Wolf on the Run: Salvation Pack, Book 3 (8 page)

She’d spent the last twelve years looking over her shoulder with never a moment’s peace. She could see her mama’s still body, smell the blood that had been spilled.

No, she wouldn’t let them take her. She would be like her mama, like her daddy. She would fight to the death. She would fight to live.

Instinct carried her deep into the woods. She veered right and then left, jumping over fallen logs and hopping from rock to rock whenever she could.

Her heart was pounding so loudly in her ears she couldn’t hear her pursuer. But he was there. Of that, she had no doubt. Wolves never gave up the chase, especially when they knew they were stronger than their prey. He would run her to ground unless she could somehow lose him.

Ahead, she caught a flash of something in the trees. Another wolf. She skidded to a halt, almost stumbling to her knees in her haste. Her gaze darted from side-to-side. Which way? Left. Her lungs burned and her heart felt as though it might burst any second, but she didn’t let up. She couldn’t.

“Cherise.”

The male voice was familiar, but she didn’t stop. She’d recognized their voices before. They were friends, people she’d known in her childhood. But that hadn’t stopped them from hunting her, from murdering her mama.

Branches slashed at her face and arms as she barreled through them at top speed. She didn’t even feel the sting, but she smelled the blood. That wasn’t good. They’d be able to track her even better now.

Seemingly out of nowhere, a massive wolf loomed before her. She would have screamed, but she didn’t have any breath left. She stumbled and fell. The wolf started toward her and she scuttled back, digging her hands and feet into the damp ground. She had to get up. Had to run.

It took everything she had to push herself to her feet. She swayed but somehow managed to stay upright. She reached into the side pocket of her knapsack and withdrew a knife. It wasn’t much, only six inches in length, but it was better than nothing.

A noise from behind her sent her spinning around in a circle. She was surrounded. Three wolves watched her, moving steadily closer. “Stay back,” she warned. Hysterical laughter threatened. What could she do against three wolves?

Bitterness welled up inside her. “I’ll kill you,” she threatened. It was an empty threat, but it was all she had.

One of the wolves shifted and a giant of a man stood in front of her. She knew him, didn’t she? She shook her head to clear it. “Cole?” He hadn’t hurt her. He’d protected her.

He held out one hand to her. “I won’t hurt you, Cherise. Come to me.”

“No.” She shook her head. “I have to leave. Have to go away.” She turned pleading eyes to him. “Just let me go.”

He shook his head and she could see the sadness in his eyes. “I can’t.”

Behind her, leaves rustled. She whirled to face the threat. Cole had made her forget the two other wolves behind her. They were much closer now and prowling nearer by the second. “Please stay back.” She didn’t want to hurt anyone, but she would if she had to.

God, she was tired. So tired. And weak. Cherise couldn’t remember ever being this weak before. Her mind felt fragmented with the past and present getting all confused.

A muscular forearm banded around her waist, and before she could blink the knife was taken from her and tossed aside. Fury erupted inside her and Cherise attacked, fighting with all she had. She tried to headbutt whoever was holding her, but he was so big her head simply hit his shoulder. He grunted but otherwise didn’t flinch.

Panicked, she kicked and flailed until she had no strength left to fight. She slumped in her captor’s arms. A voice reached out to her, promising her she was safe, that everything would be all right. She didn’t believe it. Couldn’t.

He lifted her into his strong arms. She recognized the scent of the person holding her. It was the scent of safety. Cherise curled closer, trying to absorb his warmth. She was so cold.

“I’ve got you.”

Something inside her let go. Cherise gave up the fight and let herself fall into oblivion.

Chapter Eight

“Jesus Christ.” Cole looked at his best friend and his alpha, both men staring in disbelief at the woman who’d passed out in his arms. “Did she think we were going to kill her?” The expression of horror on her face, the way she’d run from them suggested that’s exactly what she’d thought.

“It’s my fault.” Gator vibrated with barely suppressed energy. “I heard her leave the house and went after her. She was just past the trucks when I stepped out from behind a tree. She might have thought some wolf from her former pack had found her. Because she can’t shift, I’m not sure how good her night vision is.”

