this my decision?”
“No.” Drew narrowed his eyes. “Your sneaking away from pack lands to be with your mate in the middle of the night will only lead to something bad happening.” After the murders, the pack’s safety had become paramount. Too many families had been devastated by the acts of a crazed, feral mate no one even knew about. Dammit.
If anything, it proved his point. Humans were nothing but trouble. “It won’t happen again, Alpha. I am sorry.”
“You’re damn right it won’t happen again. You’re bringing her here.”
Wait. “Come again?”
“You will return to Custer, pack her stuff, and bring her to this house.” He pulled a knife out of his pocket.
Whoa. Pump the brakes here. “I’m not sure I should be taking a blood oath yet. I’m not sure she’s my mate.”
His alpha gave him a droll stare. “What did I tell you about lying?”
“Fine.” He took the proffered knife then cut his palm. Why wouldn’t anyone listen to him? He didn’t want this. Yet, his wolf grew more excited by the thought of giving his word to his alpha and bringing his mate home. He was fucked, with a capital F.
Drew accepted it from him and did the same. Then they clasped hands.
“I take full responsibility for Kizzy Rhapsody while she is on pack lands. Any transgression she makes against the pack, I will be held accountable for. I will take whatever punishment is deemed necessary, including death. This is my solemn vow.”
Energy flowed between them, crackling as it pricked at his skin. The fine hairs on his arm stood on end, and his wolf stepped forward as the bond sealed into place.
“So it shall be.” Drew let go of his hand. “When she is settled, I expect to see her, understand.” Not a question but command.
“Yes, Alpha. I’ll bring her by.”
“Good. Sleep well. You’re working a double shift after you bring her home, as punishment for sneaking off pack lands.” Drew smacked him on the shoulder, leaving him there with Gee.
The bear watched him—studied him. Why, he didn’t know. When the man got enough of him, he, too, would leave Sayer. “She will do you some good. You’re full of hate.”
Well, la-de-fricken-da. Wasn’t like he hadn’t watched his parents die because they dared to help a lost, stranded couple.
Sayer’s father had guided he and his mother to Deadwood only a handful of miles away from where his father had been hiding a pack of their belongings. A few days later, the couple his father helped, came snooping around near the pack lands. From the rumors going around the pack at the time, the couple asked for his father by name. The wolves, part of Magnum’s squad, brought the humans to their insane alpha. After repeating their story, the alpha laughed and told them they had a two-minute head start. One minute in, he sent two wolves after the couple. Later, Sayer’s parents were tied up, and he was forced to watch while they were taken apart piece by piece.
“Yet to be seen, bear.”
“You dwell too much. Old wounds fester, if you let them. Maybe you need to rethink your fears.” Gee started for the woods then paused. “At the Winter Solstice festivities, I want you to bring me tricolored bumblebee honey. It’s made here. Your mate can help you.” He pivoted and sauntered off into the darkness, leaving Sayer to stare after him.
Blowing out a pent-up breath, he entered the house and slammed the door. He slid to the floor. Tension filled his frame. He couldn’t do this. He wasn’t cut out to be anything to anyone. Now, in a span of no time, he had to bring Kizzy here and mate her. Shit, he didn’t think he could. Even if the wolf was determined to make her his, the man had reservations. There were too many trust issues. Too many questions and what ifs. His chest tightened as the all-too-familiar anxiety and fear took hold of him.
Living in Los Lobos and being part of the Tao Pack had its own challenges. Add in someone he’d be responsible for and shit…. He’d be killed if she ever told their secret. So would she. Damn it. I’ve just signed both our death warrants.
Chapter Two
Kizzy woke early to an empty bed and sighed. Just once she’d like Sayer to spend the night so she didn’t feel so cheap. After getting out of bed, she wrapped her fuzzy robe around her then tied it. She stepped into the soft, fuzzy wolf slippers she’d bought when she arrived in town. Last night, she’d meant to tell him she couldn’t continue to be his side piece. The way he came and went from her life led her to believe he had a girlfriend or a wife and was having an affair.
She deserved better.
Though she counted down the days she’d see him again, her being around him paled in comparison to the glow surrounding Graham and Elle. Sayer couldn’t give her that kind of love. The itch at
the back of her neck warned her of all this crap. However, she threw caution to the wind and said fuck it. The minute she opened her door to him, she welcomed in her own destiny. Now, she had to close the door to that future.
