Bound to the Pack (Bound to the Pack, #1) (6 page)

Even the wolf.

I
reveled in the strength of his body as he held me to him. I had just been afraid of something... What was it? It now seemed distant, unimportant even. Liam, he was real and he was holding me. ‘Just Jen’ being held by a man so far out of my league he could have been another species.

Catching the smell of whatever was roasting over the fire, my stomach betrayed the moment with an embarrassing rumble. Even when I didn’t ruin a moment by opening my mouth, my body was apparently ready to be there to sabotage me as well. Great.

He released me hesitantly and looked into my eyes, concern filling his own. “You are hungry, here, they should be done.”

Turning away he took one of the spits off the fire and handed it to me. Gratefully I took a bite and yelped. “Hot!” Juggling the food in my mouth, trying to cool it by sucking in the mountain air, had Liam grinning.

“Of course. I removed it from the fire mere seconds before you bit into it.”

I shot him a glare which only caused his grin to widen.

Shaking his head he turned and surveyed the camp. “You need a dry place to sit. One moment.”

Walking to the edge of the fire light, he bent low before backing towards me while dragging a log. Setting it near the fire he pried off several sections of bark and turned the now bare area towards the heat so it would quickly dry. I continued eating slowly as I watched him work. Every motion fluid, decisive, confident. It threw my already jumbled emotions into another spin.

What was I doing here? Was any of it my business what Kris did or who with? Was I just here for some false hope with Liam?

No. Thinking back over the last few days, unless I’ve been being toyed with, he’s definitely made it known he’s interested in me, even if I have no idea why.

“Sit. It is dry now and you need to warm yourself.”

I did so, holding the spit in one hand and lowering myself onto the log, welcoming the warmth of the fire, my eyes on him as he squatted easily across from me. I removed my backpack, awkwardly passing the meat from hand to hand, and set it aside.

He grabbed the other spit from the fire and held it aside briefly, allowing it to cool off slightly, before biting into it. He stared into the flames as he chewed slowly, lost in his own thoughts.

“What is this anyway?” I lifted the spit for another bite. “It’s delicious.”

“Hmmm?” He looked up from his thoughts and watched me curiously from across the fire. “It’s rabbit, have you never had rabbit before now?”

“I haven’t, no.”

His grin came back as he shook his head, chuckled, and tossed some of the bones into the fire after stripping them of meat.

“Hey, watch it. I may not have had rabbit before but who hasn’t been in a car?”

His expression sobered and he nodded. “Valid point.” He smiled broadly. “There are many experiences we could share together.”

I flushed with a heat that had nothing to do with the fire. How could he do this to me so easily?

The rain had nearly stopped, stars peeking through the clouds, and a low howl echoed in the distance. Liam turned, looking off towards the sound. “We need to rest.” And, to himself so that I could barely hear, “I’ve a grueling day tomorrow.”

“Do you think we’ll catch up to them?” My voice was low, hiding from the answer I was afraid of.

“I have to.” He looked down into the embers of the fire, now burning low. “I will bury the coals so the fire doesn’t spread. Wet though the woods are, I will not take chances. If you have finished your rabbit, throw it into the fire.”

Realizing I had just been holding the spit in my hands, I quickly ate the remainder, tossing the bones near his in the fitful flames. I was soon finished and he pushed a small pile of dirt into the shallow hole.

Noticing my interest, he shook his head. “I hid the flames from those who may be ahead of me. I had not realized I also had to be concerned with anyone who may have been behind.” He cast a small grin at me before continuing. “The heat from the fire will be gone quickly. If you brought any more clothes, put them on.”

“I have a blanket in my bag, I’ll be ok. What are
you
going to use? You didn’t bring anything that I know of.”

He paused, shook his head again, and finished covering the last of the coals and our meal. The drop in temperature was immediate and I quickly opened the bag to pull out the large ball of cloth that was the blanket. Thinking it would be far too thin in the sudden chill, I stood and started to drape it over myself anyway.

