by Jane Jamison
Her gaze swept the edge of the tall grass as she searched for either the man or a creature. Where was the man? Had he managed to run off? Or was he only a few yards away, lying in blood-soaked grass?
Another tremble racked through her. If he was dead, then something had killed him. The big question was what that something was. The next question? Where was it now?
She screamed as a large animal, more wolf than dog, burst out of nowhere and landed on her car’s hood. Its amber eyes flamed as it opened its huge jaws to expose vicious, deadly fangs. Saliva dripped to splatter onto her windshield. She screamed again, unable to do anything else, unable to think.
The wolf was monstrous, larger than any wolf she’d ever seen. Its body was powerful, with muscles rippling as it hunkered down and snarled.
Oh, dear God. Help me.
Think.
I have to think.
Noise. Maybe I can scare it away if I make enough noise.
Her gaze slid to the steering wheel. Praying it would work, she slammed her hand against the horn, filling the air with the ear-popping sound.
Snarling, the wolf whipped its tail back and forth. It hunkered lower, its ears laid back. Then, in one graceful motion, it leapt off the hood, landed on the road several yards from the driver’s side, then disappeared into the grass.
The trembling seemed to go on forever as she huddled inside the car and watched, barely breathing. Would the animal come back? What if it did? Would the horn scare it away again? Or would it realize the noise couldn’t hurt it?
Taking deep breaths, she did her best to calm down. As soon as her breathing leveled out and her heart rate had returned to normal, she began looking around again. Did she have anything she could use as a weapon? Yet she came up empty. Empty, that is, unless she counted empty candy wrappers and a half-full bottle of water. She didn’t even have a pen to use as a pitiful, makeshift knife.
“Shit. What the hell am I supposed to do?”
Maybe she should get back on the road, flat tire and all? Tearing up her wheel and even her car was a lot better than the giant wolf tearing her apart.
Good. At least I’m thinking clearly again.
She put one hand on the wheel and the other on the ignition key, then searched the area around her again. There was no sign of the animal, but could she trust that it had gone? Should she wait for Joe and only drive the car if the animal showed up again?
Fuck that.
She turned the key and was flooded with relief as it started. Had it cooled down enough to run? If not, it would die soon enough.
“Please make it to a town. To a house. Anything.”
And then she heard the unmistakable sound of another vehicle heading her way. Whipping around, she looked first up the road then behind her. Was it Joe? Would he turn out to be her hero in more than one way?
She let out a small cry of joy when a red pickup came into view. It wasn’t a tow truck, but at that moment, she would’ve been thrilled to see a moped coming her way. After checking around her, she pushed the door open, then hurried into the road and lifted her arms above her head.
“Hey! Stop! Please stop!” She waved her arms back and forth. The driver would’ve seen her, anyway, without her signaling like a madwoman, but she wasn’t taking any chances. “Stop. I need help. Please stop.”
The pickup careened past her. “What? No! Please, I need help!” She spun around, ready to chase the car even if it was only a futile attempt. At the last second, the red glare of its back lights lit up.
“Thank you.” Was her appreciation directed toward the driver or to God? Either way, it was heartfelt.
Still, she looked around and hoped the animal wouldn’t suddenly appear. She’d warn the driver and get him to take her to the nearest town. Once she was safely away, she’d phone Joe and warn him not to come.
The door of the pickup opened and long legs slid out, topped off with a pair of black boots. Faded jeans covered strong legs and a cotton shirt had the impossible task of hiding the man’s wide chest. A gray cowboy hat led her gaze upward, but kept his face shadowed. Releasing a rush of pent-up air, she bowed her head and fought to calm herself once more. She was going to be safe.
“Looks like you’ve got a flat tire.”
The voice flowed into her, soothing her and turning her on at the same time. What had she been about to say? Somehow it no longer mattered.
