Lee: Emerson Wolves—Paranormal Erotic Wolf Shifter Romance (12 page)

“She and I have met.” Kimber started forward and he backed up with a laugh. “I have done nothing to her. She is…the two of you are a great deal alike. She warned me that I would not live long should I harm either of you. I like her. I’m assuming that I will like you both.”

“I do too, and just the way she is.” He nodded. “Why do you need a place to stay? I’m pretty sure that if something or someone makes you nervous, I don’t want them to know that you’re here.”

“No. It’s not that. I just need someplace to rest during the day. I have commissioned a house to be built. There is a place that I should like to stay, but there are too many Feds hanging around there.” She asked him if he meant her aunt’s house. “Yes. For me to live in her home, even for a night, would send her over the edge. Or I should say, more so. ‘My kind,’ as she calls us, is not welcome to be near her.”

“She’s not a nice person.” He only nodded. “Stay there if you want. I’m not sure what there is in the way of accommodations, but you’re welcome to stay. I’m not going to. The Feds, for the most part, have done what they need, so I don’t think they’ll be much of a bother.”

“I have heard that you have plans for it?” This time she nodded. “I like the idea. I think I would very much enjoy seeing some local flair around here. I’m also to understand that you are going to be the new chef at the restaurant that Sloan is building. I think that’s an excellent idea. I look forward to seeing it.”

“But you don’t eat.” He nodded and smiled again. “You know, you’re scaring me. Just…I don’t know. Just try to keep your teeth in your mouth if you don’t mind.”

“I will from now on. I’m so used to…people are not as accepting as you and the Emersons have been. It’s a rare thing to be a vampire and have a family welcome you with open arms. Especially wolves. We are, as you might have heard, mortal enemies. But here we are, the best of friends.” They all turned when he did to look at the lone man coming across the yard from the wooded area. Steward turned to Lee as he spoke in a low voice. “Graham, is he any better?”

“Not really. I think his nightmares are affecting not just his sleep but his wellbeing as well.” Steward nodded and looked at her as Lee continued. “He’s moving into his own home next week, I guess. He bought Ellis’s home not long ago, but had carpets put in rooms where Ellis had put nothing as yet. He is having it painted too. Ellis had left the walls a stark white. I think he’s put in a work barn too. For his equipment.”

“He is a good man. Maybe I’ll have a talk with him. See if I can get him to rest easier.”

