Shelter Me (Sawtooth Shifters, #6) (12 page)

Her smile widened, more awake now. “I like that dream. A lot.” She sat up, raking her fingers through her hair and stretching. The sheet fell away from her body, and I couldn’t tear my gaze away from her curves. Her body was soft and round all over, with full breasts that I’d never get enough of. Lyssie was so confident in her body, and I never stopped appreciating it. I was used to girls with a thousand hang-ups about being naked, but she didn’t have any. It was an unexpected surprise, and how I knew I could push her last night. I was willing to hold her hand and help her bridge the gap to the woman I knew she wanted to be.

Don’t get me wrong, I was in love with the woman who was sitting beside me, bare and rumpled, looking down at me with a silly grin. “What?” I asked.

“I had a similar dream, I’m trying to remember it all. The whole town had turned into a giant hotel. It had weird and windy hallways, but I knew that’s where we were. And that Ember ruined everything. It was like a ghost town. No one came because they wanted Granger Falls but it didn’t really exist anymore. But everyone kept leaving their animals behind, and we had to take the hotel over, because it was the only place big enough for us.”

“So what happened?” I loved that we’d shared the same dream. It took different forms, but we were truly becoming one.

Lyssie frowned, searching for more information about the dream. “I’m not sure. It didn’t feel right, but we were convinced we could make it work for the animals. I don’t remember the end.” Her face lit up. “I got like a hundred bucks last night at the farmer’s market for Forever Home. Trina’s going to be psyched. It doesn’t sound like much, but every little bit helps. We’ve had trouble lately, but there are some really good people here. I know you see this as a wolf issue, but it affects everyone in town.”

I pulled her down on top of me. “You’re amazing.” I managed between kisses. “What you do for everyone else doesn’t go unnoticed.”

“Sorry about my morning breath.” She pushed away from me, swatting and laughing. “Dallas, I was always yours. And the fact we had the same dream proves it. We need to do something about it. We’ve spent the last couple of weeks figuring out how to get rid of Ember. Believe me, I’m having the time of my life trying to cure you. But you know what we haven’t tried? Telling her what’s up. That she’s barking up the wrong tree, pun intended, and that she’s not welcome here. Getting her out of our hair isn’t enough. I won’t let her ruin this town. I love it here, and it’s our home.”

I sat up, we had shit to do. “First of all, never apologize for your morning breath. It’s a small price to pay for being able to kiss you before anyone else gets to see you. Secondly, I think that’s a great idea, but you have to prepare yourself for the possibility that it’s not going to work.”

Lyssie pouted. “Why not?”

I got out of bed, slipping my jeans back on. One of these days I’d bring my clothes here. But soon I hoped to draw up plans on a place of our own. Right next to the place Baron built for himself and Kiera. “Because we’re not dealing with a sane person. She wants things, too, and she’s already shown she’ll take them by any means necessary. I shouldn’t let you go anywhere near her.”

“You shouldn’t
let
me?” Lyssie raised an eyebrow. “You just told me that I should do things that scare me. This scares the hell out of me. Is that what it looks like when you pull the alpha male card?”

I laughed. “What, you don’t like it?”

She sighed. “I really shouldn’t. But let me tell you a secret. I love it.”

**

I
t was no secret where Ember had set up camp. She and her pack had taken over the villas at The Bald Mountain Resort. It overlooked both Granger Falls and Sawtooth Forest. The town quickly divided over their opinion of her presence. Not only was she harassing many hardworking business owners, but she was also interrupting the life blood of the region: ski season. Rooms were at a premium, and she was taking prime space away from people who spent their money in Granger Falls.

Not everyone was sorry to see her here. Running a small business was much like skating on a pond. The ice could give way at any time. Ember knew where the ice was flimsy, and some people would’ve gladly sold their stake in town in return for a fresh start.

Add to that she was gorgeous, cunning, and the most exciting thing that had happened in Granger Falls in my thirty years. Some of us had to be careful what we wished for.

“Do you ski?” Lyssie asked. “Kiera loves snowboarding, but I’ve never tried it.”

“Baron does, too. The two of them are having a blast, with their extreme sporting expeditions. I love the mountain as a wolf. As a human, my sport of choice is hockey. I haven’t played this winter. The Lowes have a big Christmas game every year, but it didn’t happen this year since X was in rough shape.”

