Reach for the Sky (Wolffe Peak Book 1) (13 page)

“That’s my mother’s cabin, right over that small hill.” Sky leaned against the car door and gazed across the land as their chauffeur, Gordon Hall, drove them to her grandfather’s, her thoughts plummeting to a dark place.

Someone had been maintaining it in her mother’s stead. After the funeral—and after her grandfather had unceremoniously demanded that she leave—she’d stopped at the small cabin and spent the night among her mother’s possessions. Though her mother hadn’t used it since remarrying, it was still a part of her.

No matter that the later years had been rife with anger and frustration, Sky knew that her mother had once loved her. So, that night, she’d curled up on the bed, pulled her mother’s blankets close, and wept for the future they would never have.

“This is hard for you.” There was no question in Wyatt’s soft voice.

“The last time I was here, it was to say goodbye to someone I once loved. I felt such guilt when I arrived. If only I’d tried to mend things, or made an effort to reach out. But when they shunned me, I was so angry. They were my pack. They were supposed to love me no matter what choices I made with
my
life. Everything was always about
them
, though. They wanted me to fall in line, pump out babies…live a life I never wanted.”

Wyatt brought her hand to his mouth and brushed his lips against her knuckles. Her heart fluttered, a small smile touching her lips. Away from his pack, there was a marked difference in him. Gone was the alpha attitude that often irritated her. Left in its stead was
Wyatt
—someone she knew she could love. Sometimes, the wolf chose the mate and left the human half to catch up, and sometimes, the human half never caught up, as evidenced by her parents. How her father had silenced his wolf long enough to screw around was something she’d never understood. Nor did it matter any longer. He lived on the east coast—she’d never bothered to ask where—and her mother was dead.

The soft whirr of the partition lowering broke the silence. “We’re almost there.”

Sky glanced up and nodded, meeting Hall’s gaze in the rear-view mirror. Her grandfather had sent a vehicle for them, which had rankled Wyatt to no end. She’d kept him occupied, though, telling tales of her family along the way.

She smoothed her hands down her outfit, her stomach twisting. Neither Sky nor Wyatt had packed for this, and they’d been given no time to shop before the gathering. Thankfully, she’d brought an extra tank top, which she’d covered with Wyatt’s leather jacket. It swallowed her lithe frame, but his scent helped calm her. 

Hall pulled up to the house and into the driveway. Without waiting, she popped open the backdoor and hopped out. Much like the rest of Hidden Creek, her grandfather’s house hadn’t changed in her time away.

“This way.” Hall gestured toward the entry.

Sky and Wyatt shared a glance before they walked up the path and slipped through the door. The estate was a little larger than Wyatt’s, and far removed from the public. It was the vision her grandfather had always aspired to.

“Skylar!” Her name echoed through the gilded hallway.

She lifted her chin and sought out the source. There, at the end of the corridor, was her sister-in-law, Amberly. Sky had been fifteen when her older brother had announced his mating. At eighteen, she had felt he was far too young to commit himself to someone, but her family had been ecstatic that he had chosen someone. The startling realization that Sky
liked
Amberly had been jarring; she’d fully expected to loathe the woman who had forced herself into their family.

Amberly jogged down the hallway, her long skirt fluttering behind her. “Sky!” Then, with a giggle, she descended upon her and wrenched her into a hug. “When Sawyer heard you were coming…” She shook her head, tears glistening in her light brown eyes. “He’s so excited to see you!”

Sky felt a natural smile curve her lips. Of her entire family, Amberly had been the only one to show any support when she’d left. Not that it’d made a lick of difference. “Where is he?”

“Out with Paxton. There were a couple more things to pick up.” She smiled fondly. “Oh, you should see Paxton! She’s pregnant again!”

Sky blinked. Last she’d heard, Sawyer and Paxton hadn’t been on speaking terms. Sawyer had never agreed with the way things had ended between their parents. And when their mother settled with her new mate, Landon, Sawyer had refused to acknowledge either of their resulting children.

