Coming In Hot Box Set

by Gina Kincade

  "Dakota."

  She stopped and turned back to him. He licked his lips and took several steps forward.

  Bowgie trotted over and sat at her side.

  "What's up?" She tried to keep her voice light.

  He took a deep breath. His body shook and anger wafted off him, stronger than she'd ever seen.

  "Why didn't you tell him?" he demanded. "Why didn't you tell me?"

  She stared up into his face and her gut plummeted like she'd gotten on a roller coaster. He knew. Of course he'd know. He'd been through it with Franny. He'd held her hand and watched her deteriorate mentally until she'd finally succumbed to her own despair.

  She fought back the tears that threatened to consume her. There was no use lying to him.

  "What good would it have done?" she asked. "He would have broken every rule to get back here. Lost his commission. Ruined his career. Maybe been court–martialed. And for what? There was nothing he could do. Nothing either of you could do. And If I'd told you, you would have told him. You would have felt too guilty not telling him. It was better that I just dealt with it alone until he was stateside. Besides, I did this to myself. It was my fault–"

  Caleb moved to her so fast she barely tracked him. "Don't. Don't you dare. No one deserves that. You should have to come to me. Come back to Wolf River. I started a support hotline. I could have helped you."

  "I know," she said. "I called. You did help me. You kept me going on the worst nights."

  He stared at her for a minute and his eyes widened. "You're caller 182."

  She nodded.

  Sadness clouded his eyes. He looked at the house and then at her. "You need to tell him."

  A chill swept over her and her skin goose bumped. "Caleb–"

  "I'm sorry but I don't think I'll be able to keep that promise when you do."

  His skin darkened as his eyes brightened, and his fangs descended. She could see him fighting to keep off the shift but it wasn't easy.

  "You'll need Logan. Because I'm liable to do worse than Griff will."

  "All right," she whispered.

  He looked at the house again then threw down his flannel and slipped off his boots. "I have to run. Now."

  She nodded. "Head north. There're some hills about two miles away."

  Caleb dropped to the ground and looked up at her. His eyes glowed in the moonlight.

  "I love you, sis. And I'm gonna kill whoever did this to you."

  Grabbing Bowgie's collar she backed away as Caleb's bones broke and his body shifted. His gaze never left hers and he didn't let out a single sound. Within a minute he shook off his pants and darted out of the yard and into the night.

  Dakota walked into her bedroom and opened her dresser drawer. Griffin was already getting out of the shower.

  He walked up behind her and kissed her neck. "Hey babe."

  She closed her eyes. She had to tell him. If she didn't she feared Caleb wouldn't be able to hold it in.

  "Hey," she turned and hugged him. Now was not the time. He was on his way to work. She'd been wrong about wanting his family around when she told him though. After seeing Caleb's reaction, she couldn't chance having them all there. A raging Griffin was one thing. An entire Alpha family, running around Boise, was something completely different. She needed to wait until after the full moon. Then she would tell him. Three days. She just had to make it through three days.

  "So." He pulled his underwear from the dresser. "This weekend is Art in the Park and dad has a few things to do while in town so they thought they might stick around and go with us. You know how my mom loves to see the Native American artwork and stuff."

  She nodded. "Sure." It would be a good distraction.

  He grabbed his uniform pants and pulled them on. "Are you okay with going to a park? They'll be lots of people and I know you said that really isn't your thing."

  "I'll be fine with everyone else there." She wrapped her arms around herself.

  He picked up his shirt and stopped. "You look pale. Are you sure you're okay? If you hit your head too hard it could aggravate your concussion. Maybe I should take you in and have you looked at."

  "I'm all right. Really."

  He walked closer and studied her face. "I didn't even think of that. I'm so sorry. It was stupid of me."

  "Griff. I'm fine. I don't even have a headache. You go to work and I'm going to get some sleep."

  "Maybe I should have Caleb sleep on the floor. Just in case."

