by J. E. Taylor
I pushed Midnight forward until Lucas and I were side by side. His smile was infections, and his eyes sparkled. I just wanted to hop onto his horse and hold him tightly against me. Actually, I wanted to stop the horses and ride him instead.
Heat filled my cheeks at the thought. While there was never chemistry with Travis, the opposite could be said about Lucas. Even his glance set me alight with the dirtiest of thoughts.
We breached the woods moments later, riding across the expanse of saw grass towards his cottage and the farm beyond. The thought of beef and chickens set off the saliva glands in my mouth and the growl in my stomach.
Lucas slowed his horse, and I followed until we were outside his home. He piled our stock onto the porch and set the aloe plant on a wooden table in the shade before he took Midnight’s reins from my hands.
“I’ll let you figure out where all that needs to go while I get these two set. I’ll cook us up something to eat when I get inside, okay?”
My stomach made a glorious noise.
Lucas smiled. “I’ll hurry,” he said and led the horses away.
I tested the door. It opened freely, and I took his advice, carting the saddle bags packed with my clothing inside. On my last trip, I grabbed the aloe plant. Now that my adrenaline had faded, the burn on my hand raised its ugly head. I sat amidst my pile of everything I owned and cracked a spine off the plant, squeezing the ooze onto my hand. I gently worked it into the black welt across my palm.
It stung at first, but then the soothing coolness seeped in and I closed my eyes. Lucas shuffled in the house but didn’t say a thing. I kept my eyes closed, focusing on the acuteness of my hearing and smell. Lucas reminded me of a fresh breeze mixed with a sexy musk. I just wanted to lick every inch of him.
The closer he got, the more my heart thundered in my chest, and when his lips captured mine, my eyes flew open at the instant fire that engulfed me. He was on his hands and knees in front of me, his gaze intense.
He licked his lips, and I nearly moaned. How could a man have this much command over my body?
“You said I could kiss you all I want today.”
A soft groan escaped from my lips. The slow smile that formed dimples in his cheeks made me forget about the pains in my stomach. Hunger gripped another part of my body, but I wasn’t ready for this intensity. I scrambled to my feet. When I took a step back, I tripped on one of the saddle bags.
Lucas was fast. He caught me in his strong arms before my head had a chance to connect with the wall. He spun me so I faced the wooden logs and pressed against my back. His warmth engulfed me. His fingers tickled my neck as he moved my hair away so his tongue could trace the line of my throat. A low growl of contentment flowed from him as he nibbled my earlobe.
His hands traveled from my sides to the buttons of my shirt, nimbly releasing each one until it hung on my frame. His fingers scraped my skin as he peeled the fabric off my shoulders. The pressure on my body released, and my shirt drifted to the ground. I looked over my shoulder, and his eyes were locked on my back. He gently traced my scars, his touch creating a tingling in my skin.
The slide of his hands from my back around my sides to my breasts created a shiver. My arms broke out in gooseflesh as his mouth found the back of my neck again. He rolled my nipples between his fingers until they were hard nubs before his hands traveled down the length of my stomach in a soft caress.
He fumbled with the buttons on my pants as he sucked and nipped at my neck and ear. With a growl of frustration, he gave up on trying to be civilized and yanked each side of my pants, sending buttons pinging into the wall. My hands pressed against the wall, pushing my body into his, feeling his excitement against the small of my back. When his hand dipped inside my undergarments and traced the sensitive bud between my legs, I moaned.
“This is going to hurt,” he whispered.
My heart stopped at his words, and then his teeth severed my skin in the same place that the alpha bit me.
I bucked in his arms, pushing him away and turning.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I snapped.
All the heat that had been pooling in my belly evaporated. Anger replaced it, along with the sensation of whatever poison he possessed filtering in through the bite.
“Replacing the alpha’s mark,” he said and wiped my blood off his chin.
I crossed my arms over my exposed chest and glared at him. “Why?”
“So every wolf we encounter knows you’re mine.”
“I’m nobody’s bitch,” I said and reached down, swiping my shirt off the floor. I slipped it on and growled at his audacity.
His intense questioning stare pierced through my anger. A crease appeared between his eyes, and his head cocked.
“That is what that bastard called me. His bitch. If you think this means you own me, you are sorely mistaken.” I waved at the bloody welts on my shoulder and went to step away.
Lucas stepped close, blocking my retreat. He threaded his hands into my hair on either side of my face and crushed my lips under his. I opened my mouth to protest. The sweet tang of blood followed his tongue and I nearly dropped to my knees. Time stilled and an icy heat spun from the wound in my shoulder. His saliva mixed with my blood, creating a whole new fascination for the man kissing me.
I gasped as he broke the kiss, wanting more, but still aggravated with him for the possessive mark. I broke away from his strong grip and grabbed his shoulder. Before I knew what I was doing, my teeth sank through his skin. He tasted delicious, and I forced myself to step away when his wince registered.
“Why did you do that?” he asked, grabbing his bleeding shoulder.
“Because if you can be all possessive, so can I.” I propped my hands on my waist and stared at him. I licked the remnants of blood still left on my lips, and my stomach cramped again. “I’m hungry.”
