Rogue Wolf (Protector Wolf Shifter Series Book 3), page 8
He locked the back door, then headed for his room instructing everyone he passed along the way to meet out front. Once everyone gathered, they could form a convoy to the hut.
Tamaska sat on Kodiak's queen-sized bed, wearing clean clothes that she'd borrowed from one of the pack's females. The scent told Kodiak that the jeans and top belonged to Ash. Her bag sat untouched, like she was too shamed to open it.
Tamaska’s eyes lit up as soon as they locked on his. He wanted to scoop her into his arms to hold her tight, but there wasn’t time, and he had to be careful going forward, until things were sorted one way or the other.
“Are you all right?” he asked, standing in front of her. His temperature spiked from the proximity.
“I’m fine. I haven’t caused any problems.” Her eyes flashed with a defiance that simultaneously got under his skin and turned him on.
“She’s concussed. She'll need a night watch.” Roan packed up his first-aid kit.
“No, that’s not necessary,” said Tamaska. “I’ll be fine. I’m ready to help out.”
Roan shook his head, snapping his bag shut. “Concussions are serious. You need to be careful, like I told you. This isn’t something you can just brush off.”
That wasn’t the news Kodiak wanted to hear. He didn’t have time to watch Tamaska, not with the upcoming funeral and the Alpha ceremony. And he wanted her safe. Under his watch, his care.
“Are you good to go?” he asked Tamaska.
“Yes.” She stood up quickly, swayed, and started to fall to the side.
Automatically, Kodiak caught her, wrapping his arms tight around her. Kodiak felt her sigh into his embrace, as if giving herself over to him. But then she stiffened, sensing his distance.
He couldn’t help it. There was too much for him to juggle right now, and she was just another ball. That wasn’t fair. Or true. But right now he had to think of her like that, no matter how much he just wanted to hold and soothe her.
“Tamaska—”
“Don’t I deserve you pulling away, I know that.” She pushed his hands away from her.
He half reached out then let his hands drop. “It’s not like that.”
“It is. We both know it. It has to be.” Her voice was a little broken and it killed him.
He missed holding her, and wished he could given her more reassurance. But she was right. couldn't right now, not so quickly after she’d defied him. Things needed to be done a certain way.
“I’ll lock up. Go with Roan, and meet me out front,” he said.
Sadness clouded her eyes. She lifted her chin, and he braced for an argument.
“Fine,” She said tightly. “I’m here. Obeying.”
Fucking Tamaska, and a part of him wanted to smile even as it irked her. Defiant in her obedience. What else would she do but that? She got it, but not deep down. Not in the soul of things.
Not yet.
But…she tried.
She stalked out of his bedroom. He punched the air and growled softly. Time wasn’t on his side. He had to get moving. He quickly but systematically moved through the living quarters, ensuring all the windows and doors were locked.
Camera lights winked red at him as he walked from room to room. The security system was working better than ever.
Satisfied that everything was locked up, Kodiak went to the front of the clubhouse, where the others waited.
They all looked at him as he approached the pack. Tamaska stood to the side of the group with her arms folded over her chest, lines of exhaustion circling her eyes. It didn’t bode well that she wasn’t mingling with any of the pack.
“Ready?” asked Kodiak.
A few nodded. Some met his gaze, their eyes full of grief. A reverent silence lay heavy in the early night air.
Kodiak scanned the group, taking note of their number and planning who would travel with whom in the few vehicles they had available. Fern looked grumpy, even more so every time Jaha inched closer to her. She wouldn't like it if Jaha had to drive.
Ash leaned against Onai's car, which was equipped with its new plates. She held her laptop in one hand while typing with the other.
“Ash, you’re with me, Tamaska, and Roan,” announced Kodiak. He trusted those two the most with Tamaska right now. Plus, he hoped Ash might’ve found something important in her research. A few hours of driving together in the car would be the perfect time to debrief.
