“And one hundred per cent unreasonable,” I said. “Him and his brother thwarted the entire plan. If it hadn’t been for them, I’d have administered Loveless hours ago.”
“First of all, Loveless is an ancient concoction, a brew – not a modern-day medicinal prescription, like you use at work.”
I sucked my teeth.
“Secondly,” he continued, “since when do you let mean or aggressive men get the better of you? Shey, I have yet to see anyone render you speechless. Take Lyle, for example.”
“Can we not take Lyle?”
“Okay, forget Lyle. What about Aaron? All he did was try to kiss you, and by the time I got to your condo, you’d strung him up.”
My teeth gritted. “I don’t want to talk about Lyle or Aaron,” I clarified. “Julian, can we please stay focused? I need your help figuring this out! This guy was... different than any other I’ve encountered.”
“Otherworldly different?”
I shuddered, thinking about it. “He was attractive,” I whispered.
“Wait, how do you know that?”
“I’m a woman, Jules.”
“A woman who has consumed Loveless; a woman who has no emotions or capacity for feeling.”
“Julian, I’m not a member of the living dead. I can get horny.” Obviously... “Give me some leeway, please.” I sighed, trying to redirect the conversation. “He was attractive, but he is dangerous – like, Italian Mafia dangerous. I tried to run past him into the house and he chased me. He was fast, and then there was this earth-shaking growl. I couldn’t tell where it was coming from, but I could’ve sworn it came from him.”
Julian fell silent.
The silence stretched on for so long, I almost thought the call had been disconnected.
“Growling?” he asked. His voice was a curious whisper. “What kind of growl?”
“Julian, please don’t start with that paranormal crap you’re always trying to feed me,” I requested through my teeth.
“Answer the question, Shey!”
“I don’t know,” I snapped. “Like a dog – a very big dog.”
“What did it sound like?”
“What?”
“Was it like a grrr?”
I frowned. “No, it was more like a... grrrrrrr...”
“Shit!”
I huffed and scrubbed my hand over my face. “What the hell are you shitting about?” I demanded.
This was ridiculous. I was in a foreign country on an important mission to save my sister from the clutches of madmen, and Julian had me auditioning for a preschool rendition of The Three Little Pigs.
“Shenique, this guy – the attractive one who distracted you – he’s a wolf shifter!”
“Baby Jesus in a manger...”
“Hear me out,” he insisted. “You said he referred to Sasha as his brother’s mate.”
“Yeah, and?”
“That’s what they call their partners, mates.
“So what the hell is a wolf– ”
“It’s a race of people,” he educated me. “They’re part man, part wolf, and they believe that there is only one other person for them.” From his tone, I couldn’t tell whether he was frightened or excited. “That would explain the FBI’s comment.”
“Vince is not a wolf shifter,” I contested with certainty, but I frowned, thinking about the kiss and the fiery trail his hands had left on my body; the way my entire pussy rocked just thinking about him.
“Then how do you explain the growl?” Julian demanded slicing into my contemplations.
“He probably had dogs on the property.”
“What?”
“You know how these rich folk go,” I said, trying my best to sound convincing, “exotic, imported, pedigree pets, tons of them for no reason. Their servants walk them in the park on leashes, while the owners travel the world in their private jets.”
“Okay, I see how you’re gonna be,” he snapped. “Then tell me this: what kind of energy was he giving off?”
“Energy?” I was in full-out play-dumb mode.
Julian huffed, frustrated with my refusal to entertain his antics. “I told you about this,” he reminded me. “I told you that shifters and vampires are sexual and erotic. It oozes out of them, and if he is a shifter, you would have sensed it immediately.”
I was trying to act as if I had no idea what Julian was talking about, but the truth was, I knew exactly what he meant.
Had I sensed his energy? It was rich, thick, and sexual; and its tentacles had laced around my pussy, causing it to throb uncontrollably. I could still feel its lingering effects, like thick honey oozing off my body. And when he’d bent his face close to mine, I’d done all I could, not to throw myself at him, wrap my legs around his waist, slide my pussy against his dick.
I shivered and clamped my teeth over my bottom lip. What the hell had happened to Loveless?
“Shey!” Julian’s voice ripped me out of my inappropriate thoughts.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I lied, gripping the amulet. “The only energy I felt from that asshole was menace.” I huffed. “Time is ticking, Julian. I don’t want to hear any more stories about vampires and men who turn into wolves. And even if you’re right...”
Which I’m one hundred per cent certain you are...
“... it’s even more reason I need you to help me figure out how to get back into that house.”
Julian sighed. “Fine. I’ll let you stay in your denial zone, but as for me? I know exactly what that guy is.”
“Thank you.” I stretched my neck and ignored his comment. Now was not the time to argue. “I was trying to think of some tactics, but they all involve me breaking into the house.”
“And that won’t work,” Julian said. “He’s a wolf shifter, and there’s no way you’ll get within three miles of the property before he smells your ass.”
I grimaced.
“I’m not saying that your ass stinks,” he clarified. “I’m saying that he’ll smell and see you long before you see him.” He cursed. “If only you’d listened to me years ago, when I told you to explore your giftings.”
