“About five miles.”
“How did you manage to get Internet way out there? Or utilities?” she asked.
“We mostly run on solar power, but we do pay the local utility company as a backup. And we have cable. It cost a lot to get it all set up, and they think we’re some strange commune, but I wanted to make sure the pack had everything they could need or want. They ran the lines underground from the highway.”
“Do the kids go to school?” she asked. She hadn’t had a chance to explore the small village yet. Mostly, she’d stayed in Torren’s house.
“There aren’t any kids in the pack. Haven’t been.”
Her brow furrowed and she studied him a moment. “Exactly how long as the pack been here?”
Torren shrugged. “I started the pack when I was sixteen. We traveled the first year or two, trying to find the right place to settle. We’re mostly misfits who weren’t welcomed anywhere else. The land here was for sale, so I bought it. We stayed in tents while the homes and community hall were built. The lodge came later, and more homes as the pack expanded. There used to be another pack in this area, but they moved on a few decades ago. Rumor has it they took over a farm on the outskirts of town.”
“Did you all come from different packs? What about your parents? They just let you walk away like that?” she asked.
“My mom died when I was young. My dad became a different man after his mate passed. He was Alpha of our pack, until I turned sixteen. He was challenged and lost. The new Alpha banished my family. I have a cousin who lives in the Harvest Moon pack, but another cousin went a different direction, and my dad passed soon after the challenge. I was an only child.”
“And the others in the pack?” she asked.
“Baxter joined me within days of me hitting the road. He’d gotten into a fight over a female wolf shifter, and when she chose the other male, he decided it was time to move on. We crossed paths and he asked if he could join my pack. Of course, it was just me at the time, so I had a good laugh at that. I’d asked him what pack. He merely slapped my back and told me that others would find us soon enough. And he was right.”
“Jaxon never talked about joining the pack. I’d always assumed he was born here, that all of you were. None of you come to town often enough for the locals to consider you part of them. I think they figure you’re just passing through or stopping in from another nearby town.”
Torren nodded. “We like it that way. As for Jaxon, that’s his story to tell. The pack settled here over ten years ago. Some of them were kids back then, but we only have a few mated pairs. They’re all older and don’t have children. There have been some challenges during the last ten years, other wolves thinking they could take over since we’re relatively small. I’ve made a name for myself I guess, and I’ve earned the respect of other Alphas.”
“What happens if you’re challenged and lose?” she asked, both curious and a little fearful. “Would you be forced to leave the pack like last time?”
And would I go with you, or would I have to stay behind?
“It depends on the Alpha who took over. I’ve been undefeated so far, so I don’t think you have anything to worry about.” He winked. “You’re safe with me, Olivia.”
The village came into view and Torren pulled up in front of his house. They unloaded, then Olivia put her new things away while he returned the truck to the covered parking area. She kicked off her shoes, then stretched out across the bed. Today was the first time she’d left the house since waking up in Torren’s home. Even though her body was completely healed, the trip had tired her out. But then, she’d never done that much shopping at once before.
Olivia heard the front door slam, then Torren’s booted steps moved closer to the bedroom. She cracked open one eye and saw him leaning against the doorframe, a smile kicking up the corners of his lips. Torren moved closer, pulled off his boots, then stretched out next to her. He brushed her hair back from her face and lightly kissed her cheek.
“I never knew shopping could drain me of so much energy,” she muttered.
“It probably doesn’t help that I’ve been draining your energy in other ways the last two days.”
She smiled and snuggled closer. “I much prefer staying in bed with you than going shopping. I know I wanted to come here, but next time maybe you can just take me to bed and divert my attention instead.”
He chuckled and pulled her tight against his chest, wrapping his arms around her. Olivia sighed and breathed in his scent. When she’d first woken in his bed, she hadn’t known what to think. He’d claimed she was his mate, but he hadn’t seemed to know what to do with her. True, she’d still been adjusting to whatever changes her body went through from his bite, but he’d seemed a little distant. Then she’d blown up at him and he’d spanked her. Ever since then, they’d grown closer, and had barely been able to keep their hands off each other.
It was probably the happiest she’d ever been, and that made her nervous. Olivia wasn’t used to having good things happen to her. What if all of this was temporary? What if Torren woke up one day and decided she was too young for him? Too much trouble? Not worthy to be his Alpha female? Her stomach churned at the thought of losing him. Jaxon had told her that fated wolves mated for life, but by Torren’s own admission, shifters didn’t mate with humans that often. What if it was different and the bond wasn’t as strong?
With worry eating at her, Olivia clung to Torren and eventually fell into a fitful sleep. If her wolf knew that she was concerned about their future, he didn’t say anything. She woke a while later with Torren trailing kisses down her throat. His hand was at her waist, and she felt him tugging at the hem of her shirt. Soon, his hand was sliding under the material and moving up her rib cage until he cupped her breast. It wasn’t the first time she’d woken up to his hands exploring her body, and she hoped it wouldn’t be the last.
Olivia pulled her shirt over her head and tossed it aside. She’d forgone a bra and the cool air washed over her heated skin. Her nipples puckered, and Torren groaned before he took one into his mouth. He sucked on the tip hard, giving her a slight nip with his teeth, then smoothing the sting with his tongue. Olivia dug her fingers into his hair and held him to her, not wanting the sensations to ever stop.
Torren worked at unfastening her jeans while he teased her breasts with his lips and tongue. Olivia squirmed and kicked until she worked her pants down her legs and knocked them off the bed. Her wolf didn’t hesitate to slide his hand into her panties, growling softly as he plunged two fingers inside of her. She was already soaked, more than ready for whatever he wanted to do to her. His thumb stroked her clit and his fingers thrust in and out of her. The scruff along his jaw rasped against her breasts as he sucked one nipple, then the other.
“Torren.” Her hips lifted, needing more than just his fingers inside of her. “Please don’t tease me.”
She tried to pull him off her breasts, but he stubbornly refused to move, no matter how hard she tugged on his hair. Her thighs clamped together, and Torren lifted his head, his wolf peeking through his eyes. Her breath froze and her heartbeat quickened. This wasn’t the fun-loving Torren she’d spent the day with. The man staring down at her was very much an Alpha in that moment, and she’d poked the beast inside.
“Torren, I…”
He growled and she watched as his fangs lengthened over his lower lip.
