Chapter 10

 

 

Kane stiffened as Gaby approached the wild coyotes. They yapped and wagged their tails like old acquaintances. He grinned, baring his fangs. If more wolf charmers like her existed, imagine how important they would be helping farmers shoo away pests and predators from their livestock. A shame werewolves killed them off. Did his kind still murder wolf charmers? If they did, he’d kill anyone who dared to try. Gaby was his to have and protect.

Gaby knelt in front of the five coyotes. They sat before her and then cocked their heads as if waiting for her next command. Like circus dogs.

Hell. I’m her circus dog as well. He cautiously approached, not wanting to spook the normally skittish wild canines. The coyotes didn’t display apprehension and he didn’t pick up their scent of fear.

She stood and smiled at the wolf. “How about we sing under the stars?”

The coyotes howled and yapped as she directed them with her fingers like a conductor at a concert.

His wolf perked. Why not? He howled, which encouraged the coyote pack to chorus louder.

Gaby signaled the coyotes to stop. Without question, they silenced. “Oops.” She turned to the wolf and shushed him. “Coyotes might not draw people’s attention, but a wolf will.”

Howling felt so good even with coyotes, but she had a point. He nodded and circled their camp to make sure nobody approached.

Assured they were still alone, he returned. The coyotes had gone and Gaby prepared her sleeping bag for the night.

“We better get some sleep.”

He wished he could talk, but he needed to stay in wolf form in case he didn’t have a chance to shift during their road trip to the West Coast. He also curtailed the temptation to make love to her by remaining in wolf form. Hell, he may need to be in wolf form every night.

Gaby laid on her side and he joined her. He snuggled against her. Feeling her warmth, enjoying her aroma and her calming breath as she slipped into sleep. While she slept, oblivious to the world, he placed his head on the curve of her narrow waist. Nothing felt better, except maybe resting his head on her sweet round ass.

Kane remained alert to every sound and smell. A distant skunk, a porcupine, delicious-smelling elk, and a bear too far away for concern. No human or werewolf danger. Singing with the coyotes brought him joy. He had no memory of a pack, but his wolf felt lonely without one. Although, if being in a pack meant never seeing Gaby again, he’d rather stay a lone wolf.

He dozed off imagining traveling the world with Gaby.

The forest appeared. He stood and turned to make sure Gaby was in sight. She sat in front of her easel painting a scene with wolves. Three she-wolves. The black one with the silver streaks, Lunara, an older white she-wolf and another small almost coyote sized female. Odd. Had Steele been part of their pack? The castle still overlooked the forest, but this time it was farther away. A vague white edifice in the distance.

Gaby turned. “What do you think of my painting?” She pointed to the canvas. “Do you recognize them?”

He studied the three she-wolves. “The white one is the alpha. The black one calls herself Lunara, but the small one, not sure. Were you trying to paint a coyote?”

Gaby scrunched her nose. “She is small, but she’s a wolf. Could be a runt.”

A runt? The word triggered a flash of him ordering soldiers to take action. Was I part of the lycan special ops pack?

Suddenly, Gaby vanished and the black beta with the silver streaks on her chest appeared. “Steele.”

“Where’s Gaby?” he growled.

“She had to leave.”

His hackles rose. “Why?”

The beta lowered her head as she spoke. “She’s human and a wolf-segen.”

A younger black she-wolf approached. “Steele belongs to me.”

Lunara bowed to her. “Princess, I must speak to him, alone.”

The black she-wolf, who claimed him, glared at him, but left.

Confusion raked his soul. Human or not, Gaby, not that other she-wolf, belonged to him. He caught Lunara’s familiar scent. “Are you real?”

“Yes. I’m a wolf shaman. I travel in dreams and to the other side of the veil. You are still part of the living.”

Gaby called, “Kane, where are you?”

“Return to us,” said Lunara.

“Not without Gaby.”

Lunara moved closer. “You have no choice. We will find you. She will be safer without you.”

Safer? Not a chance. His inner wolf studied Lunara, and a tinge of familiarity flashed through his mind. A pack led by an older white alpha she-wolf shadowed Lunara. Could the white alpha be his mother? Or his pack leader? He sniffed the wolf shaman. “You know my pack?”

