Natural Born Enemies (Cedar River Series) (12 page)

He held his arms open to me and I crawled into his lap. The comfort he sought in my arms flowed from me. We sat in the silence for a long time, the ticking of the wall clock the only sound in the room.

Then, Adam spoke, “Honey, we are going to be going through a lot of changes in the next few months. I don’t want to say too much until I have all of the information, but this ride we’re on is going to be rocky.”

I lifted my head from his chest to look in his eyes. “What are you saying, Adam?”

“I’m giving you an out, Luna. If you don’t think you can handle it, then now is the time for you to say so.”

I was so pissed at him. “How could you, Adam? How could you say that?” I got off the sofa and stalked off to my bedroom. Slamming the door, I felt relieved, but also a little childish. I stood on the other side of the door and allowed my breathing to slow. The fact that he doubted me cut to the quick, but if I looked at things from his point of view, I could understand. Whenever things went rough in his life, the people who loved him, with the exception of the Goldens, pushed him away.

There was a soft knock on the door and it startled me. “Luna,” he said through the door.

I opened the door slowly and saw Adam’s beautiful face through the opening. “I’m sorry,” I said.

“No, it’s my fault. I’m just pissy tonight. Come out here and talk to me.”

I took his outstretched hand and followed him to the living room. He rifled through my CDs and pulled one out. After making his selection, he pulled me into his arms. Snow Patrol’s Chasing Cars began to play as we danced in the middle of my living room floor.

Chapter Twenty- Adam

I hated the doubt, sitting in my chest. How could I ever doubt Luna and her devotion? Probably because I’d been pushed aside a lot. I got into trouble and my mom shipped me off to Uncle Roman. When I got Luna pregnant, my aunt and uncle pushed me aside, giving me a couple of options, which led me to the military. Things got a little out of control in the military and I was shipped back home. Poor Luna was bearing the burden and it wasn’t fair.

I returned to work and got back into my routine. Unfortunately, there was a constant niggling in my mind. I just knew what was coming and I was dreading it.

Bowie’s investigations brought nothing to the surface. The tires on the ATV were pretty generic. Both the wolf pack and the puma pride had ATVs with the same tires. Of course, so did half the people in the Upper Peninsula.

I began going for a run before going back to Luna’s. I needed to build up some muscle and run off some of the anger I was feeling. I generally ran alone. My puma needed the time to sort through what was going to be asked for him. Feeling my muscles bunch and flex as I ran down a rabbit or deer filled my mind with things other than the future.

Luna stopped asking too many questions since she wasn’t getting responses. I thought about moving into Bowie’s old house, but I loved sleeping next to her every night. She kept my demons at bay.

***

Brand Wilder had called in an arson investigator from a bigger town to check into the fire at my trailer. This guy asked all the right questions. He left no stone unturned, but the answers he came up were inconclusive. He encouraged Brand and Bowie to close the case without finding the suspect. No one was willing to walk away just yet.

I had pulled the gas can out of Bowie’s office and looked at every day since I’d returned to work. There was nothing special about it. The gas container could have been purchased at any random superstore. It was red plastic with the yellow nozzle you would find on any gas can. It hadn’t melted which baffled me. The plastic should have been destroyed. This fact ate at me. Finally, it was time to pay a call to Brand.

I drove out to the phoenix’s lodge one night after work. Brand was expecting me. He had an ice-cold beer and some barbequed ribs waiting for me when I arrived. I sat down to dinner with the phoenix and his family. While his sisters cleaned up, Brand and I went to his office. “What’s up, Adam? You’ve got something on your mind and I don’t like the look in your eyes.”

I cleared my throat, “Brand, I can’t get the fire off my mind. Who would do something like this?”

Brand leaned back in his chair, “Truthfully, Adam, it could be any number of people. You’ve been dating the little wolf for a while now. Her daddy and his pack aren’t happy about it. Your uncle’s pride is upset with you simply because you breathe. You and Bowie helped on the drug bust in Pine Bluff.”

“Nah, it’s not the drug bust. Bowie isn’t being targeted. Rock McIntyre has done some pretty underhanded things in his life, but if he wanted to keep me away from Luna, he wouldn’t have set my trailer on fire. He would have to know I would move in with Luna if my house burned.”

