To Tempt the Wolf

“Soon. Don’t worry. My people will be at the hospital with Tessa and they’ll take good care of her.”



“Including the two bachelors who want her? Admit it, Leidolf. You want her. What were those newspaper clippings about? Anything important?”



“Yeah. One was a news story written in 1865 about a confrontation between Caleb McKnight and Seth Greystoke, stating Seth had stolen his gold.”



“Caleb McKnight?” Hunter rubbed his chin, then swore. “Hell, that was the other man in the photo with Seth, my great-grandfather, and great uncle when they were panning for gold in California.”



Leidolf leaned against the wall and peered out the bars at Hunter. “The other news article was written twelve years ago about a John Anderson who had killed Caleb McKnight in self-defense over a gold dispute. Said John’s grandfather had stolen the gold from Caleb’s grandfather. But of course, it would have been Caleb himself. Guess who he left behind? Three sons by the name of Yoloff, Ren, and Andreas.”



Hunter shook his head. “The three brothers who have been stalking Tessa. So there was more to it than Yoloff just wanting Tessa for a mate. The possibility he’d get her land and the gold supposedly hidden somewhere on the property. How much you want to bet the other three grays are all tied into this?”



“They’re a pack from La Grande. If they could get rid of you so the one could have your sister and your property, possibly have killed Bethany to have hers, and now are trying to take Tessa and consolidate her lands— they’d have amassed quite a bit of expensive property. Not to mention the gold, wherever it is, and two females to add to their all-male pack.”



The sound of footsteps distracted them, and Hunter let out his breath when he saw the guard walking toward them. It was about damned time. He didn’t want Tessa alone without his protection for one more minute.



The guard unlocked Leidolf’s cell. “You’re free to go. The other one…” The hefty man shrugged. “Your lawyer said it’ll take more time.”



“Leidolf,” Hunter roared. “What did you tell your lawyer?”



Leidolf waved at him as he headed down the hall with the guard. “We’ll take good care of her until you’re sprung.”



Hell, Hunter should never have trusted a red pack leader. But he didn’t have a gray lawyer in the area yet either. “I want to make a phone call!” he hollered to the guard as he led Leidolf out. “Now!”



Her skin frigid with fresh apprehension, Tessa sat in the waiting room of the hospital where she had gotten her ankle x-rayed earlier. After a couple of stitches, her arm was bandaged. She was beginning to look like Hunter after he fought his battles.



Supposedly, some of Leidolf’s pack were coming to get her and watch over her until Leidolf and Hunter could come for her. Damned police! Why wouldn’t they listen? Hunter killed the gray in self-defense!



But what if the people coming to get her were not Leidolf’s people? What if it was her stalker pretending to be one of his pack members? She had no way of telling.



She closed her eyes as the pain in her ankle and arm intensified. Had she been turned? She didn’t feel any differently. Wouldn’t she feel like stripping off her clothes and turning into a wolf? But then again, Meara said there was no moon so they couldn’t do that. Or maybe she wouldn’t feel any different until then either. But her stalker and his one brother had turned into wolves. How?



The one whose leg had been broken was all healed up, too. Although she wasn’t sure who was who.



“Miss?”



She opened her eyes and looked up at the fatherly looking cop, Allan Smith, his hair salt and pepper, his cheeks round and jovial, and his eyes the prettiest crystal green she had ever seen. Thankfully, he was guarding her until someone came for her. He handed her his cell phone.



“Hunter Greymere wants to talk to you.”



She grabbed the phone and tried to steady her voice before she spoke. “Hunter, where are you?”



“Jail, still. I can only make a quick phone call. Leidolf’s on his way there to pick you up. His people will be there soon also. I may be here for a while, unless I can get hold of someone on my own to get me out.”



“You killed the man in self-defense.”



“I know, but I’m not sure what Leidolf told his lawyer. In any event, I’m going to need help getting out. Meara’s number is 431-110-5629. Don’t go with Leidolf. Tessa, I’ve got to go.”



“No, wait!”



The phone died. She felt like her lifeline had just been ripped away from her. “How can I get Hunter out of jail? He’s innocent,” she said to the cop.



“I’ve got a friend I can call.” He winked, then punched in the number. Holding the phone to his ear, he waited for someone to answer and said to Tessa, “I don’t think the wolf turned you.”



Tessa closed her gaping mouth.



He smiled. “You didn’t know I’m one, and if you’d been changed, you would.”



