My Captive Valentine

by Elyce de Reefe

  As he settled himself behind her on the snowmobile, she realized she might have made a strategic mistake. His long thighs wrapped around hers from hip to knee, and while he didn’t try to press his groin to her, his upper body wrapped around hers, enveloping her in a warm, masculine embrace. It felt really nice, and she wasn’t sure she should be letting herself enjoy it. When he wasn’t manhandling her, the man was a real charmer. She was going to have to keep her guard up around him. Just because he thought she was his mate, didn’t mean she agreed.

  But he showed her how to work the throttle and helped her steer, following the trail laid down by the first vehicle. Any thoughts she had of using her position in front to make her escape quickly disappeared. His hands rested on the handlebars over hers and she had already discovered he was very strong. There was no way she could override that strength.

  Still, she was grinning by the time they crossed the footbridge over the small river that flowed past the house and entered the meadow beyond. The snow had stopped, and the moon was out, half full, but very bright on the snowy expanse. The snowmobile was fun, and the night was absolutely beautiful, with snow-frosted evergreens fringing the horizon, enclosing them in a silvery pristine wilderness.

  Okay, if this is a dream, it’s getting better. If it’s not, I guess I’m taking one for science. At least for now.

  ***

  Elizabeth was going to kill her husband. All the way dead this time. She could feel his laughter bubbling through him as they raced into the wild night. She didn’t think she’d ever forget that first crazy ride through the snow the night she’d stumbled across the pack by accident. Back then she didn’t know them, didn’t know Cray, and had been certain she was going to die. And truly, it was a miracle they both hadn’t been smashed to bits with the insane way he drove that night.

  But tonight he steered over the footbridge instead of gunning it hell-for-leather and shooting straight over the Rabbit River. So that was something. And while he did open the throttle when they reached the meadow, they were going up, instead of sheering off hills into nothingness the way he liked to do going downhill, and it really wasn’t that bad.

  By the time they reached the trees Cray was nuzzling her neck, his lips tracing over the spot where he’d bitten her, sending delicious tingles through her body. She sighed and relaxed against his solid body. He really was hard to stay mad at these days.

  They reached the house Boaz and the guys had built for Nina up on the ridge and Elizabeth sighed again, feeling a tiny stab of regret. Nina would be glowing, all round and fecund with her six-month belly. Of course, Lyla had her beat. She was having twins. Twins! Which was wonderful, but it was still hard not to feel a little sad. It didn’t look like it was ever going to happen for her. But she had Cray. And he loved her. And she was going to make one kick-ass aunt.

  Cray parked beside the back deck and helped her off the snowmobile. “Admit it. Wasn’t that fun?”

  She gave him a stern look, but it was hard to maintain. “It was a lot better than the first time, but I’m driving home, or you can sleep on the porch.”

  He smiled fondly down at her and kissed the top of her head. “Whatever you say, honey.”

  She blinked at him. He’d never said anything like that before. “Are you feeling okay?”

  He grinned at her. “I’m feeling great. Let’s go home.” But he slipped an arm around her and ushered her up the stairs to the house, his hand slipping down to trace over the curve of her ass, his smooth cheek nuzzling against hers. Apparently, Cray had no intention of sleeping on the porch. Elizabeth smiled to herself. She’d have to remember that threat. But she had a feeling it was going to be a long time before they made it back to their snug little cottage.

  What the hell had Gage been thinking?

  Chapter 4

  When they broke through the trees at the top of the ridge, Bridget noticed the house there was very different from the one in the valley below. This one was all light wood and modern angles with lots of windows and three different asymmetrical decks sticking out from its various levels. Situated as it was on top of a bluff, she imagined it would have spectacular views during the day. Now it looked like a modern version of a Swiss chalet, all dusted in snow and illuminated by cheery golden light coming through the windows.

  She steered over to park next to the other snowmobile, careful not to get too close. She still wasn’t great at fine-tuned maneuvers and didn’t want to risk hitting it. Gage hopped off and then helped her stand, which was good because everything had stiffened up during the ride. He seemed to notice, peering at her intently.

