Chapter Ten

Clint wiped the sweat from his brow as he reached the street. The morning was cold, but with his shifter blood it isn’t too much for him to handle. Dressed in a pair of running pants and a sweatshirt, along with a beanie, he was quite comfortable.

He stopped at the post office to check his PO box and collect his mail.

“Clint!”

Glancing over his shoulder, he spotted Mrs. Garcia waving at him from the door. Clint grabbed the few pieces of mail then locked up. He rushed over to where the older lady was waiting on him.

“Mrs. Garcia,” he said. “Is everything okay?”

“Of course.” She patted his shoulder. “I wanted to make sure you boys were doing all right.”

“We are,” Clint said.

“I heard you boys are buying the old Meadow place,” she said.

“That was quick,” he muttered. Kurt had left him a voice message that he’d spoken to Ralph Meadow and the man was more than willing to sell. He’d stopped by the compound after leaving Sara’s that morning, but Kurt had been in a meeting with the Alphas so Clint went for his morning run. Okay, he wanted to see Sara. But he still needed exercise.

“Small town,” Mrs. Garcia said. “I wanted to let you know that my grandson has a painting business. He does very good work. I would make him give you a good deal.”

“It wouldn’t happen to be George’s, would it?” Clint asked. He was already smiling.

“Yes! You’ve heard of him?”

“I believe Kurt is calling him this morning,” Clint said. “Sara told us about him. That was who she recommended.”

“That girl.” Mrs. Garcia grinned. “Such a good girl.”

“She is,” Clint agreed.

“I’ll let you go. I’ll talk to my George and tell him to treat you good.”

Clint had no doubt that even without Mrs. Garcia’s word George would take care of them. Still, he needed to get used to the small town. It was like a Pack. People coming together and helping. Everyone knowing everyone else’s business. He had to open himself up to the humans like he did his Pack.

“Okay, Mrs. Garcia,” Clint said. “You have a good day, ma’am.”

“You, too.” She hurried down the sidewalk. Wow, she moved pretty damn well for a woman who had to be in her late seventies. Amazing.

He turned, then headed toward Sara’s shop. There was a steady stream of people going in and out. With the weather taking an even bigger turn toward the cold, it wasn’t surprising that the residents of Lovington needed something to warm them up.

He held the open door as two young teens came rushing out. They were laughing and joking but stopped to apologize real quick before going on their way. Clint shook his head, then made his way toward the counter.

Cecil worked the espresso machine as Sara visited with the customers.

“Hey, handsome,” Sara greeted. She leaned over the counter and kissed him right there in front of everyone.

Well, if the town wasn’t aware of their relationship before, they would be now. Clint was proud. Sara had just claimed him.

“You’re sweaty,” she complained. But she smiled.

“That’s what happens when you go running,” he said. “Having a good morning?”

“I am,” she said. “Now suck on this.”

It was probably a good thing that the customers had all gone to sit, because Clint moaned at her words. “What is it?” he asked as he pulled the frozen drink toward him. “And why are you making frozen drinks on a day like this?”

“It’s frozen hot chocolate,” she said. “Cecil found the recipe online and we thought we would try it out. It’s pretty good.”

A frozen hot chocolate. Well, Clint would give it a try if she wanted him to. “If I drink this, can I have my regular?”

She laughed. “I promise. Just tell me what you think.”

He took a sip. Then another. Not bad, not bad at all.

“He likes it!” Cecil pointed. “I knew it.”

Surprisingly the drink was really good. With a rich flavor and creamy smooth texture. While he’d never been a fan of hot chocolate, since he preferred to get his caffeine from coffee, he could see himself indulging in this treat every once in a while.

“I think you should add it to the menu,” he told them.

“Already done,” Sara said. She glanced over at Cecil. “When Cecil has a good idea, I’ve learned to listen. Most of the unique combinations on the menu are his.”

