Wilde About Her (Wilde Pack Series)(28)

     



 

It's funny how she realized how much she'd missed the pace of the town  and its people. Pappy …  and especially Jax. Wasn't it just a month ago  she had been dreading her return? And now she couldn't imagine being  anywhere that was away from Jax.

You got it bad.

By four, the diner was slow enough that when Tyler, one of the evening  waitresses, arrived, Pappy told her to take the rest of the evening off.  Happily, Denim grabbed her purse, kissed her grandfather's cheek and  hurried out to her car. Jax was taking her to San Antonio overnight. He  was supposed to pick her up from work at six, but since she'd been  relieved, instead of calling him, she decided to drive herself home.  That way she would have time to pack and put on something extra special.  She wanted the evening to be unforgettable.

Once at the house, Denim took a shower, washing off the stress of the  afternoon, then slipped into an orange and white striped halter dress.  Smiling, she turned side-to-side, taking in all her curves.

"Denim, you look good," she murmured.

Giggling, she walked over to the closet and slipped her feet into a pair  of white wedges. The doorbell rang and she frowned and glanced down at  her wristwatch. It couldn't be Jax. He didn't know she was at home. And  he wasn't scheduled to pick her up at the diner for another hour. She  hurried down the stairs and across the hall to the front door and swung  it open. There stood a beautiful, red-headed woman that Denim had sworn  she'd seen once or twice at the diner.

"Can I help you?" Denim asked.

She gave a soft friendly smile and said, "Sorry to bother you, but my  car broke down up the road and I can't get a signal on my cell. May I  use your phone?"

The woman looked innocent enough that Denim replied, "Sure." She stepped  aside and allowed her to enter. It wasn't until she shut the door and  she swung around that Denim noticed the gun in her hand. The rage in the  woman's eyes made her heart nearly stop beating. "Don't tell me …  you  must be Troy." Denim guessed she had been waiting on the big red wolf to  appear.

"Yes, and it seems you have something that belongs to me."

Denim was confused before she realized what, or better yet, who Troy was  referring to. "Are you talking about Jax?" she shook her head. "I mean,  really?"

A low growl rumbled in Troy's throat. "Our packs are supposed to join  alliances and you are standing in the way of us making that happen."

Despite how frightened she was, there was no way Denim was letting her  point the blame. "It was over long before I came into town. I have  nothing to do with his decision."

Troy pelted a shallow laugh. "Keep fooling yourself. Jax loves you. The  fool probably thought he was in love with you even back then, which was  why I've always had a hard time getting close to him," she confessed  with a snarl then pointed the gun at her. "I think staging a robbery  will be a nice scandal for this dusty little town. What do you think?"

Something dangerous shifted in her eyes and Denim didn't need to see sharp fangs to realize she was in danger.





20



Jax mopped his forehead and headed back into the house. He had spent the  last two hours assisting one of their veterinarians with the birth of a  new mare. As always, the experience was fucking amazing. He could have  stayed out in the barn all evening, but he had an overnight trip planned  with Denim and was anxious to shower, scoop her up and get on the road.  After stepping into the house, Jax headed to the kitchen, and retrieved  a bottle of water.

"Jax!"

Turning, toward the door, he spotted a petite blonde and grinned. His little sister was home from college. "What's up blondie?"

Cheyenne danced over and threw her arms around his neck. "I missed you!" she cried.

He kissed her lips. "I missed you, too. How was Paris?"

She stepped back, her mercury-gray eyes sparkling with excitement.  "Absolutely amazing! Mariah and I didn't want to leave." Mariah was her  best friend since grade school.

"Well, I'm glad you're home. Have you seen Father yet?"

"Nope, not yet. I just got here, but you wanna hang out later?" Cheyenne  grabbed a few red grapes from the bowl at the center of the island.

Jax twisted the top on a bottle of water as he replied, "I'm going to San Antonio this evening."

Her eyes lit up. "Ooh! Can I go? Please …  please!"

Jax chuckled as he watched her jump up and down. His sister could be  loud and overly dramatic at times. "No, you can't go. I have a date."

