“We’re on our way,”
Trevor shot back. Chance hoped they made it back in time for Olivia’s protection.
“I recognize him,” Olivia whispered. “He was in wolf-form earlier, and like then, he wants to kick our butts.” Chance just realized Olivia must have seen his transformation from wolf to human when she shot him. So she knew, and what did that mean?
Smoke lifted his head and howled, sounding as wolf. His pack howled from different locations in the forest, at least four of them. Chance knew his pack would come straight a way, even if they got the opportunity at grabbing one of the rogue’s pack, they would save their Alpha and his mate first.
Chance dropped Olivia onto her feet and shoved her behind him.
“Do you make a habit of running around naked?” Smoke’s voice came out strained and rough, like that part of him was as damaged as his face. Amazing he could howl with so little effort.
“What of it, easier to go wolf.” This was not part of Chance’s vision, so he’d already changed the outcome by not following the chronological events accordingly. Chance bent into a battle stance, but ready to go wolf if need arose. Smoke laughed at him, which sounded familiar, matching his premonition.
“Don’t antagonize him, he isn’t stable,” Olivia whispered from behind Chance.
“My hearing is ever so sensitive Ms. Olivia. Like I know there are three Lycan approaching from over there.” He pointed and Chance and Olivia both looked, seeing Trevor, Dir, and Jase hustling through the tree line at top speed toward them. At that moment a rumbling crack gave way and an explosion of burning barn walls collapsed, shooting red hot embers and splinters into the air. Chance shoved Olivia onto the ground, and fell across her back. He angled a look in the direction of Smoke, but only empty space remained in front of the porch door. In a matter of seconds the alpha, Smoke, was gone without a trace.
Olivia twisted around and stared at the burning pile of barn. “The animals, I’ve lost them all.”
“Are you talking about the hawk and the ground hog?” Trevor asked. He had made the shift-change with the others and they all stood beside Chance. “Because, they’re not lost, check that barn over there.” He pointed at her oldest southern-most barn, where she kept a lot of her yard equipment and a couple old cages. “Lindsey thought it might be best moving the critters out of the death stench. She thought it might make them less anxious in a different environment.”
Olivia ran over and gave Trevor a big hug. She pushed away from him right before Chance grabbed her away.
“What the hell?” Chance glared at Trevor.
“She’s your filly. I got my own, and Lindsey caught me naked with your mate, imagine what she’d say with this little display.” Trevor stepped back a few paces.
Chance ran at Trevor, arm cocked and ready, but this time Olivia grabbed his arm. He dragged her along, hanging from his arm.
“Stop. You’ll give him another bloody nose. He’s already had one of those tonight. Apparently I’ve a lot to learn about Lycan relationships.” Somehow Olivia’s sweet voice pulsed through and stilled him, leaving him wondering why the hell he lost control in the first place and now acted like a possessive schoolboy, and who gave Trevor the bloody nose?
“So, boss, you want us staying here tonight, or shall we take your little lady to our place for the night?”
Chance couldn’t believe Trevor, as if he’d ever share Olivia with anyone else. Chance’s anger skyrocketed again, and all he could do was picture Trevor and Olivia together naked.
“Stop the rage,”
Trevor interrupted Chance’s accelerating anger.
“All of us came here on the mission of saving your ass from the big bad wolf, and then your little mate shot you. We shifted and carried you into the house, and then Lindsey walked in when you were on the bed unconscious. All of us were in the bedroom naked with your mate, who was fully dressed I might add. Lindsey’s a jealous creature, didn’t like sharing her man much, only the sharing part never actually happened.”
“I can vouch for him, boss,”
Jase broke in.
Chance stood there with Olivia still hanging from his arm. A picture conjured up in his minds-eye, his friends bare-assed in Olivia’s bedroom, him knocked out cold on the bed, and Olivia standing there when Lindsey walked in. He busted out laughing at the image.
“I know who gave you the bloody nose.” Chance continued laughing, and then sobered realizing what an ass he’d just been with his pack. Finding his primal-mate changed him. Aggression and possessiveness with his pack members was something new, and he better filter it somehow, control it.
“Yeah, real funny,” Trevor said.
