A Wolf’s Deception (Novella) Read online

  His grip eased up and he released her. ‘Good thinking.’

  ‘No, I didn’t think. I’m such an idiot…I killed a man, Gabe…I…’

  ‘Stop.’

  That one word sliced through the enclosed space, cutting her off mid-sentence. She looked up at him. His eyes had changed to that of his beast and his fingers had tightened on the steering wheel again, until it creaked under the strain.

  ‘Nothing is going to happen to you.’

  It was a quietly spoken promise that had her pulse quickening and her stomach tightening. She didn’t know what to say, her vocal cords too tight to speak.

  He glanced at her. ‘You wouldn’t have been the first female he tried to abuse and you wouldn’t have been the last. He deserved what he got.’

  He looked away. ‘I would have made him suffer before he died. You did him a favour.’

  Gabe would have done that for her. Even after everything she’d done…everything she’d said to him.

  ‘Plus, you used an alias. Right, Tressa?’

  Oh God, he’d seen the alias.

  He hadn’t said it directly, but she knew. How else would he have known what room she was in? Heat hit her skin and not just her face. She was in the throes of a full body blush.

  ‘Right, Tressa?’ he growled.

  ‘Yes.’ She couldn’t look at him.

  When she’d walked into that place and that creep had asked for a name, Gabe’s had been the first to popped into her head. Just saying it had wrapped her in an invisible blanket of warmth and safety.

  It was a stupid thing to do. And now it had backfired on her.

  He was quiet after that, but the volatile emotionscoming from him didn’t let up. If anything they got more intense. Seeing him again, being this close to him was too much. So she closed her eyes and pretended to sleep. She doubted he fell for it but he also didn’t call her on it.

  A long time later, an hour at least, the SUV bumped over a rut in the road and she became aware of gravel crunching under the tyres.

  She sat up straighter. ‘Where are we?’

  ‘You finished sleeping then?’

  The corner of his mouth quirked up. Barely a grin, a mere shadow of the warm, sexy smiles he’d once given her, still it made her heart race a little faster.

  ‘Ah…yeah.’ Just then her stomach growled loudly.

  The half-smile was gone just like that. He scowled over at her.

  ‘When did you last eat?’

  ‘A decent meal? Close to three days ago. The food I had I kept for Sawyer. I didn’t want to leave the motel and I didn’t know how long it’d take for someone to come for us.’

  He opened the glove compartment and pulled out a couple of protein bars.

  ‘Eat these before you pass the hell out.’

  He was pissed at her, again. She didn’t argue, too damn hungry to, and devoured both bars in a few minutes. ‘Thanks.’ She accepted the water bottle he handed her and drank deeply. ‘So, where are we?’

  He barely glanced at her. ‘The back-blocks of Nowheres-ville. I didn’t think it’d be a great idea to go the expected route home. Members of your pack would’ve been waiting for us and I need to ditch my car. Any allies of the Harlow pack will have been given our descriptions. If it was just us I’d drive nonstop, maybe go off-road, but we can’t do that with Sawyer. If we carry on as we are, we may as well paint a target on the hood.’

  ‘They’re not my pack. Never have been. And if it was just me, I doubt they’d be chasing us. Lance wants Sawyer, not me. After Dan died…’ She shook her head, slammed on the brakes. She had no intention of going there, especially not with Gabe. ‘Anyway…he thinks his brother’s cub should be raised by his own pack.’

  One of those big hands left the steering wheel and landed on her shoulder, she jumped, surprised by the gesture of comfort. But the rush of having his hand on her again only lasted a second because he shoved his fingers down the neck of her shirt and yanked the fabric to the side, revealing part of the mark on her shoulder. The mark Dan had given her the night of their forced mating. A rough finger grazed it, making her shiver, before he pulled his hand back as if he’d burned it.

  ‘That makes you a member of their pack, Tressa. That kid in the back seat even more so.’

  She bit her lip before she said something she’d regret. ‘I didn’t belong there. I was never accepted. They could sense how much I wanted to leave.’

