Wolf on the Run: Salvation Pack, Book 3 (20 page)

Cole turned off the water and stepped out. Droplets of water rolled down his bronzed chest and shoulders. Her insides hummed with pleasure and her pussy clenched. Even though she’d just had him, she wanted him again.

She handed him a fresh towel and watched while he dried off. Cole tossed the towel over the rod and then did the same with hers. He lifted her into his arms and carried her back to bed.

Cole stretched out in bed beside Cherise. He rested his head on one hand and used the other to touch her. Her hair was damp, her skin smooth. He wanted to make love with her again, but there was something they needed to talk about, something they should have discussed before he’d claimed her.

Yet another mark against him.

“What’s wrong?” she asked. Already she was more attuned to his mood than anyone else, other than Gator, and he and Gator had been friends a long time.

“There’s something you need to know.”

Cherise pushed herself up in bed and pulled the sheet over her. “What is it?”

He wanted to curse. He should have kept his mouth closed, at least for now. But it was too late to go back and recapture the sleepy, sated mood.

“You know we’ve had trouble with our former pack?” He’d told her some and he knew the women had talked.

Cherise nodded. “Yes. What does that have to do with us?”

He raked his fingers through his hair, frustration eating at his gut. She’d just gotten out from under one death threat and he’d put her right back under another. “I’m a selfish bastard,” he growled.

“No. No, you’re not.” Cherise placed her hand on his chest, over his heart. “You’re the least selfish person I’ve ever known.”

He wanted to be that man in her eyes—the hero—but there was no escaping the truth. “No, I’m not. Just by claiming you I’ve put your life in danger. My former pack will target you when they come at us again.”

“And you’re sure they will?” she asked.

Cole nodded. If there was one thing he was sure of, it was that the Louisiana Pack wasn’t done with them, might never be done with them.

“Yeah. They’ve attacked both Gwen and Anny, but you knew that.” When she nodded, he continued. “Jacque’s father, our former alpha, is one angry, mean sonofabitch.”

Cole pushed up until he was leaning against the headboard. He pulled Cherise onto his lap, relaxing slightly when she snuggled against his chest.

“If I was a good male, an unselfish one, I would have sent you away from here to keep you safe. But I couldn’t let you go.” The confession was pulled from deep inside him. Cherise made him want to be a better man. His wolf howled inside, not pleased that he’d even think about letting her go.

She touched his face. “Being with you is worth the risk.”

How had he gotten so lucky? He had no idea, but he wasn’t about to question it, only appreciate it. “You won’t regret it.”

“I know.” Her words, so simple and yet so powerful, touched his heart. His mate had more courage than ten male werewolves combined. She’d had to in order to survive. “There’s something you should know too.”

The tone of her voice made him tense. This was serious. “What?”

“I lied to you once.”

Cherise tried to move away from him, but he wasn’t letting her go. “When did you lie?” He kept all anger and judgment out of his voice, but inwardly he was reeling. He’d have bet good money she wasn’t the type to lie. In fact, one of the things he loved about her was how straightforward and honest she was.

“When you asked me how I came to be here. Why Salvation?”

“You told me it was luck.” He remembered not quite believing her at the time, but he hadn’t pressed.

Cherise nodded. “I didn’t think you’d believe me if I told you the truth.”

“And what is the truth?” He caught her chin between his thumb and forefinger. “I don’t want any lies between us.”

She licked her lips and his groin tightened. Damn, she was distracting with her lush lips and soft skin. “I dreamed it.” Her voice was barely a whisper.

“You dreamed it?” He couldn’t have heard her right.

“I was sitting in a dingy bus station and I fell asleep waiting for my bus. I dreamed I was walking along a road and came to a sign. It was the welcome sign for a town I’d never heard of before—Salvation, North Carolina.” Cherise shrugged. “It was crazy, but I followed my instincts, got another ticket and ended up here.”

“You dreamed it?” Holy hell. He’d come so close to never finding her. Cole tightened his hold on her.

“I’d like to think maybe it was my mother. You know, helping me find my way.” Her eyes were damp, but she never shed any tears.

Cole wanted to banish the sadness from her eyes. “I don’t care how you found me, only that you did.” He traced the curve of her jaw.

“I’m glad too.” Her smile gave his heart a jolt.

“Let’s run.” He wanted to run through the forest with her at his side. To put the past behind them and forge a new future. Together.

