Werewolves & Whiskers: Sawtooth Peaks Wolf Shifter Romance Box Set

by Keira Blackwood

  An ornate, porcelain hairbrush sat atop the mirror-backed dresser by the bed. I collected it and the small makeup bag that sat beside it and put them in my backpack. The dresser and closet brimmed with more clothes than I could carry, about twice what I had owned before I had given much of my wardrobe away. Prioritizing, I gathered the pieces I felt were most essential, and those I recognized as some of her favorites. Underwear, bras, a pair of skinny jeans, a few shirts that looked familiar, and a warm sweater all made it into my bag. Little room left, I picked a pair of flats that would fit her better than my shoes. She couldn’t wear them in the snow, but she could use them indoors.

  Before I left, I picked one last item to return home with—the photograph of Gran, me, and Troy.

  Chapter Six

  Lance

  My palms were moist on the wheel as I drove slowly past the sign that read Ellistown. The windshield wipers flicked back and forth as I rolled slowly through the empty streets, unsure where to go.

  The town was nothing like it had been the night we had come for Hailey. Metal and wood that had created boundary walls had been removed and sat in mounds at the edges of town. The homes that those supplies had belonged to were left abandoned and in pieces, while moist flurries fell through missing roofs. In the light of day, the burning and destruction was much more evident than it had been in the rush of that night. These people needed more than a few boxes of food; they needed their town entirely rebuilt.

  I drove slowly, looking for a sign of where the survivors were actually staying, a sign of life. A wide-shouldered giant walked toward my truck through the parking lot of a long, wooden building, and locked eyes with me.

  In a red, plaid shirt and dark jeans, with brown hair and beard, the mountain of a man was unforgettable. My grip tightened on the wheel. I’d recognize the grizzly who had investigated Cole anywhere—Liam Blake.

  I parked the truck and climbed out to speak to him. The grizzly seemed unaffected by the chill of the icy air and snow as he stopped next to my truck without a jacket. Snowflakes melted as they landed in his hair and across his shoulders. Blake was nearly as tall as me, and at least twice as wide, a massive wall of muscle. Unsure of his intentions, I offered my hand, and he accepted.

  “Lance Tenbrook,” he said as we shook, “what brings you to Ellistown?”

  “Mr. Blake, I’m looking for Trixie Walker. Do you know where I can find her?”

  “What do you want with her?” he asked, his face hard and unreadable. Interrogation must have been in his nature.

  “She called me. I’ve brought her some things,” I said, gesturing to the box that sat on the truck’s bench.

  He crossed his thick arms and looked into the truck’s window, then nodded at me. “She came by here earlier, but walked down that street not too long ago. She’s probably the only she-wolf wandering the town. You should be able to find her.”

  I followed his gaze and saw more of the same, an empty street in ruins, blanketed in white.

  “Thanks,” I said, and set out in the direction he had indicated.

  It would have been smart to have taken the time to dress for the weather, to put on boots instead of loafers. I should have worn a thicker coat and a hat. If I had been thinking clearly, I would have asked for more information before throwing on my jacket, gathering what I could fit in a box, and driving straight here to see a woman I knew nothing about. I should have asked what she wanted me to bring, and how I could reach her. But I couldn’t think about anything that I should; all that occupied my mind was the desire to reach Trixie Walker.

  I wondered if Trixie was better dressed for the weather than I was. I wondered what kind of errand she was on, and what kind of person she was. The sound of her husky voice still lingered in my mind.

  After a few quiet blocks, I heard movement ahead. Following the sound, I found a rancher missing all of the boards that should have composed the front siding. A small woman climbed out between the studs, then pulled a backpack between the studs behind her and slung it over her shoulders. The stuffed bag looked like it weighed as much as her, with her tiny frame.

  Continuing my approach, I couldn’t help but stare as I tried to get a better look at the woman who had such an overwhelming effect on me.

