The door swung open, and Butch Danielson filled the doorway. He scowled. His whiskered jaw and big bushy eyebrows made his normal happy-go-lucky expression appear more sinister and dark. “Danielle. Go away, girl.” She stepped back. “But, Mr. Daniel—”
“Go on with you now.” He moved outside, and closed the door behind him. His voice dropped to a whisper. “It’s not safe for you anymore. I’m having my own problems keeping my wife safe, I can’t be looking after you too.
Trust me, if your father was here, he’d tell you to leave.”
The noise filtering past the door to outside suddenly shut off and silence enveloped the three of them. She grabbed Ethan’s hand and tugged. She couldn’t just up and leave. Jordan was still out there somewhere.
“Butch, we’d like to talk with you. It’ll only take a few seconds.” Ethan motioned toward the house. “Can you meet us away from here? Let’s say, behind the gas station where old man Johnson used to live?”
The lines around Butch’s mouth deepened and he seemed to study Ethan. “I wish you wouldn’t have come back. But give me an hour.” He turned and went back into the house.
The door shut firmly, and Dani let go of Ethan. “You knew him before.” It wasn’t a question. It only made sense that he knew the older members of the pack. At one time, before Greggoire ruined his reputation, Ethan was their alpha. He was a legend to everyone who came after, so why would they believe Greggoire over Ethan?
Chapter Eleven
Old man Johnson’s place had been
abandoned for more years than Ethan could remember. The foundation no longer supported the three-bedroom cottage, and instead the whole structure leaned prominently to the left.
Ethan tilted his head. It seemed like yesterday that he sat with Mr. Johnson on the porch and learned the ways of his kind. You’re a legend, son, he had said.
Dani stepped closer and rubbed his lower back. “What’s wrong?”
He frowned, but remained silent.
“Come on, I know something’s bothering you.” She lifted her chin and gazed at his face.
“Just remembering the past.” He bent over at the waist, picked up a baseball-sized piece of concrete. Clenching his hand, he studied the smaller chunks as they broke apart and peppered the ground. “There was a time when I believed everything our ancestors passed down, but times have changed. I’m not sure I recognize anything going on any longer. I mourn for what could have been.”
She crossed her arms and shivered against the nighttime cold. “You can get it back.
Everyone has always known that success of the pack depended on you. I grew up hearing about the great Ethan Tolene… You’ll fight and bring out the truth. I have no doubt that once you’ve earned the alpha position the people will see how wrong they’ve been to trust in Greggoire.” The raw loyalty coming from his mate pushed aside any doubts, and her belief in him helped him draw from the strength inside his heart. He pulled her into his embrace, pressing her against his chest. “You heal me, little one.
Thank you.”
Dani slipped her arms around his waist. “I knew you were the one for me since…forever. I think every little girl’s fantasy mate was you. The stories I heard formed the image of a perfect wolf, the perfect mate, the perfect man. Reality is so much better. You really are perfect. I can’t wait until this is over. Despite the way I forced myself onto you and the reasons why I chose you for my mate, I do love you. I hope you don’t—”
“Shh…” He laid his thumb on her mouth and traced the plump curve of her bottom lip. His balls tightened. He’d like nothing more than to jump right into her. Yet, he knew giving her less than half a man wasn’t fair to either one of them. He needed to gain his position back. Then he’d spend the rest of his life showing her how much he loved her. “Soon, little one. We’ll have our lives back, and spend every day enjoying each other.”
He leaned over and claimed her mouth with a low growl. With Dani, he felt so connected, solid; he almost believed his own words.
She slipped her hands underneath his shirt.
The warmth of her hands branded his skin and fueled the heat only she could bring from his core. Hell, even his wolf sat up and begged whenever she paid him the slightest amount of attention.
He could do this. He’d take down Greggoire and release the hold he had on the pack. Ethan owed them that much.
“Mmm…I can’t wait for this night to be over.
I’ll have you and Jordan home, and—”
“Quiet.” He covered her mouth with his hand.