“Are you all right?” His voice resonated in the air, a deep, rich sound that made jelly of her legs. He wasn’t Joe, not by any stretch of the imagination. Instead, his voice was the voice she imagined every time she read a romance novel. His voice was the voice that could change television addicts to radio listeners. His voice was the voice that could make her his slave with only one word.
“Miss, are you hurt?”
She drew in a breath, ready to see the handsome face that came with such an incredible voice. Was this it? Was this the love-at-first-sight she’d always dreamed of?
Yet when she lifted her gaze to his and he tipped back his hat, she didn’t feel an instant connection. His face was handsome, his body built rock-hard, his confident stride manly, yet there was nothing else. She didn’t feel any attraction to him. Nada. Nothing. Instead, she felt total disappointment.
Damn.
What had she been thinking? To expect an explosion of instantaneous love was ridiculous. She’d been rattled by the wolf into thinking ridiculous ideas. At least, that was what she told herself.
He narrowed his eyes as though trying to see into her mind. “Lady, did you hear me? Are you okay?”
She nodded, resignation settling in her heart. Yet why had she been thinking about love? She’d survived an attack by a huge, wild animal and should count herself lucky. “Yeah. I’m okay.”
He tilted his head. “Are you sure? You act like you’re kind of shaken up.” He looked around, his gaze staying a moment too long on the tall grass where the naked man had gone to the ground.
“I’m sure.” She was. But now that the momentary fantasy had been broken, she remembered. Pointing toward the grass, she dared to snag his hand and pull him along with her. “But there was this man. He was—” Should she tell him the man was naked? “Then there was this wolf. It was enormous, bigger than any wolf I’ve ever seen. I saw the man in the field, and then he was gone.” Was she making sense? “I don’t know if the wolf hurt him. I don’t know if he’s okay or if he’s…dead.”
She didn’t blame him when he looked at her as though she’d lost her mind.
He broke free of her grip and took both of her arms, obviously an attempt to calm her. “I’m going to ask you again to be sure. Are you certain you’re okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine. But you have to help him.”
“I will. So you saw him first and then the wolf?”
“Yes. That’s right. One minute he was standing there, and then he was gone. Like something had pulled him down into the grass.” She pointed toward the place where she’d last seen the man. “I don’t know if he’s alive or hurt or—” Even there?
“Got it. He was there, and then he was gone. Anything else?”
Should she tell him that the man had grown fur over his skin? But that had to have been her imagination. Or fear. Or whatever. No man could grow fur. Still…
“The man looked like he was…changing.”
“Changing? What do you mean?”
She drew in a hard breath to get out hard words. “He looked like he was growing fur.”
If he laughed at her, she’d hit him. Surprisingly, he didn’t laugh.
“You know that’s impossible, right?”
What else could she say? “Of course.” I think so. “Fine. Whatever.”
How could she argue with him when she knew he was probably right? Probably right? He was, wasn’t he? “But I did see a man. I swear it.”
“Okay. Stay here. I’ll go take a look.”
He was already into the grass at the edge of the road by the time she grabbed h
is arm again, suddenly realizing the danger she’d put him in. “No. You can’t. I should’ve called the police, but I dropped my phone. We need to call for help. The police or the dog catcher or someone.”
He bent and picked up her phone. “Is this yours?”
“Yes.” Yet when she started to call for help—which she should’ve done the minute the man had disappeared—he put his hand over hers.
“Don’t bother. We don’t have an official police force. I’m as close to a sheriff as you’ll find in these parts.”
She slid her gaze down to his hip. “If you’re the law, then why don’t you have a gun? You need a gun. A big gun.”
“A big gun for a big wolf?”
This time the smile was a smirk, irritating her. “Look, I don’t know if the man’s hurt or what, but we have to find out.”
“So you didn’t try to help him?”
Shame filled her. “No. I was too scared. And then when the animal came after me, I just ran.” He’d think her a coward, but she didn’t care.
Ridges burrowed into his forehead when he frowned. “The wolf chased you back to your car?”
