Vampires Never Cry Wolf

by Sara Humphreys

  “You closed your mind to her?” Killian tugged a strand of her hair, and the teasing tone of his voice made her want to kick him in the shin. “I’m flattered.”

  “Stop that.” Sadie brushed his hand away and pointed at him. The man looked devastatingly handsome. Leaning against the wall next to the door, he seemed surprisingly unfazed by getting caught in the storage room like a couple of high school kids. Between the lopsided wolfish grin and the twinkle in his eye, Sadie had to look away or she might jump his bones. How could a guy look sexy and infuriatingly arrogant at the same time? “This isn’t funny, Killian. Not even a little bit.”

  Struggling to compose herself, Sadie plastered on a smile and gripped the handle tighter, preparing to face her sibling.

  “You’re right.” Killian’s large hand covered hers on the doorknob, and his voice dipped to that low, sexy growl that curled Sadie’s toes. His thumb rasped over her knuckles, and even the mere whisper of his flesh against hers sent a zing of electricity through her. How the hell had she let things get so out of control? Sadie let out a frustrated sigh and turned to look Killian in the eye. When her gaze clapped onto his, though, he tightened his grip on her hand and every coherent thought went out of her head. Killian dropped his voice to just above a whisper. “Whatever’s happening between us isn’t funny, Sadie, but it is very real.”

  “You have to go.” Sadie tore her gaze away and stared at the dull, chipped paint on the door. “I’m not interested in playing games with you, Killian, or putting my club or my coven—to say nothing of the treaty—in jeopardy. This thing between us is finished.”

  Without waiting for him to respond, Sadie yanked the door open so hard that it almost came off the hinges. She was greeted by Trixie, who looked more than a little annoyed at the delay.

  “There you are.” Trixie threw her hands in the air and shouted, “What the hell, Sadie? I’ve been telepathing you forever. Why didn’t you answer me?” Before Sadie could respond, Killian stepped into view and slipped past a visibly stunned Trixie into the small vestibule. “Holy shit.” Trixie looked from Killian to Sadie through wide eyes. “I guess that answers my question.”

  “Sorry for holding Sadie up.” Killian bowed his head in deference to Trixie and winked at Sadie. “Thank you for the informative lesson. You can be sure that anytime I’m in my storage room taking inventory, I’ll be thinking of you. As educational as this encounter has been, however, I really should return to my guests.”

  “Right,” Trixie said nervously. As Killian walked up the steps, she mouthed Oh—My—God to Sadie and covered her growing smile with both hands.

  As Killian’s towering frame disappeared into the club, he whispered wickedly into Sadie’s mind. By the way, you and I are just getting started.

  Chapter 8

  If Sadie hadn’t gone to fetch the water, she’d be dead too.

  The pungent aroma of blood had been overwhelming, and the scent of it still clung to her nostrils. It made Sadie’s stomach roll as she fought her way through the foggy mist of the early morning. Terrified, knowing they were right behind her, Sadie kept running as fast as she could. Her heavy skirts tangled between her legs and she stumbled. Her heart thundered in her chest and she struggled to catch her breath. She couldn’t stop. She could hear them behind her, their feet scraping against the rocky earth and their legs whispering through the grass as they stalked her.

  If they caught her, they would kill her.

  They would kill her the same way they had slaughtered her parents and her sisters. A sob choked her when the image of her father’s bloody face and lifeless eyes came roaring to the forefront. The only people she had in the entire world were gone and she was left truly alone. When her father had moved the family out to the wilds of the Western Territory, Sadie had often felt lonely but she’d never actually been alone.

  Until now.

  Afraid to look back and weakened by fear, she kept running and almost shouted with relief when she spotted her safe haven through the tree line. In the distance the familiar hill with its rock formations called to her like a beacon. Buried within the rust-colored rocks and nestled behind the overgrown brush was the tiny cave. Before today, it had been a place where Sadie and her sister would come and play for hours—but not today. This time it would be her saving grace and a place to hide from her attackers.

