CHAPTER THREE
Just as the appetizer was served, Leah saw a movement at the head of the table. She put down her fork quietly and tensed. The Alpha was standing up and shaking hands with a few guests. Smiling and waving, he left the banquet hall.
Hurriedly, Leah excused herself and pushed back from the table. She had to follow him. If she could catch him alone...
The silver knife felt icy cold against her skin. Silver would burn a werewolf, and once she plunged the silver blade into the heart of the Thunderfalls Alpha, the young Alpha would not regenerate from his wounds. The mortal blow would be excruciating, as the silver would burn through his flesh before reaching his heart.
Steeling herself, Leah forced the image from her mind.
Mercy was for the weak, she repeated the mantra over and over again. Weak, weak, weak...
Despite shaking so hard she could hardly walk, she managed to slip out of the rowdy banquet hall. She saw the Alpha round the corner of a long hallway. He had his hands in his pockets and was humming softly to himself. She scrambled after him, and saw him head down a rather dimly lit corridor.
Was he going to the washroom?
Leah gulped. The washroom would be the perfect place to carry out her gruesome business. She could slip in after him and get him alone.
Leah pulled the knife slowly out of her boot. She tiptoed after her target, but her steps slowed and her hand shook. She was so close, but the closer she got, the worse she felt. It felt all horribly wrong to her. This was a mistake, and she was going to commit a terrible, unforgivable mistake. A violent, senseless crime.
She didn't want to kill him. She didn't want to kill anyone. It just wasn't right. None of this was right.
Leah turned suddenly and gasped. Looming over her was that handsome guard, his fierce amber eyes locked on her.
His huge hand closed around her throat and he pinned her to the wall. “Who are you? What is your name?” he snarled in her ear.
“Leah,” she choked out, struggling weakly. “Leah Miller.” Her knife was raised and his eyes darted to the glinting blade.
“Your pack?”
“D-D-Dark Moon.”
“Give me the knife, Leah,” he commanded in a low, menacing voice.
She shook her head, even as his grip tightened around her throat. She squeezed her eyes shut, and felt her body shaking violently against the wall. But she wasn't shaking with fear. She was trembling with relief.
He was going to kill her, and...she was glad. She was glad she didn't have to kill the Thunderfalls Alpha, and she was relieved that she wasn't going to die at the teeth and claws of her pack. Her pack would not allow her a quick, painless death. She would be shamed and tortured, before she was allowed to die.
“Do it,” she whispered. “Please.”
Her eyes fluttered open in shock when she felt his grip loosen. A flurry of footsteps and voices were coming nearer, and before she could suck in a breath, she felt his lips crush against hers.
His fingers pried the knife from her as he kissed her fiercely, hungrily, pressing her back to the wall. She could feel the hard length of his body pushing against her, trapping her to the spot.
“Hey, Andrew! Are you feeling up one of the guests?” a jovial voice called out.
“Easy now, Andrew, pace yourself. You've got all night!” another voice hollered.
Leah heard hoots and cheers, and the smell of beer and alcohol hung heavy in the air. His pack members were obviously having a whale of a time at their anniversary celebration. The formal dinner was just for decorum. Behind the scenes, the Thunderfalls wolves liked to let their hair down and have fun. And right now, they were having fun at Andrew's expense, teasing him relentlessly and leering at him.
“Bye, bye, Andrew! You...are a very naughty boy!”
Smack.
“Ah-rooooooooo!”
The howls and laughter faded down the corridor.
Leah blinked up as Andrew released her slowly. She peeked over his shoulder and saw his pack members disappearing down the corridor. Even after they'd gone, he continued shielding her with his body, keeping her out of sight of the other wolves. His pack members would only have seen him kissing a female, but they wouldn't know which female. By kissing her, he had blocked her face and body from them.
He had just saved her from his pack.
Leah knew without a doubt, that if he had exposed her and turned her over to them, the pack would tear her from limb to limb. Wolf packs protected their Alpha with a vengeance.