“Things have changed in the past year,” Amberly murmured. “Once your mother passed…” Her words trailed off until eventually she shrugged. “Sawyer sort of took Paxton and Noah under his wing. Landon isn’t dealing well with the loss of your mother. He’s getting better, but Noah needed someone to look up to.”

And so he’d stepped up, something Sky hadn’t been around for. Another surge of guilt washed through her.

“That’s not important, though.” Amberly threw a glance Wyatt’s way before she leaned forward and whispered. “Maybe you could introduce us?”

“Oh!” Sky closed her eyes and shook her head. “Wyatt, this is my sister-in-law, Amberly. She’s married to my brother, Sawyer.”

“Pleasure to meet you.” Amber offered a bright grin.

“And as I said, this is Wyatt, my…mate.” Sure, she hesitated on the word, but who wouldn’t after a mere twelve hours since the big event?

“Your…mate?” Amber brows shot up. “I didn’t know—I mean, no one told us. I thought, I mean we
all
thought—”

Sky’s mouth tightened. “Thought what?”

An embarrassed blush scoured her sister-in-law’s cheeks, and with a forced grin, she shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. Wow, look how long we’ve been out here, we should…yes, I think they’re ready for us. We should go.”

“Wait.” Skylar drew Amberly back with a hand on her arm. “What’s going on?”

“Ignore me,” she giggled. “Pregnancy hormones, and all that.”

“You’re pregnant too?” Sky’s hand shot to her mouth and her eyes to Amberly’s midsection.

“Six weeks. Confirmed yesterday.” This time her grin was natural. “Now, come on, everyone is dying to see you.”

“Doubtful,” Sky grumbled as she followed in the wake of her bouncy sister-in-law. Wyatt’s choked laugh caught her attention. “And what are you snickering about?”

Wyatt bit back a grin, his eyes twinkling with humor. “Sky, they thought you were gay.”

The sudden proclamation brought her up short. “What?”

Laughter rolled from his lips. Alone in the hallway now, he slid his arms around her waist and drew her into his chest, his fingers sliding along the lip of her jeans. “She was legitimately shocked that you had taken a mate.”

Annoyance settled in the pit of Sky’s stomach. “You’re joking.”

“Nope.” Wyatt choked back a fresh laugh. “Her face gave it away. She’s probably rushing ahead to announce to everyone that you aren’t a lesbian.”

Groaning, Sky dropped her head onto Wyatt’s chest. “Let’s get this over with so we can go home.”

He hooked a finger beneath her chin and lifted it. “To my place, right? Soon to be our place?”

“Is now really the time to have this conversation?”

He shrugged, then glanced around. “We’re alone, why not? I can’t imagine you’d want to return to your house.”

Her house. Right. Where the bastard had slaughtered poor Jody Anne Davidson. “Let me get through this house first, all right?” So not to offend him, Sky rose up on her tiptoes and kissed him.

“As you wish,” he murmured against her lips.

***

The cabin was dark, but ready.

For a year, he’d maintained it, and all for Skylar. He remembered the night of her mother’s funeral well, had longed to go to her and dry her tears. She’d been alone and grieving and desperate for comfort, but the time hadn’t been right.

Now, he was tired of waiting. Tired of others standing in his way. Tired of being denied that which was his. His nostrils flared, but Sky’s scent had long since faded.

It hadn’t taken long for sweet Trinity to divulge Sky’s destination, and when he’d heard
Hidden Creek
, he’d felt a surge of pleasure like nothing else. Then, he’d cut out her eyes with a dreamy smile, content for the first time ever. And for once, he hadn’t felt the need to slake his need, a reward reserved for Sky.

Though surrounded by her family, she was far more vulnerable here than in Wolffe Peak. Their eyes wouldn’t track her twenty-four seven, nor was there a dedicated sheriff hounding her every step.

