Wolf in the Woods

by N. J. Walters

  Not wanting to linger, she didn’t waste any time. With her hair washed and her body scrubbed, she felt more like herself, but she was different in some indefinable way. The experience in the woods had left a mark that would never be washed away.

  When she turned off the water and stepped out, she heard no voices in the other room. Maybe they’d all left. Not in any hurry to face anyone, she took her time and helped herself to Billy’s hairdryer and brush.

  She wrinkled her nose in disgust and tossed the soiled shirt into the laundry bin. No way was she putting that thing back on. Wrapped in a towel, she cracked open the bathroom door. The room was empty, but the bedding had been changed. She sniffed and caught Sue’s scent.

  There was a small pile of clothing on the chair, including a package of unopened underwear, for which she was profoundly grateful. The choices were limited, but she was thrilled to be clean and clothed. The dark brown leggings fit, as did the green sweater she paired them with. The slip-on canvas sneakers were only a little loose.

  Since putting off the inevitable any longer was cowardly, Addie opened the bedroom door and took a deep breath. She followed the alluring smell of bacon to the kitchen, focusing on the food and not the other wolves her nose had detected.

  The second he saw her, Billy jumped out of his chair and came to her side. He’d showered and dressed in a pair of faded jeans and a T-shirt that hugged his shoulders and biceps. Her heart gave a little leap, and her mouth began to water—and not because of the food. She fought down the urge to stroke his broad chest. “I’m not sure you remember everyone,” he began, drawing her attention back to the group.

  “I know Reece and Sage.” She nodded at both in turn and was ridiculously pleased when she got them right. They were twins, but there was something very different in the way they held themselves. Sage was more open, Reece more suspicious and guarded. They’d smelled different, but there were too many scents in the room for her to differentiate them this far away.

  “This is my wife, Rina,” Sage said as he put his arm around the woman next to him.

  “And this is Hannah,” Reece told her.

  Addie nodded at both women. “Nice to meet you.” She was used to being surrounded by wolves, but not by strangers. It made her uneasy. Elias nodded at her. She couldn’t get a read on him. He watched her intently without giving away much, other than his love for his wife and family.

  “Sit. You need to eat.” She allowed Billy to lead her to the table. It was either that or be dragged behind him, which wasn’t happening. Plus, she needed fuel if she was going to start thinking straight and be at her physical best.

  “It all smells delicious,” she told Sue.

  The older woman waved away her praise. “It’s mostly food others have brought over. There’s steak and potatoes, chicken soup, and spicy chili. If you have a sweet tooth, there are chocolate chip cookies, apple pie, cherry pie, chocolate layer cake, and lemon pound cake. I’ve also made breakfast—bacon, eggs, ham, pancakes, and toast. What would you like?”

  What would she like? She had no idea. It all sounded delicious. Her stomach was growling and her mouth salivating. “Doesn’t matter. Whatever is easiest.” She didn’t want to be a bother.

  Billy rubbed her shoulder. “How about we start with breakfast and see how that goes?”

  She nodded. That worked for her. Anything worked as long as she got it soon. At this point, she was hungry enough to gnaw on shoe leather. Just smelling the food was making her weak.

  The others were watching her, even though they were pretending not to. She could only imagine what they were thinking. Or maybe she couldn’t. She would have expected them to show her the door long before now, not let her sleep and then feed her.

  “Pancakes?” Billy asked. He held out the platter. She took several, then added eggs and bacon. She listened with half an ear while she ate. The women talked about sewing projects and the men about … crops. That was a surprise. But it seemed Sage was a farmer.

  Addie also made sure that Billy was eating. Not that she had to worry with his family hovering over him. Sue kept stroking her son’s head every time she walked by him on the way to the kitchen to retrieve another platter filled with food.

  When her stomach was full, Addie set her fork aside and turned to Elias. This was his home, and he was the oldest male here. “I need to call my parents.”

