Out of the Shadows (11 page)

Devon stood in the doorway. Lark
could feel his eyes following her around the room. Normally she hated being
watched, it unnerved her. This seemed different, like she was a mystery he was
trying to solve. She thought the feeling was mutual.

There was animosity, then sexual
tension. One minute she wanted to punch him, the next she wanted to throw him
on a bed and ease the desire thrumming between her thighs. No one pissed her
off, and turned her on, like Devon did.

Lark sucked in a deep breath
wanting to clear the naughty images from her mind. She was here to get clothes
for Sarah, not daydream. Done with the closet she moved to the dresser taking
out the necessities before adding in shorts and shirts.

Finally finished, Lark pushed down
on the bag, as she tried to get the zipper to catch. It was too full. With an
exasperated sigh she leaned further in to it.

“Need help?”

“That would be nice.”

Devon stood opposite her pushing
down on the bag his biceps rippled under his black shirt sleeves. Lark blinked,
cleared her throat, and zipped the bag shut. Her hand went to the handle
meeting Devon’s there. His warmth encompassed her fingers sending a volt
through her.

“I got it.” Devon gripped the
handle and her pinky finger.

“Thanks.” Lark moved her hand away.
Her heart kicked up a notch, and she let out a shaky breath needing to put
distance between them. “I think that’s everything.”

Devon looked at her as he lifted
the bag from the bed. “You sure? I think you might have left some of your
things in the drawers and closet.”

Lark gave him a wry smile. “That’s
Sarah’s bag. It’s probably a good thing she was preoccupied with Preston. We
would’ve been here forever and there would be nothing left in the drawers or
closet.”

“Lucky for me they like to go
horseback riding.”

Lark rolled her eyes. “I honestly
don’t know who they think they’re fooling with that line.”

Devon shrugged. “You’re only young
once.”

“That line work on girls?”

“Sometimes.”

“So you’re one of those guys?” The
question popped out before she could stop it. Heat flared across her cheeks and
she turned and walked toward the door.

“No, that’s Vincent. I date, just
not for extended periods of time.”

“In other words, you dump them
before they can get to know you, or you develop feelings for them.” Lark walked
toward her bedroom. The more they talked the more she was beginning to realize
things about him.

“I don’t see the point in getting
serious with a woman. They will ultimately freak out when they find out I turn
into a wolf and howl at the moon.”

“It’s not that bad. Do you really
howl at the moon?”

“Really? It didn’t work out for
several of my broken hearted pack mates. The werewolf gene is dominant too. It’s
rare but if there were offspring they would be wolves. It’s a turn off for
women too. At least if they want human kids. And I suppose I could howl at the
moon, but I don’t feel the need to.”

Lark shook her head a smile crept
across her face at his joke. “Is that why everyone is single?”

Devon set the suitcase down once
they got in her room and looked at her. “Relationships don’t usually work out
well for us. Most people aren’t as understanding as you.” His head cocked to
the side, his eyes burning into her.

Lark felt a shiver flutter down her
spine from the intensity of his gaze. Unable to bare the look, she ducked into
her bathroom double checking she had everything.
Get a grip.

“So, you can have kids with
humans?”

“If we wanted too, but like I said
it’s rare. Two werewolves have a hard enough time reproducing sometimes, let
alone a werewolf and a human.”

“I’ve noticed there is a bit of a
female problem too. Emily is the only female wolf I’ve met besides Beatrice.” Lark
grabbed her bag from the bed. She stole a quick look at him, his eyes still
watching. Lark quickly flicked her gaze away. Tension pooled in her stomach,
their conversation and his looks becoming more intense each second.

Devon picked up Sarah’s suitcase
and moved to the door. “I don’t know the average but my mom had three boys
before having Emily and that was considered good by our standards. For whatever
reason - and trust me people have looked into it - more boys are born than
girls.”

“Does that mean you guys are in
danger of extinction?” Lark bit her lip, taking the opportunity to stare at his
backside. He looked delicious, his ass perfectly sculpted in his dark wash
jeans.

“That’s one of the reasons why
Emmett is going to such lengths to get Emily back. Having a female in the pack
means power, and he secured a deal to trade her to another pack.”

“She told me. I think that’s
disgusting.” Lark shuddered despite herself. “Your father is a creep, no
offense.”

“Emmett’s not my father.”

The hostility in his voice startled
her. Though the anger hadn’t been directed at her. She’d inadvertently hit a
nerve, and had gotten a reaction. “I’m sorry.”

“We should get going, it’s getting
late.”

Lark sighed, whatever moment they
were having was fading away. But a part of her wanted to salvage it. She wanted
to learn more about Devon. “I think I am going to open the bakery tomorrow.”

“No one is stopping you. You were
the one who was afraid.”