He turned and paced the length of the family room once more, feet wearing a new tread in the restored hardwood. So much effort had gone into the upkeep, and all for her, to make her feel welcome and loved and appreciated. After the miserable life her family had provided her, it was well-deserved. No other could provide her with that—no one else
understood
what those bastards had put her through. Oh, but he did. He knew the sting of exile as well as she did.

And once she was here, it was a sting they could ease…together.

He shivered with anticipation, his gaze landing upon the master bedroom. He strode toward it, his palms growing clammy as he gazed onto the bed. The restraints sat upon the mattress, the soft cuffs begging for her ankles and wrists. This was the place where he would show her how much he loved her, where he would bring her to the peak of pleasure, where he would hear her scream his name.

Only one person stood in his way.

His hand strayed to the small of his back, his fingers touching the cold, steel gun pressed against him. One silver bullet was all it would take.

All he had to do was wait for his moment, and then Sky would be his forever.

Wyatt stood tall and watched those in attendance with great fascination. Seeing the inner workings of another pack was rare, but beyond that, he was watching for anything out of the ordinary. Though Sky’s grandfather, Gavin, had deemed his pack innocent, it didn’t necessarily mean it was true. Had another alpha come to Wyatt’s pack to question the whereabouts of his people, he would have lied through his teeth and then investigated for himself.

Unfortunately, at this point, it seemed Gavin had spoken the truth. Though Sky had suffered some brutal questions and assumptions, few had shown interest in anything beyond her whereabouts for the past decade. Amberly had exaggerated their excitement to see her again; Sky had been quite right when she’d called herself a pariah.

“Walk with me,” Gavin’s voice sounded next to him.

Wyatt crooked his head and studied Sky’s former alpha. He settled against the wall, his burly arms crossed over his chest as though to appear intimidating. Wyatt snorted under his breath and shook his head. There was no doubt in his mind—if it came down to a fight, the old man didn’t stand a chance. “No.”

Gavin blinked. “Excuse me?”

For a moment, the corner of Wyatt’s mouth twitched. The indignation in his voice was one that Sky mimicked perfectly.

“I wasn’t asking.”

Wyatt cocked a brow. He’d used that line himself a few times on Sky. He chuckled to himself and shook his head, marveling that she’d accepted him as her mate. Now he understood how she felt when he ordered her about. Hilarious how some things came full circle. “Good, because I’m not going anywhere with you. My job is to keep Sky safe. That means keeping an eye on her at all times.”

“Sure, because that’s the way to start off a new relationship, by smothering your mate.”

“I’m not—”

“She’s with her brothers. My boys will ensure no harm comes to her. You can spare a few moments to speak with your new mate’s grandfather.”

Wyatt spared a glance in her direction. The old wolf was correct—she was surrounded by a whole herd of family members. He scrubbed a warm hand down his face and sighed before following in Gavin’s wake.

The old alpha led him to a small office, and once he stepped within, Gavin closed the door with a soft click.

“All right, get it all off your chest,” Wyatt grumbled.

Gavin lifted his hard gaze. “I know what Sky has told you about us.”

All right, not how I expected this to start
. Wyatt frowned and slanted against the door, his legs crossed at the ankles. “Really.”

“I would think, as an alpha, you would understand my perspective.”

Wyatt gave a bitter chuckle. “Is that so?”

“I gave Sky multiple chances to return to us. Her constant rejection of my authority had begun to raise questions. I love my granddaughter with all my heart, but you should understand who it is that you’ve chosen as your mate. She disobeys every command, refuses to take her place in the hierarchy, and undermines all authority.”

Wyatt’s brows lifted. Her grandfather had listed every reason he loved her. Wyatt blinked, his loud thoughts drowning out Gavin. He hardly knew her, but he knew without a doubt he would do anything to have her in his life, forever.
I love her
… “Well, imagine that…”

Gavin’s words trailed off, and he pinned Wyatt with an annoyed glare. “What?”

