Werewolf Rage Book #2 in the Taming The Wolf Series (8 page)

Cyrus slowly lowered his arm and rubbed his hand over his morning stubble and sighed.
He stared at her for a moment, his eyes calmer now. “I don’t know. Maybe because you’ve never had a boyfriend before. I guess it’s hard for me to trust in your feelings for me when you push me away constantly. You refuse to marry me, but that’s the only thing that would give me any relief from these feelings. If you were my wife, I could trust that no man would be able to take you away from me. But this limbo you have us in, just gives anyone the time and the opportunity to steal you away from me. And with Cole doing his best to give you doubts and telling you that he’d fight me for you, it’s not easy,” he said quietly, staring at her as his breathing settled and his hands unclenched.

Ava turned her body away from the couch so she could lean against it.
Marriage.
“I’m mated to you, but by marrying you I would be giving myself completely to you. There would be no going back,” she said softly, as she stared at the family portraits on the wall.

Cyrus sat up and moved to the floor beside her.
He took her hands in his and laid his face in her palms. He then pulled her toward him, so she was now sitting on his lap. He put his arms around her and laid his tired head in the crook of her shoulder and her neck, breathing in her scent as if it were an elixir.

“There’d be no going back,” he agreed, holding her in his arms.

Ava closed her eyes and relaxed back into Cyrus’s arms for a moment. Cyrus took a shuddering breath and held her tighter. Ava pulled back for a moment making him groan before she moved to put her arms around his shoulders, embracing him. She softly kissed his forehead and the side of his face as she ran her hand through his wavy dark brown hair.

“What am I going to do with you?” she asked softly before gently kissing his lips.
Cyrus closed his eyes at the kiss and sighed, letting the rest of the pain, anxiety and strain out of his body.

“Could you please just love me? Stay with me forever and be my wife . . .,
please
?” he asked with a faint smile on his mouth.

Ava held his face in both her hands as she looked deeply in to his light blues eyes, looking so far she could swear she could see his soul.
She rubbed her thumbs over his cheekbones and then traced her finger over his mouth slowly.

“I love you,” she said and bent down to kiss him, pulling back as he tilted his head. His eyes gleamed at her dangerously.

Ava smiled, her eyes still sad though as she smoothed the hair away from his forehead
. “I will stay with you forever,” she promised and then kissed him. Deeper this time. Allowing her feelings for him to move from her to him.

Cyrus murmured something
and reached up for her face, but she pulled back. She shook her head at him as she caressed the side of his neck and moved both of her hands up into his hair. She gripped his hair firmly in her hands as she brought their foreheads together. She stared into his now bright, alert eyes. “And I will be your wife,” she said quietly.

She watched curiously as Cyrus’s eyes widened and a light filled his face. A smile cracked his tense mouth and she felt his whole body let down just before he gripped her in his arms and rolled with her on the carpet, coming to the position of him leaning over her.

“You’re going to be my wife. You just gave me your word,” he said wonderingly as he dipped his head and spread kiss after kiss all over her face. She smiled at him and moved to roll away, but he pinned her in place and shook his head.

“
When
?” he demanded, his voice now hard and serious, his eyes blazing down into hers.

She reached up and smoothed the line between his eyes and touched his cheeks in her hands.
She could see that he was still shaky from the pain of believing she had left him. He had been suffering for hours and she felt her heart break for him. But if he’d just trusted her, he wouldn’t have had to feel a moment’s agony.

“I’ll be nineteen soon.
How about you propose to me when I turn nineteen?” she said, feeling very saint like.

Cyrus frowned darkly at her and shook his head.
“And how long does our engagement have to be?” he growled, still on edge and emotional.

Ava looked away and sighed.
She did love Cyrus. She wanted to be his wife, she just wasn’t sure she was ready. If she insisted that Cyrus trust her, should she trust in their future together? She closed her eyes for a second as she felt Cyrus’s emotions spiral upward. She opened her eyes and yanked on a lock of glossy brown hair.

“Not very
,” she finally said and smiled as Cyrus’s eyes cleared and a soft smile played on his mouth.

“Specify not very,” he said leaning down to kiss her chin and nuzzle her neck.

Ava squirmed in his arms and pushed him away. “A couple months?”

Cyrus tilted his head as he studied her before leaning his body beside her, keeping his hand on her hip.
“It’s late August. Your birthday is in November. How about we get engaged in September and we get married right after Christmas?” he asked, leaning down to kiss the side of her mouth.

