Snow Wolf: Wolves of Willow Bend (Book 9) (8 page)

“Yeah, one of the brothers to the second of Willow Bend…it’s either Tyler or Lincoln, I didn’t spend enough time with either to be sure.” Chowder shrugged.

“Lincoln.” Diesel nodded slowly. If he and Serafina had already begun their dance…and the man had been there that night, it had been Lincoln he scented.
Interesting.
He took another long drink of the cider. “Do you have any bottled already that I can give to Ranae?”

“You want to use cider as a courting gift?”

“Is it not appropriate?” Treating his future mate to the bounties of his pack seemed a reasonable offer.

“How the hell would I know?” The laugh from the healer carried a hint of self-deprecation. “I know how to bed women, not convince them to mate me.”

“You have had many a she-wolf set her gaze upon you.” Grinder complained about it often enough.

Chowder shrugged. “I am a healer, Diesel. Most want me to care for them, and even those who feel lust are soon tempered by the need they have to protect me, or worse…annoyed by the demands of the rest of the pack. It is a no win situation until I find the mate that is right for me.” He took a sip of his tea, before pushing up his sleeves. “Besides, you courted a mate before. Surely you know how to do it.”

“In another time, and with a wolf who grew up among us. The Hunter is different.”

“Because she is not submissive.”

“No.” It wasn’t all of it, though. “Because she doesn’t believe she belongs here.”

“Or maybe that she believes she should belong elsewhere.” There was something in the way Chowder offered the suggestion that Diesel took note of it.

“Perhaps.”

“I will prepare some bottles for you and chill them, but it may be a day or two. See if you can keep her around that long.” Was that an element of challenge in his healer’s voice?

“You think I cannot?”

Utterly unrepentant, the younger man spread his hands wide. “I think it’s going to be a lot of fun to watch, and we’ve been sorely lacking in entertainment of late.”

Not growling, lest the healer realize he hit his mark, Diesel merely rose and gave him a baleful look. “Don’t hurt yourself.”

“Oh, I won’t.” Another unabashed grin that took a second too long to vanish under Diesel’s glower. Satisfied that his healer at least understood Diesel didn’t care for the teasing, he rose, clapped him on the shoulder once then crossed the stone garden to the final hallway leading to his rooms.

“Alpha,” Chowder’s voice called after him softly. “Good hunting.”

Diesel was still smiling when let himself into his rooms, the glow of the day’s lights dimming gradually. Ranae stood in the center of the grass, her legs apart and her arms loose at her sides. Her damp hair teased him—if he’d been faster he might have been able to join her in the shower. As it was, her posture didn’t promise him much of a welcome.

Before he could greet her, however, the sunlight warmth of the day lamps switched off, plunging them into darkness. He hadn’t reset any of the timers since he was so rarely in residence. Ranae made a low sound, one that might come from a panicked animal, and the sour stench of fear assaulted him.

Reacting to the threat she experienced, he was across the grassy room to pull her into his arms. Her skin was like ice and she was rigid and stiff then she gripped him so hard her claws punctured him through his shirt.

She’d been afraid in the descent hallway, too—he’d thought it was due to the narrowness.

“I have you, Ranae,” he told her, as the coppery tang of his blood joined with her scent in the grassy room. “You are safe.”

Not waiting for her response, he lifted her and carried her toward the panel. He had to get the lights back on. If she were truly afraid of the dark, the pure midnight velvet of night underground would be horrifying for her.

He barely got the switch turned to bring the lights up slowly when she released another of those low moans. The sound abraded him. No one so strong should be brought to such a state under his watch. The first glimmer of light revealed her pale, taut features to him and her dilated pupils warned him of shock.

Worried beyond measure, he did the only thing he could think of to ground her to the present and to him.

He kissed her.

S
tark terror held her hostage
. Blackness swamped her. The fear clawed through her and her wolf went rigid. They both wanted out. The animal surged and her skin shivered as the change threatened. One moment alone, the next strong arms closed around her. Some distant part of her mind recognized the crisp scent of snow on fur. Winter—but more than that. The darkness choked her and her claws sliced out. Copper stained the scent of snow.

