A Wolf's Pride (6 page)

Don’t worry
Ryan; once we’re back in the clans, we can sort all of this out.
Everything will turn out fine, she will love us eventually. The
instinct is never wrong,
his wolf stated,
trying to reassure him.
And neither am
I.

Yes, things
are only tense between us because she doesn’t know me. Once we’re
in the clans we can get to know each other properly and then
everything will work out fine.
I’ve just
got to get her there.
He pushed harder on
the accelerator determined to reach his home as soon as
possible.

Few cars passed
him as Ryan continued his drive through the night, it had been
already been late when he had gone to Chloe’s home and he was glad
of it. He knew, after only being in her conscious presence for a
few minutes, that she was a troublemaker. He had a sneaking
suspicion that if she were awake and saw others around; she might
try to attract their attention. They had several state borders to
cross before they reached the safety of the clans and things could
become difficult if the police became involved. He knew enough
about human law to realise that what he was doing would be
considered a crime if he were to get caught.
Crime or not, it isn’t going to change what I’m planning to
do. It’s not as though I’m going to hurt her. I’m just not going to
let her go.
That would only result in
misfortune for everyone. He’d been serious when he told her that he
would let no one separate them. She would only involve innocent
people in their minor disagreement and while he wouldn’t hurt her,
he wouldn’t extend the same courtesy to anyone else.

She really is
perfect,
he decided, sneaking another
glance at her.
Gorgeous but with a nice
right hook and violent reflexes,
he mused
remembering the way she had attacked him.
At least I won’t have to worry about anyone getting too
friendly with her. I’m her mate and she attacked me as though I
were about to assault her. No, I think you and I are going to work
out just fine.

Her scent was
quickly filling the closed space of the car and his senses were
becoming intoxicated by it as time passed. He couldn’t prevent
himself from reaching across the short distance that separated them
to stroke the soft skin of her neck and run his fingers through her
hair. The strands were unbelievably soft and he barely resisted the
impulse to lean in and breath deeply. Pulling his hand away from
her, he gripped the steering wheel hard and forced his eyes to
remain on the road instead of the appealing woman sleeping by his
side. Her scent was like a powerful aphrodisiac and his body
reacted accordingly, desire running rampant through him, but he
gritted his teeth against the urges that racked him and continued
to drive. By the time the sun had firmly established itself on the
horizon he had almost reached his limits. He had been hard as rock
for hours and with his mate acting as though he were deranged there
was no sign of relief in sight.

She began to
rouse, shaking off the last vestiges of sleep as she stretched as
far as she could in the small space that the car provided.
I didn’t know that just waking up could look so
sexy.
A faint smile had graced her lips as
she woke but it vanished the instant she saw him. He growled
disapprovingly in response.
Calm
down,
he scolded himself.
Getting angry is just going to frighten her and
make it even more difficult to claim her. Relax.
“How are you feeling Chloe?” he smiled, trying to
make himself seem approachable.

“
I could be
worse considering the circumstances. I’m alive and that’s more than
I expected when I fell asleep.”

“
Chloe,” he
growled in warning.

Not this
again,
she groaned.
I know where this road leads. Great, I haven’t even known the
man a full day and I’m already learning how he thinks.
“So Ryan,” she began pre-empting his rant. “Where
are we? Or am I not allowed to know?”

“
Of course you
can know. There are no secrets between mates.”

The mate
thing again?

“
We’re
somewhere in Oregon, we crossed the state border a little while
back.”

“
You’ve taken
me out of the state?” she gasped surprised.

“
Of course I
did. I don’t live in California; I was only there on a business
trip. We’re heading to my home.”

“
And where
exactly is that?”

“
South
Dakota.”

“
There’s
nothing in South Dakota.”

Ryan smiled,
mentally envisioning the beautiful landscape of his home.
“Exactly.” Chloe turned to face him at that declaration and
instantly became confused at the blissful expression on his face.
“It’s easier for us to hide when there aren’t many people around
and there’s so much space that we never feel cramped. I can’t wait
to show you Chloe. It’s beautiful. The air where I live is so
clean, green as far as the eye can see and no ugly buildings to
ruin the view. Perfect.”

“
You make it
sound as though there’s no civilisation near you,” she
scoffed.

“
We wolves like
our privacy. We own the land we live on and if it looks like anyone
is going to build near us we buy that land too, so yeah I suppose
there is a lack of civilisation near us.”

She gulped.
“Do you live outside?”

“
No, I live in
a house, a very large house but we do spend a lot of time outdoors.
I want to show you everything. I’m sure you’ll love it.”

“
You want me to
go outdoors?”

“
Of course, if
that’s where I am then it only makes sense that you’re with
me.”

“
No,” she
stated adamantly. “I’m not going with you.”

“
Why not?” he
growled offended by his mate’s easy dismissal of his plans for
them.

“
I’m not
walking into insect land. I refuse. My family could never make me
do it and I’m not going to start now. Yes, the outdoors looks
pretty but if all you want is to see it, then look on the Internet
for pictures. There’s no need for me to subject myself to that sort
of torture. Peeing outside? Madness! And even if I could get over
the insects that outside are as big as my hand and the lack of
sanitation, there are the wild animals. I’m too young to be some
predators main course.”

He smirked,
“You already are one love and I intend to take a bite out of you
very soon.”

“
Will you stop
that?” she snapped. “You aren’t a werewolf. What is it with you and
my family? They don’t exist, so you need to stop pretending you are
one and they need to stop trying to hunt down creatures that aren’t
real.”