  Fiery red hair hung over her shoulders in loose ringlets, and her emerald eyes lit when she met mine. A light speckling of freckles decorated the tops of her cheeks and across the bridge of her petite nose. Her mouth turned up at the side for only a moment, revealing an adorable dimple, then straightened once again. She was naturally beautiful without the smile, but after seeing a glimpse of the redhead’s grin, I wanted nothing more than to see her smile again.

  My inner wolf urged me forward to touch her, the most beautiful woman I had ever seen, but I held back.

  “Trixie?” I asked, leaving a few feet between us. Even with the distance, I caught her intoxicating scent: citrus, cranberry, and a gentle sweetness that didn’t come from her soap.

  She squinted her eyes at me, then put a black baseball hat over her head. “Who wants to know?”

  “I’m Lance, Cole’s brother,” I said, with what I hoped was a reassuring smile.

  “Oh,” she said, “that was fast. Did you bring anything with you?”

  I looked down at my empty hands. “Of course, back at my truck. Will you walk with me?”

  She stepped up to my side, and we walked back the way I had come. “What did you bring?”

  “I threw together a box of random stuff. I’ll bring more if you tell me what you need.”

  “Thank you,” she said.

  “I’m happy to help,” I replied. “If you don’t mind me asking, was that your house?”

  “No.”

  “Sorry, I don’t mean to pry.” I didn’t want to make her uncomfortable, but I had an overwhelming desire to know everything about her.

  “It’s my brother Troy’s house,” she said.

  “I’m glad you have family here for support,” I replied.

  “Well, I wouldn’t say that.” Her shoulders relaxed as we walked, easing my worry that I was causing her additional stress. “I haven’t found him yet. But my sister-in-law has been staying with me.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that he’s missing. Have you talked to Liam Blake, the grizzly? He may know where your brother is,” I suggested.

  “No. I’m not much for bears.”

  “You’re not alone on that. For whatever reason, the Tribunal sent them instead of wolves, and the grizzlies seem to want to help. Well,” I said, “at least the one that stayed.”

  “He’s okay,” she agreed. “Tell me about you.”

  Trixie looked up at me, more relaxed than she had been, her bright green eyes searching my face.

  “Well, I run a bar that I share with my half-brother in Sawtooth Peaks,” I said.

  “So if he mated a human, does he remain your acting alpha?”

  “No, it wouldn’t be accepted, and he doesn’t want to be,” I said.

  She nodded. “So you are without an alpha just as we are? Or have you claimed the position?”

  “Cole just left on his honeymoon, and no one’s put in a claim yet. I’m expected to, and I’m doing my best to fill in, but I have no mate.”

  “Oh,” she blushed, red cheeks mirroring her beautiful hair.

  “Do you have a next in line here?” I asked.

  “No. Stratton had no brothers. It’s undecided. Besides, there isn’t much of a pack left to claim,” she replied gesturing to the remnants of the town around us.

  “I’m so sorry you lost your mate,” I said, and touched her hand. Her skin was soft and cold. My inner wolf screamed for her as my body ignited at our contact. I had never felt such a need for someone, never felt the urge to tear off a woman’s clothes and mate her in the street.

  Allowing myself only a moment of her, I released her hand. Trixie let out a breath.

  “Stratton was my best friend, my partner in business and in my life,” she sa
id, face flushed, and placed a hand on the cap on her head. “I first met him the day Troy and I moved in with Gran, when we were kids. He had come over to see who the new kids were and he had enjoyed playing in the dirt as much as I had. We were fast friends, but just that. So when Stratton needed a mate to take his father’s place as alpha, perform the duty our pack required of him, it was easy to say yes. We had always enjoyed each other’s company and I had never imagined fairytale love in my cards.”

  “It sounds like you accepted your mate out of duty, just as he did.”

  “It’s true, but even so, it’s hard moving past the loss of my best friend. He’s always been here, and my life is too quiet without him.”

  I could relate to the too quiet, but I knew losing a mate, whether or not there was romantic love, must be harder than just living alone.

  “I’m sure,” I said. The long building where I had run into Blake stood just ahead.