“I have you Ranae. You are safe.”
A promise? A threat?
She couldn’t distinguish between the two. She needed to get her feet under her.

The first glimmer of light assaulted her but, drowning, she remained unable to find the lifeline.

The faint illumination highlighted his tense features as he stared at her.
Diesel?
The thought barely registered then his mouth closed on hers. Warm, firm lips branded her, their heat blistering away the cold. She opened on a gasp, then his tongue swept through her defenses.

Digging her claws into his shoulders, she could only hold onto him as connection sizzled through her system. The fire blazed in the darkness, leaving a trail of light to chase away the shadows. He lifted his head, breaking the connection and she panted. His eyes were so close, so deeply blue, they seemed incandescent.

He trailed a hand up her back then closed it over her nape. When he tilted her head, she obeyed the silent demand and then he took her mouth again. Where the first kiss stormed her senses, this one teased her. The sweet, gentle massage of his lips across hers and the taste of him flooded her. His tongue sought entrance and, while one part of her wanted to say no, the rest of her longed to savor the taste of him.

Heat unfurled in her belly, and softness stole through the tension of her muscles. She clung to him as she dared to twine her tongue with his. Everywhere his body touched hers seemed to dial the temperature to scorching. All trace of her chill evaporated under the sensual assault.

God, he tastes so good…
The thought found voice as her nipples tightened.
He.

Diesel.

Unclenching her grip on his shoulders, she flattened her palms then shoved. He didn’t move, she’d probably have an easier time shifting a boulder. Dazed, she stared into his eyes as he finally released her mouth. Her pulse raced, and she gasped air noisily as he leaned away. Beneath the copper-tinged snow, she detected a richer, far more masculine scent.

Desire.

Son of a bitch…
She wanted to swear aloud, but she needed to get away from him. Her whole system seemed to be in overdrive. Passion thrummed through her. God help her, she could feel her heartbeat in her sex, as though miming the need to have him pounding inside her.

“Bad idea,” she finally managed, the words as ragged and thready as the rest of her.

Canting his head to the side, he studied her. Bit by bit, she became aware of his grip on her nape. He held her still, the contact deeply intimate and leaving her in an intensely vulnerable position. Dropping her gaze from him, she stared at the bloody spots on his shoulders—his bare shoulders. She’d shredded his shirt and left deep marks scoring his flesh.

“Oh shit,” she whispered. Had she fucked up so colossally that not only had she attacked the Yukon Alpha once, she’d done it twice? What the hell was wrong with her?

“I’ll heal.” He dismissed the concern with a gentle shake of his head. The contact of his fingers as he shifted his grip from her nape to her jaw left her aching for more. His skin seemed warmer, an odd thought considering his cold climes. Then again, he was a wolf. “Are you well now?”

Well?
Considering she’d betrayed a major weakness then freaked out? She tried to shrug, but the action rubbed her chest against his. Tightening her thighs together, she prayed he couldn’t scent the effect he had on her. If wishes were horses, she’d be galloping away, too.

The need to flee pulsed with every beat of her heart. Aggravated by the weakness, she raised her chin and tried to free herself from his grip. “I’m fine.”

His eyebrows raised. He didn’t say anything nor did he release her jaw as he examined her. Never in her life had she experienced the sensation of being prey. The Alpha holding her could be mistaken for nothing other than a predator. He’d melted her resistance and pulled her out of the hellish panic attack, only to catapult her into a far more confusing state.

“No, not yet, but you’re getting there.” He stroked his thumb against her cheek. “The lights will be reset so that you may control them manually.”

