Lone Wolf Rising (Paranormal Romantic Thriller) (The Winters Series) (38 page)

"You’
re stubborn.  I was afraid you were going to try and run the trail instead of calling me."  He chuckled as he tossed her the helmet, "besides, it was nice to get out of the house for a while.  Sundae and the kids haven’t made friends yet."

Rebecca gave him a curious look.  “Were you reading my mind?”

He shook his head.  “Our mating bond is stronger.  I can pick up on some things better than before but I can’t read you all the time.  I can also sense when you are feeling high emotions and make a telepathic call.  If we continue to mate I will have full access to your mind and you will have full access to mine.”  His grin was evil and sent shivers down her spine.

“So we won’t have private thoughts
?”  Something about that made her nervous. 

“Eventually, but I wouldn’t intrude.
  Besides we’ll be able to block each other when needed.  I already have two personalities swimming around in my brain; I don’t need two more all the time.”  He kicked up the bike stand on the cycle.  “Shall we?”

She liked the idea of learning to block each other’s thoughts.  It made her feel more comfortable. 
Rebecca jumped on the back of his bike and snuggled up against him, enjoying his scent, and the way his muscles flexed involuntarily at her touch.  Things with him seemed so easy, uncomplicated, almost appealing; but she couldn't deny her attraction to Lucky, either.  She did notice that when she and Gabriel touched, skin to skin, the mark on her neck got hot and sent electrical waves through her body.  She wondered if she could give him one, too.

‘
Yes.  When you’re ready
.’  The wolf answered.  ‘
He began the mating process. You will finish it by marking him.
’

‘It can’t be that simple.’

‘There is nothing simple about it.  Two people finding their soul mate is difficult enough.  Finding that mate, recognizing that connection, at the right time in both of their lives is even harder.  Adding the commitment is more dangerous.  Once mated, that is a lifelong commitment.  And if you bind yourself with him you will both live as long as each other.’
  The wolf spoke.

‘
Are you saying that we would die together
?’ 

The wolf nodded in her mind.

The mere idea frightened Rebecca to the core.  She couldn’t imagine committing to someone at that level.  It was a freaky Romeo and Juliet twist that took away the choice.

‘
But that is only if you choose to bind your life energy together.  You can simply mate and stay at that level.
’

The entire idea was overwhelming.  Mating, binding life energies?  What crazy world did she enter into and where was the exit door?

‘You will mate with him.  You and I both know it is a matter of time.  But I promise you this, binding to him will be one hundred percent your choice.  I will do nothing to influence you either way.
’  The wolf gave her word.

‘
But you will interfere with the mating process?’

‘Of course, part of the process i
n the connection is about the wolves.  Think about when you are with Lucky.  We are not in agreement which makes things harder.  When you are with Gabe things are easier because I am connected to him.  Usually the human side is instantly connected too, but you have things blocking you from making that connection and I don’t blame you for making sure it is right.
’

‘
So why do you push so hard
?’  Rebecca asked, this was the first time the wolf had taken her feelings into account and it made her feel better about the entire messed up situation.

‘
Because my attraction to him is strong.  I can’t help myself
.’

‘
But surely you have mated before?  In other hosts?’

‘Of course, but Gabriel is different.  The connection with him is the strongest I have ever felt.
’

‘
I feel it, too.
’  Rebecca hated to admit it.

They arrived at the house too soon.
  Sundae was waiting for them on the steps.  She was wearing a white dress and a far away look in her eyes. 

"Are you getting settled in comfortably?"
  Rebecca asked Sundae as they passed her and headed to the entrance of the house.

"I suppose."
  She mumbled, following Gabriel and Rebecca inside.  "The kids will take some getting used to, but other than that, it’s great."  Sundae followed Rebecca towards the office.  "I was wondering if you would let me sit in on the interviews tonight.  Perhaps I can get a read from them, you know, see if they are telling the truth."

It was an interesting offer and had Rebecca seriously considering it.  She pressed her lips together and shook her head.
  "I don't think that’s a very good idea.  Many of them are already unhappy with the fact that I’m the alpha.  I need to show them I can lead without the assistance of others."  Rebecca looked at Sundae and smiled, "the only person I want in the room with me is Gabriel and that’s simply for introduction purposes.  It’d be a great help though if you can make sure the kids get to bed at a decent hour."

"Helping people sleep is a specialty of mine."
  She smiled, mischievously.

"Without magic..."
  Rebecca decided to add when she took note of the gleam in Sundae’s eyes.

"Okay, but you’ll let me know if you need me for anything."

"Absolutely."

Gabriel was already pouring himself a scotch and he handed Rebecca one as well.
  She shook her head and he placed it on the desk anyways.  "Appearances."

She nodded, understanding his meaning.
  She settled in and pulled out a notepad and pen and said, "Okay, I’m ready."

He came up behind her, opened the top drawer, both hands on either side of her and pulled out a black portfolio book with notepad and a gold Montblonc pen.  He exchanged them for her notepad and dollar store pen.
  His lips brushed her ear, sending goose bumps down her body, when he whispered, "appearances."  He immediately moved to the other side of the desk. 

Rebecca was momentarily thankful for the space between them, his warm breath that smelled of butterscotch sent electricity through her body igniting sparks at random points and causing a blush to burn the back of her neck. 
 

