Wolf in the Woods

by N. J. Walters

  “Another friend, Jude Gordon, asked if I wanted to go running with a group. Since that’s something we often do, I went.” She rubbed her hands over her thighs, smoothing nonexistent wrinkles out of the leggings she wore.

  “I rode over in his truck, thinking we were meeting the bigger group there. But there was only Simon.” She shivered, remembering how scared she’d been when she’d stepped out of the truck only to realize there was no one else, only the two other men.

  “You’re safe now,” Billy reminded her. “They can’t hurt you any longer.” Then he did something extraordinary. He turned his gaze toward the alpha and stared him straight in the eyes. “She’s safe here, isn’t she?”

  ****

  Fear rolled off Addie in waves. Billy couldn’t take it any longer. He couldn’t sit there and allow them to interrogate her without saying something. He needed to protect her, to reassure her that she had a safe place with him, with his pack.

  It wasn’t surprising that Cole and Cherise had joined them. That was to be expected considering their history with the Kentucky pack.

  What he hadn’t expected to do was to challenge Jacque in such a way, but something inside him needed to protect Addie at all costs.

  The alpha stared back. He wanted to look away but couldn’t. This was too important. Addie’s fear grew. He could smell it, sense it. She was scared for him, afraid of what Jacque might do.

  What she didn’t understand was that no one else in the room was upset in the slightest, especially not Jacque. He wasn’t the least bit threatened, because it wasn’t a real challenge to his leadership but a need for reassurance.

  Two primal urges were pulling him apart—the need to get a promise from his alpha and a need to comfort and protect Addie. In the end, it really was no contest. He turned to her and cupped her face in his hands. “Everything will be fine. I promise.”

  “He’s not lying,” Jacque told her. “The fact remains that you saved his life. A member of your pack tried to force you to mate with him. That’s not acceptable in my pack. I didn’t figure it would be in yours.”

  She looked at her lap, her fingers plucking at the material of her leggings. “My parents didn’t force me to mate when I came of age.”

  “That’s something,” Jacque muttered.

  Cole growled so low it was more of a vibration, but they all sensed it. Cherise was obviously upset but holding it together.

  Addie swallowed hard. “I know the alpha would prefer I mated. It’s just that I know all the males of age in my pack, and I don’t want any of them. I just want them to leave me alone.”

  Billy wished there was some way he could alleviate her pain. He was damn proud of her, the way she sat straight in her chair and answered all their questions. It wasn’t easy for her to have to spill her guts to strangers.

  “Most men can control their instincts,” Jacque told them. “But some werewolves don’t see why they should. Those are the ones to worry about. I can call your parents, if you’d like. Tell them what happened and why you’re staying with us for a visit. That is, if you want to stay for the time being, until we figure things out.”

  Addie looked shell-shocked. Billy couldn’t blame her. He doubted she’d been expecting that offer when she’d sat down at the table.

  Jacque addressed him next. “You survived a werewolf attack. That’s very rare.” It was a stark reminder he was lucky to be alive.

  Addie made a small sound of distress. Billy wanted to pull her into his lap and hug her, but she wouldn’t appreciate that in front of the others. “It wasn’t luck. It was Addie.” He firmly believed he wouldn’t have made it back from the dead if it hadn’t been for her tenacity and their connection.

  “The question is how far does the change go?”

  That was something he was wondering himself. Up until now, survival had been paramount. Now that he knew he was going to live and Addie was safe, he had questions but no answers. “I’m not sure,” he answered honestly. “My senses are enhanced. And let me tell you, that is going to take some getting used to.” The world was brighter, louder, and filled with more smells than he’d ever imagined.

  “Did you speak with your wolf? The one who saved you?” Gwen asked. She’d gone through a similar experience, but it was something she never talked about.

  “No. I saw the wolf. It tried to block me from getting back, at least at first.” He let himself remember the thickening darkness, the pull of the light trying to yank him away. “I was trying to get back, but it was such a damn hard struggle. I didn’t think I’d make it.”

  Addie went completely still beside him.

  “I fell and started to crawl. The wolf seemed to lie down on my back. I absorbed it. I can’t think of how else to put it. It’s like the wolf just sank into me. It gave me the strength I needed to come back to this life.”

  Silent tears trickled down her cheeks. They were killing him. He reached over and swiped them away with his thumb. Only she’d lived through the experience with him. It would haunt both of them for the rest of their lives.

  “Do you think you can shift?” Jacque asked.

  “I don’t know.” And that was the truth. “I don’t think so. Not yet, in any case.” He was emotionally drained and Addie had to be, too. He stood abruptly and announced, “Addie needs to rest.”

  Her eyes widened and she shook her head vehemently.

  Jacque nodded solemnly, but he could see the twitch in his lips. “I can see that.”

  Billy was being an idiot, but he didn’t care. He wanted to take her somewhere they could be alone and kiss her until she felt better. Okay, maybe that last part was mostly for him.

  “Let me know if you want me to make that call,” Jacque reminded them. “We’ll see you at Gator’s for supper.” That was an order from the alpha, a not-so-subtle reminder that the pack, his family, needed time with him after everything that had happened.

