by Vella Day
“Would you go with them?”
Anger rushed to the surface. “No! Of course not, but since I can’t exactly shift in front of the townsfolk, he could drag me away—until you could stop them. I’m strong, but I can’t take down several men.”
Sam picked up his cup and blew on the steam billowing off the top. “For starters, the folks of Silver Lake would never let that happen, but yes I would do my mind bending on them.”
She looked around. All of the male customers were in their sixties. “He might have a gun.”
“That wouldn’t make a difference. I would infiltrate his mind, and the mind of the others, and convince them that a pile of vipers was on your seat instead of you.”
“Eww.”
“Don’t take it personally. From experience, I find people want to get the hell away from slithering reptiles. Just in case Kapok and his men don’t get the hint to keep their distance, I’d add an additional thought that Justin no longer wants you.”
“That would be sweet.” Thank goodness Sam couldn’t read or alter her mind. She’d never know what was true and what wasn’t.
“So you see, you have nothing to worry about.”
She leaned back in her seat. More relaxed than she had been, she picked up her menu and scanned the offerings. Everything looked fantastic. When the server returned, Lexi had to pick a dish. “I’ll have the spinach and feta cheese omelet with the avocado slices on top. For my side, how about a cup of fresh fruit and an English muffin.”
“Perfect. And for you, Sam?”
Did all the women know him?
“Let me have the cinnamon pancakes with a side of sausage.”
The waitress nodded and left. “How do you eat so much and stay fit?” she asked.
“I’m usually more disciplined, but I treat myself every once in a while.”
“I try to eat healthy most of the time.” Okay, maybe the English muffin wasn’t, but the rest was good for her. Lexi leaned forward on her elbows. “On a different note, has Connor said anything to you about spending so much time with me? I mean you do have to work for your salary.”
“Relax. It’s all good. Connor understands what we’re up against. He’d never leave anyone in need stranded.”
“He seems like a good man.”
“I would have been proud to serve with him.”
What a great sentiment. “Okay, but after today, you need to get back to work. I’m good with hiding out for a while.”
He laughed. “If you say so.”
Their meals arrived shortly and they both inhaled their food. In no time, the omelet and the pancakes were history. Lexi polished off her cup of coffee, ready for her next adventure.
Sam waved for the check, but this time she dug her hand in her purse. “I want to pay.”
“Not going to happen.”
“But you shouldn’t have to pay all the time.”
He reached out and cupped her hand. “How about if I want to treat? Look, if you want to make it fair, you can cook me a meal at home.”
She guessed that was an equitable exchange. “Okay, and thank you.”
This time when they stepped outside, Lexi also searched the streets, but her senses didn’t detect any shifters.
“Looks clear,” Sam said as he escorted her to the truck.
After driving south through town, the well-traveled roads soon turned to dirt, and she focused on the stunning landscape of rolling hills and tall pines. “Where are we headed?”
“A place next to where the caves are located. There’s a good place to practice in peace.”
“Sounds awesome.”
Less than ten minutes later the well-packed dirt road turned more pitted, but with all the snow packed between the rocks, it wasn’t a terribly bumpy ride. When they reached the end, Sam cut the engine. “This is as far as we go. We’re hoofing it from here.”
From the back, Sam retrieved a duffel bag and slung it over his shoulder.
“That bag looks full. How many guns did you bring?” she asked.
“Only four. There are three for you to pick from, and then one for me to use. Most of the space is taken up with the metal targets.”
He was really serious about teaching her. Together, they hiked up the path that was surrounded by conifers. The pine scented the air, and other than a few small animals darting in the woods, it was eerily quiet. “It’s so peaceful here.”
Sam smiled. “It’s one of my favorite spots in Silver Lake.”
For the next twenty minutes, they trudged up the path covered with patches of snow. By the time they reached the large, flat field, Lexi was actually warm. Sam set down the bag and extracted three guns.
