Wild Blood: The Trueborn Saga Book 1 Page 6

  I close my eyes and touch my fingertips to my lips as yet another wave of hot desire scorches through me. Visions of gorgeous ice-blue eyes consume my every thought and shudder through me as certain body parts down south slicken and throb. I desperately wish I'm in bed where I could use my fingers to quench some of the aching need. Before I even have a chance to consider actually going to my room to do just that, my phone abruptly starts ringing on the table next to me, thankfully disrupting my walk down sexual frustration lane.

  I snatch up my phone and see the newly added contact for Chavez on my screen. Shit. Well, I might as well give him my notice now and get it over with before Dad gets home.

  "Hello?" I say after answering the call.

  "Damn, it's good to hear your voice," Chavez drawls out in clear relief. "I was so worried about you when that goddamn brawl broke out. Brett told me you took off before gettin' caught up in it. I'm so happy you did, and I'm sorry it took me so long to check up on you. I got caught up with the police and then cleanin' up the mess after. Are you alright, darlin'?"

  "I'm okay," I reply with a small smile, feeling touched that he cares enough to call.

  "Good, good," he continues. "I couldn't have lived with myself if anything happened to you last night."

  He sounds so guilt ridden that I don't have the heart to tell him about almost being kidnapped by those bikers or that Luna got hurt. I got away from them, and my dog is going to be fine after all, so there's no sense in making him feel worse than he already does.

  "I also wanted to tell you that I'm takin' steps to make sure nothin' like that happens again." His voice is firm now. "I'm gettin' some more bouncers and better security so it will be a safe place for ya'll to work. How does that sound?"

  "Uh...um..." I trail off, suddenly feeling guilty about telling him I'm quiting after only one night.

  A long and pregnant moment of silence passes before he sighs, then finally speaks again. "You're fixin' to quit on me aren't you, darlin'?"

  "Chavez-" I begin in an apologetic tone.

  "Don't make any hasty decisions, yet," he cuts me off abruptly. "You're the only decent worker besides Brett that I've had since re-opening the place. What can I do to convince you to stay, and that I'm dedicated to makin' sure you have a safe work environment from now on?"

  "I...I'm not sure," I answer truthfully as guilt swells in my gut. It seems that's all I've felt since taking the job at Rowdy's Tavern. Well, in between disconcertingly aching for Emmett since meeting him last night too. God, I'm a mess.

  "Tell you what," he says matter-of-factly. "Think on it for a few days and let me know what you decide. I'll be closed to repair the damage anyway. Your job will be here if you want it, darlin'. And if you don't...well, I'm gonna hold out hope that you decide to stay on. Alright?"

  Great...more guilt.

  I close my eyes with a deep sigh, then nod even though he can't see it, before finally replying softly, "Okay."

  "Good," Chavez says with satisfaction. "I look forward to hearin' from you real soon."

  Then the call ends, and I'm only left stewing in my guilt and indecision over my job for all of a minute before I hear the front door being unlocked. The door swings open and in steps my father. His keys rattle as he sets them on the small table next to him. He closes the door behind himself then sighs, looking wrung out and exhausted as he lifts both hands to rub at stubbled cheeks that he shaved smooth just yesterday before his long shift. The motion draws attention to the full sleeve tattoos that wind around both his tanned arms and disappear up under the short sleeves of his gray and black Wolcott P.D. uniform.

  My father, Brandon Cade, isn't a huge man, but his leanly muscular five-foot ten-inch frame carries a quiet strength that commands respect. He's patient and calm, a great diplomat and negotiator, until you disrespect him or worse, fuck with me, his only child. Then he's a fearless and intimidating force to be reckoned with who will lay your ass out in a heartbeat, literally or figuratively, whichever happens to be necessary at the moment. It's part of what makes him such a great cop. It's his life's passion, and he's damn good at it. Just like he's a damn good father too. That fact makes confessing that I lied to him and let him down that much worse.

