Alyssa's Wolves (Wolf Masters, Book 4) (15 page)

His ankle throbbed, and he twisted his head to try and assess the damage. It was too dark. He could smell blood and licked his ankle to ascertain how bad it was. Not bad. Just a small cut. The bleeding had stopped.

A shadow reappeared above. “Can you climb out? I can’t find anything to reach you with.”

“Nope.”
Tyler glanced at the solid dirt walls around him. Even if he could climb, he’d get nowhere with his ankle in this condition.

Michael sat on the edge of the hole and leaned over. “I swear I didn’t do this to you. Please talk to me.”

If Michael had done this intentionally, would he still be hanging around?

“Listen, we’re going to get you out of there. I just need to think for a minute.” Michael’s voice was calm. “It would help if you told me what your injuries are.”

“Twisted ankle, I hope. Maybe broken.”

“Okay, so shifting is out. I get it. You need to stay in wolf form just in case.”

“I’m clear on that.”

Michael exhaled so loudly Tyler could hear him. “I’m sorry. Sorry for being such an ass earlier that I caused you to believe I’d actually kill you to get Alyssa for myself.” The apology sounded heartfelt. “In fact, if I don’t return to the farm with you, Alyssa will kill me, and then we’d both be dead.”

Tyler loosened up. He even laughed into Michael’s head. Maybe the guy hadn’t dragged him out here with murder in mind.
“I believe you’re right.”
Tyler stood on three legs and turned in a circle. His ankle hurt, but not as bad as a few minutes ago. He was well and truly stuck. There was no way he could climb out of this hole, neither as human nor wolf. The walls had no traction.
“Why do you suppose this hole is even here?”

“Was wondering that myself. We are close to the neighbor’s property. I suppose they might be trying to catch coyotes, but I’m not sure I understand why. I’ve never come upon a hole around here before. And we’ve lived here on this land since we were born. Could it be a mine shaft?”

Tyler looked around again. The lighting was dim.
“No. I don’t think so. It’s just a dirt hole. Who would bother to dig such a big hole and camouflage it instead of just setting a normal trap?”

“Someone who wants their prey alive.”

Michael’s words made Tyler cringe. They were really in a bind. Tyler needed to send Michael to get help, but he couldn’t even stomach the idea.

“I’m not leaving you here.”

“I suck at keeping my thoughts to myself.”

“You’ll get better. Did you not communicate with your family in wolf form?”

“We didn’t shift much. And frankly, when we did, I don’t think I’ve ever had any secrets before now. I’ve never tried to keep any thoughts from my parents.”
Seemed strange now, under the circumstances. Tyler had accumulated so many secrets in the last week to fill a lifetime.

A few minutes of silence passed. Tyler stared up at Michael’s shadow until the man turned his head toward him once again.

“What?”

“I’m in love with Alyssa. I’ve known that for two years.”

“I understand,”
Tyler communicated.

“We have to work this out. I can’t live without her. I need her.”

Tyler nodded. A lump formed in his throat. He couldn’t imagine what Michael had been through while he’d been in Spain. If Tyler had to spend even one more day without having Alyssa, he’d go mad.

“I know you don’t think I deserve to be in on this trio, but I’m here now. I didn’t ask for this or do anything on purpose to upset your life plan.”

“I know. Now we just need to figure out how to get you out of this damn hole and go back and convince our woman we can work together.”

Tyler cocked his head to one side and narrowed his gaze up at Michael.
“Just so we’re clear, there is no way I’m ever sticking my dick anywhere but in Alyssa.”

Michael chucked. “Just so we’re super clear, if you do, I’ll cut it off.”

Those words should have made Tyler shrink, literally, but instead he found himself relieved. This was a strictly man on woman arrangement. Well, two men on one woman. Nothing more.

“You have to go for help.”
Those were the last words Tyler wanted to think, but at least now he knew Michael hadn’t intended to leave him here for dead. They had no other choice.

Michael shook his head. “What if whoever left this trap comes to collect their bounty?”

Tyler’s entire body shook. He went rigid.
“I could have done without that visual.”

“I’m not kidding you. You can’t even shift, and even if you could, how would you explain how you ended up naked in a hole?”

