Hunter Moon (Lupine Moon Series) (31 page)

Cash looked over at James, who nodded solemnly and took over. “It seems that you might be a lupine too. Only a lupine can feel the other people in their pack.”

Once again I found myself trying to fit together pieces of the world that had just shattered around my head. It seemed that I missed a lot of them.

“I don’t remember going all hairy at the full moon, so how can I be a lupine?”

“If you have some lupine blood, it might stay dormant in your system so you wouldn’t ‘go all hairy’, and the full moon thing is a myth. But my bite may kick start your change-over, or it may not. There’s not really any way to know.”

I felt a wave of heat roll through me and I put my hands on my knees and leaned over. “I think I’m going to puke.” I moaned. Cash pulled my hair back and rubbed my back all the while sending me feelings of love and comfort through the bond. Little by little the nausea passed and I could sit down. “I want to go home.”

“Shells, I don’t think that’s a good idea. The other wardens didn’t catch the pot grower, and I found out the hard way the guy has guns.” Something in Cash’s voice and expression felt off.

“You’re not telling me everything. What is it?”

He flinched while James chuckled darkly to himself. “Can’t get anything past her, can you brother?”

Cash shot him a nasty glare before answering. “Usually it’s a lot easier to locate and track people when you’re a lupine, but this guy—” He scrubbed both hands through his hair and bits of it stood up at odd angles. “The bastard is using witchcraft to avoid us. So either he’s a witch and he’s just covering his tracks or he knows who and what I am. Either way he is dangerous, and he’s already gotten way too close to you.” I had a flashback of that night, but this time I knew that it was Cash the wolf who had lunged at him.

“That’s why you didn’t come when I called you,” I breathed. “You did come, but as a wolf.” He smiled a wry little grin and I winced when I remembered how mad I’d been at him. I gave him a brief kiss as my way of an apology. “Well, it seems to me that we’re bonded now. Since you’ve got your own special GPS chip on me I should be alright. Besides, I’ve got to feed my animals.”

“It’s okay, James can feed them.” Cash rubbed my shoulders convincingly.

James piped up from the couch. “Yeah, what’s one more day?”

I frowned over at him. “What is that supposed to mean?”

He smiled impishly and looked up from his hands. His eyes flashed quicksilver. “You’ve been out for five days.”

 I barely made it to the bathroom in time before I lost my cookies.

Cash drove his truck back to my house and we sat in silence. I had millions of questions zipping around in my mind but I couldn’t nail down just one to ask. Finally, when we were halfway to my ranch, I snatched one out of my mind and threw it out there.

“What did you tell the wardens when you got shot, but didn’t go to the hospital?” He winced, eyes focused on the road. I could feel in the bond how much he disliked lying to his coworkers and friends.

“James took me to your house and patched me up. I was just conscious long enough to tell them I’d only been winged and they bought it.” He grinned. “The trick was explaining why James switched outfits and had stolen their truck. I told them you fainted at the sight of blood and since he was covered in mine, he’d had to change.”

I growled and stuck my tongue out at him. “Great, all your warden buddies think I’m a colossal pansy. Awesome.” I took his hand in mine and felt his affection bloom in the back of my mind. “Is James okay?” I asked quietly.

Cash sighed deeply and took a moment to gather his thoughts. “He and I have always had different philosophies on mating. I’ve always felt that if I was going to find mine, it would happen.” He brought my hand to his lips, brushing a kiss on my fingers. “It seems I was correct.” I smiled at his sweet words and the love blazing through our bond.

“James, on the other hand, has been desperate in his search for his mate and he’s constantly on the alert for her. Lupine men aren’t complete until we find our mates. It’s a natural imperative that is constantly in the forefront of our minds as soon as we hit adulthood.”

“Why is he so desperate?”

“A long time ago he found a woman he thought was his mate and had even gone as far as marking her, but when he informed her of our nature she bolted. It broke him and he hasn’t recovered.” He looked at me sideways as he turned onto my road. “You see, once we find our mate, that’s it. He marked her and never finished the mating, so in a sense, he is incomplete. He feels that hole constantly and he thinks if he finds another woman to mate with, she will fill it.”

My heart broke. I could feel Cash’s sadness for his brother and it became magnified by my own. Cash reached over and rubbed a tear from my cheek with the pad of his thumb. We continued on in silence until we drove onto my driveway.

A nasty thought broke across my mind. “Why would he want that fate for you? He wanted to steal me from you!” I whispered. Cash took one look at me before slowing the truck to a stop and pulling me across the seat into his lap.

“No. I don’t think that was his intention. Maybe at first when he didn’t realize I’d marked you. You are irresistible to us. I don’t know if it’s because we’re brothers and have similar taste in woman or if it’s the lupine blood you may have, but you’re like a bottle of fine wine to an alcoholic.” He licked his lips and a fire started behind his eyes.