Chance wrapped his arms around Olivia. “You’re staying at my place tonight, pack a bag. I’ll call the fire department, have them come and make sure the fire stays out. But, I want out of here before they arrive.” He watched Olivia rush into the house, moving with determination. She must be running on fumes after all that happened the last few days.
Trevor, Jase, and Dir headed around the house.
“Where’re you going?” Chance wanted a couple of them staying, keeping the firemen safe. One would go back with Olivia and him.
“To get dressed,” Trevor said. “We parked the trucks down the drive so we might make a quieter approach when you put the call out the first time. I got a spare pair of jeans, you want them?”
“Yeah, I’ll be right there.” Chance went inside the house looking for Olivia. He saw Lindsey’s note on the table telling Olivia she’d gone home. She needed some time alone.
Olivia walked into the kitchen carrying a small tote bag. “Only one night, right?”
“I don’t know for sure, maybe a few more things.”
Olivia ran back. Chance heard drawers opening and closing. She was back in only minutes. He loved the efficiency of this woman.
“I’m ready,” Olivia announced. Chance hadn’t noticed earlier, but her face appeared burnt and some of her hair singed. Mud and smudge marks streaked her clothes. Olivia followed Chance’s gaze and looked down at her clothes.
“I know, I’m a mess and I stink. Do you have a shower I can use at your place?”
“Of course.” Chance thought of the last time they were in the shower together and a blast of heat shot straight south, making him hard.
“Hey, down boy.” Olivia’s gaze focused between his thighs, arousing him even more by her interest. All he could do was groan, when he wanted nothing more than to stake his claim on her right there on the kitchen floor, like the rutting beast he was. He hauled her against him and kissed her, taking complete possession of her tantalizing lips. He needed her in his arms, thoughts of her running into that burning barn left him raw inside.
“As far as I remember, we have some unfinished business,” Chance whispered through his kiss. “So let’s take care of it at my place.”
“First, I’m due some explanations, right?” Olivia pushed her bags of clothes between them, breaking away from his hungry mouth.
Chance gazed at her. “You obviously know I’m a Lycan.”
“Chance, don’t toy with me. Your men explained a few things to Lindsey, and they added me in there for shits and giggles. I’d like hearing it from you.”
Trevor slammed through the porch door. “Geez, man, hide that raging branding rod.” He threw a pair of jeans at Chance. “Dir and Jase are hanging out here until the firemen come and do their thing. I fed and watered the critters, took a quick lesson from Lindsey earlier. I’ll follow you and your mate back to the club-house.”
Olivia glared at Chance. “Well? What else do you have to tell me?”
Chance bent over, shrugging his legs into the jeans. “Explanations are pending. Let’s finish at the club-house.”
Trevor chuckled and walked outside. Chance took Olivia’s bags from her. “After you,” he said. She exhaled an exaggerated sigh and walked out. He followed her into his truck.
Chapter Thirteen
Olivia sat in silence as Chance drove, never straying far from the tail lights of Trevor’s truck. She noticed familiar roads, but different from the day he picked her up for lunch. In fact, they were miles north of his cottage. The truck headlights shone on a dead deer at the edge of the road, reminding her of Rebel on the side of the road. She glanced toward Chance, focused on her psyche, but her heart wasn’t into it. Now she knew him as half animal, it seemed intrusive reading him. She wanted him up front and honest with her on the outside as well as on the inside, no fishing needed.
Trevor’s truck turned and stopped. He jumped out and opened a gate. Chance drove around Trevor’s truck and through the gate on a dirt two-track. Signs were posted “Private Property – Keep Out,” and another one stating “Surveillance in Use.”
Olivia recalled this property, quite a large chunk bought up by someone from out of state. Years ago the villagers thought her husband bought it. Rumors went around about it becoming a big resort, one of his hotels or maybe a ski lodge. The property held a range of high hills, known as mountains to Michiganders. At the time, massive construction equipment rolled in and out, but nothing ever came of it. No buildings what-so-ever.
Chance pulled in front of a high hill with its side sheared off, leaving a tall flat rock surface. He pressed a remote on his visor, and the flat-faced rock slid sideways like a huge barn door. Trevor came up behind them, and they both drove their trucks inside a pitch black cave. The big door automatically moved back in place and then the whole inside lit up like daylight. Chance and Trevor parked the trucks near what looked like an elevator door.
