“What in the hell is wrong with you, Ryker?” a female voice broke in as a petite, slender woman entered the room. She had long dark hair with burgundy highlights and flashing silver eyes. Stopping in front of Josie’s mate, she slid her hands to her hips and demanded, “What’s your problem?”
As much as Josie wanted to tear into the woman for talking to her mate the way she was, she just did not have the energy. Ryker, she corrected herself. His name was Ryker.
The night was catching up with her and Josie just wanted to go home, shower, and crawl into bed. Unfortunately, that was not going to happen anytime soon. First, she needed to tell everyone what had taken place out in the woods.
“Back off, Storm,” Ryker bit out, his eyes cold and hard. “You are my partner, not my keeper.” Ignoring Storm, Ryker turned his full attention back to Josie. “What happened?” he demanded. “Where did all of that blood come from?”
Partner, Josie thought distractedly. What exactly did Ryker do? Scanning his tall, muscular body, Josie noticed the gun strapped to his waist and another one on his leg. She caught the glint of a blade from a knife tucked into a side holster. He has to be an enforcer, she decided. Pairing an enforcer with a doctor. Fate had some funny ideas sometimes.
Chapter 2
Taking in Josie’s stiff posture, pure white face and trembling fingers, Ryker left the wall he had been leaning against and walked over to where she stood. Gently, he removed the wet paper towel from her shaking hand. “Talk to me, Mate,” Ryker urged quietly. His mate. His beautiful, sexy mate. Ryker was an enforcer for the shifter council. He did not have time for a mate. And he definitely did not need the distraction of one. But one look into Josie’s beautiful dark brown eyes, one touch of her soft, silky skin, one whiff of her intoxicating scent, and he was gone. Attraction was instant for mates and he was hard as hell and wanting to be alone with Josie now. Screw the council and the mission. He had a mate to claim.
Ignoring the shocked gasp that came from Storm, Ryker continued to wipe away the dried blood from the underside of Josie’s chin. Damn, she was breathtaking. Slipping a chestnut curl behind her ear, he gently cupped Josie’s cheek and stroked his thumb along her full, soft lips. Groaning, he just barely held himself back from claiming those sexy, plump lips with his own.
Hearing Chase clear his throat behind them, Ryker decided they needed to hurry this discussion along so he could find out who he needed to kill and then get Josie home to take care of her.
Tugging on her hand, Ryker led Josie over to a chair on the far side of the room by a window. Sitting down, he pulled her onto his lap and stroked a calming hand down her arm as he hugged her close. When she moved her small, soft bottom over his erection, he realized sitting in the chair might not have been his smartest move. Burying his face in her neck, he fought for control of his body.
Chase followed them to the chair and knelt down beside Josie. “Congratulations, Josie,” he told her with a smile. “If I had known Ryker was your mate, I would have introduced you when he was here months ago.”
Josie glanced at him in surprise. Looking back and forth between Chase and Ryker she asked, “He’s been here before?”
Several months ago, Ryker thought. He had been here eight months ago. Not once had he seen this gorgeous woman on any of his visits. Even if he had seen her from a distance, he would have remembered.
“Ryker is an enforcer for the shifter council, Josie.” Chase informed her. “He was here when Lily was taken in April. And he was beneficial in the rescue of several women the General held at different facilities.” The Alpha’s niece, Lily, was kidnapped by a sadistic bastard known as the General at the end of April. Not only had RARE been called in to find Lily, but the shifter council had also been involved. Ryker had been to the White River compound several times, but not once had he seen or scented Josie. If he had, she would not be unclaimed right now.
“Josie,” Chase continued. “We need you to tell us what happened to you and Hunter. If there is someone out there running free on our lands, I need to send our enforcers out to track them down and bring them back. I need to know what we are dealing with.”
Ryker felt Josie stiffen in his arms. Swallowing hard, she whispered, “I understand, Alpha.” Straightening up in Ryker’s lap, Josie clasped her hands tightly together and ducked her head so her waves of dark hair covered her face. Refusing to allow her to hide from him, Ryker slid a hand through her hair and fisted it at the back of her head. Forcing her to meet his gaze, he nodded for her to continue.
