Josie's Miracle (White River Wolves Series, #1) (2 page)

Hunter smiled weakly and a soft sob escaped him as Serenity ran forward and enveloped him in her arms.  “I can heal you, sweetie,” Serenity said as she moved her hand down his leg.  Catching a distinct scent that she had not noticed before, Josie grabbed Serenity’s hand before it could connect with the wound.  “No, you are not healing him, Serenity.”  Serenity turned to Josie with a low, menacing growl.  Opening her mouth, Serenity flashed her fangs.  Serenity was gifted with the ability to heal with the touch of her hand.  Josie was interfering with Serenity’s ability by not allowing her to heal her son, and she was not happy.

Before Josie could respond, another deep growl rolled across the room.  A large man shoved his way through the people crowding the entrance of the doorway and moved to where Josie stood.  Slipping an arm in front of her, he gently pushed her back as he bared his teeth in Serenity’s direction.  This pissed Phoenix off and there was a hell of a lot of growling after that.  But Josie ignored it all.  Standing behind the male defending her, she closed her eyes and breathed in deeply, inhaling his scent.  A soft moan escaped her lips before she could hold it back.  God, he smelled so good; spicy, musky, with a hint of cinnamon.  He was here.  After all these years, Josie had finally found her mate. 

Vaguely, Josie was aware of Chase trying to get control of the situation, but she was having trouble concentrating.  Reaching out, she lightly touched her mate’s back, eyes widening when she felt the powerful muscles bunch under her hand.  Sliding her fingertips down, she moaned again as a shudder of desire rippled through her.  Feeling her own fangs fighting to break through and sink into the man’s neck claiming him, Josie swallowed hard and fought to regain control.  The growling in the room had escalated and finally the noise penetrated the sensual fog in Josie’s mind. 

Pulling her hand away, Josie stepped around her mate and loudly ordered, “Stop this right now.  All of you.”  Under her stern gaze and no nonsense tone, the room finally quieted.  Her mate stepped up behind her, pulling her back against his body and lightly resting a protective hand on her hip.  Josie shivered at the last small growl that vibrated through his chest. 

Turning to Serenity, she apologized.  “I’m sorry, Serenity.  I know you want to help your son, but you can’t in your condition.  We don’t know what it will do to the baby you are carrying.  I cannot allow you to endanger your baby when Hunter is going to be fine.  He has stitches and I will give him medicine to help with the pain.  In a couple of days he can shift to speed up the healing process.”

Serenity’s eyes widened in wonder as she covered her stomach protectively with one hand.  Her eyes filling with tears, she whispered, “Baby?”  Serenity’s shocked gaze sought out Phoenix.  “We are having a baby?” 

A wide grin split across Phoenix’s face.  Crossing the room, he slipped his arms around Serenity, nuzzling her neck.  “Your scent changed recently, but I didn’t realize what it meant.”  Stroking a hand down her long hair, he tilted her head and kissed her lovingly on the lips.  “It’s best to listen to Doc Josie on this, sweetheart.  We don’t know if your gift could hurt the baby.” 

Nodding, Serenity leaned into Phoenix and then pulled Hunter closer to her.  “I am so sorry, honey.  I would heal you if I could.”

Hunter snuggled closer to Serenity and closed his eyes.  “It’s ok, Mama,” he said with a tired sigh.  “Doc Josie fixed it.  She always does.  Except for the bad guy.  She didn’t fix him.”  Another sigh escaped him as he drifted off to sleep.

In the silence that followed, everyone turned from Hunter to Josie.  Her mate’s hand tightened on her hip before letting go.  He backed up to the wall, resting casually against it.  Surprised that he had let her go, she turned curiously in his direction.  That was when she got her first good look at the man that would be hers for the rest of her life.  He was tall with broad shoulders, and a stocky, muscular build.  Dark brown hair fell in curls on his forehead and over his ears, above deep chocolate brown eyes.

Her eyes widened as she inhaled again.  A bear.  Her mate was a bear.  Josie had always thought if she did find her mate, he would be a wolf, like her.  Not that she was complaining.  Her bear was gorgeous, and the protectiveness in him warmed her heart. 

Some shifters looked their whole lives for their mate and never found them.  Some gave up and instead settled for love and a family.  Josie had been so focused on her career that she had not looked for love.  She had always secretly hoped she would find her mate, the other half of her soul.  As the years passed, she had slowly given up on that dream and had thrown herself into her job, dedicating her life to her pack.  Now, when she least expected it, he was here.