Wyatt shook his head. No need to pepper her grandfather with declarations of love. That was a little too…fruity for his liking. The only person he would ever utter those words to was Sky.

“Were you even listening to me?” Gavin sighed.

“Nah, not even a little bit. Did I miss anything important?”

The old man groaned. “Maybe you two are suited for each other. Must I threaten you? You will treat her well, right?”

“Like your threats would mean anything to me.”

Wyatt pushed off the door and turned to leave, but before he did, a flash of something caught his eye. He hesitated, then reached out and plucked a titanium photo frame from the nearby bookshelf. The picture within was heartrending. Turning, he held it up, his fingers caressing the glass. “You keep photos of Sky?”

Gavin nodded, a pained expression twisting his face. “I told you, I love my granddaughter. This is my private study, so I keep her pictures here.”

Wyatt lowered the photo and studied it. Draped in black, Sky stood next to an earthen mound, a single rose clutched to her chest as she stared down. The angle of the picture was just right to catch the single tear that scoured her cheek, and
boy howdy
, it was a knife to his heart. “Her mother’s funeral?”

Gavin cleared his throat and nodded.

“You took a picture of her at her mother’s funeral?”

“No.” He sounded disgusted. “If you take the back off, you’ll see it’s a newspaper clipping. I’ve kept every article ever posted about her.”

Wyatt lifted his head. “How many are there?”

“Quite a few.”

“Show me.”

Gavin’s eyes narrowed. “Excuse me?”

Wyatt waved an impatient hand. There was something off about this photo, though he couldn’t put his finger on it. What sort of reporter capitalized on someone’s personal pain like this? He shook his head. All right, all of them, but this photo didn’t sit well with him. He studied it, his attention landing on the faint outline of bushes in the far edge of the picture.

“Here,” Gavin grunted. “Knock yourself out.”

Glancing up, Wyatt noted a box of trimmings, all stamped with Sky’s image. “What the hell…” He reached for the box and pulled out the top two.

Sky at the presidential ball, following in line at her mother’s funeral, standing behind a podium, coming out of the sheriff’s office…it went on and on.

“Look at this,” Wyatt muttered. He handed the picture frame to Gavin. “Down in the right corner. Does that look like an edge of a bush to you?”

“Ya, so?”

Wyatt sighed. “So, do you know many journalists who hide in the bushes to catch a snapshot? Gossip columnists, maybe, but these all belong to respected newspapers.”

“So what?” Gavin dropped into his chair and nudged the box across the desk. “Sky welcomed this nonsense into her life when she took such a high profile job. These articles started the moment she completed her master’s and entered into politics.”

“Exactly,” Wyatt murmured, his thoughts buzzing. This was an angle they hadn’t approached yet. He’d thought it had something to do with her former pack, but maybe it didn’t. Maybe the funeral had been the
trigger
. Something must have happened to instigate the stalking, but it didn’t mean the stalker was someone local to Hidden Creek. “Who took all these photos?”

“I don’t know.” Gavin rocked back in his chair. “Never looked.”

Flipping over the article, Wyatt’s eyes widened at the familiar name. “
Son-of-a-bitch
!”

“What?”

He tore through the box, snatching out one article after another, finding the same name written on each of the images.
Mother fucker
, this obsession had been going on longer than they’d thought.
Years
. He sucked in a sharp breath and threw the articles back into the box. But how was it possible? He was human.

The answer had been given to him this afternoon in the hotel—Sky’s thesis. “These are coming with me.”

Gavin shot out of the chair. “What did you find?”

“I may be wrong, but I think I know who’s stalking her.”

“Who?”

Wyatt gestured toward the photos. It was the only logical explanation. “James Griffon, the journalist.” He glanced up at Gavin. “I’m taking Sky home. This lead needs to be investigated.”

Gavin gave a clipped nod. “Keep my girl safe.”

For once, they agreed on something.