Clint nodded. He was reaching for his large cup of coffee when his cell rang. He frowned and pulled his phone from his pocket.

“Hey, Kurt,” he said. “Want me to bring you a coffee?”

“I got a call from one of the guards. He thinks he might have spotted Bobby Gibson outside the woods.”

Clint stepped away from counter to a quiet corner of the shop. “Where?” He had a bad feeling.

“Three blocks from Sara’s house,” Kurt replied. “It was one of the guards going between the compound and Sara’s who called.”

“Fuck,” he spat. “I’m on my way.”

“I think we should approach him from the compound side. I’m going to shift and bring some of the other guards with me. You come in from the south.”

“You want me to shift, as well?” he asked.

“No, you can come in as human. If you enter behind Sara’s block, you shouldn’t be seen. The guard thinks Gibson is there to stay for a while, so that should give us plenty of time to get into position.”

“I’m leaving now,” he said. Clint disconnected the call.

Sara was around the counter and holding his cup out to him. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah, should be. I have to go, but I’ll see you later?”

“You’ll come by tonight?” she asked.

Clint hadn’t spent a night away from her. He didn’t plan to unless she told him that was what she wanted. “How about I bring dinner tonight?” he asked. It was normal for Sara to provide their evening meal, but he wanted to do something for her. Since he couldn’t cook, the next best thing would be to bring her something.

She perked up. “Pizza?”

Damn, she was perfect. “Pepperoni?”

“Yes, please.”

He leaned in and gave her a quick kiss. Hopefully he could get Bobby in custody of the sheriff and pick up dinner on time. “I’ll see you later.”

Clint strolled down the sidewalk, heading in the direction he’d need to go without trying to draw attention to himself. Just heading out after seeing his girl and grabbing a cup of coffee. That was what he wanted the residents to think.

He was both disturbed and relieved to get the call on Bobby. Relieved that they could out the man behind bars where he belonged. But it pissed him off that he’d been right about Bobby being a danger to Sara. Why else would he be in her neighborhood?

Clint knew that it would be a real test in his control when he was in front of Bobby. This was the deputy who’d betrayed all of them. Bobby had turned his back on the town that had taken him in and accepted him as one of their own. He might have gotten Clint, but Bobby Gibson was a coward.

Taking a drink of his coffee, he had to smile. Sara did brew the best cup he’d ever tasted. He could barely stomach the crap that he managed to make.

Quick, he downed the cooling brew before he tossed the cup into a trashcan.

Now that he was getting off the main street, he could pick up his pace. He jogged across the road to follow the trail that would lead him to where Bobby should be hiding out. He was going to have to use his senses to sniff out the man, but that would be fun. A little hunting before they took Gibson down once and for all.

Once surrounded by the forest, Clint stopped and breathed deep. It was true that his senses weren’t as strong in his human form, but he could still find his prey. This time, Kurt wouldn’t be stepping in between him and his target. Clint wasn’t going to allow Bobby Gibson to get away again.

He stepped over branches and around large boulders as he made his way north. Clint could still see the outline of the houses in the neighborhood. He was only a few blocks from Sara’s. If he continued on the trail, he could even take it to the house that Kurt had fallen in love with. Clint was already thinking about it as being Kurt’s.

This small town was going to be his home, one way or another. Already residents like Mrs. Garcia were making him feel welcome. To return the favor, Clint needed to ensure their safety.

A crack of a branch snapped to his left and Clint ducked behind a fallen log. His hand slipped on the moss that had collected and he bit back a curse. Still, he hunkered down to wait.

Shifter. Young. Male.

The scent that reached him was a little familiar. He grinned. One of the guards was heading in his direction. If Clint had been human, he’d never have heard the guard approaching. But this was going to be a good lesson for this young man to learn.

Clint shuffled around until he could get into position. He currently stood downwind, so luck was on his side. As the guard moved into his eyeline, Clint came up from behind. It was a simple task and Jody, indeed one of the youngest guards, who was normally on gate patrol, instincts should be screaming at him. Instead Jody walked forward, appearing not to have a care in the world.