Her eyes never leaving his, Josie started. “I was out running. I have been so busy I haven’t been on a real run in weeks, but I couldn’t resist the snow tonight. About two and half miles out I heard Hunter. He was crying and a man was yelling at him.” She stopped as Phoenix interrupted them with a snarl. Tightening his hold in her hair, Ryker brought her gaze back to him. “Go on,” he encouraged.
Glancing back at Phoenix in concern, Josie continued. “I snuck up on them as quickly as I could. When I reached them, the man was holding Hunter off the ground, his hand wrapped around Hunter’s neck. I don’t remember much after that. My wolf went crazy at the sight of Hunter being hurt. The man is...dead.”
Staring at Josie in stunned surprise, Ryker tried to grasp the fact that she had actually killed a man. He had the feeling she was normally a strong, confident woman, but she was not a killer. She was a doctor, a healer. Knowing she had taken a life must be tearing her up inside. Ryker wished he had killed the bastard instead.
“I need you to show us where you left him, Josie,” Chase told her. As Josie cringed, Ryker felt a protective growl escape. “Point us in the right direction,” Chase coaxed. “If you give us the vicinity of where you left the body, we can track it.”
“I can do that,” Josie agreed with a short nod. “I can do better. I had to shift to carry Hunter here. There was no way he was walking on that leg. I needed clothes, so I wore the man’s coat. You can use it to track him when you get near.” Ryker had wondered what the subtle smell was that surrounded his mate. It was a good thing the cold air must have muted the scent, because his bear was going crazy at the idea of Josie wearing anything that belonged to another man.
“Let me get Serenity and Hunter home, and we will track the bastard down. Give me 20 minutes. I’m calling in RARE,” Phoenix said as he scooped the sleeping Hunter up in his arms. “Can you send a couple of enforcers over to protect my family while I am gone?”
“Of course,” Chase agreed, rising from where he had been squatting on the floor. “I will send Aiden and Xavier over now. Let me know what you find out.”
“You aren’t coming?” Phoenix asked in surprise. The attempted kidnapping had taken place on White River land. Normally, as Alpha, Chase would be the first to arrive at the scene.
“Angel will be there,” Chase said as he made his way to the door. “One Alpha is sufficient.”
Angel was the leader of RARE, alpha of their group. The team would not answer to anyone but her. Angel was also Chase’s mate, even though they had not completed the mate bond yet.
Ryker did not know the specifics, but he did know that for some reason Angel was holding back. He was sure part of the reason Chase was relinquishing control to her now was because he did not want to face her. Having a mate, but not bonding with them, could slowly drive a shifter insane. It had been eight months since Chase and Angel met. Ryker was surprised they had held out this long.
“Let me know as soon as you have any answers. Make sure and dispose of the body.” Looking back over his shoulder at Ryker, Chase asked, “You will see that Josie gets home safely?” Ryker nodded. Of course he would take care of his mate. “I will send Slade and Charlotte to shadow Josie for a few days while you are gone in Denver.” Chase said. “They will be there within the hour.”
Shit, his mission. The whole reason he was even in Colorado. Ryker and Storm had been sent to Denver to hunt down a pack of rogue wolf shifters that had recently kidnapped
a young female fox shifter from Minnesota. They had stopped in to briefly explain the situation to Chase and ask him to have his people keep their eyes and ears open. When a nurse called Chase and told him it looked like their doctor and Hunter had been attacked, Ryker had been curious and followed Chase to the hospital.
After finding Josie, he did not want to go to Denver. But no matter how much Ryker wanted to stay with her, he had a duty to the council and the fox shifter.
After Chase left, Josie gave Phoenix directions to the spot where she left the dead man. Phoenix collected the man’s coat from the trashcan where Josie had shoved it earlier, then took his family home.
In the silence that followed, Ryker tried to figure out how to explain to Josie that he had to put his duty to the council over his own mate. Sighing deeply, he rested his forehead against her shoulder.
“I can go to Denver without you, Ryker,” Storm offered. “You get Josie settled in and come to Denver tomorrow. I should have some intel by then.”
