Enforcer (Cascadia Wolves) (25 page)

Lex shot two of the men in the head before they’d even stood fully. Stoner stood off to the side, weapon drawn just in case. Nina gasped as one of the wolves jumped at Lex, knocking him off balance but not off his feet. He was all violence and menace as he moved with liquid speed and threw the other wolf into the glass and out onto the deck.

There was a short struggle, but Nina’s attention was torn from the scene by the sight of two men running toward them. Megan drew and one of them turned and saw her and jumped on her.

The other turned and moved toward Nina, growling and snarling.

It was time for her to do her job as Second. The weight of that fell on her until time slowed. With great clarity and a sense of purpose, Nina reached out, sighted down her arm and squeezed the trigger. The sound exploded, the acrid scent of gunpowder hung in the air around them. In an odd sort of calm, she squeezed again, and one more time, and the man crumpled to the ground.

She felt a touch on her arm and looked to see Megan speaking to her but she couldn’t hear anything but the ringing in her ears. Her shoulder hurt, her eyes burned. Megan put an arm around her and squeezed. Nina had done her duty to her Pack and she’d saved her life and the life of her sister-in-law in the bargain.

Remembering Lex and the battle on the deck, Nina spun just in time to see Lex heading toward them at top speed. Fear on his face, he looked at Megan, who smiled and nodded, and he closed his eyes for a moment. Relief clear on his face, he moved to pick Nina up and cradled her against his body, holding her there as they walked back through the forest.

By the time they’d gotten back to the car she had her hearing back and his heartbeat was keeping time, lulling her.

He set her down next to the car and unlocked it. “Beautiful, are you all right?”

Nina sat down. “Yeah. I think so. I really don’t like shooting people, Lex.”

“I don’t like you shooting people either, Nina. But you saved Megan’s life. You saved your own life. You did what you had to do and I’m proud of you for it. You’re strong and I’m thankful.” He knelt in front of her and ran his hands up her legs and put his head in her lap for a moment.

She ran her hands through his hair. “Did you get the virus?”

“We got two vials. Jack Reed, the Alpha of the Rogues, is dead, his people in the house are dead. Our wolf was gravely injured, they took him to Dr. Molinari. I hope he makes it.”

“What about Pellini?”

Lex shook his head. “He denied any involvement when I called him earlier and you know we couldn’t find anything concrete tying him to any of this.”

Megan came out of the woods and Lex went off to speak to Stoner and the guards for several minutes before coming back to the car and taking them back home.

“Is Stoner okay with what happened back there?”

Lex nodded. “He understands our need to run our affairs. He’s going to be a liaison between the Pack and the police. I think it’s a good plan. He’s a good man.”

Nina nodded. “Yeah. It’ll be good to have him on our side.”

Cade was waiting for them when they walked back inside. He hugged Megan and then Nina, kissing her lips gently. “Go take a shower, baby. You did good.”

She smirked up at him. “Easy there, Mayor McTouchy.”

Lex tugged on her ponytail with a laugh. “I’ll be up in a few minutes.”

She stood beneath the spray and let the tears come. Big gulping sobs shook her body. It was over. The men who’d killed her brother were dead and her mate was the one who made sure of that. Lex protected her and avenged her loss. The depth of what that meant stunned her.

Nina realized that being with Lex, even through all the horror that she’d experienced, had enabled her to get through it. That was family.
That
was connection.

It would take a while but in time, she would get over what happened in the living room of the Pack house. Eventually, she’d come to forgive the other wolves their inaction. She would however, use her position to deal with the stupid way werewolves treated humans. She’d do it for Gabriel and for the Nina Reyes who wasn’t human anymore. Knowing that it would agitate the hell out of Lex and Cade just made the thought even more delicious.

* * * * *

When she walked out of the bathroom a dozen candles lit the room. Lex lay in the center of their big bed, the golden glow of the candlelight making him look godlike.

The corner of her mouth hitched up even as her body tightened in response to his presence.

“Hey there. You look happy to see me.” She nodded to his erection.

“Yes, my
thingy
is quite pleased.”

Nina laughed and jumped on the bed where he caught her easily and rolled so that he was above her, looking down into her face.

She reached down, wrapped her hand around his cock and squeezed gently. “I think you’re old enough to say cock now, Lex. Sheesh.”

He laughed and kissed her quick and hard. “Well, I
am
just a fuck-drunk werewolf, remember?”

“Oh yeah.” She snickered. “Come on in, Scooby. The water is fine and your wife needs some action.”

“I love you Mrs. Scooby.” He positioned the head of his cock just outside her pussy and pushed into her body slowly.

“Good. Now shut up and fuck me ‘cause I love you, too. You big tool.”

Their laughter died on a gasp as he entered her body fully.

About the Author

Lauren Dane been writing stories since she was able to use a pencil, and before that she used to tell them to people. Of course, she still talks nonstop, but now she’s decided to try and make a go of being a writer. And so here she is. She still loves to write, and through wonderful fate and good fortune, she’s able to share what she writes with others now. It’s a wonderful life!

The basics: Lauren is a mom, a partner, a best friend and a daughter. Living in the rainy but beautiful Pacific Northwest, she spends her late evenings writing like a fiend when she finally wrestles all of her kids to bed.

Lauren welcomes mail from readers. You can write to her c/o Ellora’s Cave Publishing at 1056 Home Avenue, Akron, OH  44310-3502.

Also by Lauren Dane

A Touch of Fae

Triad

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