Any attempt on the life of an Alpha would be met with ruthless retaliation. They would have to deal with her brutally, savagely to send a message to the other packs.
There could be no mercy, no reprieve.
“Come with me,” he ordered. “Quietly.”
She swallowed, and gave a small nod. He closed one hand around her arm and steered her towards the stairs. Without another word, Andrew guided her to the top floor of the sprawling manor.
Leah's breaths were shallow and rapid, and her eyes darted all over the place, desperately looking for a way to escape. She glanced down at Andrew's firm hand on her arm and her shoulders sagged a little. There was no way she could get away from him.
His fingers felt warm, too warm, on her bare arm. He wasn't rough with her. Instead, he held on to her like she was his...prize.
The top floor of the Manor was well-lit but deserted. There were no Thunderfalls wolves roaming the corridors and she could hear no voices behind the doors that they passed.
Andrew opened a polished white door and ushered her into a large bedroom that was dominated by a luxurious four-poster bed. She heard him lock the door behind him and a thrill of terror and anticipation coursed through her.
“W-what are you going to do to me?” she whispered, backing slowly away from him. “What do you want?”
Folding his arms across his chest, he said, “I want you to strip.”
“What? No! No way. If you think that I'll just strip on your command, you're out of your mind!” She pressed a hand to her bosom, but that only had the unfortunate effect of drawing his eyes to her breasts.
She saw his amber eyes flash with desire as he stared at her luscious curves. “Strip,” he growled, taking a step towards her.
Her pulse was hammering wildly, and she was having difficulty breathing but she refused to back down. Gulping too loudly, she snapped, “No. I won't strip. You can't make me.” I think.
“Oh, I think I can, Leah. If you won't remove every item of your clothing yourself, then I will do it for you.”
“You...you wouldn't,” she gasped.
His smirk told her that he most certainly would.
“You brought this dangerous little toy to our friendly dinner.” He fished out her knife from his back pocket to emphasize his point. “It makes me wonder what else you're hiding under that slinky dress. Under the circumstances, a body search is in order, don't you think?”
His expression darkened, and Leah had no doubt that he would forcibly strip search her if she resisted. And in this case, it was well within his rights to do so. She had brought a lethal weapon into their Manor. She had entered their territory with hostile intentions. When he caught her, he could have killed her on the spot. Instead, he shielded her from the other wolves and brought her here to conduct the search in private. This was his bedroom. She saw his boots at the foot of the bed, and his jacket and sword on the polished oak table. The room was well-furnished and well lived-in, and the bed behind her held his scent.
Leah took a sharp whiff and shook her head in confusion and disbelief. Her sense of smell had never been as keen as the full-blooded werewolves in her pack. They could always scent her fear and her shame, but she could never pick up signs and signals through the myriad of musky scents. But now, she could smell his scent in the air all around her. His scent was like him, masculine, powerful, seductive and unforgettable. She closed her eyes, swaying slightly on her feet. She wanted to breathe him in, deeply a
nd completely. And she wanted his scent all over her.
Warmth flooded her body and a delicious heat began to unfurl low in her belly. She felt strong arms circling her waist and a hard, solid body pressed up against her. With a gasp, she snapped her eyes open and her head jerked up. She found herself nose to nose with Andrew, his lips hovering inches from hers.
“Leah...” Andrew exhaled heavily. “You were sent here to kill the Alpha of Thunderfalls pack.” She didn't try to deny. With a wince, she gave a small nod.
“Then why were you stalking Noah?”
Her mouth and eyes rounded.
“You thought Noah was the Alpha,” Andrew continued quietly. “Which means you don't know who the Alpha of Thunderfalls pack is.”
“I...” Her hand flew to her mouth. “Andrew...Andrew Clark! You...it's you,” she whispered. “You are the Alpha.”
“Why do you want to kill me, Leah?” he leaned in and growled in her ear.
“I...I don't.”
“I don't believe you,” he smirked.
“I...”
“You will have to convince me, Leah.”
“H-how?” she wheezed.