Sundae gave Rebecca an ‘
I told you so look’
and left the room.  Savvy was rooting for Lucky and Sundae had made it clear she was team Gabriel.  If she could just figure out which team she was on the world would be a lot easier.

Gabriel looked Rebecca over; his gaze moving from her head to
her toes, making her feel uncomfortable and small, and at the same time, desired.  He pressed his lips together and moved with inhuman speed behind her again, this time the closeness was all it took to set her insides on fire.  He pulled her hair out of the ponytail and twisted it back into a French knot.  The action was far more intimate than she
tho
ught
possible
causing her insides to turn into
Jell-O.  When
he was done he took two decorative sticks from the bookshelf behind them and fastened the knot in place.  His hands resting longer than needed on her shoulder and the nape of her neck, his thumb was absently caressing the mark he placed on her neck in the dream.   

When Rebecca caught her breathe she shooed him away and glared, which was the opposite of the feelings that were screaming at her
 to pull him near.  "What’s wrong with
you
?"

He took a long swig of the drink in his hand then went to fill it back up.
  "While I think you’re absolutely adorable in a
po
nytail, the people you are meeting tonight are looking for a leader, not a high school student.  First imp
ressions are important
."  
His statement held
a
matter of fact tone,
and the remembered wor
ds of her dead parents
a
greed with his assessment. 

It
didn’t mean she had to like it.  "
Thank
you."  She spit out between gritted teeth.  It tasted horrible to speak the words, but he was right and he was looking out for her so she needed to let him know it was
appre
ciated, deep, deep down.  "Are we ready?"

He
looked
at her again and nodded his
approv
al.  "I’ll get your first guest."  And he was gone.  One thing she was noticing about Gabriel, he could move fast, insanely fast.

Rebecca took a deep breath and wondered if a little liquid courage would do her good as
she took a long look at the scotch.  She wasn’t old enough to drink and really had no desire to do it, up to this point.  But she was thrust into a different world.  She took a drink.  It burned a path down her throat and made her wonder once again why people drank this stuff.  She involuntarily coughed to help recover from the pain she felt as the fiery liquid burned all the way to her stomach.  She decided to leave what was left on the desk for show; she wouldn’t touch the stuff again.  Just as she started getting her breath back, and the burning subsided, Gabriel walked in with the first guest. 

She was a beautiful brunette.
  Her long curly hair fell past her shoulders and had highlights of red and gold throughout.  She wore black and white stripped leggings, a garter belt black, and a red mini skirt with a red corset.  Her brown eyes that were lined with black charcoal and shades of red shadow, narrowed on Rebecca.

"Rebecca this is Persephone Montgomery."
  Gabriel
smiled;
h
is body at ease.  Persephone’s was as well
wh
ich made Rebecca think 
they were friends. 

Persephone smiled
. 
"You can call me
S
eph if you li
ke."  She offered her
h
and for Rebecca to shake.  She did and sat down, inviting Seph to sit.  Gabriel moved to the back
o
f the
room
, ever present, but not interfering. 

"Hello
,
S
eph. I’
m 
pleased to meet you
.
 
W
ould you like a drink?"  Rebecca asked, trying to hide her nerves. 

"No thank you.  I never touch the stuff unless I need it to clean a wound."
  Seph glanced at Rebecca’s drink.  "You look a little young for that yourself."

Rebecca snapped at Gabriel in his mind.  ‘
I guess you were wrong
.’  He simply shrugged in response.

"Age is irrelevant in our
case
, don't you think?"
  Rebecca picked up her new pen, the gold plating smooth in her fingers.  She waited for her to nod agreement and then went on.  "So why don't you tell me why you want to rejoin the pack?"

"I was technically never out of the pack."  Persephone raised her chin, a slight show of defiance.

"According to the Authority and the alpha that now resides in me, you were."  Rebecca leaned forward, signaling to Gabriel to step back.  "So I will ask again, why do you want to rejoin the pack?"

She leaned forward, glancing dangerously towards Gabriel and back to Rebecca.
  "Because the pack is where I belong."  It was a simple, honest statement, one Rebecca could respect. 

"Okay, convince me that I can trust you."

She grinned.  "You shouldn't, really.  You should
never
really trust a wolf.  We can be... unpredictable and cold hearted."  Persephone raised her hand in response to Rebecca’s raised eyebrow.  It was a peace offering so she let her go on.  "I’m just trying to set honest expectations.  Those you accept back will be loyal.  Those you deny will become enemies."  She shrugged.  "It’s the nature of the beast."  She tossed a glance back towards Gabriel, "and in the interest of open and honest communication, Gabriel's claim on you wins my loyalty... simple as that.  I owe him my life, and it’s extended to his mate."

Rebecca’s hand shot up to the silver mark on her neck.  "I’m not..."
  She shook her head as Persephone’s eyes narrowed on the mark burning on Rebecca’s neck.  This wasn't the place to air dirty laundry.  This was Seph’s time to convince Rebecca to bring her back into the fold and so far she was doing a fairly good job at it. 

Rebecca didn't know why, but she trusted her and she had a feeling they’d eventually become good friends.
   The rest of the interview went smoother than expected.  It appeared that Seph agreed with Rebecca’s assessment.  Rebecca saw a total of eight people before Gabriel gave her a ride down to her car. 

They didn't talk until he walked her to the car.
  "So what’re your thoughts?"

"I’m thinking these interviews are just a formality.
  I plan to admit all the rogues to the pack."  Rebecca stated her thoughts out loud.