Wolf on a Mission: Salvation Pack, Book 6 (4 page)

She ran her hands over his blond head. He didn’t stir. Nothing short of a nuclear disaster could wake Billy once he went to sleep. That made mornings challenging, but once she managed to wake him, he was up and raring to go.

She left his room and went to the kitchen. The moonlight was beautiful on the backyard. Still, she couldn’t help but shiver as her gaze fell to the place where she’d found Anny’s bleeding body.

She really needed advice and longed to talk to Anny. They’d been best friends for years. Anny had been there for her when Billy was a baby. But everything had changed after the attack. Anny had left and never come back. Sue didn’t even know where she was living or who she was with. Anny sidestepped or ignored her questions until Sue had stopped asking.

It had put a strain on their relationship until it was practically nonexistent. Yes, they emailed on occasion, but their phone conversations had dwindled over the past year. That was as much her fault as it was Anny’s, she conceded.

She opened the refrigerator and pulled out the jug of lemonade she’d made earlier. She got a small glass out of the cupboard and filled it before returning the pitcher to the fridge. The liquid was tart and sweet. Refreshing.

Sue went to the back door, opened it and stepped out onto the deck. There was a very light breeze. It skated over her skin like a warm caress. She shivered and placed the glass against her forehead, the condensation cooling her face.

Elias was out there somewhere in the woods with Sage and Reece. She had no doubt they were okay. Elias seemed like the kind of man who knew what he was doing in the woods. Heck, he seemed like the kind of guy who enjoyed it. Her idea of roughing it was an economy motel. She liked her running water and indoor plumbing just fine, thank you very much.

Still, it might be fun to spend a day or two in the wilderness with the right man. Her nipples tightened and the ache between her legs became a heavy throb.

She downed the last of her lemonade and went back inside, closing and locking the door behind her. Ignoring the stirrings of her body, she went back to her room and threw herself down onto her bed.

Elias was gone, so there was no point in thinking about him. What did matter was Billy and work. Those two things were her priority.

She closed her eyes, took a deep breath and tried to will herself to sleep.

Chapter Four

Jacque LaForge stood on the back porch of his home. It was only morning, but the heat was already heavy and dense. It was going to be another scorcher. He surveyed the land around him, and a deep sense of satisfaction welled up inside him. They’d built something special here, something they could all be proud of.

When he’d settled here with his brother and three friends almost five years ago, he’d never dreamed they’d all find mates. Nor could he ever have imagined his mother and Cole’s parents would join them. They’d gone from having two houses to seven, and the pack had expanded from the original five to thirteen.

“What are you thinking?” Gwen, his beautiful mate, stepped out of the house and leaned into his side. He automatically wrapped his arm around her.

“That I’m a very lucky man.” He kissed the top of her head and inhaled her sweet scent. His body automatically responded to her nearness. He’d made love to her before they’d left their bed this morning, but it wouldn’t take much to persuade him to head back inside.

Gwen slid her arms around his waist and gave him a squeeze. “Life is good.”

That was an understatement. The threat from their former pack was gone and they’d had a year of uninterrupted peace. But the men never let their guard down, not when they had mates to protect.

“Gator called. He’s going to grill some burgers for lunch.” Gwen grinned up at him. “If you’re interested.”

It never failed to amuse him that a badass like Gator Rollins loved to cook, but they were all glad he did. Even though there were seven women living here now, including Jacque’s mama, Gator still did most of the cooking.

He nuzzled the curve of her shoulder. “How long do we have until lunch?”

Gwen walked her fingers up his bare chest. “Maybe an hour, give or take.”

Jacque scooped her into his arms. “I can work with that.” As Gwen laughed, he carried her into the house.

Elias watched the couple from a distance. He hated having to rely on binoculars, but security was tight around the homes. There were men constantly on the prowl around the perimeter. He’d also noticed motion sensors in strategic locations. Good security was something he could appreciate.

He’d left the boys and their camp just after dawn. He didn’t like being away from Sage and Reece for so long, but he wasn’t about to put his nephews at risk. He only hoped they stuck to their word and stayed put.

He knew they were worried about losing him. They might be almost grown men, but they were still young. And they’d lost their parents only months before. Elias was all they had left in the world.

He stored his binoculars in his knapsack and moved out. Staying in one place for too long was a surefire way to get caught. He’d grown up in one of the harshest environments on the face of the earth. Alaska was beautiful but deadly. It was also filled with hunters. From a very early age, Elias had learned how to evade those who stalked him and he put all those skills to use now.

From what he’d seen, the pack was small. He’d counted thirteen. Not as large as he’d hoped, but maybe that was better. Not as much hierarchy. Maybe not as many rules.

He’d seen several couples together and they all seemed genuinely affectionate. That wasn’t always the case in a pack. It gave him hope this might be a safe place for his nephews.