  Giving a nod, he led Addie away from the others. As soon as they were outside, he scooped her into his arms and started walking. He was taking her home.

  ****

  Jacque watched the door close behind the young couple. “They’ve bonded in a big way.” He dragged his fingers through his hair and sighed. “Too bad you can’t tell me about Simon Jones or Jude Gordon, but they’d have been kids when you went there.”

  Cole nodded and said nothing. Didn’t have to. His glare said it all. His friend was less than thrilled about this turn of events, worried how it would affect his mate. Jacque couldn’t blame him.

  Cherise was pale but calm. She leaned against her mate, and his arm tightened around her. “I imagine Simon is related to Irma Jones. The Jones family mostly keep to themselves and aren’t known for being tolerant. No surprise that the boy thinks he can take what he wants. They’re really old school.”

  “Might is right.” Jacque knew the type. His old man had believed the same thing.

  “All we can do is support them. I’m worried about Billy,” Gwen added. “I’m not sure he’s going to be able to shift.”

  “It’s possible he was too far gone. The wolf would have had to give most of its energy to healing him. In essence, the wolf would have had to meld completely with him in order to save him.” Cherise bit her bottom lip. “I think that’s what happened to my wolf when I had the fever when I was a child.”

  Jacque couldn’t imagine being a werewolf and not being able to shift. But in some ways it had made her stronger. “Only time will tell. Once he’s rested, we’ll take him out and see just how much of a wolf he has in him. Until then, we’ll keep an eye on him.”

  When Cole stirred, Jacque knew his old friend had something on his mind. “What?”

  “We need extra patrols. At some point, someone from the pack is going to attack.”

  “Oui.” He agreed with the assessment. “Simon’s not likely to tell anyone what he tried to do. He’s more likely to turn it around and tell them that Billy stole her or coerced her away somehow. Hell, he could even say
that’s why he attacked in the first place. We all know packs don’t like to lose their females of breeding and mating age.”

  Addie had told them that Billy had mentioned their pack by name in order to try to avoid the conflict. He didn’t blame him for that, but it did add another layer of trouble to the mix.

  “I’ll take care of it,” Cole told him.

  Jacque leaned over and gave his mate a long, hot kiss. “I’m going for a quick run. I won’t be too long.”

  “I’ll be waiting,” Gwen promised.

  She was everything to him, which was why he understood where Billy was coming from. Sue’s kid had far more wolf in him now, maybe more than he realized. The way he’d met Jacque’s gaze and challenged him over Addie’s safety was a sure sign.

  He left the house with Cole right behind him. Cherise stayed behind with Gwen.

  “Until this is settled, we stay on high alert.” As alpha, it was his job to protect his pack. It was a duty he took very seriously.

  The two men looked at each other, their commitment to each other and the pack rock solid. They stripped off their clothes and shifted, embracing the wilder side of their nature.

  Then the two large wolves padded quietly into the woods to ensure all was safe.

  ****

  Ryan Hatfield was pissed off, at himself and at Simon. After Seth had told him the younger male had followed him, he should have gone and confronted him. But he’d waited until the next day and now Simon had disappeared.

  Which meant he probably knew more than he’d let on.

  That pissed him off to no end. He didn’t like when his pack was disrupted. Already folks were beginning to talk. They’d noticed both Addie and Simon were missing. Some were speculating they’d run off together, but others were just as adamant that wouldn’t happen, that Addie didn’t want him. He doubted he’d be able to keep a lid on things much longer. Gossip ran rampant in a pack.

  Orin was chopping wood in his front yard when Ryan strolled up. He slammed the axe into the chopping block and met him halfway. “Any news?”

  Well, that answered one of his questions. “I was coming to ask you the same thing.” When the front door opened, he nodded at Sharon. Addie’s momma looked like she hadn’t slept well.

  Orin shook his head. “We haven’t heard anything. Not since the first call.”

  “Would you like some coffee? There’s some biscuits left over from breakfast if you’re interested,” she offered. Her hands were fisted in the apron wrapped around her waist. He could only imagine how worried she was, and now he was going to add to it.

  “No, but thank you.”

  “What is it?” Orin asked. He went to his wife and took her hand in his, the two of them presenting a united front.

  “Simon has gone missing. I think he knows where Addie might be.” A blue jay flew by, making a raucous noise as it passed. “I’ve got people looking for this Billy Gallagher. We’ll find him.” That was a promise.

  “But you think Simon will find them first.” Concern and fury were etched on Orin’s face.

  It wasn’t a question, but he answered anyway. “I do. If Addie calls, warn her to be careful. I doubt this Gallagher can protect her.” And why the hell had she run off with a human? There was a lot more to this story than he’d been told. And he aimed to get to the bottom of it.

  Chapter Nine

  “Are you out of your mind?” Addie demanded. It was hard to sound tough, considering Billy was carrying her, but honestly, she wasn’t sure her legs would hold her. Not after what she’d just been through.

  It wasn’t that they’d interrogated her. They’d simply asked questions—although it was more a command when Jacque asked anything. Then there was Cole. A shiver raced down her spine. He was not happy she was here. She was obviously a reminder of his mate’s unhappy past.

