He’d even given her a tour of his woodshed earlier in the week. Shown her the beautiful furniture and bowls he made out of wood he harvested from their land. He had quite an elaborate setup, with all kinds of tools she didn’t know the names of. The space had smelled wonderful, woodsy and cozy. There was a small woodstove in the corner of the room and a hint of smoke permeated the room, left over from the colder days of winter.
She’d sat on a stool and watched him as he’d used some of those tools to make a bowl out of a chunk of wood. The process had taken hours and he still wasn’t quite finished yet. It amazed her how content she’d been to simply sip coffee and watch him work. It was obvious how much he enjoyed making things. It was in the way his hands stroked over the smooth wood of the bowl he’d created from a large piece of maple.
Cherise shivered at the memory. She knew exactly what it felt like to have his hands running over her body. She looked around, but no one seemed to notice her momentary lapse of attention.
Bringing her focus back to the present, she rested her chin on her palms as she leaned her elbows on the kitchen island at Gwen’s place. The three women were hanging out and Anny was just putting three loaves of cinnamon-raisin bread in the oven. The way all the men ate, there wouldn’t be any left by the end of the day.
“Smells good.” Gwen inhaled deeply. “I love cinnamon.”
Anny shut the oven door, flipped her dark braid over her shoulder and reached for her coffee mug. “It’s a new recipe, so I hope it turns out okay.” She turned to Cherise, a serious expression on her face. “You haven’t asked any questions the past week, none at all. Surely you must have some. I know I had a million when I first came here.”
Cherise had wondered how long it would be before she got questioned about her intentions. They’d all been cautious around her while she’d been recovering and getting her strength back.
“She doesn’t ask questions because she doesn’t want to get attached. Isn’t that right?” Gwen was very astute, too astute for Cherise’s comfort.
“But she’s already attached,” Anny asserted. “She and Cole are sharing a bed every night.” The corners of her mouth twitched. “And I know they’re doing more than sleeping in there.”
Gwen snorted and put her hand over her mouth to keep from spewing her coffee.
“She is standing right here and can here you.” Cherise was annoyed by the way they were talking about her as if she wasn’t here. But she knew they were right, understood what they were getting at. She was here, but she wasn’t here. Not really. “Okay, I get your point.”
Anny slid onto one of the stools and rested her forearms on the counter. “Seriously though, why wouldn’t you stay here? Cole certainly wants you to.”
Cherise felt her face flush and it had nothing to do with the heat from the oven. Cole made no secret of the fact he liked her in his bed. He made love to her at least twice a day, sometimes more. Outside of bed, she was coming to like the man even more.
In the hours she’d spent with him in his workshop, she’d learned he was patient yet driven. Talented too. A true artist. He’d made the coffee table in his home and it was a thing of beauty, the wood polished to show the grain to best advantage. He worked with the wood, leaving some of the bark, using the knots as part of the decoration.
Cole was not only patient, he was also kind and loving. Everything a woman could want in a mate.
“Cherise.” Gwen touched her on the shoulder, her blue eyes filled with compassion. “You okay?”
She shook her head. “No, I’m not.” She owed this pack so much. More than she could ever repay. Cole had saved her life, but they’d given her hope, friendship and so much more. Heck, even the clothes she wore were from them. Gwen had made a quick trip into town and come home with new jeans and tops, socks and underwear for Cherise, making sure she had something to wear other than Cole’s shirts when she was ready to leave his home and venture outside again.
Cherise traced the edge of her mug with her index finger. “I have an entire pack that wants to kill me.”
Gwen shrugged. “So do I.” She pointed at Anny. “So does she, for that matter.”
Cherise stilled. “What do you mean?” Who would want to harm them? They were werewolves, able to shift and breed more werewolves. Any pack would welcome them.
“We were both human until a short while ago.” When Cherise’s jaw dropped, Gwen nodded before she continued. “We were both converted.”
“You could have died.” Cherise was flabbergasted. “What were your mates thinking?” She’d never known of anyone who survived a conversion attempt. It was the stuff of myth and legend. And here were two women who had. She was in awe of their strength.
Anny shook her head. “It wasn’t their fault.”
Gwen swung around on her stool so she was facing Cherise. “You see, Jacque and the others used to belong to a pack down in Louisiana. They broke away and started their own pack up here on land Jacque had purchased years back.”
“Their former pack didn’t like the idea of them leaving,” Cherise stated. She knew it was never easy when a pack split. She’d wondered why this pack was so small with no older wolves or children. But she hadn’t wanted to pry, hadn’t wanted to ask too many questions.
“That’s putting it mildly.” Gwen sighed. “No, the alpha is Jacque’s father, and he’s a mean son of a bitch. Long story short, Jacque and the others kidnapped me when they feared I might be in danger from their former pack. They tried to protect me, but Pierre LaForge attacked me, bit me and left me for dead. The conversion almost killed me, but the men got me through it.”
“Amazing.” She looked at Anny, who shrugged.
