Ruined Wolf: A Paranormal Why Choose Romance (Claimed by the Sea Wolves Series Book 2)

CHAPTER THREE

“Hey, Nova.” The man behind the counter looked up as I entered the shop and smiled at me. “Tall flat white and a decaf vanilla latte to go?”

I smiled, feeling a rush of warmth at the greeting. “Yes please, Terry. That would be great.”

I handed over the cash, then leaned against the end of the counter, watching as he busied himself behind the machine.

“Oh, Terry. I spoke to Eleanor, and it’s absolutely fine to move your stall to the corner for the festival. You were right, it will be much better if you get a queue and we can direct it down the side street and keep the main street free.”

“Oh, that’s great! Thanks, Nova. I appreciate that. Here.” He set Eleanor’s coffee on the counter and then made mine, handing me a larger than normal cup. “Upgrade on the house.”

I smiled at him, tears pricking the corners of my eyes. “You didn’t have to. Thanks, Terry. See you tomorrow!” I left the shop as quickly as I could without coming across as rude. Terry was another person who was treating me so nicely, I could hardly bear it.

I brushed the tears away with the back of my hand. Stupid girl. I was over four months gone now, by my reckoning at least, and this pregnancy was wreaking havoc with my emotions. I felt like I was on permanent PMT, and I was exhausted. Though to be fair, that could be all the incredible sex with my mates. Everything was setting me off now, and I was actively avoiding TV and movies. Last night, I’d gotten teary over a family who struggled with going on long trips until they finally got a specific SUV that could easily fit them, their kids, and all the gear plus the dog. I’d had to excuse myself to dry my eyes in the bathroom.

I wasn’t imagining it though, everyone was being so nice to me, even more than they had been before, and I’d always found Desolation a friendly place despite its reputation. I guessed being the mate of the future alpha makes you more popular, but the feeling I was getting from everyone was relief that Maverick had picked me instead of Tessa. I sighed as I looked out over the small harbour. The tide was coming in, and small boats bobbed on the water. Waves broke against the shore and the rocky barrier, and the spring breeze carried the salty air in from the ocean beyond. Although it was a little chilly, there were still several families on the beach, though spectators were bundled up with warm jackets and those paddling in the water wore wetsuits rather than swimming costumes. Although I wasn’t consciously looking for it, my eyes rested on Maverick’s boat, and my thoughts drifted to him.

I felt so guilty. So many people had congratulated me on our mating, and he was so happy despite the several rows he’d had with Ethan since and the growing tension between the sea wolves and the High Rocks Pack.

It had been a long time since I felt like I was a part of something, and I wasn’t quite the fragile human I had been when I first moved to Desolation. I’d healed, and I had the strength that came with being part of a pack. I knew now that if I’d been honest when I’d first arrived, these people would have taken me in and welcomed me and my baby. Fear had made me keep my secrets, and now I had ruined everything. Maverick loved me, and Lucas, well, he felt something, I was sure of it, but it was all built on lies, and I felt certain that when I told the truth, it would all come crashing down.

I walked slowly back towards the tourist centre, the coffee cups warming my hands. A few people smiled at me or said hello as I walked by, and I was fighting to keep the tears from falling. How could I have been so wrong about them? After all the lies my father had told me over the years, why on earth had I believed him about Desolation, his enemies? He hadn’t managed to kill me, but he might as well have. I was still going to have to leave the island, leave Maverick, Lucas, and Asher, and I knew my heart was going to break all over again, and worse, I would be responsible for breaking theirs. They would hate me, and moons they were going to be so angry and hurt.

I gasped as hot coffee splashed out from one of the lids onto my shaking hands. It must not have been fastened properly, and my pale skin turned red. Speeding up, I hurried the next few metres to the centre and pushed through the door, going backwards to avoid knocking the cups anymore. I set them quickly down on the desk and rushed to the kitchen to hold my hand under the cold tap.

Eleanor appeared at the door. “Everything okay, Nova?”

“Yes, it’s fine. I was a bit clumsy, and I spilled a bit of your coffee.”

She rushed forward and grabbed my hand. “Oh goodness, you’ve scalded yourself. Do you need me to call Rhianne?”

