Chapter Ten
“Dammit, Reece, another one?” Killian threw the pen in his hand across the desk in irritation, where it bounced across the mahogany wood and was lost to the floor.
“I don’t know what to tell you, Killian. In order to keep your cover, you’re going to need to appease the public. They want to see you, and they want to see the wolves. So today, I’m sending a reporter up there so you can announce the next charity function.”
Reece West was the guy in charge of keeping Wolf Creek on the grid. Although he was human, his wife was a lone Shifter. She had somehow transferred her need for a pack on to her family. Killian found her by chance at a party he was attending in order to get the sanctuary started. When he had failed to recruit funders for the program, she had mentioned her husband’s connections and his PR background. Reece also understood the discretion needed for a pack. It had been, by far, the best decision he ever made to hire Reece. Plus he got to keep an eye on Reece’s wife, Megan, for any loss of control. She was technically in his territory, living in California and having escaped the radar of other Shifters. And her being without a pack could be dangerous.
Killian growled a few curse words under his breath.
Every couple of months, reporters came sniffing to find out the latest on the project of bringing wolves to Big Bear. Many people weren’t happy with it, since there were many homes and towns in the area, but he insisted it was taken care of to ensure wolves wouldn’t endanger the people. The misconception that wolves were automatically dangerous creatures was similar to people’s ideas of sharks. And it irritated Killian to no end.
So the reporters would come, interview Killian, and snap a couple of photos of the wolves or Killian. And the next questions were always personal. Apparently, he’d become a very eligible bachelor, and a lot of ladies wanted a piece of him.
“All right, when is he coming?” he huffed out.
“She. A woman. I would say in about an hour or so. She lives locally, and her name is Penelope Thompson. Oh, and Killian. Be nice, please? Play along.” Reece hung up, and Killian heard the obnoxious dial tone.
His frustration became overwhelming, yet he resisted the urge to slam the phone down onto its cradle. Damn vultures didn’t get tired of taking the same stupid pictures and asking the same repetitive questions.
He pushed out of the leather chair and stretched his arms above his head. He loved Wolf Creek and all it stood for, but the paperwork and publicity were awful. Luckily, he had gotten a business degree, so he knew the gist of it. His wolf hated the work and just wanted to run and play with his pack. Unfortunately, that was something Killian couldn’t negotiate on.
A quick movement from the window caught his eye. Turning to his left, Killian braced his arms on the windowsill and looked down at the activity below. In the field of grass between the house and the forest, he spied Catrina in wolf form, wrestling with an auburn wolf he knew was Lia. Jessica had mentioned the altercation between them at the shop last month, but they hadn’t had too many since.
Although he never mentioned it to Catrina, he had mentioned it to Lia. In no way was it okay for her to be going out of control that way, and he subtly reminded her of who was Alpha, and to back off. The two still hated each other, as was seen in the way each usually ignored the other and in the violent match they were having below him. Apparently his training had been paying off, because Catrina was gaining the upper hand against Lia very quickly.
Watching the beautiful white wolf, with her graceful movements and determination, he was reminded of the day before when he had heard Jessica and Catrina conversing in the living room. He had tried not to listen—really he had—but when the subject was so damn interesting, who could blame him?
Killian had known she was attracted. She was open—her face showed every expression and thought. But from Catrina’s indifferent attitude when he asked her out for a date, he had assumed he was mistaken about the intensity of her attraction to him. Man and wolf had been practicing supreme restraint where the blue-eyed beauty was concerned. Every practice session for the past couple of weeks had led to her slender body beneath his, those pert breasts pressing against his chest, and the fiery light of tenacity on that beautiful face.
So, hearing her lame excuses and admission to her feelings had both heated him up and doused him with ice water. He knew what he wanted, and dammit, he wanted her. The past few weeks had pushed the boundaries of his promise to not mate within the pack. And he couldn’t take it anymore. She could make up all the fucking reasons she wanted for them not to be together, but he and his wolf understood she could be everything. He just needed to make her see it.
Pushing away from the window, he made his way to the backyard and the few people out there. Jamie, Brian, and Kelly were all standing next to each other in a way that created a ring around the two wrestling wolves. When he made his way to the group, Catrina had pushed Lia down with a rough latch of teeth to the throat, never letting them puncture the skin.