Liam had been clearing an area under a large pine tree while I had been wrapping up, and soon there was a dry place to lay on. It was amazing how much light a few stars could give this far away from civilization. The small clearing sharpened around me as my eyes adjusted from the light of a fire to the beautiful starlight.

Walking over I eyed the cleared space dubiously. The pine needles were soft and springy under my feet, though they
did
have points, and it all seemed so... dirty. I itched to clean the area, but what could I possibly do? Wash the dirt? There was nothing for me to do except lay down and deal with it.

Getting comfortable was surprisingly easy, the bed of pine needles was far softer than I had thought it could be. Unfortunately, it only took a few moments for me to become a shivering ball under the blanket, the ground greedily taking my warmth.

Heavy footsteps announced Liam, though I was too cold to move and see what he was doing. The steps stopped close and he placed my backpack near me and then, before I could process it, he was laying against me. The blanket had been pulled over to cover us both, his chest pressed against my back and his arm draped across me.

The cold receded. My mind whirled.

I could feel his heartbeat against my back and the wind of his breath was setting my neck on fire. My own breath was getting harder and harder to come by as my heart began racing, a new heat blossoming between my thighs.

As if he could sense my mood, his arm moved back and suddenly his hand was caressing my side, lifting my jacket and shirt slightly with each pass until his hand found skin. His light touches sending jolts through my body, soft panting escaping me unbidden.

He pressed harder against my back and I let out a gasp, instantly aware of the swelling in his pants against the back of my legs. God he was hard. And huge. I could feel the shape of his cock even through all our clothes.

His breathing intensified and he was growling deep in his throat, chest rumbling. He definitely wanted this, even more than I did.

My mind and body were two completely separate beings. My thoughts were racing while my body acted out on its own, reacting to Liam’s touches.

Did I want this? Oh, definitely.

I don’t really know him though, not a thing about him aside from his name. Did that matter? Yes, it mattered a lot. I had only met him three nights ago and had barely spent any time with him. This isn’t me.

My body didn’t care.

His hand closed over my breast and thought fled. When did his hand get so far under my shirt? I shivered from the heat of his grip, nipple hardening under the roughness of his palm as he squeezed. He was definitely growling now.

“Liam. Wait. I don’t know you, I can’t just do this.” I managed to force the words out through a mouth that wasn’t cooperating, wanting nothing more than to use it on every inch of him instead.

“Yes. You can.” His hands never paused or even slowed in their exploration of my body.

His insistence was building my resolve. “No. Liam, stop.”

“You want this.” It wasn’t a question.

“Yes... but not like
this
.” Definitely like this, my body screamed at me. Shut up body.

“I’ve had several mates.”

Just like that the moment was over, as if it had never been. I pulled away, ripped his hand off me, and sat up. “What?!” My shrill voice pierced the night.

“I’ve had several mates...” He was clearly confused.

“What the
hell
Liam!”

“I’m virile...”

“What the hell is wrong with you? Are you stupid? You
ass
!” I pulled the blanket away from him and wrapped it around myself like armor.

His face darkened with every word. “Humans make no sense. I was definitely not ready to leave the reservation.”

“And what is
that
supposed to mean?”

He stood up and stared at me, looking as if he were about to just take me. ‘Please yes!’ my body screamed.

Shut
up
body!

He turned and took a few steps away; frustration, confusion, and anger all painted on his face. “I will wake you before first light.”

“Wait, where are you going?” Fear crept in, cooling some of my anger.

“Hunting. I find myself with an excess of pent up energy.”

The thought of being left by myself in the dark wilderness sent a chill down my spine. “You’re just going to leave me here?”

“I was under the impression that is exactly what you wanted. To be left alone.” With that last statement hanging in the air between us, he strode off into the night.

I found myself alone, angry, and confused. “And cold,” I sighed.

