Winter Magic (10 page)
Authors: TL Reeve
Murder in Los Lobos
A Black Hills Wolves Mini Series
Look for it January 2016
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Chapter One
The full moon illuminated the trail Kole used for his runs through the Black Hills. Though he’d never enjoyed the rush with a mate or even friends, he ran without fail, to tire himself out—to forget about the aching maw in his chest. Five years ago, Max, the man he loved with his entire being, left. No reason why, no promise to return. Not even a forwarding address to ask why. It was as if the man disappeared off the face of the planet. So Kole persevered, living his life one day at a time. Determined not to let the memory of what he once had enter his mind again. It worked sometimes.
Other times, when he saw the new mates together, not so much. He grew to hate the idea of going for a run with the pack. Of them trying to lend him a sympathetic ear and impart words of wisdom when none of them even came close to understanding his loss. Max had been his potential mate. He could still smell Max’s spicy scent lingering in his tiny house. But, that was neither here nor there. Max hadn’t cared as much as Kole—or he would still be there. So tonight, he pledged to forget completely and enjoy himself.
As he came to the ridge overlooking the bluffs of craggy rocks with wisps of sage and grass, the dark outline of something on the rocks below caught his eye. He scented the air for potential danger, but found only the sweetness of sandalwood and the rusty copper of old blood. The scents clawed at him, demanded he descend to where the darkened figure lay. Kole took the little path to the left and followed it until he stood over the male. Sweat, blood, and debris covered him. His chest rose and fell as though he slept peacefully under the stars. After taking a tentative step forward, Kole nudged the man’s cheek then licked it, trying to revive him.
How long had the man been out there? Why hadn’t anyone else seen him? Or helped him? The scent of sandalwood grew thicker each time he buried his nose against the man’s neck. Whoever he was, the guy belonged to him, and didn’t that beat all. After five years of hermitting himself away, all it took was going for a run. The pull grabbed him by the balls. Like with Max, the need to claim and mark this man rode him hard. Shouldn’t he feel bad? Like he was betraying Max? He licked the man again and whined while snuffling his cheek. The man groaned and turned his head.
“Go away, Hercules,” he mumbled. “I don’t want to get out of bed.”
Who is Hercules?
Kole licked him again, and the man burrowed further, admonishing him once more. With a final nuzzle, Kole retreated a step and allowed the shift to come over him. His bones realigned with ease, and within moments, he crouched next to the man. “Hey, can you open your eyes? I’m here to help you,” he said, while taking in the hint of red stubble-covered cheeks marred by blood and dirt. His cropped red hair also had patches of dried blood as well.
He traced the contours of the man’s face while staring at him. The man’s full lips parted, and a soft groan passed them. His brows furrowed, and the scent of pain masked any hint of his true smell.
“Where is Hercules?” The man, caught somewhere between a hallucination and reality, reached out for his dog.
“I’m not sure,” Kole answered, still staring at the man. “Did you bring him with you out here?”
“Out here?” The man blinked several times and peeked through strawberry-blond lashes. Piercing-green eyes greeted him. “What the hell?” The man tried to sit up but hissed in pain. “Son of a bitch.”
“Easy,” Kole murmured. “How long have you been out here?”
He blinked and swallowed hard. Kole kicked himself for not having any provisions available. “I’m not even sure where here is.” He took a deep breath and coughed. “I went for a hike, and that’s about all I remember.”
“Did you fall?”
“I think I got lost. Where did the dog go?” Red asked.
“You mean Hercules?”
“Hercules?” The guy shook his head. “No, Hercules passed away a long time ago. There’s another one though. It licked my cheek.”
“Ah, the wolves. You know there are tons of wolves around here.” Kole hated lying. “One of them led me to you. Upside, we’re a quarter of a mile from my truck. The downside, we have to walk out.”
“A wolf led you to me?” A rough chuckle passed his lips. “That sounds so mystical.”
“You are on Native land here.” Kole smiled. “Things are not always as simple as they seem.”
“I bet,” the man answered. “So, we’re walking out?”
Kole nodded. “We’ll take breaks if you need them.” He held his hand out to the guy. “Come on, my place isn’t too far away.”
“Stay with you, huh?” A smirk tugged at his mouth.
“Yeah, getting you to a doctor ain’t going to happen. And, with it being dark out, finding your car will be a pain in the ass. You can stay with me, and then tomorrow, we can figure out what you were doing out here.”
“But you don’t know my name.”
“Well, my name is Kole Silver, and yours is?”
“Jasper Hill.”
“Well, Jasper, let’s get you out of here,” Kole replied, helping the man stand.
The trip didn’t take very long. They took a few breaks, and when they arrived at the mouth of the trail, he helped Jasper into his truck before walking around to the driver side. His new friend had been so out of it, he didn’t even realize Kole was naked. He grabbed his clothes from the back of the truck.
“You should have left him.” Ryker’s statement startled Kole, and he dropped his shirt.
“I could have left him,” he began, never taking his eyes off the intimidating Enforcer as he retrieved his fallen tank. “But, what would that say about me? He’s hurt. Obviously disorientated. It would have been cruel to leave him.”
“The world can be a cruel place, Kole. It’s not like you to step in and help someone.”
Ryker had a point. He stuck to himself and didn’t make much noise, but seeing Jasper lying there, helpless—he had to help him. “Well, maybe I felt sorry for the guy.”
