Guilt filled her. She’d let the pack down by running off. “I should have stayed.”
“Don’t blame yourself.” He squeezed her hand. “Alastair had already started to decline long before you left. You’re the one who tried to convince him to see a shrink.”
“And he refused. He was too proud. I never dreamed he’d let everything fall apart, Ryder. Aiden and I never would have left, had we known.”
“You did what you had to do. Just as I… did what I had to do.” He removed his hand, his expression tightening. “That’s why I challenged Alastair. If someone didn’t take over, the pack would have starved this winter. I didn’t want to end his life. He was your father. But I had no choice.”
Tension knotted her stomach. “You saved the people, Ryder. Maybe in the end, he wanted to die, wanted someone to end it for him. He was so unhappy since my mother’s been gone. Sometimes I think he blamed himself for her death.”
Silence draped between them for a moment. Finally she spoke up.
“Is Marcus still with the pack? Did you convince him to become your new beta after you defeated Alastair?”
“He’s my lieutenant.” Ryder flexed his hands. “There are no more beta wolves. No more alpha or omega. No titles. Just pack and I lead them.”
She liked the idea. Kara turned her head to regard the wide, open meadows, noting the broken lines in the fences. Rusting with disuse, a tractor sat in the middle of an overgrown field where corn had once grown. “Did you get a lot of money for your property to finish the repairs?”
“Enough to fix the most important things. I plan on sending the remainder to your brother to pay off his debts.”
“I hope it’s a large amount, because I’m not cheap. For one night or several.” Aiden wouldn’t be burdened by her or the bills.
“No, you are not,” Ryder said softly. “You are priceless.”
His words soothed her pride. Not that she was fool enough to believe them. Thankfully, the lodge seemed deserted as he lifted her into his strong arms and carried her up the porch steps. Inside, an enormous stone fireplace dominated the living room with its wide windows and commanding view of the jagged mountains.
Not my home. No longer, she thought with a painful wrench of her heart.
Ryder carried her up the stairs, down the hallway to the last room on the left. The door opened to a guest bedroom with a white mirrored dresser, a narrow bed covered with a homemade quilt and a writing desk. White wallpaper covered with powder blue cabbage roses adorned the walls. The room felt cozy and welcoming.
Kara breathed a small sigh of relief he had not taken her to her old bedroom. Too many bad memories lived there.
Very gently, he laid her down on the narrow bed.
“I’ll get some fresh towels for the shower. Your clothes are in the dresser.”
He closed the door behind him as he left.
Suddenly exhaustion surfaced. The bus journey to Colorado and then walking through the woods to find the hidden cache of gold and the fight with the trolls took their toll. Kara closed her eyes for a minute.
She dreamed of home, before her father had gone mad and everything turned sour. He laughed and applauded as she and Ryder raced on horseback, running through the meadow into the dark forest and then into the secret tunnel leading to the lodge.
The tunnel, site of the hidden gold, the key to freedom…
Fragrant pine and delicious warmth surrounded her. For the first time since Aiden had spirited her away that awful night, she felt happy.
The scent of pine and fresh rain grew stronger. Kara struggled to keep the peaceful feeling intact, knowing it would evaporate like morning mist.
“Wake up sweeting.”
The deep voice rubbed across her skin like the brush of dark velvet. Forcing her eyes open, she struggled to remember her surroundings.
Ryder perched on the bed’s edge, regarding her intently. He looked sexy and dangerous. A shaft of sunlight touched his tousled brown hair, streaking it with chestnut. Amusement danced in his blue eyes.
“The sleeping Lupine awakens for her first kiss. But alas, the first kiss already took place and the handsome prince was punished for his daring,” he murmured.
She went to rub her eyes, and realized her wrists were still handcuffed. “How long was I out?”
“Thirty minutes. I wanted to remove the handcuffs, but you looked too peaceful. I didn’t want to wake you.” His mouth quirked. “You look so lovely when you’re tied up. Very delicious and helpless. I’d like to eat you up.”
Intensely sexual, his body was hard and tempting. Made a woman want to hold him close as he devoured her mouth. She fisted her hands, fighting the instinctual Lupine urge to surrender to sensual need.