No Remorse (8 page)

Blake refused to listen and pulled the IV from his arm with a wince. Doc pleaded with him to remain, but Blake was adamant that he was leaving.

“You know me, Doc, I don’t do hospitals.” Blake moved to the side of the bed to stand. Still dizzy from the knock on the head and the medicine pumped into his system, he busied himself with straightening his hospital gown so Doc wouldn’t notice.

Blake stood, trying to get his feet under him, but swayed. Adam had made his way around the bed when he saw Blake trying to get up, grabbed him and kept him from falling over. “You sure you want to do this? A concussion is nothing to mess with.”

“Just get me out of here,” he grumbled irritably.

Doc was surprise that Blake had stayed as long as he had. Reaching into the metal clipboard he pulled out the release papers he had the nurses gather within hours of Blake being admitted. All it required was both of their signatures and Blake would be on his way.

Blake gladly signed the paperwork because he wanted out of there, the sooner the better.

“Adam, get him to Seriana.” Doc instructed. Turning, he walked out and left without another word.

Adam nodded, then gathered Blake’s clothes and quickly helped him dress and pull the boots on, even though Blake groused about not being helpless.

Blake, with Adam watching over him, walked out of the hospital under his own power. Not caring that hospital policy required patients to be wheeled out. He climbed into Adam’s truck and nodded in thanks when the pillow snatched from the hospital bed was tucked gently under his casted arm. Adam was a good friend and pack mate.

Head resting on the support, Blake closed his eyes. The motion of the truck made him dizzy and the pain medication was wearing off fast. Clamping his jaw shut to keep the groan from escaping, Blake sat stiffly in the seat.

Werewolves can heal serious injuries, but they can’t regrow a severed limb. Looking down at the brace on the arm, he felt lucky that everything was still in place. After seeing the sheriff’s photos, Blake was fortunate he wasn’t dead from blood loss. He hurt like hell, but knew he would heal quicker than most, so he wasn’t too worried about it.

“Seriana, then the cabin,” Blake instructed, not waiting to see Adam nod his head in agreement. Blake kept his eyes closed.

“Sheriff Downs had the wrecker tow the truck to impound, Marcello is picking it up
.
”
Adam didn't look at Blake and wasn’t expecting a response. He knew that Blake had heard him
.

CHAPTER NINE

A
mber paced the room, feeling like a caged, well, wolf. Her instincts were telling her to get the hell out of there. “I did the right thing,” she kept mumbling to herself with every step. Never doubting any of her past decisions, Amber was conflicted about getting involved with Blake. She had risked a lot by helping, and was risking more by staying.

Amber stopped pacing and stared from the door to the window. Her sensitive ears picked up the sound of the truck’s engine stopping at the edge of the driveway. Two doors closed softly. The scent of two male werewolves drifted in the breeze towards the cabin. Her hand went to the doorknob a moment before the knock sounded. Amber stared in indecision at the back of the door. Did she dare answer it? She could fit through the bathroom window and escape into the trees; she had made sure of that before taking the cabin.

“Amber, I know you’re in there, I can hear your heartbeat.” Blake’s deep voice resonated through the door.

“Dammit!” Amber mouthed with a panicked look around the small room. He would break the door in if she didn’t open it. Could she take him? Did she want to take him? After all, he was already hurt. The second wolf scent was strong. Blake had not come alone.

Closed eyes, forehead leaning against the door, Amber tried to control her pounding heart by taking a deep breath. Releasing it slowly, she opened the door. Amber stared into the familiar light brown eyes she had known from what felt like a lifetime ago.

Taller than he had been at school, Blake looked down into Amber’s upturned face. Smiling while she stood grasping the door, not inviting them in. “You are a hard one to find,” Blake told her, looking over her shoulder to peer into the cabin, confirming that she was alone.

“Apparently, not hard enough,” she mumbled grumpily, her nose flaring at the smell of the wolf standing in front of her and the one hovering past his shoulder. Not smelling anyone else with them, she relaxed somewhat, but kept a wary eye on Blake.

“Amber, you remember Adam?” Blake asked stepping aside and swayed. Amber automatically reached out to steady him.

“Come in.” Instructing Adam to close the door behind him, Amber pulled Blake farther into the cabin, leading him towards the bed at the far side of the room.

“Honey, didn’t know you were in such a hurry to get me into bed,” Blake chided, gladly taking a seat on the soft mattress.

Amber refrained from slugging him. “Oh, be quiet. You haven’t changed a bit.” Biting her lip to keep from smiling, Blake had always been able to make her smile.

Adam stood by the closed door. His face lit with a smile and exclaimed, “I saw your name in the police report! So it is you!”

From the bed, Blake stared at her. As a woman, Amber was even more beautiful. Long black hair held by a clip at the base of her neck showed off the gentle curve of her face and slender neck. Staring into her chocolate brown eyes, his eyes traveled down to the soft full lips, remembering how they had tasted.

Amber saw the look that crossed his face, stepped back and got straight to the point. “Blake, what are you doing here?”

“I had to see you, to know that it was really you, and to thank you. You saved my life.” Blake made himself at home on her bed. Turning, he threw his legs up on top of her quilted comforter, leaning his back cautiously against the headboard.

“Let’s call it even.” Amber responded then groused, “Just make yourself comfortable,” she wasn’t used to having a man on her bed, let alone two men in her small cabin.

Her one room cabin was a good size. There was just enough space for a small living and kitchen area and her full size bed. The two men engulfed the space she had previously thought to be perfect.