Brand leaned forward and put his arms on his desk. “Well, it could be the pride. I even hate to suggest it, but they hate you more than they hate anybody. Roman has them all atwitter at the idea of you wanting the Alpha position.”

I ran my fingers through my hair, “Why does everyone believe the bullshit? If I wanted to be Alpha, wouldn’t I have just walked in and challenged Roman? I’ve heard someone is making threats, but, dammit, it isn’t me.”

Brand smiled, “I know it isn’t you. Bowie knows it isn’t you. Hell, most of Cedar River knows you don’t want to be Alpha. Someone is out to get you though.”

“Where exactly did you find the gas can, Brand? The plastic hadn’t warped so it couldn’t have been close to the house. It was alongside the drive to the pack lands. The gasoline can had a rag stuck in it and I believe it was used to accelerate the fire, but it wasn’t the main thing used. I don’t know what was though. We sifted through the stuff, but there was nothing there to give us a clue.”

I scrubbed my hands over my face, “I think I’m going out tomorrow to see what I can find. Maybe there’s something everybody else is missing.”

“Don’t go out there alone, buddy, not with all the shit happening around you. You need to take someone with you and I don’t mean Luna either. Call Bowie or me and we’ll meet you there.”

I stood to leave, “Speaking of Luna, I had better get home. She’s going to be wondering where I am.”

Brand looked at me with concern, “Trouble in paradise, Adam?”

I shook my head, “Nah, I’ve just got a lot on my mind lately and I don’t need Luna in any deeper than she already is. I’m thinking about moving into Bowie’s old house for a while. I need to distance myself from her until I can get this resolved.”

“Take it from someone who’s been there, Adam, talk to Luna about what’s going on. Don’t try to be a hero if she doesn’t want one. Nothing pisses a woman off quicker than be treated like you don’t think she can handle your bullshit. She’ll will knock you down and beat the shit out of you.”

Chapter Twenty-One- Luna

Adam was cutting himself off from me and I couldn’t figure out why. He stopped talking to me about the important things. We would chat about our days, but feelings were never laid on the table anymore. Our sex life was intense, but there weren’t whispered words of desire like there had been.

Bowie told me Adam was going to their woods every night to run. When I asked him what was happening, he shrugged and said, “Luna, I honestly don’t know what’s going on in Adam’s head right now. He’s shut himself off from me as well.”

I know it hurt Bowie more than he’d ever admit.

It was two months after Adam moved in with me and our relationship hung in the balance, as far as I was concerned. It took me by surprise when he asked me to go to dinner with him at the Goldens.

I prepared a lovely box of amaretto whip-filled dark chocolates to take to the Golden’s tonight. I, also, made up a small box of salted caramels for the sheriff and his beautiful bride.

I had to finish up an order for the morning so we were a half an hour late. We hadn’t spoken at all on the drive out.

Bowie met us at the door with a smile as broad as could be. “I won’t venture to guess why you would hold up dinner,” he teased.

I looked at Adam who just smiled and walked inside. “Men!” was my thought as I went in search of Ana and Mrs. G.

The smells coming from the kitchen were heavenly. Mrs. G was standing over a pot on the stove while Ana, seated at the table, was snacking away.

“Luna, you’re here!” Ana exclaimed as she got up from the table. I smiled. Her belly was growing rounder and she seemed to glow.

“Hello, Luna,” Mrs. G said as Ana hugged me tight.

“Hello. I’m sorry we’re late.”

“Not a problem, honey. I’m waiting for these potatoes to finish boiling so I can whip them up. Anastasia couldn’t wait.”

Ana smiled, “Mama, I’m eating for two.”

Mrs. G said, “Two, pshaw! I think you’re eating for four!”

Ana’s eyes grew big in horror, “Don’t say things like that. One Golden baby at a time will be enough.”

Mrs. G laughed as she turned back to the stove.

Ana realized I was holding boxes, “Did you bring me candy? If you did, you are my angel. I meant to stop in while I was in town to satisfy this chocolate craving I, I mean, the baby’s been having. I got busy with other things and forgot all about it. ”

Mrs. G snorted.

“The little box is for you and Bowie. Just a small thank you for everything you’ve done.”

Ana peeked inside, “Ooh, Luna, I’m going to weigh a ton before this baby is born.”