Yeah, Clint had a lot more training in store for his men and women.

He crept behind Jody. At the same time as he clamped a hand down on Jody’s shoulder, he also covered the other shifter’s mouth. A muffled yell was all that escaped.

“You will write me an essay for every wrong step you took,” Clint whispered in Jody’s ear. “Then we’re going to go step by step and I’ll teach you to be the best damn tracker in the Pack.”

As soon as Clint started talking, Jody relaxed.

Clint chuckled. He released Jody and the young guard turned.

Jody was shaking his head. “Kurt sent me to find you. You weren’t supposed to find me.”

“I have more experience than you,” Clint told him. “Where is our fearless leader?”

“Back that way.” Jody pointed over his shoulder. “They haven’t spotted Gibson yet. Do you think he took off?”

“No,” Clint murmured. “He’s hiding in here. Which is pretty stupid since us shifters thrive in nature.” If Bobby had been smart, he’d have stayed away from where the shifters were patrolling.

Clint closed his eyes and concentrated on the forest surrounding him. His instincts told him to continue on his path. He waved for Jody to follow. Opening his eyes, he strolled quietly back in search of his prey.

It only took another ten minutes before Clint knew he’d chosen the right direction. He motioned for Jody to stop and crouch down. Luckily the young shifter followed his directions.

He could smell Gibson. The strong odor of unwashed flesh and fear.

Why hadn’t he left with Carter’s other people? What would be the purpose of staying in town? Clint didn’t know. But he did know Gibson was terrified.

Good, the man should get a little taste of his own medicine before he was locked up for kidnapping. Using hand gestures that Jody would be able to follow, Clint directed the guard to circle around where Bobby was huddled against an old oak trunk. He was sleeping. Jesus, the fucking guy was asleep as Clint hunted for him.

Even as he shook his head, he stomped directly toward Bobby. He didn’t even slow down. Merely strolled forward until he reached the human who wasn’t aware of his presence.

“Wakey, wakey.” He dropped to his knees so he was looming over Bobby.

Bobby fluttered his eyes, then opened them to look up at Clint. He started to scream, but Clint wrapped his hand around Bobby’s throat.

“Nope,” Clint growled. “No screaming.”

The utter terror and desperation that wafted from Bobby had Clint needing to fight back every instinct telling him to tear the human limb from limb. But Clint wasn’t a monster. Not like Dan Carter or the others thought he was.

He rose, pulling Bobby up along with him. Jody stepped around the tree, shaking his head.

“That was too easy,” Jody said. It was obvious that he was disappointed. So was Clint.

“I know,” Clint replied. “Maybe I should let him go. He could run and we can give chase.”

“Even with a head start, he wouldn’t be a real challenge,” Jody argued.

Bobby was shaking and crying. His eye bugged out, even though Clint wasn’t choking him. He held the man tighter, but Bobby could still breathe.

“But we already caught him once,” Clint said. “That should count.”

“Maybe if we had more targets?” Jody asked. “Does he have any family?”

Bobby pissed his pants.

“Fuck,” Clint spat. He held Bobby farther away from his body.

“That’s enough,” Kurt stated as he joined them. “I swear you can corrupt anyone,” Kurt said to Clint.

“What did I do?” Clint asked.

But Kurt was already reaching for Bobby. “The sheriff is waiting.”

Clint allowed Kurt to take Bobby from his grasp. Bobby began to gasp for breath, but Clint didn’t care. A little discomfort was the least that Bobby deserved.

“We have him now,” Kurt said. Clint frowned at his best friend. “It’s over.”

“Fine.” Clint threw up his arms. “I got better things to do anyway.”

Jody bounced on the tip of his toes. “We can still have fun.”

In response, Clint raised a brow. “I don’t think that Kurt’s going to let us play with the human.”

