Stanley, Gale - Hellfire [Southwest Shifters 1] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) (10 page)

Emotionally she might be a wreck, but physically she felt so much better, healing faster as a wolf. In fact, she felt well enough to try to shift back to her human form. It seemed so much easier now, faster, and not quite as painful. Seeing the black fur recede left a vague feeling of regret. But there was no need to miss this part of herself. She could call on it whenever she chose. Sadly, she realized it wouldn’t be so easy. Living in the human world meant always being on guard. She pushed those thoughts aside. Whether she shifted or not, her wolf spirit would always be with her, a living presence inside her.

Gage settled his big body next to hers on the floor. “You shifted.” He smiled. “You must be feeling better?”

“I am. You were right about healing faster.”

“You don’t know much about your wolf, do you?”

Kate shook her head sadly. “It was the first time I shifted in ten years.”

His eyes went wide, and he pulled her into his lap. “It will be okay. I’ll teach you.” He nuzzled her neck.

“
We’ll
teach you.” Tanner sat next to them and reached for her hand.

Her heart was breaking, and she blinked back tears.

“Don’t be upset.” Tanner squeezed her hand. “It’s never too late to learn.”

Her chest felt heavy, and her voice broke. “I can’t stay.”

Tanner frowned. “You don’t have to be afraid. The Alpha agreed you belong with your mates. You’ll live here with us.”

Gage held her a little tighter. “I think our woman needs a little more than that.” He leaned in and brushed his lips against hers. “I love you, Kate.” Then he elbowed Tanner.

His expression tense yet hopeful, Tanner eyed her shyly. “I guess you can tell we’re not too experienced with females.” He placed a gentle kiss on her lips. “I love you, Kate.”

How could she ever bear to let them go? A lump grew in her throat and tears threatened to spill. “Hey, sweetheart, this is where you’re supposed to say, ‘I love you, too, Gage.’”

“And Tanner,” Tanner added.

“I do love you, both of you.”

Gage’s big thumb wiped tears from her cheek. “I hope those are tears of joy.”

Kate didn’t dare meet his eyes. “I can’t stay.”

When she lifted her head, their expressions made her heart twist. Gage looked like he’d been gutted. His voice shook. “I don’t understand.”

“
Shiloh
needs me. He’s lost everything. I can’t do that to him.”

Tanner exchanged a look with Gage. “We need to deal with this.”

Gage nodded. “Do you plan to tell him the truth?”

Kate chewed on her lip. “I…I, uh, don’t know.”

“If it were anybody else, I’d say no, don’t tell him. But I care about Shi. He deserves to know, and my gut instinct says he can be trusted. Tanner and I talked about this with the Alpha. He wants proof. He won’t allow
Shiloh
to come here unless we’re absolutely certain he won’t betray us.”

“He won’t.”
I hope.

“Kate, I agree. Tanner and I both agree. To a point. We won’t put the rest of our pack in danger. And we sure as hell won’t put you in danger.”

“Me? What are you talking about?

“I’m talking about what happens if he hears the truth and flies off the handle.”

“He would never hurt me.”

“Again, I don’t believe he would, but we have to be absolutely sure. Did he call you before we got to the house?”

“I don’t know. I turned my phone off.” She started rocking back and forth. “God, I was so stupid. He must be worried sick.”

Tanner handed her a cell phone. “Call him. Tell him you’re okay, but don’t tell him where you are. Gage and I will make arrangements to meet him.”

* * * *

Shiloh
had been worried to distraction and on his way home when Kate reached him. She barely had time to tell him she was okay before Tanner had grabbed the phone from her hand. He told the cowboy not to bother stopping at his house, suggested he check in to the hotel they’d met at previously, and hung up before he could argue. Kate hadn’t been happy about it, but neither he nor Gage wanted to answer a lot of questions over the phone. They had to see his face and his reactions in person.

So here they were at the desk, asking which room
Shiloh
was in. The clerk called upstairs and evidently got the okay to let them up, because he gave them the room number and pointed to the elevator.

The door stood open, and when they walked in,
Shiloh
was at the small table, dropping ice into a glass, followed by the contents of a small bottle of alcohol. “Okay, what’s going on?” He glanced up and took a big swallow from his tumbler. “What’s wrong with Kate? Did she get burned?” He took another drink. “Don’t lie to me. She’d be here if she was really okay.” He sat heavily on the bed and put a hand over his face. When he took it away, his cheeks were wet with tears. “This is all my fault. I never should have left her alone.”

Tanner’s heart twisted. It was cruel to let
Shiloh
take the blame for something that wasn’t his fault. If anything, it was their fault for not insisting Kate leave the house and come home with them. He sat next to
Shiloh
and put his arm around him. “She’s okay, and that’s the God’s honest truth. There’s no reason to blame yourself for anything.”

“Then why can’t I see her?”

Tanner took his arm away and looked up at Gage, hoping his partner would explain, because he really didn’t have the right words.

Gage took the cue but seemed at a loss as well. “It’s complicated, Shi.”

The cowboy’s features twisted. “I get it. She’s leaving me, isn’t she? I’ve been expecting it.” He lifted his glass. It was empty. “You guys want a drink? No? Well, excuse me while I have another.” He stood and made his way over to the minibar for another bottle. “I don’t blame her. I love her, but something has always been missing between us. I know who I am. I like men as well as women, but Kate…Honestly, I don’t know what Kate needs, and she won’t talk about it. I guess she just doesn’t love me enough to continue our charade anymore. I won’t try to stop her. She deserves better.” His expression anguished, he poured a drink.

