Winter Wolf (A New Dawn Novel Book 1) (5 page)

Someone spoke her name, making her heart leap in her chest.

“Katalina?”

“Bass?” Katalina whispered, looking up. “Where’d you come from? I didn’t hear you approach.”

“Of course you didn’t. I wouldn’t be a very good predator if my prey heard me approach.”

“Prey?” she whispered, glancing behind her to check the house was quiet.

“I’ll hear if someone comes to the door. If we’re quiet, they shouldn’t hear us.” He smiled but then it left his face. “You’re crying.”

She didn’t bother trying to wipe her tears away, more just fell in their place anyway.

He sat down beside her. “What’s wrong?”

She wasn’t sure why she wanted to tell Bass. He’d called himself a predator and that word described him perfectly. She’d not missed the fact that he’d been on pack land for days now, yet had not been found. She also knew there were pack members out there at all times keeping watch. But it didn’t seem to matter. She might be a fool for trusting him but she did. Maybe he’d captured his prey after all, on the first night they’d met.

“I feel like I’m mourning two sets of parents, two lives. I’m so full of conflicting feelings I feel like I might break. My parents are dead and the life I had is never going to be the same again, and then I look at this album full from my first six months of life, and I’ve lost the parents I had then, too. Jackson might still be alive, but the man he is in here…I think he died that night along with Winter. All that’s left is a ghost clinging onto a hatred that has poisoned this pack.”

She sucked in a ragged breath, wiping her tears away; Bass wrapped his arm around her and she leaned into him, absorbing his heat, his steady strength. “I’m sorry. I’m sure you didn’t come here to listen to my problems.”

“Don’t apologize, Katalina. You feel what you feel and no one can change that, but do you really want to walk away from Jackson? No matter what he’s done, he is your father.”

“Right now, I can’t stand the sight of him, Bass. He gave me away as if I was an object he owned. He brought me here and he just expects me to fall in line and do as he says, when he has no right. He lost the right to have an opinion the night he left me on a doorstep.”

They sat in silence for a while, looking out at the dark night, watching the moon travel across the sky. Content, Kat could have fallen to sleep, tucked against him, warm and safe in his hold. With him the hollowness wasn’t as bad.

“Bass?” she whispered.

“Mmm?”

“Why are you here?”

She felt his laugh rumble against her side. “I already said, you intrigue me.”

“That’s not a real answer, Bass. Why haven’t you gone home? Why would you risk being here? If they find you, they’ll kill you.”

“No one finds me unless I want them to, and I haven’t gone home yet because I’m drawn to you.”

His finger touched her chin, turning her head so that she faced him. They were just centimeters apart, she could feel his warm breath against her skin. Katalina’s heart galloped in her chest.

He’s going to kiss me.
The thought both terrified and excited her.

Looking into his jet-black eyes with flecks of silver, she thought it was like gazing at the night’s sky, vast and beautiful. The corner of his mouth lifted in a slight smile. “I do quite like you, Katalina Winter. You are very intriguing and oh, so beautiful.”

Her breath caught. His hand tangled into her hair and he pulled her toward him, his smile turning wicked. He was so close, an electric force zapped between them and then his lips were on hers, and she exploded; a thousand butterflies took flight inside her. The world dropped away until she saw nothing but him, felt nothing but him.

He pulled away, looking at her with an intense hunger. “You do things to me. Make me feel things I shouldn’t. I’d like to savage every member of my pack for ever thinking of hurting you. You are a dangerous temptation, Katalina Winter.” His thumb rubbed over her lip, sending delicious shivers up her spine. “But then, I’ve always liked to play with danger.”

His head shot up, a growl rumbling from his chest. “Someone is coming.” He ran his lips gently over hers before leaping from the porch steps. He ran across the snow toward the trees. The second he hit their shadows, it was as if he disappeared, as if he was a shadow himself.

Katalina was still staring breathlessly at the spot where he’d vanished, wondering if he was there watching, when Cage walked outside.

“Kat? What are you doing out here? What are you looking at?”

