by Bethany Shaw
“Were the two of you together long?” Gene questioned.
Heat crept across her face, causing her cheeks and ears to burn. “We grew up together. We were friends. Best friends. I knew that what he felt for me was more than friendship, but he never acted on it. It was not like that for me. I thought of him as more of a brother.” She flexed her fingers, watching as she curled them in and out. “I did not realize female wolves went into heat. My mother didn’t know either. When it happened, I did not understand it. The emotions and…feelings…the urges were intense. I did not mean for it to happen. Once I came back to my right mind, I regretted it. It hurt our friendship, and now…” she trailed off.
Swallowing, she inhaled a deep breath and looked up at Gene. “Adrian is the best thing to happen to me. I am thankful I was blessed enough to conceive him. Looking back now, I hate that it hurt my friendship with Antonio, but I would never take it back. Without Adrian, without something to hold onto this past year, I am not sure what I would have done. He is my reason for being.”
Gene shifted in his seat. “Adrian is a blessing. I am glad that you have him, too. In the future, when your heat cycle comes again, speak with Claire. I know you don’t care for her, but she’s a woman who has had countless cycles. Since you don’t have a mate, she is the best one to help you through it.
A sharp tap sounded on the door, and a muffled voice called, “Room service.”
Gene rose from the couch and strode to the door. Natalia let out a whoosh of air, hoping they wouldn’t continue this conversation when he came back. Gene looked through the peephole before opening the door. He thanked the man and took the tray, then closed the door.
Natalia slipped her feet to the floor, her mouth watering from the delicious scent of fried food and beef. Gene handed her one of the covered dishes and kept the other for himself as he settled back into the couch.
Setting the silver lid on the floor, Natalia balanced the plate on her knees, and lifted the burger to her mouth to take a bite. They ate in comfortable silence, both too hungry for conversation. Picking up the last fry, Natalia dunked it in ketchup before popping it into her mouth. Setting her empty plate on the table, she turned back to Gene.
His eyes were intent on his food as he finished his sandwich. She swallowed, taking him in as he chewed. His stubble was thicker, sexier. His grey crew neck fit his sculpted upper body, accenting the muscles.
Heat crept throughout her body, and she found herself leaning towards him. His pine-and-moss scent drew her in. Breathing deeply, Natalia scooted closer. Gene turned to look at the female alpha, his chocolate eyes meeting hers. As soon as their gazes met, Natalia shook her head, snapping out of her daze.
“I think I am going to head to bed now. We have a long day of driving tomorrow.”
Natalia stood up, smiling softly at the alpha male before her. He set his dish down and stood as well.
“I was going to set my alarm for seven.” His eyes drifted to the ornate clock hanging on the wall. 12:03 am. “If that’s okay with you?”
“That should be fine. I am sure Adrian will wake before then to eat again. Will we be home tomorrow or stay in a hotel?” Natalia asked.
“I will feel safer back at the ranch, but, I know all this traveling must be hard on Adrian. If we need to stop again for the night, we can.”
Natalia beamed as her heart fluttered in her chest. His concern for Adrian made her heart swell. “Thank you for taking Adrian’s well-being into consideration. That means a lot to me.”
Gene smiled and nodded. He took a step toward her, and his foot brushed against hers. Tingles shot through her, and gravity seemed to pull her toward him again. Inches apart, she met his gaze, holding it for a long moment. Her pulse thrummed in her ears as desire rolled through her.
Gene’s phone chimed, breaking the spell. Rolling his eyes, he picked his phone up from the table. “It’s Preston. I’m sorry, but I need to take this,” he groaned.
“Goodnight,” she mumbled.
Clearing her throat, Natalia took a step back and walked to her room.
Chapter Thirteen
Devon groaned as the alarm blared above his head. Lark shifted next to him, and the bed creaked as she pushed up to grab her cell phone. She fumbled with it for a moment but finally silenced the offensive shrills. Groaning, she curled up to her wolf, and rested her head on his shoulder.
