Dawn's Shelter

Thomas snickered. "You sure you're up to this, old man?" He leaned into Mack and his mom, drawing them close to his side. He was perfectly fine, fully recovered. Still experiencing the effects of his mother's blood, but otherwise, a-ok. But, he wasn't going to reject the help or the closeness of his family though. "As of tomorrow, you're officially on a low fat diet. And I want you in the office first thing next week for a complete physical," he said, chuckling as Mack groaned.

"Low fat?" Mack huffed in mock distain. Why couldn't Thomas have gone to vet school or been a lawyer instead? Low fat diets were for old people. He was still a virile male. He could keep up with the best of them.

"Yeah, you're my grandpa and I want you around for a very long time."

Mack jokingly huffed and rolled his eyes, smiling widely. "Low fat it is then." He had his grandson and a reason to want to be around for a very, very long time. Maybe he could sacrifice a few pieces of bacon here and there if it meant that he could snatch another year or two from Father Time and make up for all the years he'd missed.

Eloise tried to maintain her composure as she slid her feet into her boots and shimmied into her jacket, otherwise she was stark naked and markedly disheveled. Her hair blew in the wind at wild angles and in snarls that would take her hours to comb out. Mustering her gumption she walked along the trail. And jutted out her chin in haughty arrogance. Ignoring the gleam of interest that twinkled in Nash's eyes. She was a pack mistress, for the time being. She had her pride and nudity did not bother her in the least. Nor should it him. Pervert.

Nash stole glances at Eloise's shapely legs and curved feminine hips. Hazarding a glimpse or two at the thick patch of dark curls between Eloise's thighs and up to her full breasts before he forced his eyes away. Hmm, snow was interesting. He shouldn't be looking. It was an unspoken law of the pack. No ogling naked pack mates. He was a wolf and nudity happened. A lot. But, he couldn't help but sneaking a peek at Eloise. She walked with determination. Her head held high, as if she were fully clothed, taking a casual stroll through the park on a warm spring afternoon. Instead of walking stark naked, except for boots and a jacket, through a snow field in the middle of January. He tried to swallow back his amusement as she walked past him. Obviously annoyed by his show of interest. Perhaps, that in itself was exactly what held his interest so keenly.

He had many questions for her. But, they'd keep until she was in a less vulnerable position and fully clothed. He led her to a stone outcropping and stopped. A door, creatively hidden in the rock, slid open with a hiss. "After you."

He followed her into the wide breezeway and slid a long coat off of a nearby rack. "The vampires aren't completely comfortable with nudity. You might feel less... conspicuous in this."

"Thank you." She snatched the long beige overcoat out of his hands and slid free of her jacket. Giving him an eyeful of her goods, she took her time covering herself. If he was going to look, he might as well see it all. She wasn't ashamed of her body. And she didn't care what he saw. She slid into the coat and cinched the tie tightly around her narrow waist, draping her jacket over her arm.

Nash's eyes roamed freely and unabashedly over her shapely curves. Settling on the high peaks of her breasts and nipples taut from the cold. He felt an uncomfortable stirring in his groin. Clearing his throat, he looked away as she tied the coat at the waist. He ground his molars as he escorted her to a guest room. "Feel free to shower and I think, if you check the closets you should find something to wear. I'll return for you shortly and see you back to the hotel."

Eloise noticed the way he filled out the front of his jeans and shifted uncomfortably in them. "Thank you." She gently shut the door and freed her shoulders from the coat. Glad for a few moments alone to gather her thoughts. She found the bathroom and kicked on the tap, filling the room with white steam.

What was she going to do? By now, Torr had probably notified his father of her failure to produce Jan. Her pack was about to be ripped into shreds. There were a few no matter what, that would remain faithful to her. But, the majority would follow the new alpha without too much difficulty. And unfortunately, as of this point in time, the alpha was not she.

Her omegas were out there. Roaming the town. Looking for her. She could only hope they'd do exactly as she said and stay out of sight and out of trouble. She'd collect them as soon as she could. They were intelligent and resourceful. Surely, they could handle it on their own.

