Right Wolf, Right Time

Chapter Five

Ted Norris sighed as he hunkered down, studying the mess of tracks that the rain had partially wiped away. A noise nearby caught his attention, and without moving more than his hand clutching a knife, he noted the baby rabbit darting across the forest floor. Poor thing, looking lost, too young to be without its mother.

Ted flung the knife and skewered the rabbit into the ground, right again with the world. Predator hunting prey. The strong triumphing over the weak, as it should be.

“Dad—”

The glare he sent his oldest had Brett correcting himself. “Ted, this isn’t getting us anywhere. You need to heal. We can only avoid the wolves so long before they find us. The mountains just aren’t that big to these fuckers.”

Brett had a point. Still. “What have I always told you? You don’t let the world know your weaknesses, boy. There’s no father and son out there. No friends. Hunters hunt, and sometimes we die,” he ended on a growl, remembering the half dozen in his last Hunting expedition that he’d lost. Damn fine men, a victim to the unnatural shapeshifters tainting the righteous man’s world.

His son didn’t flinch. A definite improvement. “Boy? I’m thirty-five years old. And I’ve killed my share of freaks, same as you.”

Ted snorted. “Your point?”

“I’m a Hunter. I know when to cut my losses, regroup and start fresh. I know how to be smart. You taught me that.” Brett frowned and gripped the sling of his rifle. “We need to get back so you can heal. You favor your left side, and your face looks infected. Charlie’s home manning the store, and all’s quiet there. But last I talked to him, he said a buddy of his ran into a few dickhead cats sniffing around. Could make problems for us if others find out.”

Ted nodded. Working alongside their normal prey to get a shot at finding a Shifter hot spot had been genius, but his community wasn’t known for wheeling and dealing. A big reason why so many of his friends were dying. They stuck to tradition, going for the big kill. But times had changed. Technology could be useful, and so could allies in strange places. Imagine Hunters making friends with shapeshifters. It wasn’t done.

Then again, Ted hadn’t ever intended to make good on his pledge of alliance. He’d planned to use the cats, then skin them alive, one by one.

“I had him, you know.” Ted stood and retrieved his knife. He wiped blood on a bed of moss and stuck the knife back in its sheath around his thigh. “Demon was there.”

Demon—the cold-blooded Shifter he’d never broken, not in the six blessed years he’d held on to the creature. That monster wolf had fought and killed more Shifters and Hunters than any other Ac-taw Ted had ever owned. Demon had been a favorite in the pits and Ted’s personal pride and joy. And then the fucker managed to escape, taking out two of Ted’s best friends in the process.

“It wasn’t him.” Brett shook his head. “Bill was there, and he told me what he saw. Nothing special, just more of the same animals. Demon’s dead. I killed him myself.”

“Bullshit. You barely nicked him that night he took off. And Bill doesn’t know what he saw. He was too busy trying to save his own ass.”

“And yours.”

“So what? I was this close to having Demon once again. My pet wolf. And then we were overrun.” He’d been so close to success. Working with shapeshifters from Florida had been the key. A spat with some of their own kind in Montana had resulted in an unlikely partnership with Ted. In the process, he’d actually managed to get his hands on not one, but two cats in the mountains of Glacier National Forest.

The male had been a problem. He was vicious, even half-dead. But the female held promise. Young, beautiful and cold. She’d tried to play him, as if Ted hadn’t known her agenda from the start. He had to appreciate her intelligence, though. She would have made him some real money in the animal trade, but then the shit hit the fan and his group had been overrun with Ac-taw. He’d lost control of the situation, only to watch Demon appear as if out of nowhere. Like a vision, the wolf had raced into the fracas and stood protectively over the half-dead cat.

“I’ll never forget his eyes,” Ted murmured. Part ice-blue, part gray, and so beautifully furious as he’d stared at Ted with festering hate.

Something in Ted responded to that level of intensity—a challenge that put his back up. No matter how many Shifters he’d killed during his fifty-nine years, he’d never met an animal he wanted to master like he did Demon. And master he had. For six fulfilling years he’d beaten and whipped his wolf. Forced fights in the pits, mental manipulations, more beatings. He’d allowed the wolf to become close to a few of his own kind, only to kill those same friends later, to prove to Demon that he owned him. They’d been the champions of every Hunter’s Folly for all six years.

