When the Wolves Cry (Twin Flames Duet #1)

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

TALA

I’m surprising Jax today. The slight grin on my face hasn’t dissipated since callingSnowPawsthis morning. I’m honestly not sure if the dogs will be able to haul a behemoth. But I reserved a tour for us to go dog sledding and invited Leon.

I feel bad that he never does anything outside of working for Jax. He was really excited when I called and told him to keep quiet and slip his Long Johns on.

I’m acclimated to the glacier weather here in Alaska. So, my Long Johns, long sleeve bodysuit, fuzzy boots and earmuffs will keep me warm enough. I also have a personal heater that follows me everywhere I go.

Except right now.

I sent him to get coffee and doughnuts so I could slip away and get him proper winter wear without giving away the surprise.

Large bag in hand, I scamper across the freshly cleared porch and catch myself smiling. I’m not used to anyone besides my dad clearing it off for me.

The rumbling engine sifting through the trees makes my stomach drop with excitement, a squeak managing to slip up my throat, and I race inside before he can see me.

I’m not sure why I’m still harboring the secret. He’s going to piece it together the second he sees the cargo bomber jacket and Bunny boots.

I fly up the stairs and down the hall, chucking the bag onto my bed and thundering all the way back downstairs.

My cheeks pulse, sweat lining my hairline and the back of my neck, frantic breaths shaking my chest from the speed I just bolted around at.

Now you look fucking suspicious, Tala. Good job.

His door closes, hunter eyes finding mine through the large window in front of the stairs. I wince, wiping my forehead while looking around for something to do other than stare at the predator cocking his head at my unusual behavior.

Satan’s delivering coffee and doughnuts, and I can’t take in the sight because I don’t know how to shelter a surprise without my body tattling on me.

I dart for the living room, hearing the front door open behind me, and belly flop on the couch. “You’re so fucking dumb,” I murmur to myself, and shield my eyes from the oncoming tingles.

The ice isn’t even clanking in the cup.

A gust of dark spices flows through the crack between my face and the couch. His hands wrap around mine, peeling them away from my face. He’s crouched down next to me, observing my sweat and rounded eyes.

“What’dyou do?” he asks sternly, deep voice penetrating my earmuffs.

I spot the delicious looking coffee on the table, rolling my lips to pop them. “Nothing,” I croon innocently.

“You’re lying,” his lip twitches, and he abruptly stands up, disappearing from view.

I stare dumbfounded for a moment, and the hands wrapping around my fur covered ankles jerk me back. “Jax,” I hiss, flailing my hands and getting dragged to the arm of the couch.

My ass is straight in the air. I know what’s coming.

His palm cracks against my double lined ass cheek, still instituting sparks to fire up on my skin. I whine, shoving my face down into the emerald fabric and pushing into his hand rubbing the sting.

“You little liar. You weren’t dressed like a fucking snow bunny when I left and you sure as shit didn’t have flushed cheeks and sweat beading on your forehead. So, tell me, baby… What did you do?”

“Go look on my bed, asshole,” I bite out, not wanting his hands to leave my body. They’re firm and rub with the right amount of pressure.

But they retract, leaving me with the thrum I’ve grown accustomed to.

I smash my hands into the cushion, pushing myself up and slipping down the arm he just fucking left me on. Stomping over the rug, I grab the iced coffee, snatch up a doughnut from the box, and mosey up the stairs and to my bedroom. He’s sitting on the edge of my bed, pinning me down with questions radiating in his obsidian.

I swallow the bite of sugary dough I hungrily took in the hall, licking any possible icing from my teeth. “Get dressed. Our tour starts in an hour.”

His brows furrow. “You were sweating bullets over a surprise?” He roughly wipes over his mouth, stiff shoulders dropping. “Baby girl, I thought I was coming up here to murder a man in your bed.”

I slowly blink. “You thought I sent you out for breakfast and got dressed up for a normal human?”

A small laugh rumbles out of him. “I could only think the worst with how suspicious you looked.” He stands up, gliding a hand of relief through his middle part, and grabs the jacket from my bed. “You better have used my card for this. And for wherever the hell we’re going.”

I didn’t. I called my dad about it, and he was thrilled to graciously pay for an endeavor of ours. We don’t do much outside of the house and Jax stays busy hunting down Brutus.

Plus, the guys atSnowPawshave been around for a long time. I’m sure Jax’s nosy ass can probe them for information all while having some enjoyment.

Amusement lights my face up, watching Leon pull a rabbit trapper hat on with a radiant smile.