“Oh my god,” I groaned. “Not that again. What does that have to do with anything?”
“It has everything to do with anything,” he countered. “Had you done as I suggested and opened yourself up to your potential, you’d have a plethora of spells at your disposal, all of which would have facilitated your ridiculous mission. Like Invisible. Do I need to spell out how handy that might have been?”
I gritted my teeth. “If this is your contribution, let me know so I can hang up and figure this thing out for myself,” I suggested. “I’m not willing to dibble and dabble with that crap. Besides, the fact remains that I don’t have access to that stuff. We need to work with what I do have.”
Julian sighed. “You’re right,” he agreed, “but the truth is, now that I’ve reassessed the situation, I’m really not sure you should do this.”
“What?” I demanded. My voice was low and shaking. “What are you saying, Julian?”
“I’m saying that it’s not safe, Shenique,” he said. “Everything has changed now. You said it yourself, you should work with what you have, and right now, you have nothing.”
My teeth clenched. “You’re wrong,” I challenged him. “I have Loveless.”
Julian drew an agitated breath. “Loveless won’t be enough,” he claimed. “All it does is prevent love, the way it has with your mother. How is that gonna be of any use dealing with a wolf shifter.”
“He’s not a – ”
Julian cut off my sentence. “You want my help, but my professional recommendation is that you call off this senseless mission. Leave your sister be. She has been mated, and she has a right to be in love. If you choose to spend your entire life not caring for people, that’s your business.”
My body shook with rage. I had counted on Julian. I had depended on him to help me rescue my sister, to make this thing happen. And
now he was reneging on the cause?
“Fuck you, Julian,” I spat at him. “If you wanna bail on me, I don’t need you. You’re just like my mother and everybody else in my life who once claimed to love me – unable to be trusted!”
“Shey...” Julian’s voice quivered, but I didn’t care.
“I’ll save Sasha by my damn-self. I don’t need your help. And when I get back to Chicago, don’t even think about contacting me. In fact, feel free to lose my entire number, because this friendship is over!”
“You’re overreacting,” he accused, “you’re being irrational. I’m looking out for you, trying to keep you safe, and that’s more than your mother or anybody else has ever done.”
“Whatever,” I said, and then I pressed the red icon on the phone.
My eyes narrowed as I stared into the depths of the hotel room. I gasped, almost as if I was going to cry, but of course, no tears came. Loveless had dried them all up. The last time I had cried was as I’d guzzled the hot liquid, letting it coat my throat. I was twelve years old at the time.
Julian had shown me his true colors, and I was glad about it.
I stiffened and my resolve fortified as I fingered the burning amulet hanging above my breasts. I would do it on my own. That was what I was used to any-damn-way.
Eight
Vince
‘Restless’
I stared after Shenique, watching until she reached the main road and hailed a taxi. Then, I watched as it sped away. The entire time, I willed my cock to sleep, but it was a losing battle. I gripped and rubbed it through my jeans. It was still rock solid, pulsating. I would need to hurry home so that I could ease the burning desire away with my hands, which were shaking like falling leaves.
I glared at them and then rolled them into fists.
We should chase her, my animal demanded. She belongs to us.
Already, I was tired of hearing him. He had not spoken this much in my entire life, and now, all of the accolades I had assigned to him would need to be revoked.
But I answered. We will not, I admonished him. We have done what we intended. We asked about her purpose, and she refused to answer. Besides, we intimidated her and warned her not to come back. She would not be foolish enough to do this.
The animal grunted. Do you really believe this? Did you see the look in her eyes when you kissed her? She wants us. We want her.
I growled. Speaking with this animal was pointless, and I was afraid that if I listened to him anymore, his whining would start to wear me down; but the truth was, it would not take much convincing. After having tasted Shenique, my mouth was on fire. I ground my feet into the red earth, fearful that if I did not, I would dash in the direction of her taxi.
I could only imagine what I would do to her if I saw her again, because if I did, it would be very different. If there was a next time, I was certain that her mouth would not be enough to satisfy me. I would require something more substantial.
Visions of Shenique, suspended over my face as I lapped at her treasure, filled my mind. I would hold her firmly by that tiny waist, and rock her, back and forth against my tongue, until she showered her sweet rain onto it. Or maybe I would bend her over.
This was my favorite position.
I could see it, her fluffy ass-cheeks buttressed before me. I would kiss them before I...
Enough!
I growled and shifted, allowing the jeans I’d put on not even an hour ago, to shed away. Obviously my beast was restless, had too much energy. Now fully transformed, I shook out my pelt and bolted. I did not head for the mansion. There was too much electricity sparking inside of me, and if I arrived home in this state, I would destroy something. Instead, I dashed through the vineyard. My paws slammed over the gritty dirt. Several rows of grapes were ruined in my tryst, and I knew that father’s vintners would be angry about this, but I did not care. Whatever the fall out, it would not be worse than the way I was feeling in that moment.
Two hours later, the moon was hanging high, and I was sauntering back towards the mansion, exhausted, hungry, but still frustrated. This woman was taking up residence in my head, and I did not like it.
