Her face tucked into his neck sent shivers down his spine. She was cold as ice. The shaking had stopped while he lay against her in coyote form and now as he held her against his human body he knew there was no time to waste. He’d have to send Quinn to clean up.
“Quinn, over on Whispering Ridge is a coyote.” He wouldn’t need to explain further.
“Is he dead?”
“I don’t know. El took off and I had to go after her.”
“Okay, I’ll see you back at the house.”
As his best friend, Quinn could be trusted to do what needed to be done. As regal, Quinn held the position of Brogan’s second and his loyalty was expected.
In the two years he’d held sovereign nothing had been easy. There were members of the pack who thought as a half-blood he had no right to the position. He’d like to think his skills and progress with pack finances and the more stable community proved them wrong.
The human in his arms could destroy all he’d achieved. No one liked outsiders, especially non-bloods. Even after he turned El, gave her the ability to shift, she’d always be a non-blood. Could he expect her to go through life being looked down at? Did he have a choice?
Could he let her walk away if that was what she wanted? She was his mate, for him there would be no other. Could he live without her? Let her leave him and go on with her life, unprotected and maybe with someone else? She was marked as his and no matter where she went other shifters would know it.
No. If she couldn’t live here with him, he’d leave with her. He’d walk away from all he’d known for her. Convince her they were meant to be together. But there was no point thinking about it now. They’d cross that bridge when and if they came to it. For now he had to concentrate on getting her back to the house.
He had no idea how long he trudged through the falling snow when the house came into view. The storm had almost reached whiteout and it was no wonder El had lost her way. Even he’d struggle without his natural coyote senses.
Rowan opened the door as Brogan came up the path.
“Upstairs. I’ve got blankets warmed and hot drinks ready.”
“She’s unconscious, the drinks can wait.” He angled through the door, careful not to bump El’s head on the frame.
Two at a time, he raced up the stairs. Rowan had turned up the heat because it got hotter with every step he took. At the top he turned toward his room.
“Brogan, you’re going the wrong way,” Rowan said.
He ignored her.
By the time he reached his bedroom sweat was beading on his skin but El needed the warmth so he wasn’t about to complain.
He placed her on her feet. With one arm wrapped around her waist he started to pull her out of her wet clothes.
“Help me get her undressed,” he barked.
“Okay, then I’ll get the blankets from her room.”
Between them they got El stripped naked. With one hand he ripped the covers off his bed and waited for Rowan to bring the blankets.
“Lay one on the bed,” he ordered.
He was being blunt to the point of rudeness but his first priority was getting El warm. He’d apologize later.
When Rowan got the first blanket down, he laid El on it. Christ! Her skin was blue. He let Rowan cover her while he stripped out of his wet clothes. Body heat would be the best way to bring her temperature back up and he had every intention of sharing his.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m getting in with her. Body heat, Rowan, it’s the best way.” Lifting the blanket edge he climbed in and pulled El against him.
“She’s so still. Maybe we should take her to the hospital.”
“The storm is getting worse. We can’t take her or we’d be risking all our lives. We just need to get her warmed up.” Brogan hoped he was making the right decision.
“Where’s Quinn?” Rowan asked.
“He’ll be here soon.”
“That’s not what I asked, Brogan. Why didn’t he come in with you?”
“He had to do something for me.”
“What?” Tension laced her voice.
“Not now. After we get El warm I’ll explain everything.”
“But—”
“Later.” He still wasn’t sure what—if anything—they’d tell Rowan or El. It would all depend on what Quinn found on Whispering Ridge.
El lay motionless beside him. He covered her and tucked the blanket around them to keep their body heat trapped. Her breathing was so shallow he couldn’t feel her chest rising but he kept his fingers on her pulse point to assure himself she was still alive. He willed her to warm up.
Curled around her as best he could without crushing her, he clenched his teeth against the chill of her flesh. He may as well be hugging a snowman.
By scant degrees her temperature rose. She remained still in his embrace even as her skin lost the blue tinge that had scared him into thinking he’d been too late getting her home.
Sweat broke out on his back, his chest. The cocoon he’d made slowly turned into a furnace. He wouldn’t last much longer in here with her. A few more minutes and then he’d get out and dress. The blanket, damp along his back from his sweat would have to be changed, too.
