Page 12 of The Night Wolf
“Then this is what we’re going to do.” He turned his back to Sean. “Hop on.”
“What? No. I can walk back.”
Gareth chuckled. “You probably don’t realize it, but you were moving pretty damn fast. We’re almost two miles from the town. I don’t think you’re in any shape to make that trek. Get on.”
“But you’re naked too.”
“I’m also an Alpha. I don’t know what kind you’ve dealt with in the past, but I promise you, I’m made of much sterner stuff. Now, get on or I’ll throw you over my shoulder. Either way, you’re not walking back.”
Emotion choked Sean. For the first time in years, he wanted to put his faith in someone. No, he wanted it to be Gareth. “Why—why would you do this?”
Gareth turned again and gazed into Sean’s eyes. “Because trust isn’t given—it’s earned. Let me show you that I’m worthy of yours.”
The urge to protest was huge, but so was the desire to finally let go and trust someone. Would he regret it? Maybe. You don’t forget an entire lifetime of being kicked, only to let a few sweet words—no matter how nice—change your fundamental beliefs. Strangely, though, with all the Alphas that Sean had dealt with, not one had ever given Sean shivers just by talking to him.
With a sigh born of desire to find out if it was true that Gareth was different, Sean walked behind him. Gareth squatted down, allowing Sean to wrap his arms around the muscular body. When Gareth stood, he wrapped his arms around Sean’s legs.
“Hold on to me.”
The emotions in his voice threatened to undo Sean. There was a need there Sean had never heard from anyone.
“Gareth?”
“I thought… I thought I’d driven you away. I never want my wolves to be afraid. Too many of them have known fear in their lives. Lydon gives them a chance to start fresh, to live a life free from…. It’s not important.”
But it was.
“Tell me. Please.”
As Gareth stalked through the forest, the muscles in his shoulders tightened. “Many—not all, but too many—of the wolves here have suffered some kind of trauma in their past. Our most recent addition, Alina, contacted me because her pack had been taken over and she was afraid that the more traditional Alpha would force her to marry and bear pups. She didn’t want that. At least not yet. She has a dream of opening a bakery and showing off the talents she has. I’m giving her that opportunity. Lydon is a refuge for the… well, for lack of better phrasing, the misfits and castoffs. My father, his father, and his before him all thought there was a better way. To them, there was nothing wrong with wanting to be who you were. We’ve been blessed by Mother Moon, and only she can say if something is wrong.”
Sean liked hearing Gareth’s voice. It was deep, crisp, and left no doubt that the man was in charge. He laid his head on Gareth’s back and closed his eyes, letting the warmth wash over him.
GARETH COULDN’Thelp but smile when Sean’s breath evened out and he slumped over Gareth’s back. It took some work, but he was able to get Sean into his arms and cradle him. Exhaustion was written on his face in the deep lines around his mouth. The fact that Sean fell asleep showed that on some level he trusted Gareth, but it seemed he was torn between wanting to put his faith in someone and running. Gareth would have to see what he could do about that.
He peered down at Sean for a moment, then strode for home again, this time loping through the woods. Sean was far too warm, and Gareth needed to get him back home, where he could be taken care of.
When they arrived back at the house, Gareth pushed open the door and carried Sean into the guest room. No more hospital for him. If Dr. Franklin wanted to examine him, he could come to the house. He put him on the bed with as much care as he could, then drew the black comforter with the gold moon symbol emblazoned on it over Sean’s naked form.
He still couldn’t understand what had come over him, going after Sean the way he had. He’d been through something, and here Gareth was, compounding the problem by browbeating him. And his wolf’s reaction. It was like he didn’t understand they were the same being. To him, Gareth was a threat to Sean.
Sean moaned in his sleep, then thrashed, tangling the covers around him.
“You’re safe. Sleep.”
A shuddering sigh escaped, but Sean fell back to sleep.
“What did they do to you?” Gareth brushed a few strands of the long, dark red hair away from what he would call a pixie face. It held an innocence that Gareth wanted to preserve, because all wolves deserved it.
What did Sean mean when he said all Alphas were alike? True, Lydon was fairly insular, and unless it was talks about taking in a new member, their contact with other bands of wolves was usually done through intermediaries, but Gareth had never heard of a problem before. When Sean was ready to talk, Gareth hoped he’d find out more.
He switched off the light, plunging the guest room into darkness, then closed the door behind him. He went to the kitchen, where Dani Whitestar stood, stirring a pot of homemade chicken noodle soup. He crossed the open expanse in three easy strides, then leaned over the pot and inhaled deeply.
“This smells delicious, but it’s three in the morning. Shouldn’t you be in bed?”
“You have a sick boy to take care of. Dr. Franklin will be over shortly to check on him.” She lifted the spoon and took a sip. “Chicken soup is good for whatever ails you, human or wolf.”
A chuckle escaped before Gareth could rein it in. Dani was only thirty-six, but she was mother and grandmother rolled into one short, curvy package. From the dark hair that flowed down to the center of her back, to the deep brown eyes, it was easy to see that Caleb definitely got his looks from her, and not the lanky body of his father.
