Wolf Creek Enforcer (9 page)

“I have David on the phone and he says he can be here by tomorrow.  He’s in Little Rock so he’s less than six hours away.  I need you to give him your address and the directions here,” Melanie said.

Taking the phone, Ian spoke with David.  He couldn’t really get a reading of the guy only speaking on the phone with him, so Ian would hold his opinion until he met him in person.  He did have a good
feeling in one sense because the first thing he’d done was to threaten him if he hurt his sister.  He could relate to that.

“So, what’d you think of my brother?” Melanie asked
, sitting on the end of the chaise.

“I
won’t know till I meet him in person, but he speaks my language.  He told me he’d kick my ass if I hurt you.  We have an understanding,” Ian said.

“Oh, how sweet.  A male bonding moment,” Melanie said
, wiping fake tears from her eyes. 

Before he could respond, Devlin stuck his head out the door.  “Mom called, they’re all staying in Dallas.  Lisa wants to go to the state f
air so Rafe and Dad got roped into going.”

“Oh, I love fairs.  Think we could go while David is here?” Melanie asked.

Ian groaned.  “Sure, I love going to loud, crowded places with teenagers making out in the Midway and on the rides.”

“Don’t be a party pooper.  It’ll be so much fun.  What’s the Midway?” Melanie asked.

Devlin came on out and sat in one of the chairs.  “That’s where the rides are.  There are a few fun ones but my favorite part of the fair is the food and the games.  I saw on the news that this years winning food is fried bacon cinnamon rolls and deep-fried jambalaya.  I can’t wait to try both!”

“You can’t be serious?  That sounds disgusting!” Melanie said.

“Hey, don’t knock it till you’ve tried it.  I’ve had fried butter, chicken fried bacon, fried PB and jelly, and fried banana split,” Devlin told her.

Now it was Ian’s turn.  “Don’t forget the deep fried latte, fried beer and the deep-fried peaches and cream.  There’s nothing a Texan won’t fry,” Ian said proudly.

“Excuse me while I go throw up,” Melanie said, making gagging sounds.

“Don’t worry, we’ll go easy on you.  The only food you can’t get out of eating is the Fletchers corny dog
s.  No one can resist one of those,” Ian told her seriously. 

Maybe
they could go while David was here.  He then let Devlin know that Melanie’s brother would be here tomorrow.

“On that note, I think I’ll fire up the grill.  All this talk of food has made me hungry.  Rafe already has the steaks thawing in the fridge,” Devlin said, rising. 

“Thank God you’re not frying the steaks,” Melanie said, grimacing.  “Can I do anything to help?”

“Nope, you just relax.  I’ll take care of it,” Devlin said.  “Now
, sometime soon, Ian’s going to have to take you to the diner in town for their chicken fried steak.  Trust me on this one, you’ll love it.  Smothered in country gravy with mashed potatoes on the side.  Nothing better.”

Melanie crawled back between Ian’s legs and leaned against his chest.  “Just curious, how high is
your cholesterol level?  Guess it’s a good thing I know CPR.”

Ian laughed, “We’re shifters, babe.  We burn right through it.”

“Must be nice, Fido,” she said. 

Devlin was scrubbing the grill while listening to them and laughed quietly.  Melanie was going to be good for Ian, he thought.

Melanie settled back in Ian’s arms, enjoying herself.  “Hey Devlin, if I throw a stick, will you bring it back to me?” she asked.

“Nope, but if you scratch behind my ear, I’ll thump my leg,” Devlin said, going inside to get the steaks.

Melanie was laughing at the mental picture she now had.

“If you rub my belly, I’ll rub yours,” Ian whispered.

* * *

After dinner, the three of them settled in the great room to watch some TV.  Devlin told them he would watch anything so Ian and Melanie played a round of rock, paper, scissors.  Melanie was not a graceful winner.
  She gloated.  

“Best of three,” Ian said.