  We stopped at my truck, and I wished the distance had taken longer. “The box is on the bench,” I said. “It isn’t much, but if you want me to bring anything else, or you need anything at all, please call me. Even if you just need someone to talk to.” I pulled a bent business card from my pocket and handed it to Trixie. It had my name, the name of the bar, and my cell on it.

  Staring down at the card in her hands, Trixie said, “Thank you, Lance Tenbrook.”

  “Just Lance,” I said. “And you’re welc—”

  She cut me off with her supple, pink lips on mine. Her eyes closed, and she touched my chest with her small hand. She lit my body on fire, every nerve raw and desperate for more. I put my hands in her strawberry hair, fingering her soft curls. The wolf inside compelled me to claim her as my mate. I moved my lips against hers, tasting and exploring her sweet mouth. Fighting myself, I held back, but I needed more; I needed her.

  As if she felt my desperation, she pushed away, leaving me cold and empty. Her emerald eyes were wide, and lines of concern crossed her brow. “I’m…I’m,” she said, “I have to go.”

  Trixie opened the passenger side door to my truck and pulled out the box of food I had brought from my pantry.

  “Thank you for this. I’m sorry,” she said, and took off toward the Come On Inn.

  “Trixie,” I called, but she didn’t turn back. Her red curls bounced as she ran from me.

  I had let myself go too far. She had just lost her mate, and I was ready to claim her in the street.

  If I followed her inside, I would probably just fuck things up worse. She deserved the space she needed. Part of me wished she would run back outside, or call as soon as she entered, begging me to follow. The other part knew my timing couldn’t be worse, and I needed to regain self-control before I saw her again.

  All of my ability to reason disappeared in her presence, and only one thing was clear—Trixie Walker was meant to be my mate.

  Chapter Seven

  Trixie

  Butterflies fluttered in my stomach, and my heart raced. What was I thinking? The sensual, magnetic pull to that man was nearly impossible to resist. Confidence had poured off of his tall, fit body. He had dressed like a business man, not like he should be running errands for me in the snow. How many women had fallen for those deep, sapphire eyes and easy smile? Plenty, I was sure. He must have thought I was such an idiot, kissing him like that. We didn’t know each other, I was a broken mess, and he was way out of my league. There were plenty of reasons why I shouldn’t have crossed that line, but I couldn’t help it. I had never been so drawn to anyone before, never felt such a strong need to touch another person.

  One thing was clear—I couldn’t trust myself around Lance Tenbrook.

  Holding tight to the box he had brought for me, I leaned against the wall by the payphone in the hall of the Come On Inn. It was hard not to rush back out to him, see how far he would let my passion go. I needed to go in and see Mara, to have someone to talk out my feelings with. Was it too soon after losing Stratton? Had I dishonored his memory by kissing another man? Stratton’s and my relationship had never been a physical one, but we had been mates.

  My feelings wouldn’t matter, anyway. After I made such an ass of myself, Lance wouldn’t want to see me again. He probably had beautiful she-wolves lined up begging to be his mate. What chance did someone like me have? I ran my fingers through the hair that hung over my shoulder, checking that the red strands covered my scars. The best thing to do was to bring in the box of food, give Mara her clothes, and try to forget about the man whose face I couldn’t get out of my head.

  Straightening myself, I took a deep breath and knocked on the door at the end of the hall. Fleur peeked through and unlocked the chain.

  “Hey,” I said.

  “Hi, Trixie. How did it go?” she asked.

  “Troy wasn’t there,” I answered, and looked around the room for my sister-in-law. “Where’s Mara?” I asked, unable to find her in the small room.

  “Your brother came here while you were gone,” she said, then looked down, avoiding my eyes. “He asked Mara to go back to the mayor’s mansion with him.”

  I crossed over to the bed and dropped the box of food. Turning back to Fleur, I asked, “Did she go willingly? Or did he force her?”

  I tried to keep my voice even, but it was difficult. While I was out flirting, Mara had been taken.