I shook my head. “No, I’m fine, Eleanor, really. Cold water is all I need. Your coffee is on the desk. You can have mine if I spilled too much of yours.”

“Goodness, no,” the older woman said, shuddering. “I couldn’t drink that liquid sugar you do. It’s way too sweet for me. As long as you’re okay?”

“I’m good. I told Terry about the stall.”

“Lovely, I’m glad that’s sorted. We’ve had a few more competition entries, and we need to decide on a band for the evening. Oh, and Kathy from Discovery Tours called. They have a new tour they set up on the east of the island, and I need you to arrange a time to go and do the tour.”

“I get to do the tour?” I looked up at her. “That sounds fun. What is it?”

“It’s one of the boat tours on the coast, but along the northeast section. It’s always been too wild along that area to take boats close to the rocks, but they have managed to figure out a safe route, and the wildlife on that part of the island is amazing. I’d like you to make some notes and take some pictures so we can add it to the website as soon as you’ve got a chance.”

“Of course, that sounds great actually. I’ll give her a call this afternoon—oh!” I gave a start as I felt something strange in my stomach.

“Nova? Are you okay?”

I paused for a moment, but there was nothing. I must have imagined it. “Oh, I’m fine. I just had a small pain in my stomach. I don’t think my breakfast pastry is agreeing with me today.”

She eyed me for a moment, then nodded. “Okay, well, I’ll be in my office if you need me.” She grimaced as she said it, and I followed her out into the main space.

“Much to do?” I asked.

She sighed. “I’ve had more reports of representatives from logging companies snooping about on the island, and I need to talk to Ethan about it. He needs to be aware in case they try to meet with him about it.”

“Aren’t the forests on Desolation protected?” I asked. “I’m sure Asher said something about it.”

Eleanor shook her head. “Small parts are protected by laws that preserve areas that contain archaeological sites. Other parts are privately owned, though I know most of the owners, and they wouldn’t sell no matter the price. Lucas owns a decent stretch, and they’ve offered him seven figures for it, but he turned them down flat. A good deal of the island is in trust for the pack, though, and I know the pack finances aren’t what they were...”

“You’re worried Ethan might sell off some of the land?” I surmised, and she jerked around to look at me.

“Oh, no, no, he’d never do that. This land is important. It’s part of our history, and those companies would decimate any land they bought. No, Ethan wouldn’t even consider it, but they might try to meet with him and put pressure on him. It’s better if he’s conveniently out of the way when they come calling.”

“Ah, I get it,” I said, though I wouldn’t have thought Ethan was that sentimental, even with his homeland.

Eleanor grabbed her coffee from the desk and headed into her office, shutting the door behind her. I settled into my own chair and reached for my coffee.

“What?” That strange sensation happened inside me again, and then again, and my mouth fell open as I finally realised what it was. My baby was moving, and I could feel it. I laid my hand gently on my stomach, feeling the gentle rise under my jeans. I couldn’t feel it with my hand, but there it was again, that flutter, like bubbles or butterfly wings.

I smiled.

“Hello there,” I murmured. Another flutter, and then there was no more, even though I waited for a few minutes. I reached for my coffee, smiling to myself. He moved. He actually moved, and he was real. Joy raced through me, and my smile morphed into a full-on grin.

“You look very pleased with yourself.” I looked up and found Maverick standing by the door, smiling at me. I opened my mouth to tell him, and then reality hit, and my smile faded. I couldn’t tell him. I couldn’t tell anyone. I swallowed down the lump in my throat and smiled up at Maverick, trying to hide my sudden sadness.

“Oh, it’s nothing. Eleanor wants me to go on a boat tour to research it for the website, and it sounds amazing.”

“That does sound good, but do me a favour and take Lucas with you.”

I frowned. “Why?”

“I’ve got a lot going on this week with Ethan, and I’d rather have someone with you just to be on the safe side.”

I started to say it wasn’t necessary then decided against it. It was just Maverick being protective, and I knew he was still worried about the fact that my room was searched by some stranger. To be honest, it felt nice to have someone looking after me, and I smiled gratefully at him. “I will. I’ll ask if I can bring him along. Do you think he’ll mind?”