  Billy stopped eating and rested a hand on her shoulder, offering his silent support. Tears pricked her eyes, as the gesture went straight to her heart, but she blinked them aside.

  Elias kicked back and rested his hands on his stomach. “Why don’t you leave that for a little bit longer? Jacque wants to see the both of you as soon as you’re finished eating.”

  Of course the alpha would want to see them. She’d answered some of his questions, but he likely had more. She’d actually fallen asleep with him standing in the room. That was a huge breach of etiquette. This wasn’t her pack. She was a guest here—an uninvited one, at that.

  “I’m done,” she told him. Better to get this over with. She turned to Sue. “Thank you for the meal and the clothing. Thank you for everything.” When she stood, so did Billy.

  “We’ll be back in a bit,” he told his momma.

  God, she wished she was half as relaxed and confident as he was. But why wouldn’t he be both those things? This was his pack, his family.

  Her wolf howled inside her. She gripped her hands together and nodded at Elias. “Lead the way.”

  ****

  Simon was enjoying himself, in spite of the fact he’d driven for hours and then spent the night in the back of his truck. He might disdain humans, but he liked being among them, knowing he was stronger than they were—smarter, too. And there were no restrictions here, not like there were in the pack.

  “More coffee?” The waitress hovered beside him, coffeepot in hand.

  “Sure.” When she was done, he watched her walk away. If he had more time, he might pursue her. He did so love the chase, and fucking humans was fun. But he had more serious business to attend to.

  Salvation, North Carolina, was a small town, but a surprisingly vibrant one with shops along the main street. He wouldn’t find what he needed here. It was only a starting point.

  As soon as city hall opened, he was going to amble over and check out the property records for the land around the town. A pack would own the largest parcel.

  He wasn’t worried about anyone finding out what he was doing. After all, he was simply trying to convince a pack member to return home. And if it took a little force and coercion to make that happen… He mentally shrugged, not the least bit concerned.

  He sipped his coffee before digging back into his breakfast. He was confident he’d find Addie at some point today. Then it was only a matter of stalking her and watching for the right moment to pounce.

  Chapter Eight

  Billy glanced at Addie, wishing he knew what she was thinking. Head down, she walked alongside him as though headed to the gallows, or at least to a funeral.

  I’m an idiot.

  She didn’t know his family. He also had no idea what had gone on while he’d been out. He’d have to ask his father about that later. Not that he was too concerned. His pack would have treated her well.

  “We don’t have to do this if you’re not ready.”

  The glance she shot him suggested he’d lost his mind. “The alpha wants to see us.”

  And in any other wolf pack it would be dangerous not to answer that summons, but this was the Salvation Pack. One phone call to let Jacque know that she wasn’t well enough to talk to him yet and the meeting would be postponed.

  But delaying things wouldn’t help her relax. Better to get it over and done with so they could figure out their next move. He needed time to convince her to stay, to take a chance on them.

  He was jumping the gun, maybe talking crazy. They’d both been through a life-changing incident. Maybe she’d want to put it behind her and move on.

/>   The idea that she might want to forget him made his heart ache. He’d always been a thinker, taking time to ponder his options before making any big decisions. Now it seemed more natural to act on instinct. And his was screaming at him not to let Addie go.

  He was himself but different. He couldn’t quite explain it, even to himself. He flexed his hand several times, feeling a strength that hadn’t existed before.

  Reaching out, he touched her hand. She jerked it away but seconds later placed her palm against his. He twined their fingers together. This was how it was meant to be.

  Now he just needed to convince Addie, her pack, and his of the same thing.

  Easy.

  He almost laughed out loud. He did love a challenge, but this might be too much for even him to tackle. He also had no idea what the senior members of the pack were thinking. Oh, they’d never hurt Addie, but they might not want her to stay and instigate a war with her pack. There were children to protect.

  It was a sobering thought.

  Something stirred inside him, some inner wildness that hadn’t existed before. If Addie left, he’d follow. He’d never force her to accept him if she didn’t want him, but he wouldn’t let her face her pack and family and, most of all, Simon, on her own.

