Reclaim the Wolf: BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance (Wolf Valley Raiders Book 3) (9 page)

He came at her, swinging wildly, an easy target for Kira. One fist contacted with his stomach, making him double over, the breath shoved out of his body. That gave her the opportunity to smack his jaw, her fist on fire with the force, but she didn’t care: a rage was simmering inside her, taking the pain from her. She was fed up of the injustice of the town, the sheriff, and these men who thought they could take what they wanted.

Threading her fingers together to make a big fist, she brought them down across his back, knocking him clean out. She looked down on him, sprawled out in front of her. Only when her rage subsided did the full impact of what had happened hit her. She had stood up for herself, fought these men who would hurt her, and won.

It was empowering. And this time she didn’t stop to tie her attacker up; she just turned around and walked away. Not because she was scared, or afraid of the consequences, but because she was strong.

Heading back towards her truck, she knew now she was ready to tell Cole all about her past. She was also ready to forgive him for what he had done. He had acted the way he had, hurting and stealing, because of some outside force. Now he was free of that force, he had changed and was trying to make things right, not just because she was his mate. No, he had gone to see Fara before that. Before he knew Kira existed. Whereas these men were born to be bad, just like the sheriff.

“Kira.” Her head shot up; there stood a worried Cole by the side of her truck, his face a mixture of anger and fear. “What the hell happened? Who hurt you?”

“No one,” she said and then glanced down at her clothes; they were covered in blood. “It’s not mine.”

“Then who the hell’s is it?” He came to her now, the anger disappearing to be replaced by confusion. “Did something happen to Fara?”

“No. I haven’t seen her.” She let him embrace her and then pulled away. “I don’t want you to get this blood on your clothes. Let’s go home. I’ll get cleaned up and then we’ll talk.”

“I don’t care about my clothes.”

“Please, Cole. I want to wash this stuff off.” She couldn’t explain that she didn’t want him tainted by the blood of those cowards.

“As long as you’re alright. Are you in shock?”

“No. I am perfectly fine. In fact, I’m better than I have been for a long time. Let’s go home.” Taking his hand, she headed back to the truck. “We need to find my keys.”

Between them they searched the area she indicated, Cole fighting himself, his need to ask questions almost too much. All the time she scanned the area, but there was no sign of either wolf. Would they dare to come after her again?

She knew the answer. Yes. While the sheriff was corrupt, they would dare to do whatever they wanted. It was time the people of Wolf Valley made a stand against the corruption that had taken their beloved town from them.

After they found the keys, Kira drove back to the house a little faster than usual. She wanted to strip off her clothes and burn them. After, she would take a shower and scrub her skin, washing away the last few years of her life. Then she would talk to Cole … and afterwards, she wanted to be with her mate, in bed.

“Why don’t you go and put some coffee on,” she said when they reached the house. “I am going to shower.”

Walking away from him, she felt his concern, but she ignored it, needing to change and shower. Kira went straight to the bathroom, stripping off her clothes and leaving them in a pile on the floor, and then she switched on the warm water and stepped under it. Instantly she felt better, alive in a way she hadn’t experienced for some time. It was as if Cole coming into her life had set things in motion. A drip that was becoming a flood as her resolve strengthened. She planned to wash Wolf Valley clean.

Outside she heard the bathroom door open, and Cole came in, his footsteps on the linoleum approaching the shower. Kira expected him to ask if she was OK. But when he pulled the shower curtain back, his body told her he had other ideas.

“Cole, what’s wrong?” she asked.

“Nothing. I just thought I needed another shower too.” Too quick to be human, he removed his clothes, and stepped into the shower with her.

Taking the soap from her hands, he made a rich lather and then proceeded to wash the dirt and dried blood from her body. “I wanted to make sure no one had hurt you.”

“They didn’t,” she said, but then he took her hand in his and inspected the bruises and torn skin of her knuckles. “I got into a fight.”

“I can tell.” He kissed the palm of her hand, his tongue circling it. “I would hate to see the other guy.”