  They were getting closer. Faster. She had to run faster. Sadie was only a few feet from the entrance to the cave when the sounds of low growls rumbled around her. Pure unadulterated terror filled her from head to toe, and a split second later, he was on top of her.

  Something slammed into her back, knocking the wind out of her and sending her to the ground with an audible grunt. Dirt and rocks dug into her palms as she hit the earth. Too terrified to move and sure that death was only a moment away, Sadie squeezed her eyes closed and prayed to the Lord that he would take her quickly.

  The weight of her attacker held her to the rocky earth, and his warm breath puffed along her neck. The growling grew louder and scraped at the last shred of sanity she had. The beast was going to toy with her before he tore her throat out.

  Just do it, she screamed. Kill me already. Kill me just like you killed them.

  With strength she didn’t know she had, Sadie flipped onto her back and found herself face-to-face with an enormous brown-and-black wolf with glittering amber eyes. The beast loomed over her, his paws on either side of her body. But he was no longer holding her down, and if she didn’t know better, she’d swear the wolf was smiling. Just when that crazy thought entered her mind, the animal blurred, as though vanishing in a flash of light. Then with a blast of heat, it shifted in a split second into a man.

  A handsome, familiar, and very naked man—Killian.

  Kill you? His deep, familiar voice sliced through to her core. His hands were braced on the ground on either side of her, and he settled his body between her legs. I can think of far more pleasant activities that we can do in our dreams. Killing you is not on the list.

  Killian. Sadie’s memory returned the instant she whispered his name, along with a fair amount of confusion. Holy shit.

  She wasn’t the young, naive girl running from her family’s killers in the wilds of the Western Territory. She hadn’t been that girl in a long, long time. Nope. Sadie Pemberton was a two-century-old vampire and this…was a dream.

  Sadie was dreaming for the first time in almost two hundred years, and to top it all off, Killian was in the dream with her. This could only mean one thing, and it confirmed what she’d known deep in her gut all along.

  Killian Bane, the werewolf prince and heir apparent to the Werewolf Society, was her bloodmate.

  I’ll be honest, if I had my way, chasing you in my dreams would end a lot differently than this. His brow furrowed and the muscles in his chest twitched as he held himself above her and glanced at the old-fashioned outfit she was wearing. And I would think my subconscious would dress you in something other than that Little House on the Prairie getup.

  I wasn’t running from you. Sadie rolled her eyes at the ridiculous situation they were in. She hadn’t run from anyone or anything in centuries—not until Killian Bane came into her world. In fact, running from him had become a nasty habit, and it was time to cut that crap out. Trying to ignore the fact that he was naked, she folded her arms over her chest and glared up at him. Would you mind getting off me, please?

  See? Killian pushed himself to his feet, finally freeing her from the weight of his body. This is a shitty dream. If I had my way, you’d be asking me to get you off…not get off you.

  Well, maybe that’s because it’s not just your dream. She pushed herself to her feet, and though Killian offered her a helping hand, she refused. She moved to brush the dust and dirt from her skirts, but she was no longer dressed like the girl from so many years ago. Gone were the prairie skirts and the stiff, high-necked blouse. Instead sh
e found herself clad in the black boy shorts and tank top she’d gone to sleep in that night. That’s much better.

  I agree. Killian’s firm lips lifted at the corners, and his caramel-colored eyes glinted in the sun. I vote for this outfit.

  Big surprise. Sadie turned her back on him and tilted her face to the warmth of the sun, letting out a satisfied sigh. Now would you do us both a favor and put something on? All you have to do is think about what you want to wear and it’ll be there. At least, that’s what Maya told me.

  Killian let out a heavy sigh of sexual frustration mixed with impatience. The sound of it made Sadie’s grin widen. The warmth of the sun in the dreamscape felt delicious on her normally chilly skin and brought back far-more-pleasant memories of her human life—of a time long before that fateful morning her family had been slaughtered. The smile fell from her face and Sadie flicked her eyes open to stare at the line of trees that hid her family’s home and the scene of their murder.

