Chapter 1

Chapter

One

W olf Meadow

Galveston, Texas

2028

Seven-year-old Piper Nichols sat atop her dun gelding at the top of the knoll, surveying the land before her. Wolf Meadow had belonged to the Nichols family and their pack since before the time of the Spaniards, and according to her Aunt Amy, the Wolf Meadow Pack were direct descendants of the prehistoric dire wolves. Aunt Amy was convinced they had some magickal abilities. Her father scoffed at the notion, but Piper believed her Aunt Amy was right—or at least she was pretty sure.

"Sometimes you worry me," said her mother, as she rode up beside her.

"I don't mean to be a bother."

"You are never a bother my darling girl, but sometimes I fear you carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. You are far more serious than your brothers."

"Not the whole world, Mama, just the ranch. The boys aren't interested in it at all. Cody and Austin can't even handle a lariat properly, much less rope anything with it."

"Yes, and speaking of which, you must quit roping and hog tying them so often."

"But they're buttheads! Especially Trav. Sometimes it's the easiest way to handle them."

"I know baby, but it makes them feel bad about all the things that you can do so well that they can't."

Piper turned away from the horizon to look at her mother. "It's not my fault they won't practice. I don't see why I have to pretend I'm not better at some things than them."

"I agree. But sometimes a clever she-wolf will not show all she can do. Keep something in reserve that no one knows about in case you ever need it."

Her mother leaned out of her saddle to hug her close. Piper loved her mother and viewed her with awe. Even though she wasn't supposed to know, Piper knew far more about her mother and her life before she'd met her father than she was supposed to. It was one of the many things she kept hidden from everyone.

R ivière Du Loup

New Orleans, Louisiana

2039

"Rémy, come on, everyone is waiting," called his sister Skylar from the other side of the door.

Instead of giving his sister a hard time when he came out, he emerged laughing and smiling as if he hadn't a care in the world. His family knew he'd been accepted to the United States Naval Academy and that he was leaving the next day to report to the school. What they didn't know was that he had opted to enlist through the SEAL challenge program, which meant that he would attend the Academy with the guarantee of placement in the SEAL training program. Rémy had no doubt he would complete the training and take his place among the members of the elite unit.

He'd grown up knowing that even though he was an alpha, his brother Jean-Edouard would one day rule the pack when their father was gone or stepped down. Although he loved and respected his elder brother, Rémy knew himself well enough to know he'd never be able to live in a pack without being its alpha. So, he'd decided to make a career of the Navy, specifically as a SEAL.

"We can't have that, can we?" he teased.

Skylar stopped him when they got to the top of the stairs. "Are you going to talk to her?"

He didn't need to ask who the her in question was. She meant Piper Nichols, one of Skylar's closest friends, and the she-wolf he knew to be his fated mate. Rémy and Skylar had always been close and had long ago made a vow never to lie to one another. However, that didn't mean they confided in each other about everything either—like the SEAL program. Things between him and Piper were complicated at best.

"It's no good, Sky. There's no place for me here, and Piper lives and breathes Wolf Meadow. Her roots run deep in that part of the country."

"But there's no one in her pack for her to take to mate, which means she'll end up leaving anyhow."

"I don't think Cameron will force her into a pairing unless it's a fated mate, and that would be me. I won't ask her to choose between the land and life she loves so much, and me."

"She would choose you," Skylar argued.

"But at what cost? I'm in the Navy, I won't be around that much. I'll be stationed all over the world. Would you really wish an absent mate on your best friend?"

Skylar put a hand on her hip. "Mama survived when we thought Papa was dead."

"Yes, and Mama had children and her pack surrounding and supporting her. Piper would be on her own in who knows what Godforsaken place they assign me to." Rémy shook his head. "No, Sky, I won't ask her to do that."

Skylar chucked him upside the head. "God, you're such an idiot. If you truly believe she-wolves should have a say in their destiny..."

"Spare me," cut in Rémy with disdain. "I'm set on this, Skylar. Please don't ruin tonight. Mama is already upset that I'm leaving to join the Navy."

"For the record, so is Papa."