Damn, he excited her, her nipples becoming hard points as her arousal grew, something that didn’t go unnoticed by Cole. Making more creamy lather, he began to massage her breasts, his fingers tweaking her nipples, pulling them in such an exquisite way her sex dripped with need.

The hot water washed the soap away, and he lowered his mouth to suck on each nipple in turn, his mouth nursing each taut bud until her knees went weak. Taking the soap from his hands, she made her hands soapy and decided to return the favour, her hands stroking his cock, lubricated by the white suds.

Cole slipped his hand between her thighs, and pressed a finger inside her, making her whimper against him. In and out he pushed, another finger joining the first, while her hands moved up and down, mimicking his rhythm. All the time his mouth pleasured her breasts, leaving her a heaving mess of need.

“Damn it. I want you now.” He lifted her, pressing her back against the cold tiles, but his body warmed her, sliding against her, as the suds washed away. His body nestled between her thighs, his cock hard, demanding, and then he was inside her. One slick motion and he filled her.

Kira clung to him, her nails digging into his back as she urged him to take her harder. The adrenaline was still flooding her body, telling her to grab hold of this life and not let it go. Their future was together; their future was in Wolf Valley.

Cole cried out, his hands supporting her, holding her in place while he pulled out of her almost completely and then thrust back in. Each stroke took them both higher until they came. Together, as one, they burst across the threshold into untold pleasure.

He held her until the aftershocks had subsided, and then let her gently down to the floor. She slumped against him, utterly spent. The day had drained her physically and emotionally and now her release had taken the last of her strength. Tenderly, Cole washed her hair, lovingly soaping her body and then washing it away before drying her.

When he was satisfied, he picked her up and carried her to her bed. Leaving her for a few moments, he then returned with some food and coffee. Silently she ate, assembling her thoughts, knowing she couldn’t allow this fatigue to stop her telling him everything he needed to know. This was to be a release of a different kind. A release of her pent-up emotions, a release of the past.

“Your dad was the sheriff?” Cole asked.

She nodded. “For thirty years. Even after the old alpha died he kept the town together, making sure he stomped out any trouble before it could take hold.”

“What happened, Kira?” He could tell how difficult this was for her. But he knew this had something to do with what happened today, and he needed to know so he could go and rip someone’s head off.

“I went travelling; you know, wanted to see what was on the other side of the mountains.” She took a shuddering breath, summoning her courage. Cole held her hand, feeling the slight tremble, but urging her on. “When I was driving home, I met Frasier. That’s the sheriff’s name. He was hitching a lift and we hit it off…”

“So you brought him to Wolf Valley?”

She nodded, a tear running down her face to plop on the bed. No wonder she found this hard. He was beginning to guess that Frasier took the job of sheriff from her dad. But how much force did he use?

“He came and stayed with us. He seemed to fit in well; the people in town liked him. Dad took him under his wing, trusted him. So when Frasier began acting weird, I thought it was just me, perhaps I was jealous of the relationship he built up with my dad.”

“Then little things started to happen. The crime in Wolf Valley began to increase. My dad shared his suspicions that it was a local. And gradually we became suspicious of Frasier. But my dad, being who he was, wanted to give Frasier a chance to own up and put things right. So he took him into the mountains on a camping trip.” She wiped her tears away. “My dad never came back. Well, not alive at least.”

“Frasier killed him?” Cole asked, shocked.

“Yes. At least I’m sure he did. But he came back covered in scratches and said they were attacked by whoever had been stealing stuff. Frasier said he had chased them off, but not before my dad was killed. Said he was overpowered.” She sobbed, before taking a long, shuddering breath. “He was shot with his own gun.”

“And the people in Wolf Valley believed Frasier’s version?”

“Yes. They had no reason to suspect him. The thefts stopped. He was hailed a hero, and to them his character was unblemished, so they agreed he should be the new sheriff. Helped by the fact he told them my dad pressed the badge into his hand and with his dying breath told him to carry on his work.”

“But surely when things began to fall apart, it became obvious what had happened?”

