Raber Wolf Pack Book One (8 page)

Heavens, I love my brother. I’ve always been able to count on him for anything and everything. “I’ll stay the night.”

“Fine. But do not leave. Do you hear me?” he demands.
‘Or I’ll skin you my damn self,’
he thinks.

I swallow my giggle. He would never, but it is for the best that I stay. “I will.”

We pull into pack territory, which is two thousand acres in Lakeside, Georgia, full of woods, secluded so we can live our lives without the threat of human attacks. Not saying humans are bad, there are just the select few who are set on destroying our kind.
Then you have the humans that you stand next to at the grocery store, they smile at you and can’t tell any difference between you and them. It’s a very thin balance between wolves and humans, but so far so good.

Zane drives past the main house that is lit up like a Christmas tree. I look down at my phone to find several texts, but don’t open them and instead, shut off my phone as Zane follows the gravel road around the house and through the woods. Five minutes later, he pulls up to the small ranch house of my Nana O. The living room light is shining bright. I knew she would know I needed her.

Zane stops the car, throwing it into park. “Zara. Are you sure you’re okay? You need to let me know what’s going on so I can help you.”

I reach for his hand and squeeze it, doing my best to assure him. “I’m fine.”

‘No you’re not!’
his thoughts scream, but he stays silent and nods.

“Love you.”

As I exit the car, I hear him say, “Love you back.”

I head straight for the porch, the door opening before I even get to it. My Nana O stands in the doorway. Her long black hair twisted up in a bun on the top of her head, her nightshirt hanging down to her knees. Nana O’s deep green eyes sparkle with warmth and a beautiful smile graces her face. Even being centuries old, she looks like a healthy forty-year-old human.

“Baby Zara. Come in, come in,” her comforting voice calls and I move immediately to her, wrapping my arms tightly around her body and squeezing. She shuts the door, reciprocating. Being in her arms is safe, calming, and even though I see her all the time, it’s moments like these that I love the most. Her being there and knowing she’ll always be there.

Her hand strokes my hair and I turn my mind off for a moment, relishing the feel. Giving myself just a second more of calm before I have to tell her.

“Come sit. Tell me everything.” She pulls away and I follow behind her to the living room. Her home is very well kept, with butter cream walls and navy drapery, hardwood floors and the smell of comfort. I sit in one of the two recliners and she takes the other. She doesn’t speak and I hear nothing coming from her.

“I need your help,” I blurt out.

“I gathered that from the early wake up call.” I know it’s one in the morning, but no one else could help me. She grabs the throw blanket from the arm of the chair and pulls it onto her lap.

“Something is happening to me, Nana O. I think I’m getting my powers.” Her face lights up as I tell her exactly what transpired tonight at the party, not leaving anything out. Not even the part about Seth or the words he said to me, nothing. I hear no thoughts from her and part of me wishes I could. Why isn’t it working with her? I scrunch my brows in confusion.

“Because I blocked you, child.” She answers my unspoken question and my body tenses. She’s blocking me. Wolves can do that? “You most definitely have your power and, young lady, it’s a very powerful one. You know that mated couples can communicate with each other without talking.” I nod. This is common knowledge in the community. “What you have is different.” She pauses briefly then continues. “From what I know from hundreds of years back, this select power is only given to a few. The few that have helped our people survive. You, my dear, are destined for great things.”

What? “How…what? And how did you know I was wondering why I couldn’t read you?” I stutter out. All of this is a bit overwhelming and the questions spew out of my mouth quickly.

“I could feel it. Feel you searching in my head for my thoughts.” I raise my brow because this is just nuts. “Go with it, Zara. The rest, I’ll tell you when the time is right.”

“But what do I do now, Nana O? The voices cause searing pain, and what about the pack?”

Nana O leans back in her recliner, and begins to rock back and forth. “First, we call your father. You tell him everything you know and let him handle that male. The other part we will need to work out. Obviously, you’ll need to tell your mother, but other than that I would keep this power close to your vest.”

“I figured that,” I mutter, resting my head back on the plush pillow and closing my eyes, trying to shut everything out.

“At any point were you able to block out any of the voices?”

I try to remember. “Once when I focused only on the monitor. When I did that, the others were still there, but in the background. Not as prominent.”

“You need to work on your focus. Especially when there are large crowds of people.”

“And how do I do that?” I ask on an eye roll.

Nana full-out smiles. “We’ll work on it together. Grab the phone and call your father.”

THAT ONE PHONE
call to my father changed the direction my life took. It was also the last time that I have spoken with or seen Nana O.

Xavier sits stoic, no emotion, but no doubt taking in everything that I’ve said. After telling him about that fateful night, I tell him everything else. Everything from each moment I was in the cage. Each time I acted like a Stepford Wife. Everything. I leave nothing out. After a few long moments, the air in the room begins to change, causing the hair on my arms to stand at attention. I swear I’ll hear a crackle at any moment.

“Who’s Seth?” His question catches me off guard. I mean questions about my father and his pack, I expected. This I did not. Everything else weighs heavier than Seth. Doesn’t it?

“Alpha never figured it out. That is still a mystery that has yet to be solved. He believes he’s from a rogue pack since no one by that name or description is in any of the others, to his knowledge.” He rises from the chair, quick as a flash, and then stands in front of me, lifting me to my feet.

