Wolves Gone Wild(39)
She frowned, daring to pause, before she strode over to Star. To her credit, she got into the saddle with ease then waited again as though expecting him to tell her that it was all a mistake. When he didn’t, she turned Star around, gave her a couple of easy nudges, and put slack in the reins, telling Star to take charge.
He was breathing hard by the time she was out of sight. The growls that came had him shifting before he could stop himself.
It wasn’t the first time they’d fought, both in their wolf forms and human bodies. Yet he doubted that they’d ever fought as hard. His clothes shredded from his body as he landed on all four paws.
* * * *
They were exhausted, their anger and their animals’ power spent. They lay on the ground by the pond, naked after shifting back into their human forms, their wounds already healing.
“We had to have her.” Lance didn’t know why he was explaining it to Grant. His friend had to feel the same way about her.
“I know. But we can’t risk it.”
Grant was right. Both he and Duncan knew it. But knowing didn’t mean they could stop the force of the amber moon on their libido. He’d known it would be bad, but he’d never expected to have so little control during the daytime.
They stayed that way for several more minutes as their horses pawed the ground and drank from the pond.
“What happened with the werebears?” Lance gave Grant a sideways glance. “Are Merle and Gabe getting what they deserve?”
“They said they’d handle it.”
Lance sat up, glaring at his friend. “That’s bullshit. What the fuck does that mean?”
Grant wouldn’t look at him and he knew why. The meeting with the werebears hadn’t gone the way he’d wanted it to go. “We don’t want a war. If they’d done more to her, then it would’ve been different.”
Duncan rose up, just as angry as he was. “And those two shit heads? They’re going to get away with it?”
“Like I said. Merdon said he’d handle it and Jackson’s taking his word for it.”
Like Jackson was to the werewolves of Forever, Merdon Cinat was to the werebears. He was their unofficial leader. Word had it that he was trustworthy and a standup kind of man. For a werebear.
“And you? Do you believe him?”
“I don’t have any reason not to.” Grant rose to his feet. “Give it time. If they don’t get what they deserve, then we’ll take care of it.”
Lance knew there was no use arguing. Jackson and Grant had made their decision. “And you’re sure the werebears are going to stay away?”
“They’ve been warned that she’s our mate. And that Forever is off limits until the amber moon has passed. Even the werebears who live in Forever are leaving town for the time being.”
Lance let the discussion die and waited until it felt right to talk about what was really on his mind. “What do we do about tonight?”
He wanted to find her, to give into the hunger churning inside him. The yearning to have her had been bad enough before he’d seen her naked with her legs parted, willing him to take her. But after that, he’d known he had to have her no matter what.
“We stay away from her. We stick at the ranch and we don’t go into town.” Grant’s voice was haggard sounding, although he tried to make it seem like an easy thing to do.
“And what if she needs us again? What if she runs into trouble?”
“Jackson’s put some men—mated men—on the job. They’ll watch out for her. Trust me. Nobody’s going to get within ten feet of her.”
“You already set this up with him?”
“I did. But I’ll check on it when I go into town and get the pickup.”
“Wait a sec.” Duncan’s growl was in his tone. “You get to see her and not us? That’s fucked up, man.”
“No, I won’t. I’ll have Milly get the keys from her. Then I’ll check with Jackson and make sure he’s got men on it. I’ll be home well before the sun sets.”
Lance nodded, uncaring that Grant was still not looking his way. “And how do you expect us to stay on the ranch once the moon rises? By asking us pretty please?”
The absolute obsession for her was getting stronger by the second. By the time the moon rose at the height of its amber power, he’d have no resolve left to fight it.
“Jackson and his brothers are coming over to take care of us.”
Lance stood up. “What the fuck does that mean?”
Grant growled, the hair rising on his arms. If needed, Lance knew his friend would shift and fight them again. “It means they’re going to chain us up in the cellar.”