“But first, I'll have to strip search you. I'll have to examine every inch of you, Leah.” His eyes shone with both humor and lust.
Leah swallowed with difficulty. Her entire body was beginning to hum with need. He was seducing her, softening her with his voice and his nearness. Just a moment ago, she had vehemently refused to strip for him. But now, with his hot breath on her neck, and his hands on her waist, a strip search was suddenly sounding very appealing to her. Very appealing and sexy, just like the man himself.
And she had this crazy urge to strip search him as well. At this moment, she wanted nothing more than to be naked with him, beneath him.
When his hand moved to the zipper at her back, she didn't protest. Instead, she arched her back, and her trembling hands slid his jacket from his shoulders.
Had the temperature increased? The entire room was beginning to feel too hot. And they were both wearing too many damn clothes.
CHAPTER FOUR
Andrew unzipped her dress very slowly as he stared deeply into her beautiful green eyes. He searched her face for signs of fear or distress, but instead he saw only desire. She wanted him. She needed him, needed his touch. And her need was as fierce and tormenting as his own.
He could feel her quivering in his arms, and her lips parted to release a fevered breath. Her dress was now gaping open at the back, and he pressed his palm to the small of her back. The contact was sizzling, and they both inhaled sharply at the same time.
“Leah.” His voice was low and harsh. “I'm going to strip you now.”
He could scent her sudden arousal at his words. He had to ball his fists to stop himself from ripping her gown right off her body.
The moment she'd walked through the gates of Thunderfalls Manor, his body had jerked to attention. He had lounged in the shadows and followed her with his eyes, watching her move shyly and nervously through the halls. She was all curves and innocence, but her emerald eyes couldn't hide her deep pain and fear. She was scared and she was suffering, and he instinctively wanted to protect her. He had followed her when she rose from her seat and he'd watched her pull that silver knife out. In that moment, he had experienced a real stab of dread and fear.
He feared for her, for her life. He knew that she wouldn't succeed in killing anyone. Not on his watch. But she could very well get herself killed. He couldn't let her destroy herself.
Even if it was clear that she was here to destroy him.
“Leah...” Andrew pressed her closer to him and murmured, “Why, Leah? You're no assassin, Leah. You're not a murderer. So why...?”
She looked away, tears glistening in her eyes. “I'm useless. I can't do anything right. I'm not even made right! I'm not even a werewolf,” she whispered. “No matter what I do, I...can never be one.”
Andrew's brows creased in a frown. “But you are. You're half human, I know. But you are a werewolf.”
She shook her head wordlessly.
Swallowing hard, she brushed his hands from her arms, and tugged her gown roughly down her body. “Please...just finish this.” Her voice was small but she held herself upright. Letting her gown pool at her feet, she unclasped her strapless bra and stepped quickly out of her panties. With a soft, shuddering sob, she squeezed her eyes shut and stood utterly naked before him, surrendering herself to his search and inevitable punishment.
Andrew was unable to move, unable to do anything but stare in absolute horror and wrath at her body.
Her body was covered in bruises and scars. It was painfully obvious that she wasn't a soldier, a warrior or a fighter of any sort. Her body was soft, curvy, luscious. It was a body made for pleasure, not violence.
He could see that those weren't injuries sustained in combat with other wolves. She had been beaten, bullied, abused.
None of his wolves had such marks on their bodies. Their training was grueling and rigorous, but they always had medics on duty. And the young wolves were always allowed to recuperate and fully recover and heal before resuming training. This young female had been suffering for a long time. A pack protected and cared for its members. Every wolf should feel safe and supported in the pack. But it was clear to him that Leah felt anything but safe in her pack. Instead of training her properly and supporting her, her pack had shamed her and hurt her.
The Dark Moon pack should be obliterated for what they did.
He snarled and she recoiled from him. From the look on her face, he knew that his eyes had turned wolf. The rest of his features may still be human but just barely. He was using all his willpower and control to reign in his beast. His wolf wanted blood, now.
“How long?” His voice didn't sound human to him. “How long has this been going on, Leah?”
