Wolf on a Mission: Salvation Pack, Book 6 (2 page)

No, she wouldn’t think like that. She’d find Billy looking for frogs by the edge of the stream. Thankfully the water level was low at the end of the hot summer and her son could swim, or at least dog paddle.

She hurried around the final bend and her feet skidded to a halt. For one brief second, she was paralyzed, her limbs refusing to work. Then she broke free and started to move toward her son at a slow and steady pace.

Billy must have heard her coming, because he turned to her and smiled. “Doggy.” His joy was evident, but she couldn’t share it. His
doggy
was huge and was no dog at all. It was a wolf.

A wolf had attacked and almost killed Anny almost two years ago. Was this the same beast? Sue reached down and grabbed a decent-sized rock. She’d played baseball in high school and knew she had a decent aim. At this distance, she couldn’t miss. “Get away from him, Billy. You know better than to touch a strange animal.”

Her son frowned at her. “He likes me.”

As if he understood her fears, the animal whined and licked Billy’s cheek.

Obviously, wherever this animal had come from, he wasn’t vicious. She was lowering her hand when she realized the dog or wolf or whatever it was, wasn’t alone. A man stepped out from behind a tree. No, not a man, a teenage boy. He was tall for his age, at least six feet, maybe more.

He held his hands out in front of him. “We didn’t mean any harm. Reece and I were just out exploring.”

“Reece?” Her fingers tightened around the rock.

He grinned and pointed at the creature sitting next to her son.

“Billy, come here.” She used her mom voice. The one Billy knew meant business. He sighed and reluctantly left the animal and came to stand beside her, dragging his feet all the way.

“Where did you come from?” she asked the teen. He might seem harmless, but she didn’t know him at all, and she knew everyone who lived within a fifty-mile radius of town, because at one time or another, everyone came through the diner where she worked.

He pointed off in the distance. “We’re camping and just decided to go exploring. We didn’t mean any harm.”

Now she was starting to feel a little ridiculous. She lowered the rock but didn’t drop it. “You shouldn’t be out here by yourself.”

The teen grinned. “You sound like our uncle.”

Sue took a good look at the teen. He was a handsome young man with his brown hair and blue eyes. There was something about him she liked, in spite of the fact he was a stranger. “You should listen to your uncle.”

The wolf growled and Sue took a step back.

“Knock it off, Reece,” he told the animal. “I’m Sage Gallagher.”

She wasn’t quite ready to introduce herself. “Is that a wolf?”

Sage nodded. “Yeah, it is, but he won’t hurt you. Honest.”

The hair on the back of her neck rose and a shiver of fear raced down her spine as a man stepped out of the woods. He was big. At least six-two with short brown hair and dark eyes. He also wasn’t wearing a shirt. It was impossible not to notice his broad shoulders, the dusting of dark hair on his chest and the bands of muscles that rippled on his abdomen.

It was also impossible not to notice the scowl on his face.

He pinned her with a ferocious glare. “What the hell is going on?”

Chapter Two

Elias managed to swallow his temper. This was the last thing they needed. If the lady called the law and reported a wolf in the woods, they’d have to pack up and leave. He’d expected better from Reece, but maybe he shouldn’t have. The boy had been pushing the boundaries Elias had set lately.

Problem was, Elias understood. Making that first transition to wolf form changed everything. It was natural to want to shift often and test the limits of your wolf. Reece was only being a normal teenage werewolf. Problem was, they weren’t on safe turf. There was no pack land for them to run wild on.

He ignored his nephews and focused on the woman in front of him. She was around average height, but that was the only thing average about her. Her shoulder-length blond hair sparkled in the evening sunlight, framing a very expressive face. Her eyes were light blue, her skin smooth and her lips full. Right now, those lips were pulled into a tight line.

He could smell her fear. It burned his nostrils and made his wolf growl with displeasure. Neither of them liked it. A small boy peeked around her. He had the same features as the woman, the same light hair and blue eyes.

Her son. She was married.

Something dark and dangerous welled up inside him. She had a mate, a husband. She was fully human and he shouldn’t want her.

His wolf chuffed in protest, but he ignored the creature. He had bigger worries than finding the woman in front of him attractive and alluring.

He turned toward Sage, but the woman moved, putting herself in front of Sage. She kept her son behind her as well. She was protecting his nephew. From him.

He didn’t know whether to laugh or applaud her courage.

“Who are you?” she demanded. She raised her hand slightly, and he noticed the rock she clutched tightly in her fingers.

He raised his hands in surrender. “Hey, it’s okay.”

“It’s okay,” Sage told her. “That’s my uncle.”

“Elias Gallagher,” he offered.

She swallowed but didn’t lower the rock. “What are you doing here? This is private property.”

Elias wanted to take her into his arms and reassure her that everything was okay. That he’d protect her and her son. He clamped down hard on his instinctual response. She was off limits. She had a husband and son.

“Where’s your husband?”

That was the wrong question to ask. Her shoulders tightened and she began to back away. “That’s none of your business.”

She started to say more but her son interrupted her. “He’s gone.”

“Gone?” Was her husband dead? “I’m sorry.”