  "Griffin, seriously? No. I'm fine. And your entire family will be in the next two rooms. Hell, last week you were on the couch. There is no way I'm gonna make Caleb sleep on the floor. Besides, I have Bowgie."

  He studied her face and nodded. "You're right. I'm going to talk to Caleb anyway though."

  "He's gone for a run," she blurted.

  "A run?"

  She tried hard to keep her anxiety from showing. "Yeah. He said he was still riled up and wanted to go for a run. He'll be back in thirty minutes or so."

  Griffin's expression darkened.

  "Don't worry. I told him how to get up toward Bogus Basin. It's only two miles. He'll be fine."

  Griffin's work phone buzzed.

  She needed to get him out of the house before she burst like a main line pipe and spewed everything.

  "Go. You're gonna be late. You've already taken off too much time."

  "What are they going to do, fire me? They need me too much."

  "Even so. You need to go."

  He kissed her then threw on his shirt and grabbed his bag. "I'll see you tomorrow night."

  "I'll be here."

  "Do you need the car?"

  "Nah, I'll have your mom drive me to the gym tomorrow."

  He nodded. "I love you."

  She gave him a small wave. "I love you too."

  He blew her a kiss and headed out the door. Dakota turned and looked out the window. Caleb's clothes still lay in the yard.

  Three days. She just had to wait three days.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Griffin dragged himself home, exhausted but knowing he had a long night ahead of him. He opened the front door and was greeted by the smell of Indian Fry Bread and Three Sister Soup.

  "Look who’s finally home," said his mom.

  He smiled and his body relaxed. "Where is everyone?"

  "Dad took Caleb and Dakota out to find a place to shift about an hour ago. I'm waiting for you to eat and then we'll head up and join them. Logan is working on his laptop."

  His mother's expression remained passive but her eyes were troubled.

  "What's wrong?"

  She fiddled with her necklace. "I'm not sure."

  "Is it Dakota?" His stomach clenched.

  "Maybe."

  He sat heavily on the couch. "Tell me."

  She shook her head. "Something is wrong. I can't put my finger on it but you need to talk to her."

  "We agreed to not talk about the past."

  "I'm sure you did but that's not going to work, Griffin. Something is tearing her up inside and she needs you to help her shoulder the burden."

  He remembered her panic when they'd sparred and then her reaction when he found her on the bus. His wolf had been trying to tell him for a week there was something wrong but he didn't want to believe it.

  He looked at his mom, barely able to contain his fear. "What if it's bad? Something I can't handle."

  "That's BS. You are her mate. You two are bonded. If it’s something she can deal with on her own, you sure as hell can man up and help her."

  Suck it up soldier. He nodded and rubbed his face. "I just don't want to lose her again."

  His mother patted his knee. "Then you better find out what's going on. If you don't, you'll lose her for sure."

  "Dad called." Logan walked into the room. "He found a great spot up near the ski resort."

  "Come on." His mother stood. "Let's get some food in you and then go up and be together as a family."

  An hour later they pulle
d into the parking lot of the Bogus Basin Ski Resort, next to Jeremiah's SUV.

  Griffin got out of the Jeep and breathed in the night air. His wolf howled, knowing he’d soon be free.

  "Over there." Logan pointed.

  They jogged over to the others, who'd already stripped down to their underwear.

  "Hey man." Griffin walked up to Caleb and gave him a one-armed hug. Caleb didn't return the gesture. His entire body was tense. "You okay?"

  Caleb nodded but said nothing.

  "Hey babe." He hugged Dakota and then kissed her. "What's wrong with Caleb?" he whispered.

  She shrugged and gave him a half–hearted smile.

  Anxiety raced over him. "We need to talk."

  Her eyes told him she knew exactly what he meant. She nodded. "Not now.

  Tomorrow. After Art in the Park."

  "All right," said his father. "We are finally together again, as a family. Running tonight will once again solidify our bonds. Bonds that can never be broken. Not by human laws. Not even by death. We welcome back our daughter, Dakota, and offer her the protection of our family and of our whole pack."

