Wolf Sings

Chapter 5

“This doesn’t mean we’ll do anything until you’re ready,” Keil said when he finally managed to drag himself away from Robyn. “We can take our time, get to know each other first. Now that I’ve found you, I can wait.”

Her bright eyes shone back at him.

TJ bumped up from behind.

“Umm, Keil, but what about—”

Keil swung his elbow and connected with TJ’s gut.

“Ugh.” The air whooshed out of TJ, but he struggled on. “I’m just saying—”

Keil turned to face his brother, careful to hold Robyn close enough that she couldn’t read his lips. “No, you’re not saying another word about this. Understand?” It was a command, said in a tone that TJ couldn’t ignore. Robyn wasn’t the only one with the Alpha voice.

TJ froze. He dropped his eyes. “Understood.”

Keil pushed Robyn away a bit and winked at her. “It’s been a tough morning and I think we could use some exercise. Ski to the top of the pass for lunch?”

She nodded with enthusiasm and slipped away to change.

Keil wanted to give her some time alone to think about everything she’d learned, but his wolf refused to let her head out unprotected. Split personalities were tough to deal with at the best of times, and right now, Keil’s wolf was pissed. It didn’t see what the problem was and why there was no marking and mating happening.

Me too, bud, Keil thought.

He let his eyes trace over Robyn’s hips as she tucked in her long-sleeved undershirt. In his mind he could already feel the weight of her body slipping over his shaft as he held onto those hips and helped her ride him. His aching cock pressed up against his ski pants and he had to adjust himself.

Again.

Yup, he was all for making the sacrifice to help her be able to shift to wolf.

Part of him wanted to send TJ back to civilization ahead of time, giving them some privacy. Only with the way TJ skied, he couldn’t be left alone. The boy would probably get lost, or break a ski, or have some other disaster.

Damn. Trapped in the bush with his mate and an unwanted chaperone.

No, it was for the best. He needed to give Robyn time to adjust. Time to talk to her family and be able to accept the changes that would take place if she triggered her wolf. It wouldn’t be fair either to make her full wolf and his mate if he died in the challenge on Sunday. It would be far better to wait until after the weekend when he’d have the proper time and energy to court her.

Even if it made every cell in his body scream in protest at the thought of waiting.

He watched as Robyn removed three avalanche monitors from the shelf and set them to the same frequency, checking the blinking lights to be sure they worked.

“No way, Keil. Oh man, you know I hate wearing those things. Tell her I don’t have to,” TJ whined.

Robyn held out the devices to the men, her eyebrow rising at the sight of TJ pulling back and hiding his hands behind his back.

“I hate them.”

Robyn’s shrug said she didn’t care what he thought as she stepped up to him, slipped the strap over his neck and fastened the waist belt. She reached up and patted TJ’s pouting cheek while she batted her eyes and gave him an evil grin.

“I feel like a dog with a collar.”

Robyn snorted and turned to make sure Keil wore his monitor correctly.

“I do this for a living, Robyn, you’ll get no complaints from me.” Keil reached and adjusted the straps around her waist, unkinking a section of elastic to make it lie flat against her body.

His fingers traced along the straps smoothing over her torso, and his heartbeat increased at the feel of her under his hands. He looked up and saw her watching him. She swallowed hard, and her tongue darted out to moisten her bottom lip.

“It’ll feel better if it’s even under your coat.” Keil’s hands paused for a moment touching the tops of her hipbones. She was halfway into the embrace of his arms, and he wanted nothing more than to complete the move and pull her to him. To feel her pressed along his whole torso. To lower his mouth to hers and taste her.

She shifted as he leaned closer, temptation pulling him, her eyes drawing him like a magnet. Closer her mouth came as he reached farther around her body with his hands to caress over her back.

A sudden sharp pain shot through his left buttock, shoving him hard into Robyn’s body as they careened backward toward the table.

“What the—?” Keil roared as he grasped Robyn and swung her around to avoid crushing her.

