Deadly Seduction (Feral Protectors 3) (3 page)

Lucian said, “I sent a group of scouts up the mountain to try to figure out what happened.”

Nosh groaned. He didn’t need them to find evidence that he’d accidentally fallen off a cliff. How could he run the pack if the other wolves suspected weakness? The only way to remain in complete control was to move on from the incident. “Call off the search. I probably got caught in a rock slide or something. We don’t need to know the details.”

Lucian said, “They’re already up the mountain, but I’ll send someone to bring them back.”

“Good.”

Fadian returned with thick strips of deer jerky and yellow squash. Nosh’s stomach growled. He tried to drag himself into a better sitting position but failed. His arms wobbled from the exertion. Frustration furrowed his brow. He didn’t want the other wolves to see him so helpless.

Gwen took the food from Fadian. “Thank you.”

Nosh said, “Fadian, Lucian, I’ll let you guys get back to your regular duties.”

The wolves nodded.

Lucian said, “I’ll let the others know you’re going to make a full recovery.”

“I’ll be back on my paws in no time,” Nosh said with more bravado than he felt.

As soon as the two wolves left the room, he collapsed against the pillows. He didn’t need to fake his level of exhaustion in front of Akila or Gwen. The women had enough experience with injuries to know that recovery would take time. He hated to admit it, but he wouldn’t be back on his feet for a while.

Gwen tore bits of meat from the thick strip of jerky and dropped them into a cooking pot. After cutting the squash into small cubes, she tossed them in with the meat. She added a handful of fresh herbs from the basket by her feet and used a ladle to stir the soup.

He couldn’t take his eyes off Gwen. Her graceful movements captured his attention. As long as he could look at her, he could handle the muscle spasms which wracked his body with pain. If he could spend the next week admiring her voluptuous body, he’d be healed. But he knew she wouldn’t stay any longer than necessary. She lived with the Silver Creek Pack and even though he wanted her to stay a while, he knew she’d return home as soon as possible.

When she turned her back to him, he sucked in a breath. Long scars had carved a painful reminder of her attack into her flesh. Although he couldn’t remember what had happened on the mountain before his fall, he remembered her story. If the man who attacked her wasn’t already dead, he would have organized a pack to kill him. No woman deserved to be treated like an animal, especially not someone as sweet as Gwen.

She turned slightly and caught him staring. He quickly looked away but not before seeing the sadness in her eyes. If Akila hadn’t been in the room, he would have asked Gwen about it. But he didn’t want to question her about something so personal in front of another wolf.

A smooth voice called from just beyond the cloth covering the door. “May I come in?”

Nosh instantly recognized the wolf’s voice. “Of course, Mazus. Please, come in.”

Mazus stepped into the room. They’d had their differences in the past, first when Stryde had chosen Nosh to become the new alpha, and again when Mazus had been passed over for the beta position. But over the last few months, Mazus had quickly become one of Nosh’s right hand men. He could rely on him to step into any roll. Nosh was glad the wolf had finally accepted his position in the pack.

Mazus slowly crossed the room. He eyed Nosh as if appraising his condition.

“How are you feeling?”

“Like I fell down a mountain.”

Mazus stopped beside the bed. “What happened?”

“I’m not sure. I only remember bits and pieces of the day.”

“What do you remember?” As Mazus leaned in slightly, a look of concern washed across his features.

Nosh said, “I see flashes of the mountain and not much more.”

Mazus returned to his full height. “Maybe the head injury erased your memory?”

“It’s weird because I can remember everything except for what happened before I fell. It will come back to me eventually.”

“Or maybe you’ll never remember.” Mazus shrugged and turned to Gwen. In a suggestive tone he asked, “Are you giving him a sponge bath after you feed him?”

“Mazus! Have some manners,” Akila snapped.

He held up his hands in mock surrender. “I was just kidding. I should get going. I’ll leave you to take care of the patient.”

Akila narrowed her eyes. “You do that.”

Gwen shrunk back. Hear gaze dropped to the floor and she wrapped her arms across her chest. If Nosh hadn’t been completely incapacitated, he would have gone to her. But standing was out of the question. Mazus had never known how to talk to women. Nosh wondered how he had ever managed to ever mate with anyone.

Mazus flashed Gwen a sleek smile before turning to face Nosh. “Get better, buddy. Let me know if I can do anything to help.”

Nosh said, “I’ll let you know. In the meantime, check in with Lucian and see if he has any chores that need to be completed.”

