by Ana Calin
“Nero,” she whispers sweetly, turning to her side, now facing me.
The need to kiss her sweet red lips overwhelms me. I wind my arm around her, pulling her close to me, now fully a man, large and naked, holding his Sleeping Beauty. She curls with her check pressing to my chest, her hand caressing my side, her fingertips stroking hard muscle. My fated mate, the woman I imprinted on, caresses me lovingly in her dreams, unaware that it’s happening in reality as well.
Just a few more minutes and then I’ll get out of her bed, I tell my self, breathing in the perfume of her hair, and caressing her cheek. The rhythm of her breathing slows down as she sinks into a dreamless sleep, her warm breasts crushed against my body.
The sensation is like rivulets of bliss flowing through my veins instead of blood, so peaceful that I fall asleep. When I wake up, it’s to Princess’s bewildered caramel eyes above mine.
Oh, fuck. How do I explain now?
Nero
PRINCESS LOOKS AROUND at the ravished, torn sheets, taking a hand to her head. Her hair is messy, and her silk gown sticky with my cum.
“What the hell happened?”
“I, I—” What can I possibly say? I took her last night, made myself master of her body. I tapped into her dream, and I followed the instructions of her fantasies, but I won’t use that to justify my actions. She didn’t specifically permit me to make her mine.
I get off the bed, standing naked in front of her, my head down.
“Last night, after I secured the perimeter, I turned around, and found you asleep. I just couldn’t.... I lost control. I tried to stop myself, I swear I did. I wanted to leap out the window, but right at that point you called my name repeatedly.”
“You—”
“It’s no excuse, and I’m not using it as one.” I square my shoulders and look out the window into the sunrise, a soldier at her disposal. “Punish me as you see fit, Princess Skye. I gave in to my animal instincts and possessed you without your specific permission. It’s an unforgivable sin, and I’ll take whatever punishment you wish to give me, no matter how harsh. I would ask you not to have my life, though, the pack still needs me, and Darkwood Falls as well.”
“Have your life,” she whispers. The bewilderment and softness of her tone gives me the strength to look into her eyes. “I wouldn’t take anyone’s life, for whatever reason, but that you should be willing to let yourself be killed...” There are tears in her eyes. I connect to her, and realize she’s crying because she’s overwhelmed with positive emotion.
I sit down slowly by her side, reveling in our connection, still stark naked. I wipe a tear off her cheek with one finger, taking it to my lips and tasting it. I do it like a man in a trance, and the moment I feel that salty taste on my tongue, my mind starts to spin. I close my eyes, letting the taste run deep to my core, and I feel exactly what she feels.
Fuck. Me.
I’m sucked in the depths of Princess’ feelings, realizing she’s falling in love with me. Bliss and panic pull me out of that state, and my eyes snap open. I jump up to my feet, staring down at her in awe. I’m overwhelmed, with no idea what to say,
Princess shakes her head, laughing. It’s the laugh of someone who can’t believe what’s happening.
“Nero, yesterday morning I thought you hated my guts. And now, look at us. We slept with each other twice, and you’re offering me your life for.... I don’t even know for what.”
“I took you without asking permission. I’m—” It sounds terrible, but it’s the truth. “I’m a rapist.”
“You wouldn’t have taken me if I didn’t want you to. You said I called out your name, and I admit I was having an erotic dream about us, so....”
Color flushes in her cheeks and she looks down, her messy hair falling to hide her face from me. All I want is to reach under her chin and make her look up, but I have to refrain. I’ve done enough ‘making’ her do things.
“And what happens now?” She whispers. “Between us, I mean. Where do we stand?”
That question wrenches my heart.
The answer is simple, and yet I can’t bring myself to say it. Taken with the sweetness of her love, I didn’t stop to consider all the responsibility that comes with being the Alpha of my pack. A pack that depends on me, hell, all the werewolves on this side of the country depend on me, and the danger of the serpents is huge. Imprinting on a woman couldn’t have happened at a worse moment.
