The Guardian Alpha (7 page)

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

When Jay opened his eyes, he found himself on his back, staring into a blue-streaked violet sky housing a full, white moon. His brows furrowed as he slowly sat up. The muscles in his back muttered dissent. Blue-green grass bit into the palm of his hands as he propped himself up. Blearily, he retraced his steps after leaving Marie and Thad.

He had raced home, avoiding the search teams. He had sent a text to all the Nameless Sentinels that the hunt was off. He labeled Marie as a defector, stating that she and the feral had been working together. There was no other reason for such a difficult trail.

Then he enjoyed the rest of his beer and hunkered down in bed. Wishfully, he had thought of Kristi and where they would be now, had circumstances been different.

With that realization sinking into his head, Jay's gaze darted around the landscape. To his right, the sound of falling water scraped into his ears. He didn't have to look to know what it was: the crystal cliff side ad waterfall from his first journey into the dreamscape.

To his left, warm yellow light spilled over the grass. His gaze flicked to the source, finding his – or a version of his– trailer, squatting under the stars. Somehow, his home seemed different. Possibly, thanks to the foreign backdrop – and a figure poking about the base of his trailer.

Jay's heart throbbed and his fingers dug into the dirt beneath him as he caught sight of a figure. Over the weeks, his brain had played tricks on him. Dreams cobbled together memories of Kristi. Her yellow eyes, her plump lips, her wild black hair. Yet, each time, something was slightly off: something she wore, the light hitting her eyes from an impossible angle, the way – when Jay reached out – he'd find no emotions from the dream-Kristi.

He could feel curiosity and frustration radiate from the figure by his trailer. As she passed shafts of light, her halo of black sucked in the light. Jay swallowed, hard and heavy. That was
his
Kristi.

Without thought, Jay scrambled to his feet and raced to the trailer. Fear gripped his thoughts. She could disappear right before his eyes, before they had a chance to talk. She could genuinely be another figment. His desires to see her, to talk to her, to feel her could be so great, they manifested in all of this.

But, no. Jay was certain this was his Kristi, his Mate. His heart thrummed eagerly. The scent of sun-baked rock and sandalwood danced along his senses. He collided into her, just as she turned to face him. Kristi gasped as his arms crushed her against him, his muscles tight against her shoulders.

“Kristi,” Jay murmured, heaving everything into that single word – his fears, his worries, his love, his fondness. He pummeled the link with everything inside him, letting every last drop flow. He hoped Kristi would allow it to sink into her.

She let out ragged breaths, her eyes wide as her brain almost shut down from shock. This wasn't what she wanted. Despite her warring thoughts earlier, as she crept around the trailer, Kristi's stomach coiled in on itself. Her fingers curled against his sides, feeling his firm body under her fingertips. The ache of need and desire lit across her nerves. She wanted to return his fond embrace and lean into his body. She wanted his attention and she wanted to caress him lovingly. The whims itched along her arms and sunk into her bones.

As she struggled to control herself, Jay unleashed an onslaught of emotions through the connection: fondness, fear, worries, frustrations, exasperation, bitterness, self-depreciation, and discovery. More and more of it piled into Kristi's head until she could understand, without words, what Jay's daily life had entailed.

Goldbridge had done much of what her pack had done. They trained and prepared weapons. They discussed battle plans. The Nameless Sentinels called in reinforcements and ran defensive drills. Kristi swallowed, Jay's apprehension tinged all of these fuzzy memories. Her heart ached; Jay's concern for her pack struck her.

There was something else under all this uncertainty. Something revealed. Something he was eager to show others, but something no one else wanted to hear. Kristi's eyebrows furrowed as she sensed this discovery had to do with her pack.

Suddenly remembering herself, she shoved Jay away. He stumbled back a step and both were left missing the mutual body heat. She set her face in an angry scowl, forcing her eyebrows lower. She clung to her anger, her rage, her bitterness. Meanwhile, fondness and delight danced at the edges of her thoughts. Kristi focused on Jay's vague discovery and demanded, “What is this information you found out about my pack, Sentinel?”

“So, we're back to that name?” Jay's bright gaze dulled and his smile curved into a frown. His own eyebrows furrowed as his gaze took in Kristi entirely. She stood awkwardly, with squared shoulders and crossed arms. Jay pursed his lips before turning sharply. She couldn't even momentarily enjoy this reunion. Part of Jay couldn't blame her, but that didn't mean he had to like it. “Follow me.”

He made his way into his trailer, without looking back at Kristi. She followed, wordlessly. Heat clawed up her body as she remembered their last meeting in his trailer's dreamscape. She closed her eyes and swallowed down tears as she stood on the stairs.

She didn't want to go any farther. She didn't want to see his refrigerator or his living room or that dark box designated as a television. Kristi didn't want to acknowledge how consuming her connection to Jay was.

When Jay realized she wasn't following, he didn't argue. He merely trudged on. A few seconds later, he returned from the innards of his trailer. He leaned in the jamb of his front door, wrinkled papers in his hands. Jay wasn't even sure if the papers would be there, on the floor by his recliner where he had left them, but it seemed fate was on his side. He held out the sheaf of paper to Kristi and she eyed it suspiciously.

“They're copies of the agreement,” grunted Jay, averting his gaze from Kristi. Her very presence sent warmth burrowing deep into his bones. The urge to touch her, kiss her, simply be with her ached along every tendon and muscle. When she turned her yellow eyes to his face, it was all the more difficult for Jay to refuse himself. “Two hundred years ago, Crystal Ridge was driven from the land. Fifty years before that, an agreement had been made with the earlier settlers.”