He smooths it down, checking himself out in the long mirror on the cabin wall. “Ah? What do we think, mija? Think the chicks of Alaska will dig it?”

I laugh, and meander closer to the racks of hats and shawls made from the recycled fur of the meat they’ve hunted. The older woman flirting with Jax at the front counter makes them herself.

“I think you need a shawl too,” I say assertively, picking out one that matches his hat. I step closer and throw it over his shaking shoulders, his silent laugh turning his cheeks rosy. “Thechickswon’t be able to refuse you now. Just have to work on a mating call.”

He spins around, cupping his hands to his mouth and letting a coo echo through the gaps of them. Not just one. He keeps going, trilling his tongue and glancing around for the supposed ladies to come running.

Jax is glaring at him from across the cabin.

I thin my lips, cheeks tight and aching from the suppressed laughter. The woman is still chatting Jax’s ear off, leaning over the counter and ogling the dangerous man before her.

Leon finally catches the daggers being thrown in his direction, and his coos falter off, waving his hand downdefeatedly. “No chicks. I only pissed off the Grim Reaper.”

“I think that’s just his face, Leon,” I pacify, knowing damn well Jax is irritated as fuck.

“Huxley!” the tall, older man entering the cabin calls out.

I rip the fur off Leon, putting them back in their designated spots. “Coming!” I wave for Leon to follow, quickly walking over to the guide who is patiently waiting.

“Are you Damascus’s daughter?” he asks, wrinkles forming around his grin.

My shadowteleportsbehind me, looming over me and placing a hand on my side. “Yes, sir,” I say politely. “How do you know my dad?”

Lifting his trapper hat up, he scratches over his forehead with a crooked smile. “I went to school with your grandpa. He was a dear friend of mine. I don’t suppose he ever mentioned his kooky friend Gerald to you. But he was a very good man and I’m terribly sorry for your family’s loss.”

Jax has been helping me heal and stay out of the swallowing darkness.

Standing here, talking to someone that was once close to my grandpa, has the tide waving over and drowning me. Wrought iron chains attached to cinder blocks are helping pull me down, not giving the life vest a chance to keep me up.

Jax’s hand caressing my hip offers oxygen to my constricted lungs, but my eyes still burn and the lump in my throat threatens any speech I may have considered.

“Thank you, sir. She’ll pass along your kind words to Damascus,” Jax speaks for me.

I suddenly don’t want to go dog sledding. I’d prefer to go back home, curl up in bed, and fade into black.

Gerald bows, giving me kind eyes as he opens the door. The rush of icy air prickles my skin up, and I hesitantly follow behind Leon.

Leon looks back at me, a somber frown tugging down his lips, and he holds finger hugs up. I send them back his way, sighing at how easily emotions can snowball.

Keeping a steady pace with Gerald, we follow him around the cabin and towards the back where excited barks are resounding in the wooded clearing. He begins going over the history of dog sledding, which fascinates Leon, but the fingertips feathering up my spine make it impossible to focus my hearing on information I’m aware of.

Jax’s large hand swerves around my shoulder, turning me into his lean body that’s still firm like stone under the layers. His other arm encircles me, holding me tight and lovingly, and I latch around him, closing my eyes to the sound of his heart thumping on the side of my head.

It’s strong. It’s the macabre ballad that beats for both him and me; the rhythm that houses my comfort.

“Oh, you wouldn’t believe it,” Gerald says exasperatedly. “Some men showed up here and tried buying my Lead.”

My ears perk up, and I lift my head to peer up at the strong contour under Jax’s jaw. The muscles tic, his grip on me growing possessive. “By any chance, did they mention the name Pyro?” Jax asks curtly.

I wiggle from his arms of steel, twisting around to Gerald’s squinted eyes that are roaming in thought.

“I don’t recall. They got the hell outta here once I pulled my shotgun out,” Gerald says coolly.

Leon quirks his scarred brow at Jax. “How are they moving like ghosts, man? Surely you would’ve bumped into one, or I would’ve caught something on the street cams.”

Jax shakes his head, indicating he doesn’t know. “How long ago was that, Gerald?”

“A week ago. I only remember because I missed my eye appointment because of it, and they couldn’t get me back in until this morning.”

“You know the same thing happened with my family, right?” I chime, chest stiffening with anxiety. “Some men tried buying the wolves and a week later my grandparents were set on fire.”

Gerald props his hands on his hips, scanning over the dogs that are yipping and jumping on top of their wooden houses. “Well, shit. I found the cover story perplexing. They were anything but ignorant.”

