Ergan: Winter Valley Wolves #5 (4 page)

E
rgan takes
us down the lake in a leisurely ride as he tells me about the development that’s happened over the years. The cooler he brought contains lunch, and when we get to a small island, the boat scrapes over sand as we beach it. I grab the cooler, and Ergan drags the canoe up high enough that it won’t drift away.

He says, “The first people here were the Native Americans. But famine took over when the white man arrived, and they all died off.” His hand brushes mine, making my skin tingle, when he takes the cooler from me, and I follow him as he leads us over rocky ground. Twigs poke at the soles of my bare feet as I pick my way carefully behind him. He continues, “But legend says it was really the wolf that got revenge on humans.”

I ask, “Were werewolves mentioned in that story?”

“Yes.” Ergan turns to me, and he drops our lunch with a thump. “Supposedly the chief was so angry about the white man taking over that he had his medicine woman merge the tribe with a local wolf pack.” He pulls a towel out, and it snaps when he shakes it out. “Werewolves were the result, and they killed the humans to reclaim their land. It wasn’t until fifty years later that people came back to live here.”

I glance around at the woods and imagine what it would be like to live off the land. “That’s fascinating.” I sit down on the ground beside Ergan.

“The reality is the first settlers probably died of disease and starvation and that people didn’t come back until they had the means to survive our tough winters.” He hands me a cola.

The top pops as I open it. “I like the werewolf version better.” I glance at Ergan, and he tilts his head in question, so I continue. “It just seems so romantic to me. When the person or their loved ones are threatened, they turn into a savage animal to protect what’s theirs.”

He pulls out two sandwiches and hands me one. “Romantic? That sounds more barbaric.”

“True. The romantic part is when the wolves call to each other across the lake to find their true mates.”

Ergan smiles at me. “You believe in true mates?”

I shrug. “As much as I believe in werewolves.” The white butcher paper of a deli sandwich rustles as I open it and discover tuna with lettuce and tomato. “That’s kind of what I was investigating at Warren’s house.”

He frowns at me as he chews his sandwich, and I say, “When I fell the other day I swear a wolf jumped in to save me, but Warren claims there wasn’t one.”

“What were you looking for?”

“I was trying to figure out if he’s a werewolf.” I hold up my hand. “I know, it’s crazy. I’ve got an active imagination.”

Ergan raises his eyebrows at me, and I shrug. “Maybe I just wish it were true.” I sigh. “Envision a love where you’d die for each other because it’s easier than living apart.” I glance at Ergan to make sure he’s not trying to figure out how he can leave me while he paddles off to safety.

“That’s beautiful. I like it.”

Now it’s my turn to give him a questioning stare. “Ergan Wakefield, are you a romantic?”

He waggles his eyebrows at me. “Would it get you to take off more clothes?”

I slap at his leg. “You’re awful. For a moment, I thought you understood.”

“What I understand is that you want a werewolf. I guess I’d better learn to growl.” He flashes me a toothy snarl that becomes a growl.

I grin at him. “Growling’s good. But what I really want is for you to howl across the lake for me, and I’ll return your call.”

He takes a bite of his sandwich and talks around the mouthful. “But you’re not a werewolf.” He chews quickly and swallows to say, “How would you do that?”

“Minor detail.” I lift my sandwich and point it at him. “I guess I have to let you bite me and make me one. Isn’t that how it works?”

He shakes his head and lifts his soda can. “If you want me to bite, just ask. I aim to please.”

When we finish lunch, we decide to go for a quick swim. The section of sand where we left the boat slopes gradually into the water, and at the point my hips are submerged, I dive in. Farther away from the island is a rock that sticks up in the water. We make our way to it, and the surface is rough on my skin as we both scramble on. The sun has warmed it, and I lie down to let it seep into me.

Ergan lies on his back next to me and says, “I’m glad you came back, Kayla.”

I reach over for his hand. “Me too. I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but our kiss on graduation night stuck with me. I wanted it to be more.”

His warm grip tightens. “I thought about you, too. You have no idea how shocked I was that you wanted to be with me. I mean, Kayla Hayward, star soccer player and hottest girl in our class, kissed me.”

I squeeze back. “Ergan Wakefield, star football player and hottest truck club member there ever was, let me kiss him. Oh wait.” I chuckle. “I didn’t give him much choice.”