As the two men walked off, Graham toward his car with Steward walking with him, Kimber looked at Lee. He was watching his brother closely, and she wondered if he was worried that Steward would harm him. But as soon as they entered the house, she didn’t worry about anything else as he pressed her against the wall.

~~~

He needed her. Not just for sex, though that was wonderful, but her near him, her touching him as well. When Lee lifted her up in his arms and her legs wrapped around him, he moved his mouth to her shoulder and nipped none too gently at her throat.

“Take me.” He growled low at her command and tore her blouse off. There was no one else in the house right now and he wanted her just as badly. Pulling her legs from around him, he stood her against the wall as he dropped to his knees.

“I’m going to have my fill of you, then the wolf is.” She nodded and pulled her bra off. It was in shreds anyway, but he watched as she cupped her breasts and tugged at her nipples. “I’m going to eat you. Then I’m going to fuck you hard. After my wolf has had his fill.”

“Do it, please. I’m so wet now that I’m soaking through my pants.” He buried his nose in her pussy then inhaled deeply. “Please, Lee. I can’t wait much longer.”

Tearing her pants and panties off her left her standing in only her shoes. He loved that she didn’t wear stockings under her pants, but wanted to see her in the kind that only went to her thighs. He wanted to peel them off her slowly as he drank from her. As he licked the cream running down her thigh, Lee let his wolf take him.

He was more aggressive than he’d ever been. Nearly knocking her to the floor, he ate her pussy like he would his dinner. Not just lapping at her, bringing to her peak over and over, he actually nipped at her tender flesh until she screamed out his name. Lee told her to lay down, and his wolf barely let her move until she was spread out for them on the front carpet with her legs wide apart. His wolf lay down and began his feast again. Lee wanted her too, wanted to eat her, give her as much pleasure as his wolf was, but he simply wouldn’t back off. When he stood up suddenly and lunged at her tender belly, Lee screamed at him to stop, but it was too late by then.

His wolf whimpered twice before he settled near her. When she cried out, trying to pull away from the teeth that were tearing into her, Lee spoke to her, trying to calm her down. But the more she struggled against his sharp mouth the more pain he was causing her, until Lee had no choice but to call out to Hunter. Lee was beyond terrified of what they had done, and he was also afraid that she might die.

I’ve hurt her. Badly. My wolf just tore into her belly without taking the time to prepare her. Hunter, I don’t think it’s going to work. He’s going to kill her.
Hunter said he was on his way, but he was at his house and may take a bit.
Bring…find Steward for me, please? I don’t know if he can save her either, but her heart rate is so very slow right now. She’s going to die. I can’t lose her.

I’m coming. I’ve contacted him. He said that he’s close and should be there soon. Has he been in your house, Lee? Have you invited him in?
He hadn’t, and he told Hunter that while Steward had been at the house just now, he’d not gone in.
Then how will he get in to help you? I’m assuming that you’re in your house and not in the yard. Christ. If you shift back, you’ll kill her for sure. I’m coming, don’t leave her.

I won’t. But please hurry.

He looked up through the eyes of his wolf when someone said his name. He had exchanged blood with Steward before so spoke to him through this link.
Come in when you get here. Please, save her. I give you whatever you need to come inside.

She is nearly gone, Lee. I’m not sure that I can save her with just my blood. You might…we might have to think of something else.
Lee didn’t ask him what that something else might be, but begged him to come and help her.
I’m coming. Nearly there.

Save her.
Steward only stood in the doorway then, his body casting a dark shadow across him and Kimber.
Please, you have to save her. She’s all I have. I need her.

I cannot cross the line.
Lee tried again to tell him to come in. Nothing was going to work unless Lee let go of Kimber, and they both knew that she would surely die.
Is there anyone else at home? That lives here?

There wasn’t. And he told him so.
Hannah is at school, and there isn’t any live-in help. Is there anything you can do? Anything at all?
Steward said he would return. In only moments, but what seemed an eternity, not only did he return, but he had little Hannah in his arms
. Steward, what the fuck are you doing?

Ignoring him for the moment, Steward looked at Hannah and pointed to her mother lying naked on the floor. “Hannah, your mother is hurt. See her? I need your help so that I can save her. I don’t know if I can or not, but I need your help because there is no one else.” Lee whimpered, his wolf never leaving Kimber’s side. Twice now he knew that her heart had stopped beating completely, and both times he’d begged her to live. “I have to have you go into the house and let me in. Do you understand me? You have to give me permission to be able to cross the line to enter to help her.”