“This box has amaretto cream filled chocolates in it. I wasn’t sure if you could have these or not.”

Ana slipped the ribbon off the box and popped one in her mouth. “There’s no one here to say I can’t,” she said with a grin. “My gods, Luna, these just melt in your mouth and the flavor is incredible. You, Luna McIntyre, are a goddess.”

“Anastasia Golden, you are going to ruin your appetite!” Mrs. G scolded.

Ana simply smiled.

“Can I help you with anything?” I asked Mrs. G.

“Since Ana isn’t going to do it, Luna, you could set the table for me.”

She showed me where she kept the dishes. We chatted as we got everything ready. Ana had been to the doctor. The baby was growing perfectly and everything looked good. I know that was a relief to everyone. Most shifters kept to their own kind. If there were others like Ana, I was unaware of it. It lifted my heart a little to hear things were okay with the baby. It gave me a little hope. Should Adam and I ever make it to the point where we were deciding on having baby, things may work out alright for us, too.

“Ana, go call the men to dinner, please,” Mrs. G said.

Ana yelled from her seat at the table, “Come and get it!”

Mrs. G laughed and shook her head, “You are really living up to the cat reputation, you know that, Anastasia?”

Ana stretched her arms over her head, “Your son wants me off my feet as much as possible. I’m simply giving him exactly what he wants.”

“Yet he takes you out hunting when it’s convenient to his investigation. Sometimes, that boy of mine frustrates the hell out of me.”

“I know, Mama. He’s careful with me, you know that. Besides, I had Adam with me.”

Mrs. G shook her head, “It doesn’t matter. Bowie should know better.”

The conversation came to a screeching halt as the guys filed into the kitchen. Mr. G greeted me with a hug. “How’s our little wolf?” he asked.

“I’m doing well, Mr. G.”

“Adam is treating you right?” he asked as he glanced over his shoulder at Adam.

“He treats me like the queen that I am,” I replied with a giggle.

Mr. G laughed and took his place at the head of the table.

Everyone filed around the table and sat down. I am an only child and dinner was never as loud or raucous as dinner at the Goldens’ table. I was amazed at the fact they all sat down to dinner together every night. On occasion, one or two will be missing, but the ones who are present sit down to dinner at the kitchen table.

The meal was melt-in-your-mouth pork chops and homemade sage stuffing with whipped potatoes, homemade dinner rolls, and Mrs. G’s homemade applesauce. I felt like such a little piggy, but it was all so good.

The conversation was loud and filled with laughter. Memories of days past flooded around the big oak table. I learned more about Adam by listening to him and Bowie than I ever thought I could. I’d known him since he moved to town, but I wasn’t with him as often as Bowie had been. From what I could tell from the stories flying around the table, those two had been hell on wheels.

Ana and I helped Mrs. G clean up while the men had coffee and discussed the cleanup, which would be happening soon if the weather held steady.

“You can expect a lot of help, Adam,” Brady said. “I’ve been hearing most everyone will be out to your place. Everyone is eager to help.”

I looked at Adam who sat shaking his head.

“Rock stopped by our table one morning while we were at Samson’s. He’s going to bring over some tents and heaters so people aren’t freezing out there. It looks like some of his pack will be there.”

“Your aunt called Lorelai this morning about the food. It sounds like there will enough food to feed an army. All the women are bringing plenty of good eats,” Mr. G added.

“I’ve been trying to tell him that this isn’t charity. This just means he is loved,” I said.

Mrs. G. threw her dishtowel at him, “Adam James Thomas, I should tan your hide for thinking that way! Cedar River takes care of our own. Who is it who takes wood out to the Kennedys? You know damn well they can’t get out to cut it themselves so you do it for them. What about Murray Fisher? You pick up his prescriptions when the weather gets bad and he can’t get into town. You were out here every chance you had, helping Bernie and the boys re-build this house. You fought for this country, Adam Thomas, and you have a very giving heart. It’s time you let the rest of us give something back to you.”

Adam did look a little ashamed, “I don’t do those things to get something in return, though. I know Davis has a hard time with all those little ones. Old Man Fisher needs his meds. Hell, I spent so many years in this house, it feels like home to me. I had no choice when it came to fighting for this country. Whether I stayed or left, I’d be fighting for my life. I just figured I should do it for a cause.”