Chapter One

 

“What the hell do you mean she's gone?”

“According to my sources, she packed up and is on the run.”

Colt frowned, his thick eyebrows bunching. What would make her run? Surely she was safe on the mountain. And yet...a prickle of unease raced beneath his skin. He'd learned to trust his instincts, and right now, something was wrong.

“Mount up.”

Colt appreciated that he didn't have to tell Matthias anything more specific. His second simply followed his lead, followed orders and watched his back. An Alpha couldn't ask for anything more.

As plans went, Colt didn't have one. He simply knew he had to get to Robin. Just thinking about her made his heart beat harder in his chest. Their union was wrong, forbidden, and yet, she was his.

He'd known it, denied it for a decade. He'd resisted her pull and stayed away even though she was destined for him, put on this earth, he was certain, just for him. He'd adored her on sight, had fallen for her laugh and sweet charm, been bowled over by her sass.

And that was all before she'd taken him into her succulent body, welcoming him home as no one else had before or since. Stubborn as he was, he'd looked elsewhere. He'd searched high and low, trying to resist what his wolf had known from moment one.

Nature didn't mess up. She might be a harsh mistress, she might be ugly or ruthless but she didn't make mistakes.

Which meant that Colt needed to find Robin as soon as possible and finish what they'd started in the woods all those moons ago.

The rumble of his motorcycle soothed the ragged beast inside as they stormed across the mountain. Humans called this area the Tail of the Dragon and it was aptly named. More than three hundred curves and deadly switchbacks in only eleven miles. Amateurs had lost their lives on these curves. His pack, however, was weaned on these roads. It took him no time at all to get to the edge of MacDonald Clan land.

Matthias pulled up next to him on an old dirt road and they hid the bikes amongst a grove of small, thick pines. He planned to sneak in and find her home to see for himself that she truly had fled. There was no doubt in his mind that his wolf remembered her scent and would be able to track her.

Letting the wolf rush forward, he scented the air for anything out of the ordinary. Everything smelled right: forest, sap, crisp spring air. At the bottom of the mountain was a stream and he sensed a deer stopping for a sip.

Otherwise, it was quiet and mother nature's playground seemed peaceful. Using his keen sense of smell, he darted into the woods, Matthias on his heels. Night would be upon them soon and he'd use whatever means necessary to find her.

Failure was not an option.

Another prickle of unease raced up his spine and he felt almost dizzy. Halting as the wave hit him, Matthias screeched to a halt next to him.

“What is it?” He sniffed the air, his cool gray eyes searching around the forest.

Colt shook his head, unsure what was—

Fear echoed through his mind. He knew immediately whose voice was in his head.

Robin, he reached out to her.

Colt?

She sounded surprised by the connection. He took advantage grabbed the link between them. It was just as he’d suspected, she was his mate.

Where are you?

I—

Her fear ratcheted up a notch as she looked out the front window of a grimy motel room. He recognized the view as the small motel on the outskirts of Deals Gap.

Hold on, sweetheart.

Spinning on his heal, Colt headed back up the hill. He focused on the connection to Robin as he jerked his bike from the brush. Normally, he babied his machine. After all, the finish was one of a kind with a wolf’s body and the tail of a dragon and he’d lovingly built it. But right now, nothing, not even his bike mattered as much as getting to Robin.

Moments later, the sound of his engine roared across the mountain top. Side by side, he and Matthias tore down the mountain.

I’m all right, her voice filled his mind as she closed the curtain.

Like hell you are. Why didn’t you tell me someone was after you?

It irked him that he hadn’t gone after her sooner, that it’d taken him so long to get his Pack in order, to build enough of an income that he felt steady and stable enough to provide not only for the pack, but to fit in with the occasional human.

He had no need for clothing or a shingled roof, but Robin did.

Pushing the bike harder than normal, he raced toward the motel. Each minute felt like an eternity. He’d never felt so close to panic. Always sure and in control, he didn’t have time to feel draining emotions. He pushed the feelings back and focused on the road and woman at the other end of it.

Another image filled his mind as Robin looked out the front window of the grimy motel room again. This time, adrenaline seeped through her system and she didn't hesitate. Turning, she grabbed an old satchel and slung it over her shoulder as she reached for the door knob.

It turned silently and she pulled the door open slowly. Glancing out, he saw what she saw, two men across a cracked courtyard headed into what Colt assumed was the front office.

He recognized them from Lakewood's pack and though he didn't know their names, he knew they were up to no good. Robin eased from the motel room and turned to her left. Soon she was hurrying down a set of stairs and racing for her car.

Stay calm, Robin. I'm coming.

She remained silent but he could feel her pushing down the panic.

He never should have left her alone. At the time he'd been a young, green Alpha. Not new to the pack, but new to being in charge. He'd given in to his baser urges where she was concerned, but only once.

Once was all it’d taken. One taste and he wanted another. One kiss and he wanted a million more. One time in her sweet, curvy body and he wanted to lose himself in her every day for the rest of his life.

Colt would rectify that come hell or high water or both.

He and Matthias tore through Deal's Gap and he thought momentarily about Sheriff Dave pulling him over, but he didn't care. He could outrun the good Sheriff in the mountains and he would if necessary.

Robin's fear shifted to determination as she slid behind the steering wheel. His heart raced right along with hers as she locked the doors and jammed the key into the ignition.

Colt appreciated that she was a fighter and smart enough to know when to run. No matter how strong a warrior was, a strategic retreat was sometimes the best plan.