No matter what Ted threw at him, the wolf never faltered. He never submitted or showed a hint of his belly.

Ted understood that kind of fortitude. It intrigued him on every level, because he lived it day in and day out. He wanted Demon back, and he’d get him. But not today, apparently.

“Your infection actually isn’t that bad,” Brett murmured. “Maybe your super immune system just needed time to kick in.”

Ted fingered his cheek, where the flap of skin torn by a pissed-off cougar had just started to heal, a little more than a week after his ordeal. “Fucking cat thought he had me ’til I turned the tables. I would have killed him if Bill hadn’t dragged me back.”

“To hear him tell it, he saved you from another attack.”

“Maybe.”

“Look. If you really saw Demon, you know where to find him. But trawling through the woods while evading patrolling wolves isn’t working. We’re outnumbered here.” Brett paused and said what Ted knew he’d bring up. The little shit mentioned her at least once a day. “Besides, maybe we’ll find new leads on Sophie. Matt said he learned a few things on his last hunt. Said he’d tell us when we all got home.”

“Sophie.” His sweet little niece. So pretty and innocent. She’d been his pride and joy until she’d turned on him. But then, he’d known it was coming. He’d done all he could, but the girl’s wolf wouldn’t stay down. She didn’t have the power in her to keep it buried. Keep it tight.

His belly coiled in familiar anticipation, and he tamped down the wild energy. Controlled it.

“Ted?”

Ted sighed. “We go home. For now. Spray some more of that mist on me. I can smell myself coming back.” He and Brett covered themselves once more in Hunter’s mist, a spray that camouflaged their scents and made it possible to walk undetected through Ac-taw lands.

He might be leaving, but he wasn’t finished. As he moved, he thought about Demon and Sophie, and what their lives might be like without him. Sophie had been gone for more than two years, and Demon close to six. He wondered if they knew of each other. Wouldn’t that be a kick? He almost smiled, but the hollow in his chest wouldn’t let him. It made him sad, that he couldn’t share in their experiences. But perhaps this had all been a test, to see if he had the discipline and tenacity to persevere. He’d done what he’d needed with his sister. Could he do the same for his niece?

A thought came to mind, one that involved Demon, and he knew how to handle Sophie. He’d find her again, because he could sense her near. She was out here, a prize to be won after he triumphed over the wolf. It was a test, and he planned to succeed. He couldn’t—wouldn’t—fail. With a new spring in his step, he hurried through the woods, suddenly eager to get home and hear what Matt had to say.

Sophie smiled at the last customer and closed the grocery for the night. The others had already finished up and gone home. With Lucy available to work overtime for the next few days, Sophie would have all her free time to deal with the randy wolf waiting for her right outside the front doors.

He waved and motioned to the back of the store.

She nodded and walked through to the back to meet him.

Monty GrayClaw. My lover. And just maybe, my mate.

She couldn’t stop blushing. The whole day had felt unreal. Customers commented on how pretty she looked. Their knowing glances made it more than evident they knew she wore Monty’s scent.

The few wolves who’d visited had glared like thunderclouds, but not one of them had said an unkind word. Rafe’s interference, no doubt. She didn’t think Monty’s warnings would do anything to deter the rough-and-tumble gray wolves from pestering her.

She met Monty at the back, past the storage area and offices, and waited for him to join her before closing and locking the door behind him. Strong arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her back into a warm embrace.

“I missed you today.” He nuzzled her neck and sighed. Then he nipped her and she yelped in surprise. “Sorry. I don’t like the fact there’s nothing here. Your neck is as smooth as glass.”

“I heal fast.” Stupid. Of course he knew that. They all healed fast.

“I know, but fact is, I didn’t mark you hard enough because I didn’t want to hurt you. But I want everyone to know where you belong. With me.”

She chuckled. “You sound way too satisfied about that.”