  “You can’t challenge the alpha.” She still couldn’t believe he’d done that. And then to announce they were leaving before the alpha finished questioning them.

  It wasn’t done.

  Either this pack was truly different or Billy had brain damage from his ordeal, and she really didn’t think it was a brain injury.

  “Where are we going?” She really should be more concerned about that issue but couldn’t bring herself to care. Maybe she’d been through too much. Her wolf was content to be here with him and so was she.

  But there was still the not insignificant problem of her parents. “I really need to contact my folks.” She hated worrying them. Her momma would be upset that Addie wasn’t home.

  “What are you going to tell them?” He paused in the middle of the path.

  “Put me down.” It was time for her to stand on her own two feet, in more ways than one. He hesitated but did as she asked. He was so big and strong standing among the trees with the sun shining down on him. It was hard to believe he’d been dead not that long ago. The only indication he’d been injured were the scars peeking out from the collar of his shirt, but there were more lurking under the material.

  His eyes were steady. Vitality surrounded him, along with a wildness he hadn’t had when they’d met.

  How far did the change go?

  A male wolf in his prime would want to mate with a female he was attracted to. After all, that was the whole reason behind their current problems. Yet, for all the conflicting emotions and instincts Billy had to be dealing with, she wasn’t the least bit concerned he’d ever take her by force.

  The biggest difference between him and Simon? She wanted him. All he had to do was stand there and her nipples tightened and her panties got damp.

  “Well?” he prompted.

  Damn, she’d gotten sidetracked staring at him. It wasn’t her fault he was so darn appealing. “I’ll reassure them I’m safe but won’t be home for a while.” They would be hurt by that, but it was the best thing for all of them. She didn’t want to put them in the position of having to choose between her wants and needs and the pack’s demands.

  She caught the scent of another wolf nearby, one she didn’t recognize. Billy’s head came up, and he sniffed the air. “Come on.” He took her by the hand and started back down the narrow trail. “We can talk more at home.”

  Home had always been the small house in Kentucky where she’d grown up, where she still lived with her folks. She was beginning to understand that home wasn’t always a place. Sometimes it was a very special person.

  She wanted to wander the land and see where he lived, but that wasn’t wise. She was a guest here. In spite of the offer of protection, she might not be here for long. It would only take one attack and the offer would most likely be rescinded.

  Then there was the not-so-small matter of Cole. He was out there somewhere. Last thing she wanted to do was run into him. While he seemed to accept the alpha’s edict, she wasn’t about to bet her life on it. He’d freely admitted to killing wolves that were a threat to his mate and pack, and he saw her presence as a threat.

  Billy bypassed the main entrance and went around the deck to a sliding patio door. There were several sets. Made sense since it allowed wolves to leave the house any time of the day or night without making much noise or disrupting the other members of the household.

  It was a clever idea. The only set of sliding doors in her parents’ home was the one off the dining area.

  He opened the door and waited for her to step inside. Even though it was warm, she was chilled to the bone. She sat on the bed and stared out the glass, already wishing she was outside rather than in.

  Crouching down in front of her, he placed his hands on either side of her hips. “Hey. You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. Plus, I think we should wait to call your parents until Jacque is around. I know he’ll want to hear what’s said.”

  He was right. The last thing she wanted to do was get him into trouble with his alpha or abuse the hospitality that had been extended. Calling home without approval might be seen as an act of aggression on her part.

  “I’m s
orry this is so difficult for you. And I know it has to be even harder on your folks.” His genuine concern touched her heart. Because of her—no matter how she looked at the situation, it always came back to her—he’d been brutally attacked and irrevocably changed. And yet, here he was, worried not about himself, but her and her family.

  At a loss for words, she placed her hands on his cheeks. The slight prickle of beard was a sensual caress against her skin. He turned his head and nuzzled the palm of her hand. A quiver of delight speared through her, accompanied by an ache between her thighs.

  She was twenty-four years old, but she was a virgin. Living at home and knowing that any kind of sexual activity might lead to a mating, she’d been too wary to get involved with any man.

  But Billy was different. He’d risked his life to save her. He’d put her wants and needs ahead of his own. Most of all, there was a connection between them, one that transcended the physical. It might sound corny, but it was almost spiritual in nature. They’d gone through an ordeal that would forever bind them.

  If Simon had had his way, her introduction to sex would have been a forced mating. A shiver of dread made her blood run cold. She didn’t want that. She wanted the first male she slept with to be one of her choosing, one she wanted without reservation.

  The only one she could ever see herself doing that with was crouched right in front of her.

  “Billy.” She repeated his name, not quite knowing how to ask for what she wanted.

  But this was Billy. Once again, he proved he was in tune with her and her needs. “Are you sure?” he asked. “We can wait.” He ran a hand over her hair before tucking a strand behind her ear. “There’s no rush, sweetheart.”

  The endearment made her breathing quicken and her heart beat faster. She nodded.

  His broad shoulders tensed as he stood and tugged the drapes over the glass, covering the sliding doors. Good idea. The last thing she wanted was for someone to walk by and see them. If they noticed the drapes were closed, they’d probably assume either one or both of them were resting.