“Nope.  I won fair and square. I think we’ll watch, ‘Say, Yes to the Dress,’” she told the men. 

They both groaned.

“How about ‘The Dog Whisperer’ instead?” she asked innocently.   

Around ten, Melanie started yawning.  “I’ll skip the news.  I’m going to shower and go to bed.  Night guys.”

Ian patted her bottom as she rose to leave.  “I need to make the rounds with my pack.  I’ll be up in a couple of hours, babe.”

“Okay Rex,” Melanie said, leaving the room.

“So how long are you going to keep calling her babe?” Devlin asked.

Ian grinned, rising.  “Until she runs out of dog names.”

Devlin shook his head.  “Pitiful.  Go run, I’ll be here on watch.”

“Thanks bro,” Ian said.

Melanie climbed into bed after her shower, crawling to the center and curling up on her side.  She couldn’t wait to see her brother tomorrow.  They certainly had a lot to talk about.  She hoped David got along with Ian.  Since he had always played the part of big brother so well, she hoped he understood that it was time to let her go.

David was just as intense as Ian.  She figured they would either hate each other on sight, or band together to gang up on her.  She hoped for the latter
, since she knew how to handle them both. 

No longer sleepy, Melanie scooted over to grab the remote off the nightstand.  Scanning the channels, she decided to watch Jimmy Kimmel.  He always made her laugh. 

* * *

Ian’s stepped outside and met with one of his enforcers. 
He gave him a quick synopsis about Melanie’s run in with a wizard, telling him to pass it along to the pack.  After hearing all was well, he quickly stripped and shifted to run with the pack.  They ran for miles, checking the borders of their property once again for any intruders.

After the problems they’d had with Ciar, Ian had some of his enforcers patrolling while the others were camouflage
d.  He’d placed his best snipers in the trees, knowing with their enhanced eyesight, they would alert him of any trespassers.  Since these men had been trained to sit for hours, he had every confidence in them.  The men would only use their weapons as a last resort, since they all preferred fighting in wolf form. 

By the time Ian returned, it was after midnight.  Devlin had gone to his room and Ian could see a light under the door so he tapped and stuck his head in. 

Devlin was sitting against his headboard with his knees propped up.  His laptop rested against his thighs and he barely looked up to acknowledge Ian. 

Shaking his head, Ian went on to his room.  Quietly op
ening the door, he saw Melanie in the middle of the bed fast asleep.  She was lying on her side under the blankets, with the remote clutched in her hand.  Ian pulled the remote from her fingers and switched the TV off.  He took a quick shower and crawled into bed with her.

Sliding over to curl around her, he snuggled his chest up against her back.  His arm fell naturally over her hip with his hand resting on her stomach.  He was asleep within moments.

Chapter 6

Ian was up a little before seven and left Melanie sleeping.  Once again, he met with his pack for the overnight report.  It had been a quiet night, according to his enforcers.  Always good to hear, he thought.

Going back in
side, he saw Devlin sitting at the bar with a cup of coffee.  Getting his own cup, he grabbed the newspaper before he sat down.  One of their pack members would always run into town for the paper.  The castle was not on any paperboy’s route. 

“Any idea when her brother will get here?” Devlin asked.

“My guess would be around noon.  That’s what I’d expect if he’s an early riser,” Ian said. 

“Okay, I’m going to be
in the office on my computer.  Yell if you need me,” Devlin rose and rinsed out his cup. 

He must be working on something, Ian thought.  He could tell Devlin had been distracted. 
It was probably some astronomical mathematical equation that only he understood.  Well, and maybe Melanie too.

Melanie walked in and went straight to Ian to stand between his legs.  He was perched on the barstool and made room for her as she snuggled up against him.  She laid her
head on his chest and sighed when his arms went around her.

Chuckling, Ian said, “You’re like a kitten, rubbing against me waiting for me to pet you.  I bet I could make you purr.”

Tilting her chin up, Ian kissed her.  Melanie pressed close up against him, practically crawling into his lap.  Ian grabbed her waist and lifted her up, settling her legs on either side of his thighs. 

