Rescued by the Wolf (Other World Series Book Four)

by Ramona Gray

  Her spot was immediately filled by a young shifter with black hair and light blue eyes. He grinned happily at Sara.

  “Hello, human. I mean – Sara.”

  “Hello, Davin.” Sara returned his smile. “How are you this evening?”

  “Very well, and you?”

  “I’m good, thank you.”

  A gust of cold wind blew and she shivered lightly. Davin draped his arm across her shoulders and tugged her against him. “I will keep you warm, Sara.”

  She shifted away from him slightly. “Oh, that’s fine, I – “

  “I don’t mind,” he interrupted. “Do you have enough firewood for your cabin?”

  “We do. Thank you again for chopping the wood for us. It’s very kind of you.”

  He squeezed her shoulder and she tried not to wince as he said, “It is my pleasure. I know that humans are fragile.”

  “Aye, they are, Davin. You’re hurting the young Sara.” Kane was still standing behind them and Sara gave him a grateful look as Davin loosened his grip.

  “I’m sorry, human,” he said with a guilty look at Kane.

  “That’s all right,” she replied.

  “Join your friends, Davin. I wish to speak to Sara,” Kane said.

  “I am keeping her warm, my alpha,” the young shifter protested.

  Kane stared sternly at him. “Deena will keep her warm. Go on, Davin.”

  He hesitated a moment longer. His cheeks flushed a dull red when Kane growled lightly under his breath, and he stood reluctantly. “I will speak with you later, Sara.”

  “Sure.” She smiled cheerfully at him and he grinned back delightedly before trudging past the fire to sit with the other young shifters.

  Kane sat down with a soft grunt as Deena put her arm around Sara and stroked her curls. She leaned against the female shifter, grateful for her heat, as Deena said, “You are precious to him.”

  Sara didn’t reply and Kane glanced at her. “Deena is right. Davin has a crush on you.”

  “I know,” Sara said quietly.

  Reese joined them and sat on Kane’s lap. “What are you guys talking about?”

  “Hello, flower,” Deena said.

  Reese smiled at Deena, “Hello, Deena.”

  “We are discussing Davin’s crush on Sara,” Kane said bluntly.

  Sara blushed softly and Reese tapped Kane on the back. “Did you ask Sara if she wanted to talk about it?”

  “No,” Kane said. “Should I have?”

  “Yes, my love.”

  Kane stared at Sara. “Do you wish to speak with me about this, Sara?”

  “Oh, um, sure I guess,” Sara said. She didn’t actually want to talk about it but it seemed rude to say so.

  “He would be a good mate for you,” Kane said. “He is your age and I do not believe he has mated yet. It would be easy enough for you to teach him gentleness when mating.”

  Sara’s blush deepened and Reese whacked Kane gently on the back. “What Kane is trying to say, honey, is that Davin is a very sweet boy and would treat you well.”

  “He’s been very nice to me,” Sara said.

  “Do you wish to mate with him?” Kane asked bluntly.

  “Kane!” Reese whacked him again before smiling at Sara. “Are you interested in dating Davin?”

  “He won’t be interested when he finds out that I am, uh, inexperienced.” Sara was blushing so hard she could feel sweat breaking out on her forehead.

  “Why do you say that?” Reese asked curiously.

  “Well, because shifters like their mates to have experience in the, you know, bedroom,” Sara said.

  “What?” Reese gave her an odd look.

  “Is it different because he hasn’t mated before?” Sara asked.

  Both Kane and Reese were looking at her like she had lost her mind and she squirmed uncomfortably against Deena. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

  “Why do you think shifters want mates with experience?” Reese asked. “Shifters don’t care about that sort of thing.” She glanced at Kane. “Do they?”

  He shrugged. “Perhaps some do but I know of no shifter in our pack who cares whether their mate is experienced in sex.”

  “No, that’s not true,” Sara protested. “Radek told me that shifters only want to sleep with women who have experience. It’s why he would not take my virginity in exchange for his protection. It is why you found us the, uh, way you did – he was teaching me what to do so I could find a mate in your pack.”