She ran a hand down her sleek, wet hair and flicked off the water. Wrapping up in a warm, thick, bath towel, she stared at her reflection in the fogged mirror. Jan hated her. Eloise saw her as a failure of a mother. She'd failed her daughter when she needed her most. There was nothing she could do to change the things that had happened to widen the gulf between them. She hadn't been a loving or caring mother. After watching the interactions between Thomas and his mother, she realized exactly how lacking she had been. And it tore at her heart.

If Jan would agree to speak with her, maybe, she could find the words to make it

up to her. Maybe, Jan would give her the chance to be the mother that she knew she could be. Deep down, she loved her daughter. Eloise longed for a few moments to let her guard down so that she could show Jan exactly how much she meant to her. She had to be tough on Jan, to prepare her for her future. Jan had chosen a new future, one of her own design. But, after all the years of harsh words and demands, would Jan let her in and take a chance on her?

Eloise ran a comb through her wet hair and towel dried the ends. Thinking. Kacie. The situation in Texas might be volatile. Dangerous. The pack could turn on her and her daughter once they returned to their home. It was bad enough that she had to go back and face the threat. Eloise dreaded facing it alone. But, to drag her daughter into it with her? Kacie had grown up with the pack. How would she handle it when they turned on her? Perhaps, even tried to kill her? She should leave Kacie here with her sister. Where it was safe. Leave her loyal omegas here with her daughter to protect her. While she returned to Texas to ascertain the possible danger before she dragged Kacie and her omegas into it.

She pulled open the double doors leading to a walk in closet and chose a pair of jeans and a pale blue v-necked long sleeved T-shirt that looked about her size. Considering her options, she dressed and wound her hair into a damp bun at the nape of her neck. A soft knock interrupted her thoughts. "Come in," she said.

Nash opened the door. Carefully balancing two mugs of steaming herbal tea and a light snack of cheese, fruit, and crackers on a tray as he walked into Eloise's room. "I thought you could do with something warm to drink before we headed into the cold again."

Eloise smiled and gestured to the overstuffed sofa. "That sounds nice." She took a seat and held the hot mug in her hands. The warmth permeated her frozen fingers. "The cold does take some getting used to." She said, attempting to hide the worries in her mind. Disguising them behind a layer of superficial small talk.

Nash took a seat, lounging against a plush arm. His eyes ran appreciatively over her. Her hair was damp and loose tendrils fell from her bun to curl around her face. She had no makeup on. Which, added to the natural beauty of her full lips and thickly lashed green eyes. Even dressed in borrowed jeans and a t-shirt. She looked just as good with her clothes on as she had with them off. And he was unfortunately and uncomfortably every bit as interested.

He wondered exactly what her plans were. If she was returning to Texas or if she had a home to return to when she got there. Or, if she was considering the Supreme Pack Master's offer to remain here as one of his pack. He could beat around the bush and try to coax the information out of her. But, her tongue was every bit as skilled as his at evading truths. She'd see through any bullshit he tried to feed her. He appreciated directness and assumed that she would as well. "Tell me, Eloise." He took a sip of his tea, eyeing her intensely. "What do you plan to do now?"

Eloise blinked at Nash's directness. Sipping her tea, she considered her words. She could hide her indecision behind layers of fluff. Feed him a line of crap big enough to choke him to death or she could simply tell him the truth. Ultimately, she settled for honesty. He wasn't an idiot and no matter how she disguised the facts. They were what they were. "Go home."

The wolves crept through the woods on silent paws, stalking out prey. The sleek walnut colored female was in the lead. The sandy colored male flanked her, following her unspoken directions. The young buck with barely two nubs for antlers had no inkling of what was about to hit him. He pawed in the snow, unearthing tender green shoots with his hoof. Eagerly nibbling as the wolves circled.

The female crouched low in the underbrush, licking her chops in hungry anticipation. Slowly she crept forward. Her body gaining speed as she raced for the attack. Launching her body through the air and digging her sharp teeth into the tender throat of the buck. There was a squeal of surprise and then the wild thrashing of legs and hooves. And snarls from the wolf as she clamped down and held on. Quickly, death came for the buck. And the two wolves feasted on his tender flesh.

Once the wolves ate their fill. They worked as a team, burying their cache for later. The male ran a sleek tongue over the female's glossy lips, nuzzling her ear and grooming her with tender, attentive care. The female consented to the male's grooming. Sitting patiently while he tended to her. Cocking her head as he bathed her face with his tongue. Eventually, she grew weary of his affections and shook him off.