“These aren’t loaded. I want you to pick them up and tell me if one feels better to you. The weight distribution will be different for different people.”
Excited, Lexi lifted each one and took aim before deciding. “I like this one the best.”
“Good, I figured you would. Let me show you how to load the magazine.” Not surprising, Sam turned out to be a patient teacher. “Before I show you the proper way to shoot, I need to put up the targets. Do you want to help?”
“Absolutely.”
It seemed no matter what they did—talking over coffee, walking along the beach, or hiking in the snow—they always had fun. Just being with Sam gave her such joy.
Once he reached some mystical spot, he opened his bag and snapped a metal circle onto a post. “Walk about twenty feet and jam this into the ground.”
Even though the dirt was mostly frozen, a few taps with a large rock was enough to drive the stake into the ground. She silently thanked her ancestors for having magical strength. Once she was finished, he motioned her to return to their original spot.
“For your first lesson, face the target squarely and spread your feet apart about shoulder width.” He demonstrated, and she tried to mimic what he was doing. “Next, grip the gun with your dominant hand and then, holding your arms out straight, wrap your hand around the other one for support.” She attempted to do as he said, but apparently her form wasn’t up to par, because Sam had to show her.
He stood behind and reached around her. He then adjusted her grip and finger position. While she was tempted to wiggle her butt, she refrained. He was doing her a favor by bringing her here and teaching her.
“So I’m ready to shoot?” she asked.
“Not yet. Line up the sight with your target.”
“Didn’t you say you had ear protection for us?” she asked.
“Oh, shit. I wasn’t thinking. Yes.” He located the earmuffs and placed one pair over her head and one on his. “Give it a try.”
Suddenly, Lexi was a bit nervous. Looking down the sight, she inhaled then pulled the trigger. The kickback was stronger than she’d expected, but she only took one step back. “Do you think I hit the target?” she asked.
“I don’t think so. Let me show you how you can tell.”
Sam withdrew his weapon, and in one smooth motion lifted his arms, took aim, and fired three shots in rapid succession. The loud blasts were followed by three high-pitched pings.
Duh. The bullets would make a sound. “You’re really good.”
“Don’t worry. With practice, you can be too.”
Did he think she planned on practicing for a few years? She might if she enjoyed it. For the next half hour, Lexi worked on improving, but only hit the target three times. “My arms are tired. Plus, I need to take a pee break.”
Sam swung his arm around. “Take your pick; there are plenty of trees.”
Mostly trees with no leaves, though the chances of someone else happening upon her when her pants were down were slim, but she wanted to find a secure place for her peace of mind. She pointed to some undergrowth that might make a good shield. “I’ll wander over there.”
“I’ll pack up.”
Lexi headed to the tree line. When her first location seemed to require some tricky footing to step close to the bush, she moved far
ther away to a large oak tree with a thick trunk. This was perfect. Once she finished doing her business, she zipped up. Before she could step from behind the tree, low growls sounded and a human shouted. Then Sam emitted a painful wail, and her heart nearly stopped.
Chapter Twenty
‡
At the combination of violent sounds, Lexi froze, her mind spinning with sheer horror. Those were Sam’s cries. Pulse soaring, she rushed back through the woods. Through the leafless forest, she could see bits and pieces of the fight as Sam battled the wolves. Her heart was in her stomach as fear for his survival nearly strangled her.
When she reached the scene, Sam had managed to toss off one wolf and was struggling with another. Two other wolves entered from the side, possibly waiting for their turn to attack. Just as she was about to shift into her wolf form and do what she could, Justin stepped out from behind a tree.
“That’s enough,” he commanded.
The one wolf that Sam had tossed to the ground slithered away on his stomach as if he were stunned. The second wolf clinging to Sam’s back jumped off. A second later, Sam’s knees hit the ground, and then he collapsed onto his back.
