“Easy, man,” the other man warned, putting a hand on his shoulder. “She’s a bystander, Aidan, and she still qualifies as an innocent regardless of what she witnessed.”
“Take your hand off me, Luke, or I’ll take it off permanently,” Aidan barked.
Jared snarled, and in a shimmer of sparks and ozone, phased to human form. Standing in front of Tanya, his body shook in anger as he glared at his brother.
“Back the hell off, Aidan! This isn’t your call. Besides, Luke’s right. Tanya is still an innocent, and therefore entitled to our protection.”
“And you…” he said, whirling to face Tanya. “Are you crazy? Why didn’t you stay put like I told you?” Jared’s hands clenched into fists at his side. “I told you to trust me, didn’t I? Didn’t I tell you I’d be back?”
He stomped around, clearly oblivious to the fact that he, too, was completely naked. His muscles rippled, twitching and flexing with every move.
Tanya stood speechless, not sure which stunned her more, the fact he was completely nude, or that he yelled at her like this was her fault.
“Are you for real?” The double meaning to that question nearly sent her into nervous laughter. “Not only does that thing murder my friends, but you transform into a whole other species in front of my eyes, and I’m supposed to trust you? I’m supposed to sit patiently in the middle of the woods and wait?”
She met him scowl for scowl. “I don’t know who or what you are, but your brother’s right.” She threw her hand out toward Aidan. “I deserve an explanation. Before you decided to freak me out with your impression of An American Werewolf in London, you said you could explain everything. So start talking.”
All eyes moved between her and Jared, as the little muscle in his cheek worked to process her words.
Her hands tingled with pins and needles, and the hair on her arms stood on end as if by static electricity. She closed her fingers into her palms, dismissing the alien feeling. Leaves swirled, though there was no breeze, and she caught a questioning look on the alpha’s face.
She ignored Aidan, concentrating her focus on Jared. He was the only one she remotely trusted.
“Look. I’m sorry, Jared, but there’s no precedent for this. I mean, how could there be, outside an episode of Supernatural?” She didn’t miss the exchange between Aidan and the other dude, even as Jared’s eyes stayed on her.
“What did you expect me to do? I was scared. You were the only thing that made me feel safe in that moment. When you took off with the others, I panicked.”
Tanya’s voice broke, and a single tear escaped down her cheek. The whole implausible situation was suddenly too much.
The absurdity of it all took its toll, despite her best prosecutorial mask. She started to cry. Wrapping her arms around her middle, she turned away, trying to hold it together.
Jared took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. “This is a lot, Tanya. I know.” He closed the distance between them in one step. “I didn’t mean to shout, and I certainly never meant to scare you.” He turned her to face him. “You have no idea how close you came to being killed tonight.”
Tanya felt herself blanch. What the hell had she gotten herself into? Jared’s eyes held such intensity, she wondered from which he saved her, the creature or his wolf pack?
She guessed the answer was both.
“Are you two finished with your love spat? In case you’ve forgotten, we have a job to finish. It’s going to be dawn soon, and we still need to sanitize the area,” Aidan snapped.
“Take it easy, bro. I need to get Tanya settled first,” Jared replied, taking a T-shirt and a pair of black cutoffs from Luke’s backpack. He slipped them on, keeping his eyes on his brother. “I’m taking her home. I’ll be back to see to the rest.”
Aidan stepped in front of Jared, his face like stone. “She stays.”
Jared straightened, meeting his brother’s stare. He was a head taller than Aidan, and from the look on the alpha’s face it galled him to have to look up.
“It’s late, Aidan. Tanya’s had quite enough for one night. I doubt she’s going to say a word about this to anyone. I’m taking her home.”
Aidan’s expression was still severe. “You know as well as I do that claiming her only gives her immunity if you mate, otherwise—”
Jared shot his brother a dirty look as Tanya’s head snapped around. Mate? Her eyes flashed from one brother to the other. Before she could find her voice, Jared took her by the hand, ignoring her questioning gaze. He pulled her toward the parking lot. “I’ll be back later to help finish.”
