Caged Wolf (Wolves of Willow Bend Book 2) (10 page)

Had she made a fatal mistake? Had she insulted him in the worst way possible? A.J. chuckled. “We do run in the woods. We do hunt. And yes, I think I had a cave with Linc and Tyler when we were kids, but we called it a clubhouse. Private boy’s thing. Really pissed my sister off that we wouldn’t let her play there.”

“You have a sister?” Each new layer she peeled back on the man in the truck with her fascinated her further.

“Yeah, Ranae. She’s five years younger than us.” Sadness turned down the corners of his mouth. “She grew up while I was in prison. She’s beautiful…still pain in the ass, but beautiful. We’re wolves, Vivian. I will never lie to you about that, I will never not protect you and I will never not be vicious in your defense. Yeah, some of our kind live in caves, but so do some of yours. If you want to compare primitives, remember I’ve seen the inside of your prisons. No one’s perfect.”

“A.J.” It was her turn to reach out. She flattened her palm to his chest. The steady beat of his heart kicked hers up a notch. “I wasn’t trying to hurt your feelings or give you a hard time. I think you’re wonderful and I’m not afraid of you. Some of those guys out there…” She spared a glance at Owen, then the other male with the healers, or maybe the male was the healer? She didn’t think so. A.J. had said he wanted to take her to Emma. Emma wasn’t a guy’s name. “They scare the hell out of me. But I’ve also spent the last few years hiding, so being out here—in a place I don’t know where I don’t know anyone? Yeah, I guess I am scared, a little.”
More than a little.
 

“I won’t let anything happen to you.” The fierceness in his promise wrapped  around her and she wanted to burrow deep and never leave the security he offered. “You believe me, don’t you?”

“Yes.” She did. Unequivocally. “I missed you. I didn’t even get to know you and I missed you.” The admission cost her nothing.

He slid his hand around her nape and pulled her to him. Pressing his lips to her forehead, he brushed his nose against her hair. She could feel the rumble of his voice when he spoke. “I missed you. But we’re here. Together. Let me take care of you, please?”

The please unraveled her, shredded any and all objections, and blasted through the fear and confusion. “Yes.” One word, simple acquiescence. She couldn’t deny the insanity in everything since the first moment they’d met, but she didn’t want forget their shared history.

Or the tantalizing chemistry she only experienced with him.

The corners of his eyes crinkled and his face softened with his smile. “One thing at a time. First, we speak to Emma about your fugues.”

“Okay,” she said, and gave him another kiss, a softer one offering a promise and invitation in the same gentle gesture. With that, he slid out of the car and circled to the passenger door. She waited for him, aware exactly where he was in every cell of her body.

Ten minutes later, Emma ushered her into the privacy of her home after firmly rebuffing A.J.’s attempt to stay with her. Though Vivian would place her age somewhere around thirty-five, she had the impression of the woman being much older. It was a guess though, and one she wouldn’t repeat aloud.

“Would you like something to drink? I baked some fresh cookies. We could have them with tea.” Her skin was the color of a walnut, deep and dark. Her eyes were similarly colored, and her hair fell in one long, inky black wave. Yet, no matter how hard Vivian tried, she couldn’t peg her ethnicity or her age.

At the offer of the cookie, however, she couldn’t hide her stomach’s growl. “I’m kind of hungry, but please don’t go to any trouble.”

“Oh, it’s not any trouble at all. Stay here while I get the tea.” Emma strode away, leaving Vivian with nothing to do but glance around. The sitting room was comfortable, cozy almost, and very lived in. Next to one of the chairs sat a wicker basket full of yarn and a half-finished scarf with the knitting needles. Kerosene lamps were set around the space artfully placed with regular lamps. Dark wood tables gave the room a warmer air and a fifty-inch high definition television shared wall space with a beautiful painting of a family of wolves cavorting in the snow.

A sliding glass door rolled back and Vivian turned to find a cocoa-skinned woman sneaking inside, then closing the door behind her. Putting a finger to her lips, she motioned for Vivian to stay quiet then she tiptoed over to the doors leading to the front hall and closed them. Stealth and secrecy marked her every movement. Dressed in dark cotton pants and an oversized t-shirt, she looked young and fresh.

Curious, Vivian tracked her movements as she walked over to a stereo and turned it on. Only no sound came out.

“Better. Although wow that really is annoying.” Her visitor’s face wrinkled with distaste. “I guess that’s another apology I owe to Mason.”