Rowan had disposed of their wet clothing before returning to sit in the chair near the window. Her gaze darted between watching for Quinn and checking El. Brogan knew she was torn between her dual worries. Her mate hadn’t returned and the storm had finally become full whiteout conditions.
“He’s back!” Rowan sprang from her perch and raced from the room.
Brogan’s cue to get up and dressed. He wanted to know what Quinn had found. He hoped it wasn’t what he thought it had been. Gently, he slipped his arm out from under El. She moaned and rolled over to follow him. Her hand reached out and grazed his chest, a nail scraping his nipple. The small bud hardened and his cock throbbed with arousal.
He’d managed to keep his desire for El at bay while he held her naked body, but in the back of his mind it was there. Waiting for the slightest move to bring it bounding out of the corner to take over his every thought, his every breath. He hated himself for wanting her when she was so sick and hated that they were in this situation at all.
She curled into a ball as a moan slipped from her lips and tormented his sensitized nerves. He grabbed a new blanket from the pile Rowan had left on the end of the bed. Draping it over her, he tucked the sides in. He pushed her hair from her face and ran his fingers through the damp strands. She settled at his touch, murmured and snuggled deeper into his bed.
Happy to see her face had lost its gray-blue tinge and her skin felt warmer beneath his fingers, he turned to get dressed. Pulling jeans and a shirt out, he quickly put them on. He could hear Rowan and Quinn coming up the stairs and from the tone of their hushed voices they were arguing. He smiled. Quinn was not giving up any more information than Brogan had.
“How is she?” Quinn asked as he came into the room.
“Warmer. She hasn’t woken yet. Stirred a little when I got out of the bed just now, but that’s all.” Brogan walked over and placed the back of his hand on her forehead. Definitely warmer.
“Is someone going to tell me what happened out there?” Rowan demanded.
His sister wouldn’t give up until she knew every detail. “I’m not sure yet. Let Quinn tell us what he found first and then I’ll have a better picture.”
“He was a natural. Old and starved half to death. I don’t think he would have had the strength to do El much damage. He certainly didn’t have enough to fight you.”
“Damn.”
“Yeah. There’s more.”
Brogan’s head snapped around to look at Quinn. He didn’t need to hear the words. He knew what Quinn would say.
“Marcus turned up while I was burying the body. He’s reporting you to the Council.” Quinn didn’t look happy about his run-in with Marcus.
Marcus was full-blood and thought he should hold sovereign but the man was an idiot of the first order and his leadership skills started and ended with intimidation and scare tactics. Not the type of leader any pack would want—or need.
“He can report me. I’ve done nothing wrong. I took the threat away with as little force as possible. The only thing I’m guilty of is leaving him there and going after El. But under the circumstances, that’s acceptable,” Brogan said.
“Yes, but we all know Marcus will put a spin on it,” Rowan chimed in.
“He can, and I can front Council, explain what happened and if they still think I should step down as sovereign I will. But I think Marcus might be forgetting one thing. If I step down, Quinn, you take over.” Brogan was thankful for that little bit of pack law.
“Does that mean we can expect him to try to kill Quinn again?” Rowan’s voice quivered with fear.
“He can try but he won’t succeed.” Steely determination filled Quinn’s words.
“He won’t get away with it like last time, Rowan. We might not have been able to prove his involvement before but this time we know what and who we’re dealing with,” Brogan said.
It had cost them all to let Marcus get away with his involvement in the attempt on Quinn’s life but as sovereign and regal their hands were tied by pack law. Next time Marcus did something, they’d make sure they had proof to take to the Council.
Or Brogan would ignore the law and go after him anyway. He’d keep that to himself though. No point worrying Rowan any more than she already was.
“Quinn, go get out of those wet clothes. We’ll work out what to do about Marcus after El wakes. There’s not much we can do with the storm anyway,” Brogan said.
“I’ll get dinner in the oven. I think we could all use something warm to eat.” Rowan leaned over El and checked the warmth of her skin with her palm. “She should wake soon, shouldn’t she?” she asked.
“I think so. But she’ll be tired as well as hypothermic. She’s warmer now and that’s what counts.” Brogan sat on the edge of the bed, brushing his fingers lightly over El’s cheek and pushing the hair off her face.
He waited for Rowan to leave the room. “Do you think Marcus was behind the natural’s attack on El?”
“Hard to say but I wouldn’t put it past him.”
