Filed to story: Cara Nelson The Guardian: Werewolf Book PDF Free
Conversation over dinner is easy. Calista seems very excited to have me around and Donna, Charles’ mate, also seems happy to have another female in the mix. Looking around the table, it does seem dominated by males.
After dinner, I excuse myself to find a restroom. Rik points me in the direction they are in, and I go off to find it. I did need to use the bathroom, but I also really needed to just catch my breath. This had been a lot. And while it has been fun and unexpected, I was getting a lot more attention that I was used to.
When I step out, there is another she-wolf waiting. “All yours.” I say and move to step around her.
“You know he’ll get bored with you, right?”
I stop and look at her. “Excuse me?”
“He’s acting all into you now, but he’ll get bored with you. He always does and then you’ll be nothing but another one of his conquests.”
She’s hit a nerve. It is the one thing that I’ve been worrying about. What if this isn’t real? What if he isn’t as into me as I am with him?
‘She’s just a jealous she-wolf.’ Artemis chimes in. ‘We are above this.’
Artemis. The voice of reason. I take her advice and choose the high road. “You know, green really isn’t your color.” I say to her.
She sneers at me. “Are you color blind? I’m not wearing green.”
I give her what I hope is a kind smile. “Green. It’s the color associated with emotions like envy and jealousy. They aren’t attractive on anyone, and that includes you.”
“And why would I be jealous of you?” She practically spits out.
Suddenly, she’s looking behind me and her entire demeanor changes. I don’t have to look to know it’s Rik. Great.
“Alpha.” She practically purrs. “I was just welcoming Cara here to the pack house.” I raise my eyebrow at her. Seriously?
Rik wraps his arms around me, pulling me to him so my body is surrounded by his scent and heat. It calms me immediately. “Is that what you were doing Sheila? Because it sounded like you were being rude to my future girlfriend.”
Her face registers shock before she begins stumbling for an explanation. “I…I…”
He interrupts her. Nuzzling his nose in my hair he says, “Did you know that Cara pinned my father in a sparring match in 15 minutes?” I watch her eyes go wide as she shakes her head, no.
He continues. “Or that she is immune to wolfsbane?” Now her eyes are as big as saucers when she looks at me.
“Rik.” I try to convince him to stop, but it comes out much breathier than I wanted. His proximity, his deep voice and his face breathing against mine were turning me to mush.
“Or,” He continues, sliding his nose up my.neck, “that she can mind link her father from a distance where I can’t even feel mine?”
He moves to the other side of my neck and begins his gentle assault on that side. ” Or that even when she is restrained by silver, she can still speak to Artemis?”
I can see the defeat in her eyes. Did she think I was a normal she-wolf? She had to know at least some of the strength of being a Guardian. Or maybe not. She’s not a warrior after all.
I suddenly realize the room behind us has gone silent. Everyone listening to our exchange. Rik raises his voice to take in the entire room. “If anyone is foolish enough to take on my Guardian, good luck, you’ll need it. And after I defeat her in our sparring match on Monday, she’ll officially be my girlfriend.”
I tense up at his declaration. I wasn’t going to say anything, but I should have known. He’s been very public with his claim of me all along, and this is no different.
It’s Trevor that responds. “Wait! The answer Cara will give a yes to on Monday if you win is to be your girlfriend?” He asks as if this has any bearing on the match. I feel Rik turn to him and nod.
“Well shit! Sorry Cara, I was betting on you, but now….no way Alpha’s losing that one.” I see from the corner of my eye that Sheila is slinking away to lick her wounds.
I turn in Rik’s arms to look at Trevor directly. And not just him, all the warriors seem to be crowding around Dean. “You can’t all bet on Alpha Rik, there’s no betting pool if everyone makes the same bet.”
“Are you kidding me right now?” I ask them.
Jason’s head pops up. “Sorry Car, we didn’t know you were the prize. No way Alpha’s losing on Monday.” I turn to look at Rik’s very smug face over my shoulder. He still has his arms wrapped tightly around me, not letting me go.