The woods were unfamiliar to the she-wolf. Filled with unusual smells and sights. The snow whispered beneath her paws as she padded along the frozen, white ground. Darkness had settled in around her. The sand colored wolf yipped excitedly. Smelling the familiar scents of home and supper. The smoky scent of wood burning in a fireplace, promising warmth and comfort sent him trotting to the west. Warm yellow light flooded the darkness as he led the female out of the woods. Encouraging her hesitant steps with a high-pitched bark. He wagged his tail and perked his ears as the sound of clanking dinner plates and voices broke the silence.

The she-wolf paced in circles, wary of the voices, the smells, and the light. She hid in the darkness as the male disappeared into a building. Returning with a blanket clutched in his jaws. She sniffed at the rough wool cloth he carried in his mouth and dropped at her feet.

The buck had made a nice meal, for the wolf, but the human inside of him wanted something hot and tastier than raw meat for supper. Submitting to the human's demands, the male rested his nose on his paws and gave back the borrowed form they shared.

The she-wolf bristled at the rippling form emerging before her eyes. The air charged with energy as the man took shape. The woman pushed against the wolf's mind. Demanding use of the flesh they cohabited. The she-wolf hunkered down in submission surrendering to the human female.

Tristen shook his head and shivered in the cold. Kacie was shifting. Gentle curves and soft flesh formed before his eyes. He scrambled for the blanket, covering her. But, not before he took a quick second to check out her goods. And how very good she looked. He should be limp and shrunk up. As small as he was the day he was born from the cold. Instead he sported a raging boner.

He pressed his thighs together and stood, turning away, before she opened her eyes. Naked and sprawled out on the ground, looking up to see him standing over her with a hard on the size of a baseball bat was not the first thing she needed to see with her human eyes. His size might impress her. But, then again, that might not be the impression he wanted to make. He wanted her to see him as a nice guy. He was a nice guy. And he wanted a second date, not booked for public indecency.

He scolded his hard on and forced it limp with thoughts about what Kacie could do it with a paring knife and a little creativity. He blew out a sigh of relief as his dick complied and went to sleep. Save it for later, stud. He smiled as Kacie moaned and looked up at him through bleary eyes. "Hi," she said, smacking her lips and frowning at the taste of wild game lingering on the tip of her tongue.

Kacie blinked at Tristen. She forced her eyes to shift away from the layers of muscle molded into a six-pack on his abdomen and the trail of dark hair that pulled her gaze lower. "You're naked." She felt the heat of her blush spread across her face as his eyes followed hers and saw where she was looking.

"Look under that blanket lately?" Tristen teased. He extended a hand to help her up. Grinning when he caught her checking out his man parts. He felt a stirring in his groin as his dick felt obliged to offer her a command performance. Down boy, he thought to himself.

"Did you?" Kacie secured the blanket around her shoulders and took his hand. Pretending that his undressed state did not affect her in the least. She shivered as the cold of the concrete walkway bit into her toes. Her cheeks burning a fiery red when he didn't answer but threw her a cockeyed devilish grin that told her he definitely had. "Where are we anyway?"

"My house."

"Your house? Hey wait!" Teeth chattering, she grabbed his arm, pulling him to a stop. "Aren't you afraid someone will see you?" She offered the corner of her blanket to him. "Do you want to share the blanket with me?"

Tristen shot her a wide, white toothy grin. "Sure." He jerked the blanket out of her fist and slid against her body tugging her close and cocooning them both inside the warm layer of wool. This close, face to face there wasn't any hiding his interest. He was hard, brushing against the soft, warmth of her belly. And damn was she hot.

"That wasn't what I meant," Kacie hissed. Snatching the blanket away, she clutched the edges tightly closed at the neck with her fists. Tristen made no attempt to apologize for practically humping her leg. He was such a juvenile. Rubbing his erection against her stomach and getting his jollies. Truth was, she could still feel the heat of him just above her belly button and down into the tips of her toes. "Geez, you're impossible," she huffed in embarrassment.

"Naw, we're all used to each other by now. Besides, there's a stash of sweats and t-shirts in the mudroom. The door is always shut. Nobody will see. There should be something in there to fit you too."