Lark bit her lip anger bubbling up
inside her, heat flushed her ears and cheeks. His voice was indifferent like he
had completely shut down. “I guess you’re back to being a jerk again.”

“Let's go.” Devon motioned toward
the door, Sarah’s case in his hand.

“Fine.” Lark stomped her foot, the
move immature, but she was pissed. Glaring at Devon, she walked to the door. She
was infuriated, having reached her boiling point.

“You know what? No.” She spun back
around and marched up to him. Eyes locked on his. “I’m tired of this! Either we
come to some sort of peaceful existence or we just…” she shook her head in
frustration. The words getting jumbled in her head as she tried to get them out.
“…we just stop. After everything that’s happened these past few days, I just,
this is-”

Devon’s lips crashed against hers,
cutting her off. Her breath caught. Her mind spiraled in a whirlwind of
sensations and thoughts. His tongue traced her lips. With a sigh, her lips
parted and his tongue glided against hers. The bag dropped from her hand. The
momentary confusion lifted, replaced with desire.

His stubble scraped her chin and
his hands wound in her hair. Lark traced over the plains of Devon’s chest,
wrapping her arms around his neck. Body humming with want as heat scorched it’s
way to her core.

A snarl escaped his throat causing
Lark to jump and shrink away from him. His eyes were icy and distant as he
pulled away.
What the hell?

Lark was about to let him have it,
when the front door squeaked open.

***

Devon felt his pulse kick up a notch as he walked quietly to
the bedroom door.

“Lark are you here?” Sarah’s voice called up the stairs.

Devon sighed and ran a hand through his hair. He let his
head fall forward and rest on the door in relief.

“Yeah, just a second.” Lark ran shaky hands through her
mussed blonde curls. A vain attempt to fix them. Her face flushed scarlet and
her eyes darted everywhere but at him. Great, Devon thought, now things were
going to be weird between them.

Footsteps clomped up the stairs. Lark scurried toward her
bag and picked it up running out into the hall.

“Hey Sarah, I didn’t think you were
going to come, I packed a bag for you already. I hope you don’t mind.”

“Oh, thanks.” Sarah stopped at the top of the stairs.

“I don’t think anything is left in your closet.” Devon
lugged the bag out into the hallway and plopped it in front of Sarah. “But feel
free to double check.”

Devon took Lark’s bag from her hand and headed downstairs. He
wondered if she would follow, or if she would chose to stay with Sarah and
Preston. A part of him wanted her to come with him. The kiss had been amazing,
he’d half expected her to slap him, but instead she’d kissed back. He didn’t
know what came over him. She’d been rambling trying to get her point across,
her flushed cheeks and lips had taunted him. Momentarily awe struck, he’d acted
impulsively.

Devon reached the bottom of the stairs. Preston gave him a
questioning look. No doubt Preston smelled Lark on him, but he said nothing. Devon
opened the front door and paused turning back to the stairs. “I’m heading back,
are you coming?”

“Oh, um, sure,” Lark stuttered, red crept across her face
again. She turned to her sister. “Are you okay here, Sarah?”

“Yeah, go ahead. It looks like you got everything anyway,
we’ll be right behind you.”

Lark nodded and gave her sister a
quick hug, mumbling something to her before joining him at the door.

Lark chewed on her lip as she
looked out the car window. It stung; reminding her it wasn’t fully healed. She
was certain it would reopen, but she couldn’t help herself; it was a nervous
habit. She was beyond ready to explode from the angst between Devon and
herself.

The silence was killing her. The seconds ticked by
excruciatingly slow. She often rambled to fill awkward silences like this. At
the moment, her mind drew a blank, unsure of what to say.

She still wasn’t sure what had happened either. One minute
she was flustered and yelling; the next minute his lips were on hers. All
reason and thought had gone out the window. Her body still burned from his
touch and she wondered what would’ve happened had they not been interrupted.

She should clear the air. Every muscle clenched tightly, her
stomach twisted in knots. The unbearable silence drug out till she thought she
might burst.

“About earlier, what was that?”

The leather seat crunched as Devon shifted to look at her. Lark
held her breath, her heart hammered. She couldn’t tear her eyes from the window
to look at him. She was out of her element. Grant had been the last guy she’d
dated and the only guy she’d ever slept with.

“The kiss?”

“What else would I be talking about?” Lark exclaimed. Annoyance
getting the better of her.

Devon chuckled and she turned to glare at him.

“It was just a kiss, Lark. No need to be so uptight about
it.”

“Why’d you do it?”

Devon turned his gaze back to the road. “You’re a pretty
woman, and it seemed like a good idea at the time. It wasn’t my intent to
offend you.”

Lark frowned, unsure what that was supposed to mean. “Oh.” She
turned back to the window, questions swirled in her head. Devon confused her. “I’m
not that type of girl. I don’t have random flings.”