  Reese snorted loudly. “I know Radek is your cousin, Kane, but the minute he gets back I’m ripping him a new one for lying to Sara.”

  “It isn’t true?” Sara whispered.

  “No, young Sara, it is not,” Kane said.

  “Why would he lie to me?”

  Kane sighed. “Probably because his wolf wishes to mate with you and his human side does not know how to handle it.”

  Sara squeezed her hands together in her lap and stared into the flames as Deena stroked her hair again.

  Kane sighed loudly. “When Radek returns I will speak to him about lying to you, Sara.”

  “No, don’t. It doesn’t matter,” she said quickly. “I don’t care whether he lies to me or not.”

  “Then the matter is finished.” Kane smiled at Reese who rolled her eyes.

  “Are you interested in mating with Davin then?” Kane asked.

  “Kane.” Reese gave him an exasperated look and the shifter stared at her in bewilderment.

  “It’s fine, Reese,” Sara said quietly. “I do not know if I am interested in him or not. He’s very kind and handsome but…”

  She trailed off and Kane frowned. “But what?”

  “No spark,” Reese said.

  Sara nodded as Kane shrugged. “Sometimes it takes a little longer for an attraction to grow. Give Davin a chance, young Sara.”

  Sara didn’t reply and Reese touched her shoulder gently. “Radek isn’t the right choice for you, honey.”

  “I know that,” she said quickly.

  “It is only his wolf who desires you,” Kane said.

  “I know,” she said a bit crossly before scowling at the shifter. “He left because of me.”

  “Aye, he did,” Kane said.

  Sara flinched and Reese frowned at Kane before touching her shoulder again. “Don’t feel bad, Sara. Radek is a grown man and if he chooses to run away rather than deal with his issues, that’s not your fault.”

  “Raina misses him terrible,” Sara said guiltily. “I – I think I should leave.”

  “No,” Reese said immediately. “You can’t go out on your own.”

  “I could go to the human village,” Sara said. “As long as I’m here, Radek won’t return and Raina is without her brother. It isn’t safe for Radek out in the forest, and I couldn’t live with myself if Radek died and Raina lost him the way I lost my brother.”

  “Kane will find Radek tomorrow and speak to him,” Reese said. “He will convince him to return to Raina and to the pack. Don’t worry, honey. We’ll fix this. Right, Kane?”

  Kane remained silent and she pinched him discreetly on the back. “Right, Kane?”

  “Aye, my love,” he said with a remarkable lack of conviction.

  * * *

  He trotted into the clearing as the cold light of dawn peeked over the trees. He sniffed at the ring of stones in the middle, the fire had died long ago, as the wind ruffled his fur. He loped to his cabin and stopped to stare briefly at his alpha’s cabin before shifting to his human form. The wind bit at his flesh and he stepped inside his home, closing the door softly behind him. The cabin was oddly warm, Flames still flickered in the fireplace and he frowned at the wood stacked neatly beside the hearth.

  Why would Raina have a fire going, he wondered as he crouched naked in front of it. It was cold but normally they just slept in their wolf forms. It was especially odd that she would keep a fire going all night.

  The door to his parents’ bedroom opened and his eyes
widened when Sara stepped out into the main room. She yawned and stretched and his eyes dropped to the hem of her shirt as it rose up. She was wearing one of his shirts, he realized, and his wolf made a soft growl of happiness at the sight of her slender, pale thighs.

  She ran a hand through her hair. The curls were a mass of bedhead craziness and she yawned again before heading toward the kitchen. Although the kitchen and living space were one open room, she hadn’t seen him. He stayed where he was as she filled a pot with water from the bucket on the counter, humming softly to herself as she did.

  Sara added a bit more water to the pot. She had woken early this morning and couldn’t fall back asleep. Like usual, her mind had turned to Radek and she had tossed and turned for nearly an hour while her mind worried incessantly about him.

  Stop worrying, Sara. Kane will find him today and bring him back. He’s fine.