Ava narrowed her eyes at him.
“I give you a mile and you want two more.”

Cyrus leaned down and kissed the other side of her mouth before capturing her fully in a passionate, deep kiss that drugged her and made her feel weak.
When he pulled away finally, she was gasping for air and she couldn’t think straight.

“Okay Cyrus.
You get your way. But no more withdrawals. Promise me,” she said as he stood up and picked her up in his arms, holding her tightly to his chest.

Cyrus closed his eyes and leaned his head against hers for a moment.
“It’s not something I can control Ava. I’m a werewolf. And when it comes to you the thought of another man taking you from me turns me into a beast. Losing a mate is the worst… I’ve never felt pain like that before Ava. I felt like I was dying,” he admitted, as a shiver ran through this body.

Ava groaned in compassion as he slowly let her feet fall to the floor.
She wrapped her arms around him and laid her head against his chest. She could feel his erratic heart beat against her face and she felt horrible that he’d been in agony over her.

“Please trust in me Cyrus. I’m begging you.”

Cyrus pulled back and tilted her face up to his. “Tell me once and for all what your feelings are for Cole. When he told you that he would fight me for you and win, did you want him to? Did even a small part of you want him to take you from me?” he asked, his eyes tormented and his face unsure.

Ava shook her head briskly back and forth.
“I will fully admit that I find him attractive. I can’t help that. He just is. But I’m a thousand times
more
attracted to you. If I had come to Paskell this week for the first time and met you and Cole at the same exact moment, I would make a beeline right for you. You have my heart Cyrus. You have from day one,” she admitted, holding him tightly as she stared up into his eyes, imploring him to believe her.

Something Cyrus saw in her face made him relax and a bright happy smile lit up his face.
He sighed from the bottom of his heart, letting the doubt finally go. Ava grinned back and leaned upon her tip toes to capture his mouth with hers. “You’re mine Cyrus.”

Cyrus kissed her back one more time nodding his head. “And you’re mine,” he swore.

Cyrus was exhausted from his hours of withdrawals so he went to bed and she got ready for work. Harry offered to walk her to the pub and she gladly accepted the offer.

Harry held the door open for her and they walked out into the bright summer air.
She glanced back at her father and sighed. She’d put off telling him about Perry, but the sooner he knew, the better prepared he would be for what might happen. The very real threat of angry werewolves coming to their town to take back Perry and possibly kill Cole was a threat that could affect them all. Especially if Harry stood for her.

“Dad, let’s go sit in the park for a minute.
It’s time we talked about Perry,” she said, taking his arm.

Harry,
glanced at his daughter curiously and smiled. “I’ve been expecting this to be honest. I don’t think it’s a secret that I like Perry. I’ve been thinking for a couple days now that I’d like to talk to her about, um . . . , maybe being together.”

Ava looked down at her feet and grinned before glancing at her father.
Harry Paskell was one of those men who just got better looking as they aged. Not that he’d done very much aging. His angular, patrician face that had made all her friends sigh, now looked nervous and hopeful and excited. She wasn’t the only one in love.

“Dad, I know you like Perry,” she began but was interrupted when Harry cleared his throat and held up his hands.

“Ava, it’s been over fifteen years since I’ve been in a committed relationship with a woman. I hope that you don’t feel threatened by my feelings for Perry. You haven’t really seen me with other women and I know that this could be awkward for you,” he said, looking at her nervously.

Ava’s heart warmed and she turned and threw her arms around her father’s neck.
“Oh Dad, you’re the sweetest man. No there’s no awkwardness. I really like Perry. I think she’s sweet and amazing and strong too. I totally support you being with her. But Dad, that’s why I need to talk to you. That’s why Perry asked me to talk to you first,” she said, pulling back and looking at her dad worriedly.

Harry’s happy grin slipped as he stared down into his daughter’s eyes.
He’d always been so attuned to her feelings that he could almost read her mind at times. Whatever he could sense or see in her eyes had him straightening up and his dark brown eyes going hard. They reached the bench and sat down, turning toward one another.

“What is it Ava? Tell me,” he demanded, holding her hand.

Ava nodded and gripped her father’s hand back. “Perry is mated,” she said softly and watched as her father’s face turned ashen and then red within seconds. He stood up, and put his hands on his hips as he stared at the ground, breathing hard.