He sits up and gazes down at me with blue eyes that trap me in the depth of their color. He traces an outline around the scratches on my shoulder and asks, “Is this from your accident?”

“Yes. I’m pretending it’s from a sexy werewolf.”

Ergan raises his eyebrows at me, and I place my hand on his face. I whisper, “Bite me.”

He lets out a sexy growl that is amazingly close to the real thing. While he doesn’t exactly bite, he does nibble in a delicious way. When Ergan moves down my neck, I arch back and slide my hand down his stomach to fiddle with his waistband. Soft hair makes a trail that goes lower, and I ache for him to fill me. But not on this hard rock. When his hands move behind my neck, he yanks at the straps I have tied in a bow. I let him lower my bathing suit top to release my breasts, which he moves his mouth toward so he can swirl his tongue around my nipple.

I slide my fingers into his hair, and small noises that come from me let him know my pleasure. He kisses his way back up to my neck, and his breath in my ear sends a shiver down my spine. “I want to taste so much more. But not here.”

I nod as I lose myself in his eyes.

Ergan combs his fingers through the loose strands of my hair that have fallen out of my ponytail. “You’re so beautiful.” He grabs the ties of my suit and lifts them up behind my neck to refasten me. I’m awestruck by the way he’s taking care of me. There’s nothing controlling about it.

I stroke his cheek. “You’d make a good werewolf.”

He studies me for a moment, and I swear I see something flicker in his eyes before he slides his thumb over my lower lip and kisses me quickly. “So would you.”

W
hile I was tempted
to invite Ergan over to take our makeout session further, he mentioned that he was having dinner with his parents. So I spend my evening baking. I tell myself guilt for snooping on Warren is the motivation, but the truth is I’m still hungry for information. I don’t know how he’s involved with the wolves, but I plan to find out.

My phone is plugged into my stereo system, and I’m singing to the latest Taylor Swift album as blobs of cookie dough land with a metallic thump on a baking sheet. The aroma of cinnamon is in the air, and a grin is plastered on my face as I keep replaying my afternoon with Ergan. A knock surprises me, and I wonder if the scent of my baking has invited Warren over, although I doubt it. My brow knits as I make my way to the door.

The moment I open it, I begin to scowl, because the beefy redheaded guy I can’t believe I fell for is standing under the light. Moths are flying around the bulb, and I’d be annoyed they’re going to come into my house, but I’ve got a bigger problem.

“Gary. What are you doing here?”

He holds out a bouquet of flowers and a bottle of wine as he steps forward, making me stumble back to let him in. “I miss you, Kayla.”

I shut the door to keep the bugs out and turn to him with my arms crossed. “Please don’t do this.”

Gary walks over to the kitchen counter and sets the bottle down with a thump. He begins to open cabinets, and I ask, “What are you doing?”

“These need to go in water. Where’s a vase?”

“Stop. I don’t want your flowers.”

Doors slam shut as he continues as if I didn’t say anything. My first inclination is to let it slide, because that’s what I always did. But I’m no longer in love with Gary, and I see this for what it is: control.

I grab the flowers from the counter, and the plastic covering’s slick in my hand. I speak sternly. “I said stop.”

Gary turns to me in surprise. “I bring you flowers and you don’t have the common decency to want to keep them fresh?”

“You came uninvited, and you’re trying to steamroll me into doing what you want.” I shake my head and toss them in the garbage can. “Not this time.”

He stares at me for a moment, and I watch his shoulders fall. “You’re right. I’m sorry. Forget the flowers. I really just want to talk.”

“Fine.” I walk over to my music and turn it down. I stay across the room from him. “What do you want to say?”

“That I was a jerk.” He walks toward me with his palms up. “Actually I was a total asshole. But I’ve changed.” Gary is in front of me and reaches for my hand, but I step back in the direction of the deck. He continues, “I’ve been going to counseling to get a handle on my anger.”

“Good. I’m glad. Is it working?”

He rakes his hand through his hair. “It is. I realize now what it must have been like for you. I’m so sorry, Kayla.”

I nod.

He says, “You must hate me.” The hair on the back of my neck stands up, because while his words seem benign, something seems off.

I sigh on purpose. “I don’t hate you. But we’re not getting back together if that’s what you’re here for.” The batch of cookies in my oven has to be done, but I’m not about to get closer to him to take them out.

“No, no. I just came to apologize.” He glances around the room. “This place is nice.” He walks over to the windows and glances out. “And you’re on the water. You must love that.” Gary turns to me with a smile that I used to find charming.

