Wolf in his Heart (Salvation Pack) (4 page)

What was he doing to her?

He released her finger and slowly lowered his mouth to hers. She’d been kissed before, a couple of stolen kisses when she was younger, before her father had gotten so protective. She knew Sage wanted her. That was more than evident by the hard press of his erection against her hip.

Never in her life had she been tempted to go farther, to do more. It had been drilled into her from the time she was a child that she had to protect her virtue, to only give her body to the man she mated.

Rina was tired of living by rules that no longer governed her. She wasn’t a part of the pack, and her parents had kicked her out.

Sage had nothing to gain from her. She brought nothing of value. No pack, no status, no gain. He was kissing her because he wanted to, because he wanted her.

That was heady stuff to a woman already on the edge. Maybe it was because she’d come close to dying today. She had no idea what the future held for her, but she did know she wanted to experience what it was like to kiss the man holding her.

She rose up to meet him and their lips met. Every man she’d kissed before had instantly become aggressive, trying to dominate her. Not Sage. He licked and nibbled at her lips until she was breathless and moaning. She wrapped her hand around his thick neck and pulled him closer. She needed more.

Sage slipped his tongue into her mouth and claimed it with a devastating thoroughness that would have frightened her if she’d been able to form a coherent thought. Rina drifted off in a sea of sensation. Her tongue twined with his, taking and giving.

He stroked his big hand down her spine and cupped her hip, groaning and pulling her closer. He smelled so good, a combination of woods and hot male. Their tongues dueled as they both grew restless, needing more to satisfy their growing needs.

It was Sage who pulled away first. He closed his eyes and rested his forehead against hers. She sucked much needed air into her lungs. The urge to strip naked and rub herself over him was almost overwhelming. Her entire body ached for his touch.

Warnings flashed in the back of her brain. She couldn’t afford to let herself get close to Sage. He was only passing through her life. If she was attracted to him, it was because he’d shown her kindness and knew what she was.

She hadn’t realized how lonely she’d been until she’d stumbled into his path. A wolf wasn’t meant to be alone.

Rina pushed off his lap, and he let her go. What had she expected? The bitterness took her by surprise. Surely she hadn’t wanted him to keep her in his arms and make love to her?

The longer she was around Sage, the more confused she became.

She dusted off her jeans, straightened her shirt, and slung her knapsack over her shoulder. “I’m ready.”

Sage was slower getting up, but it didn’t take him long to roll the sleeping bag and attach it to his pack. He loomed over her in the dark of the cave. She hated to have to leave, but reality was waiting just outside.

He brushed his thumb over her bottom lip, and her entire body clenched. Pleasure drenched every cell, and she unconsciously leaned into his touch.

“This isn’t over,” he told her.

She automatically shook her head. “It can’t happen again.” It wasn’t safe for either of them. She had no intention of settling down anytime soon, and not with a half-breed werewolf. Thinking those words now that she knew Sage sounded wrong. Sage was a better man than most of the men she’d known her entire life. He was one of a kind. Special.

And she was a banished werewolf with human hunters on her trail.

In fact, he should be the one wanting to get rid of her. She wasn’t such a prime catch these days. The past year had changed her views about a lot of things, including herself.

Sage touched his lips to hers. Rina sucked in a breath and savored the light caress.

“It can and it will,” he told her. Then he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and pulled his pack on. “Let’s go.”

Rina followed him out of the cave and down the slope. Sage watched to make sure she was steady on her feet before setting off. “We should hit the trail in about three hours,” he told her.

Her time with him was running out. Rina watched him move easily though the dark woods, every step sure and quiet. She watched and mimicked his movements. But most of all, she watched him, cataloging every step, every gesture so she could remember it when she was alone once again.

Johnny knew his brothers were running out of patience. They’d been stumbling around half the night and had only called a halt a half hour ago. She was close. He could practically feel her out there. All he had to do was find her and bring her home.

Charlie was propped up against a tree with his hat pulled down over his eyes, but Ralph was still awake. “I’m heading home at first light,” his brother told him. “I don’t know what you think you saw, but you’re plumb loco going after a woman who obviously don’t want nothing to do with you.”

“You can go if you want. I’m staying.” A part of him knew he was being unreasonable, but he just couldn’t seem to let go of her. Rina. He said her name and pictured her naked body practically glowing in the moonlight.