Sadness filled her. Her lip trembled. So stupid, Kizzy. What did you expect? Some white knight coming to rescue you from your mundane life? In a way, yes. Yes, she had. There was something magical about Graham and Elle’s relationship…almost fairy tale in quality. They loved each other with a single-minded focus she’d only read about in romance novels.
He-who-shall-not-be-named had never held Elle in such high esteem. In fact, he had mistresses all over North and South Carolina. The asshole was currently sitting in a federal penitentiary awaiting trial. In a twist of unexpected goodness, the judge deemed him, his father, and the business partner flight risks and denied their request for bond.
The good senator was expelled from office and, according to the news reports, all of their assets were frozen. Sucked to be them, but then again, what had they expected? Did he-who-shall-not-be-named think he’d never get caught? She snorted.
Once she turned on the heat, she went to the kitchen to grab a cup of coffee. She hadn’t told Elle about the goings-on back home for a couple of reasons. One, she finally seemed happy, and two, what good would it serve? Seeing the truth laid out before her in such an ugly manner only cemented Kizzy’s resolve. If, in twenty years, her friend asked “whatever happened to he-who-shall-not-be-named,” she’d tell her the truth. Until then, she was content to let it go away.
Filling her mug, she glanced out the window overlooking the wide-open space of her backyard. Who’d have thought she’d end up here? The choice had been an easy one, of course. She’d go wherever Elle went. Technically, she didn’t know where Elle went, but she saw her whenever she wanted and they talked nearly every day.
She learned about the birth of Elle’s niece and nephews then got to see pictures of them yesterday when they met up for lunch in Hill City. They were the cutest little babies in the world. Perfect in every way. She asked how Gabby was doing after the death of Alicia, a lady who’d became Gabby’s second mom after her parents died in a tragic drive-by shooting. Elle said she wavered between happy, worried, and sad. She’d expect nothing less. Losing a parent, biological or not, hurt like a son of a bitch.
Kizzy’s mother, on the other hand, had disowned her when she wouldn’t conform to the Garmond women’s Southern debutant ways.
Kizzy didn’t see the point in holding onto principles so tight you lost sight of family. So what if she didn’t want to be some Stepford wife? She didn’t see herself staying home all day, baking pies and shit while her perfect two-point-five kids played quietly in their rooms and spoke six languages. She wanted excitement and a challenge. She wanted to live and be of service to her community. Silvia Rhapsody, hadn’t understood. Her father, God rest his soul, had.
Without telling a soul, her prominent businessman father had started a trust fund for Kizzy when she was born. When the country went into a recession in 2008, they’d been spared the brunt of it because he’d invested his millions wisely and didn’t get greedy. On the day they read his will and the lawyer showed her how much money she had, she nearly fainted. Silvia, on the other hand, kicked and screamed and demanded it be turned over to her. She even went as far as to challenge the will. Twenty-eight million dollars to a disowned child?
The judge, however, sided with Kizzy then admonished the widow for her avaricious and demeaning ways.
For ten years, they didn’t speak. When she passed, her assistant called Kizzy to let her know her mother died alone and bitter.
As she leaned against the counter and took a few sips of coffee, Kizzy’s thoughts drifted to Sayer. Despite her determination to make a clean break from him, she didn’t want to. She liked him. He was her complete opposite. Where she could talk to anyone and everyone was a friend, he hesitated. Everyone was a foe to him. Someone who could create trouble. She understood somewhat why he acted as Elle’s bodyguard of sorts when Graham wasn’t around. At the time, Elle had just found out the man she was supposed to marry had been a sleazeball of epic proportions. Graham was being extra cautious with her, just in case. But, when she looked at Sayer and his downright meanness, his issues were deeper than just being a hired protector. Trouble swirled in those beautiful hypnotizing eyes of his, along with worry and, sometimes, fear.
What are you afraid of? A man his size, covered in all kinds of tribal tattoos, and with his disposition shouldn’t be afraid of anything. Yet, for all of his six foot four inches of pure muscular bad assness, he hid something. After last night, though, she’d never get a chance to ask him. It would be a couple of weeks before he’d come around again, and then, she fully intended to deny his request to see her. She had to be strong. She had to stick to her guns on this.
