Enemies in Love [High-Country Shifters 4] (17 page)

She got off the tram and exited outside for her work in the garden. She promised herself that she’d focus on the crops and on weeding and not on wondering if today would be the day they came. Furthermore, she wouldn’t keep glancing at the woods every few seconds. Just in case they ever came, though, she’d stashed a backpack with some of her clothes. So far, it had sat in the storage box untouched.

After pulling out her tools, she got to work. She did love working in the garden as it gave her the chance to be outside. While most of the Anterran women seemed to like living underground, she thrived on fresh air.

With more vigor than she had felt in a while, she attacked the garden and pulled every damned weed she could get her hands on. Clawing the earth helped soothe her soul, and the rich scent of the fecund dirt calmed her.

When the sun reached its peak and began to drop lower in the sky, Henla sighed and put away her tools. In the last month, some of the men had erected a wire fence around the perimeter of the two-acre garden to prevent the small animals from feasting on the food.

She knew it wouldn’t keep out a shifter. If he wanted to get her, he’d stay in his human form, climb the fence, and then shift. After washing her hands, she scoured the forest perimeter. Her shoulders sagged when no one appeared. Right now what she needed was a boost from visiting with her nephew.

Taryn and Kellum’s tree house was only a short distance away, so she headed there. When she took the elevator to the top, she knocked and went in.

“Hello?”

Lara quietly closed the door in the hallway and jerked when she saw her. She came trotting out, looking as thin as when she first arrived in Anterra.

Her sister-in-law threw her arms around her. “What brings you here?” She grabbed her hand and led her over to the sofa. “Sit down. Can I get you something to drink?”

“I’d love a glass of water. I’ve been working in the garden.”

“I’m glad you stopped by.”

Once Lara handed her a glass, Henla could see how tired she looked. “How’s Tran?”

Lara beamed. “He’s fabulous. I’m the one who doesn’t get much sleep.” She pulled down her cheeks and exposed bloodshot eyes.

“Aren’t my brothers pulling their weight?”

“Oh, yes, but they’re busy.”

Henla leaned back. “Are you happy here? You seem a little lonely.”

Lara smiled, and the happy woman of old seemed to appear. “I’m too busy to be lonely, but I do miss my close friends. I’d grown fond of Sella, but now even she’s in Spirit. My good friend, Amy, is there, too.”

“Do you have any regrets being here?” While she wanted to know the answer, perhaps Lara’s insight could help her with her own dilemma.

“Never. The most important thing in life is being surrounded by love. Your brothers are amazing.”

“If you say so.” Taryn and Kellum both were highly principled men as were Kranor and Jude. “Do you leave the house much?”

She laughed. “Yes. Kellum loves baby duty. Taryn and I will go underground quite often. We stopped by the store about six weeks ago, but you weren’t there.”

“Back then, I was with Kranor and Jude every week, but not anymore.”

She leaned forward as if gossip was better than food. “Do tell.”

Henla needed someone objective to hear her side of the story, so she told her everything.

“I don’t see the problem then. Why don’t you move in with them?”

Jude had asked her, and she thought Kranor would be in favor of it, but she wasn’t sure she could take the isolation. “I think I’d be lonely, especially if the men went to work.”

“The wolves have stores, right? You could sell shoes like you do now.”

“I wouldn’t be welcome.”

Lara leaned back. “I see. I’m lucky I was accepted.”

“And that’s the problem. I wouldn’t be.”

“Ah.”

They spent another half hour talking. When Tran let out a wail, Lara jumped up. “Can I see him?”

“Of course.”

She followed Lara into Tran’s room. Her heart melted. “He’s precious!”

Lara picked up the wailing baby and he immediately quieted. “I think he just wanted some company.”

Henla’s body vibrated. “Someone’s home.”

They both exited the room with Lara carrying her son. “I bet you could tell Daddy was on his way inside.”

The baby said something garbled. Taryn was at the refrigerator searching for something. “Hey, big brother.”

He turned around and smiled. Now that he was home, it was time for her to depart. She hugged them both and kissed the baby good-bye.

“Don’t be a stranger.”

“I won’t.”

Once she got down to the ground she headed for the underground. She hadn’t gone far when her body once again fluttered. Kranor popped his head out from behind a tree and spread his arms.

Joy slammed into her so hard she almost wasn’t able to move. “I can’t believe it.”

He had her in his arms seconds later and kissed her with such passion that her entire body tingled in anticipation of more to come.

“I didn’t think I’d see you.”

“I’m so sorry. Things have been hectic. Jude and I tried to come once, but it wasn’t safe.”

She didn’t sense his presence. “Where is Jude?”

“Back home. Listen, I know this might sound crazy, but we really want you to spend a few days with us at the house. There is so much we need to discuss.”

He might have said a few things after that, but she only replayed those first words in her head. His kisses set her body on fire and she got lost in thought. Kranor’s enthusiasm was infectious. He grabbed her hand and led her toward the garden, which was the path to the woods that would lead them to their place.

They stopped once they got to the garden. “Do you need to let your parents know?”

“Yes.” She pulled out her phone and called them. Once more she dreamed of the day the lion and wolf technology meshed, so she could talk with her two lovers whenever she wanted.

“Henla?”

She told her mom about wanting to spend a few days with her men.

“I’m so glad they came.”

She was? Maybe she just wanted her to be happy. “Me, too.” As soon as she disconnected she called Rein to make sure she could open the store for the next few days. She had to hold the phone away from her ear at her friend’s squeals of joy. “Have fun being the boss lady for a few days.”

“You know I will. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t.”

