Grayslake: Never Kiss a Wolf (Kindle Worlds Novella) (6 page)

T
he next day
they were forced to come up for air. Ty and Mia had called and were on their way over to discuss the issues still outstanding. Particularly John Hale who continued to whine about Lily's deception.

Greer had a hard time controlling his wolf's anger every time he thought about the asshole trying to blame her for the loss of their cub. That jerk never should have forced her into what amounted to surrogacy for cubs his mate could no longer bear.

Lily walked in from the balcony where she'd been nervously pacing. "They're here."

Greer grabbed his cell phone, typed out a quick message to Calder and then shoved the device in his front pocket. "Let's go down and meet them outside. If anything goes south and we have to shift, it will be a lot easier to maneuver if we're out in the open."

"Don't say that. Ty and Mia aren't easily fooled. They'll be fair in their decisions. Mia also knows what I went through to get here."

Maybe they would be fair. Maybe not. There were very few people in this world who he trusted that implicitly and he did not know the Grayslake clan well enough to include them in his inner circle. "It's still better to be prepared for any outcome, babe and I'm not taking any chances with my mate."

He squeezed her hand and planted a quick kiss on her nose. Calder met them in the lobby (since his room was on a different side of the house away from them so he didn't have to endure the sounds of their almost constant and frenzied mating) and they headed outside where Ty, Mia, Van and another unknown man emerged from their SUV.

"Who’s that?" Calder asked.

"Keen. Brother to the Itan and the former knowledge keeper here in Grayslake," she answered.

"Not a good sign that he brought reinforcements," Greer surmised.

Mia rushed forward and enveloped his mate in a tight hug. "I'm so happy for you," she said.

"Thank you," Lily smiled. "I'm pretty happy for me too."

"Then why do you look petrified?"

"Isn't that obvious? I still have a lot to answer for."

Mia scoffed. "No one believes that jerk."

He certainly hoped not.

"Why don't we take this somewhere more private," Ty suggested.

Greer shook his head. "Here is fine."

Ty stared at him for several minutes, making his displeasure perfectly clear. But Greer would reserve his respect until he found out where Ty landed when it came to Lily.

"Hale still wants to take Lily back to Alaska. Insists she did something on purpose to hurt the unborn child."

Greer blinked. Obviously someone had shared more of the story with the Itan.

"That's ridiculous," Mia spat. "Those barbarians don't know shit about women."

"Language, Mia." Ty chided, a slight smile on his face.

"I know. I know. But something about that man sets me off and I can't seem to help it. I'd like to rip his throat out."

So would he. "Where is the asshole?"

"Waiting for a pick up in a cell at the Sheriff's office. When I called and talked to the Hale Itan, we managed to work out an agreement." Ty looked down at Lily. "One that should avoid bloodshed."

The sigh of relief from Lily, bristled against Greer's instincts. He wanted blood on her behalf.

"What did he say?" Lily asked.

"Well, he doesn't seem to hold much more regard for you than the other one. However, I was able to persuade him that any further attack on you would be the equivalent of declaring war."

Greer felt her hold her breath.

"He denounced you and made it clear you were not welcome to return to Alaska under any circumstances, including any visits to your family."

He didn't have to see Lily's face to feel the pain each one of those words caused. She'd never indicated she wanted to return home, but that didn't mean she wanted to be banished forever.

He tightened his hold on her hand and she squeezed him back. "We are our own family now, sweetheart. I swear to you that my love and acceptance will be unconditional."

She looked up at him and bit her lip. "I won't be easy," she said.

He grinned, kissing the top of her head as all the feelings he had for her locked into place. "Right back at you, babe. I'm on my best behavior for now."

Calder snickered. "Ain't that the truth."

Greer ignored his friend and turned to the bears watching this play out. "What about the other? I won't allow you to take her from me."

Ty's face darkened and his eyes narrowed. "I've about had it with your belligerence. Maybe you need the retraining instead of her."

"Fuck off," Greer responded, knowing full well he was playing with fire.

Ty roared in response, fur coating his skin. "You need a lesson in respect," he growled, more bear than human now.