  It worked. Killian’s low, sexy growl slid over her seductively as he sidled up behind her and nuzzled her ear. I want to go on record that I was not in favor of putting on clothing, especially when all I can think about is taking yours off.

  His arms slid around her waist and he pulled her against his rock-solid frame. Her gut instinct was to pull away, to run from the man the universe had chosen for her, and yet she didn’t. Sadie lingered there for a moment, letting her hands settle over his where they rested against her belly. She shivered when he leaned down and his warm mouth pressed a kiss to the circular scar on her left shoulder blade.

  Are you sure you’re a wolf? A smile curved Sadie’s lips, and she elbowed him playfully before stepping away and slipping out of his embrace. She pointed at him, warning him to keep his distance. He’d done as she promised and covered his nakedness with a pair of faded jeans. That sexy, well-muscled chest, however, was still on full display. Sadie tore her gaze from the trail of dark hair that disappeared beneath the waistband of his jeans and turned to face the woods in the distance. You act more like a horndog.

  Only around you. Based on the tone of his voice, she knew that a wolfish grin covered his face.

  I bet you say that to all the girls. Sadie rolled her eyes and glanced over her shoulder at him, trying not to smile at his infuriatingly charming ways. But as you know, I’m not like all the other girls you’ve met. Your wolfish wiles aren’t going to work on me.

  Well, now that you’ve effectively ruined the moment, can you tell me what’s going on? Killian moved in on her right side and hooked his thumbs in the pockets of his jeans. I’ve dreamed before, but it’s never been this real. I certainly haven’t had this kind of awareness or control in a dream before. This seems impossible.

  That’s because it’s not a regular dream. Sadie shifted her weight and glanced at him before gathering her courage to tell him what she knew to be true. She had to tell him they were bloodmates, but doing it in person would certainly be a better idea. It’s a dreamscape. I’ve never been here before either. Actually, I haven’t dreamed in almost two hundred years.

  You said that Maya told you about this dreamscape? Killian seemed genuinely curious about their unusual shared dream experience and not the least bit bothered by it. So that means she’s been here before.

  Yes. She and Olivia have both walked in the dreamscape. Sadie cleared her throat and nodded toward the tree line. This is actually a memory. Or part of one, anyway. At least, that’s what I think it is.

  It’s your memory, isn’t it? Killian asked hesitantly. Sadie nodded silently and she could feel his eyes on her.

  Yes. Sadie struggled to keep her voice even. It’s the morning I was turned.

  Tell me what happened. Killian’s voice softened at the same moment his hand settled on her lower back.

  My family had settled out west in what you would now know as Arizona. It was the early eighteen hundreds. Staring at the azure sky, she fought to keep her emotions in check. It was desolate back then, still a few years before the mining rush. Her voice sounded faraway, as though someone else were telling the story. My little sister and I didn’t want to go live in such a desolate place, and neither did my mother, but Papa wouldn’t listen. He kept saying it was where he would build his fortune. In addition to being one hell of a good tracker, my father was also stubborn. He’d been getting into it with some of the local Apache tribesmen—fights over land and who had the right to hunt on it. Anyway, I guess he got into one fight too many and pissed off the wrong Apache. Her voice shook, and even though tears threatened to come, she managed to keep them at bay. My family was slaughtered, and if Olivia hadn’t shown up, I would have died right along with them.

  I’m sorry. Killian’s voice floated over, gentle and strong. I can’t imagine how awful that must have been.

  It was. In spite of her efforts to remain strong, she found herself leaning into Killian’s steely embrace. His arm slipped around her and he pulled her gently against him, their hips bumping until finally settling against one another. Then why did I dream about a wolf chasing me? I mean, why wouldn’t I dream about the Apache? Why you?

  I don’t know. Killian kissed the top of her head. This is not my area of expertise. What else do you remember about that day?