She bit her bottom lip and glanced at her son. “We’re divorced. Not that it’s any of your business, Mr. Gallagher.”

Pure elation shot through him. She didn’t have a mate. What kind of idiot would abandon a woman like this one? Not to mention his own son. He didn’t know her name, but she was beautiful and courageous. The way she’d stepped in front of Sage told him she had a protective streak as well.

“Call me Elias.”

“I don’t plan on calling you anything at all.” She grabbed her son’s hand. “Come on, Billy, it’s time to go home.”

The little boy glanced longingly at the Reece. “Doggy.”

Elias crouched down and motioned to Reece. If the boy wanted to shift into his wolf, he could damn well help Elias deal with this situation they were now in. “He won’t hurt you,” he promised.

Reece trotted over to stand beside Elias. In his wolf form, his nephew stared at Sue. Elias could see a longing there. The boy might almost be a man, but he missed his mother.

Billy started to sidle forward, but his mother stopped him.

“Really, Reece would never hurt your son.”

Sue didn’t know what to do. The two strangers and their pet wolf were all staring at her as though she held their futures in her hands. Not to mention the way her son was looking at her. She knew he was enthralled with the wolf and wanted to pet him.

Her first instinct was to protect her son. But none of them had hurt him or made any threatening moves. She freely admitted that the past was coloring her reaction to them. She didn’t trust good-looking men, thanks to her ex. And the sight of a wolf was enough to want to make her run screaming.

They were all waiting for her. Billy was practically vibrating with impatience. He was tugging on her hand, trying to break free of her grip so he could go to the wolf.

She nibbled on her bottom lip and finally made her decision. “I’m Sue Walsh and this is my son, Billy.”

The wolf chose that moment to trot forward. He sat in front of her and waited. Tentatively, she put out her hand and touched the creature’s head. “Nice dog.” Elias winced, and she cocked one eyebrow in question. “Well, he is a dog, isn’t he?”

“No, ma’am. He’s a wolf. To call him a dog is an insult.”

The wolf seemed totally unperturbed.

“I think he’s tough enough to handle it.” The wolf licked her hand in response. Billy had sidled closer while she’d been distracted and had his hands buried in the wolf’s fur.

Sage was standing off to the side, watching her touch the wolf. There was a look of longing in his face that, as a mother, she couldn’t ignore. The teenager looked lonely.

“You said you’re camping, Sage?” she asked, wanting to draw him into the conversation.

He stepped closer and nodded. “Not too far from here.” He glanced at his uncle. “We set up camp and went to explore. We weren’t supposed to go far.”

Sue suddenly understood the uncle’s anger and his lack of shirt. It was fear. He’d discovered his nephews missing and had charged off to find them. She’d done the same with Billy, running off without a thought to anything else.

Billy had his face buried in the wolf’s neck. The animal was certainly patient with her son. It was startling to note that the animal’s eyes were blue, not brown. In fact, they were identical to Sage’s. They also had that same look of lost loneliness.

Sue was not immune.

“I was just about to put coffee on if you’d like some,” she told Elias. She was simply being neighborly. “I have some homemade oatmeal cookies too,” she offered Sage. “No dog biscuits, I’m afraid.”

Sage grinned. “That’s okay. Reece likes oatmeal cookies too.”

“Okay.” What the heck. A wolf who liked oatmeal cookies was no crazier than anything else that had happened this evening.

But first, she had to deal with her son. She dropped the rock that was still in her hand, crouched down and gripped Billy’s shoulders. “You don’t ever run off like that again. You hear me. You know you’re not supposed to go away from the house without me.”

His lower lip trembled and the wolf whined, but she stayed firm. “You scared me,” she told him.

“I’m sorry.” Her son’s whispered apology just about broke her heart.

“I know you are, honey.” She brushed his bangs out of his eyes. He was due for a haircut, but she was putting it off as close to his going to school as possible. She’d trim his bangs herself later.

She stood and took his hand. “Let’s go back to the house.” She led the way, very aware of the silent procession behind her. The hair on the back of her neck rose. It wasn’t that she was afraid of them, as much as she was aware of them. Especially the uncle.

Elias Gallagher was one handsome man. She didn’t need a man, she reminded herself. And certainly not one who was just passing through.

Elias followed Sue and her son. Reece, the young devil, was sticking close to Billy. As if sensing his uncle’s scrutiny, Reece turned around and sent him a pleading look before turning back.

The last of Elias’s annoyance bled away. Both his nephews had been through so much in the past few months. He couldn’t begrudge them their fun, especially since there didn’t seem to be any lasting harm done.

Sage walked quietly alongside him. Elias wrapped his arm around the boy’s shoulders and gave him a squeeze. Sage leaned into him for a moment and then hurried on ahead to walk beside Reece.

Elias kept his senses open and aware, watching for any danger, but his gaze kept being drawn back to Sue. The jeans she wore were old and faded, and they clung to her curves in a way that made him want to howl. Her hips swayed with each step she took.

His mouth watered and he licked his lips. He’d love to have a taste of her.