  I watch his shrewd dark eyes scan the living room he's currently standing in. He runs a hand through his short salt and pepper hair as a small frown turns down the corners of his mouth. I know he's looking for Luna, who always enthusiastically greets him at the door when he gets home. His eyes move left across the open concept room over to the kitchen of our little modular home and widen in surprise when he finds me sitting at the table. I'm never up this early. Never. And it's an instant red flag to him. His eyes instantly fix on mine like a laser.

  "What's wrong, Raven?" he asks, his usually gruff voice tempered with concern as he hurries across the room toward me.

  My only reply is a deluge of tears pouring from my eyes and sheeting down my face. He kneels next to me and when I twist in my chair to face him, he reaches up to cradle my face in his hands.

  "Talk to me, baby girl," he says softly as he wipes my tears away with his thumbs. "What's going on?"

  And I just start spilling my guts. I tell him about not getting the diner job and how I was too ashamed to tell him. I confess to stopping along the highway at a bar yesterday afternoon and taking a job there. And then I finally divulge the fact that last night, instead of being home like I told him I would be, I was actually working at that bar.

  He stills with narrowed eyes. "Wait," he snaps out after that revelation, his expression suddenly sharp and suspicious. "What's the name of this bar?"

  "Um...Rowdy's Tavern," I say quietly with a wince.

  His face turns granite hard and intimidating, and his eyes darken with anger. The small hope I held out that he wasn't one of the officers called to the tavern last night swiftly dies.

  "Were you there when the bar fight broke out?" he asks, his tone flinty.

  I nod and his eyes darken further, his jaw clenching so hard that I'm surprised I don't hear his teeth grinding together. His gaze scans down my body assessingly, like he's looking for any injuries.

  "You're not hurt?" he asks and when I shake my head, he abruptly rises to his feet and starts pacing in front of me. "What happened?" he barks out. "Why weren't you there when I showed up for the call?"

  "I...uh...I ran out the back as soon as it broke out," I explain, suddenly deciding that Dad doesn't need to know everything. It will just upset him even more and any chance I have of still working for Chavez will be shot to hell. I suppress the bolt of guilt that shoots through me and tell myself that this is for Dad's own good. "But some asshole kicked Luna."

  "What?!" Dad stops pacing to face me with a murderous look. The rage suddenly morphs onto a grief-stricken expression. He loves Luna as much as I do.

  "She's okay," I immediately blurt out to reassure him. "But that's...that's why I wasn't there when the police showed up. I ran into a guy whose Mom is a vet, and he took me to her clinic to get Luna checked out."

  "What guy?" he demands with a glower. "And where is this vet clinic?"

  "Uh...he said his name is Emmett Weylin," I answer. "His mom's name is Cadie, and her clinic is in Wolcott. Luna's lungs were bruised so she took her home with her overnight for observation."

  He calms a little at my words as he nods. "I've heard of them. They're a well-known local family. They own the Wolcott Orchard and Cider Mill, and the Wolcott Nature Preserve with another local family. Dr. Weylin takes care of the department's K-9 officer."

  "So they're okay people?" I ask, mostly wanting to know more about Emmett, but not daring to ask my dad anything specific about him. Let's just say that the guys that I've been interested in over the years get a lot of hostility and suspicion thrown their way from one over-protective father named, Brandon Cade.

  He shrugs as he takes a seat at the table in the chair catty-corner to mine. "From what I hear they pretty much keep to themselves, but I haven't he
ard anything bad about them."

  I settle back into my chair in relief, trying to convince myself that it's because Luna is with someone I can trust. It's not because a certain hot man is probably not a serial killer or some kind of sexual deviant.

  "I'm glad you're okay, baby girl," Dad says as places a hand on my forearm. "And don't you worry. You'll find another job somewhere." He pats me comfortingly. "I can ask around again and see if anyone is hiring."

  My expression turns pained. "But Dad I..." I trail off as my courage to tell him I want to keep working at the tavern wanes.

  "But what?" he prompts curiously when I don't continue.

  I sigh as I chicken out completely. After all, it's not like I'm going back to Rowdy's Tavern tonight. Right now he's not going to be very receptive to the idea of me continuing to work there. I have a few days to figure out how to approach him and argue my case without him shutting me down immediately.