  They took the curve in the path, and the alpha’s home came into view. Two teenagers were just leaving when they arrived.

  “Hey, Aaron. Hey, Etienne.” Aaron was Jacque’s younger son, although at seventeen, he was certainly no child. And beside him was eighteen-year-old Etienne, Gator and Sylvie’s pride and joy.

  “Hey, Billy. Glad you’re okay,” Aaron said as he drew up beside them. Both young men gave him a hug, while watching Addie with curiosity and interest.

  She shifted subtly away from them. He wondered if her nervousness was due to the fact they were strangers or because they were almost full-grown, unattached werewolf males.

  Before he could introduce them, Jacque appeared in the doorway. “Come in.”

  Both teens stepped aside to let them pass. With one hand on Addie’s lower back to propel her forward, Billy followed the alpha inside.

  ****

  Addie was scared to death and desperately trying not to show it. Her wolf whined inside her, not happy at being around all these unknown wolves. Breakfast had been marginally better. That had only been Billy’s immediate family. This was markedly different.

  How many young, unmated men were there in this pack? The two she’d just met were a little young, but sometimes wolves were promised to each other and mated when they reached an appropriate age.

  It was sobering to realize she might have bolted if Billy hadn’t been right beside her. She’d always thought herself brave and confident. But these past couple of days, she’d been consumed by fear.

  I’m alive and so is Billy. That was all that mattered.

  A woman with short blonde hair and blue eyes stood beside the alpha. There was also a younger male who looked so much like him, it had to be his son.

  “Oh, Billy.” The woman ran into Billy’s open arms for a hug.

  A wave of jealousy surged through her. She gritted her teeth and fought it back. The alpha pinned her with a glare that promised death if she did anything to upset the woman. Oddly enough, that show of possessiveness calmed Addie.

  “Gwen, let the boy breathe.” Jacque put his hands on her shoulders and pulled her away.

  “Sorry about that. We were just so worried.”

  Billy grinned. “It’s okay. Gwen, this is Addie Fuller. Addie, this is Gwen LaForge, the alpha’s mate.”

  Her wolf settled down some after that announcement. “Pleased to meet you,” Addie offered.

  “This is our oldest son, Nicholas.” Gwen gestured to the man who stood next to them. It was hard to place his age. He was older than a teenager but not as old as her.

  Addie nodded and sidled a little closer to Billy, sensing Nicholas’s interest. Not that she caught anything of a sexual nature, just plain, old-fashioned curiosity.

  “Jacque wanted a pack meeting, but I thought you’d feel more comfortable if it was just us first.” Gwen gestured all of them toward the chairs settled around the large dining table. “Please sit.”

  Addie couldn’t imagine being brave enough to tell the alpha what he should do. Although, she could imagine the alpha’s wife of her own pack doing such a thing, but only in private, never in front of anyone else. Especially not in front of an outsider.

  She took a chair on the far end of the table, as distant as she could get from Jacque. He raised one eyebrow but made no comment as he took his seat.

  “I’ll be going,” Nicholas told them.

  “Let me know if you’re having supper at Etienne’s,” Gwen told him.

  He grinned. “I’m having supper at Etienne’s. You know Gator makes the best food.”

  “Go on. Get out.” She shooed her son away, but she was laughing.

  It was Gator who’d checked out Billy’s wounds. He was a good cook, too? A man of many talents.

  Then they were finally alone—just the alpha couple and her and Billy.

  Jacque leaned back in his chair and pinned her with a golden-eyed stare. “What are we going to do about you?”

  There were a lot of things he could do. Many of them not the least bit pleasant.

  “I should leave.” That would be the best for everyone, except maybe her. She had nowhere to go and no money.

  He rubbed a hand across his chin. “See, I have a problem with that.”

  She began to shiver. She tried not to, but the alpha was one scary man. Billy slid his arm around her shoulders and squeezed.