“It’s a new sport, you know. Naked, barefoot hiking.”
Tyler’s mental chuckle was weak.
“Go. It’s still early. How far did we run? It can’t be more than a few miles, right? You’ll be back before dark. What we need is rope. So, unless you see some rope hanging around up there, you have to leave me.”

Michael stared down at Tyler for a long time. “If nothing else, I have to shift back. It’s fucking cold out here.”

Tyler hadn’t thought about that.
“Go.”

“I swear I’ll be back as fast as my legs can carry me.”

“I know.”

“We are going to be okay, you and I.”

“I know that too.”

“Alyssa is going to freak.” Michael was mumbling now.

“That is also true.”

“You better fucking be right there and alive when I get back, you hear?”

“Where would I go?”
Tyler laughed, but it wasn’t very funny.

Chapter 11

It took less than an hour for Michael to return with his dad and two others in tow. An hour was a long time to be stuck alone in the dirt, but at least Tyler was no longer afraid he’d been left for dead. Michael’s words had been sincere. He knew the man was coming back for him. Michael kept a running commentary the entire time he was gone.

In no time at all, four faces peered over the edge of the hole. “You’ve met my dad, Richard, and these are my brothers, Justin and Charles.”

“Give them my heartfelt hellos, and get me out of here.”

Michael chuckled. He did that a lot. Tyler realized the man was actually fun loving when someone got to know him. The tough exterior he’d exuded in the beginning had all been for show. Posturing. Michael wasn’t half as tough as he’d acted earlier that morning.

Everyone spoke at once, but Tyler could at least distinguish which voice belonged to Richard. His voice was slightly older, and his tone authoritative. “Tyler, we’re going to lower Justin into the hole to check out your leg and decide how to go from there.”

Tyler watched as Justin headed his way in human form. They’d brought supplies. The man had a flashlight and clothes on.

“Be careful you don’t land on his rear paw, Justin.” Michael’s voice was filled with concern.

“Watch out, man. I might start to think you care.”

Michael didn’t laugh this time. He didn’t even acknowledge Tyler’s jibe. He
did
care.

“Hey, I’m Justin. Nice to meet you. Although you probably would have preferred other circumstances. May I?” Justin reached gingerly for Tyler’s rear leg and applied pressure from the joint down to his paw.

Tyler didn’t have any way to respond to Justin since the two were not both in wolf form.

“Talk to me, Ty. Does it hurt?” Michael asked.

Tyler swallowed when he heard Michael call him Ty for the second time that day. No one had ever given him that nickname before. Even his parents had always called him Tyler.

“It’s better than before. I don’t think it’s broken.”

“What’s he say, Michael?” Justin looked up toward the top of the hole.

“He thinks it’s sprained.”

“He isn’t flinching when I manipulate it, and I can’t feel a break. I’m going to say sprained also.” Justin turned his attention back to Tyler. “Want to try to shift? It’s up to you, but I think it’s safe.”

In animal form, Tyler’d had no way to confirm the level of the injury. Now that Justin poked and pulled and prodded on him, he felt confident about shifting. Sprains were safe. Breaks were bad news if a wolf tried to shift with a bone fragment.

Justin sat back, and Tyler quickly shifted. “God, that hurts like a mother.” He looked down at his now-human ankle and twisted his foot in a complete circle to make sure it was intact. A soft bundle landed on his head while he examined the cut on his leg.

“Oops, sorry, Ty. Thought you might like some clothes.” Michael chuckled again. “I just grabbed the first thing I could find.”

Tyler pulled the sweatpants over his injured leg and was grateful to not have to sit on his human ass, freezing. The sweatshirt he tugged over his head was also appreciated.

“Let’s get you two out of there and then decide how we’re going to get back.” The new voice had to be Charles’.

“Here. Tie this around you.” Justin held out the rope.

Tyler stood, hobbling on one leg, and looked up at Justin’s face. “Tyler Evans.” He held out a hand and smiled. “Wish I could say I was glad to meet you, but this isn’t quite what I had in mind.”

“Welcome to the family.” Justin took his hand and grinned back. “This isn’t usually how we treat new mates, but you’re stuck with us.”