Like she’d had sex with two men before. “Hugs.” She stuffed her phone in her pocket. “I have a backpack filled with some supplies in case you showed up.”

He grinned, and her heart fluttered. How could she not be with her men? It didn’t matter that they lived by themselves. She’d adapt.

She lifted the backpack and was about to slip it on her shoulders when Kranor placed it over his back. He tugged her tight, and they headed to his home.

She was content walking by his side. Listening to nature and smelling the wonderful scents made her feel alive.

“You miss us?” He looked down and smiled.

She rubbed her chin. “Hmm. I guess a little, but I’ve been so busy at the store and weeding the garden that you two really haven’t crossed my mind much.”

“That’s why we haven’t been by, either. We couldn’t remember your name a few times, but then Jude wrote it down.”

She loved when he teased her. Nonetheless, she punched him in the arm. He stilled and she went on high alert. They were still in lion territory, which wasn’t an altogether good thing.

Kranor moved her behind his back just as a lion shifter stepped out from behind a tree.

Skelak
.

Henla wasn’t cowed by this jerk. She must have mentally said his name because the tension in Kranor’s shoulders seemed to relax.

She stepped into the open. “What are you doing here, Elan? Spying on me?”

His jaw tightened, as did his fists. That wasn’t a good sign. “I’m protecting lions from pesky wolves.”

Okay, that probably wasn’t the smartest move on her ex-boyfriend’s part. She grabbed Kranor’s hand, but he shook her off.

Kranor straightened to his six-foot-eight-inch height and peered down at Elan, who was several inches shorter. “If you’ll excuse us, we have someplace to go.”

She would have smiled at his attitude, but unfortunately she knew Elan. He never let anything go.

“You’re not taking her anywhere.” Elan puffed out his puny chest.

Kranor slowly turned back around. “I suppose you think you’re going to stop me?”

“You’re a low-life stinking wolf. Hell, yes, I’m going to stop you.”

Before she had a chance to step between these two men, they both shifted. She always believed Kranor hated violence, but not one word got out of her mouth before he was in the air sinking his teeth into Elan’s neck.

Every one of her muscles froze. She didn’t want to look, but she couldn’t help it. They growled and spit as they attacked, pawing and scratching the hell out of each other. Then one would try to bite the other. The scramble didn’t seem to favor either one, even though Elan should have been able to take down a wolf in seconds. Thank the gods above that her brother wasn’t the lion fighting. What had Kranor been thinking, attacking a lion? The only way he could get out of this fray alive was if the lion was very young or highly inexperienced.

Stop it, stop it
.

Both ignored her. Every swipe of Elan’s paw was like getting hit herself. Bile raced up from her stomach, and she got light-headed. She wished there was something to do, but she’d been trained from an early age not to interfere.

Elan jumped back and shifted. Kranor followed. She would have rushed to Kranor’s side to see how injured he was but between the heavy breathing and death stare locking the two together, she didn’t dare move.

Elan glanced over at her then back at Kranor. “She isn’t worth it.” He turned tail and stalked off.

Stunned, she didn’t move until Elan was out of sight. Blood dripped down Kranor’s arms, and his face looked like he’d taken a beating. Given a wolf had just fought a lion, she couldn’t believe he’d survived.

She had two choices. She could either rush to him and try to patch him up, or she could let him have his dignity. In either case, when she finished with her rant, she’d give him a kiss. She decided on the first one since she truly was upset.

Henla faced him and planted her hands on her hips. “You could have been killed. What were you thinking?” She wanted to punch him for being so careless. Didn’t he realize that if he got hurt, it would wound her, too?

He stepped over to her, took off her pack, and ran a knuckle down her cheek. “I smelled that coward from a mile off. He didn’t have the skill.”

Her legs were weak from almost seeing the man she loved get killed. “I need to sit for a minute.” Her pulse still raced and her stomach hadn’t settled.

He joined her and took her hand in his. The blood had already started to clot on his face and arms and legs. He dropped his head then glanced up at her. “I love you.” Her heart rejoiced until he held up a finger. “Jude and I wanted to convince you to move in with us, but I see now that the three of us can never be together.”

Large daggers sliced open her heart. “Why?” Tears formed, and if he hadn’t still been holding her hand, she was sure it would be shaking.

“You know why.”

Yes, she did, or so she thought. “If I lived at your house, I’d be safe.”

He didn’t hesitate to answer. “If you never left. I won’t do that to you. You thrive on being around people. You have a store, a career, and are surrounded by those who love you.”

“You just said you love me.”

“We do, but eventually that wouldn’t be enough.”

She thought of Lara and how happy she seemed despite not going out a lot. “So are you saying good-bye? For good?” The tears she’d tried to keep at bay fell.

“It hurts me more than it hurts you. When I’m with you, I’m happy. I feel wanted and loved. I’ve been rejected so often that I’ve built a shell around my heart. You, Henla, were able to crack it open.”

“Then why toss me away?”

He gathered her in his arms. His warm blood coated her skin, but she didn’t care. This might be the last time she’d be in his arms.

“I’m doing this for your own good.”

She remembered her father telling her that just before he spanked her when she’d done something wrong. “It sucks,” she said, to use one of her favorite phrases from television.

“Yes, it does. Maybe someday we will all live in harmony.”

She pulled away. “In the meantime, what am I supposed to do? Wither away?”

He stroked her face, looking more distraught than she felt inside. “Find love.”

As if he couldn’t keep it together, he stood and drew her up into a stand. She couldn’t let him go and hugged him tight. “Don’t I get a say in this?”

He kissed the top of her head like she was a little sister. “No, my little one. You don’t.”