Wild Engagement_A Dark Pines Pride Bonus Story Read online

  Becca grinned and typed back, Yes, it’s too soon!

  But as she snuggled against Nick’s firm chest, she began to wonder. The idea of ever being married again had been completely unpalatable before. Now, though, it wasn’t such a distasteful concept. Nick was a good guy—a great guy. Maybe she hadn’t seen the possibility before, because she hadn’t met the right man. No one had made her heart beat so wildly. No one had been able to make her swoon. No one had been able to make her fall in love.

  Chapter Sixteen

  As Nick gazed at the woman in his arms, he felt whole and content. Becca was incredible, which he’d known from the start. It was six a.m., so he went downstairs to start Becca’s coffee maker. She liked her coffee immediately upon getting up for the day, so he’d surprise her.

  He stared at all the clothes strewn around the kitchen, grinning at the fun they’d started in here and then continued through the house, against the stairs, and into her bedroom. He started the coffee maker, then picked up their clothes and put on his jeans. He felt his phone in the pocket. Pulling it out, he saw a missed call from the same number with the Wisconsin area code.

  “Fuck,” he whispered. There was a voicemail, too. Bringing the phone to his ear, he listened.

  “Be ready, asshole.” Muffled noises sounded in the background, and then Christian hung up.

  Nick fumbled with the phone, hitting the call back button. No answer, it rang and rang. Fuck. Okay. Nick could do this. He just needed to know how close Christian was. Listening to the voicemail again, he ignored Christian’s voice and listened to the background. There was something familiar in it.

  A gravelly voice called out, “Health juice! Natural, pure and perfect!”

  Nick knew that guy. He’d stood outside the bus terminal in Seattle.

  So, Christian was close. No way could Nick allow him to come all the way here, to Becca’s house. No way could Nick allow the rest of the Dark Pines Pride to be endangered.

  He had to get in touch with Christian. If Christian wouldn’t answer the phone, maybe he’d look at a text.

  I’ll give your money clip back, Nick typed in a text to the number. Meet me at the trailhead to Mount Lisle.

  Then he scrawled out a note for Becca. I love you more than anything. There’s one last mistake I have to fix, one more fight to fight, and then I’m free of my past. If you can forgive me, I’ll spend the rest of my life making you happy.

  He put on his shirt and quietly went outside to his tiny rental car for the drive to Mount Lisle. Marius had jokingly mentioned fighting Nick there, for Hayley’s honor. It would be the best place to face Nick’s true demon from the past.

  Chapter Seventeen

  The scent of coffee reached Becca’s nose and she grinned. Nick knew her well. Coffee waiting when she awoke was her version of heaven on earth. Nick’s side of the bed was cool, and she wondered how early he’d gotten up. She pulled on a comfy pair of sleep shorts and a long-sleeved t-shirt and started downstairs.

  “Hey,” she called. Her voice echoed in the house, but there was no response. “Nick?”

  When she reached the living room and saw straight ahead to the open kitchen, it was obvious he wasn’t there. The coffee maker burbled merrily, and the morning sun streamed in through the windows. But the one person who could make the picture into a vision of happiness—the man she loved—was nowhere to be seen.

  She peered out the front windows. His rental car wasn’t in the driveway.

  Why would he leave? It was Sunday. They’d talked about going on a picnic with the others at Paris Lake.

  Becca went to the counter and to pour herself a mug of coffee. There, next to the pot, was a note from Nick.

  She read it once, but didn’t understand. This didn’t make sense. She read it again.

  There’s one last mistake I have to fix...

  What the hell? Becca crumpled the note. He had a problem, and he hadn’t come to her first? She didn’t care what the problem was, whether it was emotional or physical or legal or what. He was out there, taking care of something big, on his own.

  Why hadn’t he come to her? The only thing she could think of was that this was related to him being a shifter. Without pausing to think, she dialed Summer’s number.

  Summer’s voice was groggy with sleep. “Becca? What’s wrong?”