The mention of the Alpha put Vivian on edge and she folded her arms. The man had been the one who ordered her brought here in the first place—to testify.

“Oh don’t get worried,” the other woman said, raising her hands in a conciliatory gesture. “Really, I heard A.J. tell Mason he was bringing you to see Emma. There was some incident with the kids at the high school, so Mason had to deal with it and I got to come meet you. I’m his mate—wife—Alexis, by the way. Alexis Clayborne.” She extended her arm and Vivian took her hand warily, shaking it once.

“I’m Vivian Knox,” she said. It was only fair to exchange names, but she kept her voice low, vividly aware of what A.J. said earlier about the forest having ears.

“Oh, they can’t hear us,” Alexis said, as though following her train of thought. “That’s why I turned on the stereo. It’s like white noise. Kind of nails on a chalkboard.” She made a face. “I used to tease Mason about it when I was younger. I wanted it on so I could have privacy and he said it was aggravating as all hell, but he put up with it for me. I never heard it until now…”

“And even if you had, Alexis Huston-Clayborne, you are as stubborn now as you were then.” Emma announced as she sailed back into the room with the serving tray. The healer gave Vivian an assessing look. “You’re still pale and shaky. Sit down.” With the same brisk attitude, she spared a look for Alexis. “And you’re still adjusting to your wolf. You sit down, too.”

“I’m doing just fine, thank you.” Alexis scowled, but huffed over to join Vivian on the sofa. “Emma’s known me since I was a kid. It’s hard to argue with her.”

“Yet you still do it.” In a matter of minutes, Emma had served out tea and cookies to all three. The banter between the women continued and Vivian wasn’t sure what to make of it all.

Apparently Alexis had had a baby just ten weeks before, but her svelte athleticism didn’t show it. Maybe another perk to being a wolf was a good physique. She drank her tea and tried not to think about any of that.

“Talk to the girl so I can,” Emma instructed Alexis. “She’s already reconsidering her choice to come here.”

Vivian blinked. “Do you read minds?”

“No, dear.” The older woman laughed softly.

Alexis tapped her nose. “Rule number one when you’re around wolves, there’s no such thing as privacy. Trust me, I know. You smell nervous. The more worried you get, the more amped the scent. I can’t really tell. I’m still kind of learning all the different ones. The only people I can really read are Mason and my daughter.”

“The rest will come in time, honey.” The automatic soothing from the healer suggested this was a discussion they’d had many times.

“I know,” Alexis said with a nod, then set her tea aside. “But you’re right. Mason will be back any minute and I’m not supposed to be running all around town.”

“You snuck out?” Vivian couldn’t hold her tongue; she had to ask. “And he can order you to stay home?”

“He can order me to do whatever he wants.” Alexis’ eyes glittered and the corners of her mouth kicked at the corners. “Of course, I rarely
obey
because, while I may be a damn wolf now, I’m not a dog.”

Emma sighed.

“Yes, I know.” Alexis bowed her head. “Language. I promise to behave.”

“Why don’t I believe you?” So much affection danced within the question and the women shared a look of pure amusement.

“Because you’re a wise, wise woman and you are right, I do need to get down to business. Vivian…” Alexis shifted to sit sideways on the sofa. “Can you tell me what happened that night with A.J.? And, before you tell me to shove it and that it’s none of my business, I’ll do what most of the wolves won’t. I’m going to tell you why it’s important.”

That would be nice. Vivian took a drink of the tea and did her best not to let her trembling hands betray her. Though, if what Alexis said was true, no amount of false bravado would fool them, so why bother? An hour earlier, she’d heard A.J. laugh. Grasping onto that memory, she met the other woman’s gaze and raised her brows. “I’m listening.”

“Oh, I like you. Be careful with the eye thing, but you’ll learn and most of the wolves will give you a pass for a bit.”

“The eye thing?” Now what had she done?

“It’s aggressive, a dominance challenge. Look, I thought it was stupid, but I get it now. The wolf, it reacts to these things, so just take it easy.”

“You’re drifting again, dear.” Emma reached over and picked up her knitting and went to work, needles clacking together lightly.

“Wow, baby hormones eat the brain.” Alexis’ swift grin, however, was contagious. “My point is this—pack law says we don’t kill humans
ever
unless it is in defense of pack, to prevent personal deadly injury or if a mate or cub is in danger. That cub can be human, but it still means that we have only a limited window in which the death of a human is acceptable.”

