A Squad Of Wolves

Chapter 3

3

"That was way too close," JP said, breaking the silence and I nodded. He was right. Chesca came way too close to killing me tonight. I turned around to my oldest friend and lover and pressed myself softly into him, his familiar scent of dried parchment and honey comforting me like it always did.

"I was so scared," I admitted, melting in his warm embrace. His arms were slender, but I could feel the hidden muscles roll underneath his skin. JP was a lot stronger and tougher than he looked, something I always admired about him. His hands rubbed soft circles on my back as he let me hide myself and my fears into his embrace.

"Are you okay, Danny?" Regan asked, shaking his hand as it reddened from the impact. I turned in JP's arms and faced my mate. His face was warped in pain and concerned, I took his hand in my own. His fingers were swelling and the telltale bursted red veins let me know that he'd have a bruised hand for at least a good week.

"You need to be more careful," I warned him, but Regan just brushed my concern away. He pushed up my chin with his good hand and stared deep in my eyes.

"I'm fine. You're the one who's really hurt," he muttered, his voice strained. He was really f*****g pissed off and if I wasn't around, I wouldn't be surprised if he tried to take down a couple more trees.

I pushed his hand away and pulled my shirt up to my nose. "I'm okay," I mumbled, hiding the tender spots on my neck. Chesca got me good and I was sure she left some nice blemishes on my skin. I just hoped I could avoid mirrors for the next couple of weeks and not be reminded every time I saw my face how close she came to robbing me of my life.

I shivered. What if she'd actually succeeded in killing me? Unlike her, I wouldn't resurrect into a next life. No, for me, death was rather permanent. Without the rather. It was just permanent. And not something I was particularly looking forward to.

Although...

No. I needed to stay alive. There were still so many things I had to do and me dying wouldn't really benefit or accomplish anything. Except stop the war.

"We've got to move," I muttered as the adrenaline of the fight wore off and the markings on my neck started to hurt. I needed to get them wrapped in hot bandages and hope my wolf healed it before we were back around people.

I turned on my heels, ready to get out of the forest, but JP caught my wrist.

"H-Here," he motioned, waving a rather large tissue in front of my face. I frowned, wondering what he was on about. Did he want me to blow my nose?

"Ummm..." I hummed, looking at him questiongly.

"I t-thought you could use it as a s-scarf... But it's s-stupid. You're n-not going to w-wear a tissue. Stupid," JP muttered to himself, his cheeks flushing red. I felt my first smile break through on my face as I took the tissue out of his hands. He was so thoughtful and sweet. How I landed a guy like him, I would never understand.

I gently pressed myself into him and placed a soft kiss on his lips. He sighed in relief and gently brushed the strands of hair away from my face.

"Thank you, love," I whispered against his lips, drawing a chuckle from him.

"Always, Danny. You know that, right?" he muttered, peering deep into my eyes. I bit my lip as I melt under his gaze. There was just something irresistible about guys with long eyelashes and warm eyes. And JP had both.

"I know," I breathed back, pressing my lips lightly on his again, tasting more honey. Another smile slipped on my face. I couldn't help it. JP always tasted of honey and home. It was definitely reassuring to know that with him by my side, I could have a little slice of home even in the middle of nowhere. Which reminded me...

Reluctantly, I pulled away from JP and cleared my throat. "Time to move... We don't want to linger too long and wait until Chesca returns to finish the job," I reasoned, wanting to move out of the dark forest as fast as I could.

"Let's get out of here. They say the forest gets haunted at night. Frankly, I don't see how it could get any worse, but let's not gamble," JP added as he turned to my mate, who was always our navigator. Regan pulled a neatly folded map from inside his pocket and I leant over his arm to get a good look. The scent of oak and maple hit my nose and I pressed myself just that little bit harder into him. I admired the strong lines on his face as he studied the vague lines on the parchment and couldn't help my wolf happily running to the surface. She never could resist Regan, but then again, that was no surprise. He was my first mate after all. My fated mate. My one and only.

I snorted softly, trying to muffle the unflattering noise against Regan's muscled arm.

Nature could suck it. I loved JP just as much as I loved Regan and I fought enough with my wolf until she accepted that both the slender man and the muscled giant were to be my life partners. I knew she pretended to be upset about that, but secretly, she tolerated him. How could she not. She knew how happy he made me. After all we'd been through together, if there was one person my wolf would make an exception for, it was him. My rather nervous and twitchy, yet somehow incredibly agile teenage sweetheart. But that didn't mean she didn't like biting him every now and then.

"We came from that direction. The end of the forest should be near," Regan coordinated, pointing at the direction where he and JP appeared from.

"Okay," I agreed, still clinging to his arm as he meticulously folded the map and hid it in his jacket.

"You comfortable there?" Regan mused, a little twinkle flickering through his usually dark eyes.

"Very," I answered, pressing my full body against his side. A soft growl escaped from the back of his throat as he wrapped a strong arm around my waist.

"Don't tempt me now," he warned, his grip on me tightening as he pulled me harder into him. A flutter darted through my tummy as I felt him possessively curl his fingers around the curve of my waist. I should really work on keeping my hands off of him at inappropriate times, like after almost dying and being lost in the notorious Woods of Erald. Not exactly a romantic scene. But then again, with a chest and muscles like Regan, who needs romance.

"Or what?" I teased as I threw my red hair over my shoulder and looked Regan daringly deep in his stormy blue eyes. He wetted his lips as he hungrily stared back at me.

"Or I'll decorate your back with bark lines," he growled, his eyes turning a shade darker.

I frowned, not sure what he meant. "What do you mea... Ooooh."

Regan c****d an eyebrow as I caught on and I could feel my cheeks heat up. Damn him and his suggestions. Now I couldn't help but wonder how the rough bark would feel against my naked back. Would it hurt too much or just the right amount when he slid into me and drove me to....

Focus!

This is not the time for dirty thoughts about Regan and his delicious... Oops, almost got lost in thought again. I batted my eyes down as I broke the intense staring contest and peeled myself away from Regan's hard body.

"Not the best timing or place, right?" I ask my men, my cheeks flushing as I stare at my two heroes. JP chuckled and shook his head. "P-Probably not, no. I t-think the sun will set s-soon. Let's g-get moving?"

"Let's not get caught here for the night," Regan agreed, quickly stealing a kiss from my lips as he motioned to the edge of the forest. The same unsettling feeling overcoming me. I was almost sure the trees had come a little bit closer. Even with our map and Regan's excellent navigation skills, I couldn't help shake the eerie feeling that the Woods of Erald might not let us leave as easily as we wanted.