In no way did he doubt Catrina could win against Lia. She had so much promise as a fighter because she was relentless and didn’t give up. That, added with her dislike of the red wolf, upped her advantage. Aurelia used a lot of words and could be vicious if needed but didn’t hold a candle to Catrina now that she was training. He couldn’t remember the last time Lia had come down to the gym.
Although everyone realized Catrina had won, Lia wasn’t backing down. She wiggled her lupine body underneath Catrina, pushing against the white wolf with her ruddy paws. She growled deeply, a pathetic sound given the situation. If this continued, it would do nothing but embarrass Lia, so Killian had had enough.
“Catrina. I need to talk to you,” he said from behind the group. The only person who didn’t show surprise at their Alpha standing behind them was Jamie. Ever the astute listener, Jamie probably heard Killian before he even set foot off the back porch. It was one of the reasons Jamie was his Second, and why Jamie made such a great cop.
Kelly grinned and pulled Killian into her arms for a hug. It was amazing how Kelly had become like a mother wolf to the pack, and everyone soaked in her love. All of the pack were separated from their families, including Killian.
“How are you doing, Killian? That boy Reece making life difficult?”
Killian chuckled under his breath as he replied, “Of course. What else would his job be?”
She separated from him and ruffled his hair with her gentle hand, even though she was at least half a foot shorter than him.
“Well, I’ll go make you some of my delicious lasagna at home, and I’ll bring it back for you to eat with Cat. Finn and I have a date tonight.” Kelly winked one brown eye at him and walked away.
Looking back toward Catrina, Killian noticed everyone but Jamie, Lia, and Catrina were walking away from the property. Catrina sat on the grass, acting nonchalant but panting from the exertion of the fight with her tongue hanging limp from the side of her mouth. He knew anger brimmed beneath her calm exterior, boiling like lava ready to explode from a volcano. Lia, on the other hand, limped toward Killian. They had played rough, something he didn’t always encourage because it could lead to blood being drawn, but he knew these two needed it. As Alpha he had to make sure not to play favorites or make a wolf look weak, and these two needed to vent their dislike somehow before someone was killed.
“Jamie, why don’t you take Lia back and help her get that leg splinted so it doesn’t heal wrong?” Lia lifted her head in surprise, obviously expecting some sort of sympathy from Killian. He just didn’t feel any for her. Although she was family, she had been antagonizing Catrina since she arrived. Plus, he had some serious talking to do with the pretty wolf in front of him.
“Catrina, I need to talk to you,” he repeated. “Go change and come to my office.”
She stood with a questioning look in her eyes, then walked back toward the house. As she passed Jamie and Lia, she leisurely swished the tip of her fluffy tail across Lia’s face in a taunting fashion. Lia reacted in a very predictable way, growling and striking out with bared teeth. All they met was empty air. She had reacted too slowly, for Catrina was already racing across the lawn and onto the porch.
Killian rubbed the back of his hand across his mouth, pushing back the laugh threatening to come out. Lia was obviously exhausted and didn’t even bother making the run across the lawn to chase after Catrina.
“Lia, why don’t you change, and I’ll meet you in the downstairs bathroom to help?” Jamie pointed to the house, and then the two men watched as the red wolf limped to the house.
When she was going through the back door, Killian finally spoke. “So how did that start?”
Jamie shrugged and crossed his arms in front of his chest. “Lia was being Lia. We were all out here playing a game of soccer, when Lia started talking smack to Cat. Basically said she was fragile, and nothing she learned with you could help her in a fight against a real wolf.”
Killian turned his head toward Jamie in surprise. “She really said that?”
“Yep. Well, that was the killer line, anyway. She had been mocking Cat the whole time, because Cat is so awful at soccer. It was her first time playing, so nobody really cared, but you know Lia. Anyway, Cat just stopped in the middle of the game. Everyone was running around her, and as Lia ran past her trying to get the ball, Cat jumped on her back. They fought for a bit as humans before they shifted.” Jamie gave a lopsided grin. “Let me tell you, that kitten sure knows how to wield her claws.”