“Suit yourself. Just don’t do something stupid and get the law on your ass.” Ralph lay down on the ground and closed his eyes.

“If you’re not going with me, I’m going to press on.” Decision made, Johnny got to his feet and grabbed his pack and rifle. He walked over to Charlie and nudged him with his boot. “You coming or staying?”

“I ain’t going anywhere. I’m sleeping.”

“Good enough.” Johnny turned on his flashlight and started walking from where they’d left their earlier trail. A sense of urgency was driving him. If he didn’t hurry, he might lose her forever.

Chapter Four

Rina put one foot in front of the other. They’d been walking for what felt like days but was only hours. They had to be coming up on the trail soon. She wanted to ask but didn’t have the energy. Every ounce of strength she had was put into keeping up.

Sage had set a brisk pace, but not so fast that she fell behind. He would have gone faster on his own. She was weaker than she’d been in her entire life. She’d eaten the last of his beef jerky while they’d been trekking through the woods, but it simply wasn’t enough nutrition to replenish her depleted stores.

She’d stopped seeing the trees and animals about an hour ago. All she saw now was Sage. She kept her eyes glued on his back. He was her lifeline.

If only she could rest and get some real food. Then she’d be able to make some smart decisions about her future.

Who was she kidding? It had been fourteen months since she’d lost her home, and she was no closer to figuring out what in the hell to do with her life. She had time, since her lifespan was twice that of a human, but that was also a long time to be alone.

Lost in her thoughts, she didn’t realize Sage had stopped until she plowed right into his back. She caught herself before she went down. “Sorry,” she mumbled.

He spun around and steadied her. “The path is just through the break between those two oak trees. Can you make it?”

“Yes.” She nodded. She could make it. It was only another half hour from here. She blinked as a wave of dizziness assailed her. “Lead on.”

He studied her, as if assessing her honestly. She straightened her shoulders and stared him straight in the eyes.

“Let me know if you need me to carry you.” His blunt statement had her pride surging to the fore.

“I can take care of myself.” She’d been doing it for months now. Maybe she didn’t always do such a great job, but she was still alive. That had to count for something.

Instead of getting pissed at her angry retort, Sage brushed his fingers over the curve of her jaw. “So proud. So strong.” He leaned down and kissed her, leaving her totally bewildered and a little aroused in spite of her exhaustion. “So stubborn.”

He dropped his hand and started for the break between the two large trees. “Not much farther to my truck.”

Rina hurried after him. She didn’t have any solid plans beyond getting away from here. Going with Sage would accomplish that. Maybe she could talk him into taking her to the nearest bus station.

He slid between the trees and momentarily disappeared from sight. She picked up her pace and followed blindly. The manmade path she stepped onto was so different from the rugged terrain of the woods. It was relatively smooth and debris free.

“This way,” he told her. He turned right and headed downhill. Downhill was good considering how tired she was. She wasn’t sure she could have made an uphill climb at this point. Her thighs were burning and her feet ached. She’d never run this hard and fast for so long. Sure, she’d run a couple of hours at a time with her pack, but never for an entire day, and never with a group of men chasing her.

She’d been pushed to her limits and beyond.

Her sneaker skidded on a loose rock and she almost went down. Sage swore, and before she knew what was happening, he swept her into his arms and resumed his trek down the path.

“Hey, I can walk,” she insisted. It might be stupid, but at this point, all she had left was her pride.

“And I can carry you.” He didn’t break stride and kept going.

“No, really. You can put me down.” What she truly wanted was to stay right where she was. Sage carried her easily, his arms showing no signs of strain. He might be a half-breed, but he obviously had the strength of a werewolf.

“Shh.” Sage cocked his head to one side and listened intently.

Rina did the same but heard nothing out of the ordinary. Then it struck her. She didn’t hear any birds or animals at all. “Someone is out there.”

“Maybe.” His voice was a mere whisper against her ear. “Might be another hiker. Might be a large predator of some kind.”

Or it could be the men hunting her. Neither of them said it out loud even though they were both thinking it.

Sage broke into a fast lope. He was carrying her, her pack, and his own knapsack. It didn’t slow him down. His long legs ate up the distance. He tightened his arms around her so she didn’t bounce around very much at all.