“I am your alpha. Your mate. You will not refer to that man as Alpha again. Do I make myself clear?” Fear is what I should feel, right? Nope. Turned on. Way turned on. So turned on whatever is happening down south would shoot off like a bottle rocket if I could move my thighs to the right just a little bit. “Do you understand?” he repeats and I stop movement.

“Yes,” I say softly, controlling my voice to not allow my lust to show.

“And none of that shit,” he barks.

“What shit?” I cop back, the old me rearing her ugly head, and I instantly retreat. Shit. I didn’t mean to cuss at him. I suck in my lips, my body growing tense.

“That.” He points his finger to my face. “That closed up bullshit. I’m not like
him
. I’d never hurt you and I’d die to keep you safe.” My heart warms, the pieces starting to click back into place. He inches forward, his lips so close to mine I can feel his breath on them. I suck in his scent. Dirt, trees, rustic, power, man. Heavens, it’s so good. And better, I can be me. The real me. Can I?

“You have a beautiful smile. Give me those lips.” He doesn’t wait for me to give them—he takes. His lips are soft yet firm and demanding, coaxing. He tastes of pure intoxicating alpha male testosterone. I reach around his neck, lacing my fingers through his hair, more to keep me grounded to earth before I float away than anything else. But his hair is so soft and I moan, deep.

He growls and nips my bottom lip before pulling slightly away. “Oh Heavens,” I whisper breathlessly. This man can kiss. I instantly think of other things his mouth would be good for. I clasp my bottom lip in my teeth, trying to control my thoughts. He presses his forehead to mine then with his nose and lips, he grazes each side of my face, shooting electricity through every cell of my body. Marking. This is what it feels like. This glorious feeling that I thought was dead to me, is mine and only mine. I suck in every pass he gives me, my wolf wagging her tail in delight.

“Unfortunately, we don’t have time for all the things I and my wolf are dying to do to you. Including, marking you with my bite so every motherfucker around knows you’re mine. Gotta get this shit sorted first.” Disappointment fills me and I instantly feel like an ass. I shouldn’t allow my libido to kick in right now.

“Tell me about this pill?” The twist in my stomach is back, the biggest reason being because I know nothing about it.

“Before I could get out, I had to take it. Only thing I know is that it was orange and yellow. After I took it and met up with Ian, the other wolves in the pack smelled that we were true mates. Neither of us smelled it at all.”

“You are not mates,” he bites out hard.

“I know that. I told you that I didn’t smell it.” I feel like I need to reassure him or make him okay with the situation.

“I just don’t like this shit. So everyone is going to smell another male on you.” He shakes his head. “No, I don’t fucking like this shit at all.”

“I’m sorry I—”

‘You just wait until I get my hands on you. And I will, Zara, mark my fucking words. Ask your brother what I do to traitors, if you can find him.’

My body tenses at the sound of my father’s voice in my head and I shoot away from Xavier, cowering in the corner of the room, as fear cuts through me like a sharp blade.

“What is it?” Xavier asks, hesitantly approaching, taking small steps. I must look like a damn scared cat given the way he’s acting, but I’m momentarily paralyzed.

“Mm-my father. He knows I’m gone. He’s pissed.” Terror fills me, my body trembles. “He can’t find me. I won’t go with him. I’ll kill myself before I let him take me again. I won’t go.” My head shakes in fear. I’ve hid it for so long, but every bit of it comes rushing to the surface at once. I sag down in the corner, but Xavier wraps his arms around me, holding me close to his chest. I breathe him in, willing my nerves to calm down, but the fear is so heightened it’s difficult.

“That piece of shit won’t get anywhere near you. He has no idea who he’s fucking with.” His anger resonates through his words as he kisses the top of my head over and over again.

“But you don’t understand. He’s ruthless and always gets what he wants.” He doesn’t get that my father has killed wolves only for existing. Taking away his prized star is an automatic death sentence.

His nose and lips brush each side of my face again and some of the fear dissipates, but I can’t stop the trembling. “My men and I will die before that motherfucker gets anywhere near you. I give you my oath.” I freeze, his words are so primal, but it only solidifies that what we have is true and pure.

I pull away, looking up into his eyes and unable to form words.

“You come with me and we’ll talk to the outside crew, tell them what to look for, then we need to address the pack. Max and Thor know about your ability, but I told them to keep their mouths shut and they will. They’re loyal to the core. I don’t like hiding shit from the rest of my pack, but we gotta get this sorted before we tackle that.”

“Okay,” I say, knowing he’s right and praying he knows what he’s doing. “My…my father said that I should ask my brother what he does to traitors.”

“Your brother Zane?”

“Yes. I haven’t seen him since I was locked in the cage and my father beat him to death then had the healer bring him back to life. I’ve tried to listen to his thoughts, but he’s blocked me.” I tried and tried, my heart breaking more and more each time I couldn’t reach him.

“Damn, babe. Sorry. We’ll take care of all this. Do you hear your father anymore?”

“No, he blocked me.” I’m not sure if that’s a good or a bad thing. “I can get into the minds of the others, try to find one that hasn’t blocked me, but I’m sure by now everyone has. I’m sure he ordered it.” No doubt telling my secret to everyone there.

“You try that while we do this other shit.” I breathe out deep and focus on connecting with my brother.