“Yes. We will help you remember.”

“What will that mean for Gaby?”

“You will let her go.”

“I’d rather not know if it means never seeing her again.”

“You are a prince. Once you regain your memories, you will understand.”

Gaby called, “Kane, don’t leave me.”

He turned and ran toward Gaby. She stood in front of their vehicle.

“Prince Steele!” Lunara’s howl echoed behind him.

A ten-foot werewolf, stepped out of the woods, the kind depicted in old paintings from the Middle Ages. Dressed in a long black robe with the head of a monstrous wolf, he walked like a man. Lunara shouted, “Griswold of Bedburg.”

The giant werewolf spotted Gaby and charged.

Gaby got into the car before he reached her and drove away.

The werewolf dropped his black robe and dashed after her. The killer made a maddening leap, landing on the hood of the speeding vehicle.

Kane gave chase.

The road curved and twisted, narrowing along a cliff edge. Taking a turn too fast, Gaby’s vehicle skidded and shot off the cliff, plunging down the mountain.

“No!”

“Kane, wake up.”

The wolf snarled, stood and glanced around, snapping out of his nightmare. He blinked. Sunrise. Sweet Gaby. He shuddered, releasing tension. Gaby. Safe. The parked car. The camp.

She sat, disheveled, her sleeping bag unzipped. “You had quite a doggy nightmare.”

Drunk with happiness, he wagged his tail and licked her face.

Gaby giggled and tried to brush him away. “Okay, stop.”

The wolf stepped away before he soaked her in slobber. He turned in a circle, bowed in play and yapped for joy.

Gaby wiped her face with her sleeve and laughed. “I get it, you’re happy.” She got up and shivered from the morning frost. She blew into her cupped hands, warming them and then jumped in place.

He regarded her and his heart warmed. A feeling of destiny encompassed his core. They fit so well, like true mates. His wolf argued with the man’s desire. I want her, but not possible. We agree, so why is desiring her wrong? Forbidden. The snippet of what Lunara had said about letting her go left him unsettled, yet, determined to never part from her.

“What’s wrong? Are you hungry?”

For food, no. For you, yes. He turned and shifted. Cold air bit into his human skin. “I’ll dress and we’ll grab breakfast on the road.” He dashed to the car, hoping all she saw was his bare ass and not his blatant erection. What he needed was a dip in a freezing lake. Or to stay in wolf form until his lust crashed to puppy love. He kept his back to her, but twisted to glance at her. She already had her sleeping bag rolled up. Of course, she avoided his naked body. He turned her on. Her body language and sensual aroma told him she lusted for him.

Gaby brushed her hair and slipped her sneakers on. “Had enough time to stretch your wolf legs?”

Still aroused, Kane kept his back to her and organized the trunk. “Plenty.”

Gaby handed him her sleeping bag and foam pad. “Are you okay?”

He turned and met her eyes. “Not quite.”

“Was it the nightmare?”

How could he tell her he witnessed her death? All he cared about was that she lived and belonged to him. Fuck the consequences. His wolf desired her despite the red flags warning Gaby was forbidden fruit. Lunara, whomever she represented, had no right to tell him to let her go. Kane drew her in and captured Gaby’s mouth. She moaned in pleasure as his tongue plundered her sweet tasting mouth. His hand splayed her ass and squeezed it. His hardness pressed against her. Mine. Now. Forever. His wolf no longer fought him.

She wrapped one leg around him and danced her tongue around his and his emerging canines.

Tires crushing gravel and the scent of a human male might as well have been cold water. He released her and flared his nostrils. “Sorry. Someone is coming.”

“Shit. Avery?”

He brushed a hair back from her face and tucked it behind her earlobe. “Nah, I can smell this man.”

“Oh, yeah. I forgot. The cloaking cologne.”

Kane smiled. “You make it sound like it’s available at the local department store.”

“Only for werewolf hunters in the know.”

“If Avery ever crosses my path, I’ll spray him with my cologne.”

“Werewolf urine?” She laughed. “I like it.”

Kane drew her in and lightly kissed her nose. “We think alike.” He put his baseball hat on and closed the trunk. A park ranger approached in his truck.

