Wolf from the Past: Salvation Pack, Book 4

by N. J. Walters

  Gator leaned in closer when Cole’s père began to swear. Sylvie gripped the fabric of Gator’s muscle shirt, her anxiety rising. He kissed the top of her head, wanting to comfort her.

  “Pierre said he was going to hunt gator. Not today, but soon. Those were his exact words. I didn’t think much of it until Gator answered the phone tonight. I think Pierre is going to go after him. Your Gator.”

  The phone switched hands again and Corrine came back on the line. “He must know about Sylvie. Why else would he be planning another attack?”

  Gator held out his hand for the phone and Cole reluctantly handed it over. He knew how hard it must be for his friend. Cole loved his parents and they him. It had devastated him to leave them, but they had refused to leave Louisiana. Gator knew their actions had hurt Cole, but now they all understood why the Blanchards had remained behind.

  “Who is missing from the pack?” Gator asked Corrine.

  She paused and had a quick conversation with her husband. “Joseph says that Travis Dubois has been missing of late.” Gator had heard what Joseph had said before Corrine confirmed it.

  Sylvie stiffened against him, letting him know she’d heard as well.

  “He probably saw her with me.” No need to go into more details.

  Joseph took the phone once again. “We must go. This is not safe. Tell Jacque and Louis that their mother is well. Tell my son we love him and take care of yourselves and Sylvie. You will not be able to reach us at this number again. When it is safe, I will call.”

  The line went dead and Gator ended the call. Cole appeared stoic but Gator knew his friend too well and knew he was hurting.

  It was Sylvie who broke the silence. She left Gator’s side and went to stand in front of Cole. “Your parents are good people. The best.”

  Cole gave a jerky nod. “They are.” His friend looked at him. “I fear for their safety.”

  That was Gator’s biggest concern too. “We have to be more careful but not give anything away. If Travis Dubois is out there watching and sees us gearing up for another attack, they might suspect someone tipped us off.” The last thing any of them wanted to do was bring harm to Cole’s parents.

  Armand stroked his hand over Sylvie’s hair. “You okay?”

  She gave a stiff nod. “Yes.”

  “Don’t feel guilty about this, Sylvie.” Cole wrapped both arms around his mate. “My parents have made their own choices. If you weren’t the catalyst for this latest problem, it would be my mate or Armand’s or Jacque’s. Pierre doesn’t need much of an excuse.”

  “But the pack will rally behind this one.” Sylvie’s voice shook. With anger? Grief? Both? Gator wasn’t sure. “A faked death and a runaway mate.” She pulled away from him and Gator reluctantly let her go. She sat on the edge of the bed. “No, this is the one way Pierre can get the majority of the pack on his side, and it’s all my fault.”

  Gator dropped to his knees in front of her, not caring what the others might think of his actions. He took her cold hands in his. “This is not your fault.” He feared she might run if she believed that to be true.”

  “Gator is right.” Cole eased over to stand beside Sylvie. “Pierre can always find a way to manipulate his pack.”

  “He was going to attack sooner or later,” Armand told her. “This is just the latest in a long line of excuses and reasons he’s used.”

  “I think it’s time we let Sylvie get some rest.” Anny tugged on her mate’s arm.

  Cherise picked up her friend’s cue and stroked Cole’s arm. “Let’s go to our room and talk.” Cole silently led Cherise from the room, leaving only Armand and Anny with them.

  Armand hesitated, but Anny was determined. “Bed,” she reminded him.

  Armand leaned down and kissed his sister’s cheek and then allowed his mate to drag him from the room. Anny winked at Gator before she closed the door behind them.

  Even though the room was empty but for the two of them, it seemed smaller, more intimate than moments before. Still kneeling at her feet, Gator rubbed his hands over her thighs. Her legs were bare from the knees down. He wished his hands were touching her skin instead of fabric.

  “Promise me you won’t run.” Gator needed the reassurance from her. “Sylvie?”