“No, desolate coastlines and wildlife are just his thing, and if he tries to get out of it, tell him it’s my special request.” Maverick grinned at me, and I laughed, picturing Lucas rolling his eyes at the statement.

“So are you here to see Eleanor or me?” I asked, looking up at him through lowered lashes and flashing him what I hoped was a flirtatious smile and not something that made me look as though I should be committed.

“Oh, I’m definitely here to see you,” he murmured, bending down to kiss me.

My stomach fluttered, but despite me hesitating a moment, it was only the normal butterflies I got when he did that and not the baby this time.

He sighed, pulling away. “I’m lying. I do need to talk to Eleanor, but I probably could have got her on the phone. This was a good excuse to see you.”

He smiled at me and then walked into Eleanor’s office. I looked back at my computer screen, trying not to smile too widely in case he caught me. He kissed me again on the way out, trailing his hand down my arm in an affectionate gesture, and my heart warmed at his touch.

Eleanor came out of the office and smiled at me. “You look all loved up,” she commented, and I blushed. “You just mated,” she continued. “You’re supposed to look like that. Now, I’m popping out to talk to a couple of reporters about the festival. They want to interview me about it, and it’ll be good publicity. Actually, you should come.” She looked me up and down to see if I looked professional enough, and I glanced down at my jeans and hoodie.

“Maybe just you,” I suggested with a grin.

“You should be there. You’re the one who came up with the whole idea, and you organised most of it. I feel like I’m taking credit.”

“You’ve done a fair bit of work yourself, Eleanor, and you are the boss. I really don’t mind. I’ll just have a day off after the festival.”

“You can have a week off,” she replied and waved as she exited the shop. I smiled at her as she left, but my heart sank. I was starting to realise that despite having mated Maverick and Lucas, I would still end up leaving the island alone. There was no way they’d let me stay once they realised I’d lied to them, and when my father found out Maverick had blown off Tessa for me, he’d be furious. I wouldn’t put it past him to come after the pack just to hurt me. Being in the newspaper was probably a really bad idea anyway. If my father or one of my old pack saw it, it would lead him straight here.

Sighing, I turned back to the computer and began to type, then I changed my mind. I suddenly felt caged, hemmed in on all sides. I had a really strong urge to get out and feel the fresh air. I picked up the phone and searched for a number. It rang a couple of times, then a woman’s voice answered.

“Hi, this is Nova from the tourism centre. Eleanor said you wanted me to get in touch about a tour...”

Two hours later, I sat on the back of a speedboat, the wind whipping around my face as we sped out past the bigger waves to the open sea. Lucas sat next to me. He’d been moderately put out at having to come with me, and even more so when I’d said it was this afternoon, and yet I noticed he didn’t hesitate to cancel his plans for me.

I smiled across the boat at him where he sat, looking ridiculous in the bright orange life jacket the tour operator had insisted we both wear. He didn’t smile back, just lifted his chin slightly, but I did notice his hard gaze soften a little as he looked at me.

The boat slowed as it got past the rougher waves, and the driver took it around in a large, sweeping arc as we cleared the rock outcroppings near the small fishing harbour we’d set off from. We sped along the coast, and I watched as the few houses and shacks faded away, leaving only unspoiled scenery.

As we moved into the cluster of smaller islands, the driver slowed the boat to a gentle cruise. I took a deep breath, drinking it all in. The island truly was stunning. Dark green hills rose up from the island, leading down to thick forests and stony beaches. Here, the island broke away into smaller islands and outcroppings of rock known as the Broken Isles. I smiled at the thought that Desolation was like a giant cake and the smaller islands were crumbs left behind after someone had taken a bite. Many of the islands were covered with sea birds, and several of them soared over us. The rain had died down recently, and today was warmer with clear blue skies and sunshine I could actually feel on my skin.

Lucas moved suddenly, switching sides to sit next to me. He wrapped his arm around my shoulders, and I stared at him in surprise, not expecting any kind of affectionate touch from him. It wasn’t meant as that though, and he tugged me around to look at an island full of large black birds with long, orange-red beaks.