Chilled to her marrow, Vivian froze.

“A.J. went to prison for killing a man. Both Linc and Tyler were there, but they have said
nothing
on the subject. Mason ordered them to answer, and they refused. It’s a huge problem and one that is sowing dissension right down the center of the pack. A.J.’s incarceration was a bitter blow to his family and they rightfully resented Toman, the previous Alpha. Mason is not Toman. He will not abandon anyone, but pack law states A.J. must face consequences for his actions if he killed without just cause.”

“Define consequences.” The words shook nearly as hard as she did. “He’s already been to prison.”

“That’s human law, and it has no bearing here.” The Alpha’s mate bounced to her feet and began to pace. “Laws are the thread that binds society together. When society is damaged, we have to rely on the law to stitch the wounds back together again. A.J.’s actions have created a huge wound and it is infected, bloody, and—”

“Lexi.” Mason’s voice snapped through the room and Vivian nearly dropped her tea. She hadn’t heard him come in.

Alexis made a face and pivoted to face her husband. “Go back outside and wait a couple more minutes, so I can do what you can’t. What none of you will do because she doesn’t understand pack law, but she
does
care about A.J.. Maybe if she understands what’s at stake, she can answer the question.”

He sighed and shook his head. “I can’t do that.”

“Why not?” Vivian rose, looking at the man. Remembering what Alexis had said, she tried not to meet his gaze. “She’s right, I don’t understand why he’s in trouble or facing charges again.”

“You don’t have to understand.” Dismissal rang in his tone.

“Mason!”

“She isn’t pack, Lexi. I know you want to sympathize because she’s human and so were you.”

What?
The thought stuttered through her. Alexis
had
been human and she wasn’t anymore.

“Then let me…”

“No.” The finality in his voice reverberated through the room. “Excuse us, Emma.” He pressed a kiss to the older woman’s cheek. “We’ll take our discussion from your home.” Despite his aggrieved tone, his love for his wife was a palpable thing. Not waiting for agreement from anyone, he took Alexis by the arm and guided her out through the sliding glass door, before closing it behind them.

“So no one is going to tell me?” she asked, helplessness twisting her in knots. A.J. wanted her to let him handle everything—to protect her. She’d agreed, but she’d done that before.

“A.J. said you suffered from fugues. Why don’t you tell me about them?” So the answer was no, no one was going to explain. Pain fisted in her chest and she stared at the tea in her cup.  

Think about him.
She fumbled for the memory of his laughter and an image of the heat in his eyes when he lowered his head to kiss her flashed through her mind. “I hate this.”

“Take your time,” Emma told her, but sympathy underscored the advice. “You’ve had treatment?”

He said to trust him, to let him take care of her. One of the things he’d wanted her to do was speak to the healer. “Yes.” Admitting her flawed state was a shaky step, then she reached for her courage—for A.J.—and admitted the rest. “Sometimes I disappear. Not physically, but mentally. First it was hours, then days that I lost. Everyone I’ve spoken to says it’s likely a symptom of a glioma—a tumor. They haven’t found the tumor. I’ve had, like, a dozen scans, but with some gliomas? They can’t see them.” Biting down on the inside of her lip, she clenched her hands together. “The facility in Arizona is a lockdown hospital. I was going to admit myself so that if I had another break or if I continue to degenerate, they can take care of me.”

This was so much harder than she’d thought. The room swam in her vision. “I think I’m dying and I don’t know how to tell him.”

Chapter Seven

The wait while Vivian spoke to Emma seemed to take forever. Gillian came over to sit on the edge of the truck bed next to where he leaned. The young healer had been a scrawny pre-teen the last time he’d seen her, but even then, she’d had a real gift. The silence surrounding her and the weight of her regard—even her scent—seemed to carry the freshness of citrus and the clean notes of a spring breeze. She wanted to ask him something, but the effort she expended to stay quiet was considerable.

Tyler and Linc sat on the curb while Mathias, Emma’s mate, prowled around the yard attacking what scant few weeds dared to intrude on his flowerbeds. If A.J. were a weed, he wouldn’t dare blow into the wolf’s yard. Oddly enough, it was Owen who seemed the most out of place. The Hunter stood on the sidewalk, not quite on Emma’s property, but easily within reach. Arms folded, he stared at them all without a trace of emotion in his face.