Walker's Run (11 page)

Unable to resist, he stroked her cheek, using his ability to help eliminate her pain. His gentle touch didn’t wake her. She continued to snore.

His brows rose when he caught the scent of the one person he’d come to think was his closest and most trusted friend. He eased out of the sleeping bag, trying not to wake Casey.

Manifesting warm clothing on his skin, he stepped out of the tent. A white Siberian tiger stalked around the fire, eyed him for a moment, and shifted into a petite young woman with long, dark, curly hair, and big brown eyes. He tossed a few large logs into the smoking embers and stoked the flames back to life. She smiled, clothing appeared onto her taut and tiny frame before she slowly made her way over to the fire.

“Morning Braedyn.” She looked up at him.

“Good morning, Amber. I assume you’ve brought news?” He took a deep breath of the crisp morning air.

“Yes.” She stuffed her hands into the pockets of her coat and moved closer to the warmth. “Her father set off into the forest this morning before Jazzy was able to get to the station. They are trying to stop him as we speak, but he's a retired Black Ops Marine...and so is the brother.”

Braedyn looked into the fire. “I’d hoped for one last night, to get through the moon phase.” He rubbed his hands together and shook his head.

“There’s something more,” she added, turning her gaze to the fire. “Tamara had a dream night before last.”

Braedyn furrowed his brow. She was the pack clairvoyant. A human wife of one of the Werewolves in the pack. “Of what?”

“Of a silver coated female.”

He rocked back onto his heels. “What did the dream entail?”

“Tamara said the silver coated wolf was unique in comparison to all other Weres. She would be highly sought after. Quite possibly the return of the Mother of all Weres: the Silver Wolf.” The Tigress looked at him and squinted her eyes. “Is your friend the Silver Wolf?”

He looked closely at Amber for a moment, wondering whether or not to share the information. Braedyn was good at hiding his emotions around other Weres, making it hard for them to read, even his own family. Once he had more time to think everything over and understand it himself, he would share the news with her.

“I smell her scent on you. Have you finally found your mate?” his friend asked. He was relieved that she was wise enough to change tactics when he didn’t reply.

Braedyn felt his cheeks redden.

The corner of her mouth lifted. “I thought as much.”

Clearing his throat, he shuffled his feet. “We’re discussing a hand-fasting.”

She cocked her brow and smirked at him. “Really?”

He shrugged and ran a hand through his hair. “She doesn’t know me. I don’t want to push her into marriage.”

Amber nodded and grinned. “And a hand-fasting would guarantee that no other male could step in to tempt her while she made her decision.” She sighed when Braedyn looked back towards the tent. “Your mother is excited to meet her since Elan sang praises of her beauty.”

“She’s doing well, then?” He smiled at the mention of his mother.

“For the time being. Her age, Braedyn,” Amber said tucking a long, curly strand of dark hair behind her ear. It was something neither of them wanted to consider. “You know your mother means a great deal to me, too. I had a hard time fitting in, and you both made sure I felt welcome. You made Walker’s Run my home. My own mother didn’t give a damn about me.” She stared into the flames alongside him.

He was silent a moment, struggling with his fierce Alpha nature to protect those he held dear. “Amber, all I can ask of you, is to keep her safe in my absence. Elan is too busy making it look like he'd make a good Alpha one day.” He took a deep breath and turned to her. “You are the only person I know without a doubt I can lay full trust in and know you won’t let me down without one hell of a fight.”

Her eyes took on a fierce look. “I will
always
look out for your mother.” She bit her bottom lip, pausing before speaking again. “If your friend is the one in Tamara’s dreams, news will reach Harlan.”

Braedyn stiffened at the mention of his uncle’s name. “If it gets to that, we’ll deal with that old bastard when the time comes.”

“In the meantime, what do we do about her father and brother?”

“I can only ask the elements and God to be on our side for one more day.” He glanced back toward the tent.

“And if not?”

“We’ll have to spring our engagement on them early.” He raised his brows and shrugged with a wry grin. “They’re her family, Amber. They mean everything to her. Just because Casey is a werewolf doesn't mean she won’t have a life any longer. We've been one of those packs that allows contact with family, invites them into our lives. All we ask for is secrecy in return.”