“Black oystercatchers,” he said. “They are nesting. Look.”

I looked closer and realised many of the birds on the island were sitting on nests made from piles of pebbles.

“The eggs are so hardy, they can survive being submerged under water. Around here, they are a protected species,” he added. “It’s why we’re not getting too close.”

I nodded. “Are they endangered?”

He stared out at the birds, his face impassive. “Not yet, but if we keep encroaching on their habitats, they won’t have long until they are. The population is quite small.”

I watched one of the birds dragging what looked like a mollusc from one of the rocks, using its bill to pry it open and devour the contents. I looked up at Lucas. “How do you know so much about them?”

He shrugged, turning back to sit properly as the boat moved past the island. “My father. He used to know a lot about the island, said it was his duty as its caretaker. He raised all of us to have respect for it, but I was always more interested in the wildlife than anything else. He used to take me camping in the forest when I was young. We would walk for miles, talking about what we saw and heard...”

Lucas trailed off, and I watched as his eyes grew distant. He stared out to sea, and I couldn’t help but reach for his hand as we sat there. He looked down in surprise as I wove my fingers through his and held on, but he didn’t pull away. He didn’t look at me either, and we just sat together in peaceful silence as the driver navigated us around the waters.

As we pulled around another rocky outcrop, the driver shouted something to us, and Lucas squeezed my hand and pointed behind us. I turned and squealed with delight. A larger island rose up only a few hundred yards away, and it was teeming with sea lions.

“Oh moons,” I murmured, turning completely and kneeling on the seat. I gripped onto the side of the boat, but Lucas slid his arm around me, pulling me firmly against him and holding me steady. The huge creatures flopped about, many of them asleep, but several lumbered down into the water or dragged themselves out of it.

“There are so many!” I exclaimed.

“The herring come here to spawn in December and stay until April, and the sea lions come to stuff themselves.”

“Well, it looks like they’ve definitely had a good meal. They are huge.” I stared at the creatures, marvelling over the way their heavy, clumsy bodies became smooth and deadly in the water. They were a light brown colour, and their pelts looked so velvety, I imagined reaching out and stroking one as it swam near the boat.

Lucas stood, moving between my feet as he positioned himself behind me. He eased me back against his chest, wrapping his arms around me and lowering his head so he could murmur in my ear.

“Steller sea lions are the biggest breed of sea lion you can get. They are really territorial, and they have a harem of females they protect with their life.”

“Jealous?” I turned my head to look at him, grinning.

“Of the harem? Definitely not. One woman is more than enough for me, but I am certainly territorial, and I would defend her and my territory with my life.”

His hot breath danced over my ear and my neck, sending a delicious shiver cascading over my skin. He was flirting with me, but there was a hard edge in his voice, and I had no doubt that he was serious. I remembered Asher’s words to me, telling me his brother was a cold killer. He’d meant it to scare me, to warn me, but right now, as I considered those who would hunt me down, the idea of having Lucas ready to fight for me didn’t scare me. It made me feel powerful and protected.

“I love seeing you so excited about the island,” he murmured. “It makes you seem so innocent, and I like innocent.” He slipped his hands under my life jacket, splaying his fingers out over my stomach. I tensed, wondering if he’d feel the swell of flesh and guess my secret.

“You do?” I murmured, staring out at the sea lions.

“Oh, I do, because if you are innocent, Nova, then I get to corrupt you.” His hand moved lower, sliding under my waistband, and I gasped, looking around to the driver.

“He’s got his earbuds in,” Lucas murmured. “And don’t you dare look at another man while you’re in my arms.”

“Sorry,” I replied, looking back out over the water.

“Sorry, sir,” he corrected.

“Sir?” I looked up at him, and he smiled darkly.

“Or master, because I will master your body, Nova, and I will corrupt you.” His fingers inched inside my underwear, and I gasped as they brushed softly over my pussy. “Now, I suggest you keep still and stay quiet so our friend over there doesn’t realise.”

“Doesn’t realise what?” I asked, gripping his arms as his fingers brushed over my skin.

“So he doesn’t realise how many times I’m making you come. Now hold onto the rail and don’t let go.”