Climbing the Ladder (6 page)

She yelped herself awake and scrambled to stand, hackles up for a second before she

sniffed them both and relaxed. Better. So much better.

Kody could feel her curiosity—her nose working overtime, her ears swiveling. That

meant she didn’t remember her dream self. Thank goodness.

Of course, Sammy was probably going to try to kill him when she stopped being fuzzy.

Hopefully Mesa would stop her.

Mesa barked once, the sound very much like laughter. He might be thinking too loudly.

Sammy paid little attention to them, nose to the ground, tracking. Mesa followed her,

keeping back, but keeping her in sight.

Sammy followed their back trail, heading straight to the camp, to their tent.

So smart. So in touch with her instincts. His heart swelled a little. She headed inside the

tent, curled up at the doorway, staring out at them.

Kody wondered if she was going to try to defend that as her territory. Mesa wouldn’t like

that.

Right on cue, Mesa headed over and a low growl started, warning them. It never rose in

volume, but the challenge was clear.

He scrambled toward Mesa, intent on rescuing her. She was scared, out of her element.

Mesa nipped at him, telling him to back off. He backed, yipping softly.
Be nice, Mate.

As long as they didn’t look at her, she didn’t growl.

Mesa moved a step closer every few moments, those big paws almost at the floor of the

tent. Sammy held the door of the tent, barring it. Still, her nose sniffed them, furiously.

Mesa chuffed, the sound so like his human snort that Kody wanted to bat the air with his

paws and laugh. He crept up, nuzzling Mesa’s ruff. Sammy was quiet until he shot her a look,

then the low growl came again.

Mesa shook his head, chest pushing out. Sammy whined softly, obviously unsure of what

to do, so Kody vocalized softly, encouraging her to trust.

She was trying. Her wolf told her to, even if the Sammy he knew wanted to run. She

dropped her head to her paws, and she watched them.

Mesa kept shifting, moving closer, moving to touch noses with her finally.

Her tongue flicked out, tasting Mesa, the act pure instinct.

Vibrating, Mesa jumped back and barked at her, tail waving. Inviting her to play.

Her head tilted, and Kody chuffed as she blinked, intrigued.
That’s it, love, come play.
It had taken him weeks to teach her to loosen up, but once she had…

Mesa bounced and barked, front paws digging in. Her hind end went up, wiggled.

Yes.
Kody danced.
Yes!

They drew her out, step-by-step, Mesa woofing. Finally, she pounced Mesa’s head,

bouncing away from the big Alpha, fearless. Mesa danced, smiling his lupine smile. She circled, nose wrinkling, tongue lolling, trying to get Mesa’s hindquarters.

Kody watched, pacing back and forth, ready to step in if he needed to.

Mesa teased her, let her believe she was going to get him, when the huge Alpha spun,

pounced her. He didn’t take her down, though. Mesa stood on her shoulder a moment before

tearing off in a circle. She barked, taking chase, and Kody had to follow. Had to.

He barked happily, chasing Sammy’s butt.

Sammy actually bounced for him, giving her tail a wag and a flounce. That was his girl.

She panted and barked for him. Her pretty eyes danced. She looked so happy for a moment, so at ease.

Mesa looked so tickled, so pleased. He was mock attacking Sammy. Kody found himself

standing there, watching, vibrating and admiring them.

They rolled, the two of them, Mesa coming out on top but jumping up right away.

Sammy panted, crouched to leap again. Mesa’s tail wagged, a plume that was so

tempting…

Kody panted, then leapt, taking the temptation when Sammy didn’t, and Mesa barked

happily, turning to bite at Kody’s neck playfully. The nip lit him up.

His body ached in the best way; his entire soul was singing, glorying in his mates, and

when Sammy bit the tip of his tail, it made him dance.

He barked happily, pounced her, then ran from them both.

They gave chase, Mesa snapping the tiniest bit at Sammy when she got ahead. Sammy

growled softly, dug in and ran faster, her determination to lead flavoring the air itself. Kody turned back, not wanting to cause a fight. He would distract them.

Sammy came barreling at him, legs scrambling as she tried to make them work, stop.

He slid sideways when she hit him, his legs going out from under him. Mesa hit them

next, rolling them to a stop.