  Griffin stripped off his shirt and wrapped his arms around Dakota's waist, feeling her warm back against his skin.

  "With this full moon we merge our two halves. And with this merging we become one pack."

  Logan and his mom took off their clothes and the six of them stood in the moonlight and joined hands.

  His father gave a prayer to the Great Spirit wolf and then each of them got down on all fours.

  Griffin's wolf tore through him so fast the pain was no more than a blur. Like being shoved through a meat grinder and run over by a truck at the same time, his body twisted and broke, then rebuilt. His eyes stayed on Dakota the whole time. When the shift completed his father howled, followed by his mother, Logan then Caleb, Griffin and finally Dakota.

  "All right. I've skied Bogus, but I've never run it. Let's see who can make it to the top first." Logan took off up the hill, followed by their father.

  "Come on boys, are you going to let them beat you?" asked his mother. "And Dakota, I think it's high time you and I beat them all, don't you?"

  Dakota's tail swished as she trotted up by his mom. "Absolutely."

  The family ran all night but close to dawn they shifted and headed back to their cars. Logan drove the Jeep because Griffin could barely keep his eyes open.

  When they got back to the house Griffin didn't even shower before plopping into bed. Dakota got in with him and wrapped her arms around his waist.

  "Babe, I would love to go three rounds of hot sex with you right now but I don't have the energy."

  She kissed his back. "That's fine. I'm tired myself. Plus, your parents and brothers are right next door."

  He rolled on his back and wrapped his arm around her. His mind told him they should talk. He wanted to clear the air between them sooner, rather than later, but they were going to Art in the Park in less than eight hours. He needed to get some sleep.

  He yawned and pulled her close, smelling the fresh air in her hair. He smiled. No matter what it was, everything was going to be just fine.

  ***

  Dakota tossed and turned until everyone finally got up and they headed to the park. Caleb walked a few paces behind everyone else, looking like he was ready to rip out throats. As they walked from vendor to vendor, checking out the jewelry, paintings, sculptures, handmade baby clothes, and more Dakota caught Mary glancing at her, like she was a kicked puppy.

  Even Griffin seemed tense as he hung back with Caleb, trying to talk to him. Thankfully, both Jeremiah and Logan seemed blissfully ignorant; otherwise she'd have an entire family of Alphas to keep calm.

  "You just let me know if you start feeling anxious and we'll go right home, okay?" Griffin kissed her hair.

  She smiled and stopped to look at a vendor selling crystal jewelry and tried to decide the best way to tell Griff. No matter how she did it, he was going to blame himself, and possibly go ballistic.

  He walked over to talk to Caleb.

  "No. We need to get the brief together for Monday morning." Logan walked up alongside her and stopped. "All right. I'll be back tomorrow. Have it on my desk before I get there." He hung up his phone and pointed to a lapis necklace.

  "That's pretty."

  She ran her fingers over it and looked at the price tag. Nope. Too much for her bank account. "Yup."

  "You want it?" he asked.

  "Thanks Logan, but I'm good." She continued on then looked over at him and laughed.

  "What?" he asked.

  "I just remember the first time I met you. I was what? Fifteen? And you were twenty? Twenty-one? Singing in Danny Brown's garage band. What did you guys call yourselves?"

  "Grizzle Punks."

  "That's right. Man, if anyone had ever told me you'd become a high priced attorney, who only wore two thousand dollar suits, I'd have told them they needed to get their heads shrunk."

  He smiled. "That was quite a while ago. Almost ten years."

  She wrapped her arms around herself and chewed her bottom lip. "Logan, I need your help."

  He looked at her a moment and crossed his arms. "Does this have to do with the stuff you need to tell Griff?"

  She sighed. "You know?"

  "I know that Caleb must know because he's ready to kill someone. And both Griff and Mom are on edge. I heard her talking to him last night. So I figure, whatever it is, it's not good. But he loves you— loves you more than anything and he doesn't want to lose you. So whatever you have to tell him, he'll be okay with it."

  "I'm more worried about what he and Caleb will get themselves into after I tell him."