“And if it’s broken?”

Shaking his head, he frowned. “You don’t give people enough credit sometimes.” Because of what she’d experienced with her former clan, he understood why Amber had such a difficult time trusting anyone. No one should have to endure what she had, especially from those who called themselves family.

Amber gave him a look of indifference and shrugged. “I’m only trying to think of all the possible outcomes here.”

“You worry too much.”

“As the alpha, you should have taken care of Tala years ago. Instead you let her carry the grudge of your father's death
alone
. That’s the reason you’re here instead of at home. Now, you’re nursing a woman who paid the consequences for your father's rage by being chased down and changed against her will. It’s one thing for a human who knows about us and asks for it. Then another entirely for a rogue to go out and do this, thinking they’ve completed a kill. You
knew
this was coming, Braedyn.”

He glared at his friend a moment and sighed. Deep down, he had known eventually Tala would go after Casey, but he was too soft-hearted to order her death or be the one to murder his own blood. “I couldn’t kill my sister no more than Elan could. And I couldn’t give you the order to have it carried out because Tala was my family.”

“So instead, you stay behind and try to fix it.” Amber shook her head and a smile curved the edges of her mouth. “You have to admit it’s a little ironic.”

“How so?” He furrowed his brows, looking at her.

“That she would turn out to be your mate.”

“That decision isn’t final yet.” He shrugged his heavy shoulders. “I can’t force her to love me.”

“No, but you have loved
her
for a very long time. It’s the reason you’ve never chosen any of the females in the pack. Even when your pack joined with others.” She cocked an attractive brow at him, grinning. “You’ve never
wanted
anyone else.”

He allowed himself a small smile. “You’re right.” Nodding his head, Braedyn gave her a pat on the back. “Thank you for coming all this way to bring news.”

“I figured you would like a heads up in case you got some visitors.” She glanced back at the tent and ran her hands through her hair. “If she is the one Tamara dreamed of, you’ll need to get her to the Run as soon as possible so we can protect her.”

“We’ll see.” He kept his thoughts firmly in check. So far he’d been the only one to witness Casey’s change or her coloring. Amber knew this but couldn’t help pressing the subject once more before leaving.

With a respectful nod, she stepped back, looked away from him, flashed the clothing from her body, and returned to the form of the tigress. Gracefully, she loped her way back toward Walker’s Run.

Taking a deep breath, he sat down on the log and poked at the fire. He wanted nothing more than to crawl back into the sleeping bag and hold Casey’s warm body to his. She needed rest, but he knew her father was coming. It was very unlikely they’d make it through the afternoon without the untimely visit. No matter the terrain, two experienced Black Ops Marines were on their way.

Running his hands through his hair, he turned and ducked back through the opening of the tent. He found Casey sitting, huddled under her father’s wool blanket.

“How long have you been awake?” he asked, noticing there was no drowsy look in her eyes. Her jaw was firmly set and her shoulders tensed.

“Since you left the sleeping bag.” She shifted a little and looked up at him.

“How much did you hear?”

“Nearly everything.” She looked in his eyes. “A woman came searching for you in the middle of a forest, during a blizzard, and my dad and brother are on their way. Quite possibly I’m going to be more trouble to you than I’m worth.”

Braedyn furrowed his brows and sat down next her her. “How can you say that?”

“‘The silver coated one will be highly sought after?’ Something about some Harlan guy? A woman came looking for you in the forest in the middle of a blizzard,
that
means something.” She clenched the blanket even tighter.

Jealousy flashed in her eyes and Braedyn sighed when he saw how tight Casey’s grip was on her lifeline. “Did you also hear what else she said?” Touching her hand, he tried to soften her grip.

* * * *

Casey looked down at his hand stroking hers, trying to be angry. To push him away. But she couldn’t, not after what she’d inadvertently eavesdropped on. “I heard what she said about you being an alpha who refused to take a mate.” Her heart thudded in her chest, hearing from someone else what she'd seen and sensed in him only made it that much more real. He had loved her for a very long time.