Luke took a step forward. “Jared—”
He looked at the other man. “It’s done, Luke, so don’t go there. This is my decision.” With Tanya in tow, he walked out of the clearing.
Afraid he’d let go of her hand if she lagged, she moved quickly, trying to keep up with Jared’s long strides. She didn’t know him, but out of everyone, he seemed the safest bet at staying in one piece. She hoped.
Glancing over her shoulder, she jumped at every twig snap, fearing Aidan had changed his mind about letting her leave.
She had no idea what she had gotten herself into, nor did she know where her earlier courage came from, but as they neared the parking lot, her stomach turned at the mess that used to be her friends. It was bad enough at a glimpse when she ran for her life, but now?
Tanya pulled away from Jared, her eyes brimming. “How can I leave them like that? It’s wrong. They didn’t deserve this.”
Straightening her shoulders, she swallowed back on the bile in her throat and stood her ground, determined to do something. Jared put his hand on her arm, stopping her before she could push past him.
“You don’t want to do this, Tanya. It’s bad enough from here, but up close it’s a sight that will haunt you for the rest of your life. Believe me, I know.”
Tanya looked at Jared’s face. He wasn’t much older than she, yet his expression was hard, and for someone so young, it was like looking at a lifetime of memories best left forgotten.
She truly had her fill of the weird and the terrifying tonight, so she nodded her consent. “Take me home, then.”
“Just tell me where.”
Tanya looked back toward the woods where Jared’s family was busy ‘sanitizing’ the area.
“The Meadowbrook Trail is the only one that meets the woods behind my house—” her words trailed off. “I know I said I knew other ways, but that’s not exactly true.”
“Let’s try this my way, then.” He reached behind his head to yank off his T-shirt.
When he reached to peel his shorts from his hips, Tanya took a step back. “Whoa there, wolf boy! I don’t think I can take any more of this.”
“Trust me,” he said, tossing her his clothes. In the blink of an eye he phased into wolf form.
Tanya stared, afraid to even breathe. The animal was both enormous and magnificent. Instinct had her take another step back, but the wolf’s blue eyes looked right through her.
“Jared?” she prompted.
The large silver wolf dipped his head as if nodding, and then lay down with a short yip.
“If you want to get home, sweetheart, you need to climb onto his back,” Luke interjected, coming of the woods with a red plastic gasoline jug. “That’s what he’s waiting for.”
A rough, nervous laugh escaped her throat. “Yeah, right. I’m not getting anywhere near him like that.”
“Suit yourself,” Luke shrugged, “but if you want to get home, this is the only way Jared’s going to take you. There’s no trail through the part of the forest we travel, and it’ll be easier for both of you if Jared is in wolf form. Besides, you need to stay off the main road. We don’t want a premature visit from the cops.”
Jared yipped again as if to say hurry up, but Tanya looked between the large wolf, and the man with the gas can. Premature. You didn’t need psychic powers to know what they planned with the gasoline.
“You can’t do this, Luke.
They have families. They deserve a decent burial, not to be burned as refuse.” Every fiber in her revolted.
“You’re right.” Luke nodded. “Except that can’t happen. Jared will explain once he gets you home. There are forces at work in this that science can’t explain, and most won’t understand or accept. I know you’ve been told this a lot tonight, but you really do have to trust we know what’s best. I’m sorry for your friends. Once you understand what we’re fighting, you’ll be thankful they died. The alternative is unspeakable.”
The word unspeakable stunned her into action. She had no other choice, so she took a step toward Jared, but then stopped.
“What about the fire and the smoke? Won’t that bring the cops?” She indicated the black column billowing through the trees. At Luke’s indulgent smile she flushed, like she just asked a stupid question.
“Don’t worry, we’ve got it covered, but the longer you hesitate, the longer it’ll take to clean up this mess and the more risk of someone calling the police. Like I said. Jared will explain everything once you’re out of here, which should really be like, now.”