  "I'm...I'm really sorry, Dad," I finally say instead.

  "I know, baby girl," he says with a soft affectionate smile. "It's okay."

  I nod as my eyes grow watery again.

  "Hey," he says as he takes my hand in his strong warm grip. "How about your old man makes you that breakfast he promised you before he goes to sleep? Will that help with the waterworks?" He grins. "Or are you going to cry in your pancakes like you used to do."

  I smile past my tears. "That was one time, Dad, and I was four."

  He promised me heart-shaped pancakes for my fourth birthday and forgot that morning. He placed a plate of plain round pancakes in front of me, and I sat there and bawled until he remade them for me in the shape that I was promised. My dad would move heaven and earth for me if I needed it. See? He's a damn good father.

  "True," he agrees with a nod. "But you'll always be my baby girl, Raven. Always."

  "I know, Dad." I reply as I squeeze his hand.

  He nods and stands, then presses a quick kiss to my forehead before moving toward the kitchen to start breakfast. I follow him to help as I try to convince myself that my lies of omission were necessary, even if I still carry a small measure of guilt. After all, I figure I can live with it for now, especially if it helps me avoid upsetting my dad anymore than I already have today.

  8

  EMMETT

  "What's with the dog?" I hear Lyric ask as she walks into the brightly sunlit kitchen of my parent's home.

  I crack open one silvery eye from where I'm dozing on the floor to see my baby sister opening the stainless steel fridge to stare intently inside. Her thick caramel blond hair is gathered in a tangled and messy pile on top of her head. She's dressed in an over-sized T-shirt that hangs off one slender shoulder and cut-off shorts that reveal her long toned legs. Mom, who's currently pouring herself a cup of coffee in her fluffy navy blue robe, glances at the metal dog crate next to me, then at Lyric.

  "An emergency last night," Mom replies. "Some piece of crap kicked her."

  Lyric looks horrified and shoots a sympathetic expression at Luna, who currently occupies the crate. My sister approaches the dog warily and kneels with an outstretched hand.

  "Hey, girl," she says softly, and Luna's tail thumps loudly on the plastic bottom of her crate. Lyric pushes her fingers between the metal bars, and the dog proceeds to lick every inch of my sister's hand that she can reach.

  Lyric glances at me with clear amusement in her baby blue eyes. "When did you turn into a dog sitter?" she asks with that familiar smirk she loves to wear at my expense.

  My only reply is an irritated snort and an eye roll since I can't talk in my wolf form.

  "Since she started crying every time he tried to leave the room," Mom answers for me with a smirk of her own.

  It was true. Every time I tried to walk away from her, so I could go home last night, Luna started crying and scrabbling around in the crate. I didn't want the dog distressed or to hurt herself more than she already was, so I decided to stay with her the rest of the night. Eventually, I ended up shifting, so I would be more comfortable lying on the hardwood floor next to Luna. I've been here ever since as she periodically woke up crying and trying to lick me through the crate's bars until I growled at her each time to get her to settle down again. The poor dog must really miss her master. And speaking of her master, I was plagued by highly arousing sex dreams about Raven all goddamn night. Between that and Luna, I'd gotten very little sleep.

  Lyric's smirk turns into a full-blown grin. "Aw," she says in a disgustingly sweet tone that oozes with sarcasm as she pats my head. "You're a dog whisperer now too?"

  I lift my head and glare at her as a low growl rumbles up out of my chest. She merely barks out a loud laugh as she stands and heads back over to the fridge to hunt down her breakfast.

  "What's with the dog?" my sister Harmony asks as she now enters the kitchen. Her graceful steps make her long silky black robe swish above her bare feet. She eyes me curiously with her golden-brown gaze, her dark sable hair trailing down her back in a long smooth ponytail.

  I lay my head back down with a deep beleaguered groan. Great. Here we go again.

  "Em's got a new girlfriend," Lyric announces in amusement before she explains the situation to our calm and more serious-minded older sister.

  And now both my sisters are grinning at my expense. I curl my lips up, showing them my long white canines to no effect as I await more abuse.

  "Quit badgering your brother," Dad growls out gruffly as he enters the kitchen.