“I can run,” she felt compelled to point out. Being carried like some damsel in distress didn’t sit well with her. She was used to standing on her own two feet—figuratively and literally.

“Hush,” he scolded. If he’d sounded angry or authoritative, she would have fought to get down. But the word was a gentle admonishment, almost a caress. “You don’t weigh much more than my pack does.”

That was a slight exaggeration, but she understood what he was getting at. He could carry her faster than she could move. And until they knew who or what was out there, getting out of here was their prime objective.

Rina kept her mouth shut and held on. She looked over his shoulder but didn’t see anyone trailing them. It was impossible to listen with her heart pounding so loudly in her ears. Sage was breathing a little faster but was by no means straining as he ran.

He veered off to the left and continued at a breakneck pace. He wasn’t even trying to move with stealth. Speed was his only goal.

She saw the parking lot in the distance just as the sky was lightening in the east. It was almost empty, although there were a few trucks, a couple of SUVs, and two cars parked there.

Sage hurried up to a dusty blue truck and set her down by the passenger door. He made sure she was steady before he released her. She leaned against the door and had another look over her shoulder. A sensation of dread crept down her spine. “Hurry.”

He didn’t question her instincts or his own. He fished his keys out of his jeans pocket and unlocked the door. He lifted her inside and went around to the driver’s side. He pulled off his pack and dumped it in the space behind the driver’s seat before climbing in.

“Put on your seatbelt,” he ordered. Rina slipped off her pack, put it on the floor at her feet, and pulled on the safety harness.

“Go.” At this point she didn’t know if it was nerves or not, but she’d swear she could feel someone watching them. “Go.”

The powerful engine roared to life, and Sage quickly put the truck in gear and aimed it toward the exit. There was a small building at the edge of the parking lot. A man stepped out onto the porch and raised his hand to wave as the truck rolled by. Sage returned his wave but didn’t stop. She saw the man’s eyes widen when he glimpsed her, but Sage didn’t slow down.

Rina shivered and peered in the side mirror but could see nothing but woods and parking lot behind her. She couldn’t shake the feeling that they’d just escaped a confrontation with the men who were after her.

“We’ll be home in a couple of hours. Why don’t you rest?”

Sage’s voice broke through her dark thoughts. “I can’t go home with you.” Her denial was automatic. “You need to drop me at the nearest town. I’ll find a bus stop there.” She needed to decide where she was going—west or south.

“Then rest until I get to the nearest town with a stop.”

She didn’t trust his easy agreement, but her body didn’t care. She felt safe and needed rest. The short nap she’d had hours ago hadn’t replenished her energy at all. “Wake me when we get there.”

“I’ll wake you when it’s safe,” he promised.

She couldn’t quite figure out what was wrong with that statement. Her brain was muzzy and her eyes were already closed. The slight sway of the vehicle, the hum of the engine, and the woodsy, masculine scent of Sage all combined to lull her concerns. He would wake her when it was safe.

Johnny Bellamy lowered his rifle. Damn, it was impossible to get off a shot. What the hell was she doing with a man? She belonged to him. Like a jealous lover, he paced back and forth in the woods. It didn’t occur to him that she only belonged to him in his mind.

Who was the guy? A camper she’d stumbled across? She must have given him some sob story about getting lost. That had to be it.

How in the hell was he going to find her now?

Maybe his brothers were right. Maybe he should just forget about her and go home. In his more rational moments, he knew what he was doing bordered on insane, but he couldn’t seem to care.

He wanted that little waitress more than he wanted his next breath. Rina was different from other women, and now he knew why. He’d been watching her for a while. Her every move was graceful, and she was always aware of her surroundings. Like a wild animal. A wolf.

That’s where his brothers were wrong. They might think he’d had too much to drink or smoke, but he knew what he’d seen. She’d turned into a wolf.

He had to find her.

A movement caught his eye and drew it toward the small wooden building at the edge of the parking lot. A man stood in the predawn light. A park ranger.

Looked like his luck hadn’t quite left him yet. Hell, it was a miracle he’d stumbled on their trail at all. He’d lost it for several hours and had almost given up several times.

Obviously, he was meant to find her.