Ash looked up and nodded, snapping the laptop shut, and walked over to Kodiak's car.
“The rest of you, follow behind. And Fern—” He paused until she turned and looked at him. “You listen to Jaha.”
The look of pride on Jaha’s face made Kodiak's comment worthwhile.
Kodiak grinned, then strode to his car. At least driving would help to ease the tension he carried.
“I’m riding shotgun.” Roan got into the front passenger-side seat.
Kodiak didn’t correct Roan. Tamaska got in the backseat with Ash.
“Sorry,” added Roan as he put on his seat belt. “I get carsick easily. Best for everyone if I’m in the front.”
“Fine with me,” Tamaska said. Kodiak detected an edge in her voice. He sensed she wanted to be with him, alone, but once more the pack's needs were placed above their relationship.
She has to get used to this if she’s going to be my mate.
More than that, Kodiak needed to find a way to explain what seemed unexplainable, this unfamiliar world, to Tamaska before she did something else to put all of their lives at risk.
CHAPTER 9
Kodiak
Foot hard on the gas, Kodiak sped away from Sydney down the Great Western Highway. The city lights blurred behind him as the scent of death faded. He longed for the fresh air and open space at the hut. His wolf pushed hard at the surface, begging for the chance to be free and enjoy nature.
Driving ordinarily helped Kodiak relax. Not tonight, not when the risk of a vampire attack still remained.
Then, there was Tamaska.
He could smell her, feel her, and the force of their bond unnerved him. How had such a strong bond formed between him and a human? It didn’t help that every time he looked in the rearview mirror, he saw her looking at him with an expression of confusion and hurt on her face.
Tamaska didn’t say a word—though, from time to time, her mouth would open as if to speak. Instead, she would sigh.
It's her own fault. He had every right to be angry at her. And he tried to hold onto the anger as it gave him distance.
But his anger cooled too quickly with her, just like he knew it wasn’t entirely true, that it was all her fault.
Kodiak needed to tell her more about the pack, about the bond between them that she couldn’t ignore. Then, he needed to explain the details of the change. Bring her into that ultimate decision, just as Ash had said.
But not before I have more information. I don’t want her risking her life if it’s too dangerous.
He adjusted the rearview mirror, glancing at the backseat instead of scanning for any traffic coming from behind. Tamaska’s gaze sent a ripple of pleasure through him. He quickly looked at Ash, who was busy on her laptop.
You found anything? He asked Ash through the pack connection, searching for a distraction from the things Tamaska stirred within him.
Fuck, Kodiak. It’s only been a few minutes, Ash answered without looking up from the screen. Her fingers didn’t even slow as they typed.
It’s been the better part of an hour.
I’m not that good.
You are.
She harrumphed.
Tamaska glanced between them, trying to work out what they were communicating.
Another thing he had to explain to her. Another thing to add to his ever-growing list of burdens.
Leave me alone. I need to concentrate.
Kodiak withdrew, not wanting to further disturb Ash.
“What was that about?” asked Tamaska, a soft pleading in her tired voice.
Even without seeing her, Kodiak felt her glare burn into him and it set off the familiar heat inside him that both pulled him to her and turned him on, and riled him. Jesus. The others had to be picking up on that. Something he didn’t need.
Kodiak pressed harder on the gas instead of answering her. The sooner they reached their destination the better. He swerved around a vehicle going a little too slow, the driver honking, and he cut the corner too fast, and he narrowly missed hitting another car.
“Fuck,” he muttered.
Roan paled, still next to Kodiak in the passenger’s seat.
“Don’t you go puking in my car, Roan,” warned Kodiak.
Roan inhaled, then held his breath and clutched at the door handle.
“It wouldn’t be a problem if you knew how to drive,” said Tamaska.
Kodiak shot her a dark stare. “Don’t comment on things you don’t understand.”