“Can we save the pleasantries for later, guys?” Michael leaned over and tugged on the rope as Tyler adjusted it around his waist.

“Okay, go ahead. I’m not going to be much help.”

“Hold on tight with your hands, or it will just slip up around your arms,” Charles said.

“Good point. Got it.” Tyler gripped the rope, and the men pulled. Moments later they grabbed him by the shirt and hauled him out of the hole. “Thanks. I really didn’t want to die in that hole today.” Tyler smiled and took Richard’s hand as the man pulled him to standing.

Charles nodded. “Welcome. I’m Charles.”

“Anyone want to pull me out today?” Justin stood at the bottom of the hole with his hands on his hips while Tyler scrambled out of the rope and tossed it back down.

As soon as they were all five at ground level, Michael spoke. “Can you put pressure on that leg?”

Tyler eased his weight onto his left ankle and grimaced. He could do it, but not for miles. “I think I’ll be better in wolf form. At least then I can hobble more easily back to the house. Three legs are better than one.”

“You think it’s wise?” Michael’s concern was etched on his face.

“Wiser than dying in the woods in the cold.” He chuckled alone and then continued. “I’ll make it. Let’s just get out of here. Besides, it’ll heal faster in wolf form.”

Everyone stripped and stuffed their clothes into the bags the men had brought. In no time they were gingerly making their way back to the house, Tyler keeping the majority of his weight on just three paws.

The conversation on the way back was minimal, and as far as Tyler was concerned, that was for the best. He was too busy gritting his teeth to chat.

* * * *

Alyssa stood on the porch staring into the evening. The sun was almost completely gone over the horizon before she spotted the five wolves emerging from between the trees.

She’d been holding her breath, pacing, and biting her nails for over two hours. Finally, she breathed a sigh of relief. There were five of them. Thank God. And the blond one on the right with a hint of red in his hair was limping. The Masters were hard to tell apart from this distance, but Tyler stood out without her ever having seen him in his wolf form before.

Alyssa had never been particularly comfortable watching the men shift, but she couldn’t bring herself to go inside this time. She needed to know Tyler was okay. When they all clambered up onto the porch, Alyssa kneeled down beside her injured mate and reached for his paw. “Are you okay?” Her hand trembled.

She knew he couldn’t answer her, and for the first time in her life, she sincerely wished she could communicate telepathically. If they’d been mated before the men had gone out for their run, they could have communicated with her from the woods, and she could have sent help.

Ever since Michael had shown up, yelling for help and scrambling to get supplies, Alyssa had been a nervous wreck. Could she have prevented this? Had her stubborn need for the men to work out their problems before claiming her caused Tyler undue pain and suffering?

She wanted to slap herself for putting off the inevitable and contributing to Tyler’s injury. It wasn’t as though she truly intended to not let them claim her. She could no more deny these two men than she could fly to the moon.

Guilt and responsibility made Alyssa tense. Her heart beat wildly in her chest. She was so relieved to have her mates back at her side she didn’t want to waste another moment of their lives in limbo. The sooner she let them claim her the better.

Everyone shifted and dressed in her peripheral vision, but Alyssa kept her gaze on the wolf in front of her. He lay panting heavily at her feet where she crouched to rub his gorgeous fur.

She’d never felt one of them before. Even when she’d lived at home in Oklahoma, the other members of her family and pack never shifted in front of her. She’d seen them from inside the house but hadn’t had the opportunity to pet even her mother.

And in the last two years since she’d come to live with the Masters, she’d been too embarrassed to hang around the men when they shifted. Or jealous maybe. That might have figured into her hesitation. But, her cheeks burned to imagine seeing any of them naked. Even the women. Tessa had teased her about it few times, telling her it was perfectly natural, but that didn’t ease her mind.

“Can you shift?” she asked Tyler.

A hand landed on Alyssa’s shoulder, and she glanced back to see it was Michael. He was dressed now, well in jeans anyway. She swallowed the lump that formed in her throat as she stared at the expanse of his chest. How long had she been crouched here in front of Tyler?

“Give him a minute. He’ll shift. He’s exhausted from running on three legs.” Michael leaned down beside her and put his arm around her shoulders. “He’s okay. It’s not broken.”