“I’m not!” Kurt hollered from where he was dragging Bobby in the direction of the street.

“I was thinking of more of a game,” Jody said. He looked at the other shifters that had come with Kurt. “For all of us.”

“I’m intrigued,” Clint said.

“Well, we’re all heading back to the same place,” Jody said. “Why don’t we make it fun?”

“Race?” Ryan called out.

Jody rolled his eyes. “Because you’re one of the fastest? No.”

“Then what?” Ryan asked.

“Clint shifts and hides. Whoever finds him wins.”

“Uh…” Ryan glanced around. “Maybe we should pick someone else.”

“Are you saying that you won’t be able to find me?” Clint taunted.

“Pretty sure none of us will,” Ryan answered.

“Sure, you will,” Clint promised. “I’ll go easy on you. You only need to cover the distance between here and the compound.” This sounded like fun. He had a few hours to kill before he was expected at Sara’s and this could count as training. And it had been Jody’s idea, which showed he had some real interest in bettering himself.

Ryan frowned.

“I’ll make sure he doesn’t cheat,” Kurt said.

“I thought you were taking Bobby to the sheriff.” Clint turned. “And I don’t cheat.”

“He really doesn’t cheat,” Kurt told the other guys. He looked over at Clint. “The sheriff and deputies were already on their way to us. We met with them and handed Bobby over. I’m sure Sheriff Webb can handle Bobby. He’s still shaking with the fear you put in him.”

“Good,” Clint growled.

“Now, are you going to let me in on the fun?” Kurt asked. “I can make it more of a challenge for you and show these guys some tricks you’re sure to use.”

That would be better. “You stay human and the others shift,” Clint said.

Kurt nodded. “Fine. But you only get a twenty-minute head start.”

A real challenge. Clint clapped his hands together, then rubbed them. The excitement had begun the thrum through him. He tugged off his shirt before tossing it at Kurt.

Kurt laughed. “Don’t get cocky. I’m getting better at hunting and I know your tricks.”

“You think you know my tricks,” Clint corrected. “I still have a few up my sleeve.”

“Uh…” Ryan spoke up. “We’ll be able to find you though, right?”

Clint gestured at the guards standing around watching him. “Trust your instincts. Follow your nose. If you use all your senses and work together, you will indeed find me. If you’re not sure if you’re going in the right direction, ask Kurt. He can nudge you to correct your path.” Clint turned to Kurt. “Nudge.”

“Fine. Fine.” Kurt motioned him on. “Just get going.

Clint winked at Jody before he strolled away. He dropped his clothes in a trail behind him, knowing that Kurt would pick them up. Naked, he kept walking until he was a good half mile away from the others.

Dropping into a crouch, he called forward his wolf form.

His shift came fast. In only a few moments, he was on all fours and began to make circles. That move would tell the shifters that this was where he’d transformed. From here on out, he would be a little more careful, but he did need to give the guards a chance of finding him.

Once he’d saturated the area with his scent, Clint moved on.

Taking the most direct route, he headed straight for the compound. This would put the other shifters on alert. Their mind would begin playing tricks on them. Thinking that he was fucking with them. Not trusting their instincts. He’d told them to, but Clint knew the guards would rely on what their mind was telling them. Not what their senses were.

This was the same way that Clint learned.

To protect Sara and this town it was time to share some of his tricks.

* * * *

Sara couldn’t eat another bite.

She set the last of her crust in the pizza box before sitting back and cuddling into Clint. He’d shown up in a great mood from some sort of training exercise. The pizza had been hot and greasy, which had made it perfect, and she’d even iced the beers.

With a fire roaring in front of them and a new movie playing, she was in heaven. She wanted to spend the winter nights like this. Wrapped up in Clint’s arms with the threats and strangers behind them Sara wanted to enjoy the time she had with Clint. There was still one thing that she’d been hesitant about bringing up, though.

