Raber Wolf Pack Book One (6 page)

‘What the hell is going on, Xavier?’
Shaggy wolf questions in his head, and at this moment, I am glad that I can hear their conversation.

‘Mate,’
my sexy wolf growls. Well, I guess he has a name. Xavier.

‘She is not. She’s his mate,’
Brown wolf argues, gesturing to Ian lying on the grass. Double shit.

Sexy wolf snarls. ‘
You don’t fucking think I know my mate when I smell her?’
Thank the Heavens that he can smell it. He takes a step forward and both wolves take a step back.

‘No, man. We’re good,’
Shaggy says, and both he and brown wolf lie on their stomachs in surrender.

Xavier turns his attentions to me. I don’t feel an ounce of fear as he prowls around me, sniffing and shoving his muzzle in my ass. “Stop that,” I say and he growls in response.

‘Mine. I touch anywhere I want, whenever I want.’
He dips his nose again to my ass, pressing up hard.

“You think so, big guy? Change over,” I demand and he halts mid-step.

‘You can hear me?’
he questions and I smile.

“Yep.”

He shakes his head. ‘
From the mating link? Because I can’t hear your thoughts.’

Damn that sucks. I thought he heard me when I told him to finish Ian. Guess that was wishful thinking. “Not from the mating link, apparently. It’s what I do. Now change back, we don’t have much time, and we can get all the introductions done after we get back to your den. Please, tell me that you have security in place?”

He tips his head and transforms. Holy shit. The air is squeezed from my lungs. He’s so much better up close. Damn. Wolves are normally tall in stature, but he seems about three inches taller than the average wolf as I have to tip my head back to look at his face. His jet-black hair is messy and sticky from sweat. His lips are the perfect bow shape, and the bottom is sexy and full. Damn, I’d love to suck on them.

“Put this on.” He tosses me a shirt and I hurriedly put it over my body, my eyes not leaving him. “As much as I love the inspection, babe, what the fuck were you babbling about?”

I stare at the man in a daze of heat and lust, my world seeming to implode and my head spinning.
Get it together, Zara
.

“Right. We have to get out of here. My father is Alpha of the pack. He’s kept me locked up for over two years. He will do anything to stop me from getting away. We have to go,” I urge, but he doesn’t budge.

Instead, he crosses his arms over his tight chest, muscles bulging under every inch of flesh, and that’s when I spot the tattoo. Holy shit.

“You have a tattoo?” Yes, it is the lamest thing that could come out of my mouth at a time like this, but wolves heal so damn fast that it’s nearly impossible for a tattoo to take.

He ignores that part. “So, you’re telling me, my mate has been locked up for two years and he let you out tonight…for what?” His tone is accusatory. Dammit.

“I can read other’s thoughts, but I have to see them in the physical sense before I can do so. My father was going to call you after this meeting and set up a one-on-one during which I would read your mind and after, you would be slaughtered.” His deep gravely laugh catches me off guard and I stand there in shock. This is so not funny. It’s the furthest thing from funny. “Stop laughing and let’s get out of here. I have a shit-load to tell you, but we have to go now.”

He comes closer, and the heat emanating from his body burns mine. “I want to fuck you and mark you first.” The authority in his tone and the command itself make nerves that haven’t been used in years, ones I thought were long dead, flare to life. Even though his face is stoic, his eyes seem all knowing, and he’s paying close attention to my body language. “But since your life is in danger, safety comes first. Then I claim you.” Shit. “Let me see you.” He begins inspecting me and I’m confused as to why. “Cuts, babe. Need to make sure you’re good.” My heart warms and I tune into my body. A few cuts, but nothing aches. “You’re good. Let’s go. ”

“Thanks,” I say softly. I’m a bit confused at the moment. It’s been so long since I’ve had anyone actually give a shit about me, care for me, hell even look at me adoringly. It’s a punch right to the heart and I can’t deny the pull he has on me. Wow. It’s almost unreal. “Lead the way.” I motion with my arm.

This right here is the only hope I have for leaving my pathetic existence behind. But it’s not only that. He’s my mate. My one. I can’t help the giddiness that comes along with that, but I suppress any outward expression of my emotions.