  ‘Yeah, why is that? Way I remember it, you couldn’t wait to leave.’ There was a sneer in his voice, an acerbic bite she’d never heard before.

  ‘I never wanted to leave Black Hills. Being Dan’s mate, being a part of the Harlow pack was a punishment, my father’s way of keeping me in line.’

  Shit. So much for keeping her mouth shut. But he had her off balance with his questions, his hostility.

  ‘Bullshit.’ Gabe’s jaw tightened and his eyes flashed back to the cold ice of his beast. ‘Save the lies, Tressa. You were eager to move on with your life, to go to the mate your father chose for you.’

  ‘No…Gabe…’

  He turned to her then, pale eyes cold and flat. ‘Do not say another fucking word. Do you hear me?’ He turned back to the road. ‘There is nothing about that time I want to relive. I learned the hard way how easily lies flow from that pretty mouth of yours. I’m not the same weak-minded fool, blinded by a beautiful face and a nice pair of tits. So unless you have something important to say, say nothing.’

  Ouch. If he was trying to punish her, make her feel worthless, he’d succeeded in a way even Dan, with his degrading words and flying fists, hadn’t accomplished. He truly hated her. The realisation was a blow. Memories of the male beside her were all that had kept her going when things had gotten really bad. She knew she deserved his scorn. The way she’d treated him, the things she’d said. If only he’d let her explain, maybe…

  She stopped the thought before it could fully form. There was nothing left. How could there be? He didn’t trust her and he sure as hell didn’t like her. There was no future for the two of them and that hurt more than she thought it could, considering she’d long ago given up hope of them ever being together.

  But this wasn’t about her anymore.

  He deserved to know his son.

  ‘We’re here,’ he said, pulling her from her thoughts.

  They crested a rise in the gravel road and a little farm house came into view, sitting all alone in the middle of a large field. It was dark outside but light blazed from the front windows and there was a veranda that looked like it wrapped all the way around, covered in some kind of climbing plant. It was too dark to see what colour the flowers were. A large shed was a short distance to the right and a smaller one that could have been stables not far from that. It was lovely.

  She glanced at Gabe and a new lightness radiated from him, washing away some of that aggression.

  ‘Who lives here?’

  ‘A friend of mine.’

  They pulled up outside and the front door opened. A tall, slender female stepped out. She wore a pair of low slung jeans and a shirt that was short enough to reveal a strip of pale skin. She was carrying a shotgun.

  Gabe stopped the SUV and jumped out. As soon as she saw him, she put the gun down on the porch swing beside her and tore across the field at a flat run. The moonlight lit up her pale blonde hair and the beaming smile on her face.

  Tressa heard Gabe’s ‘oomph’ when they collided. The female wrapped her arms and legs around his tall, solid frame and squealed in delight.

  Tressa felt ill. The sight of another female with him, touching him, hurt like hell. She didn’t have the right to feel that way, but even after she left—in her heart, in her mind—Gabe had always been hers. She had the sudden urge to get out of the car and tear her off him. His hands settled on her waist in an intimate, affectionate way, holding her up against him. He murmured something close to her ear and she threw her head back and laughed. Tressa’s fangs slid into place and her hand moved to
the door handle.

  ‘Mama?’

  Sawyer’s sleepy voice cut off her attack of jealous instantly. Gabe wasn’t hers anymore. She had no right to feel anything. She definitely had no right to act on it. Shit, he already hated her enough.

  ‘It’s alright, baby. Mama’s here.’ She climbed out and opened the back door so she could unbuckle her son and lift him out. Neither of them looked her way, too caught up in each other.

  With Sawyer in her arms, she stepped forward hesitantly, and Gabe turned to her, as if he’d just remembered she existed.

  He motioned to her. ‘Kate, this is Tressa and Sawyer. I’m taking them home. Tressa, this is Kate, a good friend of mine.’

  There was a flash of recognition on Kate’s face as her eyes narrowed. She was a wolf hybrid like Gabe and she knew all about Tressa. It wasn’t hard to imagine that this female had been the one to comfort him when Tressa had pushed him away and torn his heart out.

