Savage Moon: Wolf Shifter Romance (Wild Lake Wolves Book 4) (7 page)

Chapter
Eight

Alec was right. When the rest of the pack returned,
each of them, especially Kane had the thrill of the kill on their minds. He
suspected nothing about my meeting with Alec. But, it took everything in me to
keep my heart still when Kane came in to check on me.

“Enjoy your quiet time?” he said as he sat on the
bed and gathered my wrists into his lap. He was rough and quick when he
unlocked the cuffs. His hand brushed against the sensitive skin on the back of
my wrists, and a shudder went through me. His eyes flashed but, thank God, he
didn’t recognize my reaction for what it was. Something had happened to me with
Alec’s touch. Though Kane had marked me, it was Alec’s touch I craved. Now,
when Kane touched me, alarm bells went through me, raising gooseflesh all along
my spine and making his mark burn. I had the urge to claw the scar from me. It
itched and burned, and I felt my cheeks flush. Without a mirror, I worried I’d
broken out in hives.

I moved off the bed and headed for the window to let
the cool morning air soothe my skin. “I got a good night’s sleep if that’s what
you mean. How was your hunt? Did you show your guest a good time?”

Kane smiled and leaned back on the bed. Shit. It
looked like he planned to hang out for a while. I gripped the window ledge and
tried to seem casual. I scanned the tree line and what I could see of the
compound. Alec was nearby. I
felt
him. But he’d stayed out of sight.

“I don’t think our
guest
got much of a meal
out of it. We take what we want around here. I think he’s used to getting
things handed to him. He’s weak. Just like the rest of the Wild Lake packs.”

I made a noise of disgust. Kane thought it was in
agreement. “My
father
takes what he wants,” I said as an idea formed in
my head. Alec was probably right about Kane’s plans. But if Kane got careless,
he might just let something slip about some detail that could help us.

It was too easy. Something Alec said slammed into place
in my brain. He’d told me turning
Tyrannous
was like a drug addiction. I
could see it. Kane’s eyes flashed dark and his hands shook as he rose from the
bed and stood next to me. He took a chunk of my hair and smoothed it back
behind my ear. It took everything in me not to recoil from his touch.

“Your father does what he’s told now. He takes
nothing unless I give it to him.”

I went somewhere else in my mind. I had to. Otherwise
I might have lashed out. But, I’d been around shifter strength long enough to
know you don’t provoke them when you’re standing this close. I turned slowly
and faced Kane as he kept his hand on my shoulder.

“Won’t you take me to see him? It’s been so long,
Kane. I can help you with him.”

He narrowed his eyes. “What could you possibly do to
help me?”

“I know my father. He doesn’t do well when he’s all
by himself. He
thinks
he’s better off alone, but he isn’t. That’s why it
hit him so hard when my mother died. Now, he’s just got Jaxson and me. The
longer he stays alone . . . without knowing what’s happening with us . . . it’s
not good for him. I mean, have you tried talking to him lately? Is he lucid?”

Kane smiled and finally took his hands off me. “I
tell you what to do, Olivia. You
and
your father. Not the other way
around. You’ll see your father again when it suits me. For now, what
you’re
going to do is help me get rid of our guest.”

“What are you talking about?” My breath left me.

“He’s overstayed his welcome, and I think you’re the
reason.”

I reached out and gripped the window ledge, letting
the rough wood cut into my palm. I focused on the pain and kept my heartbeat
steady. Did Kane suspect something between Alec and me? He couldn’t. Otherwise
he would have already ripped Alec’s throat out and gotten the rest of the pack
to help him.

“What are you talking about?”

“He’s out there. Alec. He wants me to think he just
happened to be passing through my lands. But he was
sent
here. He
belongs to Sebastian Lanier’s pack. Bas likes to meddle in things that aren’t
his business. Always has. This time he sends his lackey here to check up on me.
So, for now, we’re going to play his game. At least, we’re going to let him
think
we’re playing his game. I took Alec on a hunt last night. So I’ve gone out of
my way for his wolf. Next, I’m going to invite him to have dinner with us. I’ll
be cordial to the man. And you’re going to sit right by my side and show him
how happy you are to be here. Then, he won’t have a damn thing to go back to
Bas with.”

I moved away from him. He didn’t know. Didn’t
suspect. But Kane was dancing too close to the truth. It was one thing to keep
myself calm when Alec wasn’t here. If I had to sit in a room with him
and
Kane, he’d know.

“I don’t think I’m up for dinner, Kane. And surely
you don’t need
me
to convince another wolf of anything. You said it
yourself. This Alec is just a lackey. He’s not even Alpha.”