Behind them TJ threw gear left and right as he dug through his pack. His ski poles were tucked under his arm, extended backward, and every move he made shot the pointed tips in their direction.

“You bloody fool!” Keil attempted to grab the moving poles but they kept dancing out of reach. A sudden extra enthusiastic twist by TJ forced the poles hard toward them.

Keil pushed Robyn to the side as he shouted, “TJ, freeze!”

The solid thunk of the ski tip spearing into the wood table finally pulled TJ away from his rummaging to look closer at them.

Robyn and Keil stood side by side, the ski pole quivering as it jutted into the room from between their hips. TJ’s innocent expression was beyond irritating.

“What?”

“TJ, you’re a menace to everyone around you.” Keil growled as he yanked the offending pole out and held it to his brother.

“How did that get there?”

Keil twisted toward Robyn and, placing a hand on her shoulder, made sure she could see his lips move.

“Is there an appropriate sign to tell my younger brother that he’s a shithead and if he doesn’t watch it, I’ll tie him to the outhouse with a short leash?”

Robyn made a show of turning to face TJ and shaking her arms. Then she slowly raised her hand and flipped TJ her middle finger.

“Yeah,” Keil said, “I thought that should about cover it.”

They skied single file down the lake, Robyn following Keil as he broke trail. He insisted on going first and Robyn fought back a laugh. He was very much like Tad, refusing to let anyone work harder than him.

Still, it gave her time to let her mind wander as she simply followed the ridges he left in the snow. While everything she’d been told this morning seemed to be impossible, the proof of TJ’s change into his wolf form made it clear that this wasn’t some practical joke they were trying to put by her.

There was also the matter of her instant attraction to the large male striding in front of her. Robyn lifted her gaze to watch him ski, efficient as he worked to make tracks in the foot of soft snow that lay on the surface of the frozen lake. Something about him fascinated her.

Like a deer in the headlights of a fast-approaching truck, she was waiting for the impact to knock her silly.

The pheromones between the two of them were cooking hot. Before the little ski-pole incident, she thought she was going to end up as a snack. Heck, she’d wanted to be nibbled on. Tingles ran all over her body even thinking about Keil and his touch. The way she’d been wrapped up around him when she woke this morning, the reaction of his body to her touch. The strange way he was able to comfort her in the middle of the night. The usual repercussions from an earache would have her moving slow for the whole day, with a nagging headache to boot. One touch of his hand, a little cuddle, and the pain had drained away.

They were like a stick of dynamite and a Bic lighter. Too much more time together and something was going to blow.

She sighed as she wished for the hundredth time that Tad were here to bounce ideas off. Her brother. Was he a wolf too? He’d never said anything. If this was news to him, was he going to be surprised.

Of course if he already knew she might have to kill him.

She could already hear him complain about her acting irresponsibly and doing this trip alone. Tad always said she was going to end up meeting some strange wackos in the backcountry. He probably hadn’t thought she’d meet someone who wanted to turn her into a werewolf.

As they approached the bottom of the pass, Keil stopped and dropped his daypack. Robyn joined him and the two spent a moment enjoying the view, the sunshine on the snow, the mountains rising boldly around them. Keil nudged her arm, passing his water bottle after taking a long drink. Robyn saw him lick a drop of water left on his lip and a warm buzz shot through her. There was something erotic about sharing a water bottle that she’d never noticed before in any previous backcountry trip.

Robyn took a sip, very aware of Keil’s eyes watching her mouth, watching her throat move as she swallowed. She lowered the bottle slowly and smiled at him. This courting business was going to be fun.

“I’ll head uphill. Wait for TJ and make sure that he takes a drink. He’s known for getting dehydrated. Okay?” He brushed his fingers over her lips in a gentle caress before turning away.

Robyn stared as Keil traveled smoothly up the hill on an angle, his powerful body setting the difficult trail with seeming ease.

Wow. Mates with Mr. Studmuffin. How did she get so lucky?

Only there was trouble in paradise. Something had happened this morning right before they set out. TJ was upset and he’d been fine until Keil had cut him off.