So it hadn’t just been a harmless fight. Catrina had been genuinely pissed at Lia when they had started fighting, which explained the restrained anger. Now he realized that the calm exterior had been a front, trying to make it seem like she was listening to the Alpha of the pack. With how mad she was, Catrina would have kept fighting even if Lia had given in. A few weeks ago, and Cat probably would have killed Lia, since her wolf would have taken over. That was a big risk for Lia to take. And Killian swelled with pride that Cat had learned such restraint.
Killian sighed and rubbed his temple with his right hand, closing his eyes in an attempt to shut out the situation. This was getting so complicated.
“Man, you need to do something about it, though. The tension between the two of them is outrageous. How do you not notice it?” Jamie’s tone seemed chastising and increased his irritation. His wolf did not like having his second-in-command lecturing him.
“I’ve been ignoring it. I figured it would just go away over time.”
“Well, I would do something about it. One of them is going to kill the other if this keeps going. Especially because Lia still sees you as an opening for a mate.”
Killian opened his eyes and growled. “Hopefully I’m going to remedy that soon.”
Jamie let out a chuckle. “Finally! The other tension that has been killing all of us.”
Killian sighed again, patting his friend on the back. “You and me both, Jamie.”
Then he walked back into the house to face one of the more complicated situations.
* * * *
Just as Killian was sitting down at his desk again, Catrina walked through the heavy wooden door of his office, confident but still fuming with anger. She had changed into an emerald hoodie and light-colored skinny jeans, but her feet were still bare, a habit she had kept since her first transformation. She only wore shoes when she had to. Her blonde hair was loose, and the bangs enhanced her beautiful features, even with no makeup on. Her face was flushed a bright red and her eyes lit with vigor, but not a single hair or article of clothing was out of place. His wolf growled with appreciation, a reaction only affirming they needed to do something about the attraction between the two of them. Now that he had accepted his attraction toward her, it only seemed to get worse every time he was in her presence.
“Killian, she started it. Do you have any idea what she said to me back—”
“Jamie already told me, Catrina. That’s not what I want to talk to you about.” Killian cut her off.
That caused her to pause in her defense. Catrina’s eyes widened, and her mouth rounded in surprise. Apparently, she had thought Killian had called her in order to lecture her. She shook her head slightly and clasped her hands together, regaining her composure.
“Okay. What’s going on?”
He knew if he asked her out again, she would run. The way she had been avoiding him showed her unease toward the whole idea. But as Jessica had told her, there was no running once your wolf picked a mate.
“Why don’t you sit down?” Killian motioned toward the teal wingback chair set in front of his desk.
Catrina paused, thinking about a way to get out of it, he supposed.
“You really can’t tell me now? I need to—”
“Do what?” He cut her off again. He was being an asshole—he knew it. And that only frustrated him more. “What could you possibly have to do right now?”
Her mouth clamped shut, and she nibbled on her plump bottom lip. They both knew there was nothing she had to do. She expelled a heavy breath, sending stray hairs flying, and marched over to the chair. To her credit, she didn’t throw herself in the chair like a petulant child but instead sat in it slowly…with her back ramrod straight and clearly uncomfortable.
“All right, what did you want to tell me?” she said, her voice tight.
Killian’s mouth twitched. If she wouldn’t freak out, he would go over there right now and kiss her smart mouth. Maybe then she would loosen up.
Instead, he leaned his elbows against the desk and steepled his fingers together. Rubbing his upper lip with one finger, he studied her face. “You’ve gotten really good at fighting.”
“I’m happy you’ve noticed,” she replied, drawing out the words almost in a question. Her gaze flicked over his face, and he could tell she wanted to know where Killian was going with this.
“I watched you two a bit from the window before I came down.”
Her gaze flashed to the window behind him. His office had large bay windows overlooking the yard and forest beyond it. She had never been in the office before, so hadn’t realized he could see what they were doing.
“You did, huh?” Her voice was nothing but a whisper.