The alpha wrapped an arm around the blonde to pull her closer. “Aren’t you getting up?” he asked as he placed a gentle kiss to her forehead.
“Anxious for me to get out of bed?”
“No! It’s not like you to lounge after the alarm goes off. You usually bolt out of bed first thing.”
“I didn’t sleep well,” Lark whispered.
“What’s wrong?” he questioned, maneuvering himself so he could look at her. Devon propped one hand under his pillow and entwined his fingers with hers; she smiled when he squeezed her hand lightly.
Lark bit her lip and looked up at the white ceiling. “I was just thinking about what Maddie said.”
“She’s a silly girl who doesn’t know what she is saying,” Devon said before she could continue.
“I know.” Lark shook her head. “I don’t care what people think of me. I mean I do…but I can get over that. It’s just what she said about if we have kids. Is that how people would view them…as half-breeds?”
“No.”
“Really?”
“Maybe some people like Juarez,” Devon sighed. “Not everyone would see them that way, though. You’re my equal, Lark. Men like Juarez—like Emmett—they treat the alpha female as a subordinate. Rick taught Gene and me that the alpha female carries as much weight as the male. Your orders are just as powerful as mine. The next meeting we have, I will make this clear to everyone.”
Lark nodded.
“Why are you worried about children anyway?” Devon asked, frowning.
“I don’t know. I just thought maybe one day we’d have kids of our own and, well, that’s something to consider. Then there is Adrian, and if Sarah and Preston ever…” Lark trailed off.
“I didn’t realize Adrian was half human,” Devon answered honestly. “He obviously isn’t an alpha. That can be determined by scent, even at a young age. However, I doubt anyone would know Adrian was part human if they weren’t told. Which means any kids we have in the distant future should be the same way.”
“The distant future,” Lark chuckled.
“Yes,” he said, giving her a pointed look.
“I’m not in any rush either,” she said, rolling her eyes. “I just didn’t realize there was so much hate.”
“There is hate everywhere, Lark. Whether it be in the human world or the werewolf world. Try as we might, it’s never going to completely go away.”
Lark nuzzled in closer, her silky hair tickling his nose as she wrapped her arm around his bare torso.
“How are you holding up?” Lark asked, kissing his shoulder.
“What do you mean?”
“Daniel,” she said softly.
Devon sighed, his finger tracing a circle on her back. “I don’t know what to think. If he’s innocent, why did he run?” He’d spent the better part of the night wondering about his brother’s actions.
“Maybe he thought you wouldn’t listen,” Lark shrugged.
The cell phone blared again, causing Lark to jump in his arms. She reached out with a weary arm and hushed the jarring chimes.
“I should probably get up for the day. I have a ton of stuff to get ready this morning.” Lark slid out of his grip and got out of bed. She leaned back in to kiss him tenderly.
“I love you,” Devon mumbled against her lips.
Lark grinned; she placed one more peck on his mouth before standing up. “I love you too.”
***
Natalia yawned, covering her mouth with her hand as she looked out the window. They’d abandoned the stolen car at a diner three towns back and had picked up a rental car for the remai
nder of the trip. The crisp leather seats and spacious legroom of the SUV were a welcome reprieve from the cramped, older sedan.
All of the sudden, a question popped into the she-wolf’s head. She frowned as she turned to Gene. “Where did you learn how to steal cars?”
Gene grinned, his brown eyes shining. “It’s something many wolves are taught when they decide to take on enforcer roles. One of the most important rules of a pack is not getting caught by humans. We are trained to use any means necessary to keep the cops out of our business. For situations like last night—when we need a quick getaway—we have the training to ensure it happens.”
“So you can hotwire a car?”
“Newer models are harder with all the technology that is put into them, but older makes are free game.”
“What exactly does an enforcer do?” Natalia asked curiously.
“Preston and Vincent—how they are going around to the other packs,” Gene said, glancing over at her. Natalia nodded and he continued, “That’s an example. Basically, they do what needs to be done to protect the pack. They take their orders directly from the alpha and exact his commands. It could be chasing down a rogue in the area or doing emissary work. It really depends on the need.”
