He glanced at the red wolf’s leg every few minutes. No change. The danger had passed.
He lifted his head toward the main house. No one came to look for her. He wasn’t sure if he was relieved or not. On the one hand he wanted to be the one by her side. On the other hand, she needed medical care to alleviate her pain.
Marcus peered toward the barn. He could shift and go get help for her. Hell, he could go in wolf form. But would anyone follow him? They didn’t know him. That was his fault for hanging back so many days. He could have gone to the front door three days ago, and then he wouldn’t be in this predicament.
He shook his head and settled it back down next to the gorgeous red wolf. He inhaled deeply. He’d never expected to find a true mate in this lifetime, not after the experience he’d had at The Gathering. Fifteen months had gone by since that horrific weekend. Intellectually he knew everything that had come out of his mouth over the weekend had been the result of the drugs, but it didn’t keep him from cringing every time he thought about his actions.
Since arriving at the Spencer Ranch, he’d done nothing but pace along the fringes of the property, courage evading him. Fate had a very strange sense of humor.
And now he was faced with a mate? What were the odds? He momentarily doubted his instincts. Was she really his?
She has to be. This feeling doesn’t come close to resembling the sensation you had with those women at The Gathering. That had been lust brought on by some sort of hormone injection. You aren’t drugged now, big guy. You’re clearheaded, and this woman is yours
.
He growled in frustration, quickly stopping himself from disturbing his mate.
She was injured. The last thing she needed was to wake up and find some rogue wolf peering over her and demanding to claim her for his own.
And what was he thinking? No way could he mate with this woman. She knew nothing about him—his skeletons. Fate was beyond humor. She was a cruel ball of laughter today.
The scent of this sweet shifter next to him seemed to seep into his bloodstream as though they were already mated. He would know her anywhere. It wasn’t a random infatuation masked as lust. He really felt connected to her.
Still. Don’t act rashly. Enough people have been hurt
.
The wolf squirmed. She opened her eyes, blinking away the dust. The moment she saw Marcus next to her, she flinched. She breathed heavier for several moments. Marcus let her adjust to the shock.
She panted, her eyes wide. Did she recognize the call?
He held his breath.
When she lifted a paw and settled it over his, he nearly groaned.
And then she winced, drawing back her paw and struggling to wiggle free of his proximity.
Marcus scooted back, giving her space.
She twisted her head down to her injured paw and licked the wound. Seemingly satisfied she was healing properly, she dropped her head back down to a resting position, her snout over her paw.
She stared at Marcus again, cocking her head one way in assessment.
Marcus returned her gaze, not breaking eye contact. Too bad neither of them could communicate with the other. Or perhaps this way was better. Gave her a chance to acclimate to her new reality before he claimed her.
Now that she was conscious, he needed to get her to safety. Marcus inched closer to her again. He nudged her front paws. Hopefully she would take the hint.
The gorgeous red wolf was much smaller than him. She glanced down at her paws and then tried to lift herself. She wobbled, but she would be able to limp toward the barn at least. It was the closest building.
Marcus nudged her again. He couldn’t risk shifting, even though he wanted nothing more than to take his human form, lift her in his arms, and carry her to her people.
But the risk was too high. He didn’t know these people well enough. He had no way of knowing if they would accept him. And he couldn’t take that kind of chance, especially since he’d learned one of them was his mate. He needed more information before he revealed himself.
Instead, Marcus nudged her again, this time pushing her face toward the barn. If he could get her to the entrance, someone would find her quickly.
Limping forward on three legs, the red wolf teetered. Marcus could do little to help, but he stayed by her weak side, allowing her to rest against his larger body when she needed a break. It took several minutes. She glanced at him many times. Her eyes were glazed. Probably from the pain.
When they finally reached the entrance to the barn, Marcus heard voices inside. He didn’t have much time. He licked his mate’s front paw, lowered his head in sorrow, and then turned to run, hell-bent on making it to the tree line before anyone saw him.
It was the hardest thing he’d ever done.