Embarrassed, she lowered her gaze to stare at his mouth. A mistake, because she knew what those sensuous lips felt like against her own. Worse, she knew what he tasted of and the heady combination left her hungry for more. “It’s not a big deal.” She wanted to dismiss the phobia. How many wolves were truly afraid of the dark? It was absolutely ridiculous. When he still didn’t release her, she dragged in another gulp of air. “Let me go.” Then, because her voice still quavered in humiliating fashion, she added, “Please.”

For some reason, she expected him to fight her about it. He hadn’t listened to a damn word so far, but he loosened his grasp and she took advantage to retreat a step. Pride halted her on the second step. Yes, he’d already proven he could affect her, but he’d also held her when she’d freaked out.

“I’m sorry.” Apologies did not come easily to her, yet it was the second time in their very brief acquaintance she found herself having to offer him one. “The dark caught me off guard.”

“So I gathered.” The corner of his mouth curved, highlighting the strength not only in his beautiful lips but also in his firm jaw. She hadn’t been wrong earlier—when he smiled, he was damned handsome. Seriously, she needed to stop thinking about his kissability factor. “You’re still a little shaky. Would you like a drink?”

“Oh, dear God, yes.” The exclamation burst from her, and she laughed, the sound somewhere between rueful and humorous. “Please tell me you have something strong? I didn’t feel like snooping through your things to find a bar.”

And, truthfully, she hadn’t had enough time to win the argument with herself. She’d showered, changed, and settled into the small bedroom she’d claimed for herself. By the time she’d wandered back to his grassy room, she hadn’t been certain what they expected of her and the lack of real sunlight at the guest house had left her body clock confused.

At least there, she’d been able to keep the gas lanterns lit and the fire turned up. They had electricity, but she and Julian hadn’t wanted to run down the generator if they weren’t certain how long they would be there.

“I have plenty for you to choose from.” He peeled away the remains of his shirt, then balled it up as he beckoned to her. It left all his glorious skin bare. The marks on his shoulders were deep. The punctures would take a while to heal, and the deep grooves left by her claws remained red and inflamed.

Grimacing, she dug around for another apology. “I am sorry about clawing you. I swear, I normally have much better control.” If one were to go by her behavior since she’d arrived, she could see how they would doubt her.

“I told you, I will heal, Dove.” He strode across the grass to where one of the long easy chairs rested near what looked like a table comprised of crates.

The nickname stymied her response. When he flipped the top open to reveal a liquor cabinet, the contents distracted her from the trembling still shivering through her. “Is this like some kind of glamping for wolves?”

Diesel peered at her, frown lines deepening between his eyes. “What is glamping?”

“It’s where people pay a lot of money to go out into the wild, but they have all the luxuries of home.” She gave a wave around the grassy room. The color remained a stunning emerald, and it reminded her of the hills in Ohio in spring. “You’ve got the perfect grassy backyard—indoors and underground, I might add—and you have a liquor stash inside…what are those? Shipping crates?”

Chuckling, he pulled out a bottle of whiskey and held it up. Relief plumed through her. She and Jack were old friends. “You approve.” It wasn’t a question.

“I do.”

“Good.” He closed one side, then opened the other and pulled out two glasses. “Come… Sit with me, and we will drink.” He nodded to the pseudo-sofa. It was large, round and almost like a bed, but it had a high back. It would force her to slide on and scoot back in order to sit, or she could just perch on the edge.

He waited, giving her no clues as to what he expected. Exhausted, and more than a little raw, she climbed onto the round sofa then crawled to where she could sit and extend her legs.

What the hell else could she do to make the situation anymore uncomfortable?

Once she was in place, Diesel filled a glass about half-full. He handed it to her before filling his own. It might help her if he put on a shirt. Nakedness and wolves was very normal, so why the hell was she spending so much time ogling him? He moved the crates to sit closer before setting the bottle down and settling onto the oversized sofa chair. Near enough she could feel his heat, but not so close as to bring them into contact again.

The weight of his attention had her turning to meet his gaze. Glass held out, he said, “To getting to know you, Dove.”