Lyssie shook her head. I could see her making a mental list of everything Ember had taken away from us. “Don’t get me wrong. I love winter. I love snuggling under blankets, the cocoa, and the way the air feels when we leave work and its dark out. It’s so crisp. My dream is to open a booth at the farmers’ market and sell my knitted stuff. I might want to use you as a model.”

“You can use me any way you want, darlin’.”

We pulled into the parking lot. The villas were the exclusive area of the resort, detached from the bigger hotel. Sleek black SUVs packed the parking lot. Ember didn’t skimp on details. My mud-splattered, beat up truck would trip every warning bell Ember’s pack had, but that didn’t bother me. I didn’t planning on staying here long, and I wasn’t in the mood for hide and seek.

Lyssie stayed in the passenger’s seat, smiling, when I cut the engine. “What’s going on in that head of yours?” The beautiful thing was I could never tell. She surprised me every day.

“I love it when you call me darlin’,” she said softly. “Make sure to do it in front of Ember.”

Two werewolves stood guard outside the largest villa. Ember expected company. Lyssie and I held hands, walking side by side to the door. We received a grunt of acknowledgement from the guards, but they let us pass.

Lyssie knocked on the door, hard. “I want to get this over with,” she muttered.

Ember answered the door herself. An oily smile slid up the side of her over-made up face. I never noticed makeup on women unless they wore way too much. Always made me wonder what they had to hide. With Ember, I knew. “Hey, Dallas. I see you brought us a pet.” Ember stepped toward Lyssie, who grasped my hand, her body tensing, but she didn’t retreat. Maybe the dream had been a premonition. “I knew you’d come to me willingly.”

“Actually, I came to thank you for your generous donation to Forever Home. You already have a lot of influence in town, Ember. Is it okay for me to call you that? Anyway, people have been matching your donation. A lot of animals are going to find and keep good homes, thanks to you.” Lyssie plastered a smile on her face. Ember would never detect the venom dripping from her sweet tone.

“You better find them homes. That check serves two purposes. First one will concern you the most. You cash that check, you owe me. But in the grand scheme of things, you’re insignificant, Lyssie. Is it okay if I call you that? The check’s real purpose is a down payment for the purchase of the land your precious little shelter is on. Turns out, it’s way undervalued. No one in this town seems to understand what they have to lose. Which is great for me. Maybe I’ll use that savings to boost wages in the new resort, but probably not. If I learned anything in Montana, it was to protect my investments.”

“Good, we have something in common,” Lyssie said. I hadn’t expected her to take the lead. She had this. I was familiar with this role. I protected anyone who fought for me, by any means necessary. I’d done it with my brother for years, and I planned to do it for Lyssie for the rest of our lives. “I protect what’s mine, too.”

Ember burst out in an ugly cackle. There was no question she was an animal. “Listen, human, I’ll use your boyfriend as a chew toy until I get my point across. How long was he sick? There’s only so long his body will be able to take it. So he’s got two choices. He can come to me now proud and willing, or crawl to me weak and broken. Play nurse as long as you want, but in the end, you’ll lose him. This fight doesn’t concern you. Cut your losses, and walk away.”

I squeezed Lyssie’s hand. Ember figured out how to tap into her worst fear. “She walks, I’ll follow her. You chase me, I’ll run to her.”

The tension left Lyssie’s body and she laughed. “Why are you chasing someone who doesn’t want you? He’d come to you, if he wanted you. The guys have told us the legends of this forest. Wolves mate for love. Mating by force almost cost them everything. I say almost because there are still these great guys willing to fight for what they want. And this great guy doesn’t want you, Ember.” Her face brightened as her strength blossomed. This was Lyssie’s second chance. Now she had a say in what happened to her. “Sure, you have tons of things I don’t. Money, power, a hot body. And you’re a wolf. I can’t compete with that, can I? On paper, we shouldn’t be having this conversation. I’m crazy to fight you. What do I have to offer, compared to you? But Dallas doesn’t want that. He wants me. I can give him all things you can’t. The things you’re trying to take away. Home. Security. That’s what wolves want, at least in Sawtooth Forest. I fall asleep listening to his heart beat, and we dream the same dreams. I took care of him at his worst, when he was starving and beaten. I did it because it was the right thing to do. Not because I wanted anything in return. I knew someday he’d be wild and free. And that’s why I deserve him at his best.”