"Yes, but he respects my decision. I know some of you think I am the better choice as alpha, but you're wrong. The world is changing, and Jean-Edouard is the one best suited to run the pack when Papa is gone." She started to say something, but he cut her off. "Please, Sky. Let's not quarrel, okay? Let's just go downstairs and enjoy being with our friends and pack."

She nodded her head. "I'm going to miss you."

"I'm going to miss you as well. I promise I'll call home as often as they let me."

"You'd better, or Mama and I will hunt you down."

He laughed. "I believe it."

The party was a grand success and he managed to endure all of the well wishes and teasing from those he held most dear. Needing to get a moment to himself before the fireworks started, he wandered down to the gazebo that stood away from the main house, close to the banks of the mighty Mississippi River.

Earlier in the evening, his father had given him an expensive and illegal Cuban cigar, admonishing him that once he was in the Navy, he wouldn't be allowed to smoke them anymore. He stood looking out over the river that had been such a large part of his childhood. Bringing the cigar up to his mouth, he struck a match and lit it, puffing to get it started and then taking a long draw.

"Those things will kill you," said Piper, startling him.

"Jesus, Piper. You have to quit doing that."

She really could move like a wraith—one minute you were alone, and the next Piper would be standing right beside you. And she had the uncanny ability to slip away from a crowd without being noticed. She'd probably make a damn good SEAL. He didn't know anyone who had a more courageous spirit than she did.

"Why? I find being able to move without people knowing I'm there is advantageous for some of the things I like to do."

He shook his head. "Yeah, and if your father ever finds out about half of what those things are, he'll most likely let Gabe take a strap to your backside."

"You're assuming Gabe could pull that off. I'm not the delicate little flower everyone wants me to be. I'm a rancher. I learned a long time ago how to hold my own."

Rémy looked at her appraisingly from head to toe. "Something your father should never have allowed."

"Why Rémy? Are you worried you couldn't handle me?"

He would always wonder if it had been the booze or his pain at leaving her behind that made him react the way he did. In an instant he had her pinned against one of the support columns of the gazebo, his hand wrapped around her throat. She didn't panic, didn't struggle, just smiled at him, her eyes dancing with amusement. She'd baited him and he'd responded the way she'd wanted. It was one of her favorite games.

"That, chère, never even entered my thoughts." He growled low before bringing his mouth down so that it was only inches from hers.

He'd been wanting to get at her all night. All night? Who was he kidding, he'd been wanting to get at Piper Nichols ever since he'd become aware that she was his fated mate. He had nothing to offer her and so had tried to stay away. But given the long friendship and history of their parents, it had not been possible, so over the years Rémy had learned to endure the painfully hard state of his cock and the ache in his heart whenever she was near.

But tonight was different. He was heading out to the Naval Academy in the morning. Most likely he would never see her again, and if he did at some dim, distant point in the future, she would probably be another wolf's mate. So just this once—this one and only time—he would indulge his need to dominate and seduce her, if only with a kiss.

Her lips were so close now, not even a whisper could have come between them. The angel on his shoulder told him to stop, to back away, leave the gazebo and never look back. But the devil on his other shoulder was far louder and urged him to claim what was his, to drag her into his bed and then with him to the Academy. Piper was tough, she'd be able to handle it.

Rémy's hand moved from her throat to the back of her skull, fisting her hair and tugging her head back. He saw the pulse in her neck and wanted so badly to mark her as his. He fought the primal need to allow his fangs to elongate so that he could sink them into her neck and mar the perfection of her flesh. He fused his mouth to hers, briefly wondering if the incendiary nature of the kiss wouldn't send them both up in flames, but then quickly realized he didn't care. Piper offered him no resistance. Her mouth softened, and her lips parted, inviting him in.

He kissed her as if this was the millionth time and not the first. There was no awkwardness, no tentative probing or sliding of his tongue along hers. This was an invader claiming his territory. Passion and heat flared higher as their tongues danced and played together. Piper moaned and wrapped her arms around him, rubbing her body against his.

Rémy held her close, never releasing her head as he kissed her over and over again and allowed his other hand to stroke down her spine to her ass. He cupped her globes and hauled her up against him, slipping his strong thigh between her legs to press the hard line of his cock against her lower belly. The fact that Piper had on jeans—as usual—only intensified the rubbing of his thigh between hers and the inside seam of her jeans rasped against what he was sure was her swollen clit.

