WithHerCraving

by Lorie O'Clare

  Glancing around and breathing in the fresh mountain breeze, she willed it to be laced with Jarvis’ scent. As wonderful as the crisp evergreens and bubbling creek smelled, they lacked her mate’s scent. When would he reach her?

  Katrin walked along the grass-covered bank until rocks large enough to step on created a bridge for her to cross the creek. If she splashed through it, the water would hide her scent. Katrin didn’t want Jarvis to get confused while tracking her.

  Looking back at the tall meadow grass she’d traipsed through, the path she’d taken was barely visible in spite of how she’d tramped down grass as she ran. The meadow stretched beyond the base of the mountains. To either side of her, tall junipers added color to the rugged ice-covered mountain backdrop.

  Was it safe to hunt? She didn’t know this land. Although this probably wasn’t Toubec’s land, she had no way of knowing who owned it.

  There were other packs in this region. Packs that weren’t werewolf. Leopards claimed territory in parts of the mountains. She’d even heard it howled that black jaguars and owls lived in the region.

  Katrin raised her head and stared at the magnificent mountains. Her sire had told her and her littermates about a pack of Malta werewolves that lived in peace in the Colorado Rockies. Those mountains were no more than hills compared to her mountains though. She understood why her mother had wanted her litter here, in these mountains, and her sire hadn’t argued.

  Leaping up the rocky incline, Katrin began ascending the base of the mountain. She kept her senses tuned in, breathing in the air, listening to every sound around her and watching for any movement. She searched for prey and predators, but her main attention was given to sniffing out Jarvis.

  He wouldn’t not come. Not this time. She’d smelled the truth and sincerity on him when he had kissed her in the trees. It hadn’t been goodbye. He’d said soon.

  This wasn’t her mountain and it was dark now. If she didn’t eat soon her senses would grow weak. Hunger would distract her. Katrin slowed her pace, taking a closer look at her surroundings. Finally, daring to relax a moment, she began sniffing the ground and searching for wildlife. Supper would come first, then she’d allow herself to think about what might be delaying Jarvis.

  The moon didn’t glow overhead as it had the night before when she’d built her temporary den. Tonight, clouds clustered together, bringing the sky closer. Katrin saw a lot better at night in her fur than she would have as a human, and the denseness of the clouds helped trap smells around her. But the pending weather change had smaller prey scampering for their own supper, then burying themselves in their homes for the night.

  Katrin placed one paw after another strategically on the ground, careful not to make a sound. As she passed between two large boulders, she smelled the tall grass and wildflowers scattered across a meadow, their petals clasped together for the night. A deeper, wider creek than the one she had drank from at the bottom of the mountain was on the other side of the tall grass. Lying along its bank, buried in the tall grass, were two bears.

  She froze, instinctively crouching. Her chest pressed against the hard, cold ground. The bears raised their heads, shifting their attention from the water. They were no longer alone on this hunting ground—hunting ground they probably viewed as their own. One of them raised his head higher. Katrin saw its profile through the tall blades of grass. It sniffed hard with its long snout and she stared at black nostrils as they flared. She was sure they breathed in her scent.

  They were young, although old enough that mama bear might have let them wander off to play and hunt without being too protective of them. Fucking tail, please let that be the case.

  She masked her fear, doing her best to keep her heart from pounding in her chest. Panicking wouldn’t help. Letting the bears smell fear would definitely make matters worse. It was two to one and she didn’t want them deciding there might be better prey out there than fish. She was more intelligent, but they were bigger and stronger.

  Katrin took her time looking around her. She searched through every blade of grass, glanced up at the steep, rocky inclines around them, but never let her attention stray from the two bears for more than a few seconds. She didn’t smell another bear, or any other creatures around her. That didn’t mean mama bear wouldn’t appear if one of them cried for help. It wasn’t a fight Katrin wanted to chance.