“That’s right.” Kane moved quickly to my side and
curled his fingers around my upper arm, cutting into my skin. “And I’m
your
Alpha. If I want you to sit next to me at dinner and put a smile on your face,
that’s what you’re going to do. The day after tomorrow. I’ve got some business
in town. Wade’s going to stay here to take care of you. But, when I get back,
you’ll do exactly what you’re told.”

“Or what?” My words burned hot like acid. It was
foolish of me. I know that. But as Kane’s wolf eyes flashed, something rose up
inside of me. I may not be a shifter, but I was still Caleb Lord’s daughter.

But, Kane just smiled. He reached into his back
pocket and pulled out his phone. My heart beat wildly inside my chest. I
couldn’t take it again. If he showed me those pictures of Jax I thought I might
die.

“I’m a patient man, Olivia. You know that. I’ve been
fair with you. I promised you I wouldn’t force you, and I haven’t. I meant what
I said about the next full moon. For now though, I’m willing to try a different
method of persuasion. I’ll tell you what. If you behave, I’ll let you talk to
him.”

I reached for the phone. Kane held it just out of my
reach.

“Kane,
please. I promise. Let me talk to Jax. I’ll do what you
ask. I’ll help you convince Alec everything’s fine here. You win, okay?”

“I always win.” He started to put the phone back in
his pocket.

“But now. You have to let me talk to him now.”

“I
have
to?”

“Please. You have all the advantages. I know that.
And I
will
come to you willingly at the next full moon. I’ll help you
with Alec. But, I need a show of good faith from you. Right now. Please. It’ll
cost you nothing. Five minutes. Let me talk to him for five minutes so I know
he’s okay. And it will benefit you too. I know my brother. He’s probably half
crazed wondering if you’ve hurt me. We haven’t been apart like this for this
long our entire lives. It’s been six months. If he hears from me, he’ll be less
trouble for you. Think about that.”

Kane smiled and took his phone back out of his
pocket. Oh, God. He was going to do it! He was going to let me talk to Jaxson.
I swallowed hard as Kane brought the phone to his ear.

“Put him on,” he said.

“Now?” I heard the gruff voice on the other end of
the phone and recognized it. Wade. God. So Wade knew where Jax was. I didn’t
know how yet, but I might be able to use that later. Kane smiled held the phone
out to me. But he pulled it away when I reached for it again.

“Remember, Olivia. I’m going to hold you to all of
your promises.”

I shook my head and held out my hand. “Please,
Kane.”

He handed me the phone. With shaking fingers I took
it and pressed it to my ear. “Jax? Are you there?”

Movement. The shuffling scrape of metal against
concrete. Then I heard my brother’s harsh, ragged cough. “Liv?”

Oh, God. I walked to the bed and sank down on the
edge of it. “Jax? It’s me. I’m here. Are you okay? Are you badly hurt?”

“You sound so far away.”

Something was wrong. Jax’s voice had a dreamy
quality about it. Like maybe he didn’t realize
he
wasn’t dreaming.

“I’m sorry,” I said as the tears sprang into my
eyes. I swallowed past a lump in my throat. I had a thousand things to tell
him. But Kane stood before me and I couldn’t risk saying any of them. It had to
be enough to convince Jaxson that I was alive.

“I’ve been looking for you, Liv.”

“I know. God. I know. Oh. Jax. I’m okay. Do you hear
me? I’m okay right now. Kane didn’t . . . hurt me.” I locked eyes with Kane and
he gave me a satisfied smirk. No. He hadn’t technically hurt me. He’d just
ripped everything I cared about away. For now, though, I needed Jaxson to stay
strong and stay alive.

“They keep giving me something. It’s making my brain
foggy. My bear is gone, Liv.”

I shuddered and closed my eyes. It had to be a drug.
He couldn’t drive Jaxson’s bear away for good. That wasn’t possible. Was it? My
fierce, strong older brother. My protector. He was there in that hellhole
because of me. My bad choices. My misplaced trust. And I knew I was the only
one who had any hope of bringing him back.

“Jaxson, listen to me. Okay? Just get well. Rest.
Stay strong. I’ll see you soon. I promise.” I shouldn’t have, but I sensed it
was what he needed to hear. Without access to his bear, Jax was in real danger.
He’d be no match for Wade or Kane or any of the other wolves. I worried he’d
try to take one of them on anyway. I just needed time. And I needed help.

