A Wolf's Bargain Read online

  Kal inclined his head. “Yep. Grab onto this with both hands, Lily. We’ll be right here to catch you if you ever fall. I promise.”

  Chapter Five

  For a minute, Chris thought he’d gone insane. One day turned into three then a week. He began to lose hope. Maybe he’d gone about this all wrong. Perhaps even his wolf had it wrong.

  Then, Lily found him at The Den, and said yes. She didn’t stay to talk or grab a beer. She simply gave him her answer and walked back out the door. It happened so fast, he had to ask Paul if she’d really been there and if she’d really said yes to him.

  The mute omega who worked at Gee’s bar grinned then patted him on the shoulder before strolling off. Ever since he mated PG, the guy seemed to bloom right in front of the pack. Everyone had started learning sign language just so they could talk with a man who’d been silent for so long.

  When Chris arrived at the Truesdale house, Kalum waited for him. If he meant to deter Chris, he wouldn’t put up with it. Lily belonged with him. “Kalum.”

  “Chris.” His friend flicked his gaze toward the pasture. “I suppose you’re here because of Lily?”

  “‘Spose I am. I don’t want a fight.”

  “Who says we will?” Kal pushed off his truck and sauntered over to him. “She’s nervous. Graham and I have been wrapped up in our lives as of late and we haven’t paid her any mind.”

  Like he hadn’t noticed. “Understandable. You’re both newly mated. You have a baby on the way, and Graham and Elle are reconnecting after all this time. Can’t be easy.”

  “Yeah, well, I think Lily made it too easy on us. In fact, I know she did.”

  “It’s her disposition. She’s taken over for your mom.”

  Kal nodded. “I saw it, too, when we moved back and then when she helped me with Fawn. The girl is the spitting image of our mother, not only in looks but in her disposition. She needs to explore life.”

  “I mean to explore it with her. She’s my mate.” For some inexplicable reason, he had to reaffirm his position with Lily.

  “How long have you known? No more bullshitting.”

  “I’d say the kiss under the mistletoe last year, but I have had a sneaky suspicion for a long-ass time.” Since she’d gone from cute little Lily Rose Truesdale, to the pretty little teen, and now the woman who had the ability to steal his breath.

  “Figured as much.” Kal grunted. “She said since the day in the barn.”

  Chris’s brows rose. Curiosity filled him. “Which day?”

  Kal recounted the day Lily fell off the ladder rung. Along with their conversation and how damn hot it had been. Shit. Way to screw with a guy’s ability to think.

  “She said it started then, but she didn’t understand and we left soon afterwards.”

  “I don’t know what to say,” Chris admitted.

  “Didn’t think you would. She left all of us speechless, too.”

  “She’s afraid, isn’t she?” he hedged.

  “No doubt. She’s doing something for herself for the first time. Everything has been done for us. I think she thought she’d be doing this on her own, too.”

  When Kal finally left, Chris contemplated calling this whole thing off. The pressure she’d put on herself along with his own worries made him second-guess himself. What if she didn’t like his idea? Where did it leave them? Could he go back to a vanilla life without acknowledging his baser needs?

  Even if he didn’t think he could, he’d have to. A mate is a mate. He’d never give her up…even if she didn’t like to be spanked or tied up.

  Chapter Six

  “Are you sure you have everything you need?” his mother asked for the hundredth time since he’d stopped in for breakfast.

  “Yes. Lily will be by the house tonight for dinner. I’ve got everything ready for her.”

  “Remember, slow and steady wins the race,” his dad added. “When she’s ready, Lily will let you know.”

  The one day he put himself on call for emergencies only, he made the mistake of coming home and finding his parents. “I know, Pops. My intentions are for her to see what our lives together could be like. Afterward, it’s up to her to make the final decision.”

  “She’ll come around.” His mom patted his hand.

  He was optimistic about it.