“I do.”

He turns abruptly to go back to the kitchen. “I brought wine I know you’d like. We should have some and catch up on your new life.”

“No, thank you. It’s been a long day, and I have to work tomorrow.” Smoke is curling out of the oven, and I know the fire alarm is about to go off.

He looks at me and his face falls. “You do hate me.”

I am being rather bitchy. “I really don’t, Gary.” I start walking toward the kitchen. “Hold on, I’ve got to take cookies out.”

When I pull the oven door open, smoke billows out. I say, “Get the deck door, the alarm is about to—” A piercing sound cuts off my words, and Gary yanks the sliding glass door to the side as the cookie sheet clatters on the stovetop.

I open the front door for the cross breeze. Gary is laughing and grabs a towel to twirl it under the alarm to draw the smoke away. When the noise stops, he says, “Well, that was exciting.”

I smile back at him. The man I left would have been angry and had a tantrum over something like this. Gary’s acting like the guy I fell in love with, and I realize I’m being too harsh. The truth is, we had a good thing, and it was only when we started to grow apart that his anger became a problem. It would be nice if we could get back to something civil.

I say, “You know what? Let’s have that wine after all.” Utensils rattle as I pull open a drawer to find the wine opener. I hand it to him as I walk by him to get wine glasses. I ask, “Did you pass the bar exam?” Gary comes from a family of lawyers, and his dream is to join his father’s firm. And mine was to be his wife, teach until I got pregnant, and then stay home to be a mother to our children. But that dream is long gone, because it came with a price I don’t want to pay.

“I did. I started work a month ago.”

The cork pops, and I hold out a glass for him to fill. “That’s wonderful. Your parents must be so proud.”

Wine gurgles in the second glass, and he sets the bottle down as I take a sip of mine. He asks, “What about you. Are you teaching?”

“Yes. I work at my old high school.”

Gary reaches over and clinks my glass with his. “Excellent. We’re both living our dreams.”

The smoke has cleared, and I go to the front door to close it. I call out, “I’m coaching soccer, too.”

“You are living the life.” I return to the kitchen and gaze at Gary as he says, “That makes me happy.”

He’s being sincere, and I say, “Thanks. It makes me happy to hear you’re doing well, too.” I move toward the deck. “Let’s sit outside. The moon makes the water look so beautiful.”

Gary follows me and says, “Just like you.”

I ignore his comment, and when we get outside, I set my glass down on the railing as I gaze out over the lake. Gary stands next to me. I say, “Did you know this area is home to wolves and I hear them howling most nights?”

“That doesn’t frighten you?”

A cry sounds in the distance, but it doesn’t send a chill down my spine. Instead it brings me happiness like a familiar song. In fact, I’m so comfortable on this lake that I’ve begun to leave my Sig upstairs in my dresser. “No. I like it. In a strange way, they make me feel safe.”

G
ary tells
me about his new job before he starts down memory lane. He asks, “Do you remember our first fight?”

My guard goes up, and I say, “Yes.” We fought over who was going to drive my car to the movies. He insisted that he should, and it pissed off my independent streak.

“You should have left me then. I had this misguided idea that I needed to protect you and took it to an extreme.”

“You were rather unreasonable about it. At the time, I thought it was because you’d never been with a capable girl like me. You told me that all your girlfriends had been airheads until I came along.”

He chuckles, and then he says, “They were.” Gary sets his glass down and places his arm around my shoulders. “You were the one, Kayla. And all I knew how to do was take care of a girl. That’s all I ever wanted to do with you.”

I turn to face him, hoping he’ll let his embrace fall, but instead he grips my arms lightly. “Gary.”

“I’m so sorry I screwed it up.” He leans down, and I realize he’s going to kiss me. Panic sends adrenaline racing through my bloodstream, and I turn my head as his mouth searches for mine. His kiss lands on my cheek, and I try to pull away. But I’m backed up against the railing, and he moves down to my neck.

I automatically reach for my gun at my waist before I realize I’m not carrying. I push against him. “Stop!”

“Damn, you’re sexy when you’re being feisty. C’mon, you know you want to be with me. Don’t fight it.” His grip is tight on my arms now, and the railing digs into my back as I say louder, “Stop it!”

My hands are on his chest, and I push hard, but he shoves his thigh between my legs and grabs my butt with one hand. “Remember the time we did it on the roof of my car?”