Before I could say any more, Kane ripped the phone
out of my hand. “That’s enough,” he said and clicked it off. Tears slid down my
face and rage replaced the sadness in my heart. I decided something in that
moment and found clarity.

I looked up at Kane and let my face break into a genuine
smile for the first time since he marked me. I got to my feet and slid my hands
around his shoulders. “Thank you,” I whispered. “That meant everything to me.”

I went up on my tiptoes and kissed him as cold rage
settled in my heart. Kane didn’t understand it. He kissed me back and slid his
hands up, tracing the lines of the scar he gave me on the back of my neck. It
flared hot beneath his touch and made his wolf eyes shine. It flared all right,
but not for the reason he thought. As Kane leaned down to kiss me again, I
didn’t have to hide my feelings. My heart had already turned to stone. I was
sure of one thing and one thing only.

Before the next full moon, I would find a way to
kill him. Even if it meant the end of me.

Chapter
Nine

For two days I kept my thoughts hidden. I cooked for
the pack. Washed their clothes. Bore Wade’s scrutinizing gaze, hostile words,
and rough grip as he walked me to my cabin at the end of the day. Kane must
have left orders for Christian and Cole to stay away from me because I didn’t
see them either. I got through it all with the knowledge that soon I’d see Alec
again. He kept himself well hidden, but somehow I knew he was watching. The
pack knew he was nearby too. They wouldn’t talk about it openly in front of me,
but they knew. It bothered Kane that he couldn’t do anything about it for now.
Not without causing repercussions with the rest of Wild Lake. Alec stayed far
enough away not to violate the boundaries of Kane’s territory. But just.

On the third day after the full moon, Kane returned.
His gray wolf stalked through the camp, eyes flashing. I stood on the porch of
my cabin, gripping the railing. Kane stood in the center of the compound with
his back arched and tail high. The rest of the pack came out to greet him, shifting
at once when they came in sight of him. A shudder ran through me. Alec warned
me that Kane might try to control the pack by keeping them in their wolves
permanently. Marked as I was, I felt a faint echo of the pack’s mood. Naked
aggression bubbled through Wade and Brandon as they took their positions at
Kane’s right and left. Christian and Cole felt fear and revulsion. They hadn’t
wanted to shift. Daniel stepped into view. His wolf seemed pensive, pawing the
ground. If it came to a fight, I wasn’t sure where Daniel’s loyalties would
fall. He’d be the swing vote.

Then Kane turned his attention to me. I wasn’t a
shifter. I was human like my mother. Still, an urge roiled through me under the
intensity of his golden gaze. It might be some latent shifter gene buried deep
in my DNA. If I
could
shift, he would have made me. I had the sensation
of wanting to crawl out of my own skin. My mark burned hot, and I stepped off
the porch, drawn to Kane by some invisible cord I wanted desperately to sever.
Was there a way? Or was I doomed to walk in Kane’s shadow forever?

The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end as
another urge coursed through me. Standing in front of Kane and the rest of the
pack, I sensed the danger. Alec’s wolf stepped through the trees, and my body
didn’t feel like my own. Kane exerted his will over me, keeping me rooted to
the spot. But desire flared through me. I turned quickly to Kane. Let him think
it was for him.

Alec’s gleaming white fur cut a stark contrast with
Kane’s pack of gray wolves. It made them look dull. Almost brown. Wade snarled,
and his low, rumbling growl vibrated through me. Kane snapped his jaw once and
Wade went instantly quiet. Kane wanted the pack to keep up a cordial charade. I
couldn’t help but smirk. Oh yes, Kane. We’re all playing pretend tonight.

Kane growled at me and tossed his head to the side.
It was my cue. He wanted me to take my place in the dining cabin while the rest
of the wolves shifted, dressed, and talked business. I gave him a nod and stole
a glance toward Alec. His blue eyes flashed and he moved, positioning himself
between Kane and me. It was a subtle gesture. One Kane and the pack didn’t pick
up on. But, I did. Alec was here. He was watching. Kane could posture all he
wanted, but Alec would never submit.

Not wanting to draw any more attention to myself, I
went into the cabin and made sure everything was ready. Kane had me make
venison stew. And he’d make me serve the pack like some kitchen maid. Fine.
Tonight I’d make no waves. With the pack all in one place, it meant Jaxson was
alone wherever he was. At a minimum, it would hopefully give him an hour or two
of peace.

A few minutes later, the pack came in. They’d
shifted back. Fur and fangs replaced with denim and leather over hard muscles. Kane
was laughing, talking. He gave Alec a hearty slap on the back like they were
old friends. Alec stiffened and locked eyes with me. A tiny, barely perceptible
twitch near the corner of his mouth belied his true feelings. And he saved that
look just for me.