The ranger parked and stepped out. “Morning.”

Kane calmed and pulled out his camping permit. “Morning sir, checking permits?”

He studied Kane’s face as if trying to recognize him. Had Avery posted mug shots of them for the authorities? “I am.”

Kane handed the permit to him. “Yes, sir.” Out of the corner of his eye, Gaby stiffened. Her heart thumped like captured prey. He wanted to tell her to relax. He had this covered.

The ranger glanced at the permit and narrowed his eyes. “Jack Jones and Jill Smith.”

Kane sensed the man’s adrenaline come in like quicksilver. “Not buying it, huh?”

“Your driver’s license?”

He winked at Gaby and met the park ranger’s eyes. “Are you looking for someone?”

The ranger’s tension eased. “Yes.” He took out a picture and showed it to him. “A man named Steele Wildwood.”

Kane took it from the ranger and showed it to Gaby who flinched. If he didn’t have the man compelled under his mind control, her face would have answered his question in the affirmative. “Who is looking for him?”

“All park rangers were sent the memo about Steele Wildwood.”

“Why park rangers?”

“I don’t know, except the Department of Interior rather than the FBI relayed the message. Apparently, his family is looking for him. He is a former veteran suffering from amnesia. A man who might harm himself. Others.”

Kane frowned. “I see.” Obviously, their pursuers knew he needed to shift, and what better place than a park where he could blend in if seen?

Gaby stepped up. “Are they looking for a woman as well?”

The park ranger ignored her.

“You heard her,” Kane looked at his badge, “Josh Rivera, answer her question.”

“No mention of a woman. Just the man.”

“Thank you, Ranger Rivera. You’ll have no memory of meeting us. ”

He nodded. “Yes, sir. I understand.”

“Leave now and when you get back, print another photo.” He kept the picture. Maybe if he stared at it his memory might snap back.

“Yes.” The park ranger turned and left.

Gaby leaned in. “Can I take a closer look at the picture?”

He handed it to her. “As long as you don’t make fun of my buzz cut.”

 

Gaby stared at the picture of Kane or Steele, whoever. He had a military haircut, a five o’clock shadow on his chiseled face, and wore a black t-shirt, like the type worn under fatigues. Same broad shoulders, muscular biceps and handsome face. And the wolf tattoo. A stern look as if he could kick ass, which he could. His hair had grown out and his light beard needed trimming, but this was Kane. The very same man who just kissed her with the passion of a destined lover. “You are definitely military.” She did a double take at him. “Does this picture help at all with remembering who you are, Steele?”

He sighed and raked his hair back. “Not one bit.”

“If it was Avery, why didn’t he send a picture of me and invent a story that we are terrorists or something?” She shook her head. “And why are they searching parks?”

“My gut says the memo was sent by a werewolf. Someone who knows I require shifting. Avery wouldn’t risk you spilling the beans about who you worked for. He’d more likely send his goons to retrieve you.”

True. Giles and his ilk made sure the media never caught wind of their projects. “I doubt Avery will give up. He must be hot on our trail as well.”

Kane narrowed his eyes. “The hunter will not stop until he gets his trophy.” He opened the car door and started the engine. “Let’s go.”

She sat in the passenger seat and buckled up. “Why not let your pack mates find you first?”

He drove off. “Not until you are safe.” His demeanor turned cold, distant.

How could he ignore their making out? Escape was clearly his only focus. Maybe he realized he shouldn’t get too cozy with her? At least he meant to protect her. Would he keep her heart safe as well? Too late. Her heart already belonged to him. “What about you? Don’t you want to learn more about who you are?”

“Gaby, my memory was wiped. We aren’t safe until I’m certain my so called pack had nothing to do with it.” He released a long breath before speaking. “Avery mentioned I had a younger brother who carried the taint of Griswold of Bedburg.”

“Meaning?”

“The genetic predisposition to turn us into serial killers.”

“That can’t be good. What happened to your brother?”

“According to Avery, he was killed by a pack leader, but if he hadn’t been executed, he would have been given a werewolf lobotomy.”

“Do you think?” She frowned. “No. You’re no killer.”

“But if it was true, erasing my identity might have been kindness rather than a curse.”

