A gray blur of fur buzzed past Rafe, joining the battle. Even with Nadine’s support, the cougars had them bested. They couldn’t fight off cougars two to one. The pack gathered in a tight protective circle while the pride gathered around them.
The leader shifted out, his lip bloody from where Rafe had bit him. He sneered and walked past the pack to open the back door of the SUV. He pulled the boar’s leg and yanked the kill from the wolves’ truck.
Rafe snarled. Going back empty handed was not an option. The pack would be so disappointed. He couldn’t fail.
He shifted out, hoping he could strike a deal.
“We have other equipment. Things you might need. Guns, medical supplies, knives… We need the meat. Name your price.”
“We don’t need any of it, wolf. Cougars are self-sustained. We haven’t looted human goods in years. This is the new world, wolf. Learn to live in it.”
The pride gathered around the kill and bit into its arms and legs. They turned toward a stand of tall bushes and lugged the kill away through the silver-green leaves. Rafe wanted to give chase, but he knew it would be useless. Getting injured wouldn’t help the pack; it would only put them in greater danger.
The pack stood naked on the freeway, their bare feet baked by the blazing asphalt. They picked up their ruined clothes and got back in the car. Everyone was silent. There was nothing to say at this point. They’d gone out for food and had come back with another mouth to feed.
Chapter 32
The hunters stepped through the front door of the fallout shelter, empty handed and naked. Rafe didn’t want to face the pack. Food was becoming scarce, and he had failed to feed them.
Most of the pack sat at the dining room tables, eating a meager meal of cornbread with cactus syrup. Rafe cringed. The other hunters had already returned, and it didn’t look as though they’d brought in any meat, either.
He scanned the busy room, looking for Cassie. He didn’t see her. The pack turned to watch Rafe and the hunters come into the dining hall. All eyes fell on Nadine. The group who’d gone with him were all nude, but Nadine’s tanned skin and sensual figure stood out. He needed to find her some clothes.
“We weren’t able to find anything, but we rescued a fellow werewolf today. Make Nadine welcome everyone. We will discuss food supplies at lunch,” Rafe said, standing before the pack, with his broad rippling body bare for all to see. The only thing more impressive than his towering human form was his wolf. “Selina, get Nadine some clothing, and show her to the showers.”
Selina pursed her lips, took the other woman by the elbow, and led her down the hall. Neil tapped Rafe on the shoulder and handed him a robe. Rafe flung the robe around his shoulders as Neil did the same. Neil nodded for Rafe to follow him down the back hallway around to the water treatment system.
“Losing that boar put us in a bad position,” Neil said.
“Yes. It did. We have to find other hunting grounds. We can’t let the food stores get any lower. If they do, we might have to scavenge a town. I don’t want to risk a run in with the zombies. Fresh meat is the best answer.”
“With those cougars claiming half the region as their own, we might not have a choice,” said Neil.
“We will find a way. Our pack is too weak to fight them directly. We have no idea how many are in their pride. All we can do is keep exploring. It might be beneficial to bring weapons with us next time. It was a critical oversight that we left them behind this time. With one gun we could have saved the boar.”
“Agreed,” said Neil, nodding his head. “What do you think of Nadine? She’s a strong female and quite beautiful.”
“Yes.”
“She would be a good choice for a mate. A good alpha mate.”
“Neil.”
“Cassie is a good person, Rafe. But she’s just that, a person. The pack needs a wolf for its alpha female. It isn’t good for moral to put the human into such a position. Many blame her for our situation, and I can’t say that they are wrong. We never should have harbored her.”
“Are you questioning my authority, Neil?” Rafe’s lips curled over his teeth and he let out a low, guttural growl.
“No. Not at all. I’m only serving in an advisory capacity. I know what will keep the pack in line, and a human alpha female is not it. Nadine is a perfect candidate. I would have suggested Selina, but I know you think of her as a sister, and she is still mourning her mate. Nadine, on the other hand, is perfect.”
“This conversation is over, Neil. I don’t want you to bring it up again.”
Neil’s shoulders dropped, and he looked down at the floor. His hard edges seemed to soften under Rafe’s retort. Rafe squared his shoulders and crossed bulging arms over his chest.
“I hope we have an understanding.” Rafe turned away without another word and strode down the hallway. He saw Cassie standing in the dining room looking confused and worried. Her eyes were puffy with dark bags underneath and her face was drawn and hallow as if she’d been crying. Rafe sighed. He couldn’t make her happy here. The place he’d brought her to protect her was taking its toll on her health, like the rest of them.
Chapter 33
Cassie watched Rafe cross the dining room and stand next to her. He bent down, kissed her forehead, and tugged her into his arms to stroke her hair. She hated it when he made public displays of affection. She could feel the pack staring, even if it was only Meredith and Steven left in the room. They had opinions too.
“I saw the new girl,” Cassie said, pulling away. “She’s pretty.”
“A lot of people think so.”
“Do you?”
“I hadn’t noticed.”
“Don’t lie,” she said more harshly than she meant to.
“Well. I did. And she is. Does that make you feel better?”
“I don’t want to talk about this here.”
