Wolf Creek Sheriff (Texas Pack 4) (Prequel) (Wolf Creek Shapeshifters) (6 page)

“I think it’s time we head back to Wolf Creek. We still need to give the potion to Doan,” Robert said as he stood watching.

“Thank you for your help, Colin.” The dragon lord nodded his thanks before focusing on her. “I am sorry one of my dragons threatened you, Stephanie. We are protectors, not barbarians. I deeply regret that your visit here may have colored your views about us.”

Stephanie took a moment to clear her throat. “One mound of dirt in a field of diamonds doesn’t tarnish the entire field.” Wow, where did that come from? She sounded positively deep and clever with that one.

“Your gracefulness is as dazzling as your beauty.” The dragon grinned slightly when Colin growled. “Too much?”

She stroked Colin’s arm, soothing the beast inside. Learning how to handle her mate was coming naturally too her now. She figured he had been on the same adrenalin rush but was doing better with the crashing part. But she was still pissed at him and working up a nice rant when the dragon lord spoke.

“Go. I’ll be looking for Doan to report in soon.” The dragon lord walked away with a few of his dragons following.

“Shall we?” Robert asked before laying a hand on them both.

The world swirled around her as once again she was transported via the Fae Magical Express Ride.

S
tephanie pushed
herself out of Colin’s arms and stomped off down the trail towards the castle. “Hey, Mr. dying is fine with me guy,” she threw over her shoulder, “you don’t tell the bad guy you’re all kinds of cool with offing the hostage.”

Her rant stopped when she stood in front of the castle. Hands on hips, she took in the home of the werewolf brothers. Who built a freaking castle in the woods? The huge door opened and out came the aforementioned with Rafe in the lead.

“Did you…” Rafe was cut off when Colin roared.

“I would not have let him kill you! I knew he wasn’t ready to die, he knew there was no way he would live if he hurt you.” Colin raked a hand through his hair in frustration.

“How could you be so sure? The guy was nuts,” she shouted back at him.

Colin’s teeth ground together, lips barely moving. “We’ll discuss this at home, come along Stephanie.”

“Oh man, big mistake,” Devlin whispered from where he stood by his brother.

“Bite me, asshole. I’m not going anywhere,” Stephanie stated as she poked him in the chest.

The three brothers had not moved from their place on the landing in front of their home, too enthralled with the show on their front lawn.

“See? This is why I’m single,” Ian claimed. “When I find my mate, she will follow my lead because she’ll know I’ll only do what’s best for her.”

“Yeah, I can’t wait,” Rafe said sarcastically. “And somebody go get Colin some clothes, naked after shifting is fine. Naked man arguing on my lawn is not.”

Ian nodded in agreement. “Yeah, we don’t need to see that crap.”

Devlin slapped Ian on the back. “I can’t wait to meet this make-believe perfect woman that will actually agree to be your mate.”

Ian shrugged his brother off, going back to watching the couple as Robert moved to stand next to Rafe so he could speak over the yelling.

Robert waved his hand and Colin was covered in a pair of jeans and a black t-shirt.

“Where’s Doan?” Robert asked.

“He’s sleeping in one of the guest rooms. He and Dev were at Charlie’s last night and didn’t get home till this morning,” Rafe said.

“It was a good way to keep him occupied.” Devlin shrugged. “He thinks he got away with going to a bar and sneaking some beers. Man, he’s a really obnoxious sixteen-year-old. He hits on every woman he meets, online or in person and takes my headset to play Xbox with my friends while talking crap the whole time. It’s been four days since y’all left and I’m out of ideas to keep him entertained.”

“You’re just mad cause he has more kills than you,” Ian muttered.

“Weel, I appreciated the help. Now I just need to get him to drink the potion. I dinna want to try and hold a dragon down to pour it down his throat.” Robert sighed.

Rafe nodded. “That shouldn’t be a problem since he’s likes his drink. Come inside and tell me what happened in Faery while Devlin takes care of the dragon problem.”

Ian still had eyes on the couple. He nodded their way. “What about them?”

Rafe looked over. “Looks like their winding down.” He let out a small growl, which got Colin’s attention. “Let’s take this inside.”

Stephanie grudgingly allowed Colin to take her arm and guide her into the house. She was starting to come to terms with Colin and his cocky confidence in his ability to protect her. She wasn’t used to someone who not only believed they could protect the whole freaking world, but believed it was his job.

He settled her on one the sofas and sat next to her with his thigh pressing against hers and clasping her hand in his as if he was afraid she would make a run for it.