A spark of anger flickered in his eyes so fast, that Nosh was sure he’d imagined it.

After Mazus left, Akila brought a jar of ointment and sat near his feet. “I don’t like him.”

“He can be a bit of a jerk, but overall, I think he means well.”

Gwen scoffed. “Some people can seem trustworthy until you turn your back on them.”

***

Mazus waited in the shadowy hall outside of Nosh’s room. He couldn’t believe his luck. Nosh didn’t die, but he didn’t remember anything either. But that didn’t mean he wouldn’t get his memory back. In time, his brain injury might heal and then he’d realize what had really happened on the mountain.

Mazus backed further into the darkness. He needed to formulate a new plan. If he killed Nosh now, it would be too suspicious. But, if he could make it look like he’d died as a result of his injuries, then no one would suspect foul play.

He smiled. He knew exactly how to finish the alpha—poison. Akila had extensive knowledge of all of the healing herbs in the forest, but Mazus knew even more than she did. He’d spent years testing various concoctions on animals to gauge their affects. Belladonna was his favorite. The shiny black berries could be brewed into a concoction laced with honey. A single dose would kill the wolf.

Even though it was the perfect plan, he’d still have to be careful. No one could know he’d administered the poison. In fact, if he could trick Gwen into giving him the tea, he’d be completely free of suspicion. He’d wait to catch her foraging in the woods and then he’d make a move. The details of how he’d trick her didn’t matter. A girl that young would fall for anything.

His cock hardened at the image of Gwen on her knees in the forest. Once he’d killed Nosh and took over as alpha, he’d use his authority to force her into his bed. She wouldn’t be hard to control. She’d already tasted submission, so becoming his sex-toy wouldn’t be a stretch for her.

In the meantime, he’d continue the farce of being Nosh’s friend. Each time he groveled before the alpha, rage simmered in his gut. Nothing would stop him from claiming his rightful position. He’d waited years, but he was only a few days away from success. All of the work he’d done to prove his loyalty to Nosh would finally pay off. No one would ever suspect him.

Chapter 3

Gwen scanned the edge of the meadow where it met the forest. She ignored the field of yellow arnica flowers surrounding her. What if someone was out there watching, waiting?

Although she stood next to Akila, her heart ricocheted in her chest. They should have brought some of the other wolves with them for protection. Their trek through the forest only heightened her fear. Danger lurked around every tree. Every shadow cast a dark patch of suspicion. She should have begged Akila to let her stay with Nosh. Surrounded by the pack, she was safe in the den. But outside, she was completely defenseless.

Akila crouched to pluck the top off of the daisy-like plant. “You need to spend more time picking herbs and less time searching for danger.”

“I don’t know this part of the forest very well. I don’t usually pick herbs here.” Gwen fought the rising panic which strangled her throat.

She tried to convince herself that no one stood in the shadows watching her. No one waited to get her alone. No one was going to attack her. Intellectually, she understood where the fear was coming from, but emotionally she couldn’t stand being so exposed.

“How many more flowers do we need?” Gwen asked.

“Enough to fill the basket. We’re going to have to crush them into beeswax to make more salve. I had no idea how much we’d need until I saw his injuries.”

“Are you sure we should have left him? Maybe he needs us right now.” Maybe Akila would take her back to the cave, back to safety.

Akila stood. “Lucian is staying with him. His skin’s starting to heal and his color’s back. He still has a week or so before he’ll be able to put weight on that leg.”

Gwen yanked a plant from the ground and separated the root and flower from the stem. After dropping the pieces into the basket, she reached for another plant. The faster she moved, the faster they could return to the den.

Akila said, “Be careful. You don’t want to bruise the flowers. You’ll release some of the medicine if you crush them now. Wait until we gather the beeswax and then you can mash them as much as you want.”

Gwen dropped the flower tops into the basket. “How much do we need?”

“Fill the basket to the brim.”

Another three inches of arnica and then they could leave. Gwen drifted away from Akila toward a thicker patch of flowers. She dropped to her knees to tug on a snug root. The darn thing wouldn’t release its hold on the earth no matter how much she pulled. Maybe it wasn’t ready to die.

Gwen knew that feeling. When Zane had left her lying in a pool of blood in the middle of the forest, she’d considered surrendering to the darkness. But her will to live was too strong. She’d managed to drag herself across the forest floor for hours before she’d passed out. Another wolf had found her half-dead and had carried her back to the den.