Johnny propped his rifle up against a tree. No sense in getting off on the wrong foot with the ranger. He hurried out of the woods and called out. “Hey.”

The ranger turned, put his hands on his hips, and watched Johnny come toward him. He tensed at first but gradually relaxed. “Morning. Can I help you?”

“I sure hope so. I was camping with my girl, we had a fight, and she wandered off. I’ve been searching all night for her. Caught some tracks coming this way. You seen her?”

The ranger hesitated, and Johnny held his breath. “What does she look like?”

“Tall with short brown hair and green eyes. I think she might be with someone else. A man. I’m worried as hell about her.” He’d always been good at acting innocent. It had gotten him out of more than one whooping with his mama when he’d been a boy. And it hadn’t hurt his prospects with the women either. He employed every skill he’d ever learned over the years, and the ranger bought it. “It was a stupid fight. She wants to get married, and I’ve been dragging my feet. You know how it goes.”

The ranger chuckled. “I hear you. Can’t say for sure if it’s your girl, but a woman did just drive off with Sage Gallagher, and I know he came in here alone. You should give her a call.”

“I tried but couldn’t get any coverage in the mountains.” Johnny fished his phone out of his pocket and pretended to dial a number. He held the phone to his ear. “Rina, baby, is that you? You’re safe.” He held the phone slightly away from his ear and rolled his eyes.

The ranger smiled and shook his head.

“I didn’t mean what I said last night, baby. Tell me where you are and I’ll come get you.” He pretended like he was listening to someone else. “Sure thing.” He tucked his phone away. “That Gallagher fella is dropping her off in the nearest town. She’s going to wait for me there.”

“Glad everything worked out and that we don’t have to mount a search for a missing hiker. You might want to talk to your girl about wandering off on her own. These hills can be dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing.”

Johnny wanted to punch the man in the face but kept up his pleasant façade. “Will do.” He turned and headed back toward the woods. “I’ll just hike back to our campsite and be on my way.”

“How far away are you?”

It would take Johnny most of the day to hike back to his truck. Then he had an idea. He knew the park well and gave the ranger directions to the visitor center not far from where he’d left his truck.

“Shoot, that’s quite a ways away. Tell you what. Let me get a coffee and radio in and I’ll drive you over.”

“Thanks, man. I really appreciate it.”

“Least I can do. I’m officially off shift in a half hour anyway. It’s on my way home.” The ranger walked inside the ranger station.

Johnny looked longingly at the woods. He’d come back as soon as he had his truck and pick up his rifle on the way. Then he was going to find this Sage Gallagher and hunt down Rina. She’d given him a lot of trouble, but it would be worth it when he found her.

She’d tried to escape him but was meant to be his. The hand of fate had guided him each step of the way.

The ranger exited the station juggling two coffees. “Thought you could use one.”

This time he didn’t have to fake his gratitude. “You’re a lifesaver.” In more ways than one. Johnny would have his wolf gal before too much longer. And then it would be time to have some real fun.

* * * * *

Sage glanced over at Rina. She was slumped over to the side with her head resting awkwardly against the window. She was also sound asleep.

He’d thought her beautiful by moonlight, but now that he could see her by the full light of day, he knew he’d been mistaken. She wasn’t beautiful, she was stunning.

Her hair was cut in a short choppy style that suited her. It was dark brown with strands of reddish mahogany running through it. And her eyes were green. Not an emerald green. More like a mossy green. She looked more like a woodland sprite than a werewolf.

But there was no denying her heritage. She moved with a feral grace even when she was exhausted and at the end of her rope. She was skittish too. Like a wild animal afraid to trust.

He hadn’t lied to her. He’d simply let her believe what she wanted. He would wake her when it was safe. It just happened that the Salvation Pack compound was the safest place for her.

Her clothes were torn in several places and dusty and dirty from her long trek through the park. Just thinking about her running for her life from some human hunters had him growling low. It made him want to protect her. Hell, it made him want to kill someone.

She was too skinny by far. It was obvious to him that she’d missed more than one meal. He had no idea what her story was, but he wanted to. He also knew he couldn’t let her go until he was assured she’d be safe. Maybe not even then.

Instincts as old as time itself stirred deep within him. It was his destiny to protect this special woman.
Mate.
The word echoed in his very soul.