“Hell, yeah.” He moved behind her, and she felt his arousal against the small of her back.

“Wow. You really did miss me.” Was it stupid of her to be flattered and excited about his hard-on?

Instead of answering her, Monty shoved her up against the door.

“Monty?”

His hands went to the front of her jeans. “Don’t move.” His raspy breath and the roughness with which he handled her immediately made her wet. “Oh yeah.” He groaned as he unfastened her jeans and shoved them and her underwear down.

Manhandling her into position, Monty had her bent over, her hips back and her feet as wide apart as the bunched jeans around her knees would let her.

“M-Monty?”

“Yeah. That’s nice.”

Before she could ask what that meant, something thick pushed between her legs. He thrust hard into her, shoving through her slick heat in one smooth rush.

“Oh God. Monty. I missed you today too.” She jerked and nearly lost her balance when he started fucking her with brutal strokes, shoving so deep inside her she swore she felt him touch her womb.

“That’s it. Bet you thought about fucking at work, didn’t you, my dirty little wolf?”

She flushed again, embarrassed yet turned on that Monty liked her perverted ways. She never should have told him she watched naughty movies. But then, if she hadn’t, maybe he wouldn’t do things like this to her. Fucking her against the back door of the grocery. It was so unprofessional.

The thought made her want to giggle, but Monty’s cock wouldn’t let her do anything but sigh as he took her.

“I want you to come, baby. All over me.” Monty grabbed her hips and inched her back, lifting her off her feet. The new angle of penetration did something funny to her insides, as each time he thrust, he lit prickles of pleasure throughout her entire body. “Rub your clit. Get yourself off. I want us to come together.”

She hitched a breath but didn’t falter. Feeling the swollen nub, she rubbed her fingers over it and moaned, the lust building like a frenzy. Monty continued to hammer harder, and the dual sensation of being filled and masturbating for him torched her orgasm into a full flame.

She cried out as she came, and he gripped her hips tighter and shoved forward once more before stilling with a groan.

“Oh fuck. Yeah, baby. That’s it.”

They remained locked together, their bodies connected, their animal spirits meshing more with each joining.

After a moment, he eased out of her. “Hold on.”

She felt his hand between her legs.

“I came prepared this time.” He chuckled and wiped her with a handkerchief. “Man, I love filling you up.”

She hadn’t detected a change in her scent—well, apart from smelling like Monty. So she didn’t think she’d conceived yet. She didn’t think it was wrong of her to want his child, to dream about home and hearth with a wild wolf. But she couldn’t quite silence the part of her that didn’t think she deserved it.

“Sophie? You okay?” He put her clothing to rights and turned her around to face him. “I wasn’t too rough, was I?”

“You were perfect.” She hugged him, listening to his racing heart. “You’re perfect for me.”

He chuckled and relaxed, hugging her back. “I actually came to walk you home, but this was a chance I couldn’t pass up. I’m going to fuck you all over town. Before you know it, you’ll have enough experience to rival your movies.”

She squeezed him and he laughed harder. “I wish I hadn’t told you about that.”

He looked down at her, and the affection she saw on his face stole her breath. “I’m just teasing you. I have a pretty healthy sex drive. Don’t think we’re not going to be going at it a lot. I was a little worried I might be too much for you, and I’m more than happy that’s not the case.” He kissed her. “You don’t need to be embarrassed about anything, Soph. Not even about me.”

She blinked. “Why would I be embarrassed about you?”

“I’m a wolf who belongs to a feline pride. I’m not handsome, glamorous or rich. I work for a touring company, and I happen to like it.” He paused. “And sometimes I hunt humans.”

She’d known all that, but hearing him say that last part unnerved her. Memories of her past swarmed, though she tried to ignore them.

“Yeah. That’s hard to accept, I know.” He cupped her cheeks. “But honey, I’ll protect you first and always. I’ll never let anyone get to you. And I help keep the town safe. I’m not a murderer or anything.” He scoffed, but she heard his worry that she might think him a monster.

“I never thought you were,” she said firmly and nudged his hands away so she could cup his cheeks. “I just hope I’m enough for you.”