Melanie leaned back, knowing he would support her and not let her fall.  “Meow,” she said, smiling. 

“Good morning,” he said.  “I’d make you breakfast except then I’d have to put you down.  So I guess you’ll just have to starve.”

Melanie laughed as she slid off of
him.  “Nope, no starving for me, I’m craving waffles.  Do you have any mix? I’ll make them for both of us,” she said. 

Ian stood and went to the pantry, bringing out the pancake mix.  As Melanie mixed the batter, Ian got the waffle iron down for her. 
He retrieved the bacon from the fridge and started frying it up. 

“Can’t have waffles without bacon,” he said.  “I’m a growing boy, I need my protein.  Make enough for Devlin.  He’ll smell the waffles and come running.”

They worked together, companionably.  By the time the food was on the table, they heard Devlin coming down the hallway.

“I told you,” Ian said.

“I smell waffles and bacon.  Did you know I love waffles?  Marry me,” Devlin said, dramatically.

“Funny, I got the impression you love food.  Period,” Melanie said. 

“See, bro?  She already knows me so well.  Guess you’d better step aside.  We were meant to be,” Devlin sighed. 

Ian slapped the back of his head as he sat down.  “Find your own mate,” he said.

“What are our plans this morning?” Melanie asked.

“I thought we’d take the horses and go for a ride.  I’d like to show you around
, meet some of the pack,” Ian said.

“Sounds good to me.  The only time I get to ride now is when I’m traveling and need transportation.  It’ll be nice to ride simply for pleasure,” Melanie
stood to refill their orange juice.

“I’ll just borrow Lisa’s boots for you since I’ve only seen you wear your pink running shoes.  If the size doesn’t work, we’ll find some other shoes,” Ian told her. 

Ian went to get the boots while they cleaned up.

Mela
nie ended up wearing three pairs of thick socks since Lisa’s boots were a little too large for her. 

After tacking up the horses,
they rode out into the woods.  The forest was beautiful with its’ changing colors.  Melanie saw leaves floating down from the trees, some red, some a golden yellow.  They were following a well used trail when she saw a wolf run across the path in front of them.  It sat beside the trail and watched them pass by.  She saw Ian nod to the wolf as he passed.  Must be a pack member, she thought.

“Hey, why aren’t the horses afraid of that wolf?  Or of you, as a matter of fact,” she asked. 

“They’ve been raised by us.  We breed our own horses so they’ve always been around us.  Whether in human or wolf form, the horses don’t fear our scent.  In the rare instance we’ve purchased a horse, we gradually get them used to the wolves,” Ian told her. 

“So you’re a horse whisperer?” Melanie joked.

“That would be Rafe.  That’s why he makes a good alpha, tons of patience,” Ian said. 

They came upon a dirt road
and Ian waited for her to come alongside him.  “See that huge oak tree at the end of the road?  I’ll race you to it.  Winner gets a favor, to be redeemed whenever the winner chooses,” Ian smugly waited on her answer.

Melanie looked over
at him and smiled.  “You’re on,” she said as she urged her horse forward.  She thought Ian must have forgotten that she had an affinity with animals.  Melanie was encouraging her horse to run as fast as she could, while mentally asking Ian’s horse to slow to a trot.

Ian could not understand why his horse was slowing.  He’d ridden Bandit for years and had a deep bond with his horse.  As Bandit slowly trotted to where Melanie sat grinning, he dismounted and glared at her.

“Bandit must have something stuck in one of his shoes.  That wasn’t a fair race,” Ian said while checking his horse.

He checked all four hooves and found nothing wrong.  He ran his hand over his flanks, checking for any injuries. 
Melanie had dismounted and stood watching him. 

“I won fair and square.  Don’t worry about Bandit, he’s fine,” she told him.

Ian slowly straightened up, “How do you know he’s fine?  He slowed down, that’s not normal.” he paused.