“Yes. I understand you.” Hannah looked at Lee before speaking again. “I trusted you not to hurt her. Now look what you did. She might die because of you.”

As soon as she told Steward that he could come in, he flew across the room and tore at Kimber’s throat. Lee’s wolf backed away from her, but he never left, not even when Hannah tried to drag him away. After Steward tore at his wrist and put it to Kimber’s throat, Hannah sat near her mom but wouldn’t look at Lee. When Hunter arrived, he went to get Kimber a blanket and wrapped her in it while they all watched and waited. It wasn’t long before Steward looked at him.

“It might be too late.” Lee nodded at Steward. “I’m sorry. I don’t know…I don’t think I can save her. Not like this. She’s lost a great deal of blood, and her body is weaker than I know how to heal.”

Lee didn’t want to leave her, but he had to shift. He needed to be with her, needed to hold her if only for the last time. When he left her, Hunter said he’d watch her, but it was Hannah that hurt him the most. Lee’s wolf had moved close to her to touch her, and she smacked him in the face. The pain of it, and there was a great deal, was no more than he deserved for what he’d done to her and her mother.

“Don’t come near me, you monster. You killed my mommy and I hate you. Both of you. Don’t touch either of us again. I hope you die too.”

Lee moved out of the room, his heart lying on the floor dying with the woman that he loved more than anything. He heard Hannah sobbing and Hunter trying to comfort her when Steward said again that he was worried he was too late. He’d not been too late. This was not Steward’s fault, but his. Lee had done this all on his own. He’d killed the only woman that he would ever love. Instead of going to their room to shift and to dress, he moved out of the house and to the wooded area behind it. There he did the only thing he could do…he ran until he fell over. Hopefully for the very last time.

Chapter 11

Hunter moved through the woods trying his best to find Lee. This was the fifth day in a row that they’d been searching, and he was afraid they were never going to find him. The river was high right now with the snow melting off the hill behind the house, and he didn’t want to think of his brother’s body being found by some fisherman in a few months. The others were looking too. Even the wild wolves were out hunting. Wherever he was, he was hidden well because he would not think any more of him being dead. But he was afraid that his brother might have done something very stupid.

Find him?
He told his dad that he had not.
Well, are you looking hard enough? I swear to you, I’m going to have to come out there and find him myself, aren’t I? He needs to come home and make some arrangements. I can’t…I don’t want to…where is my boy, Hunter? Where can he be after all this time?

I don’t know, Dad, and I’m looking. We all are. He was in a great deal of pain, and maybe he just needs a little more time.
He felt his dad’s pain and wanted to go to him and comfort him as well.
Is Hannah still not talking?

Won’t say a word. I even tried to get her to play a game with me. Not even little Kelly had any luck with her. Just sits there in that chair and looks out the window. Never seen a child so heart sick in my life. Not even when your own mother passed have I seen anyone so broken up.
Hunter knew her pain but not how to fix it.
And I don’t know when she ate last. Several days for sure. What are we going to do with them?

It had been five days since he’d been called to the house by his brother. Five long and horribly terrible days just waiting and watching. When Steward had taken Kimber away with him, Hannah had moved to the stairs and gone to her room. She’d not been out once, so far as he knew, and he’d had someone watching her at all times. He’d called to Lee to have him come home to her, to do something, but he’d not answered him either. The search parties had been going both day and night, but nothing. And then today, one of the wild wolves had come to Sloan and led her to the bloodied mess in the woods.

I think I found something
. Hunter stilled in his movements, waiting for Graham to say more.
I don’t think…just give me a few minutes. I don’t know what I’ve found just yet.

Where are you?
Graham didn’t answer him, but he knew that he was busy trying to figure out what he’d found. Whatever it was, it couldn’t be good.
Graham, I need to come to you. What is it you’ve found?

A body. It’s not Lee, but it’s been torn to shit by an animal. But not Lee’s wolf. I don’t smell him on the man at all.
He felt the air leave his body, along with about ten or so years of his life. It wasn’t his brother’s body, his mind kept telling him. Not Lee.
I’m putting down a marker so we can find it later. I think it’s the mate to the woman that I found. I think that they’ve been…he’s been murdered too. Christ, Hunter, who would do such a thing?

Hunter leaned against the tree where he was standing when a falcon landed in front of him. He was startled by it, but then realized it was Dawn. She shifted but didn’t move for several seconds while she stood so still. She and Ellis had arrived the first day, and she’d been out as all her animals looking in places that none of them could.