“My story is a bit different, but the point is, we both know what it’s like to have another pack want you dead. It’s been quiet around her for a few months now, but we don’t think Pierre will forgive his sons or the others for leaving, or us for surviving their attacks.”
“But don’t you see.” Cherise was even more determined than ever to leave now. “I can’t bring the wrath of another pack down on you. Not with you already under such a threat.” She now understood this pack a lot better, why they’d been so open and kind to her. And also why they were so security conscious. They were all outcasts of one kind or another, trying to forge a better life for themselves.
She wondered why Cole hadn’t told her any of this, but knew it was her own fault. Any time he tried to talk to her about anything beyond the most mundane, she changed the subject or got his attention off it by making love with him.
She rubbed her hand over her face, feeling tired and confused. Why couldn’t life be easy just for once?
The kitchen door opened and Louis walked in. He looked a lot like his older brother, but he was quieter. Cherise knew he had a thing for Gwen, but he never made any overt moves toward her. It was in the way he stared at her, interacted with her. Maybe Cherise was totally wrong about that, but she didn’t think so.
He paused and stared at them cautiously, as though he’d caught the tension in the room. “Everything okay?” His dark-brown eyes narrowed and his entire body tensed.
Gwen smiled at him. “Everything is fine. All quiet out there?”
Louis nodded but didn’t relax as he headed to the coffeepot. He poured himself a mug and took a large sip. “It’s all good. Jacque is making another sweep.” He sniffed the air. “Is that cinnamon?”
“New recipe,” Anny told him. She checked her watch. “It will be done in time for supper. Gator’s got a vat of beef stew simmering at our place.”
“What about dessert?”
Cherise barely stifled a laugh at the male wolf. They did like to eat.
Anny patted his arm. “Don’t worry. I made two chocolate cakes this morning. If Gator hasn’t eaten them, there will be plenty for supper.”
Louis scowled. “I’ll kill him if he’s taken as much as a bite out of either one of them. I love your chocolate cake.”
There was a time
when Cherise would have tensed at such a statement. Now she felt nothing but amusement. The ties between these men were strong and true. Louis would no more hurt Gator than he’d cut off his own hand.
Loyalty. This pack had it in spades. The only other example of this kind of loyalty she’d seen had been in her own small family. Her parents had been a shining example. When you loved someone you did whatever it took to keep them safe.
Cherise watched Gwen tease a smile out of Louis while Anny laughed. Cole belonged here with these people and she was a danger to them all.
She loved Cole. She might not be able to shift into a wolf, but her instincts were still there. They were not as sharp as a normal werewolf’s, but they were still a part of her very DNA. She’d been attracted to Cole from the beginning, drawn to his strength and his devotion to his pack and to the code of honor he lived by. Not to mention the sexual pull she felt whenever he was near.
She’d never experienced anything like it before in her life. Her mother had warned her it would happen, but Cherise hadn’t believed her, hadn’t for one moment thought she’d find the one wolf that was meant to be her mate.
That was fairly rare these days. Packs kept to themselves. As a result, the potential pool for mates was small, and they often mated without being true mates. Maybe that’s why their numbers were dwindling. With each generation, there were fewer and fewer children born to them. And many were venturing out among the human world and their aggressive natures were getting them killed.
Keith and his buddies were a prime example. If they’d stayed back in Kentucky, they’d still be alive.
Somehow she’d stumbled across her true mate. For the first time in her life, she really felt the loss of her wolf. Oh, she’d always felt different, as though there was a hole in her heart, something vital missing in her soul. But now she felt like less of a woman. Cole needed a female who could shift and run with him, who could bear his children and not have to worry about them being cursed with their mother’s problem.
Cherise raked her fingers through her hair. The walls of the cabin were suddenly closing in around her. She stood and headed toward the door.
“Where are you going?” Louis was in front of her, blocking her path.
“Out. I need some fresh air.” She went to step around him, but he moved with her. She stopped and put her hands on her hips. “You need to get out of my way.”
“I’ll go with you.”
She knew it was a compromise, but she didn’t care. Cherise needed to be by herself. After years spent with just her and her mother, it was strange to always be in the company of others. She knew it was partly because Cole didn’t trust her not to run. And he was right not to. But it was also natural for pack members to hang out together.
Cherise ignored him and stalked to the door. When she reached it, she closed her eyes and swallowed hard. God, she was being a bitch. She turned back to the two women who were still seated at the kitchen island watching her. “I’m sorry. I just need some air.”
“It’s okay.” Gwen’s voice was filled with understanding. “We’re here if you need us.”
“Thanks.” She pulled open the door and stepped out onto the porch. The air was crisp but the sun was out. It was a lovely spring day, but the night would close in early and the air would grow colder.
Cherise ignored Louis and wandered down a path in the woods. She had no idea where she was going. She only knew she had to be by herself, had to think. If she was going to get away from this pack, it was going to take some work. Because she didn’t think Cole would ever let her go.
A part of her reveled in the idea that he wanted her with him, wanted her to stay.
Another part knew she couldn’t. Not unless she could find a way to settle her past and end the threat toward her.