She wouldn’t be second best.
After placing her now-empty cup in the sink, she turned from the window, deciding it was time to start planning for her future, minus Sayer. The abrupt knock at her front door startled her. She swore she heard the wood creak when the booming sound echoed through the house once more.
“Kizzy, open up.” Sayer rumbled. “We need to talk.”
Yes, they did. Only she’d thought she’d have a couple weeks to prepare her good-bye speech. “Sayer?” Nervous energy filled her as she licked her lips. Torn between opening the door to let him in or shouting through the barrier for him to go home, she jumped when he banged on it again.
“Open up,” he growled. How a man could make such a scary, sexy sound confounded her.
“Uh, just a minute.” She glanced down at her robe and slippers. Wasn’t as if he hadn’t seen her like this several times before. She pulled the lapel of her robe closed so as not to give him any ideas. When she finally opened the door, he didn’t look too pleased to be there.
“You need to pack.” He stepped inside. “Get dressed and grab all the shit you want. We don’t have all day.”
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me. You’re coming with me.” He stomped past her, heading straight for her bedroom.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” She caught up to him. Grabbing his arm, she tugged him to a stop. “You don’t just walk into my home and demand I do what you say.”
He pinned her with a glare then snarled. “Fuck. I can’t do this shit.” He stepped away from her and began to pace. “I told them this wouldn’t fucking work, but did they listen to me? Hell no.”
“You’re not making any sense, and, quite frankly, you’re scaring the shit out of me.”
“Good. I should be. You should want to stay the fuck away from me.” He ran his fingers through his hair and growled once more. “Look, do you want to see Elle?”
Was that a trick question? “Well….”
“It’s not a trick question. Yes, or no?”
When he put it that way…. “Yes. I want to see Elle. She’s my best friend. The one person who gets me. The one person who doesn’t look at me like I’m a freak of nature.” Kind of the way he did on most days.
He frowned. “Kizzy, you’re not a….” He reached out for her then stepped back. “Pack as much shit as you want to take. You’re going to see Elle.” He stormed out of the house, leaving the door open.
What the fuck just happened.
Two hours later, they were on the freeway, heading south to Hill City, or so she thought. The back of Sayer’s truck was filled with the majority of her stuff. Questions swirled in her mind. If he only meant to take her to visit her friend, why did she need so much stuff? It strained against the netting holding it in place. None of this made a lick of sense. He also seemed pretty pissed off about taking her to Elle. Well, technically, he always appeared pissed off; today it was amplified.
“Why are you so angry?” His knuckles were white from the tension in his hands.
“Because I’m a fucking idiot. I am doing the one thi
ng I told myself I’d never do.” He wouldn’t even look at her. His jaw muscle twitched.
“What?”
“Don’t worry about it.”
Two miles north of Hill City, he got off the interstate and took a back road. “Where are we going? This isn’t the way.”
“Clever girl.” He grunted. “We’re not going to Hill City. We’re going somewhere else.” He slowed his truck and pulled off the main highway. The dirt path didn’t look big enough let alone safe enough for his vehicle. He stopped and looked at her. “I’m taking you to see Elle and Graham. For now, that’s all you need to know.” He shifted into four-wheel drive and started down the too-narrow lane. “This might get a little bumpy.”
She opened her mouth then closed it. Pursing her lips, she watched the area grow denser with foliage. The forest seemed to swallow them whole with every dip and rut they hit. Her mind raced a million miles an hour as she desperately tried to assimilate where they were going. No one could live out here. The forest was too overgrown. Too many trees for construction.
As they came to a clearing, a road appeared in front of them. What? How? Sayer turned left, following the street around a bend. Holy shit. “What is this place?”
“This is Los Lobos.”
She quirked a brow. “The wolves? The town is named ’The Wolves’?”
“Yes.”
“Are you freaking kidding me?” Pure delight rolled through her, pushing back the fear knotting her stomach. “That’s amazing.”
He gave her a confused look. “Sure. Amazing.”
“Is this where Elle and Graham live?”
“Yes.”
Disappointment dampened her happiness. “Why didn’t they tell me?”
“It’s complicated. I’m going to drop you off with Elle and take your stuff on to the house. You guys can catch up and do your normal sh— stuff. Elle will bring you to me when you’re ready.”