  Yes, he probably was, but it hadn’t helped her to sleep and she had finally decided to just get up and make tea. She turned toward the fireplace and at the sight of Radek standing naked by the fire, dropped the pot. It fell to the floor with a loud clatter and water splashed her feet and legs. It dripped down her calves as she stared wide-eyed at the naked shifter.

  “Radek?” She whispered.

  Without speaking, he stalked into his bedroom and slammed the door behind him. She stared at the water and pot on the floor, wondering for a moment if she was simply dreaming. The idea was shattered when Radek’s door whipped open and he reappeared wearing a pair of pants.

  He stood in front of her and she studied his face as he watched her silently. Confusion and anger flickered across it and for just a moment, a flicker of lust. He took a step back. “What are you doing in my home?”

  “Radek, you’re back,” she whispered.

  “What are you doing in my home, Sara?” He repeated.

  “I – Radek, where have you been? Do you know how worried I’ve been about you?” She asked.

  He leaned forward and inhaled deeply, his eyes dropping to her breasts. She flushed, feeling that familiar tingle of lust, and he stiffened before stepping toward her.

  “Tell me why you’re here and why you were sleeping in my parents’ room,” he said in a soft voice.

  “She’s here because you left me alone.”

  Raina had emerged from her bedroom. Radek’s face lit up and he turned toward his sister. “Raina!”

  He started toward her and she held her hands up and scowled at him. “Don’t, Radek.”

  “Raina? What’s wrong?” He asked.

  “What’s wrong? What’s wrong?” She shouted. “You left me for a moon, Radek! An entire moon! I was all alone and you didn’t even care!”

  “Raina, I do care.” Radek said in confusion. “I didn’t mean – “

  “No you don’t!” Raina shouted. “If you cared about me you wouldn’t have left me all alone.”

  “You weren’t alone,” Radek protested. “You had Kane and Uncle and the entire pack.”

  “It isn’t the same! I would have spent every evening alone in this stupid cabin if it had not been for the human,” Raina snapped. “Don’t you dare be angry with her for staying in mama’s and papa’s room! At least she has been here for me unlike my own brother!”

  “Raina, I’m sorry,” Radek said.

  “It’s too late for being sorry!” She shouted. “You keep leaving me over and over, Radek, and it isn’t fair! I hate you!”

  “Raina, don’t say that.” Radek gave her an anguished look and reached for her. She shoved him in the chest, burst into tears, and ran to her room. She slammed the door and Radek ran his hands through his hair before turning and staring at Sara.

  “Radek, I’m sorry,” she said quietly. “Raina didn’t mean that. She loves you very much, she’s just upset.”

  “Aye,” he muttered.

  The look on his face was breaking Sara’s heart and she took a hesitant step toward him. He flinched and backed away, disappearing into his bedroom and shutting the door quietly behind him.

  * * *

  “Abby, wait up!”

  Reese jogged from her cabin toward Abby. “Why are you up so early?”

  Abby grinned at her. “I haven’t actually gone to bed yet. Val just went into his daysleep. I’m going to join him shortly, I just wanted to get a bit of sunshine.”

  “It must be difficult to spend most of your time in the darkness,” Reese said.

  Abby shrugged. “It’s not as bad as you think. When I was eighteen my foster parents kicked me out, and I ended up working the night shift at this creepy factory that made plastic containers for nearly a year. So I have some experience being up all night.”

  “I’m not sure that I could do it,” Reese said.

  “You get used to it,” Abby said. “Why are you up so early?”

  “I woke up early and thought I’d check on Asher. He’s been going to his cabin early every evening for the last few nights and that’s not like him. He’s usually so social with the pack. I’m a bit worried about him. I know he’s an early riser so I thought I’d have breakfast with him and see if there was anything bothering him.”

  “That’s nice of you,” Abby said. She followed Reese toward Asher’s cabin. “Asher is Kane’s uncle, right?”

  “Yes.” Reese knocked on Asher’s door before opening it. “Asher? Are you awake? I thought we could have – oh my God!”

