Wolf Creek Alpha (Texas Pack 1) (35 page)

Rafe was staring out into the woods
, gripping
the railing so hard, his knuckles were white.  Lisa walked over and laid her hands on his back.  She could
feel his muscles, tight
with tension. 

Rubbing his back, she spoke.  “I’m sorry.  When I get stressed or scared, I make jokes.  I promise I will follow your lead when we get there.”

Turning, he put his arms around her, resting his chin on the top of her head.  “I don’t think you understand how difficult this is for me.  Everything in me screams to protect you.  Knowingly taking you i
nto danger is ripping me apart.  If one of us had you
r
abilities, I would beg the Queen to give them the spell.”

Lisa had tears welling up in her eyes.  He made her feel like the most important person in the world.  She knew without doubt
that
he thought she was.  It was somewhat freeing to know someone
loved you that much, warts
and all.

“I’m not letting him bea
t us.  I have plans for you,
and
a future I’m looking forward to.  I fully expect to get this
done quickly and be back here by tonight,” she told him firmly.

She would not let anyone or anything ruin her future.  She had been devastated when her parents were killed, but
she
knew in her heart they were together in another place.  Moving on with her life, she had been happy.  She loved teaching, enjoyed her hobbies and just being with her friends
, but
being with Rafe filled an empty spot she didn’t know she had. 

Thinking of her parents, she smiled remembering how they were always touching each other.  How just in passing, her mom would glide her hand across his arm.  When she was a teenager, she would make gagging sounds whenever she walked in on them kissing in the kitchen.  That was usually where she would find her mom, or if not there, she knew to look in the garden.  They would just laugh, their eyes sparkling looking at each other.  Lisa thought
that
sometimes they spoke to each other without words. 
Maybe they did, she thought smiling. 

She finally understood what they had.  Sure, she knew they loved each other, but to have another person that you trusted completely was an amazing feeling.  She could be herself, sarcasm and all and not worry about censoring herself.  To be with someone and not be watching the clock, waiting for the date to be over.  Or just losing interest and having your mind wander to mundane things, like the laundry.  She laughed softly, snuggling closer and rubbing her cheek against his chest.

“What? What are you laughing about?” he asked her.

“Nothing.  I’m just happy and nothing is going to mess up our future,” she told him, determined.
 

Going back inside, they found the others gone, except for Melissa.

“Where is everyone?” Rafe asked.

“The guys went to make one last patrol,
and then
they said they will get ready to go.  I believe Anna is preparing herself also,” Melissa told them.

Rafe gave Lisa a peck on the cheek
and
went out to find the men.

Sitting down with Melissa, she grinned, “I think he’s afraid he’ll miss something if he’s not with them.  You know, some strategic man planning thing.”

Laughing, Melissa replied, “I think you’re right.  Even his dad went on patrol.  I believe if they weren’t so worried about us helpless females, they’d be enjoying this.”

Lisa agree
d, grinning.  She liked Melissa.
T
hey seemed to think alike. 

“Do you mind if I ask you some questions?  About being a shifter?  I’ve learned a little about wolves, but I’m curious about the cats.  I understand you’re a cougar, so how come you all are friends?  I keep picturing dogs and cats fighting.  With cats swiping dogs on the nose, training them.”

Melissa laughed.  “I like that. 
Think it would work with Robert?  Nah, he’d probably just laugh.  Anyway, some cats and dogs do get along, as long as we keep
them in line.  But it’s more than the domestic animals you’re talking about.  Simply put, shifters stick together.  We know if the secret got out, we would be hunted
,
examined
,
and
probably killed.  So we all protect each other.  Fighting amongst ourselves would bring attention to us.  Sure, there have been sightings, but people tend to think of it like they do alien
and B
igfoot
sightings.  Just some nut case making up a story.
”

“There are real aliens out there?” Lisa exclaimed.

Laughing again, “I have no idea.  I just know about the wolves and cougars.
”

Thinking a moment, Lisa asked, “Is it the same for you like the wolves? I mean, one mate you know instantly by smell?  Which is kind of creepy when you think about it.”

“No, we don’t
smell our
mate like the wolves do.  We don’t tend to live close together either.  Most of us prefer our own place on the property, further apart.  We’re not pack animals like them.  We are the same though when it comes to our soul mate, I guess you’d
call it. 
Whereas,
they know instantly by smell, we tend to have a more human
connection.  Instant attraction.  G
etting to know the person, that kind of thing.  If they are the ‘one’, we have a sort of metaphysical conn
ection.  It’s hard to explain.  The
wolves,
as you know, recognize mates instantly, whereas ours is more what we call impressing on one another.”

They both sat quietly, thinking.  Lisa still had more questions, finding this other world she had known nothing about, fascinating.

“You know, the more I explain
,
the
more
I realize we’re close
r to the wolves than I had previously thought
.  Our recognition is different, but our souls do bond the same. 
Once bonded, we are mated for life just like them.”

“Okay, I understand everything but the impression thingy.  What does that mean?” Lisa asked.

“Oh man, this is really hard to explain.  Hmm, okay.  Imagine someone close to you.  You know their walk, the sound of their voice,
and even
how they smell.  No
matter where they were, say in a crowded room
, you
would instantly know where they were, and vice versa.  That’s the best
way I can explain it.  You’ve impressed upon each other, two halves that make up a whole
,
” Melissa told her.

