14

Ranger

I had the biggest hard-on of my life.

And a sleeping woman lying next to me.

Gritting my teeth against the deep-seated ache of unfulfilled need, I extracted myself from the bed. Aspen crashed hard on her come down. I was still waiting for her to wake up as the moonlight filtered through the small screenless window at the back of her nest.

Something was wrong.

It wasn't just the howls outside confirming my fears. My beast crossed a line, interrupting with his own intense demand to taste Aspen when the scent of her desire filled the room. I'd planned to play out the scene a while longer and test her limits, but he'd forced himself through and wasn't the slightest bit apologetic.

I'm planning to do it again.

I refused to lose control like that, especially around my intended mate. This was innocent enough, but it could have been worse.

We need to seal the bond.

I won't claim her against her will.

Her wolf is ready.

The human is not.

I stepped outside into the crisp night air where the moon shone overhead. The clouds rolled in, but they did little to hide the bright glow of an almost full moon taunting me as it drew on my primitive nature to lead.

I'm going to mark the territory first, my wolf grumbled as he took over the shift. He knew what we needed to do even if it was the last thing he wanted.

"Everything alright, Alpha?" Beau trotted behind as my wolf lifted his leg on every tree he could find surrounding Aspen's nest.

"Stay here and guard her. If she wakes, let me know," I told Beau, hesitating at my wolf's incessant growl, "and if anything happens, get her to Foster and Jones."

Beau's wolf whined as he bared his neck. "I won't fail you again."

I knew he wouldn't and told him as much with a nudge to his rear flank, sending him back up the hill to stand guard at Aspen's nest.

She wants to bear our mark. My wolf continued to argue with me as he raced through the woods. As much as I wished he would understand, it was too complicated for the beast.

I tried anyway. She needs more time.

And we were running out of it.

She's not ready. He let out a mournful howl, leaping over dead brush and scrambling up rocks as we followed our sister's scent.

Howls in the distance seemed to echo ours, but they raged for another reason.

It isn't safe.

I know.

We came to a clearing where Fallon's nest sat. I was about to call her when the doors creaked open and she stepped outside. She was wrapped in a blanket with mascara rimming her eyes like smudged coal. John's scent was faded and cold.

"Did he hurt you?" I growled, shifting into my human form. My claws and fangs were slow to retract.

Fallon smirked as fresh tears filled her eyes. "I wish. That would make this easier."

"Then what?" Even my beast was confused.

"Tell me you don't hear them." She motioned with her chin to the valley looming below.

I did and I wished I hadn't.

The howls of frustration and desire were growing louder as a sense of urgency sharpened the colors of the night. Even the moon was shining brighter despite not being entirely full.

"Where's John?" I looked over my shoulder to the nest I'd left behind. I couldn't see it in the distance, but I could sense it like true north.

"He went to get his nieces and bring them up here until someone figures out what to do this season." Fallon watched me, searching for my response.

"I'm here, aren't I?" It wasn't always fun and games being Alpha. It was mostly this, knowing when to stand up and take charge. "I suppose you want me to handle it."

"I don't know what you expect me to do," she growled. "I can't even stay in control of my wolf."

My beast started growling in response to her growling and tears streamed down her face as I clenched my teeth. He wanted to fight, but we didn't have a target. "Do you want me to speak to John?"

"And have him what? Lead the run without me?" She gave a glare promising death by dismemberment.

"It was only a suggestion," I muttered.

"What part of me not being able to control my beast can't you understand?" Fallon cried. "She's lost it. She wants him. I don't think I can keep her on target."

I was about to suggest an alternative, but knowing my sister on even her good days, that would not go over well.

"I'll stay and lead the run," I said instead, resigning to my fate.

"I owe you." Fallon dried her eyes on the blanket. "Hopefully on the run I can figure this out."

"You've never owed me anything." I sighed as I wrapped my arm over her shoulders, giving her a half-hug. We weren't a touchy family and I could count on one hand the number of times we'd hugged each other, but Aspen was softening me up.

This was a nightmare.

The howls grew louder, echoing off the mountain. I needed to get Aspen out of here before she slipped into the throes of her heat. And that sounded like the worst thing I'd ever done.

Agreed. My beast paced, already anxious to get back to her while the moon riled up the males in the area.

She'd be safe with Jones and Foster away from the show. I had to convince myself of that truth.

My wolf growled.

It'd be harder to convince him.

We'll go straight to her after the season. Spend the next year courting her properly.

My wolf continued to pace, too far gone in his own anguish for human speech.

These producers had gotten exactly what they wanted. They'd forced my hand. If I was more like Lester, I'd rip their throats out on television and start a shifter/human war. Screw being politically correct.

I shook my head.

That was a dark place to go, even for me.

My sister finished drying her eyes and took a shuddering breath. "This is a mess."

I nodded. "So… John, eh…"

Fallon elbowed me. "Not a word. I'm still trying to wrap my head around it."

"I'll keep him close during the run and make him work for it then." I shoved her slightly, sealing my fate with another promise. What was one more in the grand scheme of things? I only hoped Aspen would understand. "You don't think you can lead the females for me?"

She shook her head. "I don't trust my wolf. Not with John around."

I dragged my hand through my hair. It wasn't unheard of for a female to not help lead, but it didn't feel right to do things that way.

My sister read the concern on my face. "Aspen is strong enough to do it."

"She's not ready." I stared up at the moon, feeling my beast continue to pace within me. "And I'm not sure when she'll be."

It tore me up to admit that out loud, but I needed to voice the concern to someone. And I was slowly learning to depend more on family.

"I don't understand why you think that, but if you say so, I believe it." Fallon tightened the blanket around her shoulders. "Can you get someone else to help?"

I looked in the direction of the howls, knowing I needed to get down there and sort things before it got out-of-control tonight. "Maybe I'll ask one of the other females to run with me."

Idiot. My beast snarled as I slowly glanced over my shoulder. There was movement in the forest as two wolves walked between the trees, stopping just on the other side of my sister's nest.

The moonlight shone down on Aspen's wolf, illuminating her eyes and the fire within as she narrowed her gaze at me.