Ava winced and stood up quickly, grabbing her father’s arm.
“Let me finish Dad. The man who chose her is Braxton Mayhew from Tanner’s Landing. He killed the last leader and then chose her.
Against her will
. Cole stood up for his sister, but Braxton sent five men to kill him. They almost succeeded. The night before her wedding, Cole and Perry escaped. They headed toward Manitoba because they were being hunted but circled back this way. Cole thinks it’s only a matter of time before they come here. Dad, I told Perry I’d stand for her. She hates Braxton. He terrifies her and she told me he likes to hurt her.
She doesn’t want him
,” she said, her voice loud and shaking as she thought about what she’d do if she were in Perry’s position.

Harry’s stared at his daughter, his face arrested and his eyes bright and gleaming.
“She doesn’t want him,” he muttered softly.

Ava moved to stand in front of her dad, looking up into his face. “Dad, this could get crazy.
Cole said it’s tradition for werewolves to kill a man who stands between him and his mate. And after seeing what Cyrus just went through, I can sort of see why. People could die over this.”

Harry nodded his head and bit his lip not saying anything as his mind whirled around the information.
Ava smiled slightly and continued. “I told her we’d stand for her. But Dad, if you choose Perry as a mate, you’d be the man Braxton would kill first.”

Harry blinked in surprise and stared at her before smiling.
“No one’s killing me Ava. Besides, for a man to truly be mated, truly linked like Cyrus is with you, the bond has to go both ways. Braxton forced Perry to be his mate. He probably didn’t even feel any withdrawals when she left.”

Ava nodded her head. “Okay, interesting. But then why is he hunting them?
Why did he try to kill Cole?”

Harry ran his hand through his hair and looked over his shoulder as if he were scanning the park for Perry.

“His pride of course, but more than that, he wants her. There’s a big difference between wanting a woman and finding your mate though. Just ask Cole,” he said with a grin at his daughter.

Ava smiled back at her dad and shook her head.
“Dad, she really likes you. She couldn’t stop telling me how amazing she thinks you are. I think she’s fallen in love with you,” she said, watching her father carefully for his reaction.

Harry stared at his daughter as a grin took over his whole face.
She laughed at his reaction, sensing the waves of joy coursing through him.

“That’s a coincidence, because I feel the same way,” he said, his face reddening.

Ava laughed happily and hugged her dad. “I’m happy for you. But in the meantime, she’s in danger. What are we going to do? We’ll have to tell the town. We have to prepare. We could have werewolves coming for her anytime. With her being out on the Vanier’s farm, they could take her and we wouldn’t even know it.”

Harry’s eyes darkened and he nodded his head.
“You’re right. I need to talk to Perry,” he said scanning the park again.

Ava smiled in relief and took her father’s arm as they started walking again. Her dad had reacted exactly the way she knew he would. He’d never back down from protecting a woman.
Ever. “Before you run off to find Perry, will you tell me what Patricia was talking about? I was so upset about Cyrus it didn’t even matter, but she said someone saw a hybrid in town. Is that true?” she asked, scanning the park herself.

Harry frowned and glanced at his daughter as he put a protective arm around her shoulders.
“Yeah, Kurt came to me and Tobias last night and told us that he thought he saw a hybrid lurking around behind his pub. He said he couldn’t be sure, but that he had a strong feeling it was a hybrid. That’s another reason we were so worried about you last night. We had to wonder if a hybrid had found you.”

Ava swallowed her fear and felt her muscles tense. She hated hybrids.
They’d almost killed her just a few months ago. “Dad, I thought they were all hunted down months ago. And why would a hybrid come
into
town. They never have before.”

Harry scanned the streets as they came to the sidewalk in front of the park.
“We did hunt them all down. With what you’ve told me, this hybrid could be tracking Perry. She goes to the pub often and he might have followed her scent there. I need to find her,” he muttered anxiously. “If Braxton has sent hybrids for her we’re in trouble.

Ava hurried after her father, reaching the pub within minutes.
He opened the door for her and ushered her inside, glancing behind him. They moved in toward the bar and saw Kurt talking to Cole quietly. She glanced around the room and saw Perry sitting by herself in a booth, resting her head in her hands. Her dad ignored Kurt and Cole and went right to Perry, sitting down next to her.

“Perry, sweetheart.
Ava told me everything,” Harry said softly, touching her shoulder.

Perry lowered her hands and looked up into his face and promptly burst into tears.
Harry groaned and enveloped her in his arms, trying to soothe her as he murmured into her hair.