  Kate wanted a piece of her, just like she had when she’d seen them together a moment ago. Gabe was important to Kate and her feelings about Tressa were written all over her lovely face.

  Still, she held out her hand and Tressa took it.

  ‘Nice to meet you.’ She looked down at her son. ‘Hey, Sawyer.’

  Sawyer was hiding his face, always wary of strangers, and Tressa didn’t force him to respond to the greeting. Wolves were encouraged to go with their natural instincts and Kate would understand he’d need time to get to know her first.

  ‘Come on inside.’

  Gabe rested his hand on Kate’s shoulder and gave it a squeeze. ‘I’m just going to put the car in the shed.’ Something passed between them and she gave him a subtle nod before he strode back to his car, leaving her alone with a female who clearly wanted to rip her throat out.

  The air was thick with tension.

  ‘Thanks for helping us out,’ Tressa said. She was grateful, no matter the history between her and Gabe. If Kate had been here for him when she wasn’t, no matter how much it hurt, she owed her for that.

  ‘I’d do anything for him.’

  Those pale green eyes, so unusual for a wolf and a giveaway of her mixed blood, issued a challenge. You hurt him again and I’ll hurt you.

  ‘Come inside, I’ll show you where you and Sawyer can sleep.’

  The cottage was warm and cosy, everything inside beautifully restored. She showed them to a room at the back of the house.

  ‘I’ll leave you to get your son settled.’

  Despite his long sleep in the car, Sawyer was out like a light minutes after she tucked him in bed. He’d been sleeping a lot the last few days, but she guessed all the upheaval and stress could be responsible.

  She sat with him for a bit, making sure he’d stay asleep, then left the room to find Gabe. The sound of voices drifted down the hall and she followed them to the small kitchen at the other end of the house. He and Kate looked up when she walked in, all conversation screaming to a halt.

  Gabe looked at her and all that tension, all the anger was back in an instant. He clenched his fists in front of him.

  ‘You should get some sleep, Tressa.’

  Translation: fuck off so I can get naked with Kate.

  He hadn’t called her Tress since they left that seedy motel. He was making sure there was plenty of distance between them, emotional and physical.

  Straightening her shoulders, she hardened her spine and hoped like hell her voice wouldn’t wobble when she spoke.

  ‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt. I just want to know what the plan is for tomorrow.’

  Kate patted his hand. ‘I’ll just go grab a shower.’ Then left them very much alone.

  He rubbed a hand over the back of his neck. ‘Sawyer’s asleep?’

  ‘Out cold. Kate seems nice.’ She didn’t want to show weakness in front of him, show how much seeing him with another female hurt and did her best to hide all trace of emotion.

  More pissed vibes flew off him.

  ‘I’ve known her all my life. She’s been there for me more times than I can count. I’d kill anyone who hurt her.’

  Then he watched her, like he was waiting for something. She didn’t know what. But it took all her strength not to flinch at those words. God, she didn’t want to hear anymore. Why the hell had she mentioned it in the first place?

  ‘So tomorrow, what’s the plan?’

  His stared at her and shook his head in disgust. ‘That’s all you have to say?’

  She crossed her arms. ‘What do you want me to say?’

  Clenching his fists on the table in front of him, he said, ‘Fuck. Still so cold. Always worried about yourself.’

  ‘Gabe, listen…’

  ‘What about your mate? Did you show him any affection at all, or did you freeze him out as well once you got what you wanted? Poor bastard.’

  Another hit, this one like a physical blow. She sucked in a strangled breath.

  ‘You don’t know what you’re talking about…’

  ‘You don’t give a fuck how anyone else is affected by your selfishness, your rash decisions. I thought motherhood might have changed you. Apparently not.’

  She did flinch that time, couldn’t help it, and she got angry. She’d lost everything, given up everything for him and what did she get for it? His scorn.

  ‘The only person I’m worried about is my son. I’ll do anything, face anyone for him. He always comes first. You want me to be jealous? You want me to see what I’ve been missing all these years, the mistake I made, to know you and Kate have been hot and heavy while I’ve been gone?’

