Found in Flames (9 page)

Chapter Nine

“I brought you some fresh water,”
Joella
said softly as she set the makeshift bowl down. It was mid-morning on the third day since Luka had finally defeated Char. The pack was still recovering, and she was doing what she could to help. It was the only way she knew to repay them for what they’d done for her, for what they’d lost for her.

Luka uncurled from his spot against the cave wall and approached the bowl. He’d been in wolf form almost exclusively since the fight. According to Chad, werewolves healed faster in wolf form. But
Joella
missed Luka’s voice. She missed his touch. And if this was even a glimpse of how she’d feel once they were well enough for travel and the pack moved on … she didn’t know what she’d do.

Her life would be chaos when she returned to it, of that she was certain. She’d disappeared over a week ago without a word. When she went back with no good excuse she’d almost certainly lose her job; subsequently her apartment, too. But she didn’t care at this point. For the moment, at least, she was where she wanted to be.

Gently sifting her fingers through the re-growing fur on Luka’s head and neck, she whispered, “There’s a little more food left if you want it, too.”

He rumbled an acknowledgment and lifted his eyes to hers, licking the last of the water from his snout.

“Okay,” she said, wishing she could actually communicate with him. “I’ll go get it.”

She stepped out of the small cave and made her way to the meadow, wondering who she’d come across this time. Max, Emily, and Lew were sharing patrol duty now that Emily was up for it, so she knew it wouldn’t be one of them. Chad was mostly recovered from his minor burns, but typically volunteered for night patrol—which, she’d learned, was generally considered more important. Russell still had a few injuries slowing him down, but, like most men, he seemed to be trying his best to play them off. And currently he appeared to be ignoring his need for rest in favor of sitting with Morgan, because both were curled up in human form off to the side of the meadow.

Joella
managed a small smile for them when they looked over at her, her heart aching at the sadness in Morgan’s eyes. It was true
Joella
had been the twins’ least favorite person in the last few days of Vanna’s life, but she harbored them no ill will. How could she, after Vanna had so selflessly died to save her?

Clearing her throat, she said, “Luka’s hungry.”

Morgan looked away and Russell sat up, pointing. “Chad put it by that rock.”

“Thanks,” she said before turning and going for the leftovers. She’d nearly made it back out of the meadow when a weak, feminine voice called out.

“Is he…. Is Alpha healing well?” The question came from Morgan.
Joella
couldn’t decide if she was more shocked by the fact that Morgan had spoken in her presence at all or by the fact that her voice was devoid of the venom it had once held. She’d thought for sure the woman would hate her always now.

Turning an easier smile back to the pair,
Joella
nodded. “I think so. Most of his fur’s even grown back.”

The wolves smiled and Morgan wiped at her face. “Good.”

****

Luka woke with the changing direction of the wind, blinking his eyes open to find himself alone in the cave.
Joella’s
‘day clothes’ were resting where she’d left them earlier and his water bowl was gone. Why she’d have gone to refill it in the middle of the night he had no idea. The woman was crazy.

Crazy enough to come running to him when she thought he was in danger.

Crazy enough to stick around after the threat was gone and help nurse him—
all
of them—back to health.

And, he hoped, crazy enough to stay with them—with him—for the rest of his life.

That was one thing he’d had plenty of time to think about while he’d been recuperating. For so long his only real mission in life had been to avenge his family’s murder. He’d never intended to lose another wolf in the process, let alone two, but it was too late to go back and change his methods. An Alpha’s instinct was to build and protect his pack. He doubted he could have avoided pulling one together even if he’d tried. Now all he could do was focus on doing a better job of protecting the pack he had left. And one way to protect his pack was to ensure its future.

A future that, for the first time, he could actually bring himself to think about. With Char finally dead and gone he had no excuse. And now that he’d met
Joella
he found he didn’t want an excuse. He wanted her. He wanted to claim her as his mate. He doubted she knew exactly what that entailed, since both of the mated pairs she’d had opportunity to talk to were born wolves, but he could explain.

As soon as he found her.

Luka pushed to his feet, stretched, shook, and ambled to the opening of the cave in order to catch her scent. As he’d suspected, she’d gone to the stream for water.
Perfect.
Testing his renewed strength, he pushed off at a run. And the more he ran the better he felt.

Once he was close enough he took a breath and willed himself to shift. He hadn’t returned to his human form more than once since the fight, but he was ready now. And he couldn’t exactly have the necessary conversation with
Joella
if he didn’t have human vocal chords.

He easily crossed the rest of the way to the stream, finding the woman he sought sitting back on the patches of grass and gazing up at the nearly full moon. So he paused and cast his own gaze up to the one power stronger than he. It was true that once a wolf reached maturity they
could
resist the pull of the moon, but resistance wasn’t easy and it went against every instinct a wolf possessed. For that same reason, a newly-Turned werewolf had no control over the allure of the full moon, no matter their age. He’d heard that some Turned wolves even took longer than a year to gain that control. But he’d also heard it largely depended on the strength and development of the wolf who bit them, and in that case
Joella
would be fine.

Assuming she said yes.

“Comfortable?” he called after a moment, watching with a grin as she jumped.

“You scared the crap out of me!” she exclaimed, finding her feet. She opened her mouth to lecture him but paused before a smile overtook her expression. “Luka,” she breathed, moving to stand directly in front of him. One delicate hand landed on his bare chest and she swallowed back tears. “You’re up.”

Lifting his hands and letting them frame her cheeks, he murmured, “Miss me?”