  “How are you doing?”

  “Tired. Sore. Achy.” She shrugged. “The old triple crown.”

  He nodded sympathetically. “Let’s get you checked out and then you can rest. Nina might have some better medicine than Tylenol, too.” He took her arm and helped her up the stairs to the back deck, following the tracks of the footsteps that led from the other machine. As they approached the door, it swung open, a huge blond man blocking the entrance.

  “Gage.” He made it sound like a question and a challenge, and Bridget noticed he didn’t step back to let them in.

  “Boaz, I want you to meet my mate, Bridget. She’s had a car accident. Bridget, this is Boaz, Eli and Zeke’s older brother.”

  Now that he said that, she could see the resemblance, although this man was much broader. Even the plains of his face were broader. And he was carrying a lot more muscle.

  “Is Nina awake? Elizabeth thinks Bridget should be examined.”

  Boaz regarded her silently for a moment. She had the distinct impression she was being scrutinized for possible threats—which seemed totally ridiculous—and she would swear the man sniffed her. He wasn’t obvious about it, but he inhaled deeply before nodding and stepping back to let them in.

  “I’m not his mate,” Bridget informed him as she walked past. She figured she better start getting that in or people were just going to accept it as fact. Which she was not. But he said nothing, the ghost of a smile just touching his lips. Bridget wasn’t quite sure what to make of that. She had the intense urge to turn and kick Gage again, but she didn’t want to make a scene.

  A dark-haired woman stepped away from Cray and Elizabeth, clustered in the living room, and came forward to greet her. She was wearing pink flannel pjs with fluffy white sheep on them, and she was clearly pregnant. Bridget just managed to keep her eyes from darting to the blond giant. Was she really having that man’s baby? Err… that werewolf’s baby?

  “Hi, I’m Nina. I’m the doctor. I understand you’ve had an accident?”

  “Yes, I hit my head when my car went off the road and hit a tree.” She couldn’t help gingerly reaching up to feel the lump. “It’s pretty sore.”

  “I’ll just bet. Come with me, and I’ll have a look.” She turned and addressed Boaz. “Honey, would you see if Cray and Elizabeth want anything? Maybe some tea and cookies?”

  Tea and cookies? Werewolves had tea and cookies?

  But he nodded, and Nina led her to a small guest room on the first floor. It acted as an examination room now. It had an exam table and everything.

  “Hop up here, let’s take a look,” Nina said, patting the table. She reached into a dresser drawer, pulling out one of those doctors’ lights and proceeded to shine it in Bridget’s eye. “Look straight ahead. Good.” She shifted to the other eye. “Any change in vision, tunnel or blurry vision?”

  “No.”

  “Any nausea?”

  “No.”

  “Okay, good. So what happened, exactly? You saw Gage shift and that made you wreck your car?”

  “Um, not exactly. I saw him pretty much mid-wreck. The car was already spinning out on the ice when my headlights came around and— there he was. Looking like something out of the Living Dead. Only hairier.”

  Nina pulled the light away. “That can’t have helped. But it’s pretty amazing you were able to see him at all with the car spinning.
Let alone make out the details of his appearance.”

  Bridget grimace. “It was spinning pretty slowly at first. Then it picked up speed going downhill. Slid right off the road and hit a tree.”

  “Ouch.”

  “Pretty much. It was still spinning a little, so it didn’t hit head-on, but still.”

  “You’re lucky you didn’t get hit in the face with the air bag. A lot of people suffer a broken nose from that. Did it hit you at all?” She ran light fingers over the bridge of Bridget’s nose, igniting a spark of pain. “Ah, thought so. But not broken, just bruised. You’ll probably have some bruising around the eyes, not quite black eyes, just some nice purple shadows, so don’t be alarmed. Anything else? How are your ribs?”

  “Better now that King Kong out there isn’t throwing me over his shoulder anymore.”

  Nina made a face. “He didn’t.”

  “He did. And it hurt like hell. And now… I’m here.” Bridget shook her head, fighting back sudden unexpected tears.

