Lone Star Lycan Read online

  “Can you…um…find another mate?”

  He shook his head. “Nope. That doesn’t happen to us. We mate for life. Reckon if you decide to leave, I’ll stay here and lead the pack. Alone.” Since he didn’t want to sound like a pitiful whipped pup, he leaned down and smiled at her. “But don’t you worry about that, darlin’, I’m not planning to let you go.”

  Chapter Eight

  “So. You’re Bart’s daughter. I’ve been so curious about you. Think all of us have been.”

  Rayne Poteet, owner of Poteet’s on the Prairie in the small town of Cloverfield, leaned her elbows on the counter, as the morning sun filtering through the storefront windows turned her hair the color of an autumn sunset. She was fun and friendly and from the looks of her neat little shop, she had a nice business.

  Quinn smiled. “No more curious than I’ve been about you since I’ve found out that I’m a big bad wolf.”

  This morning, Joe dropped another bombshell. The entire town of Cloverfield was populated by lycans. On any other day she’d be terrified about that but not now. She was one of them and, though she was just coming to grips with it all, she had to admit there was something comforting about knowing she wasn’t alone.

  Rayne laughed brightly and leaned closer. “Ah, honey, you aren’t so bad.” Then suddenly, she went serious and reached for Quinn’s hand. “You’ve been through a lot especially finding out about yourself the way you did. Selena should be shot. I’ve never liked that woman.”

  Quinn squeezed back. “Joe and the others looked for her first thing this morning. Guess she took off after the thing with the snake.”

  “She won’t get far. These men are the best hunters around. Pack justice will catch up with Selena. But I don’t want to talk about her. She just makes me want to spit nails. Come on. I’ll pour us some coffee and we’ll talk. Okay?”

  “Sounds good.”

  Rayne had a nice little seating area in the center of her place complete with a rug of Native American design and several comfortable chairs. When she and Joe and driven into town earlier, they’d stopped at Tobias’ office to sign some papers dealing with the probate of the will and then they’d headed here. Joe wanted her to get to know the townspeople and had said Rayne was especially nice. Once Joe had introduced them and they’d begun to chat, he excused himself to run some errands while they were in town. Quinn agreed that Rayne was very nice and after meeting her, believed that if she stayed, they could become friends.

  If she stayed.

  The more the facts of her existence sank into her brain, the more she realized that she could never go back to her home in the piney woods. Impossible. What if she changed and was shot by hunters? What if someone found out she was more beast than woman? Made her shudder to think about it. She was still trying to wrap her brain around it all and what better place than here to find answers?

  Rayne took a sip of her coffee and eyed her steadily over the rim. “Are you afraid?”

  “Terrified.”

  “Are you scared of changing? Scared of hunting with the pack?”

  Quinn set her own cup on a little coffee table as she considered the question. “I’ve never been afraid of a thing in my life except my stepfather when he’d had too much to drink. After a few years of that, I was just done with fear and started to fight back. But this? Terrifying.” She shook her head. “It’s like something from a horror movie, ya know? This isn’t supposed to be real.”

  “But it is. Listen to me, Quinn! We are good people. Really.” Rayne rolled her eyes. “Well, except for Selena. Bitch. We just want to live our lives without humans questioning our habits or why we don’t seem to age. We’re safe here to live our lives.”

  “I get that.” Quinn sighed and shook her head. “I was always bigger and stronger than the other kids. Never got sick. Funny. I never thought anything about it until now. Joe said I shifted last night because of the terror I felt at seeing that rattler coiled up in my bed. Is shifting always like that? So violent?”

  Rayne went still and looked away. “Well…um…I don’t know. I haven’t shifted yet.”

  This was news. Quinn sat up straighter. “You haven’t?”

  “No. I haven’t come into my time yet. I’m a young lycan. Our males change in puberty but we women are slower.”

  “Any ideas about when this will happen?”

  Rayne shook her head. “Not really but soon for me, I think. I hope. My mate is out there somewhere and when the time is right, we’ll make a connection. Just like you and Joe did.”