She tuned Robert out as he explained to Rafe the problem they had with Amon. She had her own dilemma. Colin expected her to move in with him immediately and start their life as a mated never to be separated couple.

God, she’d never had a relationship last longer than six months and he expected a lifetime and beyond if he had his way. She knew what he wanted, but what did she want? Go home or stay? Except his protective personality disorder, she giggled a little at that thought, or go home and forget she’d ever met him.

Her stomach got a little queasy at that thought. Remembering her claim of ‘mine’ when they were in the valley, that small epiphany exploded into the realization that she had claimed him as much as he’d claimed her.

Wow, she would do it. Move here, work with him and build a new life in this small town. And oh yeah, become a wolf.

She was mindful enough to know their argument was not really about his telling her what to do, but about her fear of change.

Where was love in this pheromone induced mating? Yeah, she was attracted to him, but was that enough? Maybe it was like an arranged marriage where you slowly fell in love as you get to know him. Bah, that sounds positively boring! She wanted that grand declaration of undying love where she was the center of his world.

Watching as he told Rafe his part in their adventure, she felt that tingle in her chest once again. Maybe she was already there because she didn’t want to leave his side, and she sure as hell didn’t want some other woman making any claims on him.

She wished she could talk to Lisa, her BFF who she never kept secrets from. It’d be nice to hash out her inner struggles with someone who understood her so well. But boy, this was a biggie and she didn’t have a choice. Colin had talked about the need to be hidden from the human world when they’d gone to see the bitch/witch so she was on her own.

She was brought out of her musings when Doan marched into the room and plopped down on the sofa opposite her. Devlin followed, his face set in stubborn lines as he set the bottle of wine down on the coffee table situated between the two sofas.

“He won’t drink it,” Devlin snarled.

“Dude! You said it was a potion, I’m not drinking some strange shit that might kill me!” Doan crossed his arms, obstinately staring at Devlin.

Rafe rubbed his forehead, grumbling under his breath. “And you told him this why? Ever hear of the phrase, ‘too much info’”?

Ian grabbed the bottle and took a swig before slamming the bottle back down. “Pussy,” he muttered.

Doan shot him the finger but watched Ian closely as if waiting for him to die horrifically right in front of him.

Robert took the bottle next and pointed at Doan before he drank. “Yer next, you bloody stubborn dragon. Yer Dragon Lord needs to ken how you were drugged and you won’t get those memories back until this spell yer under is gone. You ken I’m Fae, right? Look at me, no bad reactions, nothing but a sweet tasting wine. You’ll drink it or I’ll pour it down yer bloody gullet.” Robert threatened.

Doan grabbed the bottle and gulped, staring at both Robert and Ian. “I’m not a pussy,” he grumbled.

Ian snorted and walked off to lean against the huge mantle over the fireplace.

Stephanie whispered to Colin, “The spell in the wine won’t hurt them?”

“Naw, they aren’t under any kind of influence so it won’t have an effect on them,” he answered.

She didn’t take her eyes off Doan, watching as he closed his eyes and his entire body shuddered. A small puff of black smoke exited his nostrils before he opened his eyes and squinted at them. Without saying a word, he rose and left the room, heading to the guest room he’d slept in the night before.

They all looked at each other in confusion, wondering what to do next. Was he healed? Stephanie waited in nervous anticipation.

Hearing footsteps from the hallway, every eye was turned that way. Doan entered, pausing to tug the cuff of his dress shirt from beneath his suit coat.

Stephanie’s jaw dropped in amazement. Damn he looked good, like he just stepped off the cover of a men’s magazine of the perfectly dressed male. His suit fit perfectly, no off the rack for him. His hair was slicked back in a queue, highlighting his square jaw.

She heard Colin growl and shifted her gaze to him and saw an unhappy male glaring at her. “Aw come on, look at him.” She made no apologies.

“I ask for forgiveness for my appalling behavior.” He stood stiffly before Rafe.

Rafe nodded, slapping him on the back. “Relax Doan, it was the spell.”

Devlin plopped down next to Stephanie and quietly whispered, “I liked him better as a douchebag teenager, now he’s back to having a long stick up his ass.”

Stephanie covered her mouth to hide her giggle.

Doan glared at Devlin. “I’m over a thousand years old, proper decorum is expected and appreciated.”

Devlin’s eyes rolled, not at all upset with Doan hearing his comments.

Robert cleared his throat, getting everyone’s attention, but singling out Doan. “Amon attacked the Dragon Lord, threatened Stephanie, and wants to start a war with the human realm. He wants you back in Faery and needs to know if this was a simple act of jealously or if this was a planned attack by Amon.”