  Nina patted her hand. “Welcome to the club.” She made a grim little face. “Once you know, there’s no going back.”

  The words sent a shiver of fear through Bridget. That was not what she wanted to hear.

  “It’s really not so bad though. They’re a nice bunch of guys once you get to know them. And the girls are great. You met Elizabeth. Did you meet Mari?”

  “Not yet.”

  “Well, you will.” The doctor smiled kindly at Bridget. “And then there’s Lyla, who is Aaron’s mate. That’s Boaz’s older brother. And Aster. Who is actually one of them, but we don’t hold that against her. But you and Mari are probably around the same age. What are you, twenty-five? Twenty-six?”

  “Twenty-seven,” Bridget said automatically, trying to assimilate all that information, and failing. She had just turned twenty-seven two months ago and remembered thinking this was going to be the year she finally got it all together. The teaching job was supposed to be her ticket to the perfect life. Summers off to travel and do fieldwork. And with the University to publish her research, and pay her bills... But now—

  Nina patted her hand again and smiled. “Then you’re the same age. Mari’s a little spitfire. I’m sure you’ll meet her tomorrow. She lives in the big house.” She turned away and took out one of those little rubber hammer things. “I wish I had an x-ray, but I’ll just check your reflexes and then take a quick look at your ribs.” She did the hammer-the-knee thing and then gently prodded her ribs, declaring them bruised but not cracked or broken, something Bridget hadn’t even considered.

  “Still, I am going to have a word with Gage.” The doctor did not look pleased. “You have a mild concussion, which means no exercise or strenuous activity for two weeks. Minimum. With concussions, even a mild one like this, what we worry about is re-injury. The brain is very vulnerable to trauma right now, so you have to make sure it doesn’t get jarred again. But you will be just fine. Don’t worry.” She patted her hand again, and Bridget felt comforted in spite of herself.

  Nina turned away, tucking her tools back in the drawer. Bridget knew the exam was just about over. She couldn’t hold back the question any longer.

  “So, is that what happened to you? You saw—” Shit, what was his name? Oh, right. “Boaz shift?”

  “No.” She turned back and smiled. “I was messing around with their DNA, and Lucas took exception to that.”

  Bridget blinked.

  “It’s a long story. I was looking for a fertility treatment.” She gestured at her belly. “Found one, actually. And got Boaz in the bargain.” Her smile lit her whole face. “He’s wonderful. I’m truly happy here. I know it’s a big adjustment, but just give yourself time. Gage is a nice guy. Very gentle. Give him a chance. But don’t think you have to do anything you don’t want, because you don’t—”

  A knock at the door interrupted her. “Nina?”

  Nina crossed to the door and opened. “What, Boaz?” She sounded a little impatient.

  He glanced down at her belly. “You should get back to bed.”

  She turned to Bridget and rolled her eyes, an indulgent smile on her face. “Yes, honey. Can I just finish my exam first?” She pushed him back through the door with one hand on his chest and closed it in his face.

  “That’s the other thing. You can’t let them push you around.” She raised her voice. “Just because they’re bigger and stronger doesn’t mean they always get their way.”

  There was a noise from the other side of the door that sounded very much like a frustrated growl. Nina chuckled. “He’s so cute. Okay. Any questions?”

  “Dozens, but I’m too tired to think just now. And he’s right, you need your rest. I’m sorry I got you out of bed like this.”

  “Don’t be silly. I’m pregnant, not an invalid. Elizabeth was right to bring you here. Head injuries are nothing to play around with.” She opened the door and waited for Bridget to precede her. “I’m sure she is planning some kind of girl’s powwow as we speak, so we can talk then. For now, you need rest.” To her surprise, the other woman pulled her in for a quick, gentle hug, made slightly awkward by the hard bulge of her belly. “And try not to worry too much, okay?”

  After that, there wasn’t much to say. She muttered something noncommittal, politeness winning out, and they took their leave, piling back on the snowmobiles. Elizabeth helped her get settled in one of the upstairs bedrooms of the big house, as they called it, with fresh sheets and a borrowed tee-shirt, and Bridget gratefully fell into the king-size bed. Nina had given her some pain medicine and her headache was finally fading.