“Of course you—”

“Think about it. I’m not like other wolves. I’m not that aggressive. I’m not comfortable with my animal spirit.” It hurt to say, but she wanted to be honest. Well, as honest as she ever planned to be. “And I didn’t even know who I was until a few years ago. I have a high school diploma, and I manage the town’s grocery. I might someday want to go to school for something, but I don’t know. I like the store. I’m a simple girl. I’ve only shifted into my wolf a few times, and it’s still scary to me.”

“I don’t care.”

She continued. “I’m not a seamstress or an Internet genius or a rich clothing designer.” Not like the women of the catamount pride. “I’m just me.”

“That’s all I ever wanted,” he said softly. “Just you.”

They smiled at each other. Monty helped her lock up and they left hand in hand.

The next week was the best in Sophie’s life. She and Monty played together. They did normal things at her home, spending their time apart from the rest of the world while they learned more about one another. Monty liked adventure movies while she liked romantic comedies. They both enjoyed a good steak, but then again, they were wolves, so no surprise there. He liked watching her dress as much as undress, and he especially liked brushing her hair, which turned her on all the way to her toes.

For a gruff, scarred and battered wolf, he was so gentle with her…when not fucking her into exhaustion. Only when he kissed her with tenderness or slowed down enough to stare into her eyes while they climaxed did he call it making love.

To Sophie, anytime with Monty was lovemaking. The more time they spent together, the more time she wanted to be with him. He made her laugh without trying. All the stories he told of his life in the pride warmed her from the inside out, showing her a man who valued family and close ties. He missed his father, who’d died in the old pack wars before she’d come to Cougar Falls. The cats he now called blood seemed like a bunch of characters. And she liked that he had a tight relationship with them. Monty had been good friends with Burke for years, both before and after he’d come back to town. To hear Monty tell it, he only tolerated Grady and Dean. Yet he talked about them like they were the brothers he’d never had.

She’d danced close to his past once and only once, but he’d shut down so fast and turned so cold she’d immediately backed off. Heck, she didn’t want to talk about her history either. But she couldn’t help her curiosity. What little she knew about his time away from his current life could fill a thimble. He’d spent his life in the wolf order until he turned nineteen, and then he vanished. He’d apparently worked with other orders around the country, tracking and killing Hunters for the past few years until he’d returned to Cougar Falls a few months before she’d arrived. A large block of unaccounted time had never been answered for, that she knew of.

Even Julia and Gabby had remarked about how their mysterious pridemate refused to discuss his years away from the town. They said it gave him more appeal, but Sophie saw nothing but pain in his hidden past. A pain she owned as well and refused to face.

The only fly in the ointment, as far as she could tell, was a growing fear that danger pressed closer. If her uncle ever found her, if the others knew where she’d come from and what she’d done… They’d kick her out of town before she could say boo. And then she’d be on the run from the sociopaths she called family.

She shivered, and Monty clutched her hand tighter while he stared down at his cards. Time ticked away in her kitchen as they spent the rest of their Saturday together, before the big dinner.

“You know, we don’t have to rush this. We can have dinner at the pride some other time.”

She wished that was all she feared. Sophie took a deep breath and let it, and all her tension, release. She smiled at her mate, pleased that her wolf had fully accepted him. Their scents merged, even though Sophie still had reservations. More about being worthy of a strong wolf like Monty than any perceived weakness of his. “I’m good. I’m a little nervous, but I want them to know you’re mine.” She said that with a straight face. Her words weren’t loud, but by the smile on his face, she knew they didn’t have to be.

“Awesome. Oh, and Uno.”

She drew another card and watched him win. Again. “I still think you’re cheating.”

“Prove it.” He winked.

She laughed and tossed down her cards. They took his truck to the pride, a few miles from town. The sky grew darker earlier as autumn approached, but she let the cool air into the truck, keeping the window down. She loved the wind through her hair, the freedom to be herself and not worry about punishments or castigation.

“You’re beautiful.”

She turned to stare at her wolf. “So are you.”

He frowned. “Me? I’m all beat up. You. You’re glowing.”

“I’m not pregnant.”

