Page 22 of Gabe's Lone Wolf

“When we first left here this morning, I’d planned to offer you breakfast and the chance to shift into fur to go for a run. Plus, we still haven’t gotten to your vehicle.”

A lot had happened in the last few hours. Things that included us christening a few more places in the house.

“A run sounds amazing,” Eliza murmured as her fingers traced lazy circles over my chest.

“We won’t go far. Just into the woods behind the house here. We’ll plan a longer run later.”

“I’ll take what I can get.”

“How long’s it been since you were able to let your wolf loose?” I asked.

“Other than a brief moment here and there…” She paused, shrugging. “Years.”

“He deserves death for that alone,” I swore.

Robbing her of communing with her wolf on a regular basis was unforgiveable. How the hell was this guy still alive? Why hadn’t anyone in his pack taken him out long ago? They couldn’t all be willing to follow him.

“What about you?” Eliza asked. “When did you join the James Pack?”

“Why don’t I tell you while we head outside?”

I picked up my phone and shot a quick text to Simon to tell him Eliza and I were going for a short run. Lockhart and his group were still out there, and I wasn’t taking her safety for granted. I was sure our pack had already made sure the rumors of our mating had reached Lockhart’s ears. I wouldn’t put it past him to try to attack us in our home. Intelligence didn’t seem to be his strong suit. He was more into brute force and fear mongering.

Eliza rose from the bed, unabashedly naked. She was beautiful. Head to toe perfection in my eyes. I took her hand and led her through the glass slider out to the sprawling backyard.

“Interestingly enough, I was on the run much as you were when you came here looking for help. I wasn’t looking for help. I was young and cocky and fancied myself invincible.”

“Why were you on the run?” Eliza asked.

“My father wasn’t a great guy. He’d made some enemies that were even worse. When they couldn’t find him, they came after me. I took off to lead them away from my pack. I stumbled into Bas and Bee along the way, but it was Simon who found me. I’d been jumped by a party of ten wolves. Numbers were not on my side.”

“I can see you’re here, but how the hell did you and Simon get out of that?”

I grinned. “You wouldn’t know it to look at Simon, but he’s the deadliest wolf I’ve ever seen. I’ve only seen him lose control once, and even then, he didn’t really lose it.”

“Simon?” Eliza questioned.

“He’s Bas’ personal security. Some see him driving Bas here and there and disregard him as a chauffeur or an employee. But I’ve watched Simon tear through seven wolves while I took on three, and there wasn’t enough of them left to identify when Simon was done. He’s deadly. He saved my life and became one of my best friends.”

Eliza seemed to soak in my words. “When did he lose control? Or almost lose it?”

“When his mate was taken hostage in her home by a woman who lusted after Simon and the father of a wolf who tried to hurt Taylor’s mate Rebbie. Simon was holding on by a thread when I got there.”

“What happened?”

“He tore the man to pieces. Left the woman to Cici. She might be human, but his mate kicks some serious ass.”

“I like her. Rebbie, too.”

“I’m glad. Taylor, Simon, and I are always hanging out. Which means their mates are usually there, too. The six of us will spend a lot of time together, if that’s okay.”

“I’ve never really had friends,” Eliza admitted, and there went another mark against Lockhart. “I think I’d really enjoy it.”

She leaned into me, her nipples brushing my chest as she kissed me softly on the lips.

“I’m glad Simon was there when you needed him.”

“Me, too,” I agreed. “Now, let’s shift and let our wolves have some fun.”

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