“Are… are you a gray or a red?”



“Gray. I don’t know Hunter or Leidolf either, but I wouldn’t let a red have a gray’s selected mate.” He paused. “Hey, Charlie? It’s Allan Smith. Got a problem. Need to get a gray out of jail who was defending his chosen mate. Another gray was killed in the fight. The name’s Hunter Greymere. No, not from around here. Alpha leader from the coast.” He chuckled. “It gets worse. A red alpha leader from Portland is trying to claim her for his own. You ever hear about the gray devil wolf, Seth Greystoke? Hell, his grandson claims the little lady is his distant cousin, and he wants her.”



The cop looked at Tessa and smiled. “No, human still,” he said into the phone, then laughed. “Yeah, I’d say she’d be worth it, but then you’d have three alpha leaders at your throat. Better leave her well enough alone. Hurry it up though. I’ll conveniently tuck Miss Tessa Anderson away somewhere safe at the hospital. Call me when you have Hunter released. Well, you owe me for getting your brother off for drunk driving—how many times? And you know me—I’m a sucker for beautiful, redheaded damsels in distress.” He chuckled. “Talk later.”



He clicked off the phone, lifted his nose and sniffed the air. “Shit. They’re coming.” He lifted Tessa up and hurried down the hall.



“Who?” Tessa whispered. “The reds or the brothers of the gray Hunter had to kill?”



Hunter wasn’t often impressed with bureaucracy when he had to deal with it, but whatever Tessa had done had worked. And he was damned proud of her.



He considered the cop as he drove him to the hospital, who looked like he was suffering from ulcers or a very bad day, older man, graying temples, sandy brows, very big scowl.



“When will we get there?”



“Ten minutes.” The cop glanced at him with a frown splitting his forehead in two. “What? You want me to run the sirens, too? Who the hell are you? The judge rarely changes his mind on a case. But just like that, one call and you’ve got half the force hopping.”



“I acted in self-defense when the man came at me with a knife. But I guess it pays to have friends in high places in any event. Been a cop long?”



The man smiled as if reminiscing about the good old days. “Texas Ranger when the first unit was formed. Worked my way west into this lawless territory in the early ages. Changed my name numerous times, retired several times, had to ‘die’ a number of times to keep up appearances. But yeah, I’ve been one of the good guys for a few years. What about you?”



“In the army for a number of years, different sides, different countries, different wars, time periods, trained in some of the more specialized forces later, Navy SEALs for one.”



“No shit?” The cop shook his head. “I always wanted to be one of those.” His face turned stern again. “So how come you have to change the woman? Judge says she’s one of us, kind of.”



“Long story, major nightmare.”



“Too bad. It’s better when you both are willing. Happened to me, too, though.”



“What happened?”



“She’s still giving me grief.” The cop gave Hunter a smirk. “As soon as they allowed women on the force, she became a cop also. Said she wanted to see what I did all day. But don’t you believe it. She just wants to make sure I don’t turn another woman.”



“How long have you been together?”



“Ninety-eight years and counting.” The cop pulled into the back of the hospital. “Let me call Allan Smith. He’s a buddy of mine who’s taking care of the little lady.” He punched in some buttons on the phone and said, “Hey, Caruthers here. You got her?” He looked at Hunter. “The guy’s here with me. He’s a Navy SEAL. Yeah, that’s why he got the jump on the gray with the knife. I’m sending him in the back way. The reds are there?” He smiled. “I’ll tell him. Gotta go. See you this weekend to go fishing?” He laughed. “Okay, when it warms up a bit.”



Caruthers shut off his phone. “Take the back stairs, third floor, Room 301. Let me tell you, pal, if I had it to do all over again, I’d turn my Greta in a heartbeat. There aren’t enough females in the world to go around. Sometimes we’ve just got to take a chance and hope for the best.”



Allan Smith tucked his phone into his belt. “I’ll wait in the hall for your mate. All my best to you, young lady.” The cop left Tessa alone and closed the door.



Sitting in a vinyl chair, she clenched and unclenched her hand. Now what would they do? She didn’t think Hunter would want to return to the hotel. Not after the killing there. She sure didn’t want to go there either. She shuddered. The look of death on the gray’s face would haunt her forever.



“You must be Hunter Greymere,” Allan said beyond the door.



Her heart gave a jump to hear that he’d arrived, and although she was relieved he found her before anyone else did, her stomach fluttered with apprehension.