“Do you have a safe place for the dogs?” Jax asks.

Gerald nods, still panning around in thought. “I take ‘em home with me. Beth dressed up an entire bedroom for ‘em.”

“I know you have a business to run, Gerald,” I say softly. “But I think it might be best to take down our numbers and head home for the day. Those guys are monsters. I’ll let my dad know too. He’s always awake with the wolves now and you know he’d speed your way if something happened.”

He nods in agreement. “Thank you, young lady. Let me reimburse you since you didn’t get to go for a ride.”

“It’s okay,” I rush, waving a hand through the air. “Think of it as payment for Beth having to endure Leon’s shenanigans.”

Gerald frowns, not understanding, and Leon clicks his tongue, dropping his jaw and thinning his eyes at me. “I thought you liked it, mija. You’rebreakin’ my heart.”

“Alright,” Jax draws out jadedly, swiveling me around by my shoulders.

Void’s plotting a sneak attack. He thinks since he’s burrowed in the snow, I can’t see his amber eyes and black snout sticking out.

The snow shoots up, scattering within the cold breeze, and he charges me down. I smile, waiting for the last stride, and deftly lunge to the side to miss his methodical leap. Whisking around and laughing, I catch him skating through the inches of fluff towards Jax, Leon, and Dad, pivoting towards me with predator eyes.

“She’ll almost break her damn backgettin’ off the four-wheeler. But rough housing with the wolves is no problem,” Dad says, arms crossed over his chest.

Jax’s eyes are hungry. Somehow sharper and more dangerous than the actual predator hunting me down. “She’s getting fast. She’s strong too. She got me down in a leg lock the other day in under five seconds.”

“Phew,” Dad whistles.

I dodge Void’s second attempt at pouncing on me, my ego inflating my head. I better be getting stronger and faster. Jax has been putting me through torturous training and he does not go easy on me.

“You’re not scared he’s going to eat you?” Leon asks anxiously.

He’s horrified by the wolves. He’s attempting to hide it, butValkocan smell it and has been slowly creeping up behind him. Echo’s watching his back, so he should be fine. I think.

Dad laughs atrociously, and Jax’s scowl remains cutting.

I ruffle the fur on Void’s head and point behind Leon. “Valko’sthe only one you should be worried about.”

Leon’s lips tighten with terror, and he slothfully twists to peer back at the pale-yellow eyes tracking him. A shaky, droning cry escapes him as he turns to me, mouth agape and muscles freezing with fear.

“Echo won’t let him get ya,” Dad chuckles.

Before he can piss his pants, I walk past him, trudging through the snow in my furry boots, and stop in front ofValko. “You’re freaking him out,” I whisper, reaching out to pet his head.

The white spots above his eyes raise, and I look over my shoulder, ready to pacify Leon some more today, but Jax is undressing me with his eyes. So intensely, it seems he’s scanning past my flesh and muscles, boring right down to my bones.

“Uh, anyways,” I say, flustered as fuck. “Just keep your ringer all the way up, Dad. We’re not sure if they’ll hit Gerald and Beth next.”

“How are these bastardsgettin’ away with this shit?” Dad asks.

Jax beckons me with two long, tattooed fingers. I gulp, grazing my hand overValkoone last time, before heeding hiscommand.

“Damascus, did Mayor Jenkins pay you off to not dig around your parent’s deaths?” Jax asks, and braces his hand to my back, pulling me snugly into him.

I don’t know how he always smells intoxicating. I’ve never seen him spray cologne on. He just rolls deodorant over his tattooed armpits and heads out.

Dad looks at us adoringly, but it’s stripped away and replaced with the grim reality. “No, the only money I’ve received from him is the proceeds from the gala.”

My eyes widen. “You signed the paperwork already?” Jax asks.

Dad nods, and Leon creeps closer with a plethora of horror tightening his face. “I read through it carefully. The only reason I didn’t refuse is because field trips stop in the winter. We really only sell the family day passes and merchandise.”

“Can I take a look at your copy?” Leon asks.

Dad stares off, dread washing the color from his face. “Now that I think about it, I didn’t receive one.”

“Dad,” I whine, shoving my face into stone to avoid my disappointment reaching Dad’s eyes.

“Would you mind us reviewing the footage to pull up identification on who brought you the paperwork?” Jax asks, his whiskey voice rumbling on my forehead.

“I went to City Hall, son,” Dad sighs. “I guess maybe I should start calling you before making decisions.”