“Cara?” It’s Alpha Anders this time. I look up and the table of bettors quiets down to hear what is said.
“Yes Alpha.”
“You heard the tales the other night. You should know that a Forte never loses when his eye is on the prize. Isn’t that right Calista?” And he turns the same smug look that Rik gave me to his mate.
Calista’s lips purse for a moment before a smile reluctantly breaks out. She turns to me. “I’m sorry sweetheart, but Anders is right. If I were to bet on this one…” Every warrior’s head popped up like a group of meercats. “I said IF I was a betting person, which I am not,” All the heads dropped back down to the betting sheets. “I would have to bet on Rik this time.”
I shake my head. “Fine. If everyone is betting against me, why don’t you pick something you can at least go odds on?” They all turn to me expectantly. I step away from Rik and walk toward their table. “You don’t really think he’s going to take me down easily, do you? Why don’t you bet on how long it will take him to pin me?”
Dean’s face lights up. “Brilliant!” He starts writing it up. Trevor looks over his shoulder at me. “Has Artemis shifted yet?”
“Not yet, I…” Artemis pushes forward answering the question. “Tomorrow warrior. I will be shifting tomorrow. And if any of you ever bet against me again, you will face me on the training field so I can remind you of who you are dealing with.”
Every warrior’s head turns in deference to Artemis. “Sorry Artemis. It’s just, we know that you’re not yet at full strength and Rik and Kai have been pretty clear that they want you and Cara, so….nothing personal, we know how incredible you are, you don’t need to remind us.” They attempt to placate her.
It’s Rik’s arms wrapping around me again that finally settles her. His voice is deeper than before, indicating that Kai has pushed forward when he asks, “Does this mean we get to go for a run tomorrow little guardian?”
Dinner was great. I can see everyone watching us, watching Cara. It’s her first real public appearance and just as I expected, my mother circled her with ranked wolves to make sure she feels comfortable. I’ve been going back and forth talking to the others at the table while also keeping my attention on Cara and her conversations. I’m ready to swoop in if she starts to feel overwhelmed. When she asks where the restrooms are, I point her in their direction. I know she needs a minute to regroup.
I keep my eye on where she went. If it takes her too long to come back, I will go check on her. I want this to be a positive experience, one that she will repeat daily with me. It’s important to the pack and if she’s going to be my Luna, she needs to feel comfortable being a part of the large group.
Because I’m watching so closely, I see Sheila sneak over to the bathrooms. Oh hell no!
I get up and head over to redirect whatever it is she thinks she is going to say to my girl. This is not going to happen. Sheila has walked around a corner and doesn’t see me coming. So I overhear their conversation. Cara is even more amazing than I expected. She doesn’t get angry and doesn’t react other than to tell Sheila that jealousy isn’t attractive. How can Sheila be stupid enough to tell Cara that I would give her up. She knows she’s my mate, so she knows that will never happen. It’s ridiculous and borders on being insubordinate to her future
Luna.
So, I do what I’ve been doing, I claim her publicly. I know everyone is watching me as I begin explaining all the reasons why Cara is more worthy of my claim than any other she-wolf in this room, this pack, or the world. She is remarkable and most of the other wolves don’t know her strength outside the training field. But I do. And I make sure everyone else in the pack knows now too.
I knew announcing that our match on Monday meant she’d become my official girlfriend would throw the betting odds completely off, but I also wanted to stake my claim yet again. I’m thrilled that my warriors understand the importance of this match enough that now no one is betting against me. And Cara’s compromise of betting on the length of time is a good one. I know she won’t make it easy on me and I don’t plan to hurt her, so yeah, it will be a long match with me wearing her down until I can pin her.
When Artemis comes forward and announces that she will be shifting tomorrow, Kai pushes me out of the way to come forward. He’s been prancing around in my head for days wanting to be with his mate. He’s practically purring in her ear when he asks about going on a run tomorrow. And that sassy little minx turns in our arms and smirks up at us. “Do you think you can catch me Kai?”
A low growl rumbles in my chest. “I will catch you little guardian. No matter how long you run, no matter where you hide, I will find always catch you.”