  “I think Nick is in trouble,” Becca said. The emotions all came to the surface now that she had her sympathetic best friend on the phone. She swiped quickly at her cheeks; she didn’t have time for tears. “I think he’s doing something dangerous. Can you ask Jackson to help find him?”

  “Of course.”

  Becca kept the phone to her ear and ran upstairs while Summer spoke to Jackson. Summer then said to Becca, “Come to our house. Jackson’s gonna get the others here and we’ll help Nick.”

  “Thank you.” Becca ended the call and got dressed. She had her boyfriend, no, her mate, to save.

  EVERYONE STOOD OUTSIDE Summer and Jackson’s home—Summer and Jackson, of course, as well as Marius, Hayley, Will, and Eleanor. Becca stood in front of them, holding Nick’s note. She read it aloud to the group.

  “I love you more than anything. There’s one last mistake I have to fix, one more fight to fight, and then I’m free of my past. If you can forgive me, I’ll spend the rest of my life making you happy.”

  “Yeah, that tit-smuggler has some kind of big-ass problem,” Hayley said, her expression cross. “Mostly us. We’re gonna kick his ass for not telling us about it and letting us help.”

  “He told me—” Becca’s voice broke, but then she got herself together. “He told me he didn’t really belong here, yet. That he isn’t a part of the pride, or whatever?”

  “He’s a part of the damn pride,” Will said. “He just doesn’t know it yet.”

  Marius spoke up. “I think I know where he would’ve gone, if he had to fight someone. He and I joked about the place before, remember? It’s a spot near Mount Lisle, up a way on the trailhead.”

  “I thought that trailhead was closed a few years ago,” Becca said.

  “Exactly.” Marius nodded, a grim expression on his face. “No humans will be wandering around. It’s a good spot to fight.”

  Becca nodded. “Then let’s go.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Nick faced the giant. He felt awful that this stupid act from his past had brought trouble to his mate and her friends. He hoped they weren’t worried about him, that they just stayed put back in Huntwood until he got this figured out. He’d handle this like he should have done three years ago.

  Christian growled. He towered over Nick, even from twenty feet away. He was just as big and mean-looking as he’d been in the cages back in Wisconsin, with his dark hair slicked back and those eerie amber eyes squinting in anger. “You’re gonna pay for what you took.”

  “Fair enough,” Nick said. “Look, I’m sorry for what I did. I was a young punk, and impulsive, and I stole the clip.”

  Christian said nothing.

  “I just want to give it back,” Nick said. “I’ve wanted to give it back almost since the moment I took it. Here.” He reached into his pocket and found the money clip. Then he held it up.

  Christian’s amber eyes narrowed further.

  Nick tossed the money clip to him, feeling like an idiot. “There you go. Like I said, I’m sorry.”

  “You made me look like a fool,” Christian said. “No one takes something from me and gets away with it.”

  “I don’t want to fight,” Nick said. “It’s crazy, but I’ve actually found a place for myself here. I’m finally, you know, settling down and not doing stupid shit anymore. I don’t know what I can do to—”

  “Shift into your wolf, and we fight,” Christian said.

  That sounded like the worst idea ever. One of them could get killed if they fought as their animals. Christian was a damn grizzly and probably had hide as tough as brick.

  “Let’s fight with our fists instead,” Nick said
.

  Christian grinned. His teeth gleamed wickedly. “Like in the cages.”

  “Yeah,” Nick said. This wasn’t any better, honestly. Nick could fight—he’d fought to the top at the club, lasting the night out several weeks in a row. But he was out of practice, and Christian looked like he broke a few skulls on a daily basis.

  A broken skull was probably better than getting his throat torn out by a grizzly’s claws.

  Christian walked toward Nick, fists clenched.

  Nick refused to take the first swing. Every part of him disagreed with fighting—he’d fought for three years. It hadn’t made sense then, and it didn’t make sense now. Everyone had expected him to be a fighter because of his build, because of his “arrogant fucking prick look” as his dad had called it. Everyone had expected him to be a fighter because his dad had been a fighter, too. And then, he’d allowed his pack’s expectations to drive his life for far too long.