“She’s exhausted.” Jacque strode toward Cole and touched Cherise’s pale skin. “I’m not sure she even knew who we were.” He shook his head, his disgust plain on his face. “She’s been through more than any woman should have to face, and she’s done it alone.” He pinned Cole with a searching gaze. “But she’s not alone anymore.”

Cole nodded in agreement. He knew Jacque was offering Cherise a permanent place in their pack. “No, she’d not alone anymore.”

Guilt assailed Cole. He should never have left her alone during the long night hours. Hell, he shouldn’t have made love with her earlier. She needed food, rest and care, not him pounding into her body until they were both exhausted with pleasure. As much as he’d enjoyed himself and had hoped to tie her to him with physical bonds of mutual desire, she’d needed something different from him.

And he’d let her down.

“Let’s go.” Jacque led the way.

Gator grabbed Cherise’s backpack and hung back to walk beside Cole. “I’m sorry, man. I didn’t mean to frighten her badly enough to run. I was pissed she’d snuck out.” He dragged his hand over his face and released a ragged sigh. “She was out the door before I even heard her, for fuck sake.”

“It wasn’t your fault.” He wouldn’t let Gator take the blame for something that was solely his fault. “I shouldn’t have left her alone. She’s exhausted and undernourished. She’s been running for days and—” He broke off. He didn’t need to spell things out for his friend. Gator knew Cole had slept with her earlier this evening instead of letting her rest.

Gator slapped him on the shoulder. “We’ll feed her and have her back to full strength in no time.”

But what would happen then? Would she try to run again?

Cole peered down at the almost lifeless woman draped bonelessly against him. The only hope he had was that she had seemed to recognize him at the end and had actually curled into his body. He took hope in that.

The fight was far from over.

But he was as stubborn as she was. More so. He could offer her a place in their pack. And when she was strong enough, he’d offer her a place by his side and in his bed forever.

The walk back took longer than their mad dash through the woods, and by the time they neared the cabins, Cherise was coming around. “Cole?”

She blinked up at him and he could tell she was having a difficult time getting her bearings. “Everything is okay.” And if he said it often enough, maybe he could convince her.

“Why are you carrying me?” Before he could answer, she stiffened in his arms. “Put me down.”

He stopped and slowly released her legs but kept his arm around her shoulders to steady her. Cherise glanced over at Gator and Jacque, who had both stopped when he had. She stepped away from Cole and turned to face him.

She licked her lips and his cock sprang to life. It certainly wasn’t appropriate considering he was stark naked, but there was nothing to be done about it. Cherise’s gaze caught the change in him and her eyes widened. “Uh, where are we going?”

“Back to the house. You need food and you need to rest. And I need to tend the cuts on your arms.” They’d already stopped bleeding, but he wasn’t sure how quickly they’d heal, how different she was because she couldn’t fully embrace her wolf.

Cole wanted to shake her. Then he wanted to haul her into his arms and never let her go. “Why the hell did you run?” He’d meant to stay calm and controlled. Really he did. But Cherise was making him crazy. Him, the man who was known for his iron-clad control had none where this woman was concerned.

She flicked her gaze to Jacque. “I can’t stay here. I can’t bring my problems to your door. My former pack isn’t that far from here. Maybe a three-hour drive. You think they won’t be searching for Keith and his buddies when they don’t turn up at home?”

“You’re protecting me?” Cole thumped his fist against his chest. “Us?”

Cherise nodded. “Yes. You know what they’re capable of.” She turned to Jacque. “You have a mate and so does Armand. You don’t want Ryan Hatfield hunting you.”

“That’s the alpha of the Kentucky Pack?” Jacque asked.

She nodded. “Yes. And he’s one mean son of a bitch.”

The smile on Jacque’s face was one Cole recognized, and there was nothing pleasant about it. “So am I,” his alpha replied.

“We can sort this out at home.” Cole wanted to get Cherise back where it was safe and feed her. He wasn’t certain if the others could tell or not, but she was on her last reserves, her body trembling in the early morning chill.