Lisa thought they did soun
d more and more like the wolves.  They
just used different words. 
Then
there was that whole touchy, feely thing wolves liked to do.

“And the alpha thing?  Is Chase you
r
alpha?” Lisa asked.

“We don’t have what you’d call an alpha.  Cha
s
e leads
us,
but no one can really order cats around. 
He is a good leader and we follow him because we respect him,” Melissa told her.

Lisa was thinking about Cindy.  “So when that bitch Cindy showed up here, she could have ignored him and stayed?” Lisa asked, angry.

“Well yes, she could have, if she were really stupid.  We may not call Cha
se
our alpha, but he certainly is one.  Cindy knows he is stronger than
she is
and
she
would
not attempt to defy him.  He leads us because we know he’s strong and
he
looks out for our best interest.”

Lisa notic
ed Robert had come in and was leaning
against the dining room wall, eating a banana.

“So, you ever date him?  I mean, he’s really hot and
all,
so I just wondered if y’all were…” Lisa stopped, not quite knowing how to ask such a personal question.

She saw Robert come to attention, eyes narrowed as he stared at Melissa’s back.  She could see him tense as he waited for her answer.

Melissa was a cougar.  She knew when someone was at her back.  She could sense and smell him, along with the banana.

“Yeah, he’s scrumptious isn’t he?  I could just melt running my hands through that long, blond hair.  Did you notice his six-pack?  Yummy!”
she said, grinning at Lisa while winking.

Lisa got it and decided to play along.  “What about Robert?  He’s a cutie too.”

Shrugging, Melissa replied, “You know how the
fae
are.  The
y
’re
all so beautiful, but they also know it.”

Whispering loudly, she leaned over towards Lisa.  “I think they look in every mirror they pass by to admire themselves regularly.”

Lisa giggled as Robert marched over to sit down between them.

“Yes, our beauty even distracts us on occasion.  It’s hard being the perfect male specimen.  But we do try to help the less fortunate by using less glamor when visiting here.  Wouldn’t want the people here to feel bad, you know, about being so plain and all.”

Both Melissa and Lisa burst out laughing.  He was so full of it.  Patting his arm, Lisa told him, “Yes, we appreciate you toning it down for us.  We’d hate to be blinded by your beauty.”

Rising, Melissa stepped around Robert to grab Lisa’s arm.  “Come on.  We need to go meditate and get our heads in sync before we head out.”

Lisa followed her into her bedroom. 
She had
enjoyed her chat with Melissa.  It had been a good way of keeping her mind off of Ciar for a
while.

Sitting on the bed, they folded their legs and sat facing one another.  Lisa had the urge to sta
rt humming
as
she’d seen on television
.  She resisted, knowing this was serious.  Funny how she seemed to get the giggles and laugh at inappropriate times when she was nervous, she thought. 

Focusing in now, she concentrated on what she’d been taught and cleared her mind.  Random thoughts kept popping up in her head though.  She never realized how hard it was to empty her mind of all thoughts. 
She found she had to keep jerking her mind back to what she was supposed to be doing. 

Opening her eyes, she saw that Melissa was relaxed and seemed to be in another place.  Closing her eyes again, Lisa was determined to make herself meditate.  Every time a random thought entered her head, she went b
ack to her breathing exercises. 

Eventually, she relaxed enough to clear her mind.  She let herself float off into nothingness.  There were no big revelations, just a calm surrender.  She felt at peace.  After a while, she opened her eyes to see Melissa smiling at her.

“You were looking pretty relaxed.  Did the meditating help?”

“Yup, I believe it did.  Of course, it took me some time to settle down.  I didn’t realize how much random crap I had floating around in there,” Lisa said smiling.

Laughing, Melissa agreed.  “I don’t know how many times I’ve made grocery list
in my head
while trying to meditate.  It’s easier for me now, but I do understand how difficult it is to empty your mind. 
Eventually,
you’ll be able to get in the zone a lot faster.”

They left to gather in the great room and wait for everyone else.
  Entering the room, they saw Liz there speaking to Anna.

Smiling, she came over and hugged both girls.  “I’ve been running all over the area, trying to find cloaks for
you three.  Luckily, I remembered how the old t
imers used to wear
them
in
certain ceremonies.  They generously allowed us to use these for your cover.”

Liz showed them five or six robes with hoods for them to try on.  They each chose one that covered them well without tripping them with their length.

“I feel like a monk,” Anna said.

“Yeah, if I shaved my head, I’d fit right in,” Melissa agreed, laughing.

“I love it.  I was afraid I’d end up wearing my hoodie jacket,” Lisa told them. 

The men started arriving from all directions.  Some from the back,
and
others came in the front door.  The mood changed from laughter to quiet in an instant.

“I believe we’re all ready to go.  Please remember ladies, no heroics.  Stay behind us so we can protect you.  My hope is
that
this won’t take long.  If Lisa can speak the
spell,
as soon as we see Ciar, there won’t
be any need for fighting.  But I can’t depend on our surprise attack, so if there is fighting, you ladies look for a place
to hide.  Under a table, any nooks in the area, wherever you’ll be safe,” Rafe told them all.