  After he finished his breakfast, he decided to go for a run in the hopes the fresh air would do him some good. The woods behind his parents’ place had been perfect for him to roam when he was old enough to shift and go it alone. Walking outside, he glanced out at the wide-open space and took a deep breath. Pine and wet earth greeted him. Once he disrobed, he allowed the shift to come over him.

  When his feet touched the ground, he took off, galloping through the tall grass for the crop of trees directly in front of him. The smell of small game overrode the familial scent of his family’s property.

  He climbed deep into the Black Hills, seeking solitude for a few hours.

  On his way home, he refined his plan. The quick, “Here is the plan, and this is what you’ll wear for me. Now, change,” wouldn’t work for her. She’d throw everything back at him and laugh before walking out on him. He needed to be subtle. Ease her into the idea. Build trust between them.

  In order for Lily to accept his home as hers, she would have to have her own space. She would have to know he wanted her. So, as he wound his way back down through the hills to his mother’s house, he decided to spruce up his place a little, make her feel welcome. He stepped back up onto the porch, allowed the shift to come over him then glanced over his shoulder. His hackles bristled as though he were being watched. He waited a beat, uncaring of his nakedness.

  Chris lifted his head and sniffed. The aroma of lilacs and wilderness greeted him. Then, through the line of trees, a small brindle-colored wolf appeared. Watched him. He made no move to cover up. Lily. He smirked as he placed his hands on his hips. The wolf blinked. Her ears twitched back and forth as though listening to everything around her.

  “What are you doing?” he whispered.

  The wolf’s keen gaze locked with his. Then, in a blur of motion, she shifted and stood before him. Her long, curly brown hair hung loosely around her shoulders and brushed the tips of her rosy nipples. He salivated.

  Her arms hung at her sides, exposing every inch of her slender form to his perusal. His groin tightened. Lily gave no indication of shyness. She also made no move to close the distance. She continued to stare at him. None of it made sense.

  The seconds of their standoff ticked by. Her heated stare bored into him, twisting his guts. Their deadlock dragged on. Lily licked her lips, and a growl rumbled at the back of his throat. Did she even know she challenged him? Chris took a step forward. His body tensed with expectancy. If she ran, would he give chase? Should he?

  Lily took a step backward. Her gaze darted from side to side—he assumed she was trying to figure the easiest way out of there. He’d always find her. She couldn’t hide on his land.

  He held himself, waiting for her next move. In a blur of light, she shifted then bolted for the thicket. His beast roared in outrage when he didn’t move.

  She needed time still. Needed to reconcile her newly forming life with him. Turning from the field, he reached for his clothes. As much as he’d love to give chase, he had stuff to do. Later, he’d ask her about this little show she put on for him. Later, he’d teach her what happened when she tempted the beast.

  The day had been more productive than he’d Expected. After seeing Lily out behind the house, he went to Rapid City to grab a few things for his place. The image of her poised there like some modern-day Lady Godiva made concentrating hard while he picked up what he needed. Questions swirled through his head. The biggest one, what had she been thinking?

  When he returned to his house, he carried all of the bags into his room and placed them on his bed. He made room in his closet for her things then walked into his bathroom. He cleaned off a spot on the counter in the bathroom for her products, if she had any. She didn’t seem like someone who’d have a shit ton of stuff; nevertheless, he’d give her the room she needed. In his bedroom sat a brand new walnut dresser he’d bought for her.

  He’d also bought them a new bed along with new linens and comforters. He removed his name from the list of available Doms at the Dungeon, the small club nestled near the hills, as well. No point in poking his nose where it didn’t belong…for now. When Lily felt ready, if ever, then he’d ease her into the lifestyle and the club. Until then, he didn’t want the distraction of needy subs—there were more than a few. To put it nicely, they were the cheap whiskey and she was top shelf. Smooth as silk and went down easy.