I shifted back into my human flesh and was presented with another robe, which I snatched and pulled over my bare shoulders, before heading into the kitchen. It was late, but had I requested, I could have had access to a full, five course meal, this was not a problem. We had chefs and butlers who catered to our whims. It would be nothing for them to set up one of the dining rooms, even if it was just for me. But I was too frazzled to sit down and eat properly. I could not get the brown beauty out of my mind. I thought that all I needed was to see her one more time, but it was not the truth, because I had seen her again and still, I was dissatisfied.
My wolf was adamant that she would return.
I knew he was wrong, but I prayed he was right.
But there was also the nagging thought that Shenique was not who she claimed to be. Yes, she was Sasha’s sister, and yes she had come to take her away – but there was something more to her.
When I arrived in the kitchen, Remi was digging through the refrigerator. I grimaced at the sight of him. I tried to steady my pulse.
“Another craving?”
Remi grunted from inside of the refrigerator. “Yes,” he confirmed, “but at least, this time it has not changed.” He turned to face me and held a container of homemade gelato high into the air. “She has been eating this for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the last four days,” he said. “In fact, she now has her own freezer dedicated to the product, but I am not complaining. Before this, it was French fries.”
I frowned. “Fratello, this is not difficult. You can get those anywhere.”
“From France,” he clarified.
I grunted and shook my head. If this was what it meant to have a pregnant mate, I wanted no fucking part of it.
“Other than her strange and unreasonable cravings, how is she?” I had asked my brother about his mate, but I did not care. My mind was actually consumed with thoughts of her sister.
Remi frowned and his intense energy seeped into my pores. “She is resting,” he muttered, “which is good, because the incident with that woman upset her, and what upsets her, upsets me more.” He huffed. “I am already on edge with this pregnancy and my patience is thin.”
“It is thin on a good day.”
He grunted in confirmation. “True, which means I do not need additional stress. I am glad that Father has given me time off from our missions. It would be difficult trying to tend to my Fiore’s needs and make sure she is content, the way I promised her I would.”
“You are glad?” I grunted. “Since your mate has arrived, your attention has been completely divided. You barely do more than the fucking guard dogs.”
Remi frowned and glowered. “Please watch your tone, Vince, especially when you refer to my mate.”
Silence.
My jaw jerked. “I must be honest, Remi,” I muttered. “You are neglecting your duties, and I am not sure how I feel about it.”
“Things will have to change, Vince,” he said. “I am not able to live the life I am accustomed to. Not right now. New things are on the horizon. I am a mate and I am about to be a father.”
I sniffed and walked over to the fridge, grabbing a beer. “This excuse is insufficient,” I snapped, and Remi frowned. “I understand that you must spend time with your woman, but... I did not imagine it would be every waking moment.”
“What are you talking about?”
“What about business?” I demanded of him again.
“Business has never been better,” Remi retorted. “Trades and discussions with our allies continue, as normal.” His eyes narrowed as he spoke. “Our enemies have been quiet for the past few months.”
“And if things change, as they are prone to doing, where will you be?” I chortled. “Oh wait – I have the answer.”
Remi growled.
My eyes quivered with the next question. “
And when is the last time we ran through the fields? Together? This is something we used to do every weekend. It was a tradition we carried over from our biological father.”
“Our father’s traditions are not all they are cracked up to be,” he spat.
“What do you mean by this?”
He took a demonstrative step towards me. “I mean, are you concerned about business or our brotherly bond?” Remi asked, his tone low and agitated.
My breath hitched. I did not think this was what he meant, but I let it slide. “Maybe it is both,” I admitted. “But it seems neither matter.”
“Traditions change, and I am ready to create new ones,” he said.
My eyes stung.
“You are the one who encouraged me to find Sasha,” he said, “and now, you are acting as if you are not happy for me.” His growing rage mingled with mine, until the beginnings of a nasty storm began to form.
We glared at one another. His green eyes were ablaze, and the burning behind my corneas meant that so were mine.
Remi was older than me, which meant he was the alpha. He had always been the strong one. When our parents were murdered, he had been the one to protect and take care of me, until we were rescued by the man who would raise us, Anthony Moretti. I looked up to my brother. In the absence of our father, he was the man I wanted to become; but now, I did not look up to him. I had lost respect for him. He was putting a female over our livelihood and over me, and I did not understand how it could be possible.
Still, I needed to back down. If my brother and I ever got into a fight, I was not sure who the victor would be.
I dipped my gaze respectfully, but my jaw tightened. “I am sorry,” I whispered. “I... am only emotional. Today has been a long day.”
The heat from Remi’s anger waned, and he nodded. “Do not worry about it,” he muttered. “Just... be careful when you speak to me.” He paused and squinted. His nostrils flared slightly. “Where are you coming from? You smell of that woman.”
“That is because I had to remove her from the property,” I said quickly. “Her behavior was erratic. You saw how she acted.”
Again, I was thinking about Shenique and the maddening pull I had towards her. My wolf howled and ran in circles. I needed to find her.
Loveless: A BWWM Wolf Shifter Romance (The Alpha Series Book 2) Page 6