Untamed Hearts (BBW Biker Werewolf Romance) (11 page)

“What’s in the bag?”

“Bits and pieces of my former life, I guess.” She shrugged. “The only pictures I have of my mom and dad, old friends...some letters I got, back before I knew better than to let someone know where I was.”

Gunner nodded, then pointed across the room to a small shelf.

“The only pictures I have of my dad.” He gave her a smile filled with memories. “Most of them I took when I was a kid, so he’s lopsided, or I’d cut off the top of his head.” The smile faded. “But they’re all I have left of him.”

“None of your mom?”

Gunner’s eyes dropped and he turned away, looking out the big window. She winced. Obviously she’d hit a nerve.

“I’m sorry, Gunner.”

He shrugged. “I never knew her. No one talked about her much, including my dad. She wasn’t part of my life.”

Claire set down the leather satchel and closed the distance between them. She slid her arms around his waist, resting her head on his back. He covered her hands with his and they stood for a long moment, the quiet of the cabin surrounding them.

G
unner led Claire back down the mountain path. When they came to the spot where Adrian had dragged her, she hesitated. He turned and saw the fear on her face as she scanned the forest.

“I can see him, all bloody and deformed, hiding behind every leaf and branch. I half expect him to lunge out and attack.”

“He’s not here, Claire. You’d be able to smell him. And stealth isn’t his style, you know that.”

She didn’t look reassured by his words, but she moved on down the path.

He left her while he made his way through the brush to his motorcycle. As he came around the corner on the bike, he saw her standing by the side of the road, looking down at the skid marks Adrian’s car had left. Her arms were wrapped around her body, her face drawn and pale. They hadn’t talked about what he’d done to her or said in the car. She hadn’t offered, and he didn’t want to push her. When she was ready, he’d listen.

He pulled up and she wordlessly climbed on the bike. Then he turned the bike around and they headed back to the city.

“I want to see Reece.”

They’d stopped at a rest stop. Claire stood on the grass, working the kinks out of her back. Shading her eyes against the sun, she looked at him for a long moment.

“I don’t have anywhere else to go. My apartment...” She shrugged. “I’m never going there again.”

Gunner pulled out his cell and made the call. The relief in the older man’s voice was clear, and Gunner felt a pang of distress. It hadn’t occurred to him that Reece would be worried, and for a minute he was overwhelmed by the thought.

The bike shop was dark except for a dim light at the back of the shop. Gunner took the bike around the back, parked it in the alley, and together they headed to the side door of the building.

Reece was sitting behind his desk, a half-empty bottle of whiskey and a glass in front of him.

“Hey, Gunner. You’re a sight for sore eyes. Claire, I’m glad you’re safe.” He came around from behind the desk, engulfing Gunner in a bear hug. There was a brief, awkward moment where Reece looked at Claire, then pulled her against him in an equally strong embrace.

“Sit down.” He motioned them toward the wooden chairs in front of the desk as he sank back into the chair behind his desk.

“I expect you two have questions. I’m not sure I have any answers that are going to help, or if you’re just going to end up more confused by the end of it at all, but I can tell you what I know and what I’ve learned from Malone.”

“You’ve had some of these answers for a long time, Reece. I think it’s time I know everything there is to know. It’s my history, you know?”

Reece waved his hand and nodded. “Yeah. I know. Been dreading this conversation since you called.” He poured whiskey into his glass, tossed it back, and set the glass back on his desk.

“I don’t really know where to start. None of this is easy.” He looked at Gunner and Claire and rubbed his hand across his eyes. Gunner thought Reece suddenly looked twenty years older.

“You know Victor’s a powerful Alpha. And Adrian’s his son...only he’s not Victor’s only son.” Reece pointed at Gunner. “You’re his kid, too. Adrian’s half-brother.”

Reece set his elbows on the desk. “You never knew your mother. None of us did. We knew your dad...the guy you thought was your dad...knew his whole pack. Never had any problems with them. Then, your dad turns up dead. Hell, the whole pack turned up dead. And you...there you were, with no home. So Malone took you in.”

The glass was full again and Reece took another drink, staring for a minute into the empty glass. His voice was distant with memories. He went on, almost to himself. “You were a hellion, no doubt. Took off as soon as you could, but you always came back.”

Gunner leaned forward. “Reece. Do you know who killed my dad? Or why?” Reece looked up at Gunner, his tired eyes bloodshot.

“I do. I’d hoped I’d never have to tell you any of this, kid. Or who it was.” He turned his eyes toward Claire, and Gunner caught the glint of tears. “And I’m sorry to be the one to have to say this, to both of you. But so help me, it’s the truth.”

Gunner stole a glance at Claire. She was starting at Reece, brows drawn together. Her confusion was just as deep as his.

“Claire, it was your father that Victor sent to kill Gunner’s dad...and to kill Gunner.”