With a sigh, I accept that I can’t give Princess what she desires, because she’d be a distraction I can’t afford. I have to suppress my own cravings and break both of our hearts.
Princess
HIS SILENCE IS ALL the answer I need. I still don’t look at him, but direct my gaze to the window, to the now glowing sunrise. I can’t let him see the tears of betrayal in my eyes.
“Is the perimeter safe then?” I try to keep my voice steady, but I don’t think I’m fooling anyone, sure as hell not Nero.
“It is. I have people in place to guard the premises, and I’ll send some in through the secret passageways, if that’s all right. I’ll use the plans you gave me. Does anyone else live in this house besides you and your father?”
“Two servants.”
He gets dressed, I can hear him throwing his clothes on even though I’m not looking. Damn, I can still feel his cum sticking to my skin, gluing my gown to my body in multiple places. He came all over me like I was his dirty whore, but no man in his right mind would start an actual relationship with a woman he sees as such, right? Especially not the Alpha of a werewolf pack, a large, incredible hunk who can have any woman he wants. Indeed, why choose one when you could have many.
But I’ll make him pay. Rage gives me the strength to smile, and turn my face to him. When our eyes meet, the handsome beast that is Nero Wolf seems taken aback. Sure, the bastard was expecting to see a hurting woman, probably a crying one, or maybe he expected that I would cling to him.
No, Sir. One thing I have left, and that is my dignity.
“Thank you again for saving my life last night,” I say in a clear, crystalline voice. “And for the bonus orgasms you gave me in my sleep. I don’t see any reason for punishment, and I wish you a nice life.”
I get out of bed and walk to the bathroom.
“That’s it?” Nero calls behind me. “That’s all you have to say?”
“The fate of Darkwood Falls is in your hands, Mr. Mayor.” At least I’m good at faking indifference, even if not at actually feeling it. “If there’s anything I can do to help, give me a call, it’s that easy. Wish you all the luck in the world catching the bad guys.”
He follows me into the bathroom, probably bewildered that I actually look forward to the rest of my life even if he won’t be in it.
“I don’t understand your goodbye, Princess. We’ll be working together at the City Hall, so we’ll be seeing a lot of each other,” he decrees as I turn on the water, strip and step into the shower.
I turn around, exposing my body fully to him, leaning my head back to let the water soak my hair.
“I can’t hear you anymore, I’m sorry. But in case you said something about me working for you at City Hall, my resignation stands.”
Just as I begin rinsing shampoo on my hair Nero turns off the hot water. Despite the shampoo that crawls to my eyebrows and threatens to slip into my eyes, I look into his angular, dangerous face, and shivers run through me. Fuck, the man is impressive, standing so close, and I want him again. I’m afraid the longer he stays, the less I’ll be able to resist him.
“Princess, you can’t be so blind to the danger you’re in.” He slides a muscular arm around my wet lower back, yanking me close. Fuck, I’m creaming for him.
“Yesterday, a serpent acolyte put something in your drink that could have killed you,” he stresses. “I can’t be very relaxed about that story, and neither should you. Look, I know that I promised the women of Darkwood Falls freedom, but in order for me to deliver on that promise I need you to work with m
e now, Princess. Darkwood Falls is in danger from the serpents, and you experienced this first hand. You can’t just turn your back on this.”
I place my hands on his chest, trying to push him away, but he keeps me close. Jesus Christ, the way those golden eyes glow, like he’s about to shift any second. It hits me—did he take me in wolf form last night, like I dreamt he did? If so, I fucking loved it.
“If you don’t do it for yourself, do it for the other women of Darkwood Falls,” he insists, low and dark. “Arianna may have found her happiness with Drago, but what about the other girl I hear you care so much about? Janine, the owner of the hotel where I’m staying? What will become of her? You’d let her be alone for the rest of her life?”
That’s like a slap in my face, one that wakes me up to reality, reminding me this isn’t only about me.
“No, never, of course not,” I breathe. “All right, I’ll help.”
Nero’s hold on me loosens, but my arousal remains. His scent of wild woods and man is doing nasty things to me, and I’m afraid I’ll fall down to my knees and take his cock in my mouth right here right now.