Without a word, Jacque shifted and trotted on ahead.

“Let’s go.” Cole ignored Cherise’s protests, swept her into his arms once again and began to walk.

“You really have to stop carrying me everywhere.”

He shook his head. “No, I really don’t.”

Cherise didn’t know whether to be amused or furious at Cole’s heavy handedness. But honestly, right now she was glad not to have to walk. She was so tired she was almost sick with it. Her legs were shaking, her muscles protesting everything she’d put them through the last few days. She rubbed her forehead, trying to ignore the pounding in her skull.

She was hungry, possibly slightly dehydrated, and the sleep she’d had today was the first she’d had in days. It was stupid to run without being at full strength, but she’d felt she’d had no choice. And look what had happened. She was back right where she’d started.

A large black wolf surged by them. The creature glanced at them as he passed by. Cherise recognized his eyes and his scent. He was also carrying her backpack in his mouth. It was Gator, the one she’d run from initially. He raced on ahead and disappeared down the trail, taking her belongings with him.

“How much farther?”

“Not far.”

She knew Cole was mad with her. A muscle flexed in his jaw and she could practically hear him grinding his teeth together. His eyes were like green fire in the early pre-dawn light. His nostrils flared and his gaze narrowed.

He was also aroused. His cock had grown before her very eyes, going from flaccid to aroused within seconds. Cherise swallowed hard, feeling the telltale signs of her own arousal. She looked away from him, hoping he couldn’t know the way her nipples tightened and her pussy ached. But there was no hiding the scent of her desire, not from a werewolf.

She knew the second he scented it. He slowed and almost came to a halt before he picked up speed and started walking even faster. If his jaw grew any tighter, she was afraid it might crack under the strain.

“Not this time,” he warned. “I rushed you into bed without taking proper care of you. This time you eat and rest first.”

Eat and rest first.
The words echoed in her brain. Did that mean he planned to make love to her after? Cherise didn’t think that was wise, all things considered.

Silence surrounded them and Cherise found herself enjoying the waking of the forest as night finally lost its grip. Faint gold and amber light bathed the horizon as Cole carried her across the yard to his home. The early morning dew was heavy on the shrubs and ground. An owl hooted twice and then went silent.

Cole deposited her on the front porch, grabbed a pair of jeans that were slung over the railing and yanked them on. They covered him, but they were in no way decent, not with the rather large bulge pushing against the zipper.

Cherise’s breath caught in her throat and she glanced away.

He caught her face in his hands and gently drew her back around. He lifted the hem of the large shirt she wore and rubbed it carefully over her cheek. “The small nicks on your face have healed.” His voice was gruff, but his touch was tender as he cleaned the dried blood from her face.

When he was done, he stared down at her, his gaze filled with intensity and a depth of emotion that left her breathless. “Don’t leave me again.” After he made his outrageous demand, he kissed her. And there was nothing gentle about this caress. He plunged his tongue past her lips and into her mouth, tasting every inch. He stroked her tongue, claiming it as his own.

She curled her hands into fists against his chest to keep from throwing her arms around him and returned his kiss, helpless to do anything else. What was it about this man, this werewolf, that drew her like no other? She didn’t like feeling this out of control, but there was little she could do against his powerful allure.

He finally broke away, leaving her gasping for breath. His chest heaved in and out as he sucked in air, and she knew he was as affected by the kiss as she was. “Let’s go inside.” He took her hand and held it in an iron grip. He wasn’t hurting her, but she knew there was no way she could get away from him unless he released her. And she didn’t think that was going to happen anytime soon.

A part of her was relieved by that fact. The thought of being out in the world alone, hunted by those who wanted to hurt her wasn’t a pleasant thought. Being here gave her a reprieve. Oh, she really didn’t believe it could last, but she was grateful for it nonetheless.

Cole opened the door and urged her inside. She stopped short just inside, and he bumped into her. He moved around her so he could shut the door behind him. Everyone was there. The entire pack. She hadn’t expected that and she should have.

Stupid. She really needed to start thinking straight again. She glared at Cole, blaming him for scrambling her brains.

