He closed his eyes, the memory of her lying in that hospital bed overwhelming him. He didn’t think he’d ever be able to tell her how he sat there, long after she’d gone to sleep, terrified of moving in case it hurt her. The big bad Alpha of the Poconos Wolf Pack had held his mate’s hand and cried as quietly as he could, not wanting to disturb her in even the slightest way.
For a moment he thought he might wind up joining Ben in worshipping the porcelain god.
He’d known even before she’d left for Halle what his decision would be, but watching her moan in pain, through sleep and morphine, had merely cemented his determination.
Gina could go fuck herself. He was done. This was the last time the Pack was going to come between him and his mate.
He carried the medicine back to the living room, stifling a grin. She’d put on some reality TV program and was growling at the contestants.
“What are you doing?”
She made a face. “Would you look at that?”
He turned and saw what looked like a runway. A woman, model thin, was walking down it wearing the frumpiest outfit he’d ever seen in his life. What the hell? “I’d rather not.”
“The challenge was to design something for a hot twenty-something out on the town. Instead this idiot designed something my Great Aunt Bertha would be proud to wear.”
“Great Aunt Bertha?”
“Yeah, she was a real looker back in the thirties.”
“Ouch.”
“Speaking of ouch…” She held out her hand.
“Open up.” Rick brushed the pill against her lips, not surprised that her eyes remained green. He didn’t think he’d get to watch her eyes change for quite a while longer.
She opened and he fed her the pill, holding the glass steady so she could sip through the straw. “Thank you.”
He decided he couldn’t put it off any longer. “I’ve called a Pack meeting to deal with the Gina situation.”
“It’s a little soon, isn’t it?”
He frowned at her confused expression. “I hardly think so.” Getting Gina off his back would be one of the few pluses to what he had in mind.
“Okay. Just do me a favor and make sure you’ve got a first aid kit handy.”
He blinked. He hadn’t thought she’d want to be present for this. “Sure.”
“What time tonight?”
“Ten. I want to make sure the Lodge is mostly shut down for the night. The few guests we have will understand an emergency Pack meeting.”
She shrugged. “All right, if you say so.” She turned back to her show, but not before her hand buried itself in the strands of his hair brushing against her thigh.
He settled in on the floor and watched her stupid show with her, totally at peace for the first time in three days as her fingers played with his hair.
Belle hated the outdoor Pack meetings, never more so than now. Pumas did it right; they held them indoors, with wine, cheese, and more importantly, heat . She could barely stand, even with the help of Rick’s arm, her cane, and the six Ibuprofen she’d gulped on the way out the door. But he was right. Gina needed to be dealt with as soon as possible, before she’d gathered too much power. She’d already acquired more than her fair share. “Good evening, my Pack.” The Pack jumped as Rick spoke out loud.
Only Dave seemed unsurprised. “I called this meeting to deal with the challenge Gina Maldonado laid down before my mate, Belinda Campbell.”
The Pack looked back and forth at one another, obviously confused. She knew they were aware of Gina’s challenge, so she could only assume it was the fact that Rick had chosen to address them out loud.
“Due to the fact that my mate is currently unable to shift, Gina has also issued, as dominant female, a proclamation. If Belle cannot change forms within one months’ time, Gina must be declared Luna of the Pack.”
Ominous silence greeted that pronouncement. Only Gina and her flunkies looked pleased. Gina smirked at Belle.
Belle smiled back sweetly. Gina’s smirk faltered.
“If Gina was to be declared Luna of this Pack, I would be forced to accept her as my second mate.”
Belle’s smile deepened, showing her suddenly sharpened teeth. She felt her claws rip through the fabric of her gloves. Damn. Those were leather, too.
“In light of the fact that I have more desire to bed a grizzly bear than Gina Maldonado—” Rick ignored the snickers, and Gina’s fierce frown, “—I have chosen the only course open to me.”
Belle shot Rick a sharp look as his shoulders straightened. Suddenly she knew what he was about to do.
She couldn’t allow that. Rick was the best thing that had ever happened to the Red Wolf Poconos Pack.
She took a step forward, already prepared for what was coming.
“I am ready to face Gina Maldonado’s challenge.”
“BELLE!”
She ignored Rick’s roar as she stepped forward, letting her cane drop to the ground. She heard several of the Wolves surround Rick, and only hoped they were restraining him. She sneered at Gina, feeling nothing but contempt for the she-Wolf. “I’m ready to bring it, bitch. What about you?”
Gina laughed and stepped forward, her posse right behind her.
“Uh-uh-uh.” Belle shook her finger at the females. “This is between Gina and me. No back-up singers allowed.”
“Which means your ‘friend’ can’t help you either.”
Belle took a deep breath and removed her coat. “I’ve gotten used to that.”
“Damn.”
Belle shook her head and looked back at Chela. “Down, girl. It’s my turn now.”
“Look out!”
Belle turned and caught Gina’s fist just before it landed on her face. She sank her claws into the other woman’s hand reveling in the bitch’s screech of pain. She felt one of Gina’s finger bones snap under the pressure from her claws. “Oh, now, this looks familiar.”
She smiled wickedly down at the fallen Gina as Sarah’s words in the diner suddenly replayed themselves in her mind. “Everything is going to be fine. I promise you that.”
Rick relaxed as Belle’s words flowed over him. “Everything is going to be fine.”
He watched as his mate finished undressing. Gina took longer due to the wound already inflicted by Belle.
“I’m okay.” He shrugged off Dave and Ben, pushing Chela’s hand off his arm. He was so intent on watching the women strip he barely felt the three of them move behind him, flanking him, protecting him.
When Belle was gloriously naked she waited, hands on hips, tapping a foot in the snow. He nearly whined at the sight of the new, jagged scar on her hip but stopped himself. He would be strong for her, for what she’d sacrificed to stop Gina’s plans.
Gina slithered out of her panties, stretching, trying to tempt him with a knowing look.
He retched, then spit on the ground. “Sorry. I threw up a little in my mouth.”
Gina gasped, infuriated.
“God, I love you.”
Rick blinked, stunned. It was the first time Belle had thought that. Her thoughts were filled with such amused affection he couldn’t doubt her sincerity. He wished with all his heart that she could hear his answer. “I love you too, my Luna.”
Her breath hitched. The smile she turned on him was smug, cat-like, but she couldn’t hide the happiness shining from her. “I know. You show me every day.”
He blew her a kiss, crossing his arms over his chest as he settled in to watch his pretty little kitty kick the ass of one truly obnoxious bitch. He’d figure out how she’d heard him later.
She turned to Gina with a feral grin. “Let’s get this over with. I’m tired of looking at your cellulite thighs.”