Elias slowly worked his way out of the dense woods to the highway, not rushing and careful to hide any trace of his passing. He’d left the SUV with Sage and Reece. He didn’t want to think in terms of worst-case scenario, but it paid to be prepared.

He pulled out his phone and hit the first of only two contacts on his list. It was answered before the first ring was finished. “Yeah.”

“I’ve finished scouting the area.”

“Just a second, I’m putting you on speaker so Sage can hear.” A brief second passed. “What happened?”

Elias crouched by a tree just off the main road, instinct making him stay out of sight. “They’re a small pack. I counted thirteen. Don’t know if anyone is missing or not, but there won’t be too many more.”

“What do you think?” Sage asked.

That was the million-dollar question. Elias ran his fingers through his hair, shoving it out of his face. “I think it’s worth a try.”

“Are you sure?” Reece asked. “We can be there in no time if you need backup.”

“No.” The last thing he wanted was his nephews traipsing through the woods. “This pack has a tight security perimeter. They’d catch you.” He figured it was better to be blunt. “You’re not good enough yet to evade them.”

“I don’t like the sound of that.” Elias smiled at Reece’s brusque reply.

“I should be fine if I approach them openly.”

“You hope,” Sage muttered.

“We’ve talked about this,” he reminded them. “This is what your parents wanted.” Elias hated playing the parent card, but he knew it would make an impact on them both. He wanted a better life for his nephews and this could be a way to do it.

“Call us in a half hour.” The concern in Sage’s voice made his heart ache.

“Not sure if I’ll be able to contact you as quick as that, but I’ll call as soon as I can.” He kept his senses open and his gaze constantly moving over the terrain. “If you don’t hear from me in two hours, run.”

“Uncle Elias.”

“Yeah, Reece.” His voice was rough with emotion.

“Love you.”

“I love you too. Both of you.” He ended the call and tucked his phone away before he did something stupid, like go back to camp, bundle the boys aboard the SUV and take off for parts unknown.

He loved them enough to put their safety first. And they’d be safer in a pack. It had been different when Everett was still alive. And Marcie. She might have been a half-breed, but she’d been fierce in her protection of her boys.

Elias didn’t want to think what might happen to them if he was hurt or killed. In spite of what they believed, they were still young enough to need protection. And this was a way to provide it for them.

Elias stood and hitched the knapsack higher on his shoulder. It was time.

His thoughts went back to Sue with her kind blue eyes, giving nature and curvy body. He wondered if he’d ever see her again. Part of him wanted to settle in the area because then he’d be sure to run into her from time to time. His wolf chuffed in agreement and then growled, wanting to be released so he could run.

Only years of discipline kept him in human form.

Elias walked down the main road until he came to the dirt one that marked the entrance to the pack’s property. He’d spotted their security cams earlier and knew they’d know he was there before he got anywhere near the houses. He expected someone would meet him before too long.

He took a deep breath and turned onto the path. This was for his nephews, to give them a future and to fulfill his obligations to his dead brother and sister-in-law. He kept his gait slow and steady. No need to spook them.

“Someone’s coming.” Cole shifted to his human form and turned to his best friend. “Get Jacque. I’ll see who it is.”

Gator rolled his shoulders. “They’re on the road. Probably a lost tourist.”

“Maybe.” Cole shifted and trotted off into the woods. His friend might be happier now that he was mated, but he was still a man of few words.

Gator hurried back toward the main house. Jacque was just stepping out onto the porch and, from the sated look in his eyes, Gator was damn glad he hadn’t had to interrupt his alpha and friend a few minutes earlier. “We’ve got company.”

Jacque tensed and his eyes gleamed. Nothing remained of the relaxed man he’d been only moments before. Now he was all alpha male. “Who?”

Gator shrugged. “Don’t know. Cole is gone to keep watch.”

Jacque trotted down the steps. He was wearing only a pair of jeans. Even his feet were bare. Louis and his mate strolled around the corner of the house.

“Louis. Get Gwen, gather the rest of the women and take them to your place,” Jacque instructed. “We’ve got company.” Jacque jerked his head and Gator joined him, leaving Louis to deal with the women.
Better him than me
, Gator thought. The women might object to the men’s overprotective natures, but they understood where it came from.

Gator listened intently. “Only seems to be one person.” He rubbed the back of his neck as he kept pace with Jacque. “I thought I felt someone out there this morning, but I never found a trace of anyone.”

Jacque growled. “And I’m only hearing about that now.”

“Sorry,
mon ami
. I couldn’t be sure if it was just my imagination. It’s been so quiet these past months.”

“I know. But this proves we can’t get lax in our security. Our former pack is not the only threat out there.”