She reared back and looked at him like he’d slapped her. “I can’t. You know I can’t.”

He captured her hands in his. “Yes, you can.” He brought her fisted fingers to his lips and kissed them. “You might not be able to shift into a wolf, but you can still run faster than any human. You’re werewolf where it counts.” He laid his hand over her heart, feeling its pounding rhythm. “Come out and share the night with me. Run with me, Cherise.”

She licked her lips and nodded. “Okay. But I can’t go naked.”

“No, you can’t,” he agreed. He didn’t like the idea of any of the other males seeing her without clothing. He’d quickly become very possessive of his mate. They climbed out of bed and he waited until she pulled on clean underwear, jeans, a long-sleeved shirt and her sneakers.

“I’m ready.” She stood, so brave, yet so unsure.

He took her hand and led her through the kitchen and out the back door. Cole leaned down and kissed her before he stepped away and embraced his wolf. The process was exhilarating. Bones cracked and reformed. His jaw lengthened and his face changed. He fell forward onto four legs as fur covered his muscular frame.

It only took seconds and he was no longer a man but a wolf.

Cherise rubbed her hand over his back. “You are incredible.” He stood a little taller and tossed his head to one side. Yeah, he was showing off a bit, but so what.

“Yeah, you’re all that and then some,” she teased. “You’re the big bad wolf.”

And he’d use every ounce of his strength and cunning to protect her. He took a few steps and then looked to see if she was behind him.

She took a deep breath. “Okay, if this is what you want.”

He dipped his head and waited until she was alongside him. He nudged her with his large head, wanting her to take the lead.

Cherise laughed and took off at a slow jog. He kept pace alongside her. He loved the wind rushing over him, the sheer freedom of running. He tilted back his head and howled.

A howl answered him back. Gator was on patrol. He bumped Cherise’s side, turning her in the direction he wanted.

She playfully swatted him. “Ever the dictator, I see.”

He simply bumped her again and she gave up and headed in that direction. “I won’t always agree with you,” she warned.

Cole snorted. Like he didn’t already know that.

Cherise laughed and picked up her pace. Gator flowed out from behind a stand of alders and joined them. Cherise gave him a wave as she continued on. Cole knew she’d smelled Gator before she saw him. She might not be able to shift, but her senses were all wolf.

One by one, the other members of the pack joined them. Jacque took the lead but kept the pace slow enough for Cherise to follow, but not so slow she’d feel they were compensating for her. That was why Jacque was such a good alpha. He understood his people well and gave them what they needed to feel confident and secure in their place within the pack.

An hour later, they all tumbled into the clearing behind the alpha’s home. Gator shifted first and grabbed his jeans off the back railing and yanked them on. “I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m starving. I took out some steaks when we got home and threw some potatoes in the oven on low. They should be just about done by now.”

Gator opened the door and the other wolves followed him into the house. Cole shifted and took Cherise by the hand. Her cheeks were red, her hair tousled from the wind, but it was the smile on her face that made his heart swell.

“Did you have a good time?” He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear before he leaned down and kissed the tip of her nose.

“Yes. It was amazing. I’ve never run with a pack before.”

Cole was stunned. “Never?”

She shook her head. “No. I mean I ran with my parents a little when I was young, but after we realized I couldn’t shift, they stopped asking me. I think they thought it would only hurt me.”

He wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “I’m glad I could give you this.”

She slung her arm around his waist and gave him a squeeze. “Me too.”

Cole led her toward the back door so they could join the others. “You do realize you’re naked?” she pointed out.

He grinned. “I keep several pairs of jeans here for such occasions. We never worried about such things before all you women arrived.”

She placed her hand on his chest, stopping him in his tracks. “I’ll get your pants and hand them out to you.”

“Don’t want to shock the others?” he teased.

“No,” she retorted. “Don’t want to share.”

Cole threw back his head and laughed as he hadn’t done in years, maybe not ever. There was something about Cherise that made his burdens seem lighter.

The door opened and Gator stuck his head out. He looked at Cole and then turned to Cherise. Gator smiled and held up a pair of jeans and a shirt. “Thought Mr. Happy over there might need some clothes.”

“Thanks, Gator.”

Cole could see the blush on Cherise’s face and knew she was still a little uncomfortable around the other males, but he knew she’d get over that soon enough.