“What if they have families? Sarah was not happy that Preston left,” Natalia said.
“When an enforcer mates, he is given the option to retire and stay on the homestead. Preston hasn’t made any promises to Sarah, nor has he declared her his mate.”
“How do you do that? I mean they are…you know,” Natalia said feeling flames engulf her face.
“Mating is more than just sex, Talia. It’s a commitment to one another. It can be done in three different ways. The traditional wedding, a mating ceremony, or—as Devon has done with Lark—a declaration before the pack by living together. Of the three, the mating ceremony is the most sacred and is viewed as an unbreakable bond between the mates.”
“So Devon and Lark are mates, but not Sarah and Preston?”
“Devon and Lark actively live together under one roof in one bed, permanently. Preston and Sarah only have sex. They reside in different rooms.”
“I see.”
“We are territorial creatures. Letting another person into your private sanctuary and sharing it with them is a big deal,” Gene explained. “My dad always said that the scent of your mate stands out. Instead of smelling just another wolf or person, it smells delightful. It lures you in until you want to be surrounded by it.”
Natalia quirked a brow and laughed.
“His words, not mine,” Gene clarified.
“I’ve never really paid much attention to personal scents. I learned to distinguish feelings like fear, arousal, and anger when I was in high school,” Natalia admitted. “I’d never smelled another wolf until a little over a year ago. Some people do smell better than others.” Glancing at Gene, she slowly took in a deep breath, breathing in his woodsy pine-and-moss scent. Natalia looked away, swallowing thickly. The alpha’s aroma was a little too alluring for her comfort. “Your father sounds like a romantic.” She said, hoping he wouldn’t notice her own arousal which now permeated the car.
“He was a good man. My mother and father were very much in love. When she became ill, he moved heaven and earth to get her the best treatment possible. I honestly think—if he hadn’t had me and Preston to take care of—he would have let himself follow her into the afterlife. They had a strong connection. I’ve only met one other couple with that kind of connection,” Gene said, smiling.
“What kind of a connection?”
Gene shrugged. “An emotional connection where you can sense your mate’s feelings and desires. You know what they’re thinking. Have you seen Emily and Marcus together? They have that deep connection. I was too young to remember, but I believe Claire and Devon’s father had it as well.”
“I have only seen Emily and Marcus together when we went shopping,” Natalia said, looking up at the car ceiling as she tried to recall them together. They had been overly lovey-dovey, but she’d chalked it up to them being newly mated.
“If Dev hadn’t helped Emily get away from Emmett, I honestly don’t know what the two of them would’ve done.” Gene shook his head.
“It is fortunate things worked out the way they did,” Natalia agreed, meeting his eyes.
“Yes, it is,” he said, holding her gaze for a long moment before turning his attention back to the road.
***
Natalia padded out of the bedroom as quietly as she could, leaving the door slightly open in case Adrian woke up. She wrapped her hair up in a messy bun as she walked to the kitchen, joining Gene at the oak table. The suite was not as lavish as the last one but it had more of a homey feel. The color palate revolved around brown and cream, and the presence of a dining room table was a far cry from the usual.
“He sounds better,” Gene said as Natalia settled into her chair.
“I think it is all the traveling. It was much easier when we could fly; all this time in the car has made him irritable,” Natalia said as she grabbed a slice of pizza.
“Spending hours in a car is enough to make anyone antsy.” Gene smiled.
“True. Still, it will be nice to be home tomorrow.”
“Agreed. I spoke with Preston and Vincent. They’ll be here sometime later tonight. They’re going to get their own room and meet us for breakfast at nine before we head out. I think our trek across Texas will be safer with backup.”
“I don’t imagine Juarez will be looking for us this far out,” Natalia acknowledged. “But the closer we get to your ranch, the more likely we are to run into trouble.”
Gene nodded as he grabbed another slice.
