Raging Wolf: A MC Werewolf Romance

by Felicity Jordan

  Nevertheless, Michael had managed to change her view. Even though they had shared just a kiss, Helena couldn’t shake the feeling that a relationship with him intrigued her. A relationship? With a creature that her father hated with every fiber of his being? It sounded next to impossible. She was sure that, to him at least, it was an act of betrayal. But maybe this was one of the reasons why she was willing to date Michael. Frank Dunston had been clinging to the past all his life. He had raised her with the notion that all shifters should be exterminated. She had asked him “why” several times. His answer was always identical.

  “They are a threat to warlocks.”

  Despite his certainty, Helena had not witnessed a single case where a wolf shifter posed a threat to her kind. Her family had battled them in the past, but they had emerged from those battles victorious and with very few casualties. On top of that, shifters didn’t show any desire for a fight. Warlocks on the other hand had ever been ready and willing to challenge them.

  Helena brought her BMW to a gentle halt outside her apartment building in Brooklyn and popped the trunk open. In her disappointment, she found comfort in the fact that graduation was just four months away. She moved around the vehicle and grabbed the handle of her suitcase, the light from a nearby streetlight reflecting off the windscreen.

  “Damn it, Michael… Did you have to be such a great kisser?” She thought to herself, the scene of their kiss replaying in her mind. In those few moments, she wasn’t concerned about the cold or the rain. She could just focus on enjoying the warmth of his embrace and his tenderness. Amazingly enough, the so-called threat had been more loving than any of her ex boyfriends. The “animal” as her mother used to call shifters, was more humane than actual humans.

  Helena strolled towards the entry door with her keys in her grasp. She lowered her gaze to the lock, letting out a sigh of frustration. But, as she brought her attention back to the glass in front of her, her heart skipped a beat. A very tall, skinny man cloaked in red was right behind her. A fierce growl pierced her ears, making her knees tremble. She flipped around, curious as to what she was up against. The stranger’s next move gave her a clue. He raised his upper lip in a terrifying grimace, exposing white teeth and fangs.

  Shivers of fear sliced through her as her eyes popped wide open. Petrified, she caught another, somewhat faint sound. Quick, multiple footfalls were getting louder with each passing second. The stranger tossed his arm forward, seizing her by the neck. Before she knew it, he had pinned her up against the glass. Helena parted her lips, desperate to cry for help; yet, his cold grip was much too strong for her to even choke out a whisper.

  Two, masculine figures entered her line of sight from either direction. She recognized them in an instant. Michael and Ray were hurtling towards her, fists clenched, faces stone-cold with determination. Her aspiring killer released her and whirled his head around. Still, the two shifters didn’t allow him to react in any way. They lunged towards him, eyes blazing in the darkness, Michael’s right arm jerked back. A powerful blow to his head threw him back as Helena ducked. His large body shattered the glass behind her, sending hundreds of shards flying across the floor. Their simultaneous fall resembled the rumble of a sledgehammer pounding a wall.

  Under the cover of darkness, the shifters were free to use their other halves, and they both seemed to be aware of that. The crackles of their transformation echoed back at the walls of the building, Helena placing her fingers over her mouth. The reddish wolf closed his jaws around the man’s wrist, his snarls audible over his rival’s squeals. Michael’s beast pinned him down with a massive paw on his chest. Thrusting his snout down, he sank his teeth into his skin, forcing yet another cry of agony from her attacker. Helena’s stomach churned at the sound of bones cracking under pressure. The stranger thrashed about underneath Michael, grabbing the fur on his right shoulder. His painful yip raised every fine hair on her body. The stranger’s move only managed to enrage the wolf even further. Letting out a guttural snarl, he jerked his mouth sideways. A strange sound baffled Helena. It was if someone had ripped a branch off a tree.