The Enforcer snorted. “I will be at your house in the morning. Assess his injuries, I want an update.”
“Okay.”
“If he is well enough, take him to his car so he can leave. We don’t need any more strays around here.” Ryker narrowed his eyes and curled his lips, revealing a dark and dangerous visage. “Don’t play games, Kole.”
“I got it. If he is well enough, make him go home. If not, I’ll tell you.” He didn’t like the way Ryker’s piercing gaze bore into him as though he searched his soul for any fallacies in what he said.
Without another word, the Enforcer disappeared into the inky blackness of the night. Kole stood there for a moment and pressed his forehead to the driver side window. When he glanced up, he found Jasper’s green gaze trying desperately to focus on him. He opened the door and got in. He threw his shirt on the seat after slipping on his pants and started the truck. “Why don’t you rest a bit? I’ll have us home in a jiffy.” He pulled away then followed the rutted-out lane toward town.
The whole time he drove, he replayed what Ryker had said to him. His stomach clenched. He couldn’t disobey a directive from the Enforcer, but as he peeked at Jasper, he also knew he couldn’t leave the human to the buzzards either. He didn’t tell Ryker the whole truth of the situation. He feared losing Jasper before even getting to know him.
Kole turned off the main road and followed the dirt drive to his place away from everyone else. He liked it out there. He enjoyed the peace and quiet. And, if he wanted to run out behind his house, he could. A total win-win for him. The soft light of the porch greeted him as he pulled the truck to a stop. He touched Jasper’s shoulder and gave him a gentle shake. “Hey, we’re here.”
“Okay,” Jasper murmured.
“It’s not much, but it’s home.” He got out of the truck and walked around to the passenger side. Jasper straightened some, but still weak, his body listed to the side. “When we get inside,” Kole said, after opening the door, “I’ll run a bath for you, and I’ll check your wounds.”
“Thanks,” Jasper slurred, almost falling into Kole’s arms.
“Not a problem,” he replied.
When they walked inside his home, Kole turned on a few lights on their way down the hall. He sat Jasper on the closed toilet then began filling the tub. Every so often he glanced over his shoulder and watched as the guy pulled his clothes from his body. The broad expanse of his chest came into view, and Kole’s mouth watered. A smattering of freckles and short red hairs covered his creamy flesh. As his gaze traveled lower, he took in Jasper’s defined abs and the strip of darker hair that traveled farther south, below the waist of his pants.
Kole licked his lips and turned his attention to the tub, shutting off the water. “Leave your clothes in a pile. I’ll get them in the wash for you.”
“Don’t even bother,” Jasper groused. “They’re ruined. I have some clean stuff in my pack.”
“You didn’t have a pack when I found you.”
“Well, shit.” Jasper threw his shirt on the floor and started working his boots open, but his fingers kept slipping.
Kole stood then walked to him, pushing his potential mate’s hands out of the way. “I’ll get this for you.” The innate need to care for Jasper should have frightened Kole, yet it steadied him and made him feel useful for a change.
“I’m not an invalid you know,” Jasper snapped. “I could have gotten them.”
“I know you could have,” Kole whispered. “But you’ve had one hell of a trip, and I don’t mind helping you.” He gave him a half smile. “The tub is filled, so if you’re okay to make it over there, I’ll leave you to it.” After he pulled Jasper’s socks off, he added them to the pile of discarded clothes.
Jasper caught Kole’s arm as he stepped away. “Hey, I don’t mean to be a dick. I’m just….”
Kole nodded. “I get it. You’re hungry, thirsty, and tired. You ache in places you didn’t know you could ache in. Don’t worry about it. I’ll warm some soup and get you something to drink while you wash.” Kole glanced over his shoulder. “I’ll try to find you something to wear, too.”
“I doubt your clothes will fit me,” Jasper called out as Kole closed the door behind him.
Don’t I know it
. “Well, I’ll have to figure something out.” He had to have some of Max’s old clothes. No way could he go to town at such a late hour to get him clothes.
After flipping the light on in his room, Kole went to the closet and opened the door. He pushed his things aside, and the scent of spice filled his senses. Kole reached in, grabbed the scruffy T-shirt and sweats from the wire rack, and returned to the bathroom. He couldn’t concentrate on who the clothes belonged to or why he’d kept them for so long.
Concentrate on Jasper. Don’t think about him. He has no place in your life anymore
.
With a quick turn of the knob, he entered the bathroom and faced away from Jasper, offering him a sense of privacy. “You’re not one of those shy types are you?”
“No.” He licked his lips, not sure what
those types
were. “Not at all. I…well, you….” He sighed and laid the clothes on the counter. Kole glanced at the mirror and watched as Jasper dunked the washcloth into the water. His hand moved over his lower body. For a second, Kole could see the tip of his cock, and he held his breath. His dick twitched behind the confines of his jeans and filled as all of his blood headed south.
“Good, neither am I. I grew up in a house full of brothers, and nothing was private around them. Not even jerking off.” A crooked grin formed on Jasper’s lips. “So, are you going to stare a hole in that mirror, or are you going to turn around and look at me?”
Shit
. Kole turned to face Jasper. “Sorry. That’s rude of me.” He used his hand to cover his groin. “So, I found you something to wear. Might be—” His voice cracked, and he cleared his throat. “It might be a little tight, though.”