His entire body had come alive with need and desire and Rémy wanted nothing more than to strip her naked, lay her down and breach her with the knot that was rapidly forming at the base of his cock. He vaguely wondered if she was a virgin and realized he didn't care. If he made her his, no other wolf would ever know her that way and he'd ensure any other man would only be a distant memory.

Piper reached for his belt buckle and reality descended on him as if someone had thrown a bucket of cold water at his head. He ended the kiss abruptly, removed her hands from his belt, and stepped back, shaking his head.

"No, Piper, not like this. I'm leaving in the morning to join the Navy. I don't know when I'll be back."

"Take me with you, Rémy," she pleaded. "We're supposed to be together. You have to know that."

" Non , chère . That is not the life for you. I'm sorry, Piper, I never should have let it go this far."

P iper was shocked into silence as she watched Rémy's six-foot-five muscular body walk away. His dark hair flowed around his face. So like his father, and yet not. He was taller and more heavily muscled than the Alpha of New Orleans and instead of dark blond or light brown hair with golden highlights, Rémy's was pure black—a sure sign of his Cajun and Creole roots. She wondered what it would look like when he got it cut for the Naval Academy.

Only moments before, her body had been buzzing, alight with arousal. It now felt like the wildfire that had threatened to burn out of control had been doused, its embers stirred, and then doused again. Piper swallowed the urge to beg him to reconsider, fought back the tears that threatened to erupt and hugged herself to keep from running after him.

Rémy Gautier had been all she'd ever wanted in a mate. But he had told her no and turned his back on her. She drew herself up, standing tall once again. Well, the Navy could have him. She promised herself she would never, ever think of him again. She would find a way to convince her father that if she couldn't be the alpha of their pack, she could at least be foreman on their ranch. Her life would be her own and she would live it on her own terms.

"Piper?" said Rémy's mother Darby, breaking the stillness of the night.

Wiping the unshed tears from her eyes, Piper pulled her shoulders back. Getting over Rémy started now. "Darby. I think Rémy is headed back to the party."

"Yes, I saw him leave. I followed him down to have a moment alone with him. I didn't mean to be a silent witness to your goodbye."

"It's no big deal," said Piper, dragging the toe of her boot along the floorboards of the gazebo.

Darby came up beside her and pulled a resistant Piper into her embrace. It only took a moment for Piper to lose her resolve and hug Darby tight.

"He doesn't want me…" Piper said with a sob.

"That's not what I saw. I saw an alpha wolf putting aside a she-wolf he knows to be his fated mate because he thinks he doesn't have anything to offer her."

"Offer me? I don't want anything but him."

"I know, sweetheart. Wolves in general can be incredibly stupid when they try. Rémy knows Jean-Edouard will be the next Alpha of New Orleans. Asking you to walk away from everything you love in exchange for an uncertain future, is not something he could do."

"He didn't ask, I did. God, Darby, I begged him. I've never begged anyone for anything in my life."

"And my son was a fool to turn his back on you." Darby held her close and ran her hand along Piper's hair, just letting her cry. But eventually Piper realized she was putting the beautiful Mistress of the New Orleans pack in a difficult position, so she pulled herself together once more and disengaged.

"I'm sorry," Piper said. "You wanted some private time to say goodbye and I robbed you of that. I'll be fine. I'm sure you can catch up with him."

Darby laughed ruefully. "I'm not sure he'd want me to at this point—I'd be inclined to smack him upside his head. There are times when he can be just like his father, to his own detriment. They get this notion into their heads that they need to be noble and protect the she-wolves they love from something, even if their logic isn't sound. So they convince themselves they have to do whatever it takes." She shook her head. "Such idiots. The only saving grace is that they generally figure out how foolish they're being and then come back to make amends."

"He's not coming back. Skylar says he's going to make a career of the Navy."

"He'll be back. Gautier men are rarely stupid for any length of time, but they can be foolish… for a short time, anyway. They do come to their senses eventually. My advice to you, if you can forgive him for the pain he has caused you this night, is to make him pay for it."