Wild (26 page)

He paused as if he was trying to figure out how to tell her what she'd already guessed.

“Your alpha?” She rubbed his tense shoulder when she said that. “Which means we'll need to wait until we get back to the lodge so you can speak to Trak.”

He jerked around and stared at her. “But how—”

She pressed a finger to his lips. “He walks with authority, and while he doesn't say or do anything at all bossy, it's obvious that all of you defer to him. I think a couple of the others have already figured you guys out. It's okay. We won't talk.”

He nodded and then stood. Grabbing the small bag off the log and looping it over his shoulder, he reached for Elle's hand. His silence spoke volumes.

A man able to shift into a wolf. It was something so far from reality it was almost impossible to believe … except she did believe. But did that mean there could never be anything between them? She couldn't quite see herself married to a guy who went furry while she stayed home and sulked.

And that image had her biting her lips to keep from laughing. What a bizarre conversation she was having with herself!

After a few more minutes of an easy hike, they rounded a stand of pine trees, and a pristine mountain lake glistened in the sunlight, spreading across a small valley with the towering ridges and harsh cliffs of the Trinity Alps framing the scene. Elle stopped dead in her tracks and stared for a long, long moment in time. The entire view was exquisite, beyond anything she'd ever imagined, so stunning it hardly looked real. Thick tules grew along one end of the lake, the bulrushes home to dozens of red-winged blackbirds that were obviously the source of the lake's name. Their calls echoed off the nearby cliffs. She blinked rapidly, clearing the tears from her eyes, and took a deep breath.

Tuck took hold of her hand and squeezed. His warm gaze said he understood the effect this magnificent little valley surrounded by stark mountain peaks was having on her.

Her friends were all down by the water's edge while the guys spread a cloth over a picnic table set closer to the trees and set up their lunch. A few clouds floated over; the air was chilly, but it really was a flawless day. All this and she'd even saved the life of a fawn. Smiling, still hanging on to Tuck's hand, she squeezed his fingers to get his attention. “You are so lucky to live in such a wonderful place. What's it like here in the winter?”

“Cold,” he said, laughing. “Very cold, but it's even better when the peaks are covered in snow and ice.”

“I'd love to see it.” She turned and studied him for a moment. He looked spectacular, his dark hair in loose curls over his head, his beard not much more than a heavy shadow that defined a strong jaw and an absolutely kissable mouth. She knew his chest was covered in a soft pelt of dark hair, and the tattoo decorating his right shoulder and wrapping across his back was like a magnet to her fingers. She really wished there was a good reason for him to take his shirt off, just so she could feast her eyes on all that male splendor.

Instead, she voiced a thought that had been rattling around in her head ever since he'd watched her heal the fawn, something she'd not really even considered other than as an errant wish. Now, though? It was more than a wish. It was something she felt that she really needed to do. He'd praised her healing. She wondered if he'd meant what he'd said.

“Dr. Jones?”

“Yes, Ms. Marcel?”

His lips twitched, and she knew he was fighting a smile.

“I'm ready for a career change,” she said. “Are you in the market for an assistant?”

*   *   *

The hike back down the mountain was a lot easier than going up. Jules had never really thought of herself as a country girl, but she had to admit that she loved the fresh air and the wide-open views, loved the idea of hiking with her best buds through rugged cedar and pine forests, and really loved the idea of two hot men paying her so much attention.

She might have started out with Manny, but Drew had latched on after spending the night—and there was no doubt in her mind that the second wolf had been Drew and the first one Manny—and she certainly wasn't going to tell him she didn't want him walking so close, touching so easily, looking so absolutely awesome.

He had no idea how much his scent, the mere fact of his proximity, turned her on. Her entire body was over-sensitized, her nipples hard from the slight friction of her clothing over the tips, her panties damp—and it wasn't just sweat from their hike

Good thing it wasn't illegal: hiking while aroused. Try explaining that one to a judge. On the other hand, she'd actually been wondering what it would be like to have two sexy men in her bed. This was a vacation, after all. A chance to play out a fantasy or two … or more? Dar was practically connected at the hip to Lawz, and Elle and Tuck obviously had something going on that already looked like more than a vacation fling.