"Good." Kacie followed a few feet behind Tristen. Nervously looking out across the empty backyard and up to the windows. The house was immense; three stories tall and as long and wide as a football field. Sided in a cheery yellow siding with natural stone accents. Her eyes kept involuntarily shifting to watch Tristen's backside as he walked casually along the concrete walkway that led to a back door. His muscles flexed and relaxed with each step. He had an incredibly squeezable butt. She imagined how the hard toned muscles would feel in her palms.

Tristen looked over his shoulder and snickered as he caught her checking him out. "You should see the view from the front. Much more impressive."

"I doubt that. As cold as it is, your dick is probably an innie by now," Kacie retorted. She wanted to melt into a puddle and disappear. He had a way of knowing exactly how and when to embarrass her the most.

"I was talking about the front of the house," he chuckled. Lifting a brow as he climbed the steps to the deck. He knew he shouldn't. But, he couldn't let an opportunity like this pass him up. "Now who's got their mind in the gutter? Talk about impossible," he muttered. He clasped the doorknob in his hand and gave it a turn, pulling open the door and flooding the deck with light and warmth from the house. "Besides I can assure you that my mini me definitely is not an innie." He grinned and stepped inside, leaving the door open wide for her as he snatched a pair of sweats off the rack and slid into them.

Kacie followed Tristen inside and got another good view of his backside as he bent to pull on the sweats. Shifting her eyes she waited patiently as he selected a brown pair of sweats and a fluffy white sweatshirt from the pile on the shelf and handed them to her to change into. "Turn your back," she ordered as she dropped the blanket and snatched up the clothes.

"Can I peek?"

"No." Kacie answered. She tugged the sweats over her feet and up her legs to tie them securely around her waist with the drawstring pulled tight as it would go. He stood with his back to her. But, she turned away from him to slide on the sweatshirt. The warmth and softness of the material was a welcome thing.

Tristen bit his inner lip. Rolling his eyes as he heard the rustling of cotton. He was up again, and the front of his sweats was beginning to bulge. DOWN BOY! He ordered. Counting backwards from ten, his voice a whimper as he asked, "Are you dressed yet?"

"Almost." Kacie heard the strain in Tristen's voice. He was a wolf, an alpha, and the hormonal urges after a shift were almost agonizing in their intensity. She was not unaffected. She was just better at hiding it. Tristen was just too damn cute. She saw a visit to a cold shower in his future and maybe, in hers too. The sleeves of the sweatshirt hung below her fingertips. Deftly, she rolled the cuffs up to the middle of her forearms.

"Are you sure I can't peek?"

"You can now." Kacie giggled as Tristen eagerly turned. His face dropped in disappointment as he saw her dressed in the baggy sweats. "Ta da!" She flung her arms wide and spun in her oversized ensemble.

"Damn," he playfully teased. Kacie wasn't wearing a bra and all that jiggling going on under her sweatshirt did nothing to dampen down the wild surge of lust holding him hostage. He smoothed down her wild hair and picked a dried bit of fall leaf out of the tangled length. "Perfect." Smiling, he grabbed her hand he dragged her from the mudroom. "Come on, meet the rest of the family."

Chapter 28

Thomas finally managed to slip away from his mother's attentive strokes of affection and from Mack's proud back slaps and mumbles of masculine endearments. There had been a few handshakes and appreciative nods from others as he made his way through the compound. He closed his bedroom door and slid the lock firmly into place. Exhaling a sigh of relief, Jan and he were alone at last. He peeled off his blood stained shirt and snow soaked pants.

Jan shifted her gaze away from Thomas's chest in horror at the sight of all the dried blood that left haphazard tacky trails across his chest and abdomen. Tears welled in her eyes as she thought about how her actions had caused him so much pain. She'd almost ended his life. She should have told him about her plan. If she had done so, he would have kept out of the way instead of throwing himself straight into the blade's path.

Thomas frowned. Following Jan's eyes as they focused on his chest and then wandered to the floor. His feet padded across the plush, thick pile of carpet as he approached her and gently took her hand. "I'm okay," he said softly as he pressed her fingertips to the puckered line of healing flesh.

The torrent of her tears fell down her cheeks as she pulled her hand away. "I almost killed you." Her voice shook as she spoke and her shoulders quaked as she sobbed.