“No,” Ryker ground out, raising his head to glare at Storm. It was his mission. As much as he wanted to stay with Josie, he had pledged himself to the council and he needed to see this through. “Give me time to get Josie home and make sure she is safe, then we will head out.”
Josie shifted on his lap which made his rock hard erection even harder if that were possible. He wanted nothing more than to sink into her balls deep, but now was not the time. Lightly messaging the back of her head where his hand still rested, he continued, “Call our contacts in Denver and see what you can find out, Storm. Meet me at the truck in an hour.”
Lifting an eyebrow Storm asked sarcastically, “You think that will be long enough?” Pissed off with Storm’s attitude, Ryker briefly let his bear show through, the tips of his fangs peeking out as he growled.
Eyes widening, Storm backed toward the door, hands held out in a placating manner. “See you in an hour,” she smirked before turning and sauntering out the door.
Finally, everyone was gone. Ryker was done waiting. He needed to taste his mate now. Fisting his hand in Josie’s hair again, he turned her face to his. She watched him through wide, sexy brown eyes, her body trembling. He knew it was from arousal, not fear. He could smell the lust pouring off her and he needed to taste her. His gaze narrowed on her full, pouty lips as they parted and she panted softly. Her tongue snuck out to nervously moisten them and he lost it. Capturing her mouth roughly with his, Ryker groaned loudly at the sweet taste of her. Josie whimpered as he tightened his hold on her hair and slipped his tongue past her lips. Tasting her over and over again, he moved his hips, pressing his throbbing cock up into the softness of her bottom. God he wanted her. He wanted to take her right there, shoving into her wet heat. He wanted to sink his fangs deep into her, claiming her as his. Groaning, Ryker pulled away from Josie. Breathing harshly, he fought to get himself back under control. He was not claiming her in a fucking hospital.
When he finally felt like he could talk, he rasped, “I need to get you home, sweetheart. I want to get you into a nice, hot bubble bath. I need to take care of you and make sure you are settled in and safe before I have to leave.”
When Ryker mentioned his intent to leave, Josie seemed to close down. Drawing back away from him, she attempted to rise, but he pulled her back. Resting his forehead against hers, he whispered, “I don’t want to leave you, sweetheart. I really don’t. But there is a fox shifter out there that needs me right now. Her name is Chloe Samson and she was stolen from her home by some rogue wolf shifters. If I don’t go find her she will end up dead, if she isn’t already.”
Gasping, Josie hurriedly stood up and grabbing his hand, pulled him to his feet. Her eyes wide with fear, she pushed Ryker toward the door. “Go, Ryker! Go with Storm now,” she insisted. “I will be fine. I can have Slade and Charlotte meet me here and take me home. You have to help Chloe.”
His Josie had a heart of gold. Ryker could see it, could feel it. He was so proud to call her his. Gathering her into his arms again, he pressed a brief kiss on her lips. “I will go after you are settled in your bath, Josie. Not before. I need to make sure you are taken care of before I leave. Storm is making some calls now and we will have to wait to hear back from our contacts, so we have time.” Taking off his coat, he wrapped it around her slight frame. “Do you have extra socks around here?” he asked glancing at her small feet.
“Yes, in my office.” Lacing her fingers with his, Josie led him to her office where she pulled a pair of warm, fuzzy Christmas socks out of her drawer. Drawing them on her feet, she went to a closet and grabbed the extra pair of tennis shoes she kept there. After putting them on and lacing them, she stood and once again slipped her fingers into Ryker’s. “I’m ready,” she said with a soft, shy smile.
After assuring the nurses several times that Josie was fine, they left the hospital and made their way to Josie’s house.
“Most of the pack live in apartments, but I wanted a home. A place to call my own. My house is on the outskirts of our small town. It backs up to the forest, and I have a balcony off my bedroom where I can sit and enjoy the peace and quiet,” she told Ryker on the way. “I love it.”
Pausing, she looked up at him in concern. “What do we do now, Ryker? This is my home. I have lived here for over thirty years and this pack is my family. I don’t want to leave. But you have a job with the council. You won’t be able to stay here. I am sure they require you to be wherever they are to protect them when you aren’t out hunting down rogue wolves.”