She'd just started out of the parking lot, not too slow but not so fast as to draw undo attention, when an old pickup roared up behind him. A quick glance in his mirror confirmed what he already suspected: trouble.

What the fuck does Blackwood pack want with us? Matthias's voice filled Colt's mind.

They both knew about Luke's threats over the river that ran through their land, but what did that have to do with Robin? How did they know about her? Outside of Matthias, whom he trusted completely, no one else knew of Colt's feelings for her. Somehow, he'd managed to hide the connection he felt with an outsider.

Colt gave the motorcycle more gas and their already break-neck speed picked up so that the cool spring air sliced through him like knives. Deep shadows hid the curves as the truck caught up.

He filled his lungs with deep breaths of air, hoping to catch their scent but they were behind him and he was going way too fast. 

Crap, Robin's alarm rang through his mind.

The vision flashed before his eyes, distracting him from the twisting mountain road. She was speeding through town, eyes darting to the rear view mirror, only to look ahead and find two pickups swerving across the lanes. They screeched to a halt, blocking the road.

Since Blackwood’s men usually rode motorcycles, the fact that they were in trucks sent a rare chill down Colt’s spine. They planned to take her.

Colt's wolf growled and pushed closer to the surface. He'd been ready to claim Robin from the first moment but Colt's human side had resisted.

Fuck the treaty. No more resisting; it was time to claim his mate.

Pain shot through his leg and metal ground against metal creating an awful sound. His bike tipped right as the old truck slammed against him again. 

The connection with Robin disappeared as he gunned the engine, leaning left in an effort to straighten the bike. The truck's engine roared through the sleepy mountain side.

Too bad he didn't believe in guns; one would have come in real handy right about now.

Watch out, Matthias's deep voice rang in his head.

He saw the huge man hit the brakes and veer right. In the small round side mirror he saw his friend narrowly avoid a jagged rock on the side of the road. Then a blinding light filled the glass as the truck rushed forward again.

Outrunning them wasn't working. He needed a new plan.

Just as he heard Matthias's motorcycle screaming up alongside him the truck hit Colt from behind. His back wheel groaned as the grill crunched it.

He skidded left across the other lane, bike on its side. The asphalt tore through his jeans, whipping his foot out the back. And then he was airborne.

Robin's voice echoed in his mind as she screamed his name. He fell through the darkness and heard his bike crash somewhere to his right. He had a quick image flash through his mind of her headlights sweeping over the two trucks blocking her path.

It’d been an ambush.

His shoulder connected with a tree and he spun like a leaf, plummeting to the ground. Up the mountainside, Matthias's bike idled and he shouted down.

Colt hurt everywhere.

Robin, get away from them. Turn around.

Are they gone, he asked Matthias, using up valuable energy.

Yeah. You all right?

Colt didn't reply, instead, he shifted. His wolf raced forward with a power and speed he'd never felt before. Hair sprouted from his skin, bones popped and his face elongated. Claws formed at the end of large paws and he pushed to his feet.

A full body shake loosened the kinks and he took off down the mountain, his only thought was getting to Robin before those bastards did.

Meet me at the bottom, he said to Matthias.

His long legs ate up the distance down the steep hillside. Twigs snapped beneath his paws as he leapt over a fallen tree. Luckily, he had excellent night vision.

Breathing hard, he pushed himself.

The road looped down through the valley and he darted across, swinging toward town. A moment later, he heard Matthias's engine. His second pulled up next to him and he darted further into the tree line to shift.

Uncaring that he was the Alpha, he hopped on the back of Matthias's bike and hung on. Another vision from Robin made his heart beat even faster. Her headlights bounced and bobbed as she sped down a small alleyway. Dodging a fallen trash can, she glanced in the rear view to see a truck closing on her.

Colt had never felt more helpless in his life. The need to get to her burned beneath his skin like a bad sunburn.

Head back to the mountain Robin, he sent the thought to her.

What?

He heard the panic, felt her fear returning.

I'll protect you. Head for the Dragon's Tail.

You're crazy.

She wasn't wrong. He had to be certifiable for going against Clan Law. And yet, he couldn't deny that he longed for her, needed to see her smile, hear her voice. He liked her voice in his head, chastising him.

She wouldn't take any bullshit and that's just the type of woman he liked. Soft, sweet, caring and tough at the same time.

Trust me, Robin.

He strained to see over Matthias's shoulder and gage how far away they were.

Trusting Colt was asking a lot of her, he knew. They'd spent one blissful day together and that likely didn't override years of mistrust of the other Clans, especially wolves.

I do.

Her voice was calm and determined. Those two words were the sweetest he'd ever heard and he knew right then that he'd do whatever it took to deserve her, to keep earning that trust.

Good.

What do they want, Colt?

I have no idea.

Except that was a lie. He did have an idea, nothing concrete of course. It wasn't like Luke Blackwood to send over a letter of intent. His style was more start shit, deal with the fall out later.

She must have picked up his thoughts. What do I have to do with Blackwood?

It's because of who you are to me.

How do they know about me?

Her next thought was cut off as another truck, the one who'd hit him, swung in front of her blocking her path. Robin slammed on the brakes and the seatbelt dug into her shoulder as she was tossed forward.

Colt growled and urged Matthias to hurry the hell up. Terror clawed Colt's back as she came to a stop, narrowly avoiding the truck. Another nudged the back of her car, boxing her in.

Her cry of alarm infuriated him, warring with his fear. Colt rarely felt the emotion so it surprised him just how scared he was in that moment. But then, he knew two things for sure. Rogue wolves were a crazy bunch and he didn't trust Luke Blackwood as far as he could throw him.