  The bears would stalk her if given the chance. She’d never smelled fear on a bear. Curiosity, definitely. She’d smelled anger, and the worst scent that could ever be picked up off a bear—excitement over a hunt.

  Her one definite advantage over a bear was speed. In the tight confines of the cliffs surrounding the meadow, she’d stripped that advantage away. Her only defense now was to outthink them.

  The bears appeared to be mulling over whether or not they should leave their game of capturing fish to learn what other creature just entered their meadow. She needed a plan of action.

  Katrin lay flat on the ground and watched the two bears through arthritic-looking twigs and tall, thick blades of grass. They had abandoned their fishing expedition and now stood with their backs to the water. One of them went up on his hindquarters to get a better view across the tall meadow grass.

  Inching back between two mushroom-shaped large rocks serving as the doorway into the meadow, she glanced behind her then up at the flaky shale and limestone walls stretching toward the gray, cloud-filled sky. One of the bears leaped and the ground shook under Katrin’s paws. Her hairs bristled down her spine as she tensed. Her heart almost exploded in her chest. Katrin found it hard to breathe. The smell of her fear clogged the air around her. She had seconds to decide what to do.

  There really was only one thing to do. Katrin leapt backward then jumped up the rocks on to a ledge, getting the hell out of their way. With the advantage of height, she saw both of them easier as they bounded together across the meadow toward her.

  The bears had a rich, ripe scent that was easily distinguished. Her hackles rose even further when another smell filled the air.

  I’m really not in the mood for a battle tonight, she snarled, and searched around her to see who had joined the party.

  Whoever it was bounded up the mountain, coming from the direction she’d just run. Turning and searching the rocky terrain, and the steep path she’d climbed to reach the meadow, she narrowed her gaze.

  There in the darkness, just at the top of jutting rocks and sheets of flat stone, were two male Cariboo.

  The bears picked up on their scent at the same time the males sniffed them out. Suddenly it was a standoff and Katrin was stuck right in the middle.

  Letting out a low howl, Katrin breathed in Jarvis’ scent. Her heart was elated and at the same time every inch of her tensed. Jarvis lifted his head, his ears alert. His silver eyes seemed to glow in the thick darkness of the night. Another male came to a stop next to Jarvis. Both had saddlebags draped down their sides, which definitely would have slowed their pace. The two of them stared at her.

  Jarvis let out a fierce roar.

  Don’t get too macho against two bears! Katrin roared in response, turning on the ledge to warn Jarvis. We can scare them away without attacking.

  The tart smell that suddenly filled the air wasn’t unfamiliar. Just because she grew up in the mountains didn’t mean she hadn’t been around male Cariboo when they were close or had just reached their prime as adults. Katrin had picked up on the scent of males before when they reached that moment right before claws and teeth were bared, hackles went up and the thrill of the fight tightened within them. Cariboo seldom turned down a good fight.

  The energy coursing through Jarvis was a mixture of rage and testosterone, of excitement and determination. The result was this tart aroma. When a male or female smelled of the fight, they brought to it their own scent as well. Katrin had never smelled the rush of adrenaline and testosterone mixed in with Jarvis’ unique aroma. As it reached her nostrils and she breathed it in, it was intoxicating. It was as if she’d t
ried a drug for the first time and realized she was already addicted to it.

  The bears hesitated and Katrin took that moment to leap to the ground toward the two male Cariboo. Before she could position herself, the males bounded toward her and pushed her behind them. Now both Jarvis’ and Jaeger’s scents overwhelmed her. Katrin tried to breathe in only Jarvis, to distinguish him from his littermate so she could have her fill, but it was pointless. Never in her life had she smelled so much raw energy, such a primal urge to fight and protect.

  Katrin responded on instinct. As much as she wanted everything that was Jarvis inside her, she also felt the pull to protect what was hers. And she’d be damned if she would be shoved out of the fight. She leapt off the ledge.

  I don’t need to be protected. I can fight as well as you can. Katrin snapped at Jarvis.