“I found him. I want to tell you that he’s alive first off. But he’s in a bad way.” He nodded. “Before I take you to him, you should know that he has a gun. And he’s not right in the head. His grief is almost something you can touch. And he’s…he’s pretty messed up physically as well. Not sure of the extent of his wounds, but he’s hurt.” He asked her if he was nearby. “Yes. He’s…Hunter, please don’t…I think he’s going to die down there. If he does then you’ll never get his body out. I think that’s his plan, to die where no one can get him and he’ll just rot. He doesn’t think well of himself right now.”

“I’m sure he doesn’t, but I can’t let him do that. You know that as well as I do. He has to come out, if only to be with Hannah.” Dawn nodded but still didn’t move. “What else is there? I have a feeling that you’re trying to figure out a way to tell me.”

“I am. He’s…I don’t think that he’s going to be okay. I think…I’m sure that he’s going to wish you’d never found him. I’m almost wishing that I hadn’t. He is hurting.” Hunter said he knew that. “No, I don’t think you do. He’s killed his mate. He has. And he’s not just blaming himself for it, but his wolf too. I think that he might be better off simply using the gun on himself.”

Hunter felt his heart ache. Not just for his brother, but for all of them. Kimber had died that day, and there had been nothing, not a thing, anyone could have done to save her. And if they lost him as well, if Lee were to die out here, even by his own hand, none of them would be the same again.

As he made his way to where she told him to go, Hunter let the others know what was going on. Dad was the most upset. He wanted to be there but couldn’t leave Hannah, or wouldn’t leave her. He had been the only one that she’d let near her. And the only one that could get her to go to the bathroom and then to bed. When Hunter got to the small downward cave he nearly waited on the others, but heard the wolf howl. It was the loneliest sound he’d ever heard. The echo of it seemed to call him to come down to it. To save them.

It took him nearly twenty minutes to make his way down the deep and sometimes too narrow passage. He heard his brother twice more, and each time it echoed upward to him, making him want to turn and run, leave him there as Dawn had suggested.

“Lee.” He turned to him, his eyes wild with something that nearly made Hunter back up. The light from the opening above him seemed to highlight every part of him, the feral parts of him. “I need you to come with me. You have everyone worried.”

“Go away.” His wolf nearly snarled at him with Lee’s voice. “Go away and leave me to rot.”

“Hannah needs you.” Lee sobbed, his body nearly bent with it. “She’s suffering too. The poor thing hasn’t eaten or slept much in the last five days. You need to come and see to her. If you don’t, then she’ll die as well. And I know that’s not what you want, not for Kimber’s child.”

“She hates me because I killed her mother. Not that I blame her. I hate me too. Very much.” Hunter knew that was true. And he was pretty sure that her hatred of Lee wasn’t nearly as bad as his own was for himself. “Go away, Hunter. Just go away. I’m not…I don’t want to live anymore.”

“You’re going to break Sloan’s heart. She’s hurting so badly that the baby knows it too. Neither of them are doing well.” Lee continued to cry and Hunter had to sit down. “Lee, please, I can’t lose you. You’re my brother.”

“He killed her. My wolf did. He wouldn’t listen to me when I begged him to let her go. I knew once he bit into her that it wasn’t going to work, but he kept at it. I don’t think he meant to kill her, but she’s dead all the same. What am I going to do without her, Hunter? I’m not even sure I want…I just want to die here. Please, just leave me here.” Lee continued to look away as he spoke quietly. “I’m going to kill us. I know as well as you do what will happen if I don’t. We’ll both turn, and then you’ll have to do it anyway. I can’t let you live with that. This is bad enough, knowing that I hurt another, and Hannah will never forgive me anyway.”

“I won’t have to. Come with me and we’ll think of something. Please?” Lee didn’t move, and Hunter wiped at the tears that seemed to stream down his face. “Lee, you have to come out of here. You can’t die here, even if I thought I could let you. I need for you to come out of here and back to the house with us.”

“She was so happy, did you know that? Kimber was so happy with our house, and even the school that we got Hannah in. She was feeling pretty good about her aunt too, and the way that things were going with her. Even the thought of Hannah’s grandparents, while daunting, didn’t bother her that much. The restaurant was going to be hers, she’d told me on her way to the house. Then she comes home and I kill her.” Hunter tried to tell him that she knew that he loved her, and that was important too. “Yeah, some love of her life I turned out to be. I killed her.”

“Hunter?” He turned to see who was coming toward them, and stood up when he couldn’t make out the voice. “Hunter, where are you, man? I need to speak to you and Lee.”