Luke stood waiting for Tanya to decide, but it was obvious he itched to get on with it. She looked at Jared lying with his head on his front paws.
With a quick breath, she approached the silver wolf, carefully running a hand through his thick fur. He made a contented sound low in his throat, but then yipped.
“Mount up, honey,” Luke insisted, pouring gasoline over Jesse and Marlene’s remains. “Because this is no wiener roast.”
Mouth tight, Tanya grabbed hold of the wolf’s neck, and climbed onto his back. With a soft, very canine-like sound he rose to his feet, lifting her as if she weighed no more than a feather.
In the distance, the peel of sirens pierced the air, and Tanya’s stomach fell. Someone called the cops. Great. Just what she needed. One more thing the wolves could lay at her feet. Dear God, anything else tonight?
Jared howled, and with a single leap took off full speed toward the forest.
“Fasten your seatbelt, sweetheart. You’re in for a bumpy ride!” Luke yelled after them, but there was no humor as the sirens grew louder.
Chapter Four
“What the hell was that supposed to be? Some kind of freaky animal kingdom ride?” Tanya winced, climbing off of the wolf’s back.
Jared let out a breathy woof, pawing at the ground.
“Forget it, buddy!” she shot back, rubbing her bum. “This whole situation has gone from psychosis to fucking ABSURD! You’d better stay a wolf, because the minute you turn back into you, I’m going to kick your butt! Maybe that way your hind quarters will feel like mine. Bumpy ride, my ass…literally…ouch!”
Jared made a noise somewhere between a laugh and a yip, but in her agitated state, Tanya’s head jerked around. “What? Is there something else? I can’t take much more of this. Tell me!”
Grabbing hold of the wolf’s fur, Tanya shook the big animal in her panic.
The wolf’s body grew hot to the touch, and his muscles and bones seemed to melt and undulate beneath her fingers. In a snap of electricity, Tanya’s fingers suddenly gripped Jared’s naked shoulders instead of a handful of fur.
“Jesus, woman! What are you trying to do? Pull my fur out by its roots? I know your nerves are fried but come on! After seeing us in action, you should know the difference between a wolfly laugh and a growl.”
“I. Don’t. Speak. WOLF!” She snapped, her body still humming with nervous energy. “Besides, I saw way too much tonight to make heads or tails of anything, let alone whether you’re likely to wag or not!”
Jared burst out laughing. “For someone who should be traumatized, you’re doing pretty well with all this weird.”
Tanya shook her head. “I’ve got a pretty good poker face, but I’m as freaked out as you expect. The jokes stop me from running screaming down the street.”
Jared got to his feet, and Tanya swiveled in a nervous pirouette, giving him her back.
“Here.” She held out his shorts and shirt. “I think you could use these back.”
She saw his smirk from the corner of her eye as he took his clothes, and as his fingers lingered on hers a moment longer than necessary.
“Maybe I shouldn’t put them on, I may have to phase again.”
Tanya’s belly jumped at his low, sexy rasp. Shaking her head, she played it off. “Yeaaaah…no. We’re a little too close the street, and the police are already cruising around.”
Chuckling, Jared slipped his shorts on. “You can stop peeking, now. I’m decent.”
Tanya turned with a retort on her lips, but her eyes met the broad expanse of his still naked chest. “Uhm…” she cleared her throat. “Are we, uh…I mean…how far to my place from here?”
Tanya couldn’t help but be aware of Jared. She couldn’t deny the attraction, even with the horror she faced tonight. He was handsome, unbelievably so, in a rugged, earthy way with a delicious scent that made her knees wobble.
His voice was deep, resonating soft and low, and his mouth mesmerized her with every syllable he uttered. It had to be connected to the whole wolf thing, because there was no other explanation. Like how she felt comfortable all of a sudden. As though she knew him.
As they walked, his body moved as sinuous in this form as it had been as a wolf. Jared was breathtaking. From his long, lean muscled body to his teasing smile.