  Coming out here to escape Christian and chase Hayley, that had been his moment of breaking free. He’d wanted to leave all the violence behind.

  Yet here he was again, fists raised, ready to swing.

  Christian took a step forward and feinted to the left, but Nick didn’t fall for it. He blocked right, just in time to miss Christian’s jab. Without allowing Christian a chance to recover, Nick dropped and swung out with his right leg. He hooked Christian’s ankle.

  Christian stumbled but regained his balance almost immediately. Nick was vulnerable on the ground and popped back up as fast as possible, but not in time to miss the next hit.

  It rocked him sideways. His lip stung, and blood flooded his mouth.

  He used the momentum of the hit to come back around with a hook. His fist met Christian’s jaw with a satisfying thwack.

  Christian growled and threw another punch. Fast as he was, Nick didn’t have time to dodge it. He angled away so the force hit him in the side of the head instead of the nose, but he saw stars.

  Fuck, Christian wasn’t messing around.

  Nick heard shouting in the distance, but he couldn’t afford to be distracted. He blocked blow after blow. Someone screeched—Becca. He turned, and in that split second, a fist rocked against his face so hard, Nick flew back.

  He landed on his back, staring up at the clear sky. Mottled blues and blacks and whites swirled in his vision.

  “Ha, got you, you little punk—ooof—what the hell, woman?”

  With extreme effort, Nick sat up. His vision was still gray and black at the edges. He must be dreaming. Becca stood in front of Christian. As Nick watched in disbelief, she spun sideways and kicked hard at Christian’s stomach.

  Christian grunted and stepped away, holding up his hands. “Lady, I got no beef with you.”

  “You’re going after my boyfriend,” she said, holding her arms close but loose, like she was ready to throw a punch.

  “I think I already got him,” Christian said, nodding toward Nick.

  Becca looked over and saw Nick. Her face transformed from anger to concern. “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah.” He looked past her, to Christian, wary of Christian attacking Becca. But then he saw the entire Dark Pines Pride was there, glaring at both him and Christian.

  Nick cleared his throat. “Look, Christian, I’m sorry I stole from you. You knocked me out. Whatever I have that you want is yours, just let me keep my mate and don’t hurt these people.”

  Christian’s face went blank. Fuck, that was never good. Nick remembered that blank, empty gaze from the cages.

  “Becca, step back,” Nick said to her.

  She looked from him and back to Christian. Her eyes widened in fear.

  But Christian shook his head and stepped away from them. “Yeah, whatever, asshole.”

  While Nick watched, Christian reached into his pocket and brought out the money clip. He held it up and stared at it. The silver and gold embellishments glinted in the sunlight.

  Then, with a malicious grin, Christian threw the clip far into the woods. Somewhere in the distance, Nick heard it bounce off a tree branch.

  Nick’s mouth fell open. “What the—”

  Christian laughed. “It was never about the money clip, asshole. It was about respect.” Then he turned around and walked back toward the trailhead.

  Blood filled Nick’s mouth, coppery. He spit it out, wincing at the gash in his lip.

  He turned to his mate and their friends, all of them lined up and ready to defend him. He stood and took a step toward Becca, but his leg gave out and he fell to one knee.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Seeing Nick bloodied and beat up made Becca’s chest hurt. Sure, he’d been a dick for not telling her about...whatever that fight had been about. But this kind of physical damage was far out of proportion to what he deserved.

  He stood on one knee in front of her, his mouth bleeding, his shirt torn and dusty. But the look in his eyes was nothing but clear love—love for Becca. And that made him beautiful.

  “You asshole!” she shouted.

  He looked taken aback.

  “You could have told me or any of us that you were in trouble. You leave that stupid note that tells me nothing and then what, you come up here to get your ass kicked?”

  “It was...” He stayed on one knee. “It was stupid, I know. But Becca, come here for a second. Please?”