  The smile she offered him was filled with sadness. “Where would I go?”

  “That’s not an answer.” He placed both hands on the mattress, caging her in with his bigger body. “Promise me.” Tension invaded every cell in his body. Sylvie was his, belonged with him. How could he protect her if she ran off somewhere alone?

  “Gator—”

  “No.” He cut her off before she could tell him some half-truth. “I will follow you if you run. Then neither of us will have the protection of the pack.”

  She frowned at him. “That’s blackmail.”

  “Oui.”

  Surprised widened her expressive brown eyes. “You don’t deny it?”

  He shrugged. “Why should I? It’s the truth.”

  “Why? Why does it matter so much? Is it because I’m Armand’s sister?”

  “Partly.” He wouldn’t lie to her, ever. He cupped her precious face and leaned in close until they were practically nose to nose. “It also matters because you make my heart beat and my soul howl with need.”

  Gator knew it was too soon, knew he was pressuring her, but he didn’t feel as though he had any choice. It was too dangerous to wait. He couldn’t risk her running off without knowing how he felt about her.

  “You’re everything to me.” He kissed the tip of her nose. She was wide-eyed and pale, but he forged onward. “My wolf knew before I’d admitted the truth to myself. I lost you before. I won’t lose you again. You’re mine. My mate.”

  Sylvie’s first instinct was to run hard and fast and never look back. Mate. She couldn’t bear to think about tying herself to another male werewolf for life. Her second instinct was to throw herself into Gator’s arms. She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She was totally confused. But the one thing she did know for sure was that she wanted him.

  Her third instinct was to leave in order to protect him and her brother and the rest of them. But would that really keep Pierre from attacking? She honestly didn’t think so. Then there was the small matter of Travis Dubois. He was out there somewhere, watching them.

  Sylvie hated her former brother-in-law. The way he’d looked at her when she’d been mated to his brother had given her the creeps. She knew he wanted her, had seen the lust in his eyes, the possessiveness. Andre had seen it too and had flaunted the fact that she belonged to him in front of Travis every chance he got.

  No, the last thing she wanted was to run into Travis Dubois. The thought of him touching her made her stomach turn.

  Her heart pounded with fear. Perspiration dotted her skin and desperation clawed at her.

  “Sylvie. Mon ange, what’s wrong?” Gator’s concern was a balm to her battered soul. “I didn’t mean to pressure you.” He eased away from her. Concern filled his blue eyes. “I promised myself I wouldn’t.”

  She smiled in spite of herself. “So making love to me in a field of wildflowers was your way of not pressuring me?”

  He flashed her that sexy bad-boy grin that positively melted her insides. “Oui. If I were really pressuring you, we’d already be mated.”

  Even though she knew he was deadly serious, she laughed. Gator made her happy in a way she’d never experienced before. Crazy as it seemed, she felt safe with him, even knowing he wanted to claim her.

  The difference between him and Andre was that Gator would never claim her without her consent. Andre hadn’t cared.

  That thought sobered her completely.

  “I’m an emotional wreck,” she told him. “I’m working on accepting my past and letting it go, but I haven’t gotten there yet.”

  Gator had it a
ll together. He was so strong and sure of himself. She envied him.

  He clasped her around the waist, his fingers warm and firm, holding her but not too tight. “Let me help you. That’s what mates do for one another. They help each other be the best they can be.”

  “Not in my experience.” She didn’t want to think about the horror of her first mating.

  “A true mating,” he qualified. “I’ve seen how it is between Jacque and Gwen, Cole and Cherise and your brother and Anny. I’ve seen it between Corrine and Joseph. I want that for myself. Sylvie, I want it with you.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Gator knew he should shut his big trap before he scared Sylvie away from him. She was so tense he feared she might snap in his two hands. This wasn’t the way he’d wanted their relationship to progress, but circumstances had changed. It was one thing to suspect someone was out there watching, another to know who it was.

