“Recent events? Like what?” Elise queried.
Helen opened her mouth and seemed about to speak, then shook her head. “We really can’t say much else. It’s Kane’s place to tell you.”
Sighing in frustration, Elise concluded that she’d get nothing more out of her two new friends. If the Alpha had forbidden them to speak, they wouldn’t. “All right. I’ll ask Kane when he gets back.” Checking the time, Elise stood up. “I think I’ll head up to bed. It’s been a busy day.”
Carrie stood as well. “I’m going to turn in, too. The little guy inside me is quiet right now and maybe I can get a few hours of sleep before the gymnastics start again.”
“I’ll rest down here for a while. The men should be back soon and might want a cup of coffee or a snack after being out in the cold.” Helen picked up the remote and settled back in her chair.
Bidding each other a good night, Carrie and Elise each turned toward their own wing of the house. Opening the bedroom door, Elise didn’t bother to turn on the lights. Moonbeams streamed into the room through the bank of windows and she wandered over to them, staring out at the night.
Her old pack was out there, miles away. What they were doing right now? Was her father sitting in his office, working late into the night as he often did? Had Sarah finished the apple pies that she always made and then stored in the freezer for the winter months? And what was Bryan doing? She’d been so busy trying to settle into her new home that she hadn’t thought of him all afternoon. Mentally, she scolded herself for forgetting the man she loved.
The sound of a wolf howling drew her attention to the shadowy outline of the surrounding forest. Somewhere out there, Kane and the others were searching for the lost pack member. Had they found him? Was the howl a signal? She hoped the man was all right. Nerves fluttered in her stomach. If they had found him, then Kane would be home soon.
Turning, she looked at the large bed that dominated the room; the bed she’d be sharing with Kane for the rest of her life. A shiver ran through her at the thought. The intimacy involved made her both uneasy and excited. Last night had been embarrassing yet pleasurable. Quixotically, she both hoped that he’d not come home until after she was asleep, while at the same time she was curious to try mating again. The sensations had been...interesting.
She scowled. How she could even be thinking that way? Not two minutes ago, she’d been reminding herself that she loved Bryan, yet here she was contemplating having sex with Kane! Shaking her head at her tangled thinking, she changed into her nightgown and climbed into the large, empty bed. Turning so she faced the windows, she stared out at the moon and let her thoughts drift between the two men in her life...
Chapter 6
Elise awoke with a start, blinking in confusion at the sunlight that bathed her bed. How could that be? The window was... Her thinking screeched to a halt as reality dawned and she recalled she wasn’t in her old bedroom. This was Kane’s room. Well, technically it was her bedroom too, but it would take a while before she felt any ownership of the space.
Surprisingly, she’d slept quite well in her new bed. Rolling onto her back, she stretched her arms and legs until they were fully extended, before releasing them and sinking back down in pleasant relaxation. Turning her head to the side, she noted that the other half of the bed was completely undisturbed.
Kane hadn’t slept with her last night. Had he come home late and bedded down somewhere else so he wouldn’t disturb her, or had he not come home at all? Possibly he and the other men were still out searching for the missing man. If that was the case, then something was seriously wrong.
Rolling out of bed, she hesitated for a moment trying to recall where she’d placed her clothing the previous day. A quick search of the drawers refreshed her memory and she soon found what she needed. Donning a pair of track pants, a t-shirt, and a hoodie, she combed her hair, pulling it back in a clip, and then scampered downstairs in search of someone who could update her on what had happened.
Helen was in the kitchen, preparing bacon and eggs. “Morning, Elise. How did you sleep?”
“Not bad. Is Kane back? Did they find the missing man?”
“Yes, they got in around three in the morning. Kane stayed with him at the infirmary, but sent John back home with the news. Thomas was shot. He lost a lot of blood, but he’ll be okay.”
“Shot?” Elise felt a chill run through her as memories of her own mother’s death came rushing back. All too often, her vivid imagination recreated what must have happened; her mother in wolf form with her leg in a trap, poachers approaching as she frantically tried to free herself. Had her mother tried to transform to save herself, but been unable to due to her injury, or had she feared for the rest of the pack and remained an animal, sacrificing her life so that her family would not be discovered? Her mother would have been terrified; her heart pounding as she desperately called out to her mate for help.