“I will admit, though, I am enjoying seeing the sites. It is so different here from where I grew up. The scenery is beautiful, and the trees…I feel like I could get lost running in the woods,” Natalia beamed, closing her eyes. “There aren’t many forests near Cabo San Lucas. Transitioning and running was always a hassle.”
“I’m sure the ocean is nice, though.”
Natalia laughed as she set her piece of pizza down on a paper plate. “It is. There is nothing like the ocean. And—maybe this is silly—but I used to swim as a wolf. It was exhilarating. Like experiencing the ocean in a whole new way.”
“There’s a watering hole on the ranch that I like to swim in, but I can’t imagine it’s anything like the ocean. That sounds fun,” Gene said, shoveling the pizza into his mouth.
“You’ve never been to the ocean?”
“No. When we vacationed—if you could call it that—we always visited other packs. One of the downsides to being an alpha is your job never ends. It’s always about the well-being of the pack. I’m not familiar with any packs near the ocean, and therefore have never been,” Gene said.
“Not even in Louisiana down by the bayou? I thought I remembered someone mentioning a pack there.”
Gene frowned. “It wasn’t me. That’s not to say there isn’t a pack there, though.”
Natalia rolled her eyes and set her pizza down. “It must have been Juarez, then. Probably some other pack he has his claws into.”
“Juarez’s reach might be long, but don’t think there aren’t wolves out there who will do the right thing,” Gene reminded her.
“I would like to think that you, Devon, and the packs in New York are not the minorities, but it is hard not to.”
“You’ll see,” Gene said.
Natalia grabbed her slice of pizza and took a bite. “If you could vacation somewhere, where would you go?” she asked, glancing at him through her lashes.
Gene smiled as he sat back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. “Hmmm, I haven’t given it much thought. Mexico sounds nice.”
“And you would travel there of all the places in the world?” Natalia questioned, raising her brow. She popped the last bite of pizza in her mouth and stood, clearing the paper plates from the table.
Gene rose from his chair—g
rabbing his own trash—and followed her to the trash can. “Well, I do speak Spanish semi-fluently.”
Natalia laughed. “I doubt that. There is no semi-fluently.” She shook her head, unable to contain the smile stretching across her face. “You either speak it, or you do not.”
“For growing up in another country, you speak English really well.”
Natalia nodded. “True. My mother grew up in the United States. She learned Spanish quickly once she moved to Cabo, though. She taught me English as I grew up, but—as I got older and she became more fluent—we mostly spoke Spanish. I have learned a lot this past year.”
“Well, you speak it really well.” Gene said as he leaned against the counter.
Natalia took one of the plastic cups from the bag on the counter and filled it with water from the sink. She took a quick sip and held it against her arm as she spoke. “I watched a lot of TV while I was captive. It helped a lot with learning the language better. I was kept locked up for the majority of my time under Juarez and Emmett’s control. I may have tried to escape a few times.”
Gene reached out to trail his fingers down her arm. He stopped at her forearm and squeezed gently. “That’s what I like about you. You’re strong.”
Natalia’s heart fluttered at his compliment. His fingers burned into her flesh, causing her breath to quicken. Setting her cup on the counter, she met his eyes and leaned into him.
His lips met hers softly—slowly—as if checking to see that she was sure about his advances. Parting her lips, she traced his mouth as she wound her hands into his russet hair. His arms curled around her, pulling her flush against him.
Pulse pounding in her ears, Natalia felt heat flood her as she lowered her hands to Gene’s hips. Tugging on the hem of his shirt, she lifted it up and over his head, then dropped the garment to the floor. Gene cupped her face, placing a feather light kiss to her lips before slipping his tongue into her mouth.
Natalia ran her hands up and down his toned back. Gene cupped one of her breasts through her tank top, causing her to moan into his mouth. The alpha brushed his thumb over her nipple, and she inhaled sharply as he pulled her against him. Walking backwards, they stumbled toward his bedroom. Natalia’s lips never strayed from Gene’s. She closed her eyes in bliss, getting lost in his scent.