She shook her head. “He’s too clever for that. It was months before he started to flex his muscles, and then he only picked on the weak, those that had no one to watch out for them. But gradually fear grew. Those who lived on the wrong side of the law began to bribe him. It was all very subtle, it still is. There is never any proof, only whispers and rumours, because people are scared.”

“Then it’s time for a change.” He touched her face, stroking her cheek. “And today?”

“I don’t know what their names are. But I saw them as we left town. One turns into the mangiest mutt I’ve ever seen. The other is big and slow.”

His heart stopped beating for a moment. “You mean Lance and Jed?”

“You know them?” She saw the shocked expression on his face. “They were the guys you ran with, the ones who attacked Fara?”

“I think so. I also think we’ve found out what they’ve been up to since we kicked them out. It sounds as though they would fit right in with your sheriff.”

“Not anymore. I don’t intend to let the sheriff run this town any longer. You might not be the alpha, but that doesn’t mean we can’t restore law and order here.”

“I think you’re right.” Cole pulled her to him. “I’m so happy you’ve told me all this. And I can only again apologise for what me and my brothers did.”

“I think you came here for a reason. Maybe it’s time the beta’s son took over his inheritance, until the next alpha turns up.”

Cole closed his eyes, breathing in her scent. Could he possibly live up to her expectations? Her father had been such a good man. There was only one way to find out. If he could wrestle control back, then he would feel his debt to Wolf Valley repaid.

“This all sounded so much easier in my head,” Kira said.

“It will work out,” Cole reassured her. “If what we’ve heard is true, the people of Wolf Valley must be more than ready for a change. We are going to make enough noise that most of them will be drawn out of their houses. Then I will challenge Frasier, and take back your dad’s badge.”

“And what happens then?” Kira asked.

“Then we find a new sheriff. One who wants the best for the town.” Cole smiled at her, and her heart squeezed in her chest, panic threatening to spill over. This was such a risk. She should stop it now, tell him they must abandon Wolf Valley and make a good life of their own somewhere else.

However, she knew they could never be happy. Her father deserved justice, the town deserved justice, and today was the day it was going to be served.

“Let’s do this.” She sounded confident, but inside her wolf whimpered, scared of the man who took her father away.

They drove through the deserted streets into the centre of Wolf Valley. Here and there, a few locals went about their business, but there were nowhere near as many people on the streets as there used to be. Kira remembered how busy the town was when she was a little girl. When people felt safe, the town was prosperous.

It strengthened her resolve. Even when the sheriff’s car appeared behind them, lights flashing.

“Pull over,” Cole said, looking at his watch. “Any minute now the fireworks are about to start; then Frasier will head for the commotion and we will follow. OK?”

She nodded. Trusting him, trusting in their plan. This had to work.

“Now, I thought I told you two
nicely
to leave this town.” The sheriff stood at the passenger window, which Cole had wound down. “I don’t like asking twice.”

“Is that why you set your two dogs on Kira?” Cole asked.

Frasier grinned. “I have no idea what you are talking about. Although I did hear you assaulted two men, Kira. I think it might be time you and I had a little chat in my office. For old times’ sake.”

“She’s not going anywhere with you, Sheriff,” Cole said.

“Last time I looked, I was wearing the badge, sonny.”

“The same badge you took from the chest of the last sheriff.”

“Have you been telling him your stories again, Kira. What, did she tell you that I killed her father? She really does need to get a grip on reality. As if I would pull a man’s own gun on him and shoot him with his own bullets. What kind of man does that?”

There was no doubt in Cole’s mind that Frasier was enjoying every minute of this. Especially when he went to take the gun from his holster, saying, “This is the very same gun. Would be a coincidence if it ended up killing your mate too, now wouldn’t it, Kira?”

“With the very same hand pulling the trigger,” she flashed back.

“Well, if you don’t want that to happen, then you should come with me. I have a private office where I could take you and strip-search you. I expect you would like that. A real man touching you. Your boyfriend can even watch.”