A branch snapped. Her head jerked toward the sound. The muscles along her back tensed. The sensation of being watched prickled along her skin like icy rain.

As she backed up a few steps, her mouth went dry. Less than ten yards inside the tree line, a shadow contorted. A scream caught in her throat. It was just like last time.

She stumbled back, tripping over a freshly fallen log. She landed on her back with a thud. A long shadow stretched across her chest. She turned her head toward the person casting the shadow but the vibrant sunlight blinded her.

Unable to contain the terror a second longer, she threw back her head and screamed. But to her horror, not a single sound escaped her lips. Her paralyzed vocal chords refused to work even as Akila stepped into view.

“What’s wrong? What’s going on?” Akila demanded.

Gwen rolled onto her knees and pointed at the forest. “He’s here. He’s here. It’s happening again.”

“Who’s here?” Akila squinted.

“Zane!” Even as she hollered his name, she knew she wasn’t being rational. But in the midst of one of her attacks, fear overran logic.

Akila helped her stand. “No one’s in the forest. There’s nothing to worry about. Zane’s dead and you’re safe.”

Gwen’s gaze darted from the forest to Akila and back. “I just thought… I thought I saw someone.”

“We’re the only ones out here.”

Gwen hung her head. “I guess I did it again.”

“Did what?”

“Made up a boogieman when there wasn’t one.” Shame slackened her shoulders.

Akila wrapped her in a motherly embrace. “You did much better this time than the last time we tried to go into the forest.”

“But I’m still afraid.”

Akila released her. “It’s been nine months. You can lay around all day and live in the shadow of the attack, or you can fight to get your life back. The choice is entirely yours. I can only help you so much, then you’re going to have to help yourself. Every time you come into the forest, you’re fighting back. You can do this. You can get better.”

The basket of flowers Gwen had been carrying lay on its side, the contents spilled out across the grass. As she bent to gather the roots and petals, she considered Akila’s statement. She made it sound so easy, just choose to be happy, choose to forget the past. But it wasn’t that easy.

Her life had been split into two distinct parts—the time before the attack, and the time after. What would it take her to feel safe? What would it take to return to the woman she was before the attack? She craved the return of joy, stability and love to her life. She just didn’t know how to make it happen.

***

Nosh hissed a breath as he used his good arm to roll onto his hip. He couldn’t take another second of laying around. But as he tried to sit upright, pain flooded his broken leg.

Gwen rushed into the room. “What are you doing? Lay down right now.”

He grimaced as he rolled onto his back. “I need to get up and walk around.”

“I don’t care how much you want to get out of that bed. If you get up now, you could permanently damage your leg. Do you want to hobble around for the rest of your life?”

Her fiery response was so unlike her that he was momentarily silenced. Under her mousy exterior, she still retained a spunky spirit. He liked seeing that side of her and wanted to see it more.

He grinned. “All right. I’ll stay in bed, but only if you’ll join me.”

She huffed and turned to walk toward the door. “I’ll be back later with some ginger tea. It will help your circulation.”

He didn’t need help with that, at least not below the waist. Watching her stalk out of the room made blood rush heavy and thick through his veins. How he could think about anything but pain was beyond him. But he welcomed the temporary reprieve. He’d much rather focus on the sway of her hips than the searing pain in his leg.

As the minutes ticked by, his eyelids grew heavier. He’d just rest his eyes for a few seconds.

Loud voices jolted him awake. The argument came from down the hall, but Gwen and Akila were close enough that he could hear every word.

Gwen’s voice bordered on hysterical. “I can’t stay here by myself.”

“Diana’s in labor. I need to go take care of her,” Akila said.

“I’m coming with you.”

“No. You’re staying here to take care of Nosh. He’s in serious condition and will need to be watched for the next three days. I don’t want you to let him out of your sight. If you need more herbs, ask Fadian or Lucian to fetch them.”

“They’re not going to take orders from me. I’m just your assistant. I’m nobody to them. I’m not ready for this.”

Akila’s heavy sigh echoed down the hall. “I have absolute faith in you. Nosh is an alpha and will heal fast, but he still needs someone to watch over him.”

“I know how to help a woman through labor. I’d be much more useful if I went back to help Diana.”

“She’s a few weeks early. There may be complications with the baby so I need to be there.”

“But—”

“Stop. You have plenty of other wolves here who can help you. It’s only for a few days. You’ll be okay.”

Gwen’s voice dropped to a whisper. “You can’t leave me alone with all these men. How do I really know I’m safe? How do I know one of them won’t attack me?”