Adam was as big as Blake, but his hair was a lighter shade of brown. His eyes were a startling blue, whereas Blake's were a soft caramel. And at the moment, both sets of eyes were staring at her. She motioned towards Adam, “You may as well have a seat instead of hovering by the door,” she told him reluctantly indicating the old wooden chair she had picked up at the local thrift store.

Adam moved gracefully, silently, to the chair sitting in front of the kitchen window. The wood creaked from the strain of his muscular build. His well-defined arm rested casually on the small well-worn table. He looked slightly uncomfortable in the small chair.

“Thank you,” he said, looking from Amber to Blake with a slight frown. “Why don’t I smell you?”

 
“Well, let's see, maybe it’s because I took a shower today?” Amber shot him an agitated glare, moving to the other side of the room to stand by the doorway.

It was obvious to both men that Amber was uncomfortable with them being there. Blake and Adam watched her inch closer to the door that led into the bathroom. It would serve as an escape route in case she felt the need to make a getaway. She could easily lock herself in the bathroom and slip out the window if necessary.

Blake tried to alleviate her anxiety. “Adam! You’re always sticking your foot in your mouth. That’s no way to talk to Amber.”

Adam had the decency to look a little embarrassed, “I’m sorry, but you know what I mean. You’re wolf, but you have no distinct smell.”

Amber thought quickly to explain the reason her wolf did not give off a scent. “I don’t have a pack,” she stated and realized it was probably the wrong thing to say.

At the rise of Adam's eyebrows, she bristled at what was coming next. “Women belong to a pack for protection and should not be out wandering around.”

“And here we go.” Amber put her hands on her hips. “Welcome to the real world, mister, where women are fully capable of taking care of themselves. I don’t need or want a pack. So unless you,” she looked at Adam, then Blake, “have anything else to say, then you both have a great day, now leave.” She pointed to the door.

“Come on Amber, he’s just being stupid. We come from the same background remember? I wou
ld never force anything on you.
” Blake pleaded with her.

“It’s been years since we talked, I don’t know you any more than you know me now.” She informed him.

Adam, you’re not helping things. You know her aversion to being in a pack, tread lightly here.
Blake sent the message along the telepathic line he had with his friend, hoping he would understand.

What's going on?
Adam responded to the mental connection, keeping his facial expressions clear.

 
I’ll explain later. I need to ensure her safety first.

Amber knew they were communicating telepathically because she could feel the tug on her senses. Her mother had mentioned that other pack members were able to interact this way, but for some reason, she had never had that ability. The sensations fluttering against her senses sent a frown spreading across her face. She didn’t like not being able to hear their conversation.

“Amber please, come, sit.” Blake patted the bed beside him. “I promise neither Adam nor I intend to hurt you.” He held up his injured arm, pointing towards the cast with a pitiful look on his face. “I don’t think I am much good for anything right now.”

Amber rolled her eyes, sighing she gave him a reluctant smile but moved forward and sat on the very edge of the bed, keeping a wary eye on Adam. She knew very well a broken arm wouldn’t stop a werewolf from hurting someone if they wanted to. Surprisingly she still trusted Blake. After all, he had helped her to escape. She was not so sure of Adam. He had showed up at the school only weeks before her escape. Not getting to know him then and didn’t know if she wanted to now.

Adam tried to break the tense silence. “A feather could blow him over right now, me, I wouldn't hurt a fly.”
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Amber didn’t respond, just continued to stare at him with a straight face. Blake effectively pulled her attention away from Adam by mentioning the council.

“After you left the school, the Council sent a pack looking for you. Telling the shelter that you were a runaway and they wanted you back where you belonged.”

Amber knew better. The Council wanted her dead, not back with the pack. Even though it had been years
ago, her heart still skipped a
beat at the memory of them taking her mother. Just the thought alone made her want to flee. Before she could react to the impulse Blake’s hand wrapped gently around her arm. Amber looked up into his face and saw the soft look he always had when he looked at her.

Back in school, she had known Blake had liked her. She had liked him too, but never thought of allowing the relationship to go past friendship. He always joked around that she was his girlfriend, but had not officially asked and never pushed for anything beyond friendship. That is until that last day when he had kissed her and turned her world upside down. Her eyes softened as she looked up into his at the shared memory.

Adam saw the look that passed between the two of them and cleared his throat, “I think I need to head on out. Holler if you need a ride.” He could feel the sexual tension in the room and his wolf reacted. So he slipped quietly through the door, closing it softly behind him.

Out of habit, Amber jumped from the bed, rushing to the door, locking her and Blake inside the room that now felt way too small. Amber was nervous, so she continued the conversation, trying to look busy straightening the one book she had laying on the coffee table.

“They are always looking for me, Blake. You know I have been on the run all my life,” she reminded him.

Blake patted the bed beside him. With a deep sigh Amber walked nervously back to the bed again. Sitting down beside him, she leaned against the headboard and closed her eyes.

“I’m tired of running,” she mumbled mostly to herself, she felt Blake’s hand slide under her hair to rest lightly across her shoulders. Tensing for a moment before relaxing she allowed him to pull her close to his warm body.

Amber had spent years alone, refusing to allow anyone to get close. Not getting to know anyone well enough to want them to hold her, to touch her like Blake was now. It felt good to be held by him again and she wanted to stay there forever. But Amber knew it would only put Blake and his pack in danger if she stayed. He was the only friend she had ever had and would not let him get hurt because of her.

Blake felt her relax slightly into him briefly before tensing again and pulling away. “I
won’t let anything happen to you,” he promised kissing the top of her head before he released her.

“Blake, there’s nothing you can do to help. I have to leave now.” she said with a resigned grimace. She liked being here in his arms, in her cabin. She felt comfortable. That should have told her right there that it was time to move one.