“Yet, why would they have enlisted you in a lycan army?”

“Good question.” He shrugged. “Maybe I’m the perfect assassin.”

She shuddered, remembering how easily he killed Giles’ men. Was he hard-wired to murder? “Do you lust to kill?”

He released a slow breath. “I won’t lie to you. I had no regrets taking out those men back at the lab.”

“Technically, that was self-defense.”

He smirked. “True.”

“Besides, you could have killed Dr. Tomlin.”

He smirked. “Not to mention the ranger.”

“See. You’re not a killer.”

“Nonetheless, this King Conan might have wanted me out of the way.”

“Why not just assassinate you?”

He shrugged. “Could be it’s against the rules to murder your brother.”

“Or, perhaps an enemy werewolf did the mind wipe?”

“Then left me for dead in the middle of the ocean.” He shook his head. “Killing me would have been far more humane.”

Regardless of the responsible party and those hunting them, he avoided the whole kissed-you-with-a-wolfish-passion moment in the park. “About our kiss…was it more than…gratitude?” Her cheeks burned and she paused to regard his expression.

He smiled. “Way more.”

“Meaning?”

His smile slipped. “Meaning I need to keep you safe above all else.”

Sounds wishy-washy. Not going to push it. After all, they barely knew anything about each other except for their weird paranormal talents and their unmistakable attraction. She changed the subject.

Gaby sighed and took out a notepad and pen she’d purchased on their last grocery run. “About the nightmare you had, do you remember anything?”

“Don’t freak out, but I think you were killed.”

Her blood chilled. “How?”

Kane hesitated. “It was just a nightmare.”

“Don’t worry; I once read dreams are manifestations of our daily stresses.”

“I saw Griswold, the serial killer werewolf chase you off a cliff.”

“I get it, you think you might have his genes and will end up killing me.” She wrote down notes.

“The she-wolf Lunara appeared in my dreams again. This time I smelled her. I asked who she was. Turns out, she’s a wolf shaman, a spirit walker of sorts. She wanted me to return.”

“Shaman? Interesting.” She pressed her lips together and scribbled a few lines. He frowned and shook his head. “There’s more.” He stared out the window as if looking for an answer.

“What?”

“This time I remembered another she-wolf, about my age, with black fur. A princess who claimed I belonged to her.”

Gaby’s heart stilled. Their road trip would soon end. She swallowed. “A mate?”

“I can’t believe my wolf could forget a true mate.”

“Why not? You have no memory of your brother or your pack, why should you remember a wife?”

“I just know I don’t have a wife.”

“Every prince has his princess.” She snarked.

“I prefer to think you are my charming princess.”

“You might not be married, but she could be a girlfriend, fiancée or fated soul mate.”

He shook his head. “I felt disgust, not love for her. All I wanted was to be with you. To save you. Then I woke up.”

“Look. Let’s not get too affectionate until you figure out your identity.”

“Maybe I don’t give a shit who I am.”

“Well, I do.” Gaby put down the notepad and folded her arms.

“Fine.” He turned on the radio. Hard rock burst from the speakers.

So loud, she wondered how it didn’t hurt his sensitive ears. His maddening silence was far worse than the blaring music.

Finally, he turned off the radio. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to tune you out. I’m just frustrated that not knowing who I am could cost your life.”

She sighed and put her hand on his thigh. “I trust you.”

He covered her hand with his. “I’ll protect you.”

“I know you will.” She gazed at the passing road signs for the next stop. “After we eat, we have to figure out a way to get some cash.”

“No problem.”

She smirked. “Are you planning to stop at a bank and compel the bank teller to give us money?”

“Nothing so criminal.” He took the exit with the sign that said Las Vegas.

“Gambling works.” She gazed at her map. “About eleven hours. We better fill up the tank when we stop for food.”

“We need to find a place where I can spend another night as a wolf.”

“Again?”

“I’ll be able to stay human longer.”

“Another park?”

“Best we avoid national parks. We’ll go off road and find an isolated place.”

No bathrooms didn’t sound appealing to her, but better than being found by dangerous werewolves. “Okay, but close to a rest area.”

“That shouldn’t be a problem.”