Cupping her cheek in his hand, Ryker leaned down and softly kissed her lips. “Let’s not worry about that right now. Right now I just want to get you home and take care of you. We can worry about all of this when my mission is over and I know you are safe.”
Nuzzling his hand, she whispered, “Okay. We need to get to know one another, too, Ryker. I don’t know anything about you, except that you are an enforcer for the council and your body is pure sin.” Blushing at the words that had slipped out, Josie quickly hid her face in his chest.
Chuckling, Ryker lifted her chin up and kissed her softly one more time. “I’m glad you approve.” Still laughing, he continued to Josie’s house, mulling over the different possibilities for their future. He wanted to make Josie happy, but he had obligations, too. There had to be a way to make it work. He was not giving Josie up, but he needed her to be happy with any decisions they made.
When they reached Josie’s house, Ryker paused by the front door and took out his Glock. Looking at him quizzically, Josie whispered, “There isn’t anyone here, Ryker. I’m safe in the compound.”
“Humor me,” he muttered. Finding the door unlocked, he scowled at her and held up a finger for silence when she would have defended herself. He did not care if she lived in the White River compound and considered the whole pack her family, she was his and he took care of his own. From now on that door would be locked when Josie was not home. Hell, it would be locked when she was home.
Silently they entered the small house. It did not take long to check the living room, kitchen, bathroom and office that made up the downstairs. Making sure Josie stayed behind him, Ryker made his way upstairs. The two large bedrooms and bathroom were clear. Putting his gun away, he turned back to Josie. “Do not ever leave the door unlocked again when you are gone, Josie.” Before she could interrupt he pushed on, “And for now, keep it locked when you are home alone. You saw what happened with Hunter tonight. There is no way he was that far out just wandering around and got caught. Phoenix would never let him get that far away without supervision. Not only that, but he was in human form, not cub. Hunter is in his cub form 75 percent of the time. That man was here, Josie. Here in this town. And you said he knew Hunter was a shifter. You may have gotten this one, but there are others like him out there. And they will be back. I need to know that you are safe when I can’t be here to protect you.”
As he let everything he said sink in, Ryker moved to the bathroom and started the shower. Josie n
eeded to get all of the blood washed off her body before she relaxed in the bath. There was a large claw foot tub in the corner. Since there was a shower, this tub was purely for his mate’s pleasure. Ryker groaned at the thought of Josie in it, naked, bubbles up to her neck. Feeling his fangs once again fill his mouth, he shuddered and palmed his hard cock. Hell, he would give anything to get in that tub with her right now. He wanted to run his hands over her wet, silky skin. “Fuck”, he growled softly.
Shaking off his thoughts, Ryker entered Josie’s bedroom and found her out on the balcony. Stopping at the sliding glass doors, he leaned up against the doorjamb and watched her, soaking in her presence. She was standing with her back to him, her hands braced against the wrought iron. He could sense Josie’s pain and wished he did not have to leave her. He had a feeling he was going to be gone hunting down the rogue wolves for at least a week if not more. But when he was done, after he had checked in with the council, Ryker was coming back here. Back to his beautiful Doc Josie.
Stepping away from the doorway, Ryker moved up behind Josie. Slipping his arms around her waist, he settled her back against his hard body. Sighing, Josie leaned her head on him. She was so tiny that the top of her head just reached the middle of his chest. Nuzzling her cheek he gently kissed the top of her ear, then slowly nipped and licked his way down to her bare shoulder where the too-big scrub top had fallen down. A soft moan escaped Josie’s lips as she slid her arm up and cupped the back of his head holding him against her.
“Josie,” he whispered as he scraped the soft skin with his teeth. Josie’s hold tightened and she pressed him closer. Her body trembled as she pushed back against him. Fighting for control, Ryker turned Josie around in his arms. He wanted to take her, to claim her right there. But there was not enough time to love and cherish her body like she deserved.
“Let’s get you in the shower, baby,” he whispered. Bending down, he slipped an arm under her knees and swept her up into his arms. Taking her back into the house, he made his way to the bathroom.
Josie's Miracle (White River Wolves Series, #1) Page 2