Ava bit her lip, not wanting to intrude, but knowing that they needed to move fast in order to protect Perry and Cole.
She felt Cole come stand next to her and she glanced up at him. He was looking down at her with a serious, dark expression.

“I heard you ran off last night.
People were scouring the town for you. I was right here waiting for you,” he said, gauging her expression and reaction.

Ava tilted her head and looked up into Cole’s face.
He looked curious and anxious, waiting for her answer. From what she knew of him, and it wasn’t much, he was a good brother, a good man and an alpha male in the extreme. He deserved to have a woman who wanted him back. And that wasn’t her.

“Cole,” she said softly, not wanting to intrude on her father’s and Perry’s situation.
“I’ll tell you what I told Cyrus this morning. As attractive as I find you, I don’t love you.”

Cole’s eyes burned into hers at her words and he took her by the arm and led her to a booth three down.
He motioned for her to sit down and he sat down next to her. Close.

“
Yet
Ava. You don’t love me
yet
. I’ve already got a head start on you. We can close the gap easily,” he said in a rush, as hope lit his eyes.

Ava pushed his arm away, as it was sneaking around her.
“Listen to me Cole. Just listen so we can stop this silly dance. It’s causing me headaches and it’s hurting my mate and I won’t stand for that anymore. I don’t love you. I
won’t
love you. I love Cyrus and I always will. Nothing is going to change that. You can’t change that,” she said almost gently, as Cole’s face fell and his eyes turned shuttered.

“But you’re the only woman I’ve ever wanted
for a mate. You’re different, you’re strong and feisty and gorgeous. I can’t stop myself from wanting you,” he admitted, spearing her with his burning eyes.

Ava frowned and swallowed hard.
Werewolf men were a little more difficult to put off than the average man she’d been used to back home in Washington.

“You have to Cole.
For my sake and for yours. I know there’s a woman out there meant to be your mate.
It’s not me
. I’m flattered you’re um, so attracted to me, but this has to stop. Cyrus will kill you if you keep trying,” she said quietly, knowing it was true.

Cole stared at her for a moment before looking away.
“I wish he’d try. Because then you’d be mine,” he said, his face tensing and his hands clenched on the table.

Ava shook her head quickly.
“If you fought Cyrus for me and killed him, knowing that I love him and that I chose him for my mate, I would hate you. Please don’t make me hate you Cole. I’d rather we be friends. My father is in love with your sister and she loves him. We’re going to be in each other’s lives from here on out one way or another. Please let it go,” she pleaded, searching his face.

She watched as his emotions chased themselves across his face.
Anger, pain, passion, regret. What she didn’t see was acceptance. He licked his lips and sat back in the booth before shaking his head.

“Well then there’s nothing I can do, is there?” he said in a tight voice.

Ava shook her head. “No Cole, there’s not. Cyrus and I will be getting married soon.”

Cole closed his eyes for a moment but opened them and looked at her in speculation.
“You know there is one loop hole. Say Cyrus dies of natural causes. Say, I had nothing to do with it. Would you come to me then?” he asked, staring intensely at her.

Ava blinked in surprise and looked away from him at the empty pub.
She saw Kurt standing at the bar. He was looking right at her, his eyes warning her somehow. He must have heard Cole’s question. He shook his head at her slightly and she got the message. She was on dangerous ground.

She looked back at Cole and shook her head.
“Even if something happened to Cyrus, I would never go to you. Cyrus is my mate whether or not he’s alive or dead. My heart will only ever belong to him.”

Cole sat up, his muscles bunching in his shoulders and his face harsh.
“Women who have mates that die have gone on to pick a new mate. It happens Ava. Just be open to the possibility.”

Ava felt sick to her stomach at even the thought of losing Cyrus.
She could sense the pain she was causing Cole, but it was of his own making. “No Cole. You and I will never be together.
Ever
.”

Cole motioned for her to let him out of the bench.
She scooted out and stood up. He brushed past her but looked back. “I’ll back off for now. But if anything happens to Cyrus I’ll do everything in my power to change your mind. And there’ll be no one to get in my way,” he said before walking away from her to go to the bar. Kurt handed him a drink and left him alone.

Ava sighed and shook her head.
Men
. She walked over to the booth where Perry and her father were talking quietly holding hands.

“Hey guys.
Everything okay?” she asked, slipping onto the bench in front of them.

Harry looked up at her and smiled.
He looked elated and determined all at the same time. She grinned to herself, not surprised at all. Her dad was the original knight in shining armor and Perry made a perfect princess with her long red hair and haunted eyes.