His eyes never left Josie. Self-consciously, she remembered what she must look like.  Avoiding her mate’s gaze, she ran a tired hand through her long brown waves and cringed when she felt the dried blood stuck in the strands.  Walking over to a mirror above the sink, Josie gasped at the vision she made.  There were still dried specs of blood on her face and neck, not to mention what was stuck in her hair.  Turning on the water, Josie ignored the others as she frantically started scrubbing the blood off her skin.  She was horrified she had just met her mate looking the way she did.

“Josie,” Chase’s voice interrupted her thoughts.  Josie ignored him as she started cleaning the blood off her chin.  Tears filled her eyes as her thoughts went back to the reason that blood was there.  She had killed a man.  She, Doctor Josie Bennett, the woman that had promised to uphold an oath to always save lives, had killed a man.  Shaking uncontrollably, Josie cried out as she felt hands on her shoulders.  Yanking away, she swung around to confront whoever had touched her.  She quickly lowered her eyes to the floor and bared her neck when she realized it was her Alpha.

“Stop, Josie,” Chase said as he lightly put his arms around her and pulled her closer.  As her mate’s growl once more filled the room, Josie pulled out of Chase’s comforting arms. 

“What in the hell is wrong with you, Ryker?” a female voice broke in as a petite, slender woman entered the room.  She had long dark hair with burgundy highlights and flashing silver eyes.  Stopping in front of Josie’s mate, she slid her hands to her hips and demanded, “What’s your problem?”

As much as Josie wanted to tear into the woman for talking to her mate the way she was, she just did not have the energy.  Ryker, she corrected herself.  His name was Ryker. 

The night was catching up with her and Josie just wanted to go home, shower, and crawl into bed.  Unfortunately, that was not going to happen anytime soon.  First, she needed to tell everyone what had taken place out in the woods. 

“Back off, Storm,” Ryker bit out, his eyes cold and hard.  “You are my partner, not my keeper.”  Ignoring Storm, Ryker turned his full attention back to Josie.  “What happened?” he demanded.  “Where did all of that blood come from?”

Partner, Josie thought distractedly.  What exactly did Ryker do?  Scanning his tall, muscular body, Josie noticed the gun strapped to his waist and another one on his leg.  She caught the glint of a blade from a knife tucked into a side holster.  He has to be an enforcer, she decided.  Pairing an enforcer with a doctor.  Fate had some funny ideas sometimes. 

T
aking in Josie’s stiff posture, pure white face and trembling fingers, Ryker left the wall he had been leaning against and walked over to where she stood.  Gently, he removed the wet paper towel from her shaking hand.  “Talk to me, Mate,” Ryker urged quietly.  His mate.  His beautiful, sexy mate.  Ryker was an enforcer for the shifter council.  He did not have time for a mate.  And he definitely did not need the distraction of one.  But one look into Josie’s beautiful dark brown eyes, one touch of her soft, silky skin, one whiff of her intoxicating scent, and he was gone.  Attraction was instant for mates and he was hard as hell and wanting to be alone with Josie now.  Screw the council and the mission.  He had a mate to claim. 

Ignoring the shocked gasp that came from Storm, Ryker continued to wipe away the dried blood from the underside of Josie’s chin.  Damn, she was breathtaking.  Slipping a chestnut curl behind her ear, he gently cupped Josie’s cheek and stroked his thumb along her full, soft lips.  Groaning, he just barely held himself back from claiming those sexy, plump lips with his own. 

Hearing Chase clear his throat behind them, Ryker decided they needed to hurry this discussion along so he could find out who he needed to kill and then get Josie home to take care of her. 

Tugging on her hand, Ryker led Josie over to a chair on the far side of the room by a window.  Sitting down, he pulled her onto his lap and stroked a calming hand down her arm as he hugged her close.  When she moved her small, soft bottom over his erection, he realized sitting in the chair might not have been his smartest move.  Burying his face in her neck, he fought for control of his body. 

Chase followed them to the chair and knelt down beside Josie.  “Congratulations, Josie,” he told her with a smile.  “If I had known Ryker was your mate, I would have introduced you when he was here months ago.” 

Josie glanced at him in surprise.  Looking back and forth between Chase and Ryker she asked, “He’s been here before?”

Several months ago, Ryker thought.  He had been here eight months ago.  Not once had he seen this gorgeous woman on any of his visits.  Even if he had seen her from a distance, he would have remembered. 