  Stepping closer, she felt her heart thumping against her chest. The little light coming through the door didn’t allow her to see much. Still, it was enough for her to see what had transpired. The stranger’s head had been severed off his neck. To her astonishment, it was in Michael’s jaws. Holding it upright, he turned to her, wagging his tail.

  “Oh, my God…” She whispered, disbelief written all over her face. “What…?” She breathed. “What have you done?”

  Of course, the wolf couldn’t provide an answer. The head rolled down the floor as Michael returned to his human form.

  “I just killed a vampire,” he explained, his tone calm and steady.

  “What did you just say?” She asked, unable to keep her shock out of her voice.

  “You heard me.” Michael insisted, Ray padding around their fallen foe. “You saw that thing. He was trying to choke you to death when we stepped in. How did his hand feel?”

  “Cold.” Helena whispered, dropping her gaze down to the floor.

  “Touch his neck.” Michael urged, pointing down at his neck.

  Unable to debate this any further, she eased herself onto her knees next to that creature. Reaching down, she placed her hand just below the wound. Sliding her fingers up, she was stunned to stillness. There was no moisture whatsoever. The feel on her fingertips was very much like touching the jagged edges of a broken vase. No blood. No warmth. Nothing to indicate that this stranger was human.

  “I take it you’ve never heard of bloodsuckers.” Michael presumed, sitting down beside her.

  “I have.” She swallowed hard, staring into the void. “I just never thought one of them would try to kill me.”

  “Look, I’m going to need the keys to your apartment.” He stated, curling his arm around her waist. “We can’t leave his body here.”

  “They’re in the lock.” Helena whispered, her breath still coming out fast. Without saying another word, Michael got back up and made his way to the entry door. She scooted backwards, until she felt the hard surface of the wall against her back. Bringing her knees up to her chest, she wrapped her arms around them, the event raising more questions than she could possibly handle. At any rate, Helena was in no condition to search for answers. She had just survived an attempt on her life. She needed time to gather her thoughts, not speculate on who wanted to see her dead.

  “Earth to Helena, Earth to Helena.” Michael waved his hand in front of her face. “Are you still with me down there?”

  She tipped her head back and looked up at him. He and his friend were standing next to each other, wrapped up in a purple and a pink blanket.

  “Don’t laugh.” Michael held back a chuckle, offering his hand. “These were all we were able to find.”

  “I know,” she giggled as he pulled her up.

  “I know you’re in shock, but we need to talk.” Michael pointed out, assuming a firm tone.

  “Come on up,” Helena told him, pressing the “call” button on the elevator panel.

  The three of them entered the empty elevator in silence. Finding herself between the two shifters, she settled her gaze on the gray door across from her. If the circumstances were any different, she wouldn’t hesitate to marvel at Michael’s pecs. Now however, the last thing on her mind was staring at him.

  The elevator doors slid open sideways at the third floor. Helena unlocked her front door and walked in, recalling his earlier statement about her assailant.

  “So, what did you guys do with that vampire’s body?” She asked, her slow footsteps leading her towards her couch to the right.

  “We burned it in your bathtub,” Michael was quick to reply. “It got a little charred, but I cleaned it up.”

  “God, what a night,” she sighed, seating herself. “What are you guys doing here anyway? How do you know where I live?”

  “Ray found that thing in his van,” Michael said, c
asting a swift glance down at the table. Puzzled, she looked down. It was her ID. “I came here to give it back to you.”

  “You drove a hundred-and-thirty miles just to bring me my ID?” Helena posed a question, his gesture pulling at her heartstrings.

  “Damn it, I can’t do this,” he complained, glancing down at himself. “Do you have any clothes back in your van?” He asked Ray, shifting his eyes to him.

  “I do, but I’m keeping them to myself,” he spoke, a small smile forming on his face. “Besides, they’re not your size. I’ll be in my van if you need me. Goodnight.”

  “Okay, what just happened?” Helena uttered, her voice regaining her nerve.