Lexi wanted to rush to him, but her leg muscles froze, and her hands both shook so hard, she couldn’t think straight. Blood was smeared over his face and jacket, and his eyes remained closed. Why hadn’t he tried to control their minds?
She spun around to face Justin. “Why did you hurt him?”
“You’re a hard woman to get close to. You have no idea the problems I’ve had to deal with in order to retrieve you.”
Tough shit. He moved closer, and she held up her palms. “Stay where you are.”
Justin actually halted. “What are you going to do? Fight me, little girl?”
He had no idea what she was capable of. She glanced over at Sam. His head was turned to the side, but his eyes were now open. He was looking at the wolves that were keeping guard over him. They growled and then backed away. One yelped as if in pain. Without looking at Justin, they turned and trotted off.
“Hey, where the hell are you going?” Justin’s hands clenched at the betrayal.
She puffed out her chest, trying to act as if she’d caused the wolves to go off. “I scared them off. They won’t be coming back either.”
The third and fourth wolves slowly followed suit. Justin called after them, but it was as if they’d gone deaf.
Justin returned his attention to her. “I don’t fucking care what you did. Hell, it makes you more desirable.”
Damn. She debated telling him Sam had used his mind control on the wolves, but she feared Justin would figure out a way to exploit him. She just wished Sam had used his talent sooner.
“You’re coming with me, or I’ll finish off both you and your so-called boyfriend, who by the way doesn’t look too hot right now.”
She looked back over her shoulder. Sam groaned, and his eyes fluttered closed once more, as blood continued to stain the ground around him. As much as she wanted to go to him, she had to keep Justin at bay. Getting ready to shift, she slipped off her jacket and tried not to wince when the cold air bit into her skin.
“Even if I came with you, what do you hope to accomplish?” she asked. “Sam and I are already mated.” Unless he checked Sam for her wolf marking on his shoulder, he’d never know that was a lie.
Justin laughed. “Nice try, but no you aren’t.”
“How do you know? We just returned from our honeymoon in Florida.” She gave him her gotcha look, but his expression didn’t change.
“Again, no.”
“How do you know?” Stomach acid burned in her gut, and she worked hard to keep from shifting. She wanted answers.
“We bugged Sam’s truck.”
Her heart nearly stopped at those words. “I don’t believe you.”
“So now the liar is calling me a liar?” He scratched his chin as if stalling for time. “I can prove it. You talked about the time you and Ronan made this big elaborate plan to run away, but in the end you chickened out.”
Oh, shit, she had told that story to Sam about her childhood. “So, that’s how you knew where we’d be today,” she said more to herself than to him.
Anger at the invasion stabbed her. For that transgression and many others, Justin would have to die. In a flash, she was in her wolf form. Lexi charged. Right before she reached him, he shifted too. Because Justin managed to change right before they collided, her full frontal assault missed. She spun back around to try again. Teeth gnashed, and as he swiped a paw at her, she ducked and dodged trying to become as unavailable as possible. Instead of retreating and coming at him again, she swiped her paw across his eyes, and his yelp gave her a boost. While he’d heal quickly, his temporarily clouded vision would help her take him down.
Reveling in her success instead of planning her next attack, Justin lunged, getting the drop on her. When he clamped down on her neck, the pain nearly paralyzed her. If she didn’t get out of his hold soon, she’d die.
Focusing on saving Sam, adrenaline flooded her system. She swiped at Justin’s front legs, and her claws lodged into his flesh. He opened his mouth for a split second and yelped. Disengaging from his painful bite, she danced out of reach but then staggered. That bite on her neck must have done more damage than she realized. Her strength was draining fast. It didn’t matter that she was imbued with more strength than the average wolf; a well-aimed bite could kill her. She had to finish him off soon or he’d kill Sam.
Picturing the man she loved as they walked along the beach, she would use all of her remaining energy to take down this bastard or die trying. Lexi lunged, and pain sliced through her. With a few inches to spare, she reached his flank and took a bite out of his side. Justin’s wolf cried once more, thrashed, and stumbled. Her vision blurred. Needing a better grip, she let go and attacked again. Blood tinged her mouth as dizziness swamped her.