“I understand the concept of driving. And you’re doing a bad job. Both Roan and Ash would tell you if they weren’t so bogged down in pack rules of never calling you out on something. They should be able to.” Her hand flew to her head.
“Not this again,” Kodiak said. His foot remained heavy on the accelerator. “You don’t understand.”
“Fuck you, Kodiak. I understand that dictatorships don’t work. I get there are rules. And maybe because I’m human I see it differently, but I don’t think so. You wanted to argue with Olcan all the time. So—”
“This isn’t the time, Tamaska,” Ash said. “Everyone’s stressed, including you.”
“Maybe I can’t ever fit in. Maybe you don’t want me to,” she said to him. “You were so angry with me and adamant about me obeying you never let me tell you what happened.”
“I know what happened. You fucked up.”
“Both of you,” Ash said, “stop it.”
“Ash…” He gripped the wheel hard and swerved around another car, ignoring Roan’s soft sounds of protest.
Ash half closed her computer. “She has a point. We’re a cohesive group with delineated places, but it’s not a dictatorship and Olcan wanted you precisely because you poked and prodded and annoyed him. You made it fairer and gave us room to speak, so how—”
“Not the time, Ash.”
“And me?” Tamska asked. “Maybe you just don’t want me.” He could hear the pain in her voice. “I got more information out of Amdis than you, and that’s really saying something. Maybe I’ve chosen the wrong side.”
His blood turned cold at her last words but she was clearly just trying to rile him, right?
“What the fuck are you talking about?” Kodiak asked. A low, heavy growl erupted from him. How could she fucking get under his skin like that with just a few sentences? “You want to be with that bloodsucker, be my guess.”
“She didn’t mean it, Kodiak,” interjected Ash. “Did you?”
“I did, too.”
“Tamaska…” Ash shut her mouth, took a breath and opened her laptop. “You’re both ridiculous. Work it out yourselves or I swear I’ll challenge for Alpha.” The sound of the typing filled the car again.
“I can stop and leave you for the vampires right here,” said Kodiak, taking his foot off the gas. “If you want.”
“I didn’t mean it, I’m sorry.” Tamaska shifted in her seat, moaning.
Kodiak could feel emotion vibrating within her. Her pulse quickened, and fear flooded her body, he smelled that. Did she mean what she’d said? Did that fucker do something to her? Or was she pushing his buttons. He gritted his teeth.
“Don’t say anything like that again, or I’ll deliver you to Amdis myself,” he growled.
“Because he told me things?”
“No. Because you claim you chose the wrong side.” Then he paused. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
“I didn’t…I didn’t mean that. You should know that. But he said some things and you never let me tell you. Just shoved me away in your room under watch.”
Kodiak hit the brakes. Tires screeched as he rolled onto the side of the road. Loose stones spun beneath rubber and flicked the underside of the car.
Tamaska screamed, grabbing the door to steady and brace herself as she flung forward. The seatbelt snapping her back as the car abruptly stopped.
“Fuck, Kodiak. That wasn’t necessary,” said Ash, readjusting her laptop.
Roan opened the door and stumbled out to throw up.
Kodiak turned and glared at Tamaska. “You want me to listen? I’m fucking listening now. This isn’t a game. So, spill.” It took all his self-control to remain in his seat.
“Okay, just…” She took a shuddering breath as she massaged her temple and his heart both ached and raged. How she could pull him in so many directions at the same time baffled. “He…he said something about the opal.”
“Got that.”
“He said the Blood Opal gives the vampires power. It rejuvenates them, makes them stronger.”
“And allows them to walk in the light,” said Kodiak softly. Shit. Maybe she had a point about his hard ass stance but he needed to while they all transitioned into the new pack order. And with the fucking vampires…
Vampires who could walk in light. “Weak light. It’s why Amdis didn’t burn up into dust, isn’t it?” And they had the opal.
Worse, it looked like they needed Tamaska for something to do with it. Did that mean if they got her, really got her, their powers would increase more?