“
Chloe, I can’t
change what I am and I’m a werewolf, I’m not
pretending.”

“
Oh, ok I
understand. As you’re a werewolf could you just leave a message for
the Easter bunny and tooth fairy for me? You must know each other
after all.”

“
The Easter
bunny and tooth fairy aren’t real.”

“
They’re about
as real as werewolves are. If you’re so sure that you’re a werewolf
then why don’t you show me?” she taunted.

“
I don’t want
to scare you Chloe.”

“
Well I’m not
going to believe you until I see concrete evidence. So if it
wouldn’t be too much trouble, just let the subject
drop.”

“
You seem to
have come out of your shell,” Ryan remarked casually. “I don’t
think you would have scolded me like that before you went to
sleep.”

“
If you’re
going to kill me then there’s no point in me being agreeable.
Besides, you haven’t hurt me just yet and I’m thinking that if you
actually have to deal with the real me and not whatever picture
perfect image you have created in your head you’ll be willing to
let me go fairly soon.”

“
I’m never
going to let you go Chloe, never. It doesn’t matter what you do or
say, we’re going to be together forever.” He turned from her to
stare directly out of the window. The steering wheel bent slightly
under the force of his grip. While he liked his mate’s fiery
personality, he loathed the idea that she was doing everything in
her power to escape him.
I hope she
understands soon, I really do. I can’t let her leave me, I
can’t.

Chapter
Six

Chloe’s
stomach growled loudly for what seemed like the thousandth time and
her face once again flushed red with embarrassment. She held her
hand over it, willing it to be quiet but her wishes were once again
denied. The grumble ricocheted through the small space of the car
and this time was swiftly followed by Ryan’s low growl.

“
You’re
hungry.” He stated it with the same certainty he said everything
else.

She rolled
her eyes increasingly agitated with his attitude but kept her face
deliberately hidden from him. “I’m fine.” Her stomach instantly
made a liar of her, gurgling, as it demanded food.

Why she
insisted on lying about this Ryan couldn’t understand. Even if he
couldn’t hear her stomach loudly making its demands he would still
have known. He had now spent hours in close proximity to her, he
could tell what was normal for her body and what wasn’t just as
easily as he could as he could for himself. Her hunger was gnawing
at him, he could feel her stomach clenching, eating away at itself,
as it continued to remain empty. “Chloe, I can feel that you’re
hungry, why are you lying about it?”

“
I don’t want
to eat, I’m fine.”

“
No, you’re
not. This isn’t healthy. You need to eat. Don’t tell me…you’re not
on a,” he swallowed hard, “a diet?”

She hadn’t
thought it possible, but her face became even redder. “And what if
I am?”

“
Why would you
need to be on a diet? You’re perfect.”

He said the
words with such conviction that for a moment she was tempted to
believe him but a lifetime of doubts meant that she couldn’t see
how what he said was true. She had never been the thinnest person
in the world and after her last boyfriend had broken up with her
because of her appearance she had become increasingly concerned
about her weight. “Well that’s your opinion and you’re entitled to
it but mine is different.”

“
My opinion is
the only one that matters now Chloe and you will eat, even if I
have to force feed you. I don’t want it to come to that but if you
insist on this stupidity then that’s what will happen. Are we
clear?”

“
You’re very
bossy you know?” she began.

“
Chloe, do you
understand?”

“
And arrogant,”
she continued as though he had not spoken.

“
Chloe?” he
growled increasingly annoyed that his mate was clearly ignoring
him.

“
And cocky. I
hope you realise that none of those traits are attractive.
None.”

“
Chloe!” he
shouted and finally gained her attention. She turned to face him,
her piercing violet eyes momentarily stunning him before he
regained his bearings. “We’re going to go and eat now. I saw a
little diner a little ways back,” he informed her, turning the car
round and heading back the way they had com from. “We’re going to
go in and eat. You will eat yes?”

Biting her lip,
she mentally debated her options.
If I
tell him no then I have no doubt that he really will try to force
me.
“Fine, I’ll eat.”

“
Good, I want
you to eat until you feel full am I clear? I can feel your hunger
and it’s painful. There’s no need to starve yourself especially
when you look the way you do.”

The rich
timbre of his voice was almost a physical caress as it ran over
her. His eyes left the road to wander over her frame and she
shivered in response to his heated glance. It was as though he were
devouring her with just his eyes. She had never quite understood
the phrase undressing her with his eyes but she understood it and
more now. Ryan’s eyes weren’t simply undressing her; it was as
though he were making love to her in his mind, she could
practically see the wheels turning. Resisting the urge to cover her
body with her hands, she simply turned away from him, determined
not to utter another word to the infuriating man at her
side.

They
continued their drive in silence; each mentally furious with the
other, until Ryan pulled up outside of the small diner he had
spoken of. He hadn’t been exaggerating on its size, it was looked
very small from the outside, seating a maximum of thirty people.
Undeterred, Ryan stepped out of the car and moved to the other side
of the car, opening the door for Chloe. She stepped out, eyeing him
warily before striding towards the diner. Ryan’s restraining hand
on her shoulder meant that she didn’t make it very far and she
swung round to face him.

“
I thought you
wanted me to eat.”

“
I do Chloe,
but I thought I should remind you not to make a scene. I don’t want
to hurt these people, but I will if I have to. If you draw
attention to us, a fight
will
break out because they will try to separate us and
I can’t have that.”