Bite his neck.
She didn’t remember thinking it, but instinctively, she understood that was what she needed to do. Justin growled and batted a claw across her face, waking her up. Using the last of her reserve energy, Lexi sprang onto Justin’s back. Instead of shaking her off, he rolled to the side and pinned her, but somehow, she still managed to sink her teeth into the side of his neck. Blood pooled rapidly, and the fight went out of him.
Pushing against him, she was able to get out from under his heavy body just as he took his last breath and transformed back into his human form.
Holy shit. She’d just killed Justin Kapok. Lexi had never killed anyone before, and while she was in shock at what she’d been capable of, she was elated that Sam would now be safe.
Sam! He better be okay.
She hobbled over to his prone form, trying to ignore the pain stabbing her. His chest rose and fell in shallow breaths as if his body was working hard to keep his heart pumping. His eyes were closed and his skin ashen. As much as she wanted to remain in her wolf form to fully heal, she had to shift in order to help him.
Lexi howled, hoping he’d be able to detect that she was near. Her jacket was only a few feet away as were her torn clothes. Her boots looked useable, but that was all that was salvageable. She’d be cold wearing only her down jacket, but she didn’t want to leave Sam just to retrieve her spare outfit in the back of his truck. To be honest, she wasn’t sure she could make it that far.
Standing next to her jacket, she shifted back to her human form and immediately pulled on her coat and stepped into the boots. Her coat was long enough to cover her butt but little of her legs. Her cell was in Sam’s truck, but perhaps he had one on him. She picked up her ripped pants and returned to his side, her own breathing labored. Placing the ripped material on the ground, she knelt next to him.
“Sam, can you hear me?” She nudged him lightly. “Wake up.”
When he didn’t even groan, her heart lodged against her rib cage. With a shaky hand, she shoved her fingers into both of his coat pockets, but she didn’t find his cell, only his
keys. Pocketing them, she stood and searched his duffel, trying to ignore the racing ache between her neck and shoulder from the bite. Blood trickled down her back, the warm, sticky substance confirming that her energy was waning.
In the side pocket of the bag was his cell. Glory Be. Unless there was a GPS on this phone, she couldn’t tell the ambulance where they were, as she didn’t know exactly—other than to say it was near some caves. Even if they were able to find them, how would she explain to human paramedics about the naked man that was a few feet away with a large gash in his throat? The blood on her hands and face would be a dead giveaway that she’d killed him. She’d be in jail before Sam reached the hospital.
Jackson! He’d know what to do.
Sam said his friend had told him about this being a good place to target practice. Thankfully, everyone’s number was pre-programmed in his cell so all she needed to do was press one button. Her thoughts clouded as she waited for Jackson to answer.
“Sam, how’s shooting practice going?” he asked with a lot of cheer in his voice.
“Jackson. It’s me, Lexi. Sam’s been hurt.” With as much calm as she could muster, she explained where they were and how several wolves had attacked him. “He’s bleeding pretty badly.”
“Can you put him on?”
“He’s unconscious.”
“Fuck. What about the rest of the wolves?”
“I killed Justin, and the others ran off.”
“Stay there. I’ll bring help.”
With that he disconnected. Lexi gathered the rest of the torn clothing and then rolled Sam onto his side. Even though he was wearing his Pea Coat, the material in back was shredded and caked with blood. She pressed the fresh material over his cuts and then rolled him onto his back again, hoping the pressure would stem the flow. The icy ground should help with the swelling. Thinking it would take at least thirty minutes for Jackson to arrive with help, she rested her head on Sam’s legs, hoping he could absorb some of her energy, what little she had left. She debated shifting to heal, but if he needed help, she wanted to be ready.
“Get away from him,” a strangled voice sounded from about fifty feet away.