Claire made a strangled noise. Gunner turned to her, reaching for her hand. The world suddenly felt unstable, like he’d downed the whiskey, not Reece. He shook his head and tried to focus on Reece, trying to convince his mind to accept the man’s words.

“So Victor had my pack killed? And then my dad? Why?” Even to his own ears, his voice sounded strange, unreal. Pretty much everything he’d heard sounded unreal.

“No, son. You have it backwards. Victor wanted you dead, wanted you out of the picture. This was before he knew Adrian was sick. He didn’t want you showing up, looking to challenge Adrian as Alpha. The accident...your father’s murder...it was supposed to be both of you that got killed. The pack...he went after them, systematically, looking for you. Killed them, thinking they were hiding you. But he didn’t know you’d come here, that Malone took you in.”

“And my father? Why did Victor have him killed?” Claire gripped Gunner’s hand, eyes locked on Reece.

“He didn’t do his job, didn’t get it done. Didn’t kill our Gunner here.” He gestured toward Gunner. “Don’t do Victor’s work, suffer the consequences.”

Claire pulled her hand away, folding her arms across her chest.  She sunk into her chair, eyes on the floor. They sat in tense silence, Gunner desperately trying to understand what this must be like for Claire, trying to understand what this meant for him, and for them together.

“So what about Adrian? What’s wrong with him?” Her voice was distant, rough with emotion.

“The kid’s sick, no doubt. From what I heard from Malone, it’s the reason behind the whole marriage between the two of you. Get him married, get you pregnant ...put another Alpha in line. Someone other than Gunner. Adrian’s not long for this world, and you know better than anyone how crazy he is.”

Claire slumped in her chair. Gunner looked over at her. Her face had gone pale, her breathing shaky.

“So I was nothing more than an incubator to carry the next Alpha? So much for true love.” Her laugh was short and bitter. She turned to Gunner.

“What now, Gunner? What do we do? I don’t want to run anymore.”

Gunner leaned toward her. “You’re not running anymore. You’re with me, remember? I’m not going to let anything happen to you, not going to let Adrian or Victor get to you. Trust me. I’ll keep you safe.”

He saw a flash of uncertainty in her eyes, but he didn’t know what else he could say to make her understand just how much she meant to him.  She held his eyes and he saw the confusion clear, the uncertainty fade. She squared her shoulders, lifted her chin, and drew in a deep breath. Then she smiled, and the doubt was gone. She squeezed his hand.

“I trust you...with my life. And Gunner...I love you.”

Gunner’s world came to an abrupt halt for a heart-stopping moment, and everything he had heard from Reece, the truth about his father, his history, it all faded. Claire had said the words, she loved him, and for that moment, it was all that mattered.

He turned to her, holding out his hand. “I love you, too, Claire. For always.”

She reached across to him, closing the distance between them. As her hand disappeared in his, he felt her fingers trembling, and he squeezed tightly.

“No more running, Claire.”

“Gunner...” Reece’s voice pulled him away, and he turned.

“Remember, you’re still a wanted man.”

“What do you mean?” Gunner asked, confused.

“Victor still wants you dead. You’re still very much a threat. To Adrian, and to Victor himself.”

Gunner shook his head, brows furrowed. “But I don’t want to be Alpha. Never will.”

Reece nodded, his face drawn tight. “That doesn’t matter. They’re going to come after you...especially since you’re involved with her.” He jerked his head toward Claire. “You’re a marked man.”

Gunner sat back, frustrated. Beside him, Claire made a noise between a sob and a sigh.

“Gunner...I can’t let you...”

He stood, pulling Claire up from her chair. She came toward him with a gasp. His hand lifted, the backs of his fingers smoothing her cheek. “You’re not letting me do anything. I’m standing by you because this is where I want to be. Now and always. I’m not going to let anyone hurt you. No more running, remember?”

He whispered against her hair, and she felt the warmth of his breath wash over her skin. “You have my word, Claire. I love you, and we’ll get through this together. I will never leave you.”

Her head lifted from his chest. “No more running,” she agreed. “I love you, too. I always will.”

He held her tightly against him, the beat of her heart thudding against his broad chest. She fit perfectly in his warm embrace, and she knew it was exactly where she belonged. For always.

* * *

Stay tuned for the follow-up to Untamed Hearts, “Wild Desires”, available June 2014!

C
atherine Vale has been writing fiction for as long as she can remember, but it wasn't until she wrote her very first paranormal romance story that she found herself hooked on the raw, edgy love affair of shifters, vampires and other dominant alpha males and the captivating women that love them. 

Catherine Vale writes both contemporary and paranormal romance for readers who are willing to take a walk on the wild side of love. Her stories always include powerful alpha males, smart and sassy heroines and a happily-ever-after (even if she often puts her characters through hell to get there!)

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