“Let us talk about this later.” I manage to free myself from his hold. “This is hardly the place, and I’m not dressed for the occasion.” I look down at my naked body. The way he eyes me up and down, full of desire, isn’t lost on me, and it makes my heart jump with satisfaction. At least he wants me.
“The office then, City Hall,” he says.
“I doubt we’ll be able to talk about it there, there are eyes and ears everywhere. The Council isn’t to be trusted either.”
He smiles. “Then later? Somewhere private?”
Goose bumps rise all over my body, which is embarrassing. I brace myself.
“If I am to help you, give me the time to investigate. I’ll need a few days, if not weeks, to do my research at City Hall. I’ll let you know as soon as I have something worthwhile. Until then, we’ll have to keep our interaction strictly professional while there. The Council are all hawks and hyenas, and the walls have their ears, so we can’t touch any sensitive subject there.”
“All right. Just so you know, I’ll be staying at Janine’s hotel. Drago says the place is as safe as it gets, and we hold our meetings with the entire pack there. When the time comes, let us meet there.”
“All right then.”
He makes to leave, and I turn on the water again, but then he turns around.
“If you ever go out in the evenings, I’ll need to know when, where, and with whom. After what happened tonight, I don’t think you’d still like to protest, or would you?”
I press my lips together in frustration. “No. What I’d like to do, though, is find out why those men put a sex drug in my drink. It doesn’t make sense, it’s a puzzle.”
“We will find out, I promise. But, until then, keep me posted.”
Before he turns to leave, I say, “I’m taking my dad to a business meeting with Lord Theodore Fritz tonight.” I look behind me at him, feeling like I owe him an explanation. “My dad has been in a wheel chair for many years, and I’m the only one he trusts to take him to business meetings and keep his secrets.”
Nero’s handsome features tense. “I have a feeling that Theodore prick is in with the serpents. I can’t be sure, but maybe you can get something out of him tonight, however small, a hint or a clue.”
“Sure I can.”
Theodore is into me, he always has been. But I suppose I can’t tell Nero that, even though he wouldn’t care. He might actually send me to suck the sleazy prick’s cock in order to milk him of information, but I can’t dwell on that right now, or I’m going to cry.
“Now, if you don’t mind.” I turn my back to him and turn the water on, closing my eyes and letting the rapid drops cover my face. I don’t want him to see I’m falling apart from the inside. From now on, Nero Wolf will only see the strong side of me.
CHAPTER IV
Princess
Theodore Fritz’s house is as creepy as the man himself. From the moment the big iron gates open, screeching like scarecrows, until I’ve finally pushed Dad’s wheelchair into the large dark dining room, the place has given me the chills.
It’s just a feeling, though, and I know it. Theodore Fritz is no supernatural creature. I mean, look at him. He’s dressed in a bright blue sheen suit that’s just not right for him, and he’s a bit hunchbacked under it from all the ass kissing he’s done all his life. He’s actually a young man, barely in his fifties, but there’s something about him that makes him seem spent. He’s led a life of decadence that’s taken a toll on him.
“Ah, Charles, old friend, so good to finally have you in this house after so much time.”
“Thank you for the invitation,” Dad replies in his gritty voice, but his tone betrays he’s not here for pleasure. He doesn’t like Theodore, he never has.
I bring Dad’s wheelchair to Theodore’s side, and then walk behind our host’s chair to sit on his left. A tall, thin and grim-looking valet holds my chair for me and, as I lower myself in it, I look fully into Dad’s face.
It’s one of the few occasions when I can see his face clearly, thanks to the candles. For years he’s been keeping to his chambers, withdrawing to the dark whenever I went to see him. Now that I think about it, I don’t think we’ve eaten at the same table in years. When Mom’s home, I mostly eat with her, and she’s a talker, so I haven’t really felt his absence. I’ve grown accustomed to it, I guess, or maybe the big picture of him dominating above the fireplace in the dining room made up for it. But now I fully understand why he avoids being seen.
