The Lost Wolf's Destiny

Chapter 12

Moving quickly, she stripped off her clothing and strode to the door. She barely registered Lucas’s harsh intake of breath at seeing her naked. In a second she’d moved past him, and stepped outside. The chilly night air hit her bare skin like a slap. She inhaled as she hurried down the porch steps, ignoring the cold on her unprotected human flesh as she headed out into the woods.

But until she vanished into the trees, she felt the heat of his gaze like a laser aimed at her back.

The forest was alive with night sounds. Standing absolutely still, she listened, well aware they’d all cease the instant she became wolf.

Finally, she had to let her wolf self free. Dropping to the ground, she began the process of the change, grinning savagely as her bones lengthened and her body changed. The pain was always fleeting, though she welcomed it. She’d always looked at it as a sort of rebirth.

When she rose, she was fully wolf. As usual, her view of everything had changed, led by scent rather than sight. And the smells! Her wolf heart skipped a joyous beat.

Crashing through the underbrush, heedless of what other creatures might hear that warned them of her presence, she ran. And ran, and ran.

Time—as humans knew it—had no meaning to her when she was wolf. It might have been several hours, it might have been less, but she gave her beast full rein and hunted, and explored, and ran some more.

Later, pleasantly exhausted, she returned to the spot where she’d started. This night, she’d filled the well inside her dual nature. Now her inner wolf was finally content.

The time had come for her to return to reality and hope the Protectors had called.

Pushing away the lingering resentment that her wolf nature felt, she began the process to reverse the change.

She shifted back to human, admitting that she felt a hundred times better. Despite the shocking rush of cold air to her unprotected skin, her entire body felt loose limbed, relaxed. Better.

As she strode in the direction of the cabin, she decided she’d send Lucas out with instructions not to return until he’d changed. Hopefully it would help him as much as it had her.

The night air carried a deeper, crisper chill as she walked back up the cabin porch steps. Leaves crunched underfoot, and the scent of wood smoke lent a holiday feel to the air, even though it was only mid-September.

She inhaled deeply, allowing herself to enjoy the peace as long as it lasted. Which wouldn’t be long. The instant she went back inside, she had to start thinking about the Protectors and Jacob Gideon’s Sanctuary.

As she opened the door and entered the cabin, Lucas froze, staring. It appeared he’d been pacing. Her cell phone sat untouched on the table.

His gaze slid rapidly over her naked body, making her flush. The smoldering flame in his eyes made her flush all over, sending a dizzying current racing through her blood.

This would never work. While she was not blind to the simmering attraction between them, they’d both need to move past it.

It appeared he still hadn’t developed the Shifter’s lack of inhibitions. No matter. Being around her would help him with that. Trying her best to appear unabashedly unashamed, she strode to where she’d left her clothes and began getting dressed.

When she finally turned around fully clothed, she realized Lucas hadn’t moved.

“No one called,” he told her, his voice thick and unsteady. “Evidently whoever relayed the message in your Pack Protector organization assigned it a low priority.”

Just like that, the feeling of peace vanished, to be replaced by a pit in her stomach. “I’ll call them back.”

“Good,” he said, not looking at her.

As she moved close to him, she realized he was aroused. Completely and utterly aroused.

The knowledge sent a ripple of excitement through her. Forcing herself to remember that this was just because he’d seen her naked, she tamped it down. Though it was only physical, neither of them could allow something like that to get in between them. She suspected he knew this, too.

Once again, she’d forgotten he hadn’t been raised with typical Shifters who take nakedness in stride. He reacted to her like a human male, visually aroused by the sight of unclothed femininity.

She might have smiled if she hadn’t been so damn turned on herself. Worse, to her shock, she had to fight the urge to brush her body up against him like a cat in heat.

Heart pounding, the flush of need, of desire, stunned and angered her. She had more self-control than this. So of course, she promptly shoved her attraction to him deep inside of her, to be taken out and examined when she was able to think clearly.

“I’ll phone again while you go change,” she managed, her own voice a bit husky. “Surprisingly, it really helped to let myself be a wolf for a while. A good run and hunt will do wonders for you.” And your arousal, she added silently.

He shook his head. “Maybe later.”

Since she didn’t want to push, she simply nodded, unsure of what else she could say or do, other than the obvious.

He seemed to sense this. “I’ll be outside, on the porch,” he said, striding to the door and disappearing before she even had a chance to react. No doubt the cool night air would help him.

And she had to get herself under control. She had to make that call. No matter how badly her stomach knotted at the thought of contacting the Protectors.

