Page 40 of Country and Clove
The sandwiches and tea reinvigorated the group. Clove honestly didn’t mind spending time outside. She was used to doing most of the farmwork herself at home, especially if Waylin wasn’t available. It was nice to have two strapping lycan men to carry most of the load.
Who was she kidding, they’d carried almost all the load. So far Clove had only let the horses out to pasture and loaded up two and a half bales of hay. This was practically a vacation.
They rounded the barn to find two mares saddled up beneath the shade of an awning. Graham jumped on one without hesitation. Aaron gripped the reins on the second.
“Excuse me. Where’s my horse?” Clove eyed the two.
“I’ve not got an extra horse but I do have something you can ride.” Graham waggled his eyebrows at her. Aaron’s fist slammed into Graham so quick he didn’t even have a chance to flinch. Graham lurched back, sliding off the horse and hitting the ground like a sack of potatoes. “Why are you always hitting me?” he bellyached.
“Here.” Aaron handed Clove the reins from Graham’s horse and offered her a boost up. Clove swung onto her mount and Aaron quickly mounted his own. “You can walk.” Aaron glared down at Graham.
Graham got to his feet and smirked. “Fine. Hold onto my clothes.”
Graham stripped down before either of them could protest. He tossed Clove his clothes with a grin then shifted into his massive brown wolf. Aaron scowled as they rode out, with Graham’s wolf at the head of their small pack. Clove let out a whoop of excitement as they picked up speed, galloping off. She turned to look at Aaron who was keeping pace by her side, now wearing the same free expression.
There was so much to sort out between them. But right now, with the wind in her hair and Aaron by her side, she felt good. Her wolf emerged from its somber wallowing and barked out a tentative yip. She could feel her animal reaching out toward Aaron’s. Her heart tightened when she didn’t feel his wolf reaching back.
Let it go.She was going to enjoy this moment to the fullest, and worry about everything else later.
CHAPTER16
Dinner was followed by another night of drinking around the fire. This part of the routine felt so similar to the Ulric pack. Celebrations were often held in the green behind the complex with a plethora of alcohol and a roaring bonfire that illuminated the entire clearing. The group was rowdy tonight, and Clove soaked up the energy, though a part of her ached for home and her own close group of friends.
“Woo!” An overly muscled, dark-haired lycan with burning grey eyes jumped up, ripping his shirt off and howling to the sky. “I think it’s time for a Friday night fight!”
“Sit down, Colton,” Tawny murmured. “No one wants to fight your crazy ass tonight.”
“I’ll fight him.” Clove got to her feet without hesitation and the group gaped at her in surprise.
“You sure, sugar? He don’t usually lose. I’d hate to see him bloody up that pretty face of yours.” Tawny’s words were sweet but held a challenge.
“Oh well aren’t you just so kind and caring.” Clove doused her own voice in sucrose. “But I think I’ll give it a go.”
Tawny showed a grin that was damn near feral. “We have our fighters.”
The group howled and cheered. Aaron stood, gipping Clove by the elbow. “What are you doing?” His eyes were wild with concern.
“I’ve got this,” she assured him. Aaron’s intensely brown eyes studied her. He released a breath then moved in closer, dropping his mouth to her ear.
“Then give him hell, pretty girl.” His voice sent a shudder of electricity rippling through her body. She stepped away from him, joining Colton in a small circle to the left of the firepit. Colton had a solid foot of height on her, with muscles more thickly stacked than even Aaron. He was a brute of a man and Clove was looking forward to knocking him down a few rungs. They circled each other and the group fell silent.
“I’ll take it easy on you, hot stuff.” Colton beamed at her and she spit on the ground at his feet.
“If you do, we’ll all know it’s because you’re a coward. Saying you went easy on me gives you an out when you lose. Man up and challenge me like a true lycan and as an equal.” Clove watched her words spring a fire to life within him. Colton’s grey eyes lit.
“Be careful what you wish for.” He lunged for her. Clove knew he would. She had goaded him into making the first move when she put his pride on the line. She ducked to the left, slipping around behind him before kicking him in the ass. She was rewarded with the sight of his massive weight toppling to the ground. A round of excited cheers rallied from the crowd. He stared up from the ground in shock. “You little—”
Colton sprang to his feet, driving his body forward in the same moment. Clove met his head-on attack with a wild right hook. Her knuckles actually fractured as she threw every ounce of strength she had into the blow. It slammed into Colton’s face, knocking him off his trajectory and sending him sprawling toward the dirt. Clove shook out the pain in her hand as she moved to stand over him, ready for the next attack. Her knuckles would heal, but her pride would be forever tarnished if she lost this fight.
She peered down at Colton, giving him a nudge with her boot. He lay there as limp as an overcooked green bean with his tongue lolling out of the side of his mouth.
“She knocked him out,” someone said.Holy shit.The whole group jumped to their feet, roaring with excitement and swarming her with claps on the shoulder and triumphant cheers. She flexed her fingers. She’d feel the effects of that punch for a bit, but it would heal within the next few hours. A bottle of whisky was shoved in her face. It wasn’t her usual drink of choice but she took several pulls from the bottle before returning it. Colton sat up finally, looking dazed as he stared up at her.
“Will you marry me?” he slurred. His packmates hounded him with laughter and dragged him back into his seat. Clove moved casually back toward Aaron.
“You want a beer?” he offered. She was thoroughly enjoying the impressed look he gave her.
“Yeah, thanks.” She bit her lip as he strode away. Damn the man could wear a pair of jeans. Graham leaned in next to her, mischief twinkling in his dark eyes.