  I went to fetch the water. Her voice was barely audible. As she spoke, the tree line in front of them vanished, revealing the tiny log cabin her father had built. Both of them stilled as a scene began to unfold with every word that Sadie uttered. It was like watching a movie of her past in Technicolor. It was early, really early. The sun was barely up and it was still kind of chilly. I couldn’t sleep so I decided to get the water I knew Mama would need for cooking breakfast. I didn’t mind, though—

  Sadie stopped mid-sentence and Killian’s grip tightened around her when they watched a young woman emerge from the cabin with a bucket in her hand. The two of them observed in silence as a young Sadie, clad in the same clothes she’d worn only moments ago, hummed tunelessly and disappeared into the woods on the other side of the clearing.

  Go on, Sadie. Killian held her tighter but Sadie continued to shiver. What happened next?

  There were screams. Sadie’s voice wavered and the image of the house was instantly shrouded in darkness, but it did little to drown out the sounds of terror. My mother and sisters. I—I heard a gunshot and then…nothing.

  The sounds Sadie described ricocheted around them vividly as fog rolled across the field, momentarily hiding the scene from them. With those terrifying noises filling the air, something deep inside her chest ached.

  Loss. Pain. Helplessness.

  The sounds faded with the lifting fog, and they watched as the young human version of Sadie emerged tentatively from the tree line. The door of the cabin was wide open and the lifeless body of her father lay just outside, the shotgun about a foot away.

  I smelled blood. Sadie’s stomach churned as it had that morning when the pungent coppery aroma filled the air. I wanted to run, to scream, but I couldn’t move. I was so scared, Killian. I—

  The distinct menacing growl of wolves rumbled around them in the dreamscape, and Sadie watched in horror as three of the largest wolves she’d ever seen emerged from the cabin. The pack was led by a large black male with a thick, stocky body, and right behind him were two smaller but equally vicious-looking wolves.

  The leader stepped over her father’s body, and baring a mouthful of sharp teeth, he stalked slowly toward her. His slow, methodical gait reminded her of a horror-movie villain. Jason and Freddy never ran after their victims; they seemed to know their prey had no way to escape. Young Sadie, with her eyes and mouth wide, stood motionless and seemingly frozen in time as the three beasts advanced.

  Oh my God, Sadie whispered. The Apache didn’t kill my family, Killian… Werewolves did.

  Killian’s grip on her tightened, but he said nothing as the truth continued to unfold before their eyes.


  Sadie wanted to launch herself over there, to eviscerate the beasts that slaughtered her family. Just when she was about to fly over, the wolves burst into a run. The young girl screamed and ran from the animals, but she was no match for these supernatural stalkers. In a blur, the black one leaped onto young Sadie’s back and clamped his massive jaws onto her left shoulder.

  The girl’s screams shot through the dreamscape, and at the same instant, white-hot pain seared through Sadie’s body. Her back arched and she cried out in unison with her human self from all those years ago. She would have tumbled to the ground if Killian hadn’t kept her safe in his ironclad embrace.

  Blinded by tears, Sadie writhed in agony and clung to Killian. Pressing her cheek to the warmth of his chest, she forced herself to open her eyes and watch the rest. The other two wolves stayed back as the black one let out a triumphant howl. With another cringe-inducing shot of fire sizzling down her back, Sadie waited for the other two wolves to join in the brutal attack.

  A blur of red and brown whisked across the clearing like a bullet, immediately followed by a series of growls, yelps, and whimpers. One minute the wolves were there and about to attack. The next, all three lay motionless on the ground, and in a glimmer of light, they shifted into their human forms. A tall woman with long, curly red hair strode over to Sadie and squatted next to her.

  Olivia, Sadie murmured. Oh my God.

  Olivia sat down and lifted the girl’s head into her lap. Leaning close, she looked the barely conscious girl in the eye. A gust of wind whisked through the dreamscape, and with it came the familiar sound of Olivia’s comforting voice.

  When you wake up, you will remember nothing of the wolves. Your family was slaughtered by a group of Apache warriors who were attacking settlers in the area. Everyone was killed except you.

  With Killian’s strong arms wrapped around her and with the steady beat of his heart thrumming in his chest, Sadie gasped and watched as Olivia bared her fangs, changing Sadie’s life forever. The scene vanished and the tree line shimmered back into focus, leaving no trace of the events they’d witnessed.