She felt so close to tears again. She’d been crying all morning. After going out to get more cactus fruit, she’d arrived back at the shelter to hear Clark and several other wolves talking about her and joking about her stupid gathering. They didn’t respect plant food when they had no meat. Mostly, they didn’t respect her.
When she came out of the dark tunnel and into the dining room, she went straight to the kitchen and dropped her full bucket on the floor. If they didn’t want her contribution, she would quit going. No one else even bothered to gather anymore. They’d rather starve than do what a stupid human did. Afterward, she’d run to her bedroom and flew into bed to sob.
It was times like these that she most missed the dome. Even the regimented, brainwashed life was better than living with a bunch of mutants that hated her. She’d curled up on the bed and cried until she heard the sound of Rafe’s voice down the hall.
She’d risen from her bed just in time to see the beautiful bombshell of a blond werewolf walking naked down the hallway with Selina as though they were new best friends. When Selina walked past, she’d averted her eyes and didn’t even acknowledge Cassie.
Cassie took Rafe by the hand, led him down the hall to their room, and shut the door behind them. He threw off his robe and began kissing her violently on the neck and mouth. Her desire surged, but she felt far too self-conscious to let him have her now.
Everyone hated her. She had no right to be these wolves’ leader. She pushed him away, and his eyes darkened with momentary anger. Then sadness colored his face. His lips tipped down, and he reached out to rub her upper arms with both hands.
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m... I’m just not in the mood.”
“You’ve been crying. Tell me.”
“I’m just tired.”
“It’s more than that, Cassie. Tell me now.”
She heaved a heavy sigh, looking down at the ground and turning away from him. She held her upper arm with one hand, and her dark blond hair hung down around her face. He reached for her, making her turn back to face him. She refused to look up, but he lifted her chin with his finger, forcing he
r to meet his eyes.
“What?” he said, his eyes growing wide with demand.
She jerked away, angry that he would handle her like that. She didn’t have to tell him anything. She was her own person. She wasn’t even a wolf. Being his mate made the whole pack hate her and her life miserable. How dare he demand anything from her?
“Everyone hates me. You know that.”
“They don’t hate you.”
“Oh yes, they do. They’d be happy if I disappeared out there in the desert one day and never came back. I thought some of these people were my friends, but they aren’t. Selina won’t even look at me anymore. Clark makes fun of my gathering. I’m risking my life to bring in food, and they just laugh at me for it.”
“Cassie.” His voice was pleading.
“No. It’s true. They will never accept me. Mating with me has make me an outcast. You’d be better off with that new girl. Nadine. Everyone seems to love her already.”
“Don’t say such stupid things.” He growled.
“Don’t call me stupid! It’s your fault that they hate me in the first place.”
“My fault? Would you rather I left you for the Anu? They could take you back to their little breeding program and knock you up with an alien hybrid baby. I wonder if you’d get to raise it too. How would that have worked for you, Cassie? I’m sorry I ruined all that for you.”
“How dare you! You have no idea how disgusting that is to me! I’d rather die than have them ever touch me. Do you understand me?”
“There was no other way to get them to leave you alone, Cassie. I had to mark you. I wanted to do it. I love you.”
“But we can’t be together. I can’t be your mate. This will never work.”
“I am the alpha of this pack. My word is law.”
“Do you remember the story you told me of the alpha who mated with a witch? It destroyed the pack. Is that what you want on your hands? Do you want our love to break up your pack so your shelter can be taken over by cougars?”
“That will never happen.”
“You can’t guarantee that. I won’t be responsible for it. I’m going to sleep in the bunk room from now on.”
“I forbid it.”
“You can’t forbid me from doing anything. Remember. I’m not a wolf. I don’t have to follow your pecking order rules. None of it makes any difference to me. You want a dominant show of strength? I’ll show you my gun. And you can’t forbid me because I’m your ‘mate,’ either. As my husband or boyfriend or whatever the fuck you are to me, I don’t have to do what you say! I’m going to the bunkroom. I’m going to figure out what I’m going to do. Until things change, we can’t be together.”
Cassie ripped her box from under the bed and began shoving things inside her backpack while Rafe stood over her, watching. After everything had been shoved inside, she turned to leave.
Rafe caught her again and pulled her into his embrace, claiming her mouth with his hard lips. He kissed her and held her possessively. Her body instinctively yielded, and she kissed him back, sinking into his strong arms. She pushed him away, a tear clinging to the corner of her eye.
“I love you, Rafe, but I’m going.”
Chapter 34
Cassie went to the bunkroom with the rest of the pack and shoved her bag and weapons under the cot. A dozen pair of eyes fell on her, boring into the back of her neck as she arranged her pillow.
She turned around to meet the intrusive gazes, but the wolves snapped their heads away and pretended to be doing something else.
She was lucky to find a bed. The new girl, Nadine, had taken the second to last cot in the long, underground room. Cassie sunk into her bed, and leaned against the concrete wall. She gathered her knees to her chest and buried her face in between them.
The powerful desire to weep welled up from her stomach and caught in her throat. She felt she was losing Rafe, the only reason to be among these wolves that seemed to hate her. She took a long, slow breath and blew it out before stretching to lie down.