She wrapped her arms around his torso and pushed herself up on her tiptoes, planting her lips firmly on his. He could still smell the salt of lingering tears in the air, but he could also smell relief. Relief and rapidly building desire that matched his own.

Luka growled and plunged one hand into her hair while the other arm locked around her waist. He took control of the kiss, sweeping his tongue into her mouth and swallowing her moan. He’d come out here with the intention to talk to her about accepting him as her mate, about becoming a werewolf and leaving her human life behind. But now he had half a mind to let that wait until he’d had his way with her at least one more time. She was pressing herself against him shamelessly, her nails digging into his back and her tongue matching his stroke for stroke. It was all he could do not to tug her pants below her hips and slide his aching cock into her heat. All he could do not to throw his head back and howl at the moon at the very idea.

Somehow, though, he managed to pry his lips from hers without indulging the primal instincts churning in his blood. Yet.

Still gasping for breath, arms still tight around him,
Joella
breathed, “Make love to me, Luka. I don’t want to be able to walk in the morning.”

Luka growled and slid his nose down her throat until he could drop his forehead onto her shoulder. His every instinct begged him to give her what she was asking for. And if he thought for a moment he could trust himself to indulge in her without claiming her against her will he’d have done it. But he wanted her too badly to trust himself this time.

Joella
slid one hand down his spine and grabbed his ass, rocking herself against him in a physical plea. “Luka.” She moaned. The breathless desire in her voice reminded him all too easily of the sounds she’d made the last time he’d given in to her, in this very clearing.

Swallowing his own growl of desire, Luka dragged his hands around to her hips and forced a few desperate inches between their bodies. “Not yet,” he managed, his voice thick to his own ears.

She pulled in a breath and blinked up at him as her grip loosened. “Is something wrong?”

“No,” he assured her. “We just need to talk about something.”

“Now?” she asked, sounding slightly incredulous. It was a feeling he well understood.

Instead of replying verbally, Luka took her by the hand and guided her toward the largest patch of grass, encouraging her to sit with him. She complied with marginal hesitation, confusion and a pinch of fear marring her scent.

“Ella,” he began carefully, letting his thumb caress the back of her hand. “We’ll probably be leaving after the full moon.” The scent of tears drifted to his nose again and he pushed forward. “I want you to come with me.”

Her eyes widened and her hand curled tight in his as if she were anchoring herself. “You … do?”

Luka swallowed and inclined his head. “I want you for my mate,” he said firmly, leaving no room for misinterpretation. His gut churned with nerves like he hadn’t felt in decades, but he ignored it.

She dropped her gaze to their hands and pulled her lip between her teeth. “But I’m human,” she whispered shamefully.

“I know,” he said. “But you don’t have to stay that way.”

The wind blew her hair sideways along her shoulders, sending a short chill through her and he gave her hand a squeeze. She lifted her watery eyes to his and quietly asked, “That’s possible?” She swallowed, clearly not done, and he caught a flicker of insecurity before she added, “You’re sure you … want me around that long?”

Luka growled and tugged her into him, catching her by the chin and claiming her mouth in a rough, demanding kiss. He appreciated that she’d grown comfortable enough to let him see that insecurity, but he hated it all the same. She didn’t have a damned thing to be insecure about or ashamed of, and anyone or any society that had taught her differently could go to hell.

When he released her lips he framed her face, some of her hair caught between his fingers, and said, “I didn’t even
have
a future before you,
Joella
. I need you next to me if I have a hope in hell of figuring out what to do tomorrow. The only question is, are
you
sure you want this life?”

She looked up at him, studying him, so he did his best to let her see into his heart.

“Yes,” she finally said. “I don’t even know how it works or what’ll happen, but yes, Luka. Take me away from this place.”

A breath of relief rushed from him and he pulled her in for a gentler kiss. He swirled his tongue around her mouth leisurely, arms sliding down to her waist and encircling her. She squirmed against him until she’d wound her arms around his neck to better return the kiss.

When they finally pulled apart he took a breath and said, “Once we make it official you’ll shift at the next full moon. That’s the first thing you should know.”

Her eyes lifted back to the sky for a moment, clearly taking note of the nearness of the full moon. “You mean … tomorrow?”

Grinning, Luka said, “The day after.
If
we mate before. If you’d rather wait, we can do that, too.”

A thoughtful frown pursed her lips and she looked back at him. “You said ‘make it official,’ what does that mean?”

His grin broadened and Luka slipped a hand beneath her sweater, letting his fingers tease her spine. “It’s a sexual ritual,” he said. “And you’ll have to bite me.” He lifted his other hand and tapped the base of his throat, over his pulse point. “Right here. Hard enough to draw blood.”

“What?” she exclaimed, horror settling on her face. “You’re a werewolf, not a vampire!”

Luka chuckled and smoothed some hair from her face. “Mating is a bonding of life forces,” he said. “I’m not saying you have to drink me dry. The point is the trust. I have to let you draw my blood, and you have to let me do the same. At our most vulnerable, most physically united.”

She blinked, swallowed, and slowly repeated, “Bonding of life forces?”

Inclining his head, Luka replied, “It’s the only way you can survive the Turn. And once you do, once you’ve physically changed, our souls will be irreversibly tied. If one of us dies, the other will die.” He paused, unable to stop the grin, and teased, “Also, after we become mates, the chances of you getting pregnant are very high.”

Even in the darkness he saw her flush, but he also scented the rekindled desire that came with it. She swallowed again and flexed her hands over his shoulders. “So this is true ‘forever’…”

Luka leaned in and deliberately stroked his tongue over her pulse point, the very spot he’d have to sink his teeth into if she agreed to see this through. “In every way that matters.”