  He shook his head to deny it, but it was written all over his face, he wanted to hurt her, like she had him. She shrugged with a carelessness she didn’t feel.

  ‘Well I am. I am jealous. I know what I gave away and I feel sick at the idea of you touching another female. Is that what you want? Do you feel better now?’

  She turned about to leave before the tears stinging the back of her eyes overflowed and she humiliated herself more than she already had, but his hand came down on her shoulder, stopping her in her tracks and he swung her around. Face twisted with rage, he shook her.

  ‘No I don’t fucking feel better. You’re the one who left. You’re the one that chose another male over me.’

  He shook her more roughly.

  ‘I’m the one who had to carry on, knowing that every damn night you were in some other male’s bed, wrapped in his arms, bearing his cubs. You don’t get to be pissed and you sure as fuck don’t get to be jealous.’

  Then he lifted his hand and, before she knew what she was doing, she ducked, lifting her own arm to deflect a blow she realised a second later wasn’t coming. Gabe had shoved his hand through his hair. He had no intention of striking her. He would never hit her. But it was too late. He’d seen her reaction and the expression that transformed his face chilled her to the bone.

  Shit.

  Chapter 4

  Gabe took a step back, something ugly and dark twisting his gut.

  ‘What are you doing?’

  She shook her head, not looking at him. ‘Nothing…I…’

  ‘You thought I was going to hit you?’

  She crossed her arms, hugging herself. ‘No. I know you’d never do that…I just…’

  She trailed off, kept her head down, hiding from him and shrugged.

  The truth hit him like a fucking crowbar to the side of the head. If he had the ability to bring her mate back to life he would, so he could kill the bastard all over again.

  ‘Dan, your…’ Jesus, he could barely say it out loud. ‘Your mate…he hit you?’

  She backed up another step, about to take off down the hall. He closed the gap, wrapping his fingers around her upper arms, holding her in place.

  ‘Don’t,’ she whispered.

  ‘Why didn’t you call your family for help?’ Her shoulders were tense, every muscle held tight.

  ‘I don’t want to talk about this. It’s pointless.’r />
  Her silky, dark hair slid over the backs of his fingers when she shook her head, and he had to suppress a shiver. Being this close to her, feeling the heat of her skin through her shirt brought it all back. Every touch, every kiss, every whispered promise. His beast snarled.

  Mine.

  He needed to shut it down, but the animal in him would have none of it.

  ‘Tress, tell me.’ She still wouldn’t look at him. He shook her more gently.

  ‘Tell me.’

  ‘I did, okay. I told my father after the first time. He told me I’d made my bed, that I’d just have to live with it. I didn’t ask for help again. There was no point.’

  ‘Why didn’t you call me? No matter what happened between us, I would’ve helped you.’

  She’d cast him aside in the coldest, cruellest way, still he would have done anything for her if she’d asked back then. He would have dropped everything to get her back, however he could have her.

  ‘I didn’t think… I thought…’

  A muffled cry came from the end of the hall. ‘Sawyer’s awake.’

  He released her and watched as she rushed down the hall to her son and thanked whatever higher power that decided to end her miserable mate’s life before he’d turned his fists on that defenceless little boy.

  Kate stuck her head around her bedroom door.

  ‘You alright?’

  He sat down at the kitchen table and she came to join him.

  ‘Yeah…no. Fucked if I know.’

  ‘You still have feelings for her?’ Kate took his hand in hers. ‘Even after the way she treated you, how she abandoned you like that for another male?’

  Despite what he’d allowed Tressa to assume, there was nothing but friendship between him and Kate. They’d grown up in the same hybrid camp and were more like brother and sister than anything else. Sometimes he wished otherwise, just so he could forget the maddening she-wolf down the hall.

  ‘Leave it, Kate. I can take care of this myself.’

  The last thing Tressa needed was Kate bailing her up and laying into her. She’d been through enough.

  She narrowed her eyes and held his gaze long enough to make him uncomfortable. As usual, seeing way too damn much.