Everything about him intrigued and frightened. Even in her heightened state, she was fascinated by him and his dual nature. Then again, separating herself from her fears and what she couldn’t comprehend was a coping mechanism leftover from her childhood.
Her mother had strange ways and strange friends. People she remembered coming and going when she was very small. They would stare at her in her mother’s arms, arguing that her mother should leave with her, before it was too late. Her mother’s reply was always the same, until the day her friends pushed too hard.
Hearing the argument from another room, her father interrupted, and the look on his face as his gaze traveled between his wife and daughter and the women surrounding them spoke volumes.
It was at that moment her mother told her friends to leave. She never spoke about it, but as Tanya got older, she knew her mother had been forced to choose between her father and her friends, but why, she had no clue.
Tanya shook off the memory, replacing it with what she observed about the wolves. How and when they transformed. How their coloring remained similar to that of their human form, that is except for Jared.
His hair was a deep chestnut color, not the black it seemed in the darkened forest, yet his wolf was silver. The only thing that remained constant in either form were his piercing, blue eyes.
As they hit the first populated street, he peered across the back yards, sniffing the air. “Stay here, and don’t move. I’ll be right back.” He slipped through one of the back gates, padding barefoot like a cat burglar.
Nerves on edge, Tanya watched, holding her breath, but this time he came back almost as quickly as he’d gone. He was carrying a pair of sneakers.
“Where’d you get those?”
“Unfortunately, petty clothing theft is sometimes part of the deal,” he answered, slipping on a pair of Adidas someone left on their porch. “I always return what I borrow, that is if I don’t have to phase again on the fly.”
She knew Jared tried to keep the conversation light, giving her a chance to work up to asking the questions she should be asking.
“Being a shifter is not a clothing optional kind of deal.” Jared gave her a half smile. “That’s why one of us tries to stash a backpack somewhere, because you never know.”
They were both quiet as they walked, their silence pulsing like a neon sign advertising their weird situation. Tanya’s mind flashed to the scene at the parking lot, wondering if Jared’s brothers finished the job, or had the police showed up. How would they explain what happened? How would she, when she barely understood it herself?
“So, go ahead. Ask.” Jared blurted, breaking the silence.
“Ask.” Tanya looked at the sidewalk. “That’s easier said than done. After everything that’s happened I don’t know where to begin.”
Jared slowed his pace. “Would it be easier for you if I started?”
She nodded, relieved.
He regarded her for a moment. “Tanya, how much folklore and superstition are you familiar with?”
“Folklore? As in Banshees and Leprechauns?”
“Along those lines, yes.”
She shook her head, not quite understanding where he was headed. “Not much, really. Just your basic stories, and such.”
He blew out a breath, scuffing the ground with the heel of his borrowed sneaker. “Almost every one of those stories, regardless of how glamorized, is based on elements of fact. The paranormal world isn’t just legend, as most people believe. So my next question is how much of the truth do you really want to know?”
Tanya stopped. It was a fair question, and one she wasn’t sure how to answer. Did she really want to know, or was it merely dark curiosity? Would she be able to continue living her life, or would knowing make her paranoid and suspicious? After what she witnessed tonight her life was already changed, but would Jared’s truths change her more? Would it forever twist their lives together, immutably?
“Well?”
“I want to know.” Tanya’s voice cracked, uncertainty ringing in every syllable.
“Good,” he nodded in agreement. “Let’s get you home then, because there’s a lot to tell.”
***
Tanya unlocked the front door and held it open for Jared. He walked in behind her, stopping so she could snap on the light. As she passed the hall mirror, she caught her reflection and froze. She was filthy.
Her hair was disheveled and full of leaves. Her jeans were torn, and her hands and knees were scraped and bloody. She knew she needed a shower, but there was no way in hell that was happening.
Without a word, she turned and headed straight for the sideboard in the living room. Opening the cabinet, she took out a glass and her father’s favorite bourbon and poured.
The Wolf's Secret Witch: Howl's Romance (The Sentinel Brotherhood Book 1) Page 3