He made a sound of agreement and continued to watch her fidget. She was uncomfortable with him. Apparently all the confidence she had gained around the rest of the pack didn’t mean she was confident around him. In a sinister way, it delighted him that he affected her so much, because that meant he wasn’t the only one feeling the attraction between them. Taking a deep breath, he stood and circled the desk to stand next to her. With Killian’s increasing closeness, she slowly tried to move farther back in her chair. Setting his rear against the edge of the desk, both feet still on the floor and crossed at the ankle, he faced her and raised an eyebrow.
“So I guess this means you’ll be going soon?”
Catrina raised her eyes and looked up directly to his. Surprise flashed on her face as her eyebrows rose and she inhaled a sharp breath.
“I’m sorry?” she whispered.
“Well, you did say you were planning on going as soon as you could fight. And now you obviously can. So when are you leaving?” He shrugged, trying to seem nonchalant. This was a dangerous game. He had to be very careful. She could leave and never come back.
“I’m… Well, I…” she stuttered, clearly confused. She paused for a second and screwed her eyebrows together. Closing her eyes, he watched as she tried to collect herself. “You really think I’m ready?” she asked. She looked up at him. He was surprised and grateful for the emotion he found gazing at him. She was terrified.
“You don’t think so?” he asked, attempting to seem shocked. He raised his eyebrows to create the illusion.
“I honestly don’t know. I feel like I still struggle with things…” She started and paused, not finishing her sentence but instead looking at him like he had all the answers to her dilemma.
“You’re never going to be a perfect fighter, Catrina. For every fighter, there will always be someone better, someone luckier, or someone braver who will take them down. It’s all dependent on your determination to win the fight, and what you’re willing to risk to achieve it.”
Cat bit her lip and stood, putting distance between the two of them. She moved in front of one of the windows to gaze out over the forest below.
“I don’t even know where to start. I only know that I caught his scent, and that I was determined to find him,” she admitted through clenched teeth.
This time Killian’s shock was genuine. He thought Cat had some sort of idea where to begin. She had been so set on the idea of getting vengeance on this guy, and all she had was his scent?
“Why go through all the training when you don’t even have an idea who or where this person is?” he asked incredulously.
She whipped around, her hands fisted with frustration.
“I didn’t know what else to do, Killian. All I have is my anger toward this guy! He murdered my family, my only pack. I have nothing because he stole them from me. He stole any youth I had and forced me into a life I didn’t want. I needed to know I could defeat him if I had to, that if I ever met him on the street, I could take him down. I needed to be doing something, Killian.” She was fuming, her breathing ragged with passion.
The events had taken a different turn than he had planned. His wolf couldn’t stand to see the female worked up, and the man couldn’t handle the sense of brokenness pouring out of her. He strode toward her and grabbed her thin shoulders, wanting nothing more than to ease her pain.
“You have something, Catrina. How many times have I told you since you got here we can be your pack now? Let us help you! Let me help you!” Why couldn’t this thick female get it through her head that his pack was her pack now? Despite her attempts to distance herself, most of the pack had accepted her presence in the short period of time she’d been living with him, and even respected her resilience.
She shook her head in denial with closed eyes and attempted to push his hands off her shoulders. “I can’t, Killian. If I become pack, if I become attached to everyone—”
“What, Cat? You’ll have someone else to care about? You’ll be able to do something besides chase a cold trail? For God’s sake, you don’t even have any clue as to where he is!” His insides churned with annoyance at her weak excuses. Cat wasn’t supposed to be the damsel in distress. She was strong, and the idea of retribution had turned her into a weak, needy being. He saw the strength in her. Holding fast to his grip on her shoulders, he shook her slightly, causing her to open her eyes and look at him.
What he saw swirling in their icy depths caused his heart to ache. She seemed so lost, searching for a way to be free from her past. Moisture pooled just above her bottom eyelashes at her apparent realization that she had nothing. The sweet intoxication of Cat tempted him, pulled him closer to a boundary he’d sworn he would wait for. But he was done waiting. Desperation sank heavy in his gut. A desperate need to have her want him, to need him, to stay…
“Dammit, Cat…” he murmured just as he dropped his lips to hers. The instant touch of his lips caused hers to part in surprise. She was so innocent, never having had any contact with a man, and his heart leaped at the fact he was the first to delve into the depths of her.