“Steward?” The man seemed to appear in front of him, and it was all he could do not to cringe from him when he smiled. When he was offered a hand to stand up, he took it, knowing that Steward would never hurt him. “What the hell are you…? I thought you had gone to ground. That’s what you said when I tried to reach you the other day.”

“I did. We did.” He smiled bigger. “Damn, that was the most difficult thing I’ve ever done. But it worked. My home soil is the only thing that I could think of when what I was doing for her just wasn’t working. It was all I could do to get us there and bury us as deeply as I could in it. She’s not happy with me, to say the least, but it worked.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” They both looked at Lee when he sobbed again. “I have to get him out of here. Do you think you can pick him up and transport him out for me? But be careful. He has a gun.” Steward turned back to the way he’d come, and Hunter looked as well. If there was someone else to help out, Hunter thought for sure they were going to need it. “Who’s there?”

“Kimber.” Steward looked at him when he asked him what he said. “Kimber. She’s not very good at this lifestyle just yet. I’m not sure, to be honest with you, how much of her is vampire or wolf. But I had her do a few things, tests really, to understand what she might be able to do. All of them, with the exception of a couple of things, she did without any trouble.”

“Steward. This isn’t funny. Not even for you.” Then he saw her. Kimber moved out of the shadows and into the small light that just barely reached her. She looked…well, different was an understatement. And when she was within touching distance of him, he knew what it was. “She’s a vampire.”

“That’s what I was trying to tell you. She has some of the traits, but not all. Sun doesn’t seem to bother her, we discovered. And she can eat food. But the rest….” Steward shrugged. “I don’t have any idea what she can or can’t do for now, but she’s alive. And she’s healed as well. Additionally, she’s immortal. Just as I am.”

“Kimber?” Lee stood up and moved toward her. Hunter had a moment of panic when she backed away from him. Not that he blamed her…Lee looked horrific. “Kimber? It is really you? I’ve seen you so much over the last several days. Is it you?”

His brother’s face looked gaunt and half starved. There were cuts on his mouth, cheeks, and forehead. And not having anything to eat or drink had taken its toll on him in that his skin was dry and cracked. He was cut and bleeding all over his body, and it looked as if he’d broken his arm. Hunter wondered if he had tried to shift through it, but knew that he’d not. He was pissed at his wolf for what he thought he’d done. Steward pulled him back when Kimber moved toward Lee.

Steward told him it was time they left them there. “What if she can’t bring him out? What if they both simply die down here?”

“She won’t die and neither will he. Also, she’s been to see Hannah. Not for long, but long enough that the little girl knows that her mommy is alive.” Steward led the way out of the cave. “I don’t know if the rift between Lee and Hannah will heal quite as quickly, but Kimber told her that she loves him and needs him in her life.”

“Hannah hates him. I think she blames him for all of this. While that’s true to a point, his wolf needed her as a part of him.” Steward nodded. “I tried talking to Hannah, but she won’t speak to any of us. I’m glad…Christ, Steward, this has been one hell of a few days. I can’t…I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done for my family. We were all…we all thought she was dead. None of us…it’s been hard. So thank you very much.” Hunter gave a tiny but stressed laugh before speaking again. “Do you think you could have at least told us you had her and she was alive? We’ve been grieving like she was dead.”

Steward laughed and Hunter hugged him. Then when emotions overwhelmed him again, he hugged him tighter. Hunter couldn’t begin to think how to repay the man. He owed him anything and everything that he’d ever ask for.

“She was dead, Hunter. When I left you, her heart was no longer beating and there was no blood flow to her brain or any other part of her. I took her to my home to try…I was going to bury her so that you’d not have to, but when I got her there she…she touched me. Not physically, but mentally. Hunter, she’s going to surprise you with her strength now. And I don’t mean just her physical strength. She’s a telepath as well as a few other things. Things that I gave her.”

Hunter didn’t care and told him that. “She’s alive, and if she can bring Lee around, then I don’t care if she can take me on and win as alpha. I can’t lose him. And thanks to you, I won’t lose any of them.” Steward nodded and said nothing else as they made their way out into the waning light. He looked at his family, all of them standing there, and wondered how they’d made it so quickly. Then he looked at Sloan holding their daughter and went to her. Nothing else mattered right now but all of them. He needed to be with his mate now, and his brother was going to be just fine.

~~~

“Is it really you?” Kimber nodded, not really sure what to say to him. Everything seemed to be so much right now, it was all she could do not to leap away and try to shut some of it out. Even his scent, strong and dirty smelling, made her slightly ill. “I thought you were dead.”