Doan nodded sharply. “Understood.” His body started to flicker out of existence.

“Wait!” Stephanie yelled.

Doan’s form coalesced back into solid form and he walked over to Stephanie to look down at her on the sofa.

She stood, uncomfortable with craning her neck back so far to see his face. Still, standing didn’t help a whole lot since her head only reached his chest.

Doan nodded to Colin who had stood up on his approach. “That was rude of me. I was in such a hurry to get home, my actions were very ill-mannered, forgive me once again.” He shook Colin’s hand. “Good to see you, old friend.”

“My mate, Stephanie.” Colin introduced her, pride shining in his eyes.

Doan lifted her hand, placing a kiss on the back, formally acknowledging Colin’s claim.

Wow, a dragon just kissed her hand. She couldn’t quite get over the surrealism of the moment. An amazingly handsome dragon at that, if only her friends could see her now.

“Stephanie, I am sorry to hear one of our dragons threatened you. That is not our nature. Women are cherished, protected and loved in my culture,” Doan said.

She almost melted in a pile of goo right there. He was like a knight of old, a fantasy come to life. But she had her own knight, her own protector standing next to her. While she could appreciate Doan’s deliciousness, Colin had her soul. She was stunned by her own revelation. She could appreciate the beautiful men around her, but she only wanted Colin. Mumbling something she was sure sounded totally stupid, she sat back down with Colin to hear Doan’s explanation.

“Girl, you are star struck,” Devlin whispered to her.

He was like an annoying little brother so she stuck her tongue out at him.

“I cannot tell you who bespelled me as I do not yet know who it was,” Doan said.

“My money is on a girlfriend. Dude, who did you piss off?” Devlin asked.

Doan starred at him, refusing to answer.

Rafe spoke to Doan. “Keep us informed and let us know what you find out. If there’s a confirmed threat to this realm, I need to know.” Rafe turned to Robert. “Let the Queen know I’ll double the patrol around the pond. If Amon intends to use the magic in the water, he’ll have to deal with me.”

Doan and Robert disappeared with assurances they would report back.

“Colin, one of your deputies left a vehicle here for you. I expect you’ll be wanting to take your mate home,” Rafe said.

“That I do. See you later,” he said as he tugged Stephanie towards the door. She was in the SUV and buckled up before she could blink.

C
olin pulled
up in front of his cabin and killed the engine before turning to look at his mate. “See how the logs sit on a pier and beam foundation? I could have had a concrete slab poured but with our soil here, this was the better choice.”

She looked at him like he was crazy. Why were they talking foundation selection? “Umm, interesting.” Humor him, she decided.

Fumbling with the door handle, she slid out and took in his home. It was bigger than she thought it’d be, with a peaked metal roof, which would be awesome when it rained. Well, maybe. Then again, if it hailed that would probably suck. Were metal roofs insulated against noise? She jumped a little when Colin put an arm around her.

“See Stephanie? No basement.” He was grinning.

She elbowed him in his stomach but not even a whiff of air left his mouth. “Jerk,” she muttered.

Scooping her up, he strode across the grass and up the few steps leading to his door. Glancing down at her with one eyebrow raised, he sighed. “It wouldn’t be as romantic if I shuffle you around to open the door myself.”

Oh, she got it now. Reaching for the knob, she turned it and he used their combined weight to push the door open.

He didn’t release her like she expected, instead he surveyed the room as if looking for imperfections.

“You can put me down now,” she murmured.

Glancing down, he gently sat her on her feet. “What do you think?”

What did she think? Oh my God! Obviously the doorway was a time capsule to the seventies. While the outside showed the beautiful stacked logs of a typical cabin, the interior was closed off with walls and doors leading in every direction.

Seeing an opening which she assumed was the kitchen, she headed that way while keeping silent until she could gather her thoughts.

Yeah, it was the kitchen, with honest-to-God brown appliances. They were probably advertised with some pretty name like ‘autumn leaves’ or something when they were new. As Colin slipped in behind and wrapped his arms around her waist, she tried to think of something kind to say.

“Um, it’s big.” Which was about the only good thing it had going for it.

She shivered when he nibbled her neck before raising his head and glancing around. “Stephanie, this is your home too now. Whatever you don’t like, we can change.”

Nibbling on her lower lip, she started calculating how much money she had in her savings. Not enough for a job this size, she knew. She wanted to knock out walls and make the kitchen and dining room open to the living room. Gut the kitchen, buy all new appliances, and add French doors leading to the back yard. All this and she hadn’t even seen the bathroom yet. She was a little bit scared as to what they looked like.