His tongue brushed across the inside of her mouth, giving her the chance to turn away, but when she reached up her hands and grabbed his wrists to brace herself, he took it as acceptance and pulled her closer.
A raging inferno erupted as he fought to control his urge to take her mouth forcefully and instead savored her enchanting sweetness. But it wasn’t enough. He needed more. On a deep groan he reached his hands up farther, grasped at her head, and entwined his fingers in the soft blanket of her hair.
Her tongue delicately brushed against his, and he reveled in the trust she was putting in him. He pushed her forward until her back was against the glass of the window, and his body pressed against her smaller frame. His cock pulsed from the feel of her breasts pushing into him, with pebbled nipples poking through her sweater. The beautiful bottom lip that had been tempting him since that first morning was finally within his grasp. He nipped it with his teeth, and smug satisfaction filled his chest at the slight gasp that forced its way from her mouth.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, and her small fingers tugged at the ends of his hair. The tentative but arousing stimulation let something loose in Killian. With a growl, he picked her up to pin her more firmly against the window with her legs wrapped tight around his waist. Need fueled him, and he had to taste the creamy, sweet texture of her skin. He trailed his lips down the bare expanse of her jaw, dipped his tongue into the curve of her neck, and sucked on that supple dip in the center of her collarbone. She tasted better than he imagined—sweet and salty and just too desirable to bear. She gasped in pleasure at his seeking mouth, egging on his exploration.
Killian trailed his hands down the soft sweater, determined to feel the warm skin underneath. His mouth continued down the exposed skin of her neck and jawline, not missing a single spot of the sinful delicacy. Reaching the hem, he forced his hands beneath the fabric to the silken skin. Over her flat stomach and rib cage, he finally reached the destination he had been craving.
“You’re so damn perfect, Cat,” he groaned into her mouth before he crashed his lips back onto hers.
She gasped in surprise when his hands pushed her bra up and cupped the soft mounds beneath. They were like hidden treasures he’d had the luxury to find. All his. The quick glimpse from their encounter at the gym did no justice to what he touched in his rough palms.
He wanted nothing more than to bring this beautiful creature immense pleasure. She was his. Not wanting to miss the slightest effect he had on her, he watched her expression as his fingers tweaked her wanton nipples. Her mouth opened with pleasure, and he chuckled softly.
“Killian,” she groaned, and he tugged on the bottom lip of her parted mouth.
Taking each nipple between two fingers of either hand, he twisted and flicked them, enjoying the hardened peaks he held.
A quick knock at the door echoed through the room. Cat’s eyes shot open in surprise, and her head jerked so hard it knocked into the window.
Killian groaned in anger and set his head on Cat’s shoulder. His wolf howled, wanting to tear into the intruder for being brave enough to prevent what could have happened. Killian took a deep breath, inhaling the sweet, calming fragrance of the woman in his arms, and then turned his head toward the door.
“What is it?” he barked to the person on the other side.
“Some lady is here. Says she’s a reporter. Her name is Penelope Thompson,” Jamie said through the door, amusement evident in his voice.
Oh fuck off, Jamie. The asshole could probably smell what was happening from right outside the door, and he still had the nerve to interrupt. Killian was going to kick his ass later.
“All right. I’ll be right there.”
Defeated, Killian looked at Cat’s face and couldn’t help but grin with satisfaction. Her hooded eyes and plump, parted lips evidenced the desire raging behind her flushed face.
Killian set her feet on the ground, letting out a low rumble of satisfaction as he slid her body down the hard bulge under his jeans. Maybe they could keep the reporter waiting for a little longer…
“Oh. My. God. I can’t believe we just did that. Oh, God!” Cat fumbled her words and couldn’t choose between ruffling her hair and yanking the hem of her shirt. She was clearly mortified, but all Killian felt was smugness. Before she could run off and think about what had happened without him talking to her first, he grabbed her hand.
“Come with me.”
She paused her nervous antics and stared at him with alarm.
“Excuse me?”
“Come on. I need to meet with the reporter. I hate these things, and you can at least keep me company.”
She hesitated, but before she could say no, Killian dragged her out of the office by the hand.