  He stared at her for a minute. "Is this like with Franny?"

  She breathed deep. "Just promise me that you'll be here and you won't let them do anything stupid."

  "I'll do my best."

  It was all she could ask for.

  Logan slung his arm over her shoulder as they walked and she stiffened at the contact. Logan wasn't a hugger. "We're gonna take care of you guys. No matter what."

  She nodded. "Thanks. We're gonna need it."

  "Oooh look at the dream catcher." Mary pulled Jeremiah over to a table set up with beautiful dream catchers. "You guys keep going. I'm going to be a few minutes."

  "Man I'm starved." Griffin approached and took her hand in his.

  She pressed as close to him as possible and Logan dropped back with Caleb.

  Griffin looked over his shoulder. "Are you guys hungry? They have buffalo burgers at that food truck."

  "I could eat," Logan said.

  "I'm good." Caleb scrutinized every person that passed them.

  "Yeah, sure you are." Griffin laughed.

  "You always say that," Logan said. "And then you proceed to eat everyone else's food. Get him the biggest burger, fries, and soda they have."

  Griffin tugged her forward. "Come on."

  "We're gonna hit the bathroom," Logan called.

  She got in line with Griffin and stared at the board on the red truck. Just knowing that, in a couple hours she would finally spill her secret, had her so nervous she'd lost her appetite.

  "What do you want?" Griff wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her head.

  "I think just a soda."

  He nipped at her neck. "You're gonna need to eat more than that if you want to keep your energy up for what I have planned tonight." He ran his tongue down her throat, sending a shiver through her.

  "Well, then the caffeine will be exactly what I need."

  "Have you seen anything you like?" he asked. "I saw you looking at that necklace with Logan."

  "Nothing worth spending money on. I have everything I need." She squeezed his arm as butterflies fluttered in her stomach.

  They moved to the front of the line and Griffin ordered six hamburgers, four fries, and four drinks. He paid and they waited for their food.

  "Logan and Caleb better get back quick or we won't h
ave enough hands to carry all this stuff."

  She nodded.

  The hamburgers arrived in a box. "The condiments are over there." The cashier pointed.

  "I'll take them," she said. "You get the rest."

  Griffin broke into a wide grin. "What do you think I am? An octopus shifter?"

  She laughed and grabbed the box of burgers.

  "You know what goes on them?" he asked.

  "Yup." She turned and he smacked her butt as she walked away, making her mood lighten.

  Twenty feet away, at the small condiment bar, she took the burgers out one by one and put pickles, lettuce, tomatoes, ketchup, onions, and mustard on the appropriate burgers. She loaded them back into the box and turned back toward the burger truck.

  "Hey Cody."

  Her heart stopped and every muscle in her body froze. A good looking guy in a wife beater and low slung jeans looked at her with a pair of bright blue eyes that she would never forget.

  "Long time no see. You look great. What's it been a year? Two years?" he asked.

  Dakota stared, unable to move. The urge to relieve herself was strong but she refused to give in.

  "We've really missed you at the parties." He smiled at her, like they'd been friends all their lives.

  A memory surfaced. His face looming over her.

  "You're so beautiful."

  The blood drained from her head, all the way to her toes, and her limbs shook. Her wolf went wild with the desire to shift— to tear him apart.

  His eyebrows furrowed. "Hey are you okay?" He reached for her and her mind snapped into action. She dropped the box and slammed her palm into his chest.

  "Don't touch me." The words were barely a whisper. Her nails lengthened and her heart thundered.

  "Hey, Dakota. Is there a problem here?" Caleb and Logan walked up.

  Caleb put his hand on her shoulder. She shook so hard she almost fell into his arms.

  "Dakota?" Caleb searched her face, but she couldn't speak.

  "Hey. It was good seeing you Cody. I'll see ya around." He backed up and start to walk off.

  Caleb's grip tightened on her shoulder. "Is that him?"

  Tears streamed from her eyes and another swell of terror raced over her skin as her teeth lengthened.