There was that name again.
She clinked her glass to his then tossed the contents back in one swallow rather than saying anything. The heat scalded its way to her belly and settled the jangling of her nerves. Even her wolf seemed to let out a sigh. Before she could ask, he reached for the bottle and refilled her glass.

“Thank you,” she said, then moistened her lips. The whiskey was smooth, perfectly aged. She could probably kill the whole bottle herself. She might need to if she couldn’t get her traitorous reactions under control.

“My pleasure.” He took another sip, not tossing his back as she had hers. She tried to nurse her second, but when he gave her another of those amused grins, she said screw it. Draining the second glass helped the first to sooth her ragged edges. Without comment, he refilled her glass again.

Several long moments passed as she sat in the twilight-lit garden of green. Even the chair—sofa? Whatever the hell the thing was they were sitting on—seemed more suited to the outdoors than in. “You didn’t answer my question about the glamping.”

“We do not need to
glamp
.” He rolled the syllable around as though it were unpleasant. “The room was designed this way because I don’t care to be trapped inside, much less underground.”

Had he just revealed a vulnerability? “I guess if you have to spend months at a time like this, that makes sense.” She’d certainly had her share of cabin fever in the long winter months, even though she was just as likely to go for a run in the snow as any other time.

“I don’t spend months at a time down here.” He shrugged. “My place is with my pack, roaming the tundra as they roam.”

“Don’t you have pack here?” She’d met the healer and seen others, or at least the evidence of others.

“Yes, but they are young or infirmed or the aged.” Pausing, he left it to hang so long she wondered if he had a problem with all of the above. He drained his glass then refilled it and checked hers. She’d managed to nurse the third so shook her head. After returning the bottle to the crate, he rolled his shoulders. The skin already looked better, the deep score marks less red, but they were still visible. “We built the underground compound for them. They are safe here, and I know they are. They also know how to summon me back if I’m needed.”

Realization crested within her. “The real threats are outside the sanctuary of the pack.”

“Precisely.” Economical with his word choice, he still hadn’t broached her freak out or their kiss. It seemed altogether a better idea to continue avoiding those topics.

“What time is it?” She really lost track, and the question burst forth because, while she appreciated the quiet, it seemed to be giving her too much time to think.

“What is time but a way to mark the passage through life with another?”

“Okay, Deepok, that’s awesome, but I was trying to figure out if it went dark because it was evening or if there are just a few hours on and a few hours off.”

“Dove, it is dark nearly all the time during this season.” Though he kept his tone gentle, she could almost hear his unspoken laughter. “The light below is more for the plants and the growing season, so they are well fed and healthy.”

“So, if they didn’t have to grow things, you’d keep this place pitch dark?” Horror crept through her.

“No, they would need some light. We all need some to allow our night vision to work. But living belowground during the winter months only began a few years ago. First, it was from necessity and, later, it has become how the young survive.”

Since he was in a sharing mood, and she really didn’t want to keep talking about how dark it
could
be, she latched onto the last kernel of information. “What did they do before you moved them underground for the winter?”

Diesel stretched his legs then crossed one ankle over the other. If she didn’t look up, she could almost pretend they were in her parents’ backyard—of course, there were no crickets or pesky brothers to annoy them. What was she thinking? Her brothers would never let her spend a moment alone with any single male, much less a foreign Alpha. They’d already lost Linc to one—though, admittedly, she did like Serafina—and Ty seemed to have forged a friendship with another Alpha to the extent that he and Claire had yet to return from Sutter Butte.

“I will answer when your thoughts do not wander so far or trouble you so much.” The quiet comment jerked her attention back to him.

“I am paying attention.”

“Are you?” Challenge layered through both syllables. “Then what troubled you so much?”

She’d rather step on her own tongue than admit considering her brothers’ reactions to him. “I was thinking about home.”

“You miss it.” Not a question.

“Of course, but I have a job to do, and I’m here to do it.”

Diesel took another swallow of his whiskey. That sounded like an enormously good idea, so she did the same. “You came only because of the mission Mason gave you?”