  “She went without being forced,” she said.

  “I have to go. There’s food in the box,” I said, and left without looking back.

  The icy earth crunched beneath my boots as I stalked toward the prison where I had been held. At least the snow had stopped. My coat and hat were already damp from walking around in the falling snow, too much more time out in the cold and I was liable to get sick.

  My fists held tight to the straps of the backpack I carried. I had hoped that Troy wasn’t taken away by the bears, but now that he had Mara, I wasn’t so sure that his escape was for the best. He’d left Mara and me to rot with Dashiell—why was he interested in her now? She had been doing so well, and now being back with him, back in that place, I imagined her curled up in the corner of our cell wearing her tulle dress and sobbing. The thought made me sick, and I prayed that I was worried for nothing.

  The two-story building stood apart from the rest of town, yet sat in its center. I had avoided even looking in this direction since that night, the night that I had been freed. The weight on my back felt greater with each step I took, and it was increasingly difficult to make my legs move. I told myself I didn’t have to stay long, I just had to talk to Troy and Mara, then I could go. Mara could come home with me, and Troy too, if Mara wanted him.

  There was no front door on the mansion from where the bears had forced their way in, only a plastic sheet attached to the frame. As I pulled it to the side, my head spun. My chest was tight as I stepped through the doorway, making it hard to breathe. All of my instincts told me to bolt. Forcing a measured, deep breath, I took one step at a time. The sooner this was done, the sooner I could go.

  “Hello?” I called. The sound of my voice in my ears was shaky and unfamiliar.

  Hyperaware of my surroundings, I listened for signs of him. I expected Dashiell to step out any moment, to call me Beatrice and put his hands on me. I knew he was dead, but knowing didn’t ease my fear. After a few more steps, a tall, wide figure entered the hall. His scent was wolf, and his stance was hard, like an enforcer. Goosebumps covered my skin. It took everything I had not to run for the door.

  “Trixie?” he asked. After he spoke, I recognized the man. Short, brown hair, dull, gray eyes, and concern on his brow—I recognized him as Dwayne Cullen, one of Stratton’s men.

  “Dwayne?” I asked, working to steady my voice.

  “Yeah,” he answered. “How are you holding up?”

  Not a question I was willing to answer.

  “I need to see my brother,” I said.

  “Okay. I’ll show you to him,” he said, and held out his arm, gesturing me to walk beside him.

 
I kept my distance as he led me through the elaborately decorated mansion, while keeping him within my sight. If he was here, did that mean he’d stood beside Dashiell? I didn’t remember seeing him the night of the attack or any time after. Clearly he hadn’t died by Stratton’s side, but he also wasn’t taken by the bears. Was he a coward or coldblooded? I decided not to ask.

  Just outside of the library, we found my twin in the hall. He looked comfortable in black dress pants and a white button-down shirt, like an important businessman. It seemed my concern for him was for nothing; Troy had not suffered any of the horrors the rest of the town had.

  “Troy,” I said, more firmly than I had intended.

  “Trixie,” he said, and put his arms around my shoulders, “how nice to see you, sister.”

  “Where’s Mara?” I asked.

  “She’s upstairs, settling in. What can I do for you?”

  “I need to see Mara,” I said.

  “Mara, dear,” he called over his shoulder, then turned back to me. I felt Dwayne’s eyes on me as I stared down my brother.

  “I was worried about you,” I told Troy.

  “There’s nothing to be concerned about,” he said. “I’m just fine.”

  “I see.”

  “You look like you could use a good meal,” he said, looking me up and down. “Would you like to join us for dinner?”

  “Dinner?” I asked. I had to beg a stranger for food to feed our town, and my brother was living in the luxury of a mansion, eating full meals. The thought made me sick.

  “Yes, you can catch up with my mate at dinner.”

  “Mara,” I called.

  “I assure you she’s fine. But it’s nice to see you two getting along so well.”

  “Why are you here?” I asked.

  “Why not?” he answered. “My home is in pieces, and this place was empty.”