Warren’s screen door slams, and I scream, “Help!”

Gary slaps his hand over my mouth as he snaps, “What the hell’s wrong with you?”

I try to bite at him as tears stream down my face. I struggle against the weight of his body pressing me into the railing. A snarl sounds, and suddenly I’m free.

Nails clatter on my deck as an enormous wolf stalks toward us. His fur is dark as night, making his eyes gleam with a supernatural glow as a sharp howl sounds from him, and his mouthful of teeth makes me sure I’m about to feel them sink into my flesh. I hold my breath as I wait. The wolf lowers himself slowly as if he’s setting up to attack, and Gary says, “Fuck this shit.” He launches himself over the railing, and his feet thud on the ground below.

Oh, god.
I stare at the wolf, trying to sort out why he hasn’t attacked me yet. The wolf tilts his head for a brief moment before he jumps over the railing, too. I spring into action and yank the glass door open to go get my gun. Although I’m not sure if I plan to use it on the wolf or Gary.

My feet pound up my stairs, and my underwear drawer thuds open when I pull. The Sig is heavy in my hand as I race back down the steps, and it clicks as I cock it to shoot.

When I get out my front door, Gary’s in his car, and he seems to be having trouble starting it. The cloth top of his convertible tears as the wolf shreds it. When the engine finally turns over, the animal jumps down and races off into the woods.

My chest is heaving as I hold the gun with both hands, and I glance around my driveway. There’s no sign of the wolf. I wonder if it’s coming back. Car taillights shimmer as Gary fishtails up the road, and dust rises into the air.

I lower my arms.
You spineless bastard. You left me here to die.

A low whine makes me glance into the woods, where the wolf lowers itself slowly to its belly as its eyes shine at me. I stare at him, but I’m no longer afraid. I whisper, “Thank you.”

I make my way inside, and my hand trembles as I click the safety of my gun back into place and set it on the counter. I walk slowly toward the deck, and the thud of my feet seems to echo in my house. When I get outside, bile rises to my throat. I scramble to lean over the railing just in time to vomit.

Once my stomach is empty, I notice the wine goblets and empty the contents of the wine glasses over the railing. The liquid is blood red, and I watch it splash on the ground below. I must be in shock, because I discover tears are streaming down my face. I sink down onto the deck surface.

I can’t believe I fell for Gary’s trap. The man I used to love just tried to violate me. He treated me as if I was nothing more than an object he could obtain with persuasion and brute force.

I imagine what would have happened if the wolf hadn’t come. Was I a fool to think I could take care of myself? I hug my arms as a sob escapes, and it gives way to crying that wracks my body.

“Kayla.”

I glance up through a watery veil to discover Ergan at the top of the deck stairs. “Kayla, can I come closer?”

I nod as fresh tears burst from my eyes. Ergan approaches me slowly and sits across from me. I reach for him, and he pulls me into his lap and tucks my head against his chest as he says, “Shhh, baby. I’m here.”

He’s not wearing a shirt, and the warmth of his skin is comforting as I cry until I’m spent. I realize my face is covered in tears, and snot is running out of my nose. “Oh, god, Ergan. I’m so gross.” I move to get off him, and he lets me go. When I stand, I take in his appearance. “What are you wearing?”

He stands, too, and I discover he’s in a pair of old-man shorts that look like something Warren would wear.
Wait.
They’re the shorts that were hanging on the hook at the back of my neighbor’s house. I glance up at Ergan. “Was it you?”

“Yes and no.”

I back away as I shake my head. “I don’t understand.”

“I know. Please let me explain.”

“I—” Everything about this should make me afraid. After all that happened tonight, the last thing I should do is let Ergan into my house, but he had something to do with the wolf that saved me. So I trust him, even if I’m about to find out he’s a werewolf. “I need to go clean up.”

“I know. I’ll wait here.”

Adrenaline spikes in my veins. “No.” I take a shaky breath to control my panic. “Please, come inside.”

He nods and follows me into the house. “I’ll be right here, and I can move fast when I need to. You’re safe.”

I glance at him before I climb the stairs to my room. While he’s a fine example of a man as he stands nearly naked in my living room, it’s not the body that I’m falling for. It’s the person that he is. I don’t know if he was the one that saved me tonight or from the lake, but I have no doubt he’ll protect me if I need it. “I know.”