She took a deep breath, inhaling the smells of the forest—the new growth of the trees, the more pungent scent of the damp ground, the first wild flowers, the animals. It smelled like home.
Cherise felt determination surge through her. All these years, she’d been content just to survive, but that was no longer enough. Cole and his pack had shown her there was something more, something better than simply surviving—living.
She picked up her pace, walking faster through the trees.
She realized what she and her mother had been doing all these years wasn’t really living at all. They’d never put down roots, never made friends or connections. It was sad when she thought about it.
Surely there was a way she could appease her former pack in Kentucky and get the alpha to simply banish her. She didn’t care if she ever saw any of them again, so that was no hardship. If the death sentence could be lifted, she might have a chance at a life with Cole.
And he was worth the fight.
Funny how it had never occurred to her to confront her former pack for her own sake, but she’d fight them for a chance at a life with Cole. Maybe because for the first time in far too many years, she had hope. In spite of her resolve to remain apart from the Salvation Pack, she’d gradually been pulled into their fold. They were constantly feeding her and including her in their conversations.
She paused by a gurgling brook that meandered through the forest. Across from her, a blue jay took flight. A rabbit froze in place by a shrub, its little nose twitching. She was very aware of Louis stalking silently behind her but was grateful he was leaving her alone and not trying to talk with her. She’d never admit it, but his presence was almost comforting.
Cherise smiled. They were sneaky wolves. She liked that about them. It was nice to spend time with other female wolves. Other than her mother, she hadn’t had contact with another female wolf since she was a teenager.
Friends. She could have friends if she wanted.
And so much more.
Cole.
His name was a talisman, a magical incantation to drive back the darkness that threatened to swamp her. She needed magic. Hell, she’d need a miracle if she was going to return to her former pack and face them down once and for all. She could be walking to her death, but she had to do something. She couldn’t spend the rest of her life looking over her shoulder.
Cherise wanted a chance to truly live, to put down roots and thrive, to be among others of her kind, people who understood and accepted her. It wasn’t much to ask for, yet she might as well be asking for the moon it seemed so impossible. Or at least it had until she’d found the Salvation Pack.
This pack had given her an example of bravery to emulate. Her parents had died protecting her, but at least they’d died trying. She’d run her entire life, doing what her father and then her mother had told her.
It was past time to take responsibility for her own life. And that meant facing down the past.
Louis came alongside her and touched her arm. She closed her eyes and savored the small press of his hand. Wolves were social creatures, affectionate with one another. She’d missed that living among humans. “You okay?” he asked.
She looked up at him and smiled. “Yes, I think I am.” She knew what she had to do now.
He jerked his head toward the left. “We should head back now. Cole will be worried if you’re not at the cabin when he gets there.”
Cherise nodded. The faster they came to trust her, the better chance she had of actually slipping by their defenses. She felt bad about even wanting to try, but there was no choice, not if she wanted a future.
And she did. She wanted to live and laugh and love. With Cole, if he’d still have her when she was done. If she was still alive and if she was still welcome here after betraying their trust.
So many things could go wrong, would probably go wrong.
Maybe she was a fool to try. It would be so easy to simply stay here and let Cole and his pack protect her.
It would also be cowardly.
The only way she could ever be with him was if she could look at herself in the mirror every morning and feel respect for the woman, for the werewolf she was. She might not be able t
o shift, but she had pride and honor. She didn’t need a wolf for that.
She turned and headed back in the direction she’d come from. As she walked, she picked up speed. She wanted to see Cole, needed to see him.
He’d quickly become the most important thing in her life. And it wasn’t just because he’d saved her life. It wasn’t just because of the hot sex either. It was because he was Cole.
Yes, he was bossy and determined to have his own way. He was overprotective and was certain he knew what was best for her. But he also listened to her when she talked. And not only did he truly listen, but he heard what she was saying and always considered her point of view. He could be brutal, yet gentle.
And he was her wolf.
Cherise threw back her head and howled. She began to run, wanting to feel his arms around her, knowing she’d soon have to leave him.
Chapter Twelve
Cole knew his friends were worried about him, but there was nothing he could do to change that. He had questions he needed answers to and plans to make. “What have you found?” Armand had been digging around online this past week, gathering as much information as he could about the Pike County Pack in Kentucky.
“Not a whole hell of a lot.” Armand shut his laptop and set it on the small table next to him. Gator was leaning against the railing, while Cole was sprawled in one of the Adirondack chairs lining the deck that ran the length of the front of their home. The air was cool, but none of them minded. Well, maybe Gator did. He preferred the heat of the South.
“They keep to themselves for the most part,” Armand continued. “The alpha is a Ryan Hatfield, but we already knew that.” Armand leaned back in his chair and propped his bare feet up on the railing. “I’ve found some reports of wolves in the area, but they’re sprinkled throughout the years and no one seems really worried or concerned. They’ve kept a low profile. No major crimes that could be linked to them with any certainty. A few that popped up for me, but not with the local authorities.”
Wolf on the Run: Salvation Pack, Book 3 Page 12