“Yes. Then it jumped on top of the car and growled at me. I thought he was going to break the windshield and get me.” She wasn’t easily scared, yet she’d been frightened by the wolf. Still, anyone in their right mind would have been scared. Except maybe him. Was he simply too brave? Or too crazy?
He stared into the tall grass. “Well, whatever you saw, he’s long gone by now.” He motioned toward her car. “Get inside your car just in case. I’ll check it out.”
“Are you sure? It could be dangerous.” She wanted to grab his arm again but clenched her fists instead. “Maybe you should get a gun first.”
“I’ll be fine. Trust me.”
She nodded, knowing she wasn’t going to be able to stop him, anyway. “Okay. But be careful.” At least she had her phone. “If you’re not back in a couple of minutes, I’m calling for help.”
“You can try, but it won’t do you any good. Even if you got hold of someone, they’d probably just call me. Don’t worry. I’ll be fine.”
Again, he motioned her toward her car. She started for the car, relieved not to have to go with him. By the time she had her hand on her door and had turned back around, he was nowhere to be seen. “Shit. Now I’ve lost two men.”
Silently, she counted slowly along with the time refreshing on her phone. “Come on. Get back here.” She didn’t care what he’d said. She’d try calling for help.
Just as she was about to press the nine on her keypad, he reappeared. He strode out of the tall grass and lifted his hand, letting her know he was all right.
She slipped out of the car. “Did you find him? Is he all right?”
“I didn’t see anyone, not a man or a wolf.”
“Nothing? But then where’d he go?”
“I suspect that, if there was a wolf, the man took off running.”
She shook her head, refusing to think the explanation was that easy. “No. He didn’t run. He basically went straight down and out of sight.”
He shrugged. “Whichever way it happened, he’s gone.”
“And you didn’t see anything else? Like blood?”
“Nope.” Hooking his thumbs in his front pockets, he shrugged again. “How about we get you back on the road and headed toward home.”
“What about the wolf?”
He shrugged again. “I didn’t see any signs of any wolves, either.”
“Nothing? No tracks or anything? But it was a damn big wolf. He had to have left tracks.”
“Sorry. Didn’t see a thing.” He studied her again. “Look, everything’s fine now.” He narrowed his eyes as though studying her even harder. “Except maybe you. How about coming back to my ranch with me? You seem too shaken up to be driving.”
“So you’re not going to look for the man or the wolf?”
“I just did. Like I said, I’m betting they’re long gone.”
“You don’t believe me about the wolf, do you?”
“Sure I do.”
She couldn’t shake the impression that he either didn’t believe her or he was lying. Whichever it was, however, she couldn’t say. Looking back to the grass, she hugged herself, keeping yet another tremble from coursing through her. “I called a tow truck to give me a tow. Some guy named Joe said he was coming.”
“You talked to Joe during lunch time?” His chuckle was as rich as his voice. “Good luck on him getting here anytime soon. The man takes two hours to eat.”
“But I still need my tire changed. And my car overheated. At least, I think so.” She waved at her car. “It started again, but I’m not sure it’ll keep running.”
The lift of the corners of his mouth could’ve been a smile or a smirk. She decided to think of it as a smile.
“I can change the tire, if you want. If you have a spare tire. And then I can give the other a look.” He stuck out his hand. “We never got around to doing the introductions. Name’s Jackson Carr.”
She was a good judge of character. Although something about him made her wary, she didn’t think he was a bad guy. “I’m Shenna Cox.”
“Nice to meet you, Shenna.” He gestured toward her trunk. “Do you have tools? If not, I can run back to my ranch and grab some.”
Realization swamped her, embarrassment swift on its heel as she reached in to pop her trunk open. “I have a spare. I think. But I’m sure I don’t have the tools you need to put the spare on, much less to deal with the other problem.”
He let her off the hook as he looked inside her trunk. “You’re right. You’ve got the spare, but no tools. But don’t worry about it. My ranch is just over the rise. In fact, it’ll be faster if I hike there—straight line and all—than to take the roads.”