  “I found some signs when Armand and I were out searching the woods earlier today.”

  Sylvie swallowed. “Travis?”

  He shook his head. “I couldn’t tell. The scent had faded too much for me to get a read on who it was. Now that I know Travis is missing, I believe it is him.”

  Gator hesitated only for a brief second. Sylvie deserved to know everything. “It was near the field where we were this morning.”

  She gave a low moan and buried her face in her hands. “Then he saw everything.”

  “Probably.” It burned Gator’s guts to think of another man seeing Sylvie naked, watching them make love. He gently pulled her hands away from her face and brushed her hair away from her eyes. “There is no reason to feel ashamed. We did nothing wrong.”

  Her laugh was bitter. “I imagine we gave Travis quite a show. The bastard was always looking at me when I was mated to his brother. I’m sure he enjoyed seeing me naked.”

  Gator didn’t like the sound of that. “He was always watching you? How?”

  She turned and crawled up toward the head of the bed and pulled the sheet around her. It was a warm night and the window was open, letting in the warm breeze. He knew she wasn’t cold but upset.

  She pulled her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around her calves. “Andre never left me alone with his brother. I think he suspected that Travis wanted me.”

  A cold and deadly rage settled into Gator’s bones. He hated her having to talk about her former mate. Even worse was what she’d endured at his hands. Now his brother was in the picture, and it seemed he had the same unhealthy obsession with Sylvie that Andre had possessed.

  Was he any different from them?

  That gave Gator pause. Yes, he wanted Sylvie with a deep-seated need that went beyond mere want. But he also knew he wanted her to be happy above all else. No matter what that meant. He swallowed hard. If it meant she didn’t want him, would he be able to walk away? He prayed he would, but he wasn’t sure. He knew he’d do everything in his power to convince her to give them a chance.

  Above all else, he knew he would never hurt her, could never hurt her.

  “Are you okay?”

  He pushed off the floor and sat beside her on the bed. “I want you and I would never hurt you.” It was important to him that she understood that. “I’m not like your former mate or his brother.” He couldn’t bring himself to say Andre’s name aloud.

  “I know that.” She scowled at him. “You’re nothing like them.”

  “So fierce,” he whispered. Her quick defense of him warmed his heart.

  She took his hand in hers and raised it so it was between them. “You’re so strong, Gator.” His fingers were callused from hard work. “Yet so gentle when you touch me.”

  “Sylvie.” She was driving him crazy. His cock was hard and full, pressed against the zipper of his jeans. His skin felt extra sensitive to her touch. The way she stroked her fingers over his was driving him crazy with need.

  He swallowed back a moan when she lifted his hand to her mouth and sucked on his index finger. His skin tightened all over his body. His wolf howled inside him and rolled around, wanting to rub against her until she smelled like him and her sweet natural essence was all over his body.

  He tried to speak but nothing emerged from his mouth but a growl. He cleared his throat and tried again. “I should probably leave.” What in the hell was he saying? He didn’t want to leave. She was naked but for the sheet and the nightgown. It wouldn’t take more than a couple of seconds to remove them.

  But the saner side of him protested that she’d been through a lot today. She needed rest and care, not a male werewolf fucking her. Besides, her brother was just across the hall. He knew Armand was probably listening to make sure Gator left her alone.

  She pulled his finger from her mouth and released his hand. “Yes, of course. I’m sorry.” She gave a small laugh. “Presumptuous of me, wasn’t it?”

  “Fuck.” Gator curled his hands into fists and pressed them into the mattress on either side of her. “Not presumptuous. You can touch me wherever and whenever you like, chère.”

  “Then why?”

  He shook his head to try to clear the sexual haze muddling it. “It’s been an emotional day,” he began.

  “Gator, I’m a little scared and a lot confused.”