“Hand.” I raise it automatically without thought and he grasps it, holding me close to his body. “Change,” he orders the two wolves and they instantly listen. “Grab the clothes and the car. Get us home now.” The men run off, their fine asses moving as they go. Hey, the mating is there, but my eyes still work.

He yanks my arm. “You fucking look at their asses again, I’ll throw you down on the grass and make you forget about everything but me.”

Well, all righty then. I quiver at his words. “I won’t.” It barely comes out, but it’s there. He nods and pulls me past the open field where they all met, and into the woods. We reach a parking lot where a black SUV awaits with Shaggy Blond at the wheel.

“Get in.” I do and he quickly follows. “Go. Long way, take many turns and detours,” he commands and the vehicle dashes into the sunlight. The tension in the car is thick, wafting off the two wolves in the front seats.

‘Does he not realize she smells like another male?’
the brown-haired wolf thinks. Shit. I’d better address this.

“They can’t smell
us
,” I tell Xavier. “I was given a pill. I don’t know what was in it, but by me swallowing it, it gave off the scent that one of those wolves you just killed was my mate.” He growls deep. “I have no doubt that other wolves think I still belong to Ian, but I don’t.” When I finish, I feel so stupid. This whole thing is fucked as hell.

“They can’t smell our link, because you took some pill?”

“Yes, that is really all I know about it. My entire pack thought Ian and I were mated, but it’s the furthest from the truth.”

“You have a lot to explain.”

“I know.” I look down at my entwined fingers and focus on them as we drive. The sexual tension between Xavier and me is so thick I’m surprised the windows aren’t fogging up.

‘Shit, are they gonna fuck in the back of the truck? I just had this shit cleaned.’
Shaggy moans lightening the mood and I giggle.

“What the fuck is so funny?” Xavier snarls, obviously on edge, which I should be too. Shit, I just saw my pretend mate and two of the enforcers taken down. I should feel something, right? Nope. I don’t. Why? Because there is hope.

“Shaggy, you wanna tell him?” I joke, but my mate is having no part of it.

His hand cups my chin and pulls my face around until I’m looking into his crystal eyes. “First, you don’t use that flirty shit with my wolves. You’re my mate, end of story. Second, when I ask you a question, I expect it answered.”

The fuzzy feeling I experienced from finally getting away from my father dissipates into a puff of smoke. Xavier’s demanding tone sears my gut. It’s going to be exactly the same as if I lived in Alpha’s house. I won’t be able to do that with Xavier. His scent is too strong and my wolf wants him as fiercely as do I. The pull is too magnetic. I regress, searching for the imaginary bubble I used to protect myself all of these years. I find it and lock myself inside.

“I’m sorry. He said that he didn’t want us fucking in the back of the truck because he just cleaned it.” The change in my voice is clear as day, my tone utterly steady. I should have never used my real one. I should have known better.

Xavier’s brows draw together. He notices the change. He feels it. It’s written all over his face in a mask of confusion. This is Stepford Wife Zara, monotone, compliant. The one that has covered me up for years. While the hope of getting away from my father is very much alive, the hope of a new life is dwindling.

“What’s wrong?” he asks, totally ignoring the
fucking in the back of the truck
scenario and going for the guts.

“I’m ready to get away from my father.” I will not lie to him, maybe stretch the truth, but I won’t lie. I’ve dealt with enough lies to last me a hundred lifetimes.

“No. Something else. Your voice lost its spark and so did your eyes.” Observant man, he is. Need better masks. Got it. I’ll put that on the to-do list. Right next to my biggest. My father.

“It’s just beginning. My father won’t let me go. He will do anything and everything to get me back.” He only wants my power, not me. That thought slices me every time I think it because I myself mean nothing to him.

“Why is he so intent on you staying?” I listen for his thoughts, but there are none. This question is genuine.

“My power. I can hear others’ thoughts, as I told you. He says that I’m too valuable to be allowed to leave,” I say, my voice quieter than normal. I hate this shit.