Kristi took the papers from Jay's grasp, careful not to touch his skin. She eyed the papers, able to read bits and lines of the long documents. There was an eerie familiarity in the script, as if she had seen it before, among the pack members who were taught to write by their grandparents. Kristi turned her eyes to Jay, who refused to meet her gaze, and asked, “What does this mean?”

“For fifty years, feral wolves and domestic wolves lived, side-by-side, assisting one another.” Jay could feel her yellow eyes on him. His skin itched and a flush clawed at his face. His gaze hardened as he forced himself to meet her gaze. Jay steeled his voice, an edge sharpening his intent, “This is proof that both groups can accomplish an agreement.”

Kristi fell silent, her gaze flickering back to the papers. Her fingers shook and bile rose in her throat. Fifty years before her pack was sent into the forest, Goldbridge was an ally? This had never come up in her pack. Not as far as she remembered. Kristi swallowed heavily. “What happened?”

“The mayor, at the time, wanted to develop the town into something bigger.” Jay prepared himself for Kristi's onslaught as he carefully chose his words. “He built on neutral land, meant to remain untouched. When Crystal Ridge dissented at a town meeting, he ignored them.” His gaze flickered to the papers, unable to take Kristi's bright yellow gaze any longer. His voice fell a little softer as he relayed what history remained, “They allegedly became violent and the mayor lead the townspeople against them, after nullifying this agreement.”

Sudden dizziness overtook Kristi's senses. She turned and flopped down on the stairs, staring at the papers in her hands. One person had set all of this into motion – one person who didn't understand sacred beliefs. The papers crumpled at the edges as her fingertips curled. Lycans starved and suffered and died, because one man thought Goldbridge should be bigger. It was enough to bring nausea hurling to her mouth.

The stairs beside her creaked as Jay's weight sat down beside her. She refused to look at him. Her thoughts were rampant and tangled and uncertain.

Jay sat quietly, Kristi's chaotic emotions slamming around her. Gently, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders while his other hand clasped her by the wrist. Jay tugged Kristi close, delighted fire burning up his arms. Everything in Kristi's head stopped as soon as Jay touched her. Warmth and tingles attacked her senses as a blush crawled over her cheeks. His thumb ghosted over her knuckles, tickling her flesh. Her nerves frayed against his firm muscles and warmth.

For the first time since he left, Kristi wanted nothing more than his embrace. She leaned into him, enjoying his musky scent coupled with sweat. Tears burned at the edges of her eyes. This wasn't fair. They shouldn't have to pay for the mistakes of the past. Yet, here they were. The words burbled from her lips, choked, “This changes nothing, Jay. Goldbridge is still to blame for our loss.”

Jay heaved a heavy sigh. He knew that would be Kristi's answer, but he had hoped she'd surprise him. His broad palm stroked her back as she pressed farther into him. She snuffled against his shirt as hot tears stained the fabric. Kristi's twisting emotions mirrored his own. Threads of pity and frustration knotted inside both of them.

He didn't want to waste the time they had. Kristi wanted to see him and he wanted to see her. That's why the dream walking had worked. They should enjoy their time together. He gently pushed her back from his chest, holding her at arm's length. He caught her gaze as he snatched the papers from her hands and threw them behind him, over his shoulder.

Kristi's brows furrowed in confusion. The papers rained down behind Jay, like birds fluttering to the ground. Jay swept down, catching Kristi's lips in a swift movement. She inhaled sharply, eyes widening as heat tore through her body. Almost as soon as she tensed, she relaxed. Her eyes fluttered shut, leaning into the kiss. Her arms flung around his shoulders as his arms snaked around her waist, pulling her close.

She sighed against his mouth as plots, plans, and worries over tomorrow dissipated in a flare of hormones. Her hands found their way into his hair, threading between his locks of hair. Jay groaned against her lips, her touch like wildfire across his flesh. He pulled away from the kiss, staring into her molten yellow eyes. He dove down, intoxicated by her scent as he nosed along her neck, licking and nipping.

Kristi moaned, arching her back against him. Heat boiled in her core as Jay's scent, his touch, his mouth revived long-gone emotions. She pressed her lips against his ear, licking and kissing his earlobe. He replied with a chest-vibrating moan. Heady desire flared through his mind, thick and powerful.

Suddenly, she felt herself hoisted up. Jay's fingers gripped beneath her thighs as he hefted her up and staggered down the stairs. Excitement pounded through her head. His lips were still busy working along her neck as a hand shifted to her lower back. He crossed the expanse of yard and grass until he was right between the trailer and the waterfall. As he strode, the grass became taller, until the flora reached his knees. When Jay judged the height to be enough, he stopped. Gently, he knelt down, lowering Kristi to the ground.

The grass pricked at her back through her clothes and pillowed her head. Her heart thrummed in her chest as Jay lowered atop her, bracing himself with his hands. He caught her lips again. Her arms and legs curled around him, pressing his body flush against hers. Through the layers of clothes, she could feel Jay's excited erection grow and harden. Jay's hands slid beneath her shirt, his fingertips trailing up her torso. Heat and tingles followed his touches, as if his digits were tipped with fire.

His hands found their way to her breasts, thumbs playing over her nipples in gentle circles. As pleasure coursed through Kristi, it resonated through Jay. Pent-up desires consumed their core and licked along their nerves.

Kristi suddenly growled; her hands snagged at Jay's shirt from his back. She pulled savagely at the article of clothing, seams snapped along his shoulders. He chuckled and assisted Kristi by wiggling out of the shirt. Her yellow eyes razed over his chest, drinking in his musculature. Heat sliced down Jay's nerves, Kristi's gaze hot and liquefying. Her nails trailed over his shoulders and down his chest, coaxing groans from Jay's lips.

He closed his eyes, shuddering as Kristi's fingers ghosted over his skin. Pressure knotted in his lower stomach.