She dragged her eyes away to look at Cage. He narrowed his eyes at the tree line but said nothing.

“I was just coming in.” She stood, feeling weak at the knees.

Cage stepped forward, steadying her. “Hey, are you okay? Your heart’s racing, Kat.”

“You can hear my heart?”

“Yes, did you see something in the trees?”

“What? No, why would you think that?”

“Well, you were staring at something and now your heart sounds like you’ve been running a marathon.”

She pulled her arm from his. “I’m fine, honestly, but thanks for asking. I’m going to go back to bed now. Night.”

He frowned at her. “Okay, night, Kat.”

When she closed the front door, she turned to look back outside. Cage looked as if he was smelling the air, and then he dropped his jeans, turning into a wolf, following the same path Bass had taken.

Damn it, he’ll know there was someone not from this pack there.

Chapter 7

Over the next few days, Cage avoided Katalina. Toby kept her company but there was an awkward tension between them, which made Katalina regret the words she’d said to him the other day.

“Hey, Toby?”

“Yeah?” he answered, dragging his eyes from the TV.

“We’re okay, aren’t we? I’m sorry about the other day.”

“Of course, Kat, tensions are a little high around here right now, but don’t worry about it.” He gave her a reassuring smile.

“Is Cage ever planning on talking to me again?” she asked, tucking her feet under backside.

“He’s sulking, but don’t worry about it. He’s fallen out with Jackson, too.”

“Hmm, I saw Jackson stomping about earlier. What’s wrong with him?”

“I overheard Karen putting him in his place early this morning,” he laughed.

“Really? I bet he hated that,” she smiled.

“Sometimes, it’s like being surrounded by children,” he said in a mock-serious tone.

Katalina started laughing just as Cage walked past the door.

He paused and backtracked. “What’s so funny?” he muttered.

Toby took one look at him and fell onto the floor, laughing.

“Hilarious you are, little brother. Kat, can I have a word in private?” He crossed his arms and gave Toby a murderous look.

“Oh, erm, sure.” Katalina left the room, laughing at Toby. “What’s up?” she asked, trying to contain her smile.

He turned and looked at her intensely. “Were you with someone the other night on the porch?”

Her heart gave a lurch. “Karen sat with me for a while, why?”

“Someone other than one of us?”

Boom, boom, boom,
it pounded in her ears. “No, why? What’s wrong?”

“I found a faint scent trail after you’d left.”

“What?” Her heart pounded harder.

Much to her relief,
Cage took her worried tone as her fearing for her life. “Kat, no one is getting near you, okay?”

“Okay… Have you told Jackson?”
Please say no, please say no…

“No, I want to make sure it’s really someone hanging around first. He’s in such a foul mood; I’m not sure what he’ll do.”

“Okay.” She must have looked as sick as she felt because his face softened and he lifted his hand. For a moment, she thought he was going to touch her face, but he paused halfway and squeezed her arm.

“I won’t let anyone hurt you, Kat.”

Katalina hated this. She hated that he cared so much and she didn’t feel the same. She hated lying to him, and most of all, she hated he’d been brainwashed into believing it was his job to always protect her.

“Cage, you look tired. When did you last stop and eat? Come sit down and watch TV with Toby and me. It’ll be fun.”

He looked at the sofa longingly. “No, I’d best get back out there. I want to make sure you’re safe.”

“Cage, you don’t need to look out for me all the time.”

“I don’t mind. It’s my job, Kat,” he answered, walking away.

“Whose job is it to look after you?” she murmured.

He paused halfway out the door and smiled sadly. “Yours if you want it?”

He’d gone before she could respond. She stood there feeling cold and empty. Mad at the people who’d put her in this situation. She knew she shouldn’t feel guilty for not doing as Jackson said, but she couldn’t help it; Cage deserved better, but she had a feeling her heart had already been given away to a black-eyed wolf, the night he’d found her hiding in a shed, bloody and broken.