Leaving her cell phone on the table, first she went to check on Hailey. She watched her daughter sleep all tucked up in her blanket. Blythe’s feelings of tenderness were muted with a sudden, fierce rage. How dare someone like Jacob Gideon hurt her baby? And all those other children—where were their parents? Did any of them have any idea what the people at Sanctuary were doing to their children?

She’d find out soon enough.

Quickly, she returned to the kitchen and grabbed her phone. Punching redial, she waited impatiently for someone to answer. This time, instead of a live person, she got an answering machine.

Voice vibrating with frustration, she left a message.

“Did you get ahold of anyone?” Lucas asked from behind her, making her jump at the sound of his voice. She hadn’t heard him come back inside.

She swallowed hard, raising her face and meeting his gaze. “No. I left another message,” she said. “This time, I stressed that it was high priority. I’m thinking someone will realize that and call me back.”

“Good.” Dusting his hands on the front of his jeans, he moved closer. “I thought your Pack Protectors would at least be on the ball. What if someone was dying? How long would they take to do something?”

He had a point. “I don’t know,” she admitted. “I’ve never had to call them before. I never wanted to.”

“You keep alluding to something about them. Don’t you think it’s time you told me?”

“Some things are better left unsaid.”

The disappointment in his expression was almost more than she could bear. To cover, she continued. “I dialed the number for my local Pack representative and got the Protector’s number from the recorded info. Maybe regular Shifters just don’t ring them up. Maybe you have to be referred. I don’t know.”

“We need to find out,” he grumbled, crossing his arms. Clearly, his mood hadn’t improved. “We can’t take a chance and involve human law enforcement, since we don’t know who he’s bought off.”

His words made her realize something. At the thought, she gasped. “What if...” Feeling a bit paranoid, she bit her lip. “The woman I spoke with didn’t sound all that concerned. Is it possible she might be...?”

“Working for Jacob?”

She nodded. “Exactly.”

“That’s highly unlikely. Aren’t all the people who work for the Society of Protectors, or whatever they’re called, aren’t they all Pack?”

Just like that, that particular worry evaporated. “I’m jumping at shadows. Yes, of course they are. Jacob’s not.”

“And since there’s no way a Shifter would ally himself or herself with a group like his, you’re safe.”

“We’re safe,” she corrected. “We’re in this together, remember?”

He stared. “Are we?”

“Of course. You know that, right? We both want to stop your father, and we have to save any other children he might have taken.”

Slowly, he nodded. “True,” he said. She couldn’t help but notice how studiously he avoided meeting her gaze. Why? Because she didn’t trust him enough to tell him everything? How could he hold that against her, when she knew he kept secrets from her, too?

Maybe it was more simple—perhaps he worried his thoughts might show in his face. Did he really think she hadn’t noticed his desire?

She wanted him, too. And when the time was right, she’d let him know. But this, this was far more important. There were children’s lives at stake. They needed to be able to work together, as a team. For the first time, she wondered if they’d ever learn to trust each other.

“Trust has to be earned,” she told him, speaking her thoughts out loud. “I get that. But you need to realize we’re partners. That is, if you want to be. Honestly, I wouldn’t blame you if you ran away from this as fast as you could.”

He snorted. “Like I would. I’m the one who rescued you, remember? But you’re right, trust does have to be earned.”

True enough. And one of them had to make the first move. “Speaking of trust...” She twisted her hands, finally jamming them in her pockets, and strode over to the window. “About the Protectors. I haven’t told you everything. There’s a good reason why I’ve avoided contacting them. I’m afraid they’ll take Hailey.”

“Why?” Clearly puzzled, he cocked his head. “I don’t understand your logic.”

“Because she’s more than just a Shifter,” she finally said, her voice low and full of the fear that had dodged her since she’d learned that the Protectors had issued a call for all parents of her daughter’s kind. She didn’t know how he’d react. “She’s also a Griffon.”

Though clearly, from the sound of her voice, this information was important, Lucas had never heard the word before. “What do you mean?”

“A Griffon is more than a Halfling. They’re a cross between a Shifter and another species other than human. Like Vampire or Fae. Evidently, whoever made that donation at the sperm bank, er...didn’t tell them the whole truth. Naturally.”

While this might be mind-boggling to her, he still didn’t understand why it would be such a big deal. “Is this common?”

“More than you might think,” she admitted.

“Then why would your Pack Protectors take her?”

“To protect her.” She swallowed hard. “Or so they say.”

“From what?”

“Everything. Even among our kind—and other supernatural species—the Griffons are valuable. A few years ago a powerful Vampire Huntress did the same sort of thing as Jacob. She captured a bunch of Griffon children and tried to use their powers for her own advantage.”