“Fuck, if the opal comes to full power, could they walk in full daylight?”
“I don’t know. He didn’t mention that.”
Frustration bit Kodiak like a swarm of angry ants. He had to prepare for the worst, whether Tamaska could confirm it or not.
But he kept circling back to the importance of Tamaska to the bloodsuckers.
“And your blood will activate the Blood Opal, or something like that?”
She closed her eyes a long moment and nodded. “Something like that.”
“Fuck, we have to get the gem back.” It wouldn’t be enough just to protect Tamaska. But then, he had always known that.
“Amdis said there was something about my blood…”
“What about it?” If Amdis had told Tamaska something that might help, Kodiak had to know.
“That my blood is the reason why I’m attracted to you…I don’t know what that means.” She looked at him, misery bright. “Maybe that means it’s why you want me. It’s just blood, not because…not…”
Not because he loved her.
She thought that?
She thought her worth to him was nothing more than a trick of fucking blood?
“If that were true I woudn’t have disliked you when we met.”
Her lip trembled. “B-but there’s something weird about my blood. Am I some kind of freak, Kodiak? It’s not enough to be a freak for being human to your pack, I have to be a freak to the world because there’s something wrong with my blood?”
Damn, Kodiak. Do something… Ash’s thought hit him full on.
He didn’t even spare her a glance. She was right. But this wasn’t in his set of skills. How the fuck was he meant to soothe a human female. It wasn’t like he could just have sex with her here, in front of the others.
“Tamaska… No. You’re not a freak.”
Kodiak softened a little toward Tamaska. The world she knew had been shattered, and he needed to help her. But there was so much to teach in so little time that he didn’t know where to start.
He ran his hand through his hair, shaking his head. Thoughts surfaced like young pups, all demanding attention.
She nodded and rubbed her temple again. “Amdis said it has to do with my ancestry, but I have no idea what he’s talking about. My parents and grandparents, who immigrated to Australia, were normal.”
Kodiak’s eyes widened. “They did. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“This is Australia. Most of us have immigrant ancestors.”
He glanced at Ash now, “Do you think this could help us? Now we know.”
“Not sure,” she said, looking over at Tamaska. “But the things she’s said about Amdis might be helpful. I’ll look into everything.”
“Another mistake I’ve made,” his woman said.
“No. Just…” He paused. “Make sure you tell me, or Ash, or someone in the pack if you get information like that again, or anything that comes to mind, really.”
“I didn’t think you’d believe it, coming from me.” She turned and stared out the window at the night and the passing cars. “I have nothing to add to the pack, nothing but trouble, do I?”
“You do have a lot to add to the pack,” said Kodiak. “It might not seem like it now, but that’s just because we’re in the early days. The others will adjust. Just hang in there.”
“He gets there eventually,” Ash said, so he could hear.
Kodiak gripped the steering wheel tightly. It was even more important now to get to the hut, complete the ceremony, and officially step into his role as alpha.
His theory must be correct. Tamaska was superhuman. Even more, it seemed like she might have wolf shifter genes. Some shifters had dormant genes, allowing their human half to dominate their wolf side.
She was too vulnerable to hear that right now; Tamaska would take it as proof he didn’t care. But if it was true and she had those genes, then maybe the risk for change would turn out non existent.
“Got all that, Ash?” asked Kodiak. Through the pack connection, he sensed Ash wanted to speak to him.
He knew her well enough that she was giving him the necessary space to talk to Tamaska. “What else do you need to know, Ash?”
“Got it. What’s your last name, Tamaska?” asked Ash. “When did your grandparents come to Australia, and what city did they travel from?”
“Lane. They came to Australia in 1921 from Seattle.”
“Unusual.” Ash struck the keyboard hard and fast to enter the new information. “Most migrants came during the goldrush and after the second world war. Mostly from China and then Europe respectively. So this might make finding something easier.”
Roan slipped back into the car. “What did I miss?”