Lucas’s eyes blazed, and he turned towards the kitchen, stomping across the house like I just broke his favorite toy. The slamming of pots and pans announced his aggravation.
I turned my attention to the mess I made of his living room. It took me a couple trips to move all the bags into one of the two bedrooms in his cottage and then I stepped back into the kitchen. A plate of scrambled eggs sat on the table along with a fork. He slammed his plate down opposite mine and dug into his food without a word.
I had no idea what I did to deserve this treatment, but my stomach decided that it needed attention before Lucas. I scooped up a forkful of eggs, and they were just as good as they had been the other morning. When I took my last bite, he ripped my empty plate from under me. Anger oozed from him while he cleaned the dishes.
When he finished, he leaned against the sink with his head bowed. It was time to address this head on.
He turned when I stood from the table, and I crossed the distance and put my hands on his chest. His heart pounded against my palms. I took a moment to tune in to my senses. His musky scent remained the same, thrilling me with each inhalation.
“What’s wrong?”
Lucas laughed and glanced at the ceiling before he met my gaze. “You’re the alpha,” he whispered.
I cocked an eyebrow. “What?”
“In this little pack...” He pointed between the two of us. “You are the alpha.”
“Just because the alpha...”
“That’s not how it works. If the alpha of that pack had survived...” Lucas snorted a laugh and maneuvered around me, putting a little distance between us. “If he had lived, he would have had to challenge you or obey you. The only time you would have been his bitch would have been that evening before you fully absorbed the venom.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. I didn’t understand.
“Do you hear my commands in your head?”
“No.” I laughed, thinking he must be insane.
“If I was your alpha, you would.”
I stared at him. Come here, I demanded in my head, testing out his theory.
Lucas pressed his li
ps together tightly and stepped forward.
“Whoa. Wait a minute...” I put my hands up, trying to ignore that nagging sense of power. I didn’t know how this was even possible. I didn’t want this.
“No. You bit me. You put your claim on me. Now I’m subject to whatever you command of me.”
“This is what you expected when you bit me?” My voice rose to a high pitch. The thought of being at anyone’s beck and call turned my stomach.
He closed his eyes and hung his head. His cheeks flared red. “Yes.”
The fact he admitted it blanketed me in a cold sweat. “How do I undo it?”
This time he crossed to stand in front of me. “There is no undoing it. At least your heart is pure, not like that shit who bit you. I guess things could be worse. I could be his bitch.” Dimples appeared in his cheeks.
I pressed my lips together at his lame attempt at humor. “Why am I alpha?”
He shrugged. “Spirit of the warrior. You have it. I don’t.”
He reached out and tucked my hair behind my ear. His touch ignited the heat inside me, and I suppressed the urge to wish his arms around me. I needed to know if what was here between us was real, or if I was in the same fantasy world as Travis had been.
“Lucas, why did you kiss me in the jail cell?”
He cupped my cheek. “Because you stole my heart. You are everything I am not. Brave. Fierce. Beautiful.” His thumb traced my cheekbone. “And I just wanted to taste you before I died.” He leaned forward and pressed his lips to mine again. “Why did you kiss me back?” he whispered against my mouth and pulled back, waiting for me to answer.
Just being in this close proximity increased my heart rate. “I couldn’t help myself, especially since there was something in the air between us. I couldn’t tell if you felt it or not.”
“The spark?” he asked, and dimples appeared in his cheeks as a smile danced on his lips. “Yes. It hit me like a lightning bolt the moment you rounded that rock in the ravine.”
Heat flushed my cheeks and I smiled. “I didn’t feel it until I was standing in this room with my arrow trained on your back, and you turned to greet me.” I tilted my head. “You knew I was there, didn’t you?”
“I knew the minute the bedroom door opened. You smelled like sweet honey and a summer’s day and all I wanted to do was devour every inch of you.” He smiled. “I still want to devour you.”
“And this has nothing to do with my desires?”
He pulled me against him. “No.”
His mouth was on mine, and every inch of my body ached for him. Our tongues tangled in an intense kiss that yanked the air from my lungs. When he pulled away from my lips, I whined.
“But it will have to wait until morning,” he said and glanced at the window.
The setting sun painted the room in a red blaze that matched the fire burning inside me. I didn’t want to wait.
He looked back at me. “I want to take my time, so you, my sweet alpha girl, will just have to have a little patience.”
A pout formed on my lips, but a nagging itch tingled along my spine. I blinked at the sensation and flexed my shoulder blades together to staunch it.
“Clothes,” he said with urgency as the light faded. He nearly ripped my shirt off, and I thought maybe my influence actually jump-started him into action. It wasn’t until he stepped away that I understood.
He yanked his shirt over his head and kicked his boots off, stripping his pants a second before he fell to his knees. I stepped back, watching in fascination.
A yelp yanked from my mouth, and the itch in my spine turned into a torrent of rippling agony. I dropped to my knees the moment Lucas became a full-fledged wolf. Tearing fabric combined with popping joints, and I gasped as I looked down at my hands. They were covered in red, grey, and white fur spread over massive paws that matched Lucas’s. My transition was much faster than his had been, but not quite the easy shift that the werewolf pack exhibited last night.
I wondered if I could transition at will or if I was at the mercy of the night, like Lucas. I swept my