“Well, I’m not the type of guy who does relationships,”
Devon stated.

Lark bit her lip, her heart dropping a little at that news. She
didn’t understand the attraction, but there was something between them and it
set her insides on fire. She wanted more, but if he wasn’t interested in more. She
wasn’t the type of girl who would set herself up for heartbreak.

“Maybe we should just forget it happened,” Devon said.

Lark’s stomach churned. She didn’t want to forget and didn’t
think she could even if she wanted to. “That’s a good idea.” The last thing she
wanted was for things to be weird between them.

Devon nodded. He flipped the blinker on to turn down the
driveway into the Harris ranch.

“I mean we could still be friends, right?” Lark asked.

“I suppose we could be.”

“You don’t like to let people in do you?”

“Not really.”

“Why?”

Devon pulled the car to a stop and put it in park. “Maybe
when we’re better friends I’ll tell you.”

Devon opened the door and climbed out. He grabbed her bag
from the back seat as he walked toward the house. Lark undid her seatbelt and
got out following behind him.

***

“Do I even want to know?” Gene asked as Devon walked into
the kitchen.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Devon said,
walking to the fridge and grabbing a can of soda.

“You know our sense of smell is heightened. What’s going
on?”

Devon froze the can at his lips. He didn’t think anyone had
noticed. He and Lark had both gone immediately to their respective rooms upon
returning.

“I thought so,” Gene watched him.

“It’s not what you think. Grant was in the house, I pulled
her back until we found out who it was.”

“Really, because she smelled like you were all over her,
Dev.” Gene grinned, taking a drink of his beer, eyes glued on him.

Devon returned his stare, but kept his mouth shut.

Gene sighed and looked away. “I know you, Dev. Lark isn’t
like the girls you date, if that’s what you can even call it. She’s a good,
strong, and honest person. She doesn’t do anything half-assed. She’ll go into
it and fall for you. Don’t dick around with her.”

“It’s not like that.”

“Good.” Gene nodded. “Unless you thought you could be
serious with her, that is.”

Devon frowned at his cousin. “I’m confused, Gene. Are you
telling me to date her or stay away?”

“Both.”

“I think you’ve had too much to drink.”

“No, what I’m saying is if you gave her a chance, I think
you’d find that you two got along quite well. Lark is a remarkable person. She
would do anything for anybody. But if you’re just looking for a fuck, then you
need to back off.”

Devon shook his head and drained the contents of the can in
a few gulps. He tossed the can in the recycling bin, done with this
conversation.

“You know, Dev, not everyone lets you down. Sometimes you
have to let people in.”

Devon grumbled under his breath, continuing out of the
kitchen. Last time he’d let his guard down, he’d almost been killed.

***

Five AM came entirely too early. Lark felt sluggish and
exhausted. Regardless, she was going back to the bakery today. If she didn’t
she would lose her nerve.

Her stomach clenched and she felt nauseous as she got ready.
But after a long hot shower and a mini pep talk to herself, she was ready to go.
Lark took one final breath in before making her way downstairs.

The house was quiet. The only sign that anyone was awake was
the hazelnut coffee that permeated the air. Lark made a beeline for the
kitchen. She would need a fresh cup herself to make her body function.

“Morning,” Vincent grumbled as she entered. He stood next to
the coffee pot, his foot tapping against the tile floor as he waited for the
coffee to finish brewing.

“Hi.”

“I’ll be your chaperone for the day. Apparently I’m not good
at working with the horses. I spooked Floyd, he almost mule kicked Preston in
the head.” Vincent pulled a thermos down and handed it to her.

Lark laughed and set her thermos down on the counter. She
tapped her fingers against the marble counter, her stomach still uneasy.

“Thanks. When did this happen?”

“Saturday morning. You’ll give me free muffins, right? I
promise I won’t scare your customers.”

“Yes, you can have as many as you please.”

“Careful making offers like that, I can eat my weight in
chocolate.”

“I’ll make extra of the chocolate chip ones today.”

Vincent smiled as he poured the coffee into the two mugs. “Already
knows the way to my heart, you and I are going to work out great.”

Lark took the mug and sipped it letting the hot liquid
soothe her. “You ready to go?”

Vincent took a long gulp of his coffee and then topped it
off. “Yep, I am looking forward to some fresh baked muffins, best perk of the
job.”

Lark shook her head and led the way outside to the car. Vincent
hurried ahead of her, opening the passenger side door with a wide grin on his
face.

“What’s going on?”

Lark turned and felt her breath catch. Devon stood behind
her, his eyes flicked between her and Vincent.

“I get bodyguard duty,” Vincent said proudly.

Devon looked surprised as he quirked a brow at his brother. “You?”

“Yes, me, is that so hard to believe?” Vincent huffed, his
brow dipping down into a scowl.