  She lay there staring at the strange shadows that filled the big room, accentuated by the soft squares of moonlight coming in through the windows. She wondered just what she was going to do in the morning, but before she could figure it out, she fell asleep.

  ***

  Gage sat in one of the leather chairs in the living room and stared meditatively down at his brandy. Nina had given him a stern talking to before they left, and Gage felt like he had entered a strange new world where nothing was going as expected. Apparently the whole over-the-shoulder thing had been a big no-no and he was appalled to think that he might have done Bridget some real harm with that one move. He’d been trying to get her out of the snow to safety, but once again, his instincts had been dead wrong. And Lucas was downstairs right now discussing his many infractions with Dean and deciding just what to do about them. The ones he knew of anyway.

  He heard footsteps coming up from the basement and looked up to see Dean, who gave him a pensive look and a chin lift, before leaving out the back door without speaking. That did not bode well.

  “Gage,” Lucas called, emerging a moment later. “Outside.”

  He set down his glass and rose, following his brother through the mudroom and out into the back yard. The night was quiet and still. The moon was low now, but still visible over the tops of the trees to the west.

  “It’s not clear whether you broke the Law or not. But Dean agreed that you have at the very least been reckless.” His brother gave him a hard look. “We will take care of this in the training room.” He turned and marched across the fresh expanse of snow to one of the huge garages they used for exercise and training.

  Gage trailed behind him. Take care of this? He stepped through the open door and opened his mouth to speak, but never got the chance. Lucas came out of the darkness and yanked him onto the mats.

  His first punch took Gage squarely on the jaw, knocking him back a step, and it went on from there. The pounding continued until he lay heaving on the floor, struggling for breath. He’d gotten in a few of his own and fended off a lot more, but Lucas was relentless, coming at him again and again.

  He hadn’t expected it. Maybe he should have, but he really hadn’t. He’d known his brother was physically capable of laying him out. He had thirty pounds on him, and sixteen years more experience. But mentally? He’d never thought Lucas had it in him.

  “Consider yourself
punished,” Lucas said, breathing hard. “But I’m warning you, Gage. This is not a game. Don’t do anything else that might infringe on the Law. If you make me exile you, I will never forgive you.” His brother stared down at him, face hard and implacable.

  It was almost funny, really. From his position on the floor, Lucas, the big brother he’d always looked up to, seemed even larger than life. And more remote and Alpha than he ever had before.

  Gage wondered if adopting a human without permission would count and had to fight back a bark of hysterical laughter. How in the wicked-hills had he let it come to this? He’d always played by the rules. Followed along in his siblings’ wakes. The happy-go-lucky jokester who didn’t make waves. And now he was on the verge of exile.

  Just think, if you do get exiled, you already have your own little pack. But no. Bridget and he weren’t bonded, so Lucas would keep her here. He’d have to. The Law demanded it.

  His mouth twisted in a wry smile. I still have Mikey.

  Lucas narrowed his eyes, his mouth a tight, bitter line. But it was the scent of disappointment wafting off him in waves that struck Gage in the chest. Somehow, he’d thought this would be okay. That he would bring Bridget back here and everyone would accept her, just as they had with the other humans of the pack. Did his brother really believe he had exposed the People on purpose? Had he? He didn’t think so—

  “Don’t shift,” Lucas said and strode from the training facility.

  Gage rolled over and groaned. He saw the flash of headlights again in his memory. Remembered registering that they were wrong and turning to see why—already shifting—before his brain caught up with him. He watched in frozen horror as his mate’s car spun in a crazy arc on the ice, almost in slow motion, but picking up speed as it went. It revolved once, twice and then shot straight off the road, slamming into a tree.

  He was already running toward the wreck when he realized that he was only half shifted. In his shock, he had paused in that place where he liked to pause— that space between where he was neither man, nor beast, but both, the senses of both forms accentuated. As he quickly completed the shift, he saw her white face staring at him, open-mouthed, through her window. So… had it been on purpose? He didn’t think so…