Apparently, his response surprised her. "A date? Who?" Cheyenne asked curiously.         

     



 

He took a long drink, then gazed over at her small oval face. "You remember Denim …  her grandfather owns Pappy's Diner?"

"Denim," she repeated, then her pink smile widened and her eyes gleamed.  "Sure, we were on a swim team together one summer. Why you ask?"

"She's my mate."

"But she's human!" Cheyenne barked, with an incredulous look.

Jax shrugged and then started chuckling. "And that's what makes her extraordinary." Denim was branded in his bones.

She twirled a thick strand of hair from her ponytail around her finger,  which she often did when she was thinking. "I can't believe you finally  found her." She was grinning over at him before she suddenly startled  and said, "Wait a minute! What about you and Troy? She was here looking  for you."

"What?" He tilted his head, his wolf snarling. "When was she here?"

"About an hour ago. She stopped by to see if you were home."

Cheyenne had no idea what had been going on between the two packs. She  had been away at school and then on a trip with her college roommates  before returning home.

"Did she say anything?"

Her brow furrowed as she thought about the question. "She asked who lived on the other side of the hill, and I told her Pappy."

His eyes darted to the clock. Quickly, he grabbed his phone and called  the diner only to find out Denim had gotten off early, and headed home.  Jax bolted out the room.

Troy was going after Denim.

Jax shifted, then leaped out the house and raced through the forest  toward the farmhouse. Driving would have taken entirely too long. As a  wolf he could cut across the land straight to the treehouse where he had  left a change of clothes the last time he'd walked Denim home. He  hurried through the forest, dodged around trees and leaped over foliage,  moving with no other thought than to get to Denim. Just ahead a large  red wolf jumped out in front of him, followed by three more.

The Chadwick pack.

The largest of the three advanced slowly, his mouth opened in a hideous snarl.

Diesel, this is not the time!

No, I'm afraid it is.

Wolves could communicate to each other through their minds, which made  Denim's power so unique. Unfortunately Diesel was interested in payback.  You attacked my sister. Now that I've met Denim, I know what makes her  so special. Shame on you for trying to keep her power a secret.

He knew. Diesel knew all about her ability. Denim was in danger. He  didn't have time for this foolishness. His wolf was going crazy. Get out  of my way!

You're not going anywhere until after we finish this!

Troy went after Denim and you want to waste my time! If anything happens to her, it's your head.

Troy's just going to shake her up a little, that's all. Diesel stalked  toward him and growled, revealing dozens of sharp teeth. Once I get rid  of you I'm going to have Denim all to myself. He launched his body in  the air, but Jax was prepared. His teeth bared.

He wasn't worried about the other three interfering. They stood back and  watched, not wanting to undermine Diesel's authority or make him look  weak.

Biting, slashing with teeth and claws. Jax growled fiercely. I don't want to hurt you.

Fat chance. Diesel's lips curled back in a snarl.

All he could think about was Denim. The mere thought of Diesel going  anywhere near her again fueled his rage. He attacked the red wolf over  and over. Ripping and clawing at his flesh. His wolf was raging, driving  him to finish Diesel and save his mate.

Jax's claw ripped down Diesel's back, causing him to cry out in  excruciating pain, but he refused to surrender. Instead his paw slapped  at Jax's face, knocking him down. Jax jerked quickly to his feet, leaned  in and sank his teeth into Diesel's hind legs, He then noticed the  other two advancing. Cold fury settled into his bones. Is this an  ambush?

Kane's green eyes locked on him. Call it what you will. No one will ever know but us.

Take a step further and I swear I'll kill him. Jax grabbed him by the throat. His teeth holding Diesel's wolf in place.

Stay back! Diesel ordered.

There was the rustle of tree branches, then the heavy pad of wolves  drawing closer before one sailed through the air, landing in the grass  between Jax and the other three.

Aidan.

Chayton.

His brothers had arrived.

Fury gathered in Aidan's eyes as he slammed one of the males from the side, sending him crashing into a tree.