Gator’s expression turned serious. “No, thank you.” He handed her the clothes and then gently touched Cherise’s cheek. “Steaks are on. Don’t be long.”

Seemingly bemused, she touched her cheek and then handed Cole the clothes. He dressed quickly. “Come on, let’s join the pack.”

A deep sense of satisfaction filled him when she nodded. “Let’s join the pack.”

Epilogue

Ryan Hatfield lay flat on his back in bed and tried not to groan as his mate set the last stitch in the wound across his stomach. He was lucky it wasn’t deeper. It could have hit something vital and caused enough damage for him to lose the fight and control of the pack.

Damn Matt and his son anyway. It might not be proper to think ill of the dead, but Ryan wasn’t sorry they were both gone. They’d been nothing but trouble their entire lives.

“There.” Massie sat back and wiped her hands on the apron she’d donned before she’d set to work. “All done.”

He caught her hand and brought it to his mouth. “Thank you, my love.”

She gave him a wan smile. “Just don’t do anything like this again anytime soon. Okay?”

“I don’t think that will be a problem.” The three challengers for alpha position had been beaten. Badly. One was dead and two were severely injured.

His mate sighed. “Do you ever wish there was another way to live?”

Ryan frowned. “What do you mean?” He ignored the stabbing pain in his stomach and sat up. “Come here.” He patted the mattress beside him, and Massie scooted up next to him.

She brushed aside a lock of hair that had fallen into her eyes. “The young men who were here earlier today. Their pack is different.”

“Yes, it is,” Ryan agreed. He put his arm around his mate and hugged her. “But they’re unique. Most wolves wouldn’t be able to live without a hierarchy, a structure. That’s the way it’s always been.”

“They seem to have done it.”

Ryan shrugged. “And maybe Jacque will find himself betrayed by his friend somewhere down the road. There’s no telling. I’m just glad that Cherise is safe.”

Massie sighed and patted his shoulder. “I know killing her father has weighed on you for years.”

“He didn’t want to challenge me, didn’t want to be alpha, but he didn’t see any other way. It’s idiots like Matt and Keith that caused that to happen.” And because he always tried to be honest with himself, he added, “And me. I should have handled the situation better.”

“There’s no point looking back,” she told him. “Only forward.”

He knew his mate was right, but it still hurt. “Where are the boys?” His sons were loyal to him and the pack. He knew he could depend on them. That gave him pause. Maybe Jacque felt the same way about the males of his pack as Ryan did about his sons.

“Seth is out front and Curtis is out back. They said to tell you they’ll be keeping an eye on things until you’re back to full strength.” She climbed off the bed and gathered her first aid supplies. “Get some rest. That’s the best thing for you right now.”

Ryan eased back down on the mattress and sank into his pillow with a sigh. He was glad this day was done and prayed he never laid eyes on any member of the Salvation Pack again.

Pierre LaForge stood outside his home and watched the Louisiana evening close in around him. He enjoyed the warmth and couldn’t figure out why his sons had left it to live up north. All around him, the night creatures were making their presence known. A gator bellowed in the distance. It was a good night for run.

Another night creature was skulking in the shadows. “Evening, Travis.” Pierre waited until Travis came to him. He was an even tougher bastard than his brother had been, and Andre Dubois had served Pierre well for years.

“Pierre.” Travis inclined his head.

Pierre scrubbed his hand over his beard. “I think it’s time to do a little hunting.”

Travis perked up. “And where would I hunt.”

“Maybe up north.” Pierre started walking and Travis fell into step beside him. “Now that the pack is back under control, it’s time to deal with other matters.”

It hadn’t been easy to maintain control of the pack. He’d had to quell a small rebellion before it got out of hand. He’d lost too many loyal men in the war with his sons. Too many of the remaining males thought he was weak and old. He’d showed them he was anything but weak by killing two challengers. And Travis had fought for his position as second, the alpha’s personal assassin.

Between the two of them, they had this pack back in a solid grasp. Pierre had laid back for long months, letting things go back to normal, letting the pack simply enjoy living. But it was time now.

No one left this pack without permission, especially not to start a pack of their own. The fact that his sons were successful and growing was a thorn in his side and a slap to his pride.

“When should I leave?” Travis asked.

Pierre thought hard. “Give it a few more weeks.”

Travis inclined his head respectfully. “As you wish.”

Damn right. He was alpha and his word was law.