That night, she stood at her window like she’d done the previous night, hoping and praying Bass would return. She’d stood for hours the night before until she’d no longer been able to keep her eyes open. The urgent need she had inside of her was silly and irrational, as if now he was gone a piece of her was missing. She’d only known him for a very short time, yet it felt like they’d always known each other. Every time she remembered their kiss, her heart raced, her body tingling and so many questions swirled in her head, desperate for an answer.

Her eyes caught movement to the left. Immediately, she froze in hope. There it was again, a movement in the shadows. Katalina left her room and quietly crept down the stairs. Faint snores carried from the sitting room; Cage had finally given in to his exhaustion. The front door creaked as she opened it. She paused, worried he might wake. The scrape of Arne’s paws across the wooden floors made her cringe; he appeared from the kitchen, his tail wagging as he saw her.

“Come on then,” she whispered. “You can be my excuse.”

She closed the door and listened again but heard no one, and a quick look in the front window confirmed Cage was still fast asleep. She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to block the cold wind. Katalina stood on the porch, watching the tree line; waiting to see if Bass would show himself. After what felt like an eternity, his jet-black wolf stepped from the cover of shadows and then disappeared a second later.

Katalina ran. The snow was deep and almost instantly, she felt her injuries. She forced her sore muscles to move quickly. One look out of the window and anyone in the house would see her running. Arne ran ahead of her, his head down, tail in the air as he sniffed the scents around him. He stopped when the gap between them grew too great and lapped back, his tongue hanging out in excitement.

She smiled. “Silly dog, I’m not running about for your entertainment.”

She reached the trees and squinted into the dark but couldn’t see anyone. Her chest heaved, dragging air into her oxygen-deprived lungs.

“Bass?” she whispered, taking a few more steps into the woods. She could only see a short distance and not very well. She moved slowly, arms outstretched so as not to face-plant into a tree.

“Bass!” she called a little louder, her heart pounding. What if it wasn’t Bass at all? “Bass, where are you?”

Arne stepped in front of her, growling. She saw his eyes first, just silver flecks like stars in the night sky, and then the outline of his large wolf. He was so dark he was almost invisible. He looked up at Katalina and then at Arne. Bass growled back and Arne instantly silenced.

“Ay! Leave him alone. He’s just protecting me from the ‘big bad wolf’, “she laughed.

His wolf padded further into the woods with Katalina following.

“Bass, slow down. I can barely see you!” she whispered. Her foot was aching something rotten and she was beginning to wish he’d come to her.

“Bass?” She’d lost sight of him. Peering into the darkness feeling disorientated, she called again, “Bass where are you?”

“Big bad wolf, am I?” he murmured, appearing before her.

Gasping, Katalina jumped. It was as if he’d just appeared out of nowhere.

He chuckled at her. “Sorry, did I scare you?”

“Yes! How do you do that?”

“Do what?”

“Just appear? I didn’t hear you or see you until you were in my face.”

“Partly because I’m a wolf, partly because I’m good at blending into the shadows. I told you. No one see’s me unless I want to be seen.”

“Hmm.” Katalina had just noticed his bare chest and the tattered looking pair of jeans hanging low on his waist; he wore nothing else. Immediately, she couldn’t pull together a single coherent sentence. Her mind imagined what it would feel like running her hands over each ridge of his abs.

“You’re staring, Kat.”

“Hmm, what?”

“I said you are staring.” He reached out his hand and tilted her chin up. She stared into his amused eyes.

“How long have you had those jeans on?” she asked, seeing how dirty they were.

“Well, not that long considering I’m a wolf most of the time, but being carried around by a wolf and dumped on the ground isn’t the best for keeping clothes clean.” He stepped closer, his bare skin just centimeters from her. “Am I too dirty for you, Katalina Winter?”

She gulped, feeling like smacking the smug smirk from his face. She stepped back, needing room to think of anything other than his body.
Get a grip, Kat. He’s only kissed you once!

“You didn’t come last night.”

“No, the wolf who interrupted us, he tracked me after I left. He’s very good. Fortunately, I’m better. He has been very persistent in his goal to catch me. Coming to you, would have been too great a risk. I saw you waiting though.”