“I don’t know, he was pretty predatory—” I said, doubt heavy in my tone. He laughed, the green flame of desire flaring brighter in his irises.

“Shells, we
are
predators! Besides, he likes getting a rise out of me, as do all my younger brothers.” He said ruefully. My eyes went wide in horror as one of my millions of questions popped into my head.
Speaking of predators…

“Oh God! I shot you! That first night, I could have killed you!” I covered my mouth with my hands which had suddenly gone icy cold. Cash’s eyes blazed in the darkness as he grabbed my frozen fingers and kissed each palm.

“We heal fast.”

 I just gaped at him, appalled that I almost shot and killed the love of my life. His eyes were shining emeralds in the darkness which failed to hide his mirth. “This is
so
not funny! Why were you chasing my cows?” My dismay shifted to irritation at his delighted laughter.

Cash lifted his hands in surrender before he answered. “I was out running and I caught a scent,
your scent
,” His voice made it clear when he said ‘running’ he wasn’t talking about going for a jog. “You have no idea how good you smell. I think my wolf side knew you were mine before I did as I followed your trail. You must have just been there because your scent was all over the place. I wasn’t going after your cattle, but they didn’t know that.”

“And after I took a shot at you? I grazed you, I know I did.” He grimaced and pinched my butt.

“Yup, you got me right here but it was just a flesh wound,” he said winking. “Honestly, I was so absorbed with your scent I didn’t even notice you were up wind on the hill until after I got hit. I did follow you home afterward.” His cheeky grin worked its magic and I started to chuckle.

“What were you thinking about me after I shot you?” His grin split even wider showcasing those amazing dimples as his eyes twinkled with glee.

“That I had to have you even more. Although, we’re going to have to work on your marksmanship.”

I swatted his arm. “Let me guess, no one called you about me shooting either.” He feigned guilt, but I could feel his amusement through our bond. “I knew it!” I smacked his shoulder again and dissolved into giggles.

I ran my hand down the side of his stubble-roughened cheeks and basked in the love and happiness in his eyes. Another question popped in my mind and tumbled out of my mouth. “How old are you?”

I could feel the surprise and weariness through the bond. “I told you, I’m twenty nine.”

Lie.
I felt it in my mind and smiled a predatory grin.
Gotcha!

“I know you just lied to me, Cash. I felt it. How old are you, really?” I almost started to giggle when my wolf actually squirmed and looked sheepish.
Ha!

“I was born in 1945.” He said so quietly I almost didn’t hear it. Shock flooded my system as I tried to wrap my head around that little tidbit of information. Sixty-six. My boyfriend was sixty-six.

“Kinda robbing the cradle, aren’t you?” I asked.

“I feel like I’m twenty-nine, so that’s what I told you. Lupines age a little under half the rate that humans do. James is fifty.” I looked up at Cash. His eyes were scanning at my face, trying to gauge what my reaction is. I could still feel all the love he had for me, but in it were black little threads of worry.

“How long will I live?” I asked quietly.

The thought of growing old while he didn’t made me shiver with dread. I huddled against his chest, not missing the fact that he didn’t answer immediately. He squeezed me gently before answering.

“I’m almost positive you have lupine blood and that in of itself will probably slow your aging, even more so if you actually change, but I just don’t know.” He pushed a strand of hair out of my eyes and I could feel the regret in the bond. Not wanting that nasty thought to kill the moment I tried to lighten the mood.

“Oh, so that’s why you’ve been such a gentleman with me. You’re from the era of sock hops and poodle skirts!” For the first time since I’d known Cash, he blushed. A grown man of sixty-six actually blushed! I burst out laughing and he gave me a dirty look.

“Yes, and if you’d ever quit throwing yourself at me all the time I could make an honest woman out of you!” He growled. I froze and looked at him, searching his eyes and his bond that he was messing with me but I only found love and hope.

“What are you asking?” I breathed.

 A brilliant white smile grew on Cash’s face as he leaned down letting his lips just brush mine as he spoke. “Shelby, will you marry me?”

It felt as if my heart would burst from my chest. I squealed and started kissing him frantically, grabbing hunks of hair in my fists and dragging his face to mine. It took him several minutes to finally pull me away enough to look in my eyes.

“So, is that a yes?” He grinned in immense satisfaction and I poked him in the stomach, receiving a satisfying grunt.

“Of course it’s a yes! Oh my gosh, oh my gosh!” He continued laughing and I began kissing him again. It was a while longer before we broke apart.

“Technically, we are already married, since you mated with a lupine.” He informed me casually. “It’s a lot more binding than a human marriage. But I figured you’d appreciate doing it the old fashioned way.”

“You figured right. Oh! I can’t wait to see Jesse’s face when I tell her! She’s been planning my wedding since we were ten.” Cash’s smile fell from his face and his eyes filled up with horror.

“Oh crap, Jesse! James said she’s been leaving increasingly threatening messages on your answering machine. She’s going crazy wondering where you are.” Cash looked supremely guilty.