  “I talked to Ray,” Michael began, his dead-serious expression confusing her. “We agreed to spend the night here, if that’s okay with you. Whoever sent that bloodsucker here could send someone else if they find out he got killed.”

  “Of course, you can stay,” she nodded in agreement, pushing tendrils of her hair back from her face. “Just one thing, though. How will you leave in the morning?”

  “I told Ray to buy me a pair of jeans and a sweater when he wakes up,” he added, tucking the blanket around his shoulders.

  “You should go get some sleep,” Helena suggested, her tone mellow. “You look exhausted.”

  “I will when you go to your bedroom,” Michael said with a faint smile. “Your couch feels pretty comfortable.”

  “Oh, no, I’ll take the couch,” she emphasized, flashing him a smile of embarrassment. “I can’t let you sleep in my living room. I mean, you just saved my life. Again.”

  “All right,” he puffed air out of his cheeks. “Have you noticed anything strange lately? Did anyone follow you?”

  “No, not really.” Helena shook her head in denial. “This is so funny. I’m just six months away from becoming a full witch, which means sensing vampire presence in a five-mile radius. Why would someone try to…?”

  “Whoa!” Michael exclaimed, furrowing his brow. “Could you repeat that?”

  “Full witches can sense vampire presence. Actually, they can feel the vibes of every living creature around them,” she explained, her voice picking up volume. “Imagine a sea of bright lights. They can tell vampires apart because their light is black.”

  “Weird timing,” he commented, his face tightening with tension. “Other than your folks, who else knows you’re a witch?”

  “I haven’t told anybody,” Helena claimed, running her hands through her hair. “Not even my best friends in Shandaken.”

  “Okay, it’s time for you to get some rest,” Michael claimed, his eyes on hers. “Sweet dreams, girl.”

  “Goodnight.” Helena dismissed him with a polite smile. Good? No. That night wasn’t going to be good. It would be if nothing had happened in her apartment building. It would be if she could wipe the scene of the shifters fight against that vampire off her memory. She had engaged in conversation with the man she was interested in, and all she could think of was snarls, fangs and cries of pain. Worse than that, she knew that it would be a while before that nasty memory faded…

  Chapter Eight

  Michael

  “Whoever’s behind this knows she’s a witch. Hell, they must know everything about her.”

  The detail that Helena shared with him in her living room had shaped Michael’s belief. It had to be someone close to her. Friends and relatives fitted that description. Their identity however was a mystery to him. He had no idea who those people were. He was thirty years old, and had never set foot in Highland, her birthplace.

  Lying in bed, he looked out her window, beams of moonlight coming through the glass. It then dawned on him that he had made the same mistake twice. Once again, he had stuck his nose into Dunston’s business. He had gotten away with it the first time, and the warlord even thanked him in person. If he discovered that he had driven all the way to New York, he wouldn’t be as grateful, or so he thought. In any case, Michael had been caught in a maelstrom of events, and getting out of it seemed very difficult indeed. He liked Helena; he liked her much more than he was allowed to. That simple truth was his driving force and was leading him to one mistake after another. He could always justify his actions by reminding to himself how gorgeous she was, but he couldn’t change the truth.

  Squeaking door hinges brought him back to the real world. Helena strutted into her bedroom in a red, skimpy nightgown, making him avert his gaze from her.

  “Awesome,” he groaned, pursing his lips. “I’m not even going to ask what you’re doing here.”

  “Not what you think,” she stated, climbing into bed. “Michael, please, look at me.”

  “Fine,” he sighed, turning his attention back to her. “What do you want?”

  “To talk about something more pleasant than what happened tonight.” Helena assumed a soft tone. “Like, I don’t know, our date?”

  “It wasn’t a date,” Michael disagreed. “It was just an idiot’s stupid attempt to satisfy his curiosity.”

  “You’re not an idiot,” she declared, lying down next to him. “You’re just a man who likes a woman.”

  “Is that what you think?” He asked, a hint of discomfort in his tone.