***

Sky sagged against the nearest wall and sighed, exhausted. She’d forgotten how tiring her family could be. Everything was always
who had mated with whom
, and
who was having a baby
. It all felt so superficial. She’d told Wyatt that she’d wanted to come back to rub her success in their faces, but not a single one of them cared about what she was working toward. Her brother had casually mentioned her career, but they’d simply nodded politely, as though it was of no interest to them.

After hearing Paxton talk about their upcoming fourth child—
two more months now
!—Sky had wandered off to find Wyatt, only to see him following her grandfather into his office. She couldn’t imagine that was going to be a pleasant conversation, but she wasn’t brave enough to interrupt.

Tipping her head back, she drew in another deep breath. Fresh air would be nice right about now…take a moment to stare at the moon and recharge her energy. She had the rest of the night to look forward to and already she was fading.

Pushing away from the wall, she made her way toward the front entrance and slipped on her boots. A few moments, that was all she needed.

“Sky?”

She lifted her head and peered through a curtain of hair to see Noah bearing down on her.

“Where are you going?” The teenager’s face pinched, his brows knotted with concern.

Of all her half-siblings, Noah was by far her favorite. Paxton had only ever cared about dolls and hair, while Noah seemed more mature. Though he didn’t yet understand the ways of the world, he seemed to care about them. She’d actually missed him when she’d left. “Out for a breath of fresh air.”

“You shouldn’t be alone right now.” He glanced behind him. “Sawyer told me that someone is after you.”

Fifteen, and already he carried the weight of the world. With a gentle smile, she jerked her chin toward the door. “Care to join me? You can protect me.”

The boy blushed, but after a sharp nod, he threw on his shoes and opened the door, his hand held out to keep Sky from leaving until he scented the air. Finally, he nodded. “All clear.”

“You’re going to make a fine man someday, kid.”

His blush deepened. “I watch you on the news every chance I get.”

It was a line she often heard, but from Noah, it was flattering. “Yeah?”

“I told Grandpa that I agreed with what you were doing.”

She chuckled. “And how did that go over?”

The boy’s mouth twisted. “I was assigned three weeks of landscape duty.”

Ah, some things never changed. Sky blew out a breath, watching as it misted in the frosty air before being swept away by the chilled wind. Together, they walked across the property, the house shrinking in the distance. Pausing by the fence line, she stared at the moon, drawing on whatever energy she could. Out here, she felt free, the burdens of her family lifting from her shoulders. Home, she had Wyatt and his pack. Those who had accepted her without any hesitation. A smile had just cracked her lips when Noah gave a soft gasp.

Glancing his way, she frowned at the sight of his gaping mouth and twisted brows. “What is it, kid?”

His head dropped and she followed, blinking at the sight of a dark stain blooming across his chest. Dead center was a silver knife, gleaming in the moonlight.

“
Noah
!” Skylar shrieked, her hands reaching for him as a dark shadow rose behind him. Her brother sagged into her arms, his head lolling against her shoulder. Sky’s gaze climbed the tall figure, her entire body going cold the moment she recognized him. “You…” Before she could suck in a breath, he descended upon her and something sharp pricked her neck.

The world tilted, and she staggered as her brother slipped from her grasp.

“Noah,” she murmured, her boneless knees threatening to give out beneath her.

A savage snarl rent the night air, one that her mind instantly recognized.
Wyatt
. Her mouth shaped his name, but the only sound that escaped was a faint whimper.

James Griffon stood next to her, a wicked grin splitting his face as he lifted his arm. Steel glinted in his hand, and, with a gasp, Sky threw her weight at him.
Too slow
! Multiple gunshots rang in her head, and Sky’s gaze snapped across the field where a monstrous wolf jerked mid-air and toppled to the ground.

No
!

All she’d wanted was a breath of fresh air and to gaze up at the moon. She could see them now, twinkling up in the midnight sky. Her eyes grew heavy, and one-by-one, the stars winked out until nothing remained but darkness.