Nosh frowned. Did she really think anyone in his pack was capable of hurting her? The terror in her voice sliced through his heart. It had been almost a year since she’d been attacked, but fear still controlled her.

Akila asked, “Has any wolf ever tried to attack you?”

“No.”

“You were attacked by a human. We don’t attack our own kind.”

The fight in Gwen’s voice ebbed. “I know you’re right. It’s just that I don’t know anyone here very well. There are a lot of wolves in this pack that I’ve never spent any time with.”

“Just stay with Nosh. Only a few other wolves will come into his room. You can avoid most of the others by remaining somewhat secluded. But, I’d encourage you to talk to some of the others. Maybe getting to know them will help ease your fear.”

As their voices trailed off, Nosh stared at the ceiling. Gwen shouldn’t be forced to stay with him. He could take care of himself. If he’d been paying attention on the mountain, he wouldn’t have fallen. Although, when he stopped to think about it, it still seemed really strange that he’d rolled off the cliff in an area he visited all the time. But maybe that was just his ego talking.

A soft series of footsteps stopped outside the door. He couldn’t see through the dark curtain to the other side, but he didn’t have to. Gwen carried with her the scent of spring rain. He’d love more than anything to be able to push his nose into her hair and sniff until he couldn’t draw another breath. He’d never been so captivated by another wolf’s scent. If he wasn’t such a mess, he’d use his alpha charm to coax her into his bed.

He frowned. What was he thinking? She didn’t even want to stay in the den. She was afraid of him. The last thing she’d want to do was hop into bed with a man she didn’t know very well.

He shook his head. Right now, he needed to focus on healing. It wouldn’t take long since his ability to heal was strong. Although he didn’t really need her to take care of him, he wanted her by his side. But, he wouldn’t ask her to stay unless she wanted to. If she didn’t want to be around him when he was injured, maybe she wouldn’t want to be around him when he was healed either.

The curtain opened and Gwen slipped inside. She stopped as if startled and covered her heart with her hand. “Oh, you’re awake.”

“You don’t have to stay. I’ll be on my feet in no time. The other wolves can take care of me. If you leave now, you can catch up to Akila.”

“You heard us?”

“Yes. I understand why you don’t want to stay, but the den is very safe. The others won’t bother you. I’ll make sure they’re on their best behavior.”

She bit the edge of her lip. “Are you sure it’s okay for me to leave?”

Disappointment flashed through him. He’d been hoping she’d want to stay. Having a pretty wolf take care of him wouldn’t be such a bad thing. But, he’d never force her to stick around if she really wanted to leave.

“Go ahead. I’ll be fine.”

She crossed to the curtain and pushed it back. “I’ll find Lucian and tell him what he needs to do to make sure you heal properly… Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For letting me go.”

“You’re welcome.”

He turned his head to look up at the ceiling. He couldn’t bear to watch her leave. The rustle of the sheet signaled her retreat. At least she could go home. She clearly felt safer in her own den. He didn’t blame her for being scared. After what she’d endured with Zane, he was surprised she came out of her den at all. She was brave. Probably braver than she thought. He hoped someday she’d realize it.

In the center of the room, a pile of burning embers glowed. The temperature dropped as the embers dissolved to ash. He shivered and put the back of his hand to his forehead. Even though he was freezing, his head was hot to the touch. He reached for the cup of white willow bark tea, but his trembling fingers knocked it over. The liquid spilled onto the bed and seeped under his leg. Fortunately the lukewarm water didn’t burn him. But now he had no way of getting more.

He gritted his teeth as he sat up. Still cradled in the sling, his useless arm throbbed. As much as he hated to admit it, he needed help. Hopefully Lucian would arrive soon.

The curtain whipped back to reveal Mazus. “Hey, buddy. How’s the leg? You feelin’ any better?”

Nosh grumbled. “I feel like I ran into a mountain.”

“That you did. What can I get for you?”

“I knocked my cup over. Can you make me some more tea? I think I have a fever.”

Mazus smiled broadly. “No problem.”

As he set about fixing the tea, Nosh relaxed. Maybe sending Gwen away wasn’t such a bad thing. She wouldn’t see him this weak and pathetic. He had plenty of people who could nurse him back to health. Once he’d regained his full strength, he’d be able to visit her. Maybe she’d be more comfortable getting to know him if he went to her den. Of course he’d have to get Ryker’s permission to enter Silver Creek Pack territory, but that shouldn’t be a problem.