  The two of them were nuts if they thought they were taking on bears while weighed down with saddlebags. She might as well train both of these males now. She would attack the bears to protect Jarvis and his littermate, if necessary. But she believed she smelled the situation accurately. She could scare away the two bears and not kill them.

  Jaeger turned and snarled at her. Jarvis also looked over his shoulder and did the same, letting out a low warning growl.

  Stay where you are, both of them informed her.

  Katrin curled her lip, disgusted and getting pissed. She wanted to be alongside Jarvis. She wanted to be close and up front so she would see the moment the bears decided to fight, or when they turned away. All she saw at the moment were the asses of two males who needed a good lesson on how to treat her.

  The bears suddenly smelled a lot stronger. They felt their hunting ground was being challenged. Good kill was imperative to survive. They would fight to maintain their food supply. And these two fools in front of her weren’t helping matters. The last thing they needed was an incredible supply of bear meat they wouldn’t be able to haul along with them.

  It was damn hard to see over the shoulders and large bodies of the two males creating a wall of fur and muscle in front of her. One of the grizzlies roared and Katrin jumped in spite of herself. Jarvis let out a fierce, bloodcurdling snarl in response and planted himself firmly where he was. Jaeger took a couple steps forward, the two males spreading out. They were preparing for battle.

  Katrin moved to stand next to Jarvis, filling her lungs with his rich, dominating scent. The saddlebag bumped against her, swollen with contents that made it hard and lumpy. Jarvis angled himself so their front legs touched. Katrin almost went weak from the smell of his concern and affection.

  There was so much powerful muscle rippling underneath Jarvis’ thick white fur. Streaks of pale burnt orange stretched through his otherwise completely white coat. He was head and shoulders taller in his fur than she was but Katrin didn’t need his size to be equal in battle.

  Not that Jarvis and she would battle together today. Katrin didn’t believe in unnecessary bloodshed. It wasn’t honorable and not how her sire and mama had raised her. She smelled that same honor in Jarvis. He was too wrapped up in protecting her after smelling the incredible danger when he’d first found her. He would learn she knew how to protect herself, although she had to admit she was a lot more comfortable now that he was here.

  Jarvis took a brief moment to look at her, turning his head from the two bears and glancing down. His silver eyes were warm, and his emotions shifted enough for her to smell how clean his happiness was at seeing her.

  Katrin wagged her tail once but that was all she allowed herself to do. As much as she ached to run her fur against his and share his warmth, they had a situation. She would much rather tumble with Jarvis over the meadow grass then deal with the bears. Just the thought of rising up on her hind legs, baring her teeth and leaping at Jarvis, then the two of them falling to the ground, damn near had her wet between her hind legs.

  Katrin ached to drag her claws through his fur, to instigate roughness before settling into passion. She would challenge him, draw Jarvis’ incredible potency out from within him. He would attack and she’d be ready. Together they would ride each other and grow stronger with their carnal heat. Jarvis would fuck her. She would submit, but the moment he began to smell too dominant, she would roll him over and ride him until he came.

  First we need to get rid of the damn bears, she grumbled to herself.

  Jarvis had already returned his attention to their two obstacles. Katrin hadn’t been able to see them during her moment of craving this adventure to be over. She so desperately wanted to fuck her male until he was sated and lazy. When Jaeger stepped to the side, the two bears were once again in her line of vision.

  Jarvis glanced at her, but this time his eyes were narrowed and his growl fierce with a command. Jump! Up on the rock. You’re safer up there.

  The grizzlies might be able to bound over rocks with noticeable speed. But Cariboo had the advantage of leaping from one ledge to another, something the bears’ weight made it harder to do.

  Katrin leapt on top of the rock, returning to her ledge where she’d first had a good view of the two bears. She was almost crushed against the flat sheet of rock alongside her when Jarvis leapt on top of the rock next to her. Jaeger sprang onto the rock as well.