Tanner heard enough. He trusted Shiloh, and he wanted to confide in him. He cleared his throat and looked at Gage, sending him a silent message.

It seemed like Gage felt the same because he responded to
Shiloh
before Tanner could open his mouth. “She doesn’t want to leave you, Shi.”

The cowboy stared at Gage, confusion written all over his face. “But?”

“But that something that’s been missing, well, she found it.”

Shiloh
’s face turned red and blotchy. “You? Tanner?” His hands twitched involuntarily as he clenched and unclenched his fists. “You played me to get my woman.”

“It’s not like—”

Shiloh took a wild swing, which Gage easily blocked, and Tanner came up behind the cowboy and wrapped his arms around
Shiloh
to
immobilize him
. “Take it easy. Just hear us out.”

Gage studied the man struggling in Tanner’s embrace. “Didn’t you ever wonder why Kate stayed in an unsatisfying relationship?”

“I know why. She had a traumatic past. She feels safe with me. I take care of her.”

“You were her cover, just like she was yours. She’s not like you, Shi,” Gage finally told him. “She’s a Lycan.
”

“A what?”

“She can shift into a wolf.”

Shiloh started laughing hysterically. “I must be drunk. I thought you said Kate could turn into a wolf.”

“
I did.”

“
Nobody can shift into a wolf.
”

“I can,” Gage said quietly.

“So you’re a fucking werewolf, is that what you’re saying?”

“No. Not a beast like in the movies. A person who can shape-shift into a wolf. A Lycan.”

“You’re fucking crazy.”

“Show him, Gage,” Tanner urged from behind the cowboy.

Gage sank to his knees and bent forward. His body contorted and popped like a crowd of people cracking their knuckles. Fur burst through his skin and grew like a film in fast-forward. In less than a minute,
Shiloh
was shaking in Tanner’s arms, and his astonished eyes were fixed on the immense black wolf that was Gage.

“This isn’t happening,”
Shiloh
moaned. The animal closed in on him, and he crumpled back against Tanner and turned his face into Tanner’s chest.

Gage shifted back to his human form, and
Shiloh
sagged in Tanner’s arms. “I think I’d better sit down.” Tanner helped him over to the bed and went to get him a drink. “And you’re telling me that Kate can do—that?”

“Yes. And what she’s been missing is being with her own kind. She has a chance to live with a pack and learn about her ancestry, and she wants to give it up to be with you.”

“It’s a lot to take in.”
Shiloh
shook his head. “But it doesn’t make any difference, you know.” He looked from Tanner to Gage. “I still love her and want what’s best for her.”

Gage sighed with relief. “I was hoping you’d say that.”

“But I want to hear it from her. I want to know it’s what she wants.”

Tanner smiled for the first time. “I wouldn’t expect anything less from you.” His face got serious. “But there’s a reason you weren’t invited to our home. We have justification for not trusting humans. And so does Kate. Somebody hurt her in the past, and if anyone finds out who and what she is, it will put us all in danger.”

Shiloh shook his head vehemently. “You can trust me. I’d never betray her. Or you. You have my word.”

“Let’s go then.” Gage gave
Shiloh
a hand up. “The Alpha will be wanting his truck back.”

* * * *

Kate’s heart pounded a staccato rhythm when she heard the truck pull up. As soon as Gage walked in the door, she looked past him, hoping to see
Shiloh
, but it was Tanner behind him, and disappointment filled her. She knew it would be like this. Shi hadn’t come because she disgusted him, or terrified him.

“What’s the matter?” Gage came over and put his arms around her, and Tanner gave her a quick peck on the cheek. “No hello for our guest?”

Kate looked over at the door, and there was
Shiloh
, looking for all the world like a lost kid. She ran over, wanting to hug him, but stopped short, afraid he might reject her. Shi threw his hat off and held his arms out, and Kate ran into them.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” he said softly.

“Would you have believed me if I did?”

“Probably not. I didn’t believe the men. Gage had to give me a demonstration.”

Horrified, she looked at Gage, and he grinned and shrugged.

“I wasn’t afraid of him at all.”

Gage snorted, and
Shiloh
threw a dirty look his way.

“He’s just a little old puppy dog,” the cowboy added.

“Ha!” Tanner snickered. “You don’t know the half of it.”

“But I’d like to,”
Shiloh
admitted.

“Looks like you’ll get your chance, cowboy,” Tanner said with unconcealed affection. He looked straight at Kate. “
Shiloh
is staying with us until he gets his house rebuilt.”

The announcement made Kate’s heart sing.

“If Kate doesn’t mind.”
Shiloh
’s eyes sparkled with amusement. “It could take a while.”

“The longer the better,” three voices spoke out in unison.

* * * *

Tanner’s eye caught something on the side table, and his brows lifted at the sight of champagne chilling in an ice bucket, four flutes next to it. “Where did that come from?”

Kate walked over smiling. “Alex left it. He brought me these clothes, too. They’re from Janis. I asked him to stay, but he said we needed some time alone.”

“He got that right.” Tanner picked up the bottle and popped the cork. They all held their glasses out, and he filled them.

Gage lifted his glass first. “To Kate.” He turned to the cowboy. “And
Shiloh
. Partners, lovers, and mates. Welcome to the pack.”

They all touched glasses, and bubbles tickled Tanner’s nose as he drank.

“Thank you.” Kate’s kiss startled him. It was gentle and tasted like champagne. She let out a little whimper, and suddenly the kiss turned deep and possessive.