I sat at Kane’s side through dinner and made small
talk, answering yes or no or laughing at Kane’s jokes when it seemed warranted.
I played his dutiful girlfriend. Laughing. Vapid. Careful not to overdo it
because he would have noticed that too. Or Wade would.

They men talked about business. The Wild Lake packs
had an interest in a wilderness store in the northern part of the state. Other
than running the ranger station, their stock dividends were how Kane’s pack
survived. Though Kane himself had no part of the day-to-day operations, I
learned Alec’s Alpha, Sebastien Lanier, served as CEO. So Kane was happy to
take the money Bas doled out, and yet seemed to resent him for it behind his
back.

Kane answered Alec’s questions. Laughed at
his
jokes. For once, I felt grateful for the distance Kane put between Alec and me.
He sat at the far end of the table near Cole and Daniel. I couldn’t reach him
with my hands, but my whole body seemed tuned to his presence. I craved his
touch. If I’d been able, I knew my fingers might travel under the table in
search of his. If I felt that electric spark with Kane so close, surely he’d
sense it too. God, as much as I wanted Alec close, I knew the danger it put us
in. How could Alec ever take on six wolves at once? And if they tore him to
pieces right in front of me, I didn’t think I could survive it either.

How did I get to this point? I met him days ago on
the lake’s edge. He was trouble to me. And I was to him. And yet, something
linked us stronger than the bond Kane had forced on me. But it felt so
different. Kane’s touch was a violation. With Alec, it felt . . . like fate. I
shuddered as the word took shape in my mind. Fate. It couldn’t be that. I
couldn’t let it. If and when I broke free from Kane, I never wanted to feel
drawn to something I couldn’t control, even if it felt so good.

Kane touched me, and my body went rigid. I plastered
a smile on my face as Kane rested a hand at the center of my back and nudged me
toward him. Alec’s knuckles went white where he gripped his fork. His eyes
flashed, but he got himself under control as Kane’s lips pressed against my
ear. Careful. I couldn’t let Kane or any of them notice anything. Doing so
would put Alec’s life in danger and maybe even my own.

“You’re doing well. Keep it up.” I brightened my
smile and put a hand up to touch his cheek. I locked eyes with Alec. He looked
ready to shift. None of the other pack members seemed to sense his distress.
Only I could. I steadied my heartbeat and tried to will Alec’s to calm. God.
Don’t do it. Stay with me. I need you.

“How about a hunt after dinner?” Kane said, nearly
shouting it. He framed it as a question, but no one at the table would have
even considered disagreeing with him. Except of course, Alec. But he seemed
ready to go berserk with Kane’s hands still on me. He clenched his jaw hard and
a muscle jumped near his temple.

The meal ended. The pack would hunt. Fear flared
behind my chest as I worried Kane might chain me again. Tonight, though, he had
other ideas. He leaned forward again and whispered in my ear.

“You stay put here. I’m going to make sure our
friend heads back to his area of Wild Lake before the sun rises. I’ll send Wade
back to check on you. Don’t give me a reason to regret trusting you. And more
importantly, don’t make me have to do anything that would make your
brother
regret
that I trusted you.”

I nodded and touched his cheek again, playing the
faithful hostess, the loving girlfriend. In my mind I envisioned stabbing my
fork through the top of his hand where he rested it on the table. I rose and
cleared my plate and Kane’s. The others got to their feet, banging chairs and
clanging silverware as they made their way back out into the courtyard. Wade
and Brandon shifted immediately, antsy for the promise of another hunt. Kane
hung back and said something to Cole and Christian. A warning perhaps, like the
one he’d given me. Behave. Or else.

As I walked by Alec, he reached out and grabbed my
wrist. That bolt of lightning went through me, nearly dropping me to my knees.
Each time he touched me, the connection seemed to grow stronger. My want deepened.
The mark on my neck pulsed a warning. But, Alec was quick, he drew me to him.
His voice against my ear sent goosebumps skittering across my flesh.

“Near midnight. Head to the edge of the lake where I
met you before. Trust me.”

Then, with the rest of the pack just a few feet
away, he took a bold chance and nipped my earlobe, sending my nerves into a
frenzy. Heat unfurled within me, sending shuddering waves of pleasure through
me and settling deep in my core.

“Meet me there,” Alec said, then he let go of my
wrist.

When Kane turned back toward me, all he saw was my
plastered-on smile.