  Quinn felt her face heat as she recalled the instantaneous reaction she’d had the moment Joe had touched her out in the cemetery that day. And God! She couldn’t get last night off her mind. The heat. The sex. The power. Just thinking about it made her want to hunt Joe McKinnon down and jump his lovely bones. “Does everyone in town know about us?”

  “Pretty much. We might be lycan but this is still a small town. Word gets around.”

  “Damn.”

  Rayne laughed but then they both turned at the sound of the giant cowbell over the front door jangling. Joe seemed to instantly fill up every space in the room with his presence. Quinn’s belly fluttered at the sight of him. No one filled out a pair of jeans like Joe. He tipped back the brim of his battered straw cowboy hat and sent his gaze over her body. His nostrils flared as if he could smell her reaction to him. Then he looked at Rayne and smiled. “You ladies getting acquainted?”

  “We sure are,” Rayne answered, smiling. “We’re gonna be good friends.”

  “I really like your store,” Quinn said as she stood.

  “Understand you have a store too.”

  Quinn sighed. “Yeah, I’m proud of it. I don’t stock as much clothing as you do but I carry some cute little tees and lots of accessories. My shop is strictly girly stuff.”

  “I’d love to hear all about it.”

  “Not much to tell really. The economy in the piney woods is really suffering. Sales are abysmal right now.” She shook her head. “Wish I could predict the future but I honestly don’t know how much longer I’ll be in business. Maybe someday I’ll come back into town and we can talk shop,” Quinn said as she moved to Joe’s side. Instantly his arm went around her, heavy and warm and without examining her actions, she leaned into him. “It was great meeting you.”

  “Same here, Quinn. Next time you’re in town, we’ll have lunch, okay?”

  “Sure thing.”

  When they got to Joe’s duel-cab truck, she noticed a lot of things in the bed of the truck. Dozens of paper bags carried the logo of the local grocery store. There were cases of beer and soft drinks and more bags of charcoal than she could count. Curious, she hopped into the truck and watched Joe as he turned the key in the ignition. Once the truck roared to life and they were headed out of town, she decided to appease her curiosity.

  “You sure have a lot of stuff back there. I know you feed the hands at the house but this is a little much, isn’t it?”

  “Nah.” He looked over at her. “We’re having a big barbecue in a couple of days and I needed to stock up. This isn’t all of it but the store will make a delivery tomorrow. Needed steaks and stuff for burgers and the fixins’.”

  “A barbecue? Really? That sounds fun.”

  “Glad you think so since the shindig is in your honor. Taking you into every business in town will take more time away from the ranch than I can afford to spend. Figured it was easier to just have the town come to you. Everyone wants to meet you.”

  A warmth, a feeling of belonging that she’d never known before, climbed into her heart and expanded. She honestly didn’t know what to say. “That’s so sweet, Joe. You don’t have to do this.”

  Joe reached out and turned the air conditioner up a notch sending a blast of cool air into the cab. “Sure I do, darlin’. You’re Bart’s daughter and if I have my way about it you will be my lupa.”

  “Lupa?”

  He pierced her with a glance of those spooky golden
eyes then settled that gaze square on her lips. “Yeah. My mate. My wife.”

  “I thought you weren’t going to pressure me, Joe?”

  “Sorry. Still planning to work on you.”

  She had to smile. “And just how do you plan on doing that?”

  “Give you one guess.”

  “Pushy man.”

  “Yep. That’s me.” As the flat landscape rolled out around them and they left the city limits, he glanced at her. “You know I’m just playing with you, Quinn. Meant what I said last night about working on you but I won’t force you. In the end, I think you’ll figure out that you belong here. What if you go home and you shift? Imagine what would happen with no support from the pack. It could be dangerous for you.”

  She looked out the window and sighed. “I’ve been thinking about that but you have to realize this is all so new to me.”

  Quinn jumped a little when Joe reached across the expanse of the cab and took her hand. The gentle expression on his face was almost her undoing. Tears burned behind her eyes. “Ah, darlin’. I understand. It’ll work out. I promise. You’ll figure it all out and when you do, I’ll be right here. Not going anywhere.”