He still didn’t get it. “Powers? What do you mean, exactly? Can they do things that other Halflings cannot?”

Expression solemn, she nodded. “We don’t yet know the full extent of what they can do. There has been a lot of talk that they are the future of our people.”

Dragging his fingers through his hair, he tried to understand, then shook it off. “You can teach me all this stuff later. We’ve got to focus on what’s going on right now. You say the Protectors might want to take Hailey so they can protect her, right?”

Slowly, she nodded. “A law was passed a few years ago that said any Griffon child in danger should be turned over to them. I figured it’d simply be a matter of time before that was amended to any Griffon child, whether they were in danger or not.”

“Well, can they?”

Expression miserable, she shrugged. “I don’t know. Theoretically, I would suppose so.”

Flinching, he tried to remain strong. “Once, I lost someone I loved because I couldn’t protect her. Maybe you should consider it.”

He saw in her face that she realized he’d begun to share his own secret with her. But she didn’t press him. Instead, she considered his suggestion. “No,” she finally said. “It’s tempting, but after what just happened with Jacob, I don’t trust anyone. I’d prefer to do my own protecting.”

Her words brought him a rush of approval, mixed with fear. “I feel the same way,” he said. Then, while she stared at him, he held out his hand. “Partners.”

Moving forward, she took it, her grip firm as they shook, before they each let go. He’d felt a shock of current, but this time he’d expected it and braced himself. Evidently, this was only on his part, because she didn’t react as if anything was out of the ordinary.

“Don’t tell them,” he said. “When you talk to the Protectors, just tell them she’s a Halfling. They don’t need to know the rest.”

As she opened her mouth to respond, the cell phone rang.

“I’ll handle this,” he said, snatching it up and stabbing his finger at the answer button. “Hello?”

The man on the other end sounded bored, although courteous. “I’ve received two messages that a Blythe Daphne wants to speak with me.”

So much for Skype. He supposed they should be grateful that at least someone had called.

“Are you a Protector?” Lucas asked, his voice verging on borderline hostile.

Evidently this startled the other man. “Yes. My name is Martin Hunter. Who are you?”

Without identifying himself, Lucas launched into an explanation of what had happened with Hailey. “And she says that he’s got other children there, all Shifter. We feel their lives are in danger.”

Martin was silent so long that Lucas began to wonder if he’d hung up. But then he cleared his throat and spoke. “Do you have proof of this? I mean, Jacob Gideon is a well-known preacher. Why would he want to harm little children?”

Barely keeping his frustration under control, Lucas answered. “Because he knows they’re Shifters. He views Shape-shifters as evil, an abomination straight from the mouth of hell.”

Martin made a sound that might have been either disbelief or disgust. “You sound adamant, but let me remind you that Jacob Gideon is human. There’s no way he knows about our kind.”

Taking a deep breath, Lucas knew he’d couldn’t hold back anything just to keep himself safe. “Well, he does.”

“Are you certain?”

“Yes.”

He’d hoped Martin Hunter would take him at his word, but realized he should have known better. “Explain, please.”

“He knows because I’m his son,” he said. “And I’m a Halfling. When he found out, he tortured me, trying to beat the evil out of me. I escaped when I was fifteen, and stayed hidden for fifteen years. Until now.”

Silence on the other end of the line. When Martin spoke again, his voice sounded grim. “Give me your coordinates and I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

Heart in her throat, Blythe watched as Lucas concluded the call. “Well?” she asked, the second he punched the off button on the phone.

“He said he’d be here as soon as he could.” He looked and sounded grim.

“That’s good,” she said cautiously. “Isn’t it?”

“I don’t know. I didn’t get a great feeling.”

Alarm bells went off inside her at his words. She’d felt exactly the same way. Breathing deeply, she calmed herself by remembering what he’d said earlier. “Protectors are Shifters. I need to let go of my distrust and remind myself they’re not on Jacob’s side.”

“I know.” He didn’t look any less worried. “I can’t really say what felt wrong.” Grimacing, he clearly made a determined effort to shake off his trepidation. “Either way, we need to see what he has to say.”

“He’s coming alone?” She found this off-putting, as well. “I’d think they’d send a team or something.”

He shrugged. “I don’t know how they operate. Maybe that comes later.”

“Do you have any idea when?”

Again he shrugged. “Sometime tomorrow. He said he’d call me when he landed at Denver International. He’s going to rent a car and drive down here. Is that how they usually do it?”

“I don’t know. Like you, I’ve never dealt with them before.”