Brogan wouldn’t be surprised to find Marcus had somehow been involved but how would he know El had gone wondering off unless he was watching the house? There would be no room for secrets now, with Marcus prowling around and stirring up trouble they would all need to be careful. Especially El.
“We can’t afford to wait any longer. We’ll have to tell her everything when she wakes. With Marcus causing trouble with the Council she’ll need to know what’s going on.” Quinn voiced what Brogan had already decided.
When El woke, they’d tell her everything. What they were and what danger they were in from a man bent on gaining sovereign.
El woke with a start and a cry of pain. Every muscle and bone ached.
“Easy. You’re safe now.” The deep voice rolled over her.
Brogan.
She opened her eyes, the low light of the room sending prickles of pain into her skull. Tears formed, blurring her already limited vision.
“Where…” Her throat felt dry and scratchy.
“Here, drink some warm tea.”
Brogan lifted her head, held a mug to her lips and she sipped at the sweet liquid. He kept her from drinking too fast, tilting the cup away after each sip. For the second time today she found herself on the receiving end of this hard man’s gentle care.
After a few sips he took the cup away and placed it on the bedside table. Her eyes had adjusted to the low light and El could see that she was in Brogan’s room. In his bed. He propped a pillow behind her back and she leaned into it, letting the softness cushion her sore body.
“I hurt,” she whispered.
“You will for a while. You were awfully cold when I found you.” The low soothing rumble of Brogan’s voice shivered over her skin.
She wasn’t feeling cold now. Her body was heating quickly as she began to wake further. She could smell snow and forest and Brogan. For someone who could describe a photograph with vivid words, she was at a loss as to which ones to use for his scent. It was hot and male, all Brogan.
“Are you still cold?” he asked.
“No.”
No, she certainly wasn’t. If anything she was rather hot. She pushed the blanket down in the hope of cooling off a bit. Brogan’s drawn-in breath had her gaze darting to his face. He was staring at her chest. Looking down she found out why. She was naked. Where had her clothes gone? Who’d taken them off?
Scrabbling for the cover, she pulled it back up but the damage was done. He’d seen her breasts and her pointy nipples. He had to know they weren’t hard from being cold.
“What happened to my clothes?”
“They were soaked. We had to get you warm quickly. We took them off and used body heat to warm you up,” he explained.
“Body heat?” Oh God, please no.
Brogan’s devilish smile was all she needed to know the body heat had been his. Never mind seeing her naked, he’d been wrapped around her.
Her face flushed with arousal—or was it embarrassment? She couldn’t decide which. The thought of being in Brogan’s arms with not a stitch on had her hard nipples throbbing and her pussy watering. She closed her eyes and groaned. Would she always be in a state of confusion with this man?
“Don’t worry, El. I behaved myself. Besides, when I don’t behave I want you fully aware of everything I’m doing to you. No offense, but you brought new meaning to the words cold fish in bed.” His deep chuckle had goose bumps rising on her skin.
“How did I get here?” She tried to remember what had happened but her mind wouldn’t clear and the only thing she could remember was losing sight of the house.
“I found you and brought you home.” He was back to brushing her hair off her face, the motion soothing and arousing. Everything the man did seemed to turn her on.
“But I couldn’t see the house. The snow…”
“I know, I warned you that the storms could blow up quickly out here.”
She’d been standing in the snow looking around at nothing but forest when she’d heard heavy breathing behind her.
“The coyote!” she gasped.
“It’s okay, he can’t hurt you now,” Brogan reassured.
“No. Not the wild one, the one from the photo downstairs.” Her gaze met Brogan’s and she knew before he said anything that what her mind was now remembering was real. It hadn’t been a vision.
“Oh, God,” she whispered, pulling away.
“I’ll never hurt you.” Brogan’s words were gentle but full of conviction.
“You…you…” El couldn’t say it, couldn’t voice what she was thinking.
“I need to explain but I want Rowan and Quinn here when I do. What we have to tell you will be a shock but you have to know that none of us would ever hurt you or put you in danger.” Brogan got off the bed and went to the door. “I’ll be back in a second. I’ll just get them so you can know the truth.”
The truth? What truth? That he’d somehow turned from a coyote into a human? Human? Jeez, if he’d turned into a coyote he wasn’t human. What did you call someone that was an animal one second and a human the next?
El laughed out loud, the slightly hysterical sound bouncing around the room. What had she gotten herself into?