“I want that too,” she whispered.
He slipped his fingers under her chin and lifted her face. “We’re both fiercely independent. Coming together is going to take some work, and we have to learn to trust each other.”
She stared at him silently then nodded. “I’m willing to try. I need to trust you more first.” She laughed ruefully. “But I bet you could say the same thing.”
“I’m in shock, yes.” Evan confessed. She was nestled against him, though, and he couldn’t stop a smile from escaping. “But along with the shock, I’m damn impressed. You kicked some serious butt. I like that.”
The corner of her mouth tipped upward. “You would be happier if it wasn’t your butt I’d been kicking, right?”
“Yeah, but this is still exciting. Who wants to turn down a grand adventure? And damn if we aren’t going to have the best pack in the entire North, with the skills we bring to the table. Whitehorse is going to rule, just like I’d always hoped.”
That inner layer of ice encasing her heart only got colder. While she understood why he was upset, it wasn’t very reassuring that once he did calm down it was all about the packs—joining and leading them. Not a single word about him and her as mates. Learning to trust, yes, definitely. What about learning to love?
You tore everything from him. Don’t expect promises of eternal love and devotion right away.
Don’t expect them ever.
She wanted to snap her teeth at the condemning internal voice. No matter how logical the realization, facts didn’t matter to her heart. She still wanted what she couldn’t have.
Evan continued to stroke her, his strong hands trailing over her back and arms. They were both craving physical contact, but she stared into his dark eyes and fought giving in.
An entirely different observation poked her as she stood within the circle of his arms. Amy examined him closer. “You don’t seem that upset anymore.”
“Anger isn’t worth holding on to.” Evan shrugged, the move making his muscular shoulders that much more apparent. “You had your reasons for what you did, and I have mine. Also, touching you calms me like whoa.”
He stroked her cheek with the back of his knuckles, and suddenly Amy couldn’t breathe. A decision needed to be made, and now. Did she pull away? Or give in to the craving?
His gentle touch on her face created devastating effects. The wolf’s appetite returned, hotter and hungrier than ever, and Amy turned her cheek to rub against him.
He held her firmly, one hand pressed to the center of her back. The other cupped her chin and angled her face to the side. The first contact between their mouths was gentle, but the tenderness lasted for all of five seconds before the pressure increased and he took control.
Her wolf cheered in satisfaction as Evan took her mouth with wild passion. He swiped his tongue across her lips and demanded entrance, thrusting deep. They tangled for a moment before he pulled back and put his teeth to her bottom lip. Goose bumps erupted on her arms, and a trickle of electricity shot along her spine from where his palm rested.
Her head was filled with his scent, the need to consume him growing more urgent by the second. He grasped the back of her neck, cradling her even as he tightened his grasp and held her motionless. A low rumble of satisfaction started in the back of his throat, and Amy melted against him.
She dragged her nails across his back, finishing with her fists tangled in the front of his shirt. Evan caught her butt in his hands, pulling her against his body, the rock-solid mass of him tight to her softness.
He took two steps and pressed her against the wall of his office, pinning her in place with his strong, muscular body. She was tempted to rip his shirt open so she could place her palms against his naked chest. Still he kissed her, still he took the very breath from her body until she grew lightheaded, clinging to him, her legs wrapped around his torso like some sex-starved Gumby.
Somewhere in the middle of their raging passion, she remembered what had brought her to Whitehorse in the first place, and the fire was doused with a bucket-load of unanswered questions. She stilled and retreated.
He sensed it. Between one heartbeat and the next, he dragged their lips apart, staring into her eyes as their breath rattled on like they’d sprinted a marathon uphill.
“Is this the beginning of the next step?” She looked for the confidence she’d had so abundantly not even a day ago. Careful to word her next comment in a way that made no guarantees she couldn’t keep. “We move forward?”
“As partners. Two Alphas finding the best way to provide for our people. Maybe Takhini will rule in the end, maybe Canyon. Those are simply names. It’s the people who are the heart. It’s the wolves we need to provide a home.” He lowered her to the ground but kept her by his side. “That’s who we serve, and that’s who we care about. Agreed?”
Even agreeing with him left a bitter taste in her mouth. For the pack. The focus wasn’t wrong, but it wasn’t what she’d hoped for from her mate.
So be it. She twisted another protective layer around her soul. “I still need to know what happened to my brother, Evan. I need to be able to put it behind me.”
He pulled her in again for a hug, stroking her hair. “I’m going to ask you to trust me a little longer. When it’s time, I’ll share it all, but not yet. It’s too much.”
When it’s time. Amy beat down her frustration but saw no other way. In spite of the burning ache inside, she squeezed him tight, savouring the last moment of physical contact before letting him go and stepping away. She tilted her chin up.
“For the pack, then. What should we take on first?” She had her plan already in place, but she’d see what his take on things was first. She didn’t have to be in charge.
He paused, considered. “Do you have a leadership team?”
She wiggled her fingers. “I have an assistant. Canyon runs a little differently than a typical pack.”
Evan’s grin returned. “Our first step is to get all of them on board.”
Oh goody gumdrops. “Shaun will be thrilled.”
A burst of laughter escaped him. “You feel the need to step on him, you go right ahead.”
“Gee, I don’t think you’re enjoying this much,” Amy deadpanned.
He rubbed his hands together. “You have no idea. He might be my best friend and Beta, but Shaun’s still a pain in the butt.” Evan leaned over and whispered in her ear as he pulled open the door. “I’m eager to see more of what my mate can do. Malicious takeover included, you’ve been pretty impressive up to now.”
That much at least was a positive. Amy checked him carefully, but he didn’t seem to be putting on a show for her sake. He really had gotten over his mad in an awfully short period of time.
How important was it for her to show the same kind of boldness? Especially when it came to representing Canyon’s best interests. Perhaps everything else was mucked up and foggy, but her devotion to her pack would never be questioned.
Her wolf pouted. The only thing currently on the beast’s mind was how much longer the silly human side was going to postpone the time until she and Evan got naked.
It was an impossible question. Amy soothed the creature with a promise of a long run. That was the best thing she had to offer.
Which sucked. Hugely.
Chapter Eleven
Evan had always considered himself an observant man. He ran his pack with what he considered firm, but fair control, and overall he was a decent guy.