Liam

I
tore through the forested hills as a wolf, the frustration of the night's events coursing through me. A constant low growl was in my throat and I couldn’t stop it if I tried, not that I wanted to.

Humans make no sense.

I need prey. Large prey. Scouring the hills I searched for something, anything, to catch my focus.

There.

The scent of a buck reached me and I tore off in its direction. There was no subtlety or caution in my movements, I wanted it to know I was coming. I needed to burn off energy, I wanted a chase.

Crashing through the undergrowth I caught sight of the deer racing away, its tufted white tail up as an alert as if every living thing within earshot hadn’t already heard me. It was a younger buck, one I would usually let live a few more seasons, but it was old enough to be prey.

It led a long, if futile chase, and I let out an uncaring howl as I stood over its body, its soul now free to rejoin nature. I gave a double prayer, one for the sacrifice, one for the waste. I had traveled too far from camp to bring back all the deer would give and the guilt of not using the whole animal pressed in on me, doing more to calm me than the rest of the hunt had.

The infirm and scavengers will eat well here for a while, at least.

Looking back in the direction of my distant camp and the confusing woman sleeping there, I felt my head clearing for the first time in what felt like hours. Humans could be infuriating.

Infuriating, but intoxicating.

I
woke with a start. When did I fall asleep? Where was I? Last night came crashing back on me as I looked around the clearing, the horizon to the east was lighting up with the promise of sunrise.

At least I can tell which direction is East for all the good it does me. I am such an idiot.

Liam was nowhere to be seen, though he had obviously been back at some point. Another small fire sat in the same shallow hole from last night, uncovered at some point and restarted. Several new skewers had been covered in chunks of some unknown meat and stood roasting by the fire, smelling even better than the rabbit from before.

Pulling pine needles from my hair, clothes, and the blanket, I set about making everything as neat as possible. Which, since I had spent the night sleeping on the ground, was a complete waste of time. At least the blanket was folded properly.

Putting it in the backpack, I grabbed one of the water bottles and walked over to sit on the same log Liam had made into a seat the night before.

I sipped at the water and tried to sort through the events of the past few days. Staring into the flames as if they held the answers to my problems, my thoughts and emotions swirled around each other uselessly.

How long I had just sat there I couldn’t tell. The sun had risen its own height above the horizon and I was absently twirling the empty bottle between my fingers. The meat seemed to be cooked on one side so I had turned the spits. They now looked to be done on this side, as well.

Sighing, I stood and began to pace by the low fire. Where is he? He didn’t just leave me here, did he? I paused in my pacing.

After last night I wouldn’t be surprised. What is wrong with me? I somehow felt that I needed to apologize to him, but I also felt I had done the right thing in saying no.

As if he had been waiting to make a dramatic entrance, the man himself stepped into the small clearing. He was pulling his shirt over his head, my pulse quickening at the sight of his bare, well-muscled torso. What is with him and being shirtless?

“Hey, Liam, listen... about last night. I’m sorry.”

His voice was soft, making his words that much more intense, and he didn’t look at me as he spoke. “You need to return home.”

“What? No! I’m staying with you.” A slight panic rose within me, I did
not
want to be alone on these hills another minute.

“I must travel quickly, you will be unable to keep up.”

I winced at the truth of his words but also realized I didn’t care. “I don’t know my way back
or
where you’re going, so either way is the same to me. I found you last night, I’ll find you again.”

Yeah, right. Big talk Jen.

“We are not yet far onto the reservation. We were fortunate none of the packs were in this area or there would have been uncomfortable questions. Go back to your car. If anyone finds you, just tell the truth. You are from the town nearby and came looking for a friend but got lost. You will be escorted back.”

With a sudden clarity I realized he was saying all this to convince himself, not me, that my going home was for the best. “No. You can’t get rid of me that easily.”

He finally looked over at me with those words, his eyes finding mine and holding my gaze for a time while he was lost in thought. I didn’t even want to blink for fear of interrupting whatever he was working through.