Which left Meg, who was engaged to be married, and Jules with both Manny and Drew paying court. Not a bad way to spend a week in the woods. Or in that cute little cabin. The thing was, how did a woman go about letting two very hot men know she was interested in sharing?

If nothing else, it gave her something to think about all the way back to the lodge.

*   *   *

Meg hadn't expected to have so much fun on today's hike, especially after she'd dumped all her neurotic angst on her best friends, but she'd loved every minute. When Elle talked about rescuing the fawn, Meg was reminded once again that she had the most wonderful friends around, women who were each so special in so many ways. But Elle? Elle was definitely something else. They all knew about her healing gift, but it was fun to hear her try to explain it to the guys. The best part was the way Dr. Tuck accepted everything she said without question.

Zach was like that. He deferred to Meg on so many things, accepting the fact that there were some things she knew more about than he did. She missed him. She thought of him constantly, wondered what he would think of this place, wondered what he'd think of her out hiking and playing in the woods, doing things that were totally out of character for her.

She wondered if it was bad form to invite a fiancé to a bachelorette party. The others had guys; in fact, it looked like Jules had two. Jules deserved two incredible men in her life, even if it was only for this week. They'd all figured out there had to be a horrible problem between Jules and her dentist boyfriend. She hadn't said anything, but Meg was positive she'd quit her job when they broke up, even though Jules hadn't said anything. Could her cocky dentist have been abusive?

Jules was smart and usually read people really well, so it was hard to figure out how that could have been the case.

They really needed to get together and talk. Just the four of them, no men allowed.

But not tonight. Tonight, she had a feeling she was going to sleep like the dead. She wondered if her wolf would show up.

 

CHAPTER 8

Zach Trenton stared at the cell phone in his hand, hoping for a text from Meggie. He missed her. He'd scheduled the annual two-week break for his company without realizing this was the week Meggie would be gone, which meant he didn't even have work to occupy him.

If only he weren't so damned worried. She'd been unhappy about something before she left, but he had no idea what it was, and she wasn't talking.

Nothing was the same without her. He couldn't put it into words, but somehow she completed all the frayed edges in his world. When Meggie was around, she kept him balanced and functional. Without her, he was a wreck. He'd never told her that. Maybe he should, except in the real world, it was supposed to be the man slaying the dragons. In his world, it was Meggie. If she knew how much he needed her, would she realize what a wimp he was?

He stared at the phone for a few more minutes. Should he or shouldn't he? This was her week off from him, a week to be with her friends. But he needed her. Plus, when he'd checked out the Feral Passions website, he broke out in a cold sweat. The guys that worked there could do a calendar and make a fortune.

Some women liked to screw around before they finally tied themselves to one guy, and Meg was ten years younger than he was. Was she looking for one last hurrah? He hoped not.

He'd realized, the moment she left, he didn't share well with others.

He slipped the phone back in his pocket. This week was his gift to Meg. They loved each other. Loving Meg meant trusting her, but …

He reached for his phone. Clenched his fist, left the phone in his pocket, and cursed.

Damn. He was such a wuss.

*   *   *

Trak and Evan had dinner in the oven, and they were both behind the bar, ready and waiting by the time the hikers straggled back to the lodge. They had at least an hour before dinner would be ready. Evan fixed chilled caffe mochas and iced spiced tea, passed out a couple of fruit juices to the tired, hot, and dusty ladies, and mixed up a margarita for Jules. Trak leaned against the bar while Evan handled the drinks, listening to the laughter, the sometimes raunchy comments, trying to judge whether or not the women were having a good time. That was something that had totally cracked him up—just how off-color a group of women could be when they got together without men.

At least everything he heard was positive about their visit so far.

He figured it would only take one bad review to destroy the goodwill they'd been building all summer, and he worried about things going up online that he might be missing. At least Brad had called a little earlier—he'd gotten Trak's message, and since they were already headed home, they'd decided to cut out the last couple of stops and drive straight through.

That meant he'd have Cherry back at her computer, Brad running the kitchen, and Cain giving him grief. He almost missed the bastard. Almost.