He left her. His chest burned. He wasn’t sure he even breathed for several minutes as he jumped back into the trees and kept running. He’d meant to turn and watch, to make sure she was found. But he couldn’t bring himself to stop. He needed to burn off the rage inside him.
What was he so bent out of shape about all of a sudden? She was his mate. He should be by her side. It superseded his doubts about how the Spencers would receive him.
But he needed to gather his thoughts and make a rational decision. Nothing hasty would cut it. It wasn’t going to be easy coming clean. After all, one of the women living on the ranch was Mackenzie Davis, the first woman he’d accosted at that damn Gathering, insisting she was his mate. Besides the uphill battle he would face convincing the Spencers he was on their side, he’d come here seeking refuge, and he would have the added challenge of facing his past actions. He’d always wondered when that weekend would bite him in the ass. Apparently now.
Why should these people believe anything he said? He was the grandson of the enemy. And on top of everything, he’d just met his true mate.
He wasn’t 100% sure about the Spencers and their involvement in whatever was happening to his species. His gut told him they were good people. He’d met them on many occasions over the years. Was it possible they were as deeply involved in something as clandestine as his own family? That remained to be seen. After watching them for several days, he didn’t have all the answers.
Everything that had happened to him in his life led to this moment in time. Only fear crept in. Fear of rejection. Fear of being found guilty of past injustices. Fear of betrayal…
Because it all boiled down to that. Marcus Cunningham had been betrayed. Betrayed by his grandfather, his father, and indirectly his mother. And he wasn’t about to let it happen again.
Heather awoke with a start. She bolted to a sitting position, gasping for air, only seconds before becoming aware of the sharp pain in her left ankle.
“You’re awake.” The sweet voice from the other side of the room made her lift her gaze from the propped swollen leg with the two sharp teeth marks to find Kenzie rushing toward her. “Don’t move so much.” She set a hand on Heather’s back and helped her lie back down. “It’ll hurt worse.” Kenzie was the sweetest woman Heather had ever met. Mated to the oldest Spencer son, Drake, she’d come to the ranch last summer after The Gathering.
Heather winced. “Like a motherfucker,” she muttered.
Kenzie smiled and brought a drink of water to Heather’s lips. “Here. Try to drink. It’ll flush out the toxins.”
“It was a diamondback.”
“Yep. That’s pretty obvious.”
Heather tried to remember the details. “I was walking across from the pasture.”
Kenzie furrowed her brow. “How did you get to the barn, then?”
“The barn? I… I don’t know.” And then she remembered. The details crashed around her. She bolted to sitting again. “Where is he?”
“Who?”
“The wolf who helped me.” She shuffled the sheets off her good leg, intent on pulling herself to standing.
Kenzie held out both hands to steady Heather and keep her from getting up. “Nobody mentioned another wolf when they carried you in. You were in wolf form yourself, though. You must have shifted when you were bitten. Good thing too. Probably saved your life.”
“But the dark wolf…” Heather leaned back down, all the air leaving her lungs. Had she imagined him? Was it possible she’d hallucinated a mate into existence from the poison?
“I’m sorry, honey.” Kenzie stuffed the sheet back under Heather’s good leg, making sure not to jostle the injured one and keep it lifted. “I’ll ask Drake if he saw anyone, but you were pretty out of it when they brought you in the house. Maybe you imagined him?”
Heather closed her eyes. She couldn’t believe she’d dreamed him.
“Here. Take some Tylenol. It will lessen the pain.”
Heather opened her eyes again, only a slit, enough to let Kenzie slip three pills into her mouth and then swallow a long drink of water. It tasted like heaven. So sweet… She was so thirsty…
“Good. Drink as much as you can.”
Heather downed the glass and then let her head flop back onto the pillow.
“Rest. Your mind will be clearer when you wake up next.”
Heather let sleep pull her under again, but she was agitated this time. All she could see was dark fur and deep brown eyes peering so close to her she could see into the other wolf’s soul. His gaze was sad, desperate, longing. He was hers. She knew it. Even if she did imagine him into existence.