  Who couldn’t love a man like this?

  When they finally pulled up at the house, she saw several cowboys lope out to the truck and start moving stuff from the bed of the truck under the direction of a Mexican woman she’d never met. She stood well over six feet tall and wore her long dark hair loose and flowing. The streak of silver in it curved along her face and served to soften her rather austere features. Then she smiled at the two of them and Quinn was struck by her beauty.

  The woman approached the truck as they got out and Joe introduced her. “Quinn, this is Maria Lejas. She’ll be taking care of the housekeeping and cooking now that Selena is gone.”

  “Hi, Quinn. It’s a pleasure to meet Bart’s beautiful daughter.”

  Quinn smiled. “Thank you. Nice to meet you too.”

  Maria looked at Joe. “I have a big pot of chili on the stove and the cornbread is still hot. The men have already eaten but I made sure they didn’t get it all.”

  Joe nodded. “Sounds great, Maria. I knew you’d do a great job.”

  “Anything for you, Joe.”

  As the day wore on, it became more and more obvious to Quinn the amount of respect these people had for their alpha. Joe was the kind of man who demanded it. He wore the mantle of leadership as if he’d been born to it.

  After lunch, Joe left to do what ranchers do, leaving her and the new housekeeper to chat. There was something so comforting about meeting other women who were like her, carried the same genetic makeup. First Rayne and now Maria. Quinn gathered the dirty dishes from the kitchen table and carried them to the sink over Maria’s protests.

  “Don’t even go there,” Quinn said, smiling. “I’ve never been some pampered princess and I’m not about to start now.”

  Together they chatted and put away the remains of the noon meal and finally Quinn’s curiosity got the better of her. “Been meaning to ask Joe about something but I bet you’d know the answer.”

  Maria turned in the act of wiping her damp hands on a dish towel. “You might be right about that. Shoot.”

  Quinn poured them both tall glasses of sweet tea and sank back into a chair. “How is it these guys can work around cattle and horses all day? I mean, wouldn’t the animals sense the predatory nature of a wolf?”

  The other woman sat and took a drink, leaning back with a sigh. “Our pack is different from most lycans. We have an inherent gene that allows us to shield our true natures. For most of us, working in town and such, it’s not that big a deal. We’re teachers, shopkeepers, store clerks. You name it. But it’s extra important for the cowboys to be able to shield. It’s a gift. “

  “Fascinating.” She shook her head. “Will I ever learn everything I need to know?”

  “Do you want to?”

  Quinn saw the seriousness in Maria’s expression, the solemn question in her eyes. “Yeah. I think so. Joe’s just like a steamroller and I can’t seem to resist him when I know I should.”

  “It’s impossible.”

  “What?”

  “Resisting him, honey. You are mated.” Maria smiled. “It’s inevitable and you might as well come to grips with the fact that your entire life has changed. Best listen to me, Quinn, your future was written for you the moment you two clapped eyes on each other and there is no sense fighting it.”

  * * * * *

  Quinn was terrified.

  She stood with Joe in the center of the bedroom and watched him remove his clothes. “What the hell are you talking about? Now? You want me to shift now?”

  For one mad instant she considered making a run for it. Yeah, she could zip down the stairs, hop in her car and pretend this whole experience had never happened. The memory of her violent shifting just a few nights ago still had the ability to terrorize her but then she looked at Joe and noted the patience in his eyes as he looked at her. He was stoic, stronger and more beautiful than any man she’d ever known.

  He stood there for several quiet moments then padded over to the balcony doors, throwing them wide open. Moonlight washed the room in shadow and light. Then he went back to her and calmly took her hands. “Do you want to be alone when you shift, Quinn?”

  “No,” she whispered.

  “Wouldn’t you feel more comfortable if you could learn to shift with someone who cares for you?”

  Firming her jaw, she gave him a nod. “Okay,” she said with finality as she blew out a breath. “Tell me what I need to do, Joe. I want to be able to control this thing.”