Tuck leaned against the bar across from Trak and tapped him on the forehead. “What are you scowling about?”

Trak laughed. “Brad and Cherry are due home tomorrow night, and I just realized it means that Cain will be back, too.”

“You just don't give that poor bastard a break, do you?” Tuck parked his ass on the bar stool and leaned close. “I've always wondered … what's your problem with him, anyway?”

Trak ran a white cloth over the polished surface, scrubbing at the shine with a vengeance. “Haven't you noticed? He's an alpha. A stronger alpha than I am, and yet he defers to me, doesn't challenge me. Even bares his throat when I bitch at him. What's wrong with him?”

Tuck had the balls to laugh out loud at that. Trak ground his teeth.

“Absolutely nothing,” Tuck said. “He's a very smart, decent guy. Alpha or not, it's obvious he doesn't want the responsibility of the pack, but there's nothing wrong with that. And Cherry and Brad both love him, so he can't be too horrible, right? I think you've just gotten in the habit of always thinking he's out to get you.”

“Decent? There's nothing decent about Cain Boudin. He's an asshole.”

“He'd be an asshole if he wanted your pack. He doesn't. He does what you ask him to do and always goes the extra mile with our wild brothers. Let it go, Trak. It's not you. You're a good guy, but this private vendetta you've got against Cain bothers all of us. If he's acting like a shit, we'll call him on it, but it's reached a point where I'm afraid the guests might notice.”

Crap. He hadn't even considered that. “Have I ever said anything to him in front of a guest? I don't recall—”

“Expressions can say a lot more than words, and you get a look around him that's like a scorpion crawled up your ass. It's not pretty.”

“A scorpion?” He laughed at that one. Sometimes Tuck came up with the weirdest shit. “I didn't realize I was so obvious.”

“Have you ever sat down and talked to him? Asked him why he submits even though you both know he's the more powerful wolf?”

“No.” Sighing, Trak stared out toward the trees. “I think I'm afraid that he's going to tell me he's not really submitting, that he's pretending to, that he doesn't respect me enough to mean it.” He turned to Tuck, fully aware he'd never talked about this before. Not to anyone. “Lawz resents the hell out of the fact that he, as the elder brother, was born a true beta. He feels he was cheated of his birthright. When I came along, alpha from the womb, he was outraged. I don't think he's ever forgiven me. It's come between us all our lives. Then along comes Cain, a guy who's stronger than both of us, and I think it sort of shook my sense of who I was, that maybe my leadership within the pack wasn't set in stone. I guess I'm always waiting for him to make a play for the top spot.”

“Not gonna happen.” Tuck took the mug of beer Evan handed him. The women had all gone back to their cabins while he and Trak had been talking. “Thanks, Ev.” He turned back to Trak. “Cain's at peace. Whatever happened in his past, whatever drove him here to our pack, isn't driving him anymore. Not since he and Brad got together, and especially since Cherry came into their lives. He's got what he wants. A family, two mates who love him unconditionally. We should all be so lucky.”

“He got kicked out of his pack in Idaho,” Trak said, trusting Tuck and Evan to keep what he said confidential. “Do you remember when he showed up?” When both men shrugged, Trak explained. “It was shortly after World War II, and he'd served in Europe with the US Army. Buried his wolf nature and went in as a foot soldier, but he was a decorated vet when he got here, up front about getting kicked out of his pack for his overly aggressive tendencies.”

“Was he a young wolf when that happened?”

“Yeah.” Trak remembered the first time he met Cain. He was young and cocky and scared to death after coming out of the service without a pack to go home to. “He was born in 1910, got kicked out shortly after his first shift. He was late shifting—it happened in 1942. I guess he figured the army, with the war raging, was a natural segue, sort of trading one pack for another.” It wasn't unusual for young wolves to turn aggressive shortly after their first shift, which happened in their late twenties or early thirties. It was like the power went to their heads. A lot of them didn't survive their first couple of years—they challenged older, more mature males and ended up dead. Cain had challenged the pack alpha, but the man had been a good leader, and rather than killing the young wolf, he'd exiled him from the pack.