“How did he keep you?” I gasp so deeply at his blunt question that I suck in every bit of oxygen in the truck. I can’t talk about that. I can’t. Fear floods me. Xavier pulls me into his hard, muscular chest and wraps me in his arms. I start to jiggle as he holds tight and I realize I’m shaking. “We’ll discuss it another time.” His hand begins moving in sensuous circles on my back, and I let myself relax into his touch and breathe.

The moment the breath is out, my chest tightens and thousands of little strings fly out of it. Not literally, but it feels like it and they are heading straight for Xavier. “Do you feel that?” I ask, my voice muffled with my head still tucked in his neck. But the emotion is back. This time I can’t hide it, can’t mask it. The feeling inside me is too strong, too powerful, and it’s taking me over.

“Yeah, babe. I feel it.” With our bodies wrapped in one another, my need for him grows to the point of explosion. I want to claw him, bite him, and mark him as mine and only mine. The need is so intense that it’s pulling me under and I don’t give a shit who’s watching. I look up at him to see the same fire burning in his eyes. “Babe, on a short leash here. Wanna get you safe first.” And he thinks he can’t read my mind. I smirk to myself and snuggle into his warm, safe body. I may be unsure of my new life, but this connection is so raw and pure that I couldn’t hide from it if I tried.

I never really knew what finding my mate would be like. Gave up the thought that this would happen to me. Ever. I thought I was hopeless. Now all I can grasp is that small bit of hope and hold it with all my might.

“BABE.” SOMEONE CALLS
above me, but I’m so tired, my eyes so heavy. So exhausted and the nightmares haven’t come. This is what sleeping in peace is and I don’t want to give it up. It’s been too long. I want to stay in this happy place. “Babe. I’m more than happy to carry you into the den with only my shirt on, but you might want to put some pants on for your first meeting with the other wolves.” I rouse instantly, the words
other wolves
ringing in my ears.

I lift off his chest, eyes darting around the confined space of the SUV. “We’re here?” I wipe my mouth. How damn attractive is drool? Geeze.

“Yeah. Max went up and got you some clothes. Put them on so we can get you in where it’s safe.” I waste no time putting the fabric on. I pull the jeans up with ease, leaving way too much room in them. I hope my hips will be able to keep them up. He brought no underwear so commando it is. I slip of his shirt and put the new one on. My nipples protrude through the thin material, but at least they are covered.

Xavier pulls me out of the car and then I follow in step with him. We had a moment in the SUV, but we also had a moment when he acted freakish, so truly I’m not sure who I should be yet. Which Zara does he want? Me, or Alpha’s version of me. I believe for now, I’ll stick with Alpha’s. It’s probably the safest.

The den, as he called it, is monstrous, four maybe five stories, but it looks as if it flows into the side of a huge hill or cliff. Xavier pulls me into a luxurious but incredibly homey entryway littered with framed pictures and even kids’ framed drawings. It gives off a very comfortable feel. He doesn’t stop for me to admire anything, just leads me up a set of stairs. We step into what looks like a living room but is at least five times the size of mine. Cream carpet, a giant television, and several couches and chairs fill the space, but that’s not what stops my feet from moving. It’s the amount of wolves staring back at me, some with rage burning, others with malice, and even a few blank stares.

“This is my mate.” Xavier so eloquently states as the mouths of the other wolves gape, but he pays it no attention. “Max,” he says to the shaggy blond. “Lock down everything. All wolves here and accounted for. Fire up the wires and make sure every surface is protected. Meeting with outside crew in twenty minutes. Alert the tower. Eyes everywhere.”

“Alpha, what’s going on?” A wolf with grayish-black hair steps forward and asks the question that is shining in everyone’s faces.

“First. Lock it down. I’ll meet with outside crew. Then we’ll have a meeting. All of us. Right now my mate and I have some things to discuss.” I’m once again pulled away and led down a hall then into an office. A huge redwood desk sits in the center with a sofa and recliners on the opposite side of it. Bookshelves line the walls and pictures grace the open spaces. It is as comfortable as the living room. Nothing like I’m used to. “Sit. Talk,” he instructs, interrupting my musings.