“You did?”

“Yes, you stood at the window for a long time.”

“Yes,” she answered, casting her eyes down in embarrassment.

“I like that you waited.”

She snapped her head up. “You do?”

He chuckled again, amusement dancing in his eyes.

God, could you sound any lamer, Kat?

He stepped forward, his arm wrapping around her waist. Her breath left her in a rush as he pulled her against him. “I do,” he breathed into her mouth, kissing her softly.

Katalina moaned as she melted against him. She looked at him breathlessly, all the questions she’d wanted to ask, buried under her desire.

“Did you miss me?” he asked her quietly.

For a moment, she wondered whether to tell him the truth. What would he think? They’d only known each other for a short time, but in that short time, he’d consumed her. She’d thought of nothing else the previous night, and when he didn’t turn up, her heart had ached.

“Yes,” she said quietly, looking to the ground again.

“Good.” He met her lips again; his hands ran slowly up her back and into her hair.

She shivered; her whole body alive from his touch. His tongue dipped into her mouth, making her knees weaken. Running her hands up his back, she gripped him tighter; his skin like fire under her fingertips.

Bass pulled away from her, breathing heavily. Smiling, Katalina felt pleased it wasn’t just her so affected.

“As much as I’d love to kiss you all night, I need to tell you something, Kat.”

She felt instantly cold, the tone of his voice suddenly going from playful to serious. “About what?”

“Hey, don’t worry. It’s not that bad. Well, I hope you don’t think it’s that bad. I just, I needed to tell you before this went any further.”

“Okay,” she whispered, feeling even more worried by his rambling. Bass had never rambled before.

“I’m from Dark Shadow. I told you that, and a lot of my pack wants you dead, well, my father...”

“Bass, I already know this and no doubt, your father wants me dead. Your father would have to do as he’s told.”

“No, Kat, you don’t understand. My full name is Sebastian Evernight. My father is the alpha.”

Her heart was racing. If Bass was Dark Shadow’s, alpha’s son, then that meant Jackson had killed his mother. Katalina felt sick. How could he not want her dead?

“Kat, please, I do not care what my father thinks, so it doesn’t matter.”

“How can you say that, when Jackson killed your mother? God, Bass, how can you even look at me?”

Bass ran his finger along her jaw. “Katalina, Dark Shadow is responsible for the death of your parents and the death of Winter, yet you look at me with a warmth in your eyes that makes me feel whole. Both of our packs are responsible for so much blood, but this all started when we had no control over the situation, but now, I can put a stop to the bloodshed. It is time the past is left where it belongs.”

“But why, Bass, why would you go against your father for me?”

Bass smiled at her, taking her face in his hands. “Haven’t you figured it out yet?” He lightly brushed his lips over hers. “There is something between us, Katalina; something not even eighteen years of hatred can destroy.”

He let go of her face, resting his hands on her hips. It was Katalina who closed the distance between them. She wrapped her arms around him tightly, feeling truly happy for the first time since the night of her eighteenth birthday. They kissed with a hunger, a passion that made the rest of the world drop away. For the seconds she held him, Katalina didn’t feel anything but Bass. His heat caressed her as she ran her hands over bare skin. His steady strength and the taste of him on her tongue consumed her every sense.

The feelings Katalina felt for Bass had developed with a speed she didn’t understand. Their intensity frightening at times, yet when she was with him, some of the sadness disappeared. He made her feel as if she could cope with the loss in her life. She may not understand it and it may be rushed, but it was simply right.

Arne barked from somewhere in the distance; Katalina jumped, completely forgetting he’d come with her.

“Arne! Come here,” Katalina called quietly. Moments later, he dashed out of the trees, wrapping himself around her legs.

“Thanks for the interruption, dog,” Bass grumbled.

Katalina laughed at him. “I best be getting back. Cage was asleep on the sofa when I snuck out.”

“This Cage, I do not like the way he watches you.”

“How do you know how he looks at me, hmm? Have you been spying?”

“I did tell you I was good at blending in, didn’t I?”