His skin looks like it’s falling off his face. My heart breaks for him, and my chin trembles. I blink away the tears, trying hard not to get emotional, but just look at him, my poor daddy. For all his money, nothing can save him from this decay. Luckily the medication he gets from Arianna’s R&D labs keeps him alive and pain-free, but is that a good thing? Having him in this world is a blessing to me, but now I wonder if it’s not more of a curse to him, if he wouldn’t be better off without.
I pick up my glass of wine, on Theodore’s invitation.
“It’s an old burgundy, I’m sure someone of refined taste such as yourself will appreciate it.”
I stop with the glass at my mouth, remembering yesterday. There could be anything in it.
“Don’t,” I yelp, and Dad’s dry hand with the protruding old veins stops an inch from his mouth.
Theodore’s puzzled face turns to me.
“Why not, my dear?” His parched lips pull in a grin that reveals crooked teeth. “Surely, you wouldn’t suspect I’d poison the two of you, do you?”
I lift my chin like a lady, glass of wine in hand.
“Poison? Now why would I suspect that, Lord Fritz?” I make just a short pause to assess the look on his face that seems to draw longer, but then I continue. “My father is permanently on medication, and the doctors insist that he should avoid alcohol. It might meddle with the chemistry, you see.”
It may be just in my head, but I think a shadow of disappointment falls over Theodore’s face.
“My daughter is right, Theodore,” Dad says, his voice even grittier. Talking is causing him more trouble as the months go by. He places the glass on the table, keeping his long dry fingers on the stem.
“Not a problem, Charles. More for Princess and me,” Theodore jokes.
“Actually.” I put the glass down, too. “I had a bit of a rough night, and I don’t think alcohol is a good idea for me either.” I splay my hand over my chest where Theodore’s eyes are slipping as I speak, covering most of my cleavage. I’m wearing a red shiny dress that clings to the shape of my body. “To my defense, I must say it was the new mayor’s fault. I was so mad at him forcing me to stay in his service that I had to calm down somehow. I must admit I may have had too much to drink.”
I watch carefully for Theodore’s reactions. The more I look at him, the less I trust him. Must be something in his body language th
at just doesn’t sit well with me. Still, my distrust may also have to do with the way he amassed his wealth, which includes driving companies into bankruptcy, and shady dealings with the government. Not to mention the rumors that his main area of expertise back in his youth was espionage.
“Well, first of all, he is new. He’s not even from Darkwood Falls. I mean, what do we even know about him?”
“Nero Wolf’s presence in Darkwood Falls is a scandal and a threat, Theodore,” Dad says.
My eyes snap to him over the table. This is backwards. I expected Dad to be afraid of Sullivan’s revenge, I mean, he was terrified of murder attempts these past months. I expected that he’d actually seek an alliance with the new mayor, not spit fire as soon as I mention him.
“His taking over City Hall is the main reason why I wanted to see you. We have to get rid of the Wolf brothers, and fast.”
“Wait, let’s take this calmly,” Theodore says, putting up his palm. “First of all, he is an interim mayor, chosen by the Council. There will be elections in six months, and I don’t think Nero Wolf actually stands a chance. I don’t even think he’s interested in running.”
“Yes, but even for an interim mayor, why him? There were so many people in Darkwood Falls who could have filled the position,” Dad insists as the valet places a bowl of steaming soup in front of me.
“The problem is exactly that, Charles—the people of Darkwood Falls and their broken trust.” Theodore hunches over his own soup, elbows on the table, and begins spooning to cool it. “After what happened with Sullivan, him taking off like that with half of the elite’s money, people don’t trust local candidates anymore, especially the elite. Some members of the Council demanded that we bring in someone that would fulfill special conditions—impossible conditions, if you ask me. The interim mayor had to be both local and outsider, old money, but also young and powerful, having proven him-or herself to the entire country, not just this town. That’s when Arianna Parker’s new—” He looks at me with a fake question in his eyes. “What is he even to her, husband, lover? He is the father of her babies, we know that, but what exactly is the nature of their relationship?”