  In the living room, he built her a bookcase. She loved to read, even though she didn’t tell anyone. With Kole Silver, the co-owner of Los Lobos Books and More’s help, he filled some of the shelves with the genres she liked and set up an open tab at the bookstore in her name. The kitchen had all the latest and greatest cooking utensils for her since she loved to cook and bake.

  With Fawn’s help, after he spoke with Kal, he digitized all of Lily’s mom’s recipes onto a tablet, and, thanks to Roland helping boost the pack’s Internet and cell coverage, he also added a few new things she might want to try. In a few short days, his house went from being a bachelor pad to a mated home.

  Once he’d finished putting everything away and had made sure the space looked presentable, he headed for the kitchen. The ingredients for their dinner waited on the counter. Chris washed his hands then set to work. Before long, the aroma of cooked deer sausage, peppers, and mushrooms permeated the air. Water boiled in the stockpot on the stove, and he added the uncooked pasta to it. Within a few minutes, he had everything put togethe
r and into the oven to finish cooking.

  By the time he had taken a quick shower and changed, the timer went off.

  He placed the glass casserole dish on a potholder then grabbed the salad Elle had made to save time and placed it next to the ziti. A quick glance at the clock let him know he had about fifteen minutes before she’d be there.

  Nervous energy built inside him. He knew the plan by heart and understood, without a shadow of a doubt, none of it would scare her off. However, the niggle of what-if raised the fine hairs on the back of his neck. What if this all blows up in my face?

  ***

  “This is such a bad idea,” Lily mumbled for no less than the third time while being primped and dressed for her “big date” with Chris.

  Since she’d vomited up all of her secrets to her family, they never left her alone. They took some of her chores away from her so she could prepare for her encounter—which led to her stupid stunt at Fern and Henry’s place earlier that morning.

  Coming out of the woods like she had and seeing a gloriously naked Chris—his flexed back exposing the taut muscles of his shoulders—her gaze lowered to his butt, and she’d near about swallowed her tongue. If she’d thought at her tender age of fourteen the man had been built, seeing him now…sheesh. She felt lightheaded—the sound of her heart pounded in her ears. A little…a lot overwhelmed. Then he’d turned to face her. His legs were spread shoulder width apart, his shaft engorged. Dear Lord, the man was hung. Thick and long. A twinge of worry had filled the pit of her stomach.

  He’d devastated her willpower with his smirk, but the intensity in his gaze held her stock still. Then he’d taken a step toward her. Her heart pounded. Her hands grew slick with sweat. She didn’t know what to do. So, like any other brave female ensnared by her potential mate, she ran. Hard and fast for home.

  “No, it’s not a bad idea.” Fawn interrupted her thoughts. “You’re nervous. You have every right to be. I can’t tell you how anxious I was right before the Winter Solstice celebration. I thought my stomach would come tumbling out of my mouth before Kalum showed up.”

  “I thought Kru might kill me the minute he showed up at the hotel,” Gabby added from where she sat on Lily’s bed.

  “If you’ve forgotten, I returned from the dead,” Elle stated. “We’ve all been there, and so have countless others in the pack who’ve been in your shoes.”

  Lily frowned. “What if I’m making this out to be more than it is?”

  “More than it is?” Fawn laughed. “It doesn’t get much bigger than finding your mate, sweetheart.”

  She had a point. “I have the potential to make a fool out of myself.”

  “We all did.” Elle came up behind her and laid her hand on Lily’s shoulder. “I came home certain I had it all figured out. Graham picking me up shot the idea to shit. It all comes down to two things. Whether you’re a fool because you’re being mean and don’t want to be there, or you’re doing it because you’re so nervous and it happens.”

  Fawn turned the chair back toward the mirror. “What do you think?”

  Her curly hair had been pulled back into a half-updo. Her makeup enhanced her features. Her slate-colored eyes glowed with anticipation. What did she think? “Wow. I really wish my mom was here to witness this.”

  Her heart squeezed.

  “She is.” Gabby squeezed her shoulder. “I believe all our parents are.”