A sound from the other room made her turn. She rushed over to the sofa to see Hailey trying to sit up, and failing.

“Mama?” Hailey held out her arms to be picked up, exactly the way she used to when she’d been a toddler. “I want to go in the kitchen. I’m hungry. Carry me?” She still appeared woozy from whatever drug cocktail had been administered.

Reaching down, Blythe scooped her up. Hailey clung to her, again reminiscent of when she’d been much smaller.

“I’m scared, Mama.”

“It’s okay, honey,” Blythe murmured. “I’ve got you now. You’re safe, I promise. I won’t let that man near you again.”

Face pressed against Blythe’s throat, Hailey nodded. “He didn’t like us. I don’t know why, because he didn’t even know me.”

Kissing her daughter’s forehead, Blythe tamped back the impotent rage and focused on giving comfort. She grabbed a blanket off the edge of the sofa and draped it over her daughter’s small body. She carried Hailey past the roaring fire Lucas had built and into the kitchen.

Still holding Hailey like a baby, she sat, settling with her five-year-old in her lap. She glanced up at Lucas, who watched silently. Blythe managed a smile for her daughter’s benefit. “Do you have any more of that soup?”

He nodded, coming into the kitchen and standing near the stove.

“Do you want some soup and crackers?”

Hailey’s drawn expression brightened. “Chicken noodle?” she asked. “That’s my favorite.”

“Then chicken noodle it is,” Lucas said cheerfully.

While he opened the can and poured it into a pot to heat it, Blythe soothed Hailey’s hair from her forehead. “How are you feeling?” she asked.

Considering the question carefully, Hailey scrunched up her little face. “Okay, I guess. I’m really hungry.”

That was a good sign. Smiling, Blythe exchanged a glance with Lucas. “Not too hot,” she told him.

“I think it’s perfect now,” he said, ladling the soup into a bowl and then placing it on the table in front of Hailey and Blythe. He also got the saltine crackers.

After everything was ready, he smiled at Hailey. “Would you like something to drink?”

She nodded. “Apple juice?”

“You got it.” He ruffled her hair before going to retrieve the juice from the fridge.

Still perched on Blythe’s lap, Hailey picked up her spoon and began eating. She ate with a kind of determined doggedness that made Blythe happy. It looked as if her daughter was going to be all right.

After a few minutes, Hailey slowed. Finally, she placed the spoon on her napkin and yawned. “That was good.” Squirming, she snuggled against Blythe.

“What do you say to Mr. Kenyon?” Blythe asked.

Sleepily, Hailey smiled. “Thank you,” she chimed sweetly.

“Do you want to go back over to the couch?”

Hailey nodded. “Yes, please.”

Hefting her daughter’s small frame, Blythe stood and went back into the other room. The fire continued to burn and while Blythe got Hailey situated, Lucas added a couple more logs to the fire.

After covering Hailey with the blanket, Blythe kissed her forehead. Then, settling back, she began singing in a low voice, just above a whisper, one of her daughter’s favorite songs. Gradually, Hailey’s eyes began to drift closed. In a few minutes, she had fallen back asleep. The deep sleep of a child with a full belly and no fear.

Heart full of love, Blythe gazed down at her child. Safe. For the first time since she’d met Jacob Gideon, she felt safe. When she looked up, she saw Lucas standing in front of the fireplace, bathed in an orange glow, watching her.

The instant their gazes connected, a slow burn started low in her belly. Inside, her beast woke, alert and hungry. Ready to mate.

As she had all the other times, she resisted. But this time, he didn’t turn away.

Common sense urged Blythe to be the one to turn her back. But reckless curiosity, the kind that came from too many sleepless nights spent allowing self-doubt to cripple her, had her doing the opposite instead.

Stretching, she stood and, after one last glance at her sleeping child, crossed to Lucas. With her heart beating in her chest like a trapped hummingbird, she moved closer to him, with their gazes still locked.

In unison, they moved backward, around the corner and out of view of the sofa. No words were spoken as he took her hand and pulled her close, up against him.

She kissed him first, standing up on her toes and arching her body into his. He deepened the kiss, letting her feel the heat of his own desire. She was glad to learn it burned as hot as her own.

Knees weak, she clung to him. His heartbeat throbbed against hers. She felt the strength of his arousal, heavy and hard and hot, so hot pressed against her, even through the thickness of his jeans. Her corresponding rush of moist warmth told her she was ready for him, even now when all they’d done was kiss.

The way he held back left it up to her to take things a step further. If she wanted to, that is.

Truth be told, she did. Just not now.