The figure of the tall blond woman stood over her looking down with a bright smile on her full, pink lips. Cassie knew she was an attractive woman, but Nadine seemed to put all her womanly wiles to shame.
“You’re the alpha female, aren’t you?”
“Not anymore,” said Cassie, not looking the woman in the eyes.
“But you are the alpha’s mate?”
“I’m not sure anymore,” said Cassie, turning on her side away from Nadine.
“Oh. Interesting.”
Cassie looked over her shoulder at the woman and gave her a confused, irritated look. “What?”
“Nothing. I just want to know the alpha’s status.”
“Why?”
“No reason. It’s just good to understand pack dynamics. I understand that you are a human. That must be a challenge for you.”
“No. It isn’t. I’ve always been human, so it comes pretty naturally to me.”
Nadine laughed. The sound lilted through the bunkroom, echoing off the walls of the chamber.
“I’m tired,” said Cassie. “Leave me alone.”
Nadine stepped away and out of the bunkroom, leaving Cassie to her dark thoughts. After a long morning collecting cactus fruit and crying, she felt tired. The sinking depression gathering at her temples made her even more tired. She pulled the scratchy blanket over herself and closed her eyes.
Someone turned off the light, and the rest of the pack went silent. Most of the others left in the room were napping as well. It wasn’t long before Cassie fell asleep.
She dreamed. Vivid, HD color dreams surged through her mind. She walked through the desert, alone, lips parched. She could feel her body weakening. It was only a matter of time before she would parish.
There was no one. A sharp feeling of despair permeated the world. Hot sun beat down on her mercilessly. Even the tears that so wanted to fall had dried up. There was no relief in sight.
She walked through the barren sands. No cactus, no shrubs, no mesas. All was sand and heat and sun. Her skin began to blister. Her eyes burned.
As she was about to give up and lie down to die, she spotted a glimmer on the horizon. Renewed hope found her, and she staggered forward. She could smell the scent of water and palms.
Soon she realized the glimmer was an oasis. A large lake lay planted in the middle of the barren sands, surrounded by grasses and palm trees. She could see fruits and berries growing around the lake.
When she arrived at the lakebed, she fell to her knees and scooped water into her mouth in huge gulps. She dunked her head, and flipped it backward. Droplets dripped from her hair and down her parched skin. As her body cooled, she sat in the sand on the lakeshore and looked out at the view.
For the first time, she realized she was not alone. On the curve of the lake, she could see two figures. Wolves. A male and female were mating ferociously next to the water. She blinked in surprise. The wolves shifted and Cassie fell back in shock.
Rafe sank himself into Nadine from behind, pounding her hard as he gripped her wide hips. Her breasts jiggled underneath her as she moaned with ecstasy. Rafe grimaced and growled as he worked the woman’s body, owning her completely, shaping her to his will. He yanked her wet hair, lifting her up off her hands.
He drew her into him, gripping her breasts as he pumped into her from behind. Cassie watched in terror as Rafe climaxed inside the tanned, blond woman. He flipped her around and kissed her hard on the mouth.
Cassie stumbled to standing and staggered out of the oasis before she shot up in bed awake. She panted hard, sweating. A tear dripped down her cheek, and her body felt both anger and arousal. Shame filled her, and she collapsed back in bed to weep silently into her pillow.
Chapter 35
“Cassie,” she heard behind her. Rafe’s voice startled her from expressing her sorrow. Her face stung, wet with tears. She sniffled and wiped her cheeks with her woolen blanket before turning to look at Rafe in the dim light.
 
; He was illuminated by the glow from the doorway. The overhead light was still off. Cassie squinted. “What is it?”
“I need you to come with me to work on The Program. I have a terminal set up near the water treatment system on the other side of the shelter.”
“Oh? Why? Don’t we have more important things to do than investigate the Anu? Like find these carnivores some meat?”
“That’s exactly what I need you to do.”
“I don’t see how I could possibly find meat inside The Program.”
“We’ll see. Come.”
She sighed and rose from the bed, still in her dusty shoes. She begrudgingly followed Rafe down the hallway to a small room behind the water filtration system. The room was outfitted with a sloppy terminal. Cables extended from the central computer attached to a virtual reality helmet.
Cassie frowned. This was the worst excuse for a terminal she’d ever seen. Was he kidding? Instead of a proper terminal chair, he had the helmet sitting on a metal folding chair.
“This isn’t going to work,” she said, crossing her arms.
“Why not?”
“Look at this place. I can’t possibly get inside under these conditions.”
“Come on. You went inside with Circe and didn’t even have a helmet or serum.”
“That was different. Circe has magic. This is just sub-par technology.”
“You are forgetting one important detail.”
“What?”
“Your talent.”
Cassie rolled her eyes. “Do you think complimenting me is going to change my mind about us?”
“No. I think stating the truth will help you have the confidence you need to get into The Program.”
“Fine. Whatever. Let’s get this over with.”
She lifted the helmet off the folding chair and plopped down, waiting for Rafe to bring out the serum. She’d never gone into The Program feeling so irritated before. She didn’t want to do it, but she didn’t feel as if she had a choice.