“Not that kind of glowing.” He chuckled. “Would it bother you if I said I was disappointed?”

She bit her lip. “No.”

“Man, I love when you do that. Turn all shy and shit.”

She couldn’t help laughing, especially when he seemed to realize what he’d said.

“Hell. Look, it’s too late. I mated you. You can’t turn away because I’m not that smooth with the ladies.”

The thought made her wolf growl low in her breast. “I don’t want you smooth with the ladies.”

He blinked at her before looking back at the road. “Damn. I think you just growled at me. Hey, no problem, honey. Point taken. I’m a one-woman wolf.” He grabbed her jean-clad thigh and squeezed. “But the same goes for you. No alpha wolf or any other wolf in your future. No man, period.”

She sighed. “Honestly, Monty. You don’t have to worry about that. They only ever wanted me because I’m wolf, anyway.”

“You keep telling yourself that. Yeah. You’re stone ugly and have a body like a Mack truck. And you smell terrible, not like fresh lilies at all.” He shook his head. “So sad that I’m stuck with such an ugly mate, but what can I do? I feel so sorry for you.”

“Oh stop it.” He could make her feel so good without even trying. She blushed, pleased he liked the look and smell of her. She never would have imagined how important scent would be, but she lived with the knowledge that scent meant everything to her wolf.

The truck turned off onto a dirt road, and they drove half a mile before coming upon a large main house surrounded by flowers and landscaped shrubbery. Joel and Maggie kept the place in top shape. Burke ran Chastell Tours from the main house and maintained order at the pride. His brothers worked for the touring company with Monty, while Rachel worked for herself doing Internet stuff Sophie didn’t understand. The foxes and cats also living at the Catamount Ranch all did their own thing. Everyone pulled their fair share and seemed to like living together. Several individual cabins beyond the main house showed the growing pride.

“My place is back behind the house. I’ll show you my big old bed later.” He parked the truck and wiggled his eyebrows at her. “Come on. Everyone’s dying to tease me about you. Just remember, they’re family. So if I kick the shit—ah, crap out of Dean or Grady, just go with it.”

“Okay.” She left the truck with him and accepted the hand he held out to her. “But no mention of Scooby, right?”

“I hate that friggin’ mutt. No Mystery Machine, Scooby Doo, or other cartoon canine references. Remember, Sophie. We’re wolves, the cream of the crop. The cats just think they own the world. We actually run things.”

“And the foxes, what about us?” came a voice from behind them.

Sophie turned to see Sheriff Ty Roderick, Julia’s husband, standing with his arms crossed over his chest and his lips quirked in amusement.

“You’re the tiny predators we pity, because your brains are barely larger than your tails.”

“Not bad, wolf. You’re managing your insults better. Not great, but better.” Ty tipped his Stetson at Sophie. “Howdy, sweet thing.” He somehow managed to get between Monty and Sophie and escorted her inside the house. She heard Monty muttering obscenities behind him.

Ty stepped with her into the open living room and said in a booming voice, “Sophie’s here.”

Everyone rushed into the living room at once, and Sophie gripped Ty’s arm.

“It’s okay,” he murmured, but then Monty was there, sheltering her in his strong arms.

She felt like an idiot for being afraid. Julia was her best friend, Gabby too. These cats and foxes and bears were Monty’s family. But she’d never liked being crowded, and she still couldn’t be around too many men at one time without tensing.

The things her cousins and their friends had liked to do when her uncle was away… She’d never been a fan of sex before Monty, and she had plenty of reason to dislike what she’d witnessed.

Burke shoved the others out of the way and smiled wide. “Well, now. Sophie. How are you?” He pulled her with him toward the center couch and took the glass of wine Rachel handed him without breaking stride. “This is for you. Julia said you like a good Zinfandel.”

She blinked. “Um, thanks.” She glanced around and saw Monty trying to push his way past the congratulations of Joel, Grady and Dean.

Monty forcibly shoved Dean aside and glared. But when his gaze met hers, he rolled his eyes. “Welcome to the nuthouse. Hey Gabby, grab me a beer, would you? A large one.”