If Lyssie had a microphone, she would’ve dropped it and walked off stage. But no, this Lyssie didn’t back down from a fight. She had no fear. She knew what belonged to her and she’d fight to keep it.

I couldn’t be more in love with her if I tried.

“You think I’m only here for your wolf? He’s a fool to resist me. I’ll own this town, and there will be no place for either of you. You can do this the easy way, human, or you can make it hard on yourself. Either way, you’re at my mercy.”

“Bullshit,” I growled. Ember didn’t expect it, and stepped back. Good. “This is our forest, you’re at our mercy. Your days here are numbered. People around here don’t care about money. They care about tradition and family. And they’re a lot smarter than you think. Your plan will destroy this town. You have us outmanned, that’s no secret. But the wolves of Sawtooth Forest fight for what’s theirs. We’ll fight for the town, and we’ll fight for our mates, no matter who they are.” I slipped my arm around Lyssie’s waist and pulled her against me. “Lyssie saved my life. All you do is destroy things.”

Ember rolled her eyes. “I’m not going anywhere. I’m looking forward to watching you die slowly, absolutely destitute.”

“I’ll die in the arms of my mate, with everything I ever wanted.” I led Lyssie away from the door. As far as I was concerned, this fight was over. Ember would drag it out into the town and the forest, but Lyssie said it best.

We dreamed the same dreams. And mine was to grow old with the beautiful woman walking beside me.

“Oh my God, I’m still shaking,” Lyssie said when we got back to the truck. She traced her finger along the line of my neck, squinting in confusion, then repeated the motion on the other side, moving my head so she could get a better look. “The bite mark is gone.”

“It is?” It had faded to an ugly pink reminder of my encounter of Ember, but refused to disappear. Until now. “You sure?”

Lyssie’s smile was brighter than the sunshine. “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”

“You know what that means, right? You’re mine.” I captured her lips in a long slow kiss.

“I can’t believe I did that.” Lyssie looked out the back window as I started the truck. “She’s still there. I’m surprised that stare down hasn’t melted our skin from our bones. This isn’t over. Not by a long shot.”

“What are you talking about? You were amazing. I’m so proud of you.” I leaned over and kissed her. We weren’t running away from here. This was our land, and there was no need to burn rubber in the parking lot. “She expected you to run. To hand me over. It undermines her strength, to her pack and ours, that she can’t intimidate a human.”

“That was the scariest thing I ever did. She could’ve attacked us, or worse, you could’ve gone with her.” Lyssie shuddered. “But you’re still here with me.”

“I’m not going anywhere.” I backed up, waving to Ember, who stood in the doorway, fire burning her eyes. “I’d love to tell you this is over, but it’s just the beginning. We’ll take care of Ember, but there will be something else we have to fight for. I’ll always come home to you, Lyssie.”

Lyssie exhaled. I’d never seen her smile like this. It took over her whole being, and she’d never looked so beautiful. “For the first time, I actually believe it. There’s always been a little voice in the back of my head, nagging me, telling me I’ll lose anything that’s important to me. But it’s gone. You’re mine.”

“Damn straight, darlin’.” I was going to have to pull over in the next parking lot and kiss the hell out of her. “I’m yours. Forever.”

I
hope you loved Lyssie and Dallas!  All Channings and the Lowes get mates, and last but certainly not least is X. COMPLETE ME will be available February 8, but it’s available for preorder and you can snag your copy now. 

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C
handra

Another second closer. Every one counted.

The moon expanded inside my skull, the throb of my heartbeat intensified with the gravitational pull. The second hand of the old clock in the Lowe’s living room slammed forward. The rhythms didn’t complement one another, and my vision became a dizzy swirl.

Time to shift.

All my life I’d been forced to hide. Who I was, what I wanted. I couldn’t believe I’d been here a month, among my own kind, and had yet to blow my cover. I was conflicted how I felt about that. My camouflage was like an armor, but the Sawtooth wolves should’ve known one of their own.