She was going to find out why.

It took a few minutes for TJ to catch up. Robyn handed him the water bottle, holding it second longer than necessary to force him to take a close look at her. When she was sure that he was watching, she motioned toward Keil with her head. She tapped her fingers together like they were lips speaking.

TJ bit his lip. “Ah, man, this is unfair. Keil told me to stay quiet. You gotta understand, as a human, he’s my brother and I feel loyalty to him. He’s also the most powerful wolf I know, and it actually hurts to think about disobeying him.”

Robyn pointed to Keil and herself followed by linking her fingers together.

“Yeah, I know you guys are gonna be joined as mates. That means you’re strong enough that it hurts to think about disobeying you too.” He tilted his head to the side and with a pained expression asked, “I don’t suppose I can talk you into letting me off the hook?”

Robyn felt guilty for pushing him, but there was something here that she needed to know.

She spoke out loud. Soft but clear.

“Tell me.”

“Arghhhhh! Damn. Fine, I’ll spill. Keil didn’t tell you the whole truth about mates. It’s not something you can put off that easy. He’s trying to give you time to adjust to the whole idea of being a wolf and all that. He’s being noble.” TJ stared up the hillside where Keil was making the first switchback. “Keil is going to challenge for the leadership of our pack on Sunday. He’s way stronger than the other guy, and I know Keil can win.

“Only the challenge is in both human and wolf form, and it can get a little messy, especially if either challenger’s wolf isn’t under control.

“The longer you and Keil wait to finish mating, the more distracted his wolf is going to get. I’m not trying to get you into bed with Keil. Well, yeah, I am. The sooner, the better. Because if you don’t get marked and mated before the weekend, Keil’s wolf is going to be so agitated that I’m afraid for the outcome of the challenge.”

TJ swung his gaze back to meet hers. “I’m afraid for you too, because it could be dangerous to be around the pack. Since you and Keil kissed and snuggled last night, your wolf has started to rise to the surface, and you’re giving off sex pheromones like crazy. All of the unmated males are going to be real interested. I don’t think Keil’s aware of it because he’s attracted to you already. I feel it, but I know you’re his and I’m making myself ignore it.”

Robyn nodded her understanding and reached to brush TJ’s cheek in thanks with a quick touch. His eyes closed for a second, then he coughed.

“Um, Robyn? You need to know, wolves are into touchy-feely stuff, and as much as I like you to touch me, you’d better not do that again until after you and Keil get hitched. ’Cause right now I don’t think he could stand to scent you on anyone, and I’m kinda fond of my balls staying attached to my body.”

He handed back the water bottle and motioned for her to take the lead up the hill.

They climbed, using the long shallow switchbacks Keil had set to make the ascent easier. Robyn glanced over her shoulder to see TJ following behind, slow and steady, his skis skittering off to the side every few steps. He was terribly uncoordinated on two feet.

By the time they reached the top of the pass, Robyn was sweating nicely and feeling a warm glow of satisfaction from the exertion. Keil had pulled out a small cook stove and fired it up to heat water for a drink.

“You’re a good skier, Robyn. Kept the pace nicely.” Keil’s compliment warmed her even more as she sat facing him, able to look over the mountains that ranged downward to the Pacific Ocean and still see his face. She breathed a relaxed sigh as she let her gaze wander over the sunlit peaks. A squeeze on her knee brought her attention back to Keil.

“Are you hungry?”

She nodded and pulled her pack closer to dig out the food she’d brought. She passed him a couple of her homemade granola bars and watched with pleasure the expression on his face as he bit into them.

“These are delicious. Did you buy them in Whitehorse?”

She shook her head no and nodded yes while pointing to herself.

“You didn’t buy them, but you got them. Did you make them?”

She nodded.

The admiration in Keil’s eye’s increased. “Hmmmm. She cooks too.” He leaned forward slowly and planted a gentle kiss on her lips. They stared at each other for a minute, desire rising between them like a tangible cloud before the boiling water brought Keil back to earth.