  “This thing is who you are. After the first time or two, it’ll be as natural to you as breathing. It might work best if you remove your clothes.”

  “Wow. Okay.”

  Feeling Joe’s steady gaze on her, she purposely shoved lingering bits of modesty to the back of her mind. It was dumb. He’d seen her naked. He’d fucked her until her eyes had rolled back in her head. Yes, he was a swoon-inducing lover who’d stroked every inch of her body with his hands and tongue. No need to be embarrassed, right? Before she lost her nerve, she reached for the hem of her tee shirt and soon tossed it aside. She slid her soft, jersey shorts down her legs and finally stood there in nothing but her bra and panties.

  Even in the dim lighting of the room, she saw his eyes darken as he looked at her. “Take ‘em off, honey.”

  Her mouth went dry and despite the sultry heat of the night, a shiver rushed over her skin. She swallowed, then facing him squarely, unhooked the front snap of her bra and removed her panties. A primitive feeling, a stark desire moved between them as they stood naked together, bathed in moonlight.

  Joe moved close and reached out for her. “Hold on to me. Open your mind.”

  Quinn did as instructed and the warmth of Joe’s big hands engulfed hers. Immediately a sense of peace and inevitability filled her up. His voice rolled through her mind.

  Can you hear me?

  Yes.

  Close your eyes, darlin’. I won’t let anything happen to you.

  Will it be like last time, Joe? I’m scared.

  No. Trauma is the worst way to shift. This time it’ll be different. Easier. And I’m here to help you. Now relax.

  In the act of obeying him, she closed her eyes and a feeling of peace settled low in her belly. The scent of the earth filled her head, along with the tangy smell of new grass. The air she breathed held an under layer of the dust that was so predominate in the area. The first brush of fur swept through her middle. The beast, her beast, was inside her, moving until it seemed they were no longer separate things but the same.

  Energy came alive all around her. She knew it was always there but now she recognized it. It became real for the first time.

  Picture the wolf in your mind.

  Joe’s voice. She heard it in her mind.

  Let go, Quinn. Just let go.

  A low, warm ache grew inside her
. She felt it from belly to toes to fingertips. The ache grew into something indescribable that stretched and filled her. The air sizzled and popped.

  Quinn opened her eyes and looked up at Joe. Up and up. The presence of her wolf filled her and the world was different and new. Before her eyes, Joe smiled then shifted. Amazing thing. Shifting. A euphoric feeling caught her up as Joe came up and dragged his long tongue over her muzzle. He buried his nose against the fur of her neck then without hesitation he trotted to the open balcony door and turned back to look at her.

  Joy, abandon, swept her up and together they raced down the steps, across the yard and out into the night.

  She was a wolf and, for the first time in her life, was utterly free.

  Chapter Nine

  Joe dismounted from his horse, a gorgeous three-year-old mare named Little Britches and handed her off to a stable hand for a rubdown. As Manuel and Ringo did the same, the three men leaned against the corral fence, disgust written on their faces.

  “We’ll find her, Joe,” Manuel said as he snatched a red bandana from his pocket and mopped his face. “Ringo and I can head back out in a while and keep looking.”

  “Don’t bother,” Joe said as he tipped the brim of his straw hat back with his thumb. “For all we know, she’s long gone from these parts. Wonder if she’s hooked up with that pack of rogue lycans who’ve been killing off our cattle?”

  Over the past several weeks, cowboys from the Wolf Creek Ranch had come across the remains of cattle. The scent of wolf had been all over the carcasses so it didn’t take a genius to figure out that news of Bart’s death would trickle out through their world. Joe knew there was every possibility he’d be challenged as alpha of the pack. The ranch and the town was prosperous, the land was rich and fertile. It was only a matter of time before another pack tried to encroach.

  Ringo scowled and settled his forearms along the top of the wooden fence. “This is my fault. I knew she was up to something. Manuel and I both did but we let it go. Chalked it up to her being pissed about losing you.”