  “Why? If I left, you could forget all about me. There would be no repercussions with my pack.”

  “No.” Billy tightened his hold on her briefly. Then he spun in his chair and tugged hers around until she was facing him. He took her hands in his. He had such rough hands. Big, too. What would they feel like on her body?

  Talk about an inappropriate thought to have in front of the alpha.

  Jacque cleared his throat and they all looked back at him. “Save that until later, okay?” He pointed at her. “You saved Billy’s life.”

  She shook her head. “If it weren’t for me, he wouldn’t have been in the position to get hurt in the first place.”

  “Did you want to mate with this Simon fellow?” Gwen asked. The alpha had, no doubt, told his mate everything.

  “Tell me about him,” Jacque ordered.

  Before she could begin, a knock came on the door.

  “Should have known,” he muttered. “Come on in.”

  The door opened and Cole walked in. He was still the biggest man Addie had ever laid eyes on and one of the scariest. In fact, he was even more menacing than she remembered. His green eyes swept over her, missing nothing. His scowl deepened. Her wolf bristled and then whined inside her.

  “Let me by.” A woman’s voice came from behind him. He reluctantly stepped aside to let her enter. Tall, with black hair and gray eyes, she studied Addie for a long moment. “Who are your parents?”

  Taken aback by the abrupt demand, she glanced at Billy. He seemed as interested as everyone else. Cole glared and took a step toward her. She quickly replied, “Orin and Sharon Fuller.”

  “Will you come in and close the damn door,” Jacque told them. “This is Cole Blanchard and Cherise Michaels,” he continued. “Cherise used to be a member of your pack before she mated with Cole.”

  Addie’s breath caught in her throat. She’d been right. This was the Cole Blanchard. She’d heard stories about the man and had thought them just that—stories embellished with the years of telling. But being up close and personal like this, she could well believe he’d killed several members of her pack before being allowed to leave in peace. If anything, the stories about him might be understated.

  It was whispered that Ryan Hatfield, her alpha, was afraid of Cole. Seeing him, she understood why.

  Cole shut the door and ushered Cheri
se to the table. Cherise Michaels. She didn’t know any Michaels. “I’m sorry,” she began. “I don’t know your family.”

  Cole stiffened and growled. This wolf didn’t like her, not one bit. He was also big enough and strong enough to kill her before anyone could stop him.

  “How old are you?” Cole demanded.

  Addie looked at the alpha and got his nod before she answered. “Twenty-four.”

  “You wouldn’t even have been born when I left with my mother. Would only have been a child when I briefly returned.” She offered her a smile. “I remember both of your parents. They were good people.”

  “Not good enough to stop what happened,” Cole said. “Do you know why I visited your pack all those years ago?”

  She shook her head. “Not really. They say you killed some men.”

  He nodded. “I did. I found three of them hunting Cherise on Salvation Pack land. They wouldn’t walk away, so I killed them. Then I had to visit your pack to make sure no one else would come after my mate.”

  Just like that. As if it was no different than taking a trip to the store.

  Addie began to sweat. These men wouldn’t hesitate to get rid of any threat to their pack. God, don’t let them see me as a threat.

  “I’ll leave. I won’t tell anyone where I was.”

  “No one is going to hurt you, Addie,” Billy told her.

  “It’s not your place to make such promises,” she reminded him. That was up to the alpha. This pack might be more lenient than most, but Jacque’s word was law.

  “You were about to tell me about the man who wants to mate with you,” Jacque reminded her.

  Right. The quicker she could satisfy their curiosity, the faster she’d be able to get out of here. Although, she had no idea where she’d go since home wasn’t any safer, not with Simon running around.

  “Simon Jones,” she began. “I’ve known him since we were kids. The past few months he’s been sniffing around. I told him I wouldn’t mate with him and thought he accepted it.”

  She hated to tell them this part because in hindsight it made her seem stupid. And she wasn’t. Just too damn trusting of pack members she’d known her entire life.