And wasn’t that the truth. Gator knew there were packs out there that didn’t like the idea of half-breeds like Gray or wolves that couldn’t shift, like Cherise. And as a much as they tried to keep a low profile, their former pack and the Kentucky Pack knew about them. Armand had been keeping tabs on the Internet and word was getting around in certain quarters of an unusual pack in North Carolina.

The last thing they wanted was for some other pack to take an interest in them. They were all tired of fighting and just wanted to live in peace.

Gator spotted Cole, still in wolf form, off to the left. For such a huge man, he moved like a ghost. There was no better when it came to moving undetected.

They rounded a bend in the road and stopped. The lone male, who was about twenty feet away, halted. He slowly held up his hands in front of him. “I’m not looking for any trouble.”

Jacque put his hands on his hips and stared at the stranger. “What
are
you looking for?”

Elias studied the two men in front of him. There was no doubt who was the alpha wolf. The man stood about six-four and had shaggy brown hair. But it was his golden-brown eyes that bespoke his absolute confidence. Danger surrounded him like a shroud.

The other male was no slouch either. He had tattoos running up and down both arms and was shorter than the alpha, but no less dangerous. Elias knew the man’s piercing blue eyes missed nothing.

These men would respect strength, so Elias went on the offensive. “You might want to call off the wolf in the woods.” By now both men would have sensed he was a wolf. No point in trying to hide the fact.

The alpha narrowed his eyes, but other than that, he gave no indication Elias’s words bothered him. “Why do you think there is someone in the woods?”

“I know he’s there.” Elias knew he was gambling with his life but there was too much at stake to back down. “Probably the big bastard I saw earlier. He’s good.”

“But you’re better.”

It wasn’t a question, but Elias inclined his head. “I’m better.”

“And just who are you?”

“Elias Gallagher.” He didn’t offer his hand. It wouldn’t be accepted. Not yet.

“And how did you find your way here, Elias Gallagher?”

The short hair on the back of his neck rose. He knew the big man he’d seen earlier was behind him. He could scent him now he was so close and no longer trying to be stealthy.

“My sister-in-law heard rumors of a pack in North Carolina, but my brother was the one who tracked you down.” Elias still wasn’t quite sure how Everett had managed that, but his brother had been highly motivated.

“That still doesn’t tell me why you’re here.” The alpha was getting impatient. Never a good sign. Elias was outnumbered and in a defensive rather than an offensive position. And these men knew how to fight. It was in the way they moved and how they stood. There was a very good possibility he wouldn’t make it out alive if he had to battle his free.

“My brother and sister-in-law are dead.” He swallowed hard. It still hurt to say the words out loud. “I have twin nephews.”

The alpha’s jaw tightened slightly. “How old?”

“Seventeen.” Elias took the biggest gamble of his life. It was one thing to put his own life on the line, quite another to put his beloved nephews in danger. “My brother was a full-blooded werewolf, but my sister-in-law was a half-breed.”

The alpha’s gaze sharpened, and the man beside him whistled low. “And they had children. Twins. That’s very rare,
mon ami
,” the man added.

Elias was surprised he’d speak instead of the alpha. Even if he was the alpha’s second in command, he should have waited for his leader to respond.

This pack was very different.

Elias glanced over his shoulder. Sure enough, the biggest wolf he’d ever laid eyes on was standing watching him. Any move toward the alpha would be met with violence. Fine by him. He wanted a protective pack for Sage and Reece.

“You have no idea,” he answered. He wished he could read the alpha better, but the man gave little away. “One of them can shift and the other can’t.”

“That’s impossible,” the tattooed male replied. He took an aggressive step forward, but the alpha put a hand on his chest stopping him.

“You have proof?” the alpha demanded.

“Forgive me, but I’m not about to give you anything but my word until I know my nephews won’t be in any danger.”

“We could kill you now and hunt for them,” the alpha pointed out.

Elias shifted his weight onto the balls of his feet in case he needed to fight. “You could, but by the time you got anywhere close to finding them, they’d be long gone. They have their orders.” And Elias had never been as grateful for planning as he was at this moment. Problem was, he couldn’t tell if the alpha was threatening him or testing him.

The alpha studied Elias for long moments. He didn’t flinch under the heavy golden-brown gaze. With each second that ticked away, he grew tenser and started rethinking the whole idea of finding a pack for his nephews.

He’d expected scrutiny, but he’d hoped to find some glimmer of acceptance here.

“What about their father’s pack? Your pack?”

It was a legitimate question. One that the alpha probably already knew the answer to, but Elias replied all the same. “Not an option. They don’t like half-breeds.” He left it at that. They all knew what would happen to his nephews if he tried to take them to his old pack.

Elias didn’t come right out and ask the alpha if the pack would accept his nephews. There was no other reason for him to be here.