  “No.” Helena replied, leaning against her shoulder. “That’s what your kiss told me. It’s also why you drove down here in the middle of the night.”

  “All right, I like you.” Michael admitted, folding his arms across his chest. “It doesn’t matter. You and I can’t be together.”

  “Oh, I think it does.” Helena smiled, trailing her hand up his blanket. “I never cared much about what my father said about your kind. His rules mean nothing to me. And you? You’ve been kinder to me than all the men I’ve known put together. It actually makes me wonder why you and I are not dating yet.”

  Michael sucked in a deep breath, struggling to keep his eyes on her face and not her cleavage. “It’s not that simple. I wish it was, but it’s not. Even if you had your father’s approval, you live in the city. I hate the city. It’s just…”

  “Too noisy and too filthy for a shifter,” she finished his sentence. “I’ll only be here for another four months, though. After that, I’m moving back to Highland.”

  “Stop tempting me, Helena,” Michael commanded, palming his forehead.

  “Look, I’m not going to try to convince you,” she went on, her voice deepening. “And I’m definitely not going to beg you. But you can’t deny we have a connection.”

  “Like I said, it doesn’t matter,” he insisted, sadness sending his voice down an octave.

  Her fingertips bypassed the blanket and caressed the side of his neck as she leaned over towards him.

  “Just one night, wolfy,” Helena said, her voice a husky whisper, her eyes darkening with desire. “No one will ever find out.”

  Michael didn’t speak. Neither did he dare escape the sensual web she had been weaving around him. He curved his arm around her upper back and pulled her near, her delicious scent sweeping into his nostrils. Helena angled her lips, swiping the blanket away. Their mouths joined in a long, fiery kiss, Michael sensing the silk of her nightgown on his chest. The sea of her pheromones engulfed him, and this time, he had no will to swim out of it.

  Helena lay on top of him, strands of her hair tickling his neck. He slid one hand up, eager to touch her beautiful curls. He dived it into her hair as she cupped his face in both of her hands. Michael let go of her back and let his fingers travel down her body. He eased her gown up, their kiss growing in intensity. He expected to feel her underwear, but he was in for a surprise. Instead of panties, he touched bare flesh. A deep grunt escaped him, the sensation of her juicy ass in his palm feeding his arousal. Helena exhaled hard in his mouth and then bit his lower lip, gliding her fingers up his cheek.

  “Nasty girl…” He grunted, grabbing and holding on to her, his cock trapped in between their bodies.

  “I am,” she whimpered, her eyes shut as she tilted her head back. “Just for you.”
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  At that, she pulled her nightgown up and over her head, exposing her voluptuous body. Michael leaned forward, grabbing a fistful of her hair. Her large breast nudged his chin, before his lips made contact with her flesh. He kissed the underside, squeezing her ass with vigor. Up, up his lips went, Helena’s hisses encouraging him to continue. Trailing his middle finger down her crack, he planted demanding kisses around her nipple. Her moisture on his fingertip surprised him. He hadn’t done much, but still, she was wet and ready for him. But Michael wouldn’t rush into anything. If this was their one night together, it had to be a lot steamier than just a quick encounter.

  “Oh, my God…” Helena moaned as he sucked her nipple into his mouth, his finger drawing circles around her entrance. She grazed her nails down his body, staring down at the sexy “V” of his chest. Michael darted his tongue against her nipple, his inner beast purring at the idea of conquering this gorgeous woman. His hand released her hair and crept around her chest. He cupped her breast and pushed it upwards, sensing the slick juice below her entrance. Without wasting any more time, he slid his finger up, teasing her nipple with his teeth.

  “Yeah, baby…” Helena groaned, biting her lower lip as his finger parted her wet folds. He eased it inside of her, her heat surrounding him more and more by the second. She reached around and pulled his cock out from under her, running her fingers across his chest. Michael’s hips tensed as she gripped the base of his shaft.