Both Greer and Calder responded in kind as their animals rushed forward and bones began to pop with their shifts.

"Whoa. Whoa. Whoa." Mia ran between the men, narrowly escaping Ty's attempt to grab her. "None of this posturing is necessary. Ty is not sending Lily away."

Greer froze, staring down Ty and his inner circle, waiting for them to relent. When none of them gave in, Lily touched his arm.

"It's okay. Please. I trust them."

He breathed deep, taking in the calming scent of his mate who felt no fear in this situation. For her sake and her sake alone, he pushed the bear back and returned to his fully human state.

Not long after, the Abrams men did the same.

"Are we done being an asshole?" Ty asked.

"I'm not making any promises, but I'm listening."

"My brother Keen here has been through retraining and he has assured me it is not the solution for Ms. Hale. But her actions can't be ignored. She endangered all of us."

"She was scared then, but I think circumstances have changed now."

Ty nodded his head. "I agree her situation has changed drastically. However, I will not risk my clan by doing nothing."

Greer's bear was beginning to rise again. Lily might see her Itan as fair, but he wasn't feeling it.

"What are you saying?" he asked.

"Keen is here because he has volunteered to help. Isaac too, but he couldn't making it this meeting."

"Help how?" He and Calder had worked out a plan of escape in the event this meeting went south, but neither of them had counted on the extra bears.

"I hereby sentence her to two weeks of training with Keen and two weeks of counseling with Isaac, our healer. Keen has years of experience when it comes to struggling with his animal urges and should be able to teach her more control."

Greer shook his head, the wolf growling in the background. "No," he said.

"Greer," Lily pleaded. "Be reasonable."

"Not having another male hovering over my mate is reasonable."

Ty nodded. "I get that and expected that would be the case. Bears are possessive too. Keen won't be alone with her. His mate Trista will assist and will act as a barrier between your mate and hers. He'll instruct, she'll teach."

Lily touched his arm. "That's definitely reasonable. I accept."

Mia giggled and Greer narrowed his eyes in her direction. This caused both the Itan and his brothers to move forward and into his space, their low rumbling roars the only warning he got.

"Careful," Ty warned. "Some infractions cannot be forgiven."

Calder grabbed his arm and pulled him from the fray before this went any further and Greer snarled at him. He jerked his arm free. "I can handle this."

"Then chill," Calder barked.

"I apologize, Itana. I meant no disrespect."

Everyone, including Lily, breathed deep in relief.

"I'll agree to this on one condition. I have to be there too."

"Only as long as there is no interference. Keen runs the show and his word at training will be law, is that understood?"

"Yes, Itan," Lily said and he dipped his head in agreement.

"Oh thank God. Now can we have a party?" Mia looked around, her infectious smile instantly lightening the mood.

"A party? For what?"

Mia grabbed Lily's hand and pulled her in the direction of the lake. "Your mating, you goof. It's a big deal and we
must
celebrate.

All the men looked at each other, confusion crystal clear. Ty shrugged his shoulders. "Don't even question it, dude. Just go with it. What the Itana wants the Itana gets."

A
fter three and
a half long weeks, Lily was finally on the back of Greer's bike with the wind in her hair and the sun on her face as they streaked down a mountain road in the direction of Tennessee.

Her two weeks of training and counseling had been extended by Keen because he wasn't satisfied with her progress. She'd had to run the gamut of her emotions so many times and face her bear's ire to the point they were all sick of it.

Trista, Keen's mate, had put her through the physical paces of drawing out her beast and then forcing her back inside. It had not been easy, but it was done and she felt stronger than ever because of it.

John had been released to one of the Hale enforcers two weeks ago and thus far no more word had come from her former clan. She wasn't sure she trusted that was the end of it, but she refused to live the rest of her life waiting for something bad to happen.

Greer had become her rock during the entire process. He delayed returning home to watch over her during her extended training even though Calder had left weeks before. Her mate made it clear his family could wait and would understand he needed to be with her.

Lily snuggled against his back, brushing her unfettered breasts in a seductive motion she knew he wouldn't miss.