The next time Heather woke up, the sun was lower in the sky. It was evening, and she was alone. She glanced around the room. Nothing was different. A large pitcher of water and a glass sat next to her on the bedside table. She tried to lick her lips, but found her mouth too dry to attempt it.
She swiveled her upper body and managed to pour herself a glass of water without spilling too much. She gulped it down as though she’d been lost in the desert for weeks. According to her mouth, she had.
The door opened, and Heather switched her gaze to the entrance. Natalie Spencer came in with a cheery smile. “You’re up.”
“Not really. I feel horrible. Even my head hurts.”
“Yeah. But you’re so lucky.” She sat on the edge of the bed. “Most of the swelling went down before you shifted to human form. Scared the poop out of the boys when they found you outside the barn, out cold and gasping for air.” The woman’s concerned brow calmed Heather. Natalie had been a mother figure to Heather ever since she’d arrived on the ranch weeks ago.
Heather tried to remember the details, not wanting to look like a complete fool again. All she could see in her mind was the dark wolf. Her mate. He’d helped her to the spot as best he could. Where had he gone?
“Don’t stress about the details.” Natalie patted her good leg. “All that matters is you managed to crawl to the barn. And we found you.”
Ah, so Kenzie had spoken to Natalie. She was pandering to her now.
Heather shook her head. “It wasn’t in my imagination. A black wolf helped me. You need to find him.”
Natalie paused. “You really think so? Nobody saw any wolves besides you.”
“Well, nobody saw me either, but I was there. I was way out by the tree line. Walking. Enjoying the weather. When I was bit, I twisted all around. I even screamed. Nobody saw me.” Heather sat forward, her voice growing stronger. “So isn’t it possible there’s another wolf out there nobody saw?” She grabbed Natalie’s hand. “I’m not imagining this, Mrs. Spencer. I’m telling you he was there. He came out of the tree line, helped me back to the barn, and then…” She inhaled deeply. “Why did he leave?”
“That’s the million dollar question.”
“Please send someone to look for him. Maybe he’s injured also. Maybe he’s in the trees alone.” She couldn’t think of a single reason why her savior had left her. Who did that?
If it sounded odd to Natalie, it sounded dumber to Heather in her own mind. She hadn’t mentioned what she presumed the lone wolf to be to her.
He’s my mate
. She was certain. “Please.” She squeezed Natalie’s hand. “It would mean a lot to me. Just send someone to look.”
Natalie smiled and nodded. “I will. And I’ll bring you some soup. Hang tight.” Natalie stood. She hesitated when she reached the door, but she didn’t turn back.
Would she keep her word? Heather wasn’t sure, but she’d never known the woman to lie. It wasn’t in her nature. Heather had been on the ranch for weeks now, ever since she’d been rescued from some strange organization called the Romulus. The last few months were insanity. After being kidnapped by two men she’d never met and whisked away to some remote area of Oregon, she’d been drugged and kept locked in a basement.
She’d never expected anyone to find her, but she’d been one of the lucky ones. Her parents had called The Head Council almost immediately, and she’d been added to the planned sting operation and picked up less than a week after her kidnapping, simultaneously with eleven other women around the country. Some had been held much longer than her. Some had been much less fortunate.
Heather was on the road to recovery. All twelve women had come to the Spencer Ranch to meet with counselors and recuperate together in a group setting. It was discovered half of them had a GPS chip inserted in their necks. Heather cringed even now as she considered the day they’d all held their breath while a medical team examined them and removed those damn devices.
Heather hadn’t been among them. Did it mean she was less valuable to the Romulus? No one was sure. The six with GPS locators had been moved to other locations. Heather remained on the ranch with the rest, but all of them had soon trickled back to their homes.
Heather wasn’t in a hurry. She’d just graduated from college with her nursing degree when she was kidnapped. Never fond of the small town in Oregon where she grew up, she’d been filling out applications to hospitals all over the country. She was free to go anywhere she wanted.
When Natalie offered for her to stay in the main house until she got her feet under her, she’d easily taken the opportunity. She loved the ranch. The Spencers were the nicest people. As an only child, she’d never been around so many loving people. The volume and laughter melted her heart.