“You’re going to walk instead of drive?”
“I’ll be back in a sec.” He tipped his cowboy hat to her then pivoted to head into the tall grass.
“No. Don’t.” She practically ran after him to grab his arm and keep him from taking another step. “Remember the wolf?”
He stared at her hand on his arm then met her gaze.
“The wolf could come back. Or be hiding in the grass. Or come back with his pack. They run in packs, right?” Again, she sounded stupid, but that was how she’d put it.
“Take it easy. I know how to handle myself. We have a lot of wolves around Forever.”
“Forever?”
“The town.” He jerked his thumb down the road. “It’s a few miles along this stretch.” He chuckled. “I can tell you’ve never heard of it. Not many folks have.” His eyes darkened. “We like it that way.”
Forever, Texas. Sounds like a nice place.
“Still, you shouldn’t risk it. We can go together to your place. In your truck.”
“I’ll be fine on foot. And faster alone.”
Did all men think they were invincible?
“I’m telling you. This wasn’t any normal wolf. He was huge. I mean really huge.” She held out her arms like a kid would when describing something gigantic. Realizing how she looked, she dropped her arms and stuck her hands in her pockets.
“Fine. Come back to the ranch. We’ll get you fixed up in no time.”
She prided herself on being smart. Suddenly, she wasn’t so sure. She’d just invited herself back to a strange man’s house. Then again, if he wanted to hurt her, he could do so very easily right there. But which would be safer? Going with Jackson? Or risk having the wolf come back?
Definitely safer with the man than with the animal.
“Okay. If you’re sure it’s all right.”
“Why wouldn’t it be?”
“No reason. And along the way you can tell me more about the wolves around here.” She started after him.
“There’s not much else to tell. They’re only wolves.”
She shook her head as she stayed by his side. “Like I said, this was no ordinary wolf. And what about the man?” She cou
ld be stubborn when she believed herself to be right, as she did now. “I saw what I saw.”
Did he groan?
“Looks like Joe decided to make it to you before dinner.”
She followed his gesture to find a tow truck kicking up dust as it headed their way. “Then I guess you’re off the hook.”
“I can stay if you like. Help Joe out.”
“Will you tell me more about the man who can grow fur?”
Jackson grinned and tipped his hat. “There’s nothing to tell. It was nice meeting you, Shenna Cox. Old Joe will get you going soon enough. Have a safe ride home.” Pivoting on his heel, he turned toward Joe who was hopping out of his truck. Unlike her imagination, Joe was anything but fat and sloppy. He was, like Jackson, one hot man.
She frowned, her focus going back to Jackson. He’d blown her off. No doubt about it. Almost as though he hadn’t wanted to answer any of her questions.
Something isn’t right here. I know what I saw. And I’m going to find out what that something is.
Chapter One
Shenna crouched down as low as possible. Keeping downwind was proving more difficult than she had imagined. The man kept changing directions, keeping her on her toes, and she had to do her best to stay hidden.
Did he know she was trailing him? Was he trying to throw her off his tail?
He was the third werewolf she’d managed to track since moving to Forever two months earlier. At least, she thought he was the third. The other two had slipped away before they’d shifted, leaving her wondering where they’d gone. But she hadn’t given up. How could she when she’d sacrificed so much to move to Forever?
She hadn’t wanted to make the move. Had, in fact, wanted to remain in Dallas. But traveling to the area every weekend, finding a place to stay that was close to Forever, but not too close, had become impossible. It was time-consuming, but more and more, her thoughts about what she’d seen plagued her. Too many times to count, she’d ended up thinking about the naked man and the fur spreading over his body. All too often, she’d caught her thoughts drifting to Forever. So often, in fact, that she was afraid she wasn’t doing her best professionally. She wouldn’t have blamed her clients for finding someone else. Her work had definitely suffered.