From the Ashes (Force of Nature Book 1) (21 page)

“I was awake. I didn't want to disturb anyone, so I thought it best to just see myself out.”

“And right into me.”

“Apparently.”

“Well, since I'm awake too, you might as well let me walk you home.”

“Why are you awake, anyway?”

He shrugged.

“I like to watch the sunrise. It's kinda my thing. You?”

“My internal clock has been messed up for the last couple of weeks,” I replied, squirming a bit under his heavy gaze.

“I'm not sure moving this far north in the summertime was a good choice if you're looking to get your circadian rhythm back.”

“Yeah,” I hesitated. “I guess I didn't really think that through.”

He opened his mouth as if to say something, then slammed it shut, giving a jerk of his head toward the tree line before heading that direction.

“The bears won't likely be a problem for you between our place and yours, but I'll have the boys mark it up a bit more just to be sure.”

“Mark it up?”

“Don't ask.”

“I won't.”

“I was wondering about something yesterday...after the grizzly incident,” he started, fading off a bit as he spoke.

“About what?”

“It's really bugging me that I can't tell what you are.”

“Can you always tell what type of supernatural someone is?” I asked casually.

He nodded.

“You're the first one I can't wrap my head around.”

“That seems to be a common problem where I'm concerned,” I replied dryly. “I don't really know how to answer that question other than to say that I'm a Magical, or so I've discerned over the years, but I don't really have any powers. Not defensive ones, or ones that I have any control over, for that matter. All the other magical groups I know of won't have anything to do with me. And the warlocks—” I cut myself short, realizing that it was far too easy to share things with Knox, and I was doing so far too freely. My loose lips were going to get me in trouble if I kept it up.

His eyes narrowed as he looked at me, halting me so he could see me better.

“The warlocks what?” he asked, his stare boring through me.

“They'd like to see me dead,” I replied with a sigh.

He growled.

“Not a lie.”

I shook my head. I could practically feel his desire to ask if that's who I was running from, but it seemed his demand for truth had put him in a tricky situation as well. He didn't want to back me into a corner and force me to lie when it was apparent that my past was dire indeed, and I wasn't willing to trust him with it. Not yet. Maybe not ever.

“If they come, we will protect you,” he said, harshness in his tone.

Then, without another word, he started back toward the cabin.

“Will you?” I muttered under my breath, still standing where he'd left me. He stopped and turned, his piercing green eyes searching mine.

“Let me make something clear, Piper: I'm no saint. Like I said before, those of us here—in this pack—chose to come and live in the middle of nowhere for a reason. I understand what it's like to have a past that haunts me. So do the others. But I've learned from mine and have changed because of it. Become a better man, so to speak. And I have zero intention of letting anything wander into my territory and threaten anyone residing here. Do you understand?” I nodded frantically. “Good,” he said with a touch more heat to his words. “Then let’s get you home so that you can start putting the shit you were packing up away. You're not going anywhere, Piper. Not until I'm confident you can defend yourself, and that's sure as hell not going to happen unless you can figure out what you are and how to use whatever powers you think you have.”

Again he turned and headed through the brush toward my cabin, not waiting for my reply. In truth, he didn't need to. I didn't have one for him anyway. Instead I silently trailed him, trying to make sense of all he'd just said (and not said, for that matter). Knox had a past; I got that point loud and clear, but it left me wondering just what had happened. What had molded him into the alpha he was now. I wondered about that for the better part of an hour while we scurried around my cabin, stocking it up with the few provisions I'd gotten on my way through town. Knox had reverted back to his playful, charming self, showing no trace of the intense wolf he'd revealed to me back in the woods.

Then he left.

Not long after, I found myself standing in the tiniest kitchen I'd ever seen, hovering over the sink, trying to make sense out of all that had happened. In my attempt to tuck myself away in the middle of nowhere, far away from the reach of the supernatural world, I had managed to move in next door to a pack of werewolves. A pack of all male wolves, at that.

Well played, Piper. Well played...

I stood there for an eternity, staring out the window. Too many thoughts to count ran through my head. Could I trust these wolves? Would they turn on me as everyone else had? Was it still possible that they already knew who I was and who was after me, and were just biding their time until the enforcers could arrive and they could collect their bounty? There was a reward for my return, of that I had no doubt. Maybe the werewolves were looking to make some easy money by handing me over to the vampires hunting me. Maybe Knox's behavior was all an elaborate act, and a damn good one at that.

Every question that sprang to mind remained unresolved, leaving that annoying sense of dread to rise up within me again.

“What in the world have I gotten myself into?” I whispered aloud, clutching the worn laminate countertop tightly.

That question, too, went unanswered.

14

I spent the morning scrubbing the tiny one-bedroom cabin down from top to bottom; I doubted it had ever been so clean. It was just about noon by the time I finished. I stood in the center of the common area, scanning it to make sure I hadn't missed anything. When it was clear that there wasn't a speck of dirt to be found, I grabbed a beat-up paperback from the mantle and flopped down in the ratty old armchair.

After about ten pages, I threw the book aside.

Jumping out of my seat, I strode over to the front door and made my way out to the porch. The sky was overcast, the sun hidden from sight. The dullness looking down upon me did nothing to inspire my mood.

I picked at the long blades of grass encroaching upon the stairs, weaving them into an intricate braid. It wasn't long before I had made a length of rope out of it, which I wound around the top of my head to make a crown.

Man, was I bored.

“Does that make you Queen of the Forest?” a voice called from the tree line. I turned to find Knox standing there, his arms crossed over his chest and a wide smile on his face.