“You guys are too fast.” TJ’s red face as he dropped beside Keil made Robyn laugh. “Oh sure, laugh it up at the slowpoke. I’ll have you know that once you can shift to wolf, I’ll be able to beat your butt in a race anytime. Right, Keil?”

Keil handed Robyn a cup of hot sweet tea. “Other than suggesting you not even think about Robyn’s butt ever again, I will agree that you are very fast as a wolf. Robyn, I know this has been an information overload with everything we’ve thrown at you—”

Robyn waved her hand to cut him off. She deliberately turned her back on him and pointed over the mountains, over the whole panorama until she faced them.

“She’s right, Keil. Shut up for a minute and enjoy the view.”

“I know but—”

“But nothing. It’s too hard to talk right now. Relax. Or don’t you know how? You need to lighten up a little, bro. It’s not all pack politics, life-and-death situations, Captain Kirk, I mean Keil, to the rescue.”

Keil looked up to see Robyn watching as TJ spoke, and she nodded. She held her hand to him and he rose to join her. She pulled off her glove to trace her fingers down his cheek before twisting around and settling her back against him as she admired the view.

He was very serious, Robyn realized. He couldn’t be much older than she was, and he was planning on taking on the leadership of a large group of, well, if she guessed right, rather headstrong individuals.

She could help him learn to relax. She stifled a giggle.

Keil’s strong arms supported her, coming around her torso and pulling her tight into his rock-solid frame. Too bad winter clothing made everything extra bulky, but she could still appreciate the feel of his firm body.

She turned and slipped her hands behind his neck. As their lips brushed together, she tightened her hold and lifted her feet off the ground to let her full body weight drag at him.

The surprise move worked and they fell to the snow. Robyn tried to slip away as they hit the ground but he held her as he rolled over to end up lying on top of her, pinning her in place.

“That was sneaky, Robyn.” Keil stared at her, shifting his hips to let her know she was trapped. “I think you should pay a forfeit for that little trick.” He lowered his head and nuzzled against her neck, and Robyn felt him taking deep breaths. His tongue shot along her bare skin, and she shivered as a wave of desire scurried through her body, over her breasts and settled in her womb like a ticking time bomb.

Man, oh man, this guy was potent.

With a groan Keil rose from her body and pulled her to her feet.

“It’s getting late and if we want to be back to the cabin in daylight, we’d better ski. Stay away from the right side on the descent, the snow seems unstable.” Robyn nodded, swallowing hard from the extra moisture in her mouth. Keil traced a finger over her lips and winked at her. “I’ll claim my forfeit back at the cabin.”

The three of them packed up their things, and this time Robyn led the way, skiing down the side of the mountain using telemark turns. She stopped a quarter of the way down and waited for the others to catch up. Keil stopped beside her, TJ farther to the side.

“Nice turns, Robyn.” Keil said. “Let me go first, I want to watch you from below this time.” He set off, making the lunging motions that cause cross-country skis to turn in the deep snow of the mountainside.

Robyn admired his skill as well. The people that she and Tad skied with in the mountains were all experts and Keil would fit in just fine. She caught up with him and they both turned to watch TJ do his descent.

His bright red jacket looked good on him and that was the most positive thing she could say about his technique. TJ didn’t ski, he threw his legs about in a mad scramble like he was wearing rollerblades. Ski poles rotated in the air, snow flew everywhere. Robyn bit her lip to keep from laughing.

Then her breath caught in her throat. She saw the snow slab drop and a large crack appear on the hillside above where TJ headed, too far into the dangerous side and completely out of control.

Robyn stared in horror as the side of the mountain behind TJ slid away in an avalanche, pulling his windmilling figure down the slope to the right of them. The ground underfoot shook for a moment but the snow pack where they stood was solid enough. Frantically she looked back and forth over the settling powder and clouds of fine snow to try to see any sign of TJ.

Nothing but the disturbed surface of the mountainside greeted their eyes.