Their lady was yelping, barking. Bitching at them.

The sound was so familiar, it made him huff with laughter.

Mesa rumbled, the sound happy as could be. His. They were his.

Sammy licked Kody, then pushed him down, grooming him, her love for him glowing

brightly. Kody pawed at Mesa, who came to nibble on his ruff. It didn’t take even a push before Sammy was cleaning Mesa’s muzzle and ears. Perfect. That made Mesa happy, too. Kody felt it.

Sammy was wearing out, her body getting heavy against him. It had been a long couple

of days.

He started pushing her back toward the tent. At this stage she might wake up wolf, might

wake up human. They needed her contained.

She moved slowly, tongue dragging. Tired. She was so tired.

It echoed inside his head.

He barked, encouraging her. Come on, love. A few more steps.

She made it to the tent, stumbling in before curling into a tiny ball.

Mesa stopped to mark outside the tent before pushing Kody inside.

Kody settled with a sigh, nose on Sammy’s flank. Pretty girl. Mesa curled around them,

almost long enough to manage it.

Then they slept

* * * *

Naked.

She woke up naked.

Naked and sore and having the weirdest dreams.

She gathered her clothes up, determinedly not looking at Kody or his lover. Who were

naked too.

Naked and lying in front of the goddamned flap of the tent.

She got her panties on, a pair of shorts, then a tank top. Okay. Okay, she could make it.

She slipped around Kody, not even breathing.

Mesa moved lightning fast, hand coming to grab her ankle. “No.”

She yelped, jerking away. “Let me go!”

“No. You have to stay and talk about this. Otherwise, you could get yourself hurt. You

can’t just pretend this didn’t happen.”

Kody woke up, reached for her hand. “Come on, huh? Sit a second?”

“You explain, and then I’m going home, okay? I’m sore, and I need some time alone with

a bathtub.”

Kody’s eyes looked so warm, and she just wanted to curl up with the boys and ignore all

the rest of the world, ignore the voice inside her that whispered that something inside her had changed.

“We can do that as long as you understand what’s going on.” Kody eased her down

between them—between their naked bodies—one hand sliding along her thigh.

She shivered, wiggled. “Stop that. Talk.”

Mesa’s breath felt warm and good on the back of her neck. That just wasn’t right. “Mate,

she smells like Heaven.”

Kody chuckled. “I know.”

“That’s enough. Don’t laugh at me.”

“You’re not the same as you were a few days ago, honey.”

“No.” She shook her head; she would not believe that. It was all some weird drug-

induced fucking dream. Possibly insanity. “You’re not the same, Kody.”

“I am. You just didn’t know.”

“Okay, so you’re queer, or bi. Whatever. But…I would have understood, man. I thought

you loved me.”

“I do.” There was unshakable faith there, in Kody’s voice. “I love you.”

She shook her head. Psychics. She should have listened to Becky and all the girls when

they told her she’d lost her fucking mind. How could she have believed in psychics, let alone all this?

“He means he’s different in a completely unusual way, honey. Just like you are.”

“What does that mean? Who the hell are you?” Besides tall and wild and shaggy and

huge and incredibly motherfucking hot?

“I’m Kody’s best friend from when we were kids. The one who played practical jokes on

him when he was a teenager and helped him put Nair in his father’s shampoo bottle.” He looked

her in the eye. “And his Alpha.”

“Alpha?” Oh, for fuck’s sake. She was not going to have gone through all this for some

fucking leather and paddle sex thing. “Well, I suppose I wish you the best.” Either that or boils.

Big, nasty painful boils.

“No, honey. I told you, we’re werewolves.”

That patient tone made her want to beat him.

“Kody, werewolves are for teenage girls, fur fetishists, and movies. You know that.”

“Thank God most people think that,” Mesa murmured.

“I guess.” She refused to look at Mesa, focusing on Kody. “Look, I’ve really been as

patient as I can. You have someone else. Great. I just want to go home and get on with my life.”

The shame of being taken for an idiot had to fade eventually, right?

Mesa growled. Actually growled, sounding like the vampires on “Buffy” always did.

An answering sound—one like she wasn’t aware she could make, but fuck knew she’d

never once been this angry before—rumbled in her chest. “Back the fuck off, asshole.”