The resulting hungry growl that vibrated through him made her smile. Her butt was numb from riding so long and they both needed a break.

A few miles later, Greer pulled into a small one pump gas station and pulled around back. He yanked his helmet off and grabbed her with one arm and shifted her around so she sat on the seat facing him.

"Are you trying to kill me, babe? You know I can resist those nipples." He bent her back over his arm to support her and shoved her t-shirt up and bared her breasts.

She didn't get a word out before he had one nipple sucked into his mouth, sending a jolt of pleasure zipping through her body.

Instead she moaned and grabbed his head to hold him in place for more. He responded by biting down on her nipple and bringing her urgently to the edge of pain that drove her wild.

While holding her there, he took his free hand and worked the button and zipper of her pants free. Without the hindrance of underwear, his request, he delved into her heat and thrust inside her.

Lily bit down on her lips to keep from screaming out. They were mostly hidden from view, but that didn't mean someone wouldn't come looking if she made a lot of noise.

This wasn't the first time they'd played this game and she hoped to God it would not be the last.

As if he sensed her mind wandering, Greer pressed his thumb over her clit, working it until she gasped.

"You are so damned juicy, babe. I can't wait to be inside you."

Her stomach jolted at the hunger in his words and his dirty talk drove her absolutely wild.

"Do it now," she urged, desperate to feel him thick inside her.

"Not yet. We're only a mile from my cabin where I plan to spread you out and make you scream for a week."

Lily whimpered. The more he said the closer she got. She grabbed his shoulders and dug her nails into the leather of his jacket. "Please don't stop," she gasped.

Her licked again at her nipples. "I love it when you get greedy."

Her mind reeled into space as she hung there waiting...

"I love you, Lily Hale," he said on a growl, biting down once again.

"I love you too," she choked out as her body clenched around him before shattering into a million points of bright light, followed by an ear splitting roar.

So much for staying quiet.

G
reer watched
Lily sashay out of the gas station store a coca cola tipped between her lips. He literally had no control when it came to his need for her amazing body and watching her drink that soda only made it worse.

"We're really only a mile away from your cabin?" she asked.

"Yep. It's nestled at the top of that mountain with a breathtaking view of the valley down below."

She glanced behind him and he stared at the trickle of sweat sliding down her neck and across his mark. At the same time he pushed at his crotch.

Fuck he was horny.

"I can't believe I lived my whole life in the wilderness and that’s where I'm going to end up again."

Greer chuckled. "Don't worry, babe. I promise you this will be nothing like Alaska. I enjoy my modern luxuries as much as the next guy. You wont have to hunt or fish for your food unless you want to and ten minutes in my party sized hot tub and you'll be in heaven."

She turned back to him, her pink tongue licking the sweet soda from her lips. "I'm ready, Greer."

He looked down at the tight nipples straining against her neon orange shirt. "I know you are. So get your cute butt back on this bike and I'll have you under me inside of ten minutes."

She grinned and threw her empty coke bottle in a nearby recycling bin. He watched her walk across the small parking lot, unable to take his eyes off of her. Of course the neon green pants she wore drew his attention much like a red flag did a bull. By the time she climbed behind him and got settled, his erection had gone rock hard. They put on their helmets and he reached for his sunglasses.

"Hey, babe," he called. "Are bears colorblind?"

"What—No. Why would you ask that?"

"Just wondered if you saw the same colors I do. Neon green and orange are pretty bold choices."

She giggled behind him. "Are you making fun of my clothes Derek Joseph Greer?"

He slid on his shades and smiled at her in the mirror. "No Ma'am not at all. Just curious is all."

She wrapped her arms around his waist and stared back at him in the rearview. "I lived my whole life in a world of black, white and grey. I made a promise if I ever got free I would always live and embrace a world filled with color. Thanks to you, I get to do that."

Damn.

What could he say to that? She amazed him each and every day and if dressing like that meant she got to live in her color filled world, then he'd buy her clothes in every damn shade of the rainbow.

He settled on the seat and flipped the engine on, giving his woman one last look. Ten minutes. That's all he had to wait.

He hoped she was ready...

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