  He's already fully dressed for the day in jeans, a black T-shirt, and matching boots. He crosses the room to Mom, his stern expression softening as his sky-blue eyes drinking her in with clear appreciation. Dad latches an arm around her waist and pulls her against his muscular six-foot frame, which is similar to mine. He whispers something in her ear that has her giggling and running a hand through his graying short dark hair. He gives Mom a brief yet unmistakably heated kiss, then smiles broadly down at her as he rubs his nose against hers. I'm used to my parents frequent and overt displays of affection. They're like this all the time, but today it only makes me long for Raven to be in my arms again. Fuck, I shouldn't have kissed her and scared her off last night.

  Dad pulls away from Mom and tosses a pair of gray athletic shorts at me. I'm grateful since I don't want to put on the filthy clothes from last night that are piled in the corner a few yards from me. Not to mention the fact that the scent of Raven clinging to them would be sure to torture me. There'd be no hiding an erection from my sisters and mother in those shorts. No thank you.

  I shift back to my human form and pull the shorts on, not bothered by the nudity at all. As a werewolf, you learn to get over any shyness or discomfort with it really damn quick. Once again, I'm amazed at how unfazed the little husky is by the change in my appearance. She didn't even flinch when I took to my wolf form last night, and if anything it shockingly set her more at ease.

  I open the crate and Luna slowly gets to her feet, obviously in pain, though her tail is still wagging. She gingerly steps out of the crate, then tries to jump up on me in her excitement and yelps in pain. I scoop her up off the floor before she can hurt herself again, and head out of the room to take her outside to relieve herself.

  "Have fun walking your new girlfriend!" Lyric calls out behind me.

  I shoot a glare back at her as Luna starts licking the hell out of my chin and neck. My sister makes a kissy-face at me as Harmony grins in amusement. I roll my eyes and walk away with a head shake. I take the dog out the French doors onto the deck. Then I carry her across it and down some stairs to the large lawn that abuts the thick forest behind my parent's massive home. They purposefully built it here next to the pack owned Wolcott Nature Preserve for easy access when we need to hunt.

  I set Luna on her feet in the soft grass, and she carefully takes care of business. Then she sidles up next to me with a smitten expression in her pale eyes. I can't help smiling down at her. The dog really is sweet, even if she seems a bit obsessed with me, for some
reason. I pick her up again and carry her back inside. The kitchen is empty now, but I can hear my parents and sisters in the nearby living room chatting. At least, I'll get a small break from my sisters' abuse. I let Luna back into her crate, and she curls up on the soft blanket inside with a whimper of pain. She eyes me adoringly with her tail gently wagging. I snort out a laugh and grin at her. Pathetic.

  I hear the front door opening, and my grin abruptly dies as dread falls over me. I'm pretty sure I know who just came in, and I was hoping to avoid this confrontation for a while longer. I can hear a familiar low rumbling voice in the living room just as Cooper slips quietly into the kitchen with me. He frowns and eyes me with a slight head shake that lets me know things are about to go to shit. Tell me something I don't know.

  Before I can say a word to my best friend, heavy booted footsteps draw near. A moment later, my brother Wyatt's massive frame fills the doorway into the kitchen dressed in a dirt-smeared T-shirt and jeans. Fierce and narrowed golden-brown eyes lock on me and a scowl spreads across his face, his nostrils flaring. He looks every inch the future Alpha he is with a hard withering expression framed by his short sable hair and a full thick beard. Though he's only a few inches taller than me, his build is heavier and bulkier than mine. He stops a few feet in front of me and crosses his bulging arms, but I'm not intimidated at all. I still remember the scrawny teenager he used to be. I glare at Wyatt and cross my arms, mirroring his confrontational stance. I boldly hold his gaze, barely noticing when Beck enters the kitchen behind him.

  "I just spent the night helping clean up your fucking mess," Wyatt growls out harshly. He leans closer. "With the goddamn cops swarming nearby, I might add."

  "I didn't have a fucking choice," I reply just as harshly.

  "There's always a choice, Emmett," Wyatt says pointedly.

  "Not this time."