  She couldn’t stay away when he held his hand out like that, beseeching. One step, and then another. Picking her way forward in the random clothes she’d thrown on in her rush to find him—a ratty pair of jean shorts and one of Grant’s old sweatshirts that she’d kept.

  “What?” she said crossly, but most of the sting was gone from her voice. It wasn’t anger anymore, but relief that filled her chest. He was safe. He was going to be okay.

  “I want to be with you forever,” he said. “Always. No matter how you push me away when you get scared. Nothing you say or do can ever make me stop loving you, and my only wish in this life is that you feel the same about me.”

  “I do,” she said, then realized how marriage-y that sounded. “I mean, I feel the same. If something happened to you and I hadn’t had the chance to tell you, it would’ve killed me, Nick.”

  “This is nuts,” he said, gesturing up to her, and then to himself on one knee. “But the universe put us here, in this moment, just like this. Me kneeling in front of you, baring my heart. And every instinct is telling me to ask.”

  Was he going to say what she was thinking? If he didn’t, would she ever recover? Because no, she never thought she would get married again. Ever. But there he was, right before her, staring up into her eyes, his hand warm around hers, offering the thing she never thought she’d want again but suddenly she wanted it more than anything. She pursed her lips and used her free hand to cover her mouth. She was afraid to speak.

  Nick continued in a grave voice, “Becca Van Housen, will you be my wife?”

  A sob escaped her lips, and Becca nodded. “Yes,” she said, her voice tight. “I—I want that more than anything.”

  Chapter Twenty

  While a jazz band played in the Huntwood Recreation Hall, Nick spun his new wife around on the dance floor before capturing her again in his arms. “You dance like an angel,” he said, pressing his lips close to her ear.

  She giggled. “It’s all those lessons you suffered through with me.”

  “No. It’s just you.” He laughed. “You could be doing disco moves, or breakdancing, and I’d still think you’re an angel.”

  She closed her eyes and smiled. “This is the happiest day of my life, Nick.”

  “It’s mine, too,” he said. “Without a doubt.” He never imagined he could have this feeling of completion and joy. But Becca was his—really his. Mates forever. Husband and wife.

  As they twirled, they passed Hayley and Marius, who were dancing with their baby girl, Samantha. In a baby carrier strapped to Marius’s chest, Samantha had her eyes closed and was napping while her parents swayed to the music.
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  Nick smiled over at the family. He would be forever grateful to Hayley for her role in bringing him out to Washington. Now Nick and Becca were officially members of the Dark Pines Pride.

  Will and Eleanor were locking lips over by the table of refreshments.

  The song ended, and recorded music came out of the speakers. Beyonce’s “Single Ladies.” Summer rushed over and snagged Becca’s arm, so Nick let her go, calling out, “But you’re not single anymore!”

  That didn’t seem to matter to Becca, Summer, Hayley, or Eleanor. The four of them shimmied and shook, throwing their hands in the air while their mates looked on in shock. In Nick’s oh-so-unbiased opinion, Becca was the most beautiful of all of them, but he could tell Jackson, Marius, and Will only had eyes for their own mates.

  Becca’s blond hair swung around as she moved, and her simple ivory dress hugged her chest and flared out around her legs while she spun around and shook her ass.

  When the song ended, the women returned to their respective partners, and Nick hugged Becca tight. He kissed her on the mouth and then pulled back enough to look at her face. Those beautiful green eyes, her pert nose, and her kissable lips. “I love you,” he said.

  Laughter was in her voice as she said, “I love you too.”

  The jazz band came back from their break and started a new song, “At Last” by Etta James, and Nick pulled Becca in close for one last dance before they’d head off to Hawaii for their honeymoon.

  “My mate,” he whispered into her hair. “My love. My bride.”

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  AFTER JUDE FOURNIER broke her heart six years ago, it took Ava Stricket a long time to get on with her life. Now she’s back to help out her newly-widowed mother, and Jude’s presence is just as distracting as ever. Her overprotective brothers and uncle don’t need to worry, though—Ava’s had a lot of time to harden her heart to Jude’s charms, not only to protect herself, but her daughter as well.