Love...what did it mean? Casey knew she loved her father and brother and would put her life on the line for them. But what more was there? The sharing of their bodies as they’d already done? She couldn’t understand how he was so sure they were life mates. He’d waited all this time for her. What if she disappointed him?

“What are you afraid of?”

She shook her head. “Everything. I'm afraid I’m not what you were expecting. That I'll disappoint you. I've not been good at relationships, because the only men I knew I could count on in my life were my father and brother.”

“You can't disappoint me...”

“How can you
love
someone you don't know?” she asked looking up into his eyes.

“I have never felt this way around another woman in my life. My brother can see it. Amber, my trusted advisor, who was the one out there this morning;
she
could even tell. I usually have a pretty tight reign on my emotions. Wolves by nature are incredibly territorial, but I will be honest in saying I’d tear any male apart who laid a hand on you. Including any human men, aside from your father and brother, of course.” His fingers gently stroked across the back of her hand, belying his violent promise.

Releasing the blanket, she curled her fingers into his. She realized in touching him, her fear of hurting him was causing
him
pain. It was necessary to just let go and give herself over completely. The grief her mother had caused her father when she’d left him so long ago to take care of two young children, alone, was still a part of her. It was in her blood. Casey was terrified she could do the same to someone else. Looking down at his large hand cradling hers, she frowned.

“I’m scared of hurting you,” Casey admitted raising her eyes to his. “I’m terrified of becoming my mother.”

“We choose who we are. You can’t run away from your fears. You have to stand up and face them. I want nothing more than what you’re willing to give. But I can’t tell you I won’t do everything I can to show you my feelings.” His expression became serious. “My concern is the reaction of your father and brother.”

She laughed and shook her head. “How am I going to explain everything? I can’t. I guess the only thing I can do is introduce you as my new boyfriend, which is something I’ve never done. I haven’t brought anyone home since I was a teenager. And if they show up and see us together...”

Braedyn laughed and brushed some of her hair away from her forehead. “You’re an adult. I’m sure they both knew one day you’d find someone.”

She smiled. “Yes, but they are going to wonder why I am hiding out in a snow storm with him rather than bringing him to meet them. Explaining an engagement is going to be difficult. But I did offer for them to come and meet me out here.” She stroked his cheek and looked in his eyes. She did feel for him, a great deal more than anticipated. More so than any man she’d been with. The possibility of hurting such a good man and causing the same pain her mother had to her father, weighed heavy on her mind.

He took her hand from his cheek and kissed her palm. “We’ll do what we have to in order to smooth things over as best we can. Eventually we’ll tell them the truth.”

Casey’s eyes widened. “You mean of what I am now?”

“I figured you would since you’re so close to them...” His brows furrowed. “You don’t want them to know?”

“Not until I have everything under control.” She shook her head, feeling her heart pound again at the thought. “I want to know all about who and what I am before I try explaining it to my father.” A yawn crept up on her. Casey tried to fight her exhaustion.

“You’re still tired. You need to rest.”

She could see the concern in his eyes and nodded, allowing him to lay her back, cover her. Braedyn placed a gentle kiss on her lips. She placed her hands on his face and kissed him again.

“I have to dress that deer we took down last night if you’re going to get enough energy in for tonights last shift.”

“The sun has barely come up yet, lie back down with me for just a little while longer. Please?” She didn't want to be alone and slept better than ever when he lay next to her, holding her in his strong arms. “I rest better when you’re with me.”

The corner of his mouth lifted at her statement. “Sleep only, nothing more.”

She smiled. “I didn’t say anything about more, did I?” Though that would have been fine with her, Casey had to agree, she was exhausted.

* * * *

Braedyn willed the clothing from his body and climbed into the sleeping bag next to her. He had to fight to control himself when she curled her warm, naked body against his, lying her head on his chest.

He ran his fingers through her silvery blond hair, feeling her body relax. This was a comfort he had never known. It made him weak in ways that were unfamiliar, yet so much stronger in others.