  Abby’s mouth dropped open and Reese turned bright red. She slammed the door shut and stared at Abby. “Did you – ?”

  “Yes,” Abby said solemnly.

  “Was Maria…”

  Reese trailed off and stared blankly at Abigail.

  “Riding him like a pony?” Abby suggested.

  “Yeah.”

  “Yep, she was.”

  “Oh my God,” Reese repeated. “I guess I know why he’s been retiring early.”

  The two women stared at each other before bursting into simultaneous giggles.

  “Shh!” Reese said frantically. “They’ll hear us! Come on.”

  They hurried away from the cabin, both of them still giggling, as Kane came out of their cabin.

  “What’s so funny, humans?” He asked.

  “Uh, nothing,” Reese said.

  “Did you check on Uncle? I thought you were having breakfast with him.”

  “He’s busy right now,” Reese replied.

  “Busy doing what?”

  Reese hesitated and Abby, a wicked grin on her face, said, “Maria.”

  “Maria? What do you…” He trailed off and a small smile crossed his face. “My advice about the rocks worked.”

  “You gave your uncle dating advice?” Reese laughed.

  “Aye, and it was good advice,” Kane said smugly.

  “Yes, Maria loved the small, shiny rocks,” Abby snickered.

  “Shiny rocks?” Reese gave her a puzzled look and Abby burst into laughter again.

  “I forgot to tell you! A few weeks ago, Asher came to see Maria and gave her some rocks because – “

  The door to Radek’s and Raina’s cabin opened and Sara slipped out into the cold. Her face was pale and Abby frowned as she walked slowly toward them.

  “Sara? What’s wrong, honey?”

  “Radek is back,” she said quietly. “Raina was very angry with him and said that she hated him. The look on his face, Abby, it was so awful. Now Raina won’t come out of her room – I could hear her crying.”

  Abby hugged her as Reese glanced at Kane. “You need to speak with him, Kane, and I’ll speak with Raina.”

  “Aye,” Kane sighed.

  “He’s in his room. I knocked on his door but he wouldn’t come out,” Sara said. “I think you should give him a bit of space.”

  Kane studied her carefully before nodding. “Perhaps you are right, little one.”

  Chapter 15

  “Thinking of leaving again, cousin?”

  Kane joined Radek at the edge of the forest. The younger shifter was leaning agai
nst a tree staring moodily into the woods and he glanced at Kane before shaking his head.

  “No.”

  “Good.” Kane clapped him on the back. “You’ve been missed, Radek.”

  He laughed bitterly. “Have I? Raina hates me and will not speak to me.”

  “Aye, I know. Reese is speaking to her now in our cabin. She will help to smooth things over with your sister.”

  “I’m not so sure about that. I have never seen Raina so angry before.”

  “Can you blame her? You left her for a moon, Radek.”

  “I should not have done that. I know that now. But I needed time by myself to think, to clear my head, and figure out what to do in regards to the humans living in our pack.”

  “And have you?” Kane asked.

  “Aye,” Radek replied. “I realize now that not all humans are like the ones who tortured me as a pup. Your mate and the others do not deserve to be treated the way I have done. I will do better from now on, my alpha. I promise you.”

  “And the young Sara?”

  “What about her?” Radek asked.

  “Will you take her as your mate?”

  “Of course not. My time alone brought me clarity in many ways and my desire to mate with her has passed.”

  “Has it?” Kane said softly.

  “Aye, it has,” Radek said. “In fact, it does not bother me that she lives in my home. She can continue to stay there for as long as she likes.”

  “That’s generous of you, Radek, but not necessary,” Kane said.

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean that the young Sara has already been offered a new place to stay.”

  “With who?” Radek asked.

  “Young Davin has opened his home to her.”

  Kane watched as anger flickered across Radek’s face. “His cabin only has one bed.”

  “Aye, that’s true,” Kane said briefly.

  Radek scowled at Kane. “Is she fucking him?”

  “That is none of my business, nor is it any of yours. Besides, you are over your attraction to the human, remember? What do you care who she fucks?”