“I was just—”

“Ready to go batshit crazy without anything to do?”

“Something like that,” I replied, pulling the makeshift tiara off my head. “I guess I didn't really plan ahead for this whole seclusion thing very well.”

“No. I don't think you did,” he agreed, making his way toward me. A slight breeze picked up when he approached, blowing his scent my way. He smelled fresh, like spring. I inhaled deeply, not realizing that I probably looked like a total spaz. His laughter let me know that I did. “I think you should leave this on,” he said, taking the bright green crown from my hands and placing it on my head. “It suits you.” I smiled awkwardly at him, unsure of what to say. “So listen, there's a reason I stopped by to see you.”

“To check up on me?”

“Well, that too, but I wanted to see if you had any pressing plans for the evening.” He managed not to laugh when he asked me that, but I could see he was fighting back the urge with great difficulty. I made a grand gesture of looking around and behind me before giving him my best “are you kidding me?” face. That seemed to push him over the edge, his laughter coming out in a sharp exhale. “I didn't want to assume,” he said with a shrug, trying to regain his composure. “All joking aside, the boys and I will be heading into Anchorage tonight to blow off a little steam.”

“And how do you do that exactly?”

“Ummm...we drive?”

“No, not how do you get there! What do you do once you're there?” I explained, sounding put-upon. His smile widened.

“Dinner. Clubbing. The usual.”

“Like dancing?” My heart raced at the thought.

“If you want to. The boys aren't usually into that, but I'm sure we can convince them...for our guest's sake.”

I wanted to scream yes, throw my arms around his neck in gratitude, then ask when we were leaving, but a niggling in the back of my brain gave me pause. I'd been played before. Not once, but twice. There were still too many unknowns regarding Knox and his pack. Too many to so easily drive off with them just because he'd asked nicely and smiled at me.

Judging by the downturn of his expression, my thoughts were playing out in my expression.

“You're still unsure about me, aren't you?”

He'd backed me into a corner with that one.

“Yes.”

“You don't trust easily, do you?”

“No,” I said quietly, turning my gaze to the trees surrounding the cabin.

“What is it that you think I'm going to do, Piper?” His question was much kinder that time, his tone more gentle.

I sighed heavily, knowing that lying would be of no use to me.

“I'm afraid that you have ulterior motives for being nice to me.”

“Truth...” I looked back at him to see a sadness in his eyes. One that showed that he understood betrayal. “Piper,” he started, taking a cautious step toward me. “I don't know that I can convince you of this, but whatever you think it is I want from you or plan to do with you, it's not the case. Wolves come to me to start over—to escape their previous lives. You may not be a wolf, but you have the same look about you that they all do when they show up on my doorstep. I've never asked anything of them other than loyalty. I don't want anything from you, Piper. I just don't want anything to happen to you.” He reached his hand toward me and took mine. The second he did, the gentle breeze that had been dancing around us gusted, knocking me slightly off balance—and into Knox.

“Sorry!” I said, trying to push myself off of him.

“For thinking I have some maniacal plans for you or for falling into me?”

I hesitated slightly.

“Both?”

He looked down at me and smiled.

“You're forgiven. So will you come with us tonight?”

It was my turn to grin.

“I guess I could be persuaded.”

“We're getting ready for lunch now if you want to join us. Bring whatever you're going to wear tonight with you. You can get ready at our place, unless running water doesn't appeal to you.”

“I'll be right back!” I shouted, running into my cabin to grab my things. Truth was, I didn't have a whole lot of wardrobe options, so I settled on some skinny jeans and a white tank. I grabbed the necklace that Kat had given me for Christmas and my favorite boots—the ones I was wearing the night Merc attacked me. I loved them despite that connection. The dark blemishes in the leather from the bloodstains I couldn't get out reminded me of why I was running.

I snatched a tiny bag containing the few toiletries and makeup items I owned and made my way back outside to find Knox standing there, a look of amusement in his eyes.

“That was fast.”

“I'm a low maintenance kinda girl.”

“Just the way I like 'em,” he replied, turning to lead the way back to the house. “Want me to carry anything?”

Before I could tell him no thank you, he took the boots that were awkwardly balanced on top of my things from me. He spotted the muddy-brown stains in the cognac-colored leather immediately. Not asking for confirmation, he put the toe of one boot to his nose and sniffed it. Then his angry eyes fell on mine.

“That's a lot of blood, Piper.”

“I know.”

“
Your
blood.”

“I know.”

“This wouldn't have anything to do with why you're here, would it?”

“Does it make a difference if it does?” I asked earnestly, not really wanting to delve into my sordid history.

“No,” he replied, his jaw flexing hard to retain his anger. “I guess it doesn't.”

We walked the rest of the way to the lodge in silence, me wondering what he was thinking and him likely questioning the wisdom of harboring someone with a bloodstained past. I was almost certain that it wasn't a love of Alaska's isolation that had brought him here.

It certainly wasn't what had brought me either.

When we got to the lodge, Knox's mood changed, returning to the more fun-loving wolf that I had found him to be. Strict with his pack, but affable. Approachable. Kind.

I ate with the boys, then excused myself to go clean up. The warm water of the shower beat against my skin. It felt amazing. It had been a couple of days since I'd felt that and not been afraid to stay in too long. Knowing that I was surrounded by a pack of werewolves and enough sun in the sky to ensure no surprise vampire visits helped immensely. But then my eyes made their way down my body to take in my scars, and I quickly turned the water off.