“Ryker is an enforcer for the shifter council, Josie.” Chase informed her.  “He was here when Lily was taken in April.  And he was beneficial in the rescue of several women the General held at different facilities.”  The Alpha’s niece, Lily, was kidnapped by a sadistic bastard known as the General at the end of April.  Not only had RARE been called in to find Lily, but the shifter council had also been involved.  Ryker had been to the White River compound several times, but not once had he seen or scented Josie.  If he had, she would not be unclaimed right now.

“Josie,” Chase continued.  “We need you to tell us what happened to you and Hunter.  If there is someone out there running free on our lands, I need to send our enforcers out to track them down and bring them back.  I need to know what we are dealing with.”

Ryker felt Josie stiffen in his arms.  Swallowing hard, she whispered, “I understand, Alpha.”  Straightening up in Ryker’s lap, Josie clasped her hands tightly together and ducked her head so her waves of dark hair covered her face.  Refusing to allow her to hide from him, Ryker slid a hand through her hair and fisted it at the back of her head.  Forcing her to meet his gaze, he nodded for her to continue. 

Her eyes never leaving his, Josie started.  “I was out running.  I have been so busy I haven’t been on a real run in weeks, but I couldn’t resist the snow tonight.  About two and half miles out I heard Hunter.  He was crying and a man was yelling at him.”  She stopped as Phoenix interrupted them with a snarl.  Tightening his hold in her hair, Ryker brought her gaze back to him.  “Go on,” he encouraged.

Glancing back at Phoenix in concern, Josie continued.  “I snuck up on them as quickly as I could.  When I reached them, the man was holding Hunter off the ground, his hand wrapped around Hunter’s neck.  I don’t remember much after that.  My wolf went crazy at the sight of Hunter being hurt.  The man is...dead.”

Staring at Josie in stunned surprise, Ryker tried to grasp the fact that she had actually killed a man.  He had the feeling she was normally a strong, confident woman, but she was not a killer.  She was a doctor, a healer.  Knowing she had taken a life must be tearing her up inside.  Ryker wished he had killed the bastard instead. 

“I need you to show us where you left him, Josie,” Chase told her.  As Josie cringed, Ryker felt a protective growl escape.  “Point us in the right direction,” Chase coaxed.  “If you give us the vicinity of where you left the body, we can track it.” 

“I can do that,” Josie agreed with a short nod.  “I can do better.  I had to shift to carry Hunter here.  There was no way he was walking on that leg.  I needed clothes, so I wore the man’s coat.  You can use it to track him when you get near.”  Ryker had wondered what the subtle smell was that surrounded his mate.  It was a good thing the cold air must have muted the scent, because his bear was going crazy at the idea of Josie wearing anything that belonged to another man. 

“Let me get Serenity and Hunter home, and we will track the bastard down.  Give me 20 minutes.  I’m calling in RARE,” Phoenix said as he scooped the sleeping Hunter up in his arms.  “Can you send a couple of enforcers over to protect my family while I am gone?”

“Of course,” Chase agreed, rising from where he had been squatting on the floor.  “I will send Aiden and Xavier over now.  Let me know what you find out.” 

“You aren’t coming?” Phoenix asked in surprise.  The attempted kidnapping had taken place on White River land.  Normally, as Alpha, Chase would be the first to arrive at the scene.

“Angel will be there,” Chase said as he made his way to the door.  “One Alpha is sufficient.” 

Angel was the leader of RARE, alpha of their group.  The team would not answer to anyone but her.  Angel was also Chase’s mate, even though they had not completed the mate bond yet. 

Ryker did not know the specifics, but he did know that for some reason Angel was holding back.  He was sure part of the reason Chase was relinquishing control to her now was because he did not want to face her.  Having a mate, but not bonding with them, could slowly drive a shifter insane. It had been eight months since Chase and Angel met.  Ryker was surprised they had held out this long. 

“Let me know as soon as you have any answers.  Make sure and dispose of the body.”  Looking back over his shoulder at Ryker, Chase asked, “You will see that Josie gets home safely?”  Ryker nodded.  Of course he would take care of his mate.  “I will send Slade and Charlotte to shadow Josie for a few days while you are gone in Denver.” Chase said.  “They will be there within the hour.” 

Shit, his mission.  The whole reason he was even in Colorado.  Ryker and Storm had been sent to Denver to hunt down a pack of rogue wolf shifters that had recently kidnapped a young female fox shifter from Minnesota.  They had stopped in to briefly explain the situation to Chase and ask him to have his people keep their eyes and ears open.  When a nurse called Chase and told him it looked like their doctor and Hunter had been attacked, Ryker had been curious and followed Chase to the hospital.