“What is this place?” Olivia looked around, noticing other doors, and beside each a light and a number. “Is this an underground apartment complex?”
“It’s where some of my pack members reside, and it’s also one of the LIIA Operations Facilities.” Chance climbed out of the truck and walked around, opening Olivia’s door. He grabbed her bags out of the back and led her toward the nearest door, an elevator going down only.
In a matter of seconds the elevator settled and its doors opened into a large room with plush mixed-brown shaded carpet, a few long leather couches and glass coffee tables. She noticed arched walls circled the room with doors every few feet labeled with “Hall A,” “Hall B,” and so on.
“Trevor, I’d like you working Ops tonight.”
“No problem.”
“Keep up on Dir and Jase, and see if Jasmine has anything for us yet. She may be running dark right now. The facility she’s visiting has pumped-up security. Jasmine may check in via the internet rather than by phone, so you might check that first.” Chance slid an arm around Olivia’s waist and led her toward the door labeled “Hall A.” “I’m off grid for the rest of the night. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Chance pushed her through the opened door and lights came on in a gold carpeted short hallway leading to only one door.
“So, how are you feeling after being knocked out by a crack-shot?” Olivia asked, but didn’t smile about it. Her heart still weighed heavy over the mistake, and she hoped Chance wouldn’t have any side affects from the high dosage of tranquilizer.
“Waking up with my last vision of you shooting me has to be the worst rude awakening possible, number one in the top ten. Seeing you at that inferno and then the face-off with the rogue sobered me fast enough, got my adrenalin skyrocketing, and most likely flushed it all out of my system.”
Chance led her through the door and again lights automatically came on. Her breath caught. Darker brown walls, accented in eggshell, lighter brown carpeting and furniture, it reminded her of Chance, dark and masculine. One coffee table made of oak and it looked heavy.
Chance carried her bags into a room off the main living area, Olivia followed.
“You can sleep in my guest room. It comes complete with a sizeable bathroom.” Chance clicked a light on, dropped her bags on the floor beside the bed, and led her into the bathroom. It was a huge room with a shower almost as big as hers at home. “The towels are there.” He pointed at a cabinet. “Take as long a shower as you want.”
“What about you?”
“You might not feel the same about me after our talk, Olivia.” Chance stood at the door. “I won’t promote something you’ll regret later. And I’d regret it if you did.”
Olivia realized Chance must think she would come around or why would he have brought her here, his secret hide-out. She knew its location, not that she’d share it. Her heart belonged to him, all of it, all of her. She’d never break his trust.
“If you want to talk tonight, I’ll be in the other room. Otherwise, know that you’re safe here. If you’d rather wait, you can sleep and we can talk tomorrow morning.” He walked out, gently closing the door behind him.
Olivia stood in the middle of the bathroom, wanting nothing more than Chance beside her on the bed in the next room, his arms around her, his skin touching hers. Emotions erupted inside her, conspiring against the woman she was a week ago. She looked around the room, catching her reflection in a wall length mirror. Smudges of ash and mud on her face and clothes, streaks of it matted in her singed hair. Her violet eyes glittered with unshed tears. She melted to the floor, the carpet soft beneath her, and let the tears roll.
She’d spent a lifetime trying to please a man she never could. Her wildlife preserve was under siege by a demented killer, who’d most likely mutilated Rebel and her herd of goats, and no telling what or who else that beast and his pack had slain. Her best friend announced she was in love with her, and then Chance broke out as a wolf-man.
He made her feel passion and appreciated her passion in return. He cherished her, protected her. Yet he still refused trusting her with his truth. He had yet to explain the whole Lycan thing, the primal-mate thing. He had yet to give her the options of staying or leaving.
How can I love him without truth?
After her tears were spent, she undressed and stepped into the shower. Cold water hit her first, and she shuffled away. Warmth drew her back into the spray, she closed her eyes and relished the relaxing beat of the water drops, thinking of Chance and the last time they showered together. Her body heated, a deep empty ache resonating from her center. She quickly washed her hair and body, needing distance from her shower memory with Chance.