“No.” Mesa bumped against her, crowding her against Kody. “I don’t think so.”

She braced herself and pushed back. “I said back the fuck OFF!” Nobody was going to

fucking intimidate her. Nobody. Not here, where she didn’t even have a bra on.

Mesa caught her, holding her when she would have struggled. “Stop. Come on, honey.

Just stop.”

“Don’t call me honey!” Jesus Christ, she was two seconds away from screaming at the

top of her lungs and possibly just tearing Kody’s balls off.

Kody caught her from behind, and a wave of calm settled over her. She knew it was

unnatural, but that was okay. Kody’s fingers trailed through her hair. “There. There, Sammy.

You’re okay.”

She wasn’t okay. She wasn’t. But she wanted to believe she could be. The touches kept

coming, distracting her, relaxing her. It was insane.

“No. No, it’s natural. It’s okay.” Kody sounded like he was echoing inside her.

“See? You just have to let it go.” Mesa nuzzled her neck.

“You drugged me.” That was the only logical answer.

“No.” Mesa hummed, the sound echoing in her skin.

“You had to. I told you I’d let you go, Kody…”

Kody kissed her ear, her jaw. “But you can’t.”

“We need to be three.” Mesa kept snuggling her.

“Three what? You’re pretending to be werewolves. I’m an investment banker. You’re bi

men, I’m very into cocks and have boobs. We’re not a match.”

“Yes.” Mesa bit her, making her shiver. “We are.”

“You bit me.” She blinked, staring at Mesa.

“I did.” Mesa’s teeth slid over her skin. “I’m going to do it again and again. Kody was

right, you taste sweet.”

Her eyes felt like they were burning. “I just want to go home to take a bath.”

Drink herself stupid.

Mesa sighed. “Kody. Aren’t you supposed to have a mind-whammy now?”

Kody chuckled softly. “She’s sitting here, isn’t she?”

“Don’t laugh at me!” The tears were close, and they made her furious. “You cheat on me,

drug me, kidnap me, and now you’re
laughing
at me?” Kody broke her fucking heart.

“We didn’t fucking drug you!” Mesa bared his teeth. “We may have kidnapped you.”

She lurched out of Kody’s arms, he elbow whacking his chin, and ran out the flap of the

tent and into the darkness, her heart pounding hard.

“What the fuck!” She heard the scrambling, Mesa cursing.

She landed on her hands and knees, sobbing, shoulders heaving. Enough. She’d just had

enough.

“Sammy…” Kody’s hand was on her back, soft, warm. It made the rest of her skin feel so

cold.

It wasn’t Kody that picked her up, though. It wasn’t Kody that lifted her and held her.

No, it was the big guy, cradling her against his chest. He made her warm all over. Kody

kept touching her, though, petting her shoulder, her hair. He was whispering to her or something, his voice everywhere.

She clung to Mesa’s shoulders, tears taking over. She sobbed until she couldn’t cry

another tear.

Mesa took her back into the tent, never letting her down, keeping her close. He was

making different sounds from Kody, but she felt them all through her. “That’s it.” Mesa eased

her down in the blankets. “That’s it.”

Kody pressed next to her, Mesa over her. Everywhere. They were everywhere. She

thought she should be scared, but she was too tired, too overwhelmed.

“We won’t hurt you, Sammy.” Kody kissed her temple.

“Never.” Mesa’s lips traced her face, low rumbles settling deep in her spine, in her core.

She relaxed, eyes closing, the last tear tracks drying on her cheek.

Kody pressed behind her, his body fitting hers like it always had. Perfectly.

“Such a good girl. So strong. So brave.” Kody’s words just came over and over.

She wanted to rest. With them. She wanted to run. She didn’t know what to do.

“Everything is weird. I have to be at work in a few hours.”

Mesa’s hands were so big. “No. No, you have the week off.”

“I do?” God, this was so confusing.

“Kody called. We knew this would be hard.” Mesa stroked her hair.

“What do you want me to do? Do you want my house?”

“No. We want you to come home with us.”

She tried to understand. “What?” Her mind felt fuzzy, her nose twitched, itched.

Mesa huffed out a breath. “We want you with us.”

“You don’t have to understand, honey. Not right now. You’ve had a big day. You played