Sweet Pears and Cedar

LIANA

The second the king reaches for me, I feel Zeke’s eyes burning into me from where he stands among the males clustered behind the lineup. There is something about the look in the king’s eyes that sends a shiver up my spine, instantly icing my veins, so—I bolt.

I whip through the trees, my body bending and bowing through the brush and bushes.

I have no idea what I’m doing or where the hell I’m headed, I just run—until Zeke’s voice speaks into my head through the pack link.

~“Hide. I’ll get the car. I just have to get through the packs first,”~ he growls. I don’t care that Zeke isn’t my mate, that he doesn’t really have the right to protect me like this, especially not from the king. Right now all I need is to feel safe, and he is my safety.

~“Please hurry,”~ I pant back and feel him agree as I run toward the palace. I can’t exactly hide in the woods with all the wolves now roaming—not with the king determined to hunt me down.

I guessed correctly that the palace would be empty, and as I run breathlessly through the halls, my eyes dart around, looking for an escape route. And then I hear voices. I have to get out of here, fast. My eyes snap to the first thing they see. Stairs.

I run, taking them two at a time, and dash down the corridor at the top in a chance direction.

~“Where are you?”~ Zeke calls to me.

~“Upstairs. In the palace. On the west side…”~ I pant back.

A door at the far end gets my attention and I dash for it. I throw it open, thankful that it isn’t locked, and then slam it shut behind me and scour the room for a way out. Shoving down my dress, which clings tightly around my waist, I glance around once more.

Window.

I launch myself over the bed but pause when I hit the sheets—and my inner wolf whines. I frown and sniff at the bedding, feeling the scent tingle down my spine and raise the hairs on my arms. It smells like—like sweet pears and cedar wood.

Wow…

I shake my head. Now is not the time to be seduced by the lingering scent of some unknown male. Hauling myself off the bed, I grab the window and slide it up quickly, looking down at the ridiculous drop below me.

Oh shit…

~“Zeke!”~ I call through the link and feel him searching for me. His distant silhouette catches my attention down below. “Zeke!” I yell out loud and he looks up.

“Jump!”

“Are you crazy?!”

“I’ve got you baby, come on!” he shouts and I whimper at the echo of a door crashing open somewhere in the palace.

Fear chills my blood and I force myself to scramble up onto the window ledge. Carefully, I close it behind me while perched precariously on the outer ledge.

~“You better fucking catch me…”~ I whimper and see him standing at the ready. The door to the room behind me flies open. Gripping my courage, I jump. By holding my breath, I force myself not to scream as I fall. My eyes squeeze closed so tightly that I see a white light. Everything seems to stand still for a moment, and then I land hard in Zeke’s arms, gasping for breath.

“Told you baby. I always got you,” he boasts as he quickly sets me down on my wobbly legs. He snatches my hand and we run.

***

“You warm enough?” Zeke murmurs from the driver’s seat of his truck and I nod against the knees I have pulled up to my chin in the passenger seat. He sighs and holds up his arm. “Come here. You know I’m warmer.”

I smile a little and shuffle toward him, huddling against his side. He’s right, he is always so warm.

I relax into his familiar comfort and nestle my face against the side of his pec, still covered by his crisp dress shirt.

His hand instantly reaches around me and grips my love handle gently.

“What the hell was that?” he mutters and I sigh, shaking my head.

“I have no idea,” I whisper quietly and try to force it out of my mind for now. Why would the king want to hunt me down? It makes no sense. I just want to go home.

After a moment of silence, I say, “Can you link my father and tell him I’m getting a ride home with you?” The truth is, I can’t face a conversation with Father right now. I don’t know how he’d feel about me running away from the king in a blind panic. Luckily, Father wasn’t at the lineup, so maybe he doesn’t even know what happened. And if he doesn’t, I plan to keep it that way.

“Already done,” says Zeke. “I told him you didn’t feel well after the lineup. He knows you hate shifting in public, so he didn’t even question it.”

“Thanks, Zeke,” I say. Then I close my eyes and try to blot it all out. But the memory of that tantalizing male scent in the palace bedroom lingers, drowning out even the memory of my crazy run through the woods and that heart-stopping leap from the window.

Ah, that smell. Sweet pears and cedar wood.

***

“Stay with me…” I whisper from my doorway as Zeke stands in the threshold after having brought me home. “Father won’t be home until much, much later and I’m nervous to be alone.”

His eyes light up a little but he keeps a straight face and nods. I instantly relax and head to my room, leaving him to lock up before following me upstairs.

As he comes up the stairs, I quickly change into a Cami top and sleep shorts. I’m still pulling on the shorts when he comes in, closes the door, and flicks the lock.

I can hear him stripping free of his suit and can’t resist a little peek. It seems silly, but asking him to spend the night with me for non-sexual needs feels more intimate than anything we’ve done together already. And we’ve done pretty much everything together already.

He leaves his boxer briefs on and follows me over to my bed. I climb in and he slips in beside me, offering his body as my cushion. I slide under his outstretched arm and rest against his chest, hooking my leg over his and heaving a sigh of relief. His arm curls around my back and he holds me close. He seems a little tense.

“Relax. Sleep. I’ve got you,” he sighs quietly, breathing me in with his nose resting against my crown.

“Thank you…” I whisper.