He made himself look away. No matter what he might want, he could never have her. First off, she was totally human and he was a werewolf. Secondly, she was the mother of a young boy and he had two nephews he was responsible for. And finally, he hoped to make a home for himself and the boys here. The last thing he needed to do was muddy the waters with a relationship with a local, especially one who could never be anything more than a short-term affair.

The last put a damper on his ardor and he pulled his wolf back in check as they rounded a turn. The cottage was small but well kept. He could smell the remains of a barbecue and see toys scattered over the back porch.

“Why don’t you have a seat and I’ll get the cookies and coffee.”

Elias was impressed. She managed to be welcoming without actually allowing them into her home. Smart lady.

“Billy, you can come and help me.” She started up the steps and turned to Sage. “I have lemonade if you’d prefer that to coffee. Or milk.”

Sage sat in one of the chairs and smiled. “Milk would be great. Thanks.”

The tenderness in Sue’s expression made Elias lose his breath. “You’re welcome. What about Reece?”

“He likes milk too,” Sage informed her.

Elias almost chuckled at the surprise on Sue’s face. “Of course, he does,” she muttered as she herded her son inside. “I won’t be long.”

Keeping one eye on the door, he turned to his nephews. “We’re supposed to be laying low,” he reminded them. He kept his voice low so Sue couldn’t hear him. The kitchen window was open and she was talking with Billy, not paying them any attention.

Sage rubbed the back of his neck, looking uncomfortable. “Sorry about that. We’d just been cooped up so long. We only went for a short walk.”

Reece went to Sage and rested his head on his brother’s shoulder. Sage ran his fingers through Reece’s fur. Elias swallowed heavily. Seeing the two of them together like this, looking so sad and isolated, hit him hard. He wanted so much more for them.

“I get it. I do,” he repeated when both of them looked at him. “If things work out here, you’ll be able to get out more. Not be so contained.”

Reece’s ears twitched and Elias hurried up the back steps and opened the door just as Sue went to push it open. “Thank you.” She carried a tray balanced on one hand and kept the other hand on her son’s shoulder.

The ease with which she handled the tray told him she’d had some experience waitressing. She set it down easily on the patio table and distributed a glass of milk to Sage, a smaller one for her son, and two mugs of coffee. She had cream and sugar and a plate of oatmeal cookies on the tray as well.

“Be right back.” She hurried back into the house and retuned seconds later with a bowl, which she set down in front of Reece. “You sure milk is okay?”

Before either he or Sage could answer, Reece was there, lapping up the milk.

Sue laughed. “I guess it is okay.” She took the chair closest to the house and had Billy sit beside her. Cautious in spite of her generosity.

“How long are you camping for?” she asked. She added milk and sugar to her coffee before stirring it.

He picked up his mug and took a sip. The coffee was strong and flavorful. “Not sure yet. A few days at least. Maybe longer.”

“What brought you to Salvation? It’s not a likely tourist destination.” Elias barely hid his grin at the way she subtly pumped him for information.

“Someone I knew mentioned this might be a place we’d like.” He reached over and snagged a cookie off the plate. Sage had already eaten one and was on his second. Billy had taken a cookie but he wasn’t eating it. He was breaking it into smaller pieces and feeding it to Reece. Seemed the son was as courageous as his mother.

Sue nodded and fiddled with her spoon.

“This is a nice place,” he offered, trying to make conversation.

“It is.” Her gaze strayed to her son, but he wasn’t paying the conversation any attention. He was too caught up with feeding Reece. “I should warn you to be careful of wild animals.”

“We’re experienced campers,” he assured her. No way could he tell her they’d be okay because he was a wolf in human clothing, but he didn’t want her worrying.

She nibbled on her bottom lip, and Elias bit back a groan. He was very glad he was sitting down and the table was hiding his lap. No way she’d miss the bulge in the front of his jeans. He wanted to suck on that full bottom lip before sliding his tongue in to taste her sweet mouth.

Sue tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. The small action was so feminine and unselfconscious. He wanted to run his fingers through the golden silk. He barely managed to keep from growling.

“It’s just that my friend was attacked by a wolf here almost two years ago.”

“What?” Elias sat forward and leaned his forearms on the table. “What happened?”

She glanced at her son again. Elias caught Sage’s eye and jerked his head to one side. The boy was smart and caught on immediately. “Hey, Billy. How about you show me your trucks? You’ve got some great ones.”

Her son nodded. “I know. Come see.” He pushed away from the table and hurried over to the pile of toy vehicles with Sage by his side. Reece followed behind and sat between Billy and the table. Elias knew he was trying to protect the boy from hearing whatever it was his mother had to say.

Elias’s chest swelled with pride. His nephews were turning into outstanding young men, even if they did try his patience at times.

He brought his attention back to Sue, but she wasn’t watching the boys, she was staring at his bare chest. With everything that had happened, he’d forgotten he wasn’t wearing a shirt. From the way her gaze trailed across his shoulders, he could tell she liked what she saw.

It was difficult, but he brought his focus back to their conversation. “What happened?” he repeated. He knew Billy might not be able to hear the conversation, but both Reece and Sage could, thanks to their werewolf genetics.