Challenged (10 page)

just done. “I believe you that she wanted it. And if we were in a larger pack, things

might go easier on you.”

“We’re in the mountains. Cariboo are more backwards than any other pack.” Pamela

crossed her arms over her waist, sincerely looking sorry for him. “You know as well as I

do that many of us bitches run with a werewolf or two before we mate. Just don’t let the

pack find out about it. And here in the mountains…”

“Which is why we left the mountains,” Stone interrupted her, and then looked at

Gabe.

His twin had come back here for Pamela, to be with her, respect the wishes of her

den and make their home here.

So why was Stone here? He didn’t have any clearer answer several hours later,

when they pulled up in front of the Bastien den. Anyone could have driven that load of

supplies out here to Jonathan Bastien. Stone had jumped on the opportunity to come

back to Banff. The reasons why didn’t come to him easily. The more he dwelled on it,

the more it brought a hardening pit to his gut.

The three of them sat in the truck for a moment, Pamela snug between the two of

them with a covered dish on her lap. Cars lined both sides of the street, and the Bastien

den seemed to be bursting with Cariboo lunewulf.

“It’s a goddamned pack meeting.” Stone didn’t give a rat’s ass if his mood soured

the smell of the truck.

“Sure looks like it.” Gabe sounded just as put out.

“Don’t you two dare be spoilsports. Get out and show this pack what the McAllister

den is made of,” Pamela scolded both of them.

A pack of cubs came racing around the side of the house, hollering and carrying on.

Several bitches followed in tow. But Stone only noticed one of them.

Ali wore a knit sweater, just as she had when he’d taken her up the mountain. From

this distance he could tell she didn’t wear a bra. Those large breasts pressed against the

knitted fabric, stretching it, accenting how shapely she was. Instead of jeans, she had on

a black skirt, with black hose that showed off those long slender legs. Flat black boots

finished off the ensemble nicely. She looked sporty, sexy, and like food to a starving

man.

He was out of the truck before he had time to think. With several long strides, he

reached her, that fresh, sweet appealing scent of hers wrapping around him.

The other bitches with her seemed to disappear. She noticed him, stopped in her

tracks, while a slow smile spread across her face.

“Stone,” she whispered, when he’d reached her side.

“You look sexy as fucking hell.” He reached out, taking a strand of her blonde hair

and brushing it away from her face.

Her red highlights captured the gleam from the porch light. His fingers scraped

over her cheek before he let his hand drop, reminding himself he was at her den and

anyone could be watching.

Ali’s blush made her blue eyes glow. “Thanks. You look damn good, too.”

He realized then why he hadn’t been able to get her off his mind. Ali wasn’t like the

many bitches he’d run with in the past. She wasn’t a slut. The way she blushed when he

praised her, then didn’t come back with some sexy line added to her appeal.

She nibbled her lip, glancing quickly around her, while her hesitation in speaking

brought out her pureness. That was what he liked about Ali. She’d been untouched,

unspoiled, and he’d marked her.

He grinned, enjoying her moment of hesitation. “You throw this party for me?”

“Umm. No.” She shrugged, drawing his attention to those large breasts of hers.

Suddenly he was hungry, damned hungry. And it wasn’t for food.

“My sire decided to invite all the dens over who have werewolves who work for

him,” she explained, and then offered him an apologetic smile. “I didn’t realize it would

be this large.”

Gabe and Pamela walked past him, both of them giving him sideways glances as

several other werewolves surrounded them, leading them toward the backyard.

“The party is mainly out back,” she added.

“Even more reason to stay up here with you.” He ached to take her away from here,

taste her one more time.

Her eyes glowed like sapphires, while lust filled the air between them. “I want to

leave with you later,” she told him boldly.

Yet another quality that appealed to him. Ali didn’t play games. She didn’t know

how. Her innocence smelled so damned good it was all he could do not to haul her

right out of there and fuck her until she screamed.

Damn it. He would have to do that soon.

The scent of another werewolf raised the hairs on the back of his neck. He looked

over her shoulder when a Cariboo walked up to them, giving him an unsure look.

“Ali?” the Cariboo asked, frowning at him before giving Ali his attention. “They’re

pulling the steaks off the grill. I thought I’d come find you.”

Stone got the sudden urge to punch the werewolf in the face. Straggly blond hair

fell around his face and his face wasn’t shaven. He had buckteeth that would be real

easy to straighten with a hard blow to the mouth.