She sighed, inhaling the masculine scent of him, pine and coffee and man. How easy it would be to sink into this, to let the fierce need that raged in her blood take over, a welcome distraction from the craziness that had become her everyday life.

Was that even fair? Not only to him, but to either one of them?

“Not like this,” she said, reluctantly.

Releasing her and taking a step back, he nodded, letting her know he must have read something in her eyes.

“I want you, I need you, but...” She couldn’t finish.

“It’s all right,” he lied, sounding like a man in pain. She could see why—the strength of his arousal was clearly outlined in the front of his jeans. Just the sight of this had her weakening, swaying toward him, before she once again mentally pulled herself up by her bootstraps.

About to attempt again to explain, she opened her mouth only to be stopped by the gentle press of his finger against her lips. “No need. I understand. The timing is off.”

More grateful than she could say, she nodded.

“Come on. I’ll show you the guest bedroom.” He moved stiffly toward the door, half turning to face her before he’d taken more than a few steps. “Unless you want to bunk down with Hailey on the couch.”

“I was hoping I could get you to carry her into my room with me,” she said. “She and I can share the bed.”

Still moving awkwardly, he led the way to another bedroom. “I’ll, uh, need a few minutes.”

“That’s ok.” Face hot, she moved past him and retraced her steps to go check on Hailey, who still slept deeply. She took the chair opposite, alternating between staring into the fire and watching her beloved child sleep.

Distantly, she heard the sound of water running, as though Lucas had decided to take a shower. From the size of his arousal, she guessed he’d taken a cold one.

The heat of the fire and the rhythmic sound of Hailey breathing lulled her into a sort of dozing state. The sound of the bathroom door opening snapped her awake.

Lucas strolled into the room, fully clothed, though his hair was damp. “Would you like me to move her now?” he asked in a low voice, glancing from her to where Hailey still slept deeply.

“You know what?” Blythe asked, making a snap decision. “I hate to disturb her. She looks so comfortable here on the couch. I’ll let her sleep there for now. She’s got the fire for warmth and if I really miss her, I can always come out here and sleep in this chair.”

He searched her face. “Are you sure? That chair doesn’t look like it’d be too great for sleeping.”

“I’m positive.” Giving him a tentative smile, she stood. “Actually, I almost fell asleep there just now.”

After a moment, he nodded. “The guest bed isn’t made up. Let me get you clean sheets and an extra blanket.”

He retrieved these from a small hall closet and he turned as if about to take them into the room. She intercepted him, practically snatching the linens out of his hands.

“I’ll take care of it myself,” she said quickly, maybe a bit too quickly. “No worries.”

Evidently he got the hint. “If you want to.” Shoulders stiff, he turned away. At least he seemed to be walking a bit better. “Good night, then.”

“Good night.” Only after he’d closed his bedroom door did she let out the breath she had been holding.

She went through the motions of making the bed, the mindless task giving her a way to occupy her hands and keep her from thinking about what she’d almost done.

After she’d finished, she made one final check on Hailey, half hoping she’d be awake. Instead, Hailey still slept deeply, a slight smile on her face. Loath to wake her, Blythe returned to her room, slid between the sheets and turned out the light.

Then she willed her mind to shut off and hoped she’d fall asleep.

That night, though she wasn’t sure until later whether it was a dream or reality, the wind picked up outside the cabin. Branches rattled, things went bump and once or twice, she drowsily thought she heard a boom of thunder.

Shifting restlessly in the bed, she got up at three to check on Hailey, and found her still sleeping peacefully beside the fire’s burning embers. Blythe added an extra blanket and then, chiding herself for her unnecessary worry, went back to bed, sliding under the covers and sinking gratefully into a deep sleep.

When she next opened her eyes, morning had arrived.

Stretching, she flushed all over as she realized she’d been dreaming of Lucas, erotic dreams in which they’d come together in an explosion of passion. The images came flooding back, and she let herself enjoy them before tucking them away for another time. Making that a reality would have to wait for later. Right now, she’d take care of her morning necessities, and then she planned on heading toward the kitchen and whipping up something for breakfast. Either pancakes or eggs, she thought, humming happily. Maybe she’d do both. Hailey would love that.

A short while later, showered and dressed in clean clothes, she made up her bed and opened her door. The house was quiet, telling her no one else was yet awake.

Good. She noted that the fire had burned down to glowing embers and passed by the front of the couch. Taking care to move quietly, she sneaked a quick look at her still-sleeping daughter and froze.

The couch was empty. The blanket, the pillow and, most important, Hailey, were gone.