  Like her, Gabby had lost both of her parents at a young age. Tears welled up in her eyes. “Oh no! If I cry, I’ll make a mess of everything.” Lily gave a watery laugh as she grabbed a tissue. “I can’t say thank you enough for everything all of you have done.”

  “You don’t have to thank us.” Fawn smiled. “We’re family. We’re supposed to take care of each other.”

  “I think we should wrap this up. The guys are waiting downstairs. Up with you now.” Gabby motioned for Lily to stand. “We need to see the whole ensemble.”

  She stood then stepped away from the mirror. “What do you think?”

  Elle, with Kizzy in tow, and she had gone to Rapid City the day before and bought her a pretty little summer dress. The scoop-neck bodice complemented the knee-length skirt and had been done in a pretty floral print.

  “Stunning.” Fawn sighed wistfully. “You’re going to knock his socks off.”

  Lily studied her reflection in the mirror. She didn’t look like herself. Older, a bit wiser, perhaps. Sometimes, she felt as though everyone saw her as a kid still, not a grown woman, and maybe she saw herself the same way.

  Until today.

  “He’s going to be tripping over himself tonight,” Elle added.

  “And if he doesn’t,” Gabby interjected, “I’ll get Hombre and Blackjack after him.”

  She laughed. “I’ll remember that, just in case.” She hugged each of her mated sisters then took a deep breath. “It’s now or never.”

  Chapter Seven

  Lily stepped up to Chris’s door and knocked. His lands were open with tons of room to run if he wanted. The house, though small, was new. She wondered if perhaps Ross built the place for Chris after he came home.

  Not fancy by any means, it did give off a homey vibe. Welcoming in the masculine touches. Above the door hung a right-side-up horseshoe, ensuring prosperity and luck for those who entered the home. Across from her, a porch swing swung in the gentle breeze. Would they sit there in the future, watching their children then grandchildren play?

  The thought, though odd, felt right. Like she stood where she was supposed to be. All the questions and doubts swirling in her mind for the last few weeks disappeared. She raised her hand to knock on the door at the same moment it opened, and there stood Chris.

  Her breath left her in a rush. Dressed in dark denim jeans, a long-sleeve shirt, and a pair of brand new boots, his easy smile melted her heart. A glimmer of heat filled his whiskey-hued eyes, and her heart went on a wild gallop. “Hi,” she murmured.

  “Hi.” His gaze touched every inch of her body. He waited a beat, ramping up the adrenaline already banging around inside her before stepping aside. “Want to come in?”

  “Sure.” She took a deep breath. This was it.

  Lily stepped over the threshold, and her mouth watered. The sweet, spicy scents of Italian food mingled with garlic bread. Her stomach growled with appreciation. “I’m going to pretend you didn’t hear that.”

  Chris laughed as he placed his hand on the small of her back and directed her toward the small dining area off the living room. Everything inside his house had a masculine quality to it. A leather couch sat in front of a handcrafted coffee table. A cowhide throw lay on the floor in front of the river-rock fireplace.

  In the dining room, a small round dinner table had two places already set. All of the walls were painted a neutral color, a mix of sand and taupe. She figured he’d have painted them in dark greens or black-ish. Several of Tinks’ paintings hung there as well.

  “I like what you’ve done with the place.” Nervous energy crept through her.

  “Thanks. Ross is the man. I told him what I wanted and boom”—he motioned to the house—“he delivered. I have three bedrooms, two bathrooms. I have a special tech room in case an injured pet shows up, and something extra.”

  “I’d love to see the rest of your home.”

  He winked. “I’ll give you the grand tour of the place when we’re finished with dinner.”

  She sat in the chair he pulled out for her. “Thank you.”

  “Welcome, and it’s our house, Lily.” He returned to the kitchen and reappeared a moment later with a casserole dish. “I built this when I knew what I wanted.”

  His meaning hadn’t been lost on her. “Oh,” she mumbled. “Kind of putting the cart before the horse here, aren’t you?”