Gator strode toward them. He was now fully dressed in faded jeans and a short sleeved T-shirt that showed off the tattoos that ran down both arms. She couldn’t quite make out what they all were, but they appeared Celtic in design and she could make out a snarling wolf’s head and another wolf with its mouth open on a howl. With his black hair hanging around his shoulders and the earring in his ear, he looked totally badass even though he wasn’t quite as tall as the others.

He stopped right in front of her, his laser-blue gaze piercing her. “I’m sorry if I frightened you,
chère
.”

Cherise couldn’t believe he was apologizing to her. She’d snuck out under his watch and then run from him, making him chase her through the woods. Any other male from her former pack would have been railing against her and swearing retaliation.

“I don’t understand you people at all,” she admitted.

One corner of Gator’s mouth kicked up into a sly grin. “That’s okay. Most folks don’t.” His expression turned serious again. “I wasn’t sure if you knew who I was or if you thought one of your former pack had found you. That wasn’t my intention. I was pissed you managed to get out the front door before I discovered you missing.”

He seemed more chagrined with himself than angry at her. She answered him honestly. “I knew it was you, but I ran anyway. And then everything got mixed up there for a bit.” She dragged shaky fingers through her short black hair. “I thought it would be best for everyone if I left.”

“But you’re not going to do that again, are you?” It was Cole who spoke up, his low voice vibrating deep within her.

“I won’t make promises I’m not sure I can keep.” She wasn’t going to lie to him.

Cole growled, the sound menacing. Gator slapped Cole on the back. “Leave it for now, my friend. Let’s eat. I don’t know about you two, but I’m starving.”

“You’re always hungry.” It was a woman who spoke. Gwen. She beckoned them to the table. “Let’s eat and talk.”

Cherise eyed the alpha who sat beside his mate. Louis, the alpha’s brother sat next to Gwen. Then came Armand and Anny, who gave her a sympathetic smile. Gator was already in the kitchen bustling around.

“After you.” Cole held out his hand and she brushed by him. She hadn’t taken a step when he settled his large hand on her lower back. She wasn’t sure if he was offering her comfort or reminding her of his presence, a warning not to run from him. Either way, she was very aware of him, which she was sure was the whole point.

Wonderful smells were wafting from the kitchen. Gator had two huge cast-iron pans on the back burner frying onions. He chopped mushrooms and added them to the pans, his hands practically a blur as he used the knife. Several electric grill pans were lined up along the countertop heating while thick steaks sat marinating in a large bowl. How had he gotten the food on so quickly? Sure, he’d hurried on ahead of her and Cole, but still. The man was fast in the kitchen.

He placed the steaks on the grill pans. They sizzled and the smell of cooking meat made her stomach rumble. Gator left the steaks grilling and opened the oven door. The delicious aroma of baking bread tickled her nostrils. Her stomach growled again. “Can I do anything to help?”

“Sure.” Gator indicated the pans on the back of the stove. “Keep an eye on the mushrooms and onions so they don’t burn.”

Cherise could sense every eye on her and glanced toward the table. Sure enough, everyone was watching her. As one, their gazes turned to Gator, and she could see the disbelief written on their faces. Anny even seemed slightly perturbed. Cherise grabbed the spatula sitting on the counter and stirred the sizzling vegetables. When she couldn’t stand the scrutiny any longer, she glared back at them. “What?”

“Gator doesn’t like anyone messing in his kitchen.” It was Anny who answered.

“He rarely lets any of us help when he’s cooking,” Louis added, looking amused.

Cherise looked to Cole for confirmation, but he was slouched down in his chair with his arms crossed over his massive chest and his expression gave nothing away.

Gator strode back to the grill pans and deftly flipped all the steaks. He shrugged. “I want Cherise to feel at home.”

She looked back at the thick black pans and stirred the contents yet again. After living among humans all these years, it was hard to get used to the blunt honesty of werewolves again. They rarely bothered to lie, not when a keen wolf’s nose could scent any physical changes that accompanied it. It took a lot of skill to lie to a wolf, and most never bothered to try. But those that could pull it off were extremely dangerous.