  He nodded. “That’s what I’m saying. You should rest. I’ll be outside on the sofa if you need me.” It took more strength than he’d ever imagined he possessed to push his body off the bed and away from her.

  She reached out and grabbed his hand, her touch chaining him in place.

  “But there’s one thing I do know.”

  “What?” His voice was low and rough. His wolf was close to the surface, fighting to get free. The animal part of him didn’t want to leave Sylvie, wanted to protect her.

  “I want you.”

  All the air left Gator’s lungs in a rush and he almost fell to his knees. She wanted him. He licked his lips, wanting to taste her sweet mouth. His fingers itched to touch her. Then commonsense kicked in. She’d admitted she was scared. She probably didn’t want to be alone.

  “I’ll stay with you until you fall asleep,” he promised. It might kill him when his dick exploded, but he’d stay with her for as long as she needed him.

  She nodded and patted the mattress beside her. “Stay with me.”

  Sylvie hadn’t imagined it would be this hard to seduce Gator. He was such a badass with his tattoos and his ability to track and fight. He was also a male werewolf and they weren’t exactly known for turning down sex if they could get it.

  She knew he was as tough as they came. But he was so sweet as well. He was doing everything in his power to be gallant, to give her what he thought she needed. No one had ever put her wants and needs first before Gator. It made her want him even more.

  Her wolf wanted him too. Scented his wolf inside him. They’d run together in the woods and made love among those same trees. He’d changed her, enabled her to move beyond her past. All by being himself.

  The fact that he always put her first allowed her to take risks she’d never think of taking with another man—human or werewolf.

  Long-buried memories stirred. She’d watched Gator when they were younger. He’d always seemed so aloof and unapproachable, dangerous even when he was still a young man. She was a little younger than him but could remember having fantasies about him.

  Was that why she found it so easy to trust him?

  “What are you thinking?” he asked as he stretched out beside her and patted the mattress. She uncurled her body and scooted down so she was lying beside him, both their heads on the same pillow.

  “I was remembering when we were kids, teenagers really.”

  He gave a low laugh. “That sounds interesting.”

  Sylvie nodded. “Very.”

  “I remember watching you and several of your friends swimming on
ce. You had on a modest one-piece suit in basic black.”

  She’d hated that bathing suit. All her friends had colorful two-piece ensembles but her father would allow her to wear nothing but the hated black one-piece. “You remember that?” She couldn’t imagine catching Gator’s eye in that granny outfit.

  “Oh, yeah.” His voice was husky with desire.

  Her entire body responded to that and his nearness, heating from the inside out. The sheet was suddenly very heavy and she shoved it away, kicking it to the bottom of the bed. The light breeze coming in through the window skated across her skin like a caress.

  “I remember how long your legs looked. How the material cupped your firm breasts and emphasized your small waist and your curvy hips.”

  “You must have some imagination. I’m more lanky than curvy.”

  He shook his head and a lock of hair fell across his forehead. “Perfect.” He sighed. “And when you got that suit wet it clung to you like a second skin.” He brushed a kiss over her forehead. “I fantasized about you in that suit. A lot.”

  “If only I’d known.” Her voice was filled with both sadness and regret.

  “Your father would never have let me anywhere near you. We both know that.” He brushed his fingertips over her face. “He was saving you as a pawn to increase his power. I was nothing but swamp trash to him.”

  His touch was feather light. Her heart pounded in her chest and the throbbing between her legs matched the beat. It shamed her to know that the entire pack had known her father thought of her as nothing more than a commodity to be traded to the highest bidder.

  “Our paths never really crossed, except at a distance,” he continued. “I watched you often, wishing things could be different.”

  To have a man as tough as Gator admit such things was a balm to her tattered spirit. He made her feel special, more than just something to be bartered or a possession to be used like her mate had.

  “I watched you too.” She gave a small laugh. “You always seemed so much older than the boys you hung around with. So tough and worldly. So sure of yourself.” And she’d envied his self-confidence.