She whimpered and shook her head mutely.
“Who did this to you?” he demanded, grabbing her wrist.
She opened her mouth, but only a sob escaped.
“Was it your Alpha?”
“N-no,” she managed to choke out as she struggled to twist out of his grip.
“His deputies? Lieutenants?”
“The higher-ups never...” She turned away. “They never looked at me. I was...not worthy.”
“Not worthy?” His eyes flashed with pure wrath. “Because you're half human?”
“And because I can't shift.” Her head and eyes remained lowered in shame and submission.
Andrew stared at her, unable to believe what he had just heard. Those Dark Moon wolves had made her feel inferior and unworthy simply because she wasn't a full-blooded werewolf. And they never bothered to train her properly and help her awaken her wolf. There were a few half-blooded werewolves in his pack as well, and all of them could shift. The trainers taught them how to harness the power and spirit of their beast to become stronger, faster, fiercer. With proper guidance and lots of practice and encouragement, his half-blooded werewolves all managed to shift. Werewolf genes were dominant. As long as you had a werewolf ancestor, you'd have the wolf in you. It could lie dormant for generations, but with patience and perseverance, the wolf would emerge.
“Come here, Leah.” He held out his hand to her. When she placed a shaking hand in his palm, he pulled her to him and held her tight. “You are not going back. You are never going back to them. Do you understand?”
He felt her stiffen against him. “B-but...”
“You—are staying here.”
“I...” She tried to pull away. “I can't. I'll be killed. The other Thunderfalls wolves...”
“No one will hurt you here. I am the Alpha. I give the command, and no one touches you.”
Her head dropped to his shoulder and she leaned against him for a long while. Finally, she lifted her head and said hoarsely, “I was going to kill you. You.”
The stark pain in her eyes clawed at Andrew. He tried to hold her but she snatched her clothes off the floo
r and backed away.
She wasn't shivering anymore. Instead, her stance was rigid and her gaze was steely. “Let me dress.” She swallowed hard but she didn't falter. Clutching her clothes to her chest, she said, “I'll go out with you to face your pack. I tried to assassinate their Alpha. The Thunderfalls pack has the right to know my crime, and decide my sentence.” She looked away for an instant. “You don't have to send my body back to the Dark Moon pack. They...wouldn't want it. I know I don't have the right to ask for anything, but...my mother was buried near Northwood forest, and I'd like to be near her. If you could bury me...”
“Bury you?” he snarled. “You think I'm going to kill you?”
“Aren't you?”
His look was murderous but she didn't flinch. “And...thank you, Andrew,” she rushed on, giving him a tremulous smile.
“Thank you?” he spat in anger and belief. “What the hell are you thanking me for?”
“For your kindness, and your pack's hospitality. I know that all the pure-blooded werewolves in the Manor could smell my human scent the instant I walked through your doors. But none of the Thunderfalls wolves turned up their noses at me. Not one of them looked at me with disdain and disgust. They welcomed me warmly and treated me with respect and courtesy. I have never been the recipient of such courtesy and kindness before.” She sighed softly. “Even if it's just for a little while, it's so nice, to finally feel wanted. And worthy. So...thank you.”
CHAPTER FIVE
It was impossible to tell what Andrew was feeling. His expression darkened at her words, and his eyes blazed as he stalked towards her. She saw a terrible, uncontrollable fire burning in the depths of his amber eyes, and she clutched her crumpled clothes tightly to her bare chest.
Raw pain and fury, disbelief and shock swirled in his eyes as he grabbed her.
“You think that you're not worthy, not wanted?” His look was murderous.
She grimaced but didn't look away. “No one would want me. No werewolf would want me anyway.” She shrugged.
“I want you, Leah. I. Want. You. The moment I saw you, I wanted you. And I want you more than ever now. My wolf is clawing at me, trying to get to you. My wolf wants you. And I want you. As a man. A lover,” he growled.
To Kill a Wolf: BBW Werewolf Erotic Romance (North Wolves Novella Series Book 1) Page 2