When the credits began to roll for the movie, Sara turned off the television, then turned to Clint.

“Are you staying again?” she asked. Sara asked every night and so far Clint hadn’t said that he wanted to leave. Still she didn’t know if she could say the words that she so badly wanted to.

“I’d like to,” he replied. “Unless you want me to leave.”

Sara smiled. “I never want you to leave.” He could take it as a joke, but Sara finally spoke the words that had been on the tip of her tongue.

“I never want to go.” He pulled her until Sara was straddling his lap.

She looked into his gaze and all the feelings she had start to bubble up. “What if you didn’t have to wait for me to ask you to stay?”

“Because?”

Damn it, why was this so hard? “I know we barely know each other and you’ll probably think I’m nuts but I…”

“Yes,” he whispered.

“What?”

Clint chuckled nervously. “Please tell me that you’re asking whether or not I want to stay here with you. Because that’s all I want.”

She wanted to wrap her arms around his neck and smother him with kisses. “Really?”

“Fuck, yeah.”

“But what about Kurt?” She didn’t want to come between the two friends. Their closeness was important and Sara liked that about them.

“Kurt is fully aware that I’m planning on being here more than at the other house. He’s already told me to get on my knees and beg you to let me live here.”

“Why didn’t you?” It was a relief to know that he wanted to same thing and Kurt supported them.

“I didn’t want to scare you away. It’s true that we haven’t been together long. But I’ve also never felt this strongly for anyone, either.”

“So we’re not moving too fast?” she questioned.

“I don’t care if we are. This is what you want. This is what I want. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll join Kurt in the other place. I think it’ll work out, though.”

“If it doesn’t it work, it won’t be because we didn’t give it our all,” she said.

“That’s right,” Clint agreed.

She grasped his shoulder and leaned forward. “We’re really going to do this.” It wasn’t a question.

“We are.”

She squealed, then peppered kisses over his forehead, cheeks, then lips. Clint grabbed her face to draw her back to his mouth when she pulled away, laughing. His kiss was filled with heat, passion and promise.

Sara slipped from his lap with her lips still against his. “Let’s take this somewhere more comfortable.”

“Bed?”

“Our bed,” she stated.

Clint picked her up, then whirled her around. She clung to him even as he carried her to the bedroom. They’d already locked up the house, but the fire was still going.

“Fire,” she muttered.

“I’ll get it. I have to take care of my woman first.”

She was just fine with that. He laid her gently on the bed. He whipped his shirt over his head, then plucked the button of his jeans.

“I’ll show you every day and night how much you mean to me. I’ll make you a part of my Pack.” He words were spoken like a vow.

Sara pushed herself up. “I want that. I want you to share everything with me. All of you.”

“Undress for me,” he said.

With her gaze locked on his, she did as he asked. They both removed their clothing. Clint’s eyes were practically glowing. She’d never seen anything like it. “Wow.”

“What is it?” he asked.

“You are so gorgeous,” she whispered.

“Oh, no, honey. You are.” He knelt on the bed between her legs. “Let me show you.”

“Yes, please.” Sara opened her arms and Clint moved into her embrace.

They kissed, soft and gentle. Sara ran her hands over the strong muscles of his back. Clint nibbled her bottom lip before moving down. Each brush of his lips sent a tingle through her body.

Sara wanted to feel him inside her. “Please.”

Clint moved until his cock was at her entrance, the tip of his shaft piercing her.

She moaned, then scratched her nails down Clint’s back. “Take me,” she demanded.

He lifted his upper body off hers so he could stare down at her. Then he thrust.

Sara shouted in pleasure.

Clint grunted, growled, made every hot sound she’d ever heard.

Each time he plunged, Sara knew he was claiming her in every imaginable way. This was better than any other time. Each time they made love, she felt the connection with him deepen.

It didn’t matter how long they’d been together or what had finally brought the two of them to this time and place. She and Clint belonged together.