“I just thought Rick would send someone else.”

“I’m sure Vincent can handle it,” Lark chimed in.

“See? At least she has faith in me. Thanks, Dev.” Vincent
motioned toward Lark, a scowl on his face.

“That’s not what I meant,” Devon defended.

“No, it’s okay. Come on Lark, we don’t want to be late.”

Lark looked nervously between the two brothers an unspoken
conversation going on between them as Devon stared daggers at his brother. The
air crackled with tension. A tick formed in Devon’s jaw, his hands balled into
tight fists. Vincent gripped the car door tightly, his knuckles white.

“I’ll see you later.” Lark broke
the deafening silence as she got into the car and Vincent shut the door.

Vincent walked around the front of
the car and climbed in beside her, not giving his brother another glance. Lark
caught Devon’s eye and held it as the vehicle started and Vincent backed it up.
She saw Devon sigh before he turned and headed in the house.

Vincent looked out the front window
a defeated look on his face. His hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, as
he drove down the long gravel driveway.

“You okay?” Lark asked.

“Yeah, fine. I’m used to people
underestimating me.”

“I’m sure that’s not the case.”

“I can understand why he does. My
dad never showed any interest in teaching me anything. It was always about my
brother Daniel, making him be the best alpha one day. Then there was Devon, my
dad did everything he could think of to make his life hell. Guess I was the
lucky one.” Vincent sucked in a deep breath his smile returning. “Anyway,
enough about my tortured childhood. Tell me about all the different types of
muffins you’re making today.”

Lark wanted to ask more, especially
about Devon, but now wasn’t the time.

“Well, it’s Monday. The specials
today are cranberry muffins, macadamia nut cookies, and peach pie.”

“Those sound good.”

Vincent slammed on the breaks. Lark
propelled forward, grunting as the seatbelt locked and held her in a vice grip.
She turned an inquisitive look to Vincent.

“I saw something.” Vincent opened
the car door and got out to survey the tree line.

Lark inhaled as she looked around,
her heart pounded in her ears. She didn’t know how much more of this she could
take. It would be nice to have a relaxing, normal day after all the craziness. However,
it did not seem like today would be the day.

“I know you’re here,” Vincent
called out.

Lark gasped as a man slowly came
out of the woods and walked toward the car. He bore a striking similarity to
Vincent and Emily. The only difference was his predatory gait and his firm set
of solid shoulders.

“What are you doing here?” Vincent
snapped. His hands balled into fists at his side.

“You need to go now, Vincent.” The
man said as his gaze moved to Lark.

“Are you attacking the ranch now?”
Fear flooded Vincent’s voice. He recoiled back when the other man stepped
toward him.

“I know what you’re thinking. Don’t.”
The man grabbed Vincent’s arm. “Take her and get out of here now, Vincent. Our
orders are to kill you on sight.”

“Get off me, Daniel!” Vincent
pushed at Daniel but he didn’t release him.

Daniel slammed Vincent into the
car. “You need to go!
Now
.”

“What about Devon? Emily?”

Lark felt her heart accelerate, she
clung to the door handle as the silence stretched on. The ranch was under
attack or going to be any moment. Sarah was there. Tears pricked her eyes. Rick,
Gene, Preston, Devon, all of her friends and her family were there.

“Emily will be fine,” Daniel said
quietly after a long moment.

“But Devon? You're okay with him
getting killed? Our brother?” Vincent shoved Daniel away and punched him in the
face. “I’m not going to leave while my brother gets murdered. I don’t leave family
behind.”

Daniel stumbled away, but recovered
and swung at Vincent. His right fist connected with Vincent’s jaw, shoving him
back into the interior of the car. Vincent fell across the seat, his head
landing on the center console, blood seeping from his lip.

“I’m not asking, Vincent,” Daniel
growled. “Leave.”

Vincent kicked at his brother. Daniel
backed away, as he climbed out of the car. “He’s our brother! How can you sit
back and let father do that to Emily? What is wrong with you? Get out of my
way, Daniel. I’m going back, and if you try to stop me again I will go through
you.”

Lark undid her seat belt and
climbed out of the car. She would do whatever she had to do to help Vincent. Her
eyes drifted between the two brothers as a howl resounded throughout the woods.

Daniel withdrew with a sigh his
eyes drifted to the ground.

“Just be careful, Vincent. Dad is
the one that gave the order to kill. He sent all the elite members of the
guard. You know these guys will follow it.”

Vincent tugged his shirt off. “Yeah,
and you’re the one that followed through and brought them here. If something
happens it’s on you, brother.”

Lark watched in horror as Vincent’s
hand went to the button of his jeans. “What are you doing?”

“It’s quicker this way. Take the
car, Lark, and get out of here.”

Lark’s chin jutted out defiantly.
“No, Sarah’s back there. I’m not leaving her.”