  Jarvis stabilized himself on the outside. At the same time he snarled a warning. Katrin barely had room to move and seeing over or around Jarvis was impossible. But when she looked straight ahead the bears were in the middle of the meadow. They slowed, looked around, then up at the three werewolves perched on the narrow ledges.

  One of the bears roared. They might barely be grown, possibly close to a year old by the looks of them, but they were larger than Katrin—larger than Jarvis. Bears weren’t as stupid as some creatures. They didn’t possess a werewolf’s intelligence, but being smarter also meant knowing when to choose battles. She was glad Jarvis made the right choice.

  The three of them could leap, attack the bears, and it would be a powerful fight. Katrin’s mind raced over possible strategies. She didn’t realize she was growling with each breath until Jarvis pressed his body harder against hers. It left her with a tunnel-vision view of the two bears. One of them continued standing, watching the three of them. The other remained on all fours, his round, thick body appearing to roll as if possibly he too growled with each breath.

  She wasn’t sure if moments passed or minutes, but every inch of her was stiff. Her mouth was dry from panting. Her eyes were dry from staring, not daring to blink. She was ready to leap, to pounce if need be, to do whatever it took to protect the three of them.

  When the bear on his hindquarters fell to all fours, Jarvis straightened and almost crushed her against the cold, flat rock wall. The bear nudged into the other one and turned them around as a single unit. Then without so much as a warning growl, the bears walked across the meadow and disappeared around a ledge by the creek.

  Jaeger was the first of the three of them to hit the ground. He did a triumphant dance but Jarvis snapped at him and his anger spiked instantly. Jaeger spun around. Katrin swore she saw confusion on his face. She easily smelled it.

  Jarvis might not be able to get his point across to his littermate while in their fur. Katrin was pretty sure she understood. There was no victory to celebrate, no battle won. The bears might have disappeared but she doubted they were gone. The three of them hadn’t chased the bears away; they’d simply waited until the two of them had decided to leave.

  They caught fish where the bears had been hunting then Jarvis nudged all of them on. There were plenty of fish in the fast-moving water and Katrin believed the bears would return to hunt there again soon. In a way, she believed they had decided to walk away but not retreat. For that, Katrin was grateful. The bears had shared their hunting ground with the three of them.

  Which was why Jarvis had snapped at Jaeger. They hadn’t won a battle. If they had attacked it would have been selfish. Katrin wasn’t sure if the bears had thought the same way, or not. She would never know but th
at was okay. Jarvis had done the honorable thing, waiting until the bears had gotten bored and went somewhere else.

  For that, Katrin not only honored Jarvis, she loved him.

  Chapter Thirteen

  More than a day passed with the three of them running at a fairly good clip. They’d reached the top of the first mountain then ran at high altitude through the night and into the next day. Katrin must have grown up toward the top of a mountain similar to his. The high elevation didn’t affect or slow her down. Seeing how easily she leapt over jutting boulders or raced up incredibly steep inclines somehow made him even more excited to show her his den.

  What used to be my den. In spite of the familiarity, Jarvis needed to remind himself the den where they grew up was no longer there.

  They had only stopped to hunt twice, and both times small game. Even for Cariboo, the mountains could be a dangerous if not deadly place. Once they were in their corner of the Canadian Rockies, and not running through someone else’s territory, things would be different.

  Jarvis’ tummy rumbled and Katrin looked at him. Her eyes glowed and she smelled happy, relaxed and content. She was even more beautiful than when he’d first met her. If that were possible. He hadn’t noticed before the dark, burnt-orange coloring in her fur that streaked down her shoulder blades. The shades reminded him of how her hair flowed past her shoulders in her human form.

  Cariboos often had streaks of red or orange in their white fur. Katrin’s might be a shade or two darker, but it only made her more captivating. Now, watching her in the early afternoon sun, as she stared at him with pure contentment in her eyes, Jarvis felt truly blessed. He didn’t care how dark her fur was. It was the way she looked at him, possessive, satisfied and hungry—for more than his kill.