“Stone, this is Mickey Reginald.” She placed a hand on his chest, quickly making

introductions. “Mickey. This is Stone McAllister.”

“I’ve met your twin. Passing through our pack?” Mickey focused on Ali.

His words had an impact on Ali. She took a step backwards, giving him a worried

look while she nibbled her lower lip. If she expected an answer, she wasn’t going to get

one. Stone wouldn’t be pressured into anything, not by her, or by this mangy werewolf.

“Is this your boyfriend?” he asked Ali.

If he sounded a bit bitter, he quickly dismissed it as being indifferent. Seizing his

emotions, making sure he didn’t litter the air with them, he glanced from her to the

mutt.

“Better go get your food,” he said before she could answer.

“Stone,” Ali cried, running after him when he left her standing with the asshole.

“He’s nothing to me,” she said quietly when she reached his side.

Her small hand on his biceps sent fire rushing through him. She’d used the same

quiet tone when she’d begged him to fuck her, to show her pleasures she’d never

experienced before. At least he had the satisfaction of knowing she’d never fucked the

prick.

“He seems interested in you. Maybe you should go spend time with him.” He

needed to get out of there. His mood had grown much too sour.

And he knew it wasn’t the realization that other Cariboo had an interest in her. Hell,

he’d be surprised if the entire fucking pack didn’t want a good roll in the meadow with

her. Stone was no fool. He knew why his mood had turned from bad to worse.

The realization that Ali could make him jealous, make him want to claim her, make

her his for her entire fucking pack to know—that didn’t sit well with him.

Not one damn bit.

Chapter Six

Never had more emotions raced through Ali harder and faster than they did at that

moment. Stone was here. He stood right next to her.

Her heart raced. Even the early evening breeze sweeping down the mountain didn’t

soothe the heat that rushed through her. Damp sweat clung to her body, her palms, in

between her breasts. Excitement and nerves made it hard to think straight.

Ali’s sire glanced her way more than once. Her littermates, thank God, ran around

with their friends and had decided tormenting her this evening wasn’t at the top of

their list. Only her mother’s anxious looks kept her alert, and made her yearn for a way

to sneak away with Stone.

He entered the backyard demanding attention. She immediately smelled the

curiosity on the other bitches her age. The werewolves gave him a quick once-over,

sizing him up, judging whether he was a threat or not. The single werewolves gave him

a look of disdain.

As they should. No one here could compete with his magnificence.

If only he weren’t being so indifferent toward her. Without as much as a glance her

way, he walked over to his twin, joining him and his mate and the other werewolves

chatting among them.

“Tell me you don’t see something in that werewolf.” Mickey was at her side again,

his jealousy making him stink.

“He’s ten times the werewolf you are,” she snarled, glaring at him for being the

cause of Stone suddenly ignoring her.

She walked away from Mickey, hoping she made a show of the fact that they were

not together. But she had to admit, Stone’s sudden change in attitude meant one thing.

He was jealous too.

Careful listening earlier had confirmed that Stone had returned to bring a load of

supplies for her sire. She’d overheard her sire mention that he’d offer the werewolf

work if he was interested. Her sire always needed strong werewolves to help with work

needed in the pack. Ali’s heart had soared at the thought that Stone could possibly have

reason to stay here.

After a week of dreaming about him every night, thinking about him all day long,

she knew she needed to go after him. But now he was here. And she’d be damned if she

let him slip through her paws again. Somehow she needed to snag the werewolf.

“Hungry?” her sire asked, winking at her as he stood in front of the grill, smelling

of smoke and cooked meat.

Ali grabbed two plates, glancing over at Stone who still talked with a group of

werewolves in the middle of the yard.

“Making my plate?” Mickey had managed to sneak up behind her.

“Hardly.” She turned away from him, holding the plates out to her sire so he could

put meat on them. “Make one of them the blackened steaks raw.”

“Who is the plate for?” Her sire obliged, plopping two large steaks onto the plates.

“One is for Stone McAllister.” She waited for his reaction.

Her sire squinted through the dark yard until he focused on the twins. As if aware

he’d been made the object of attention, Stone looked their way. In the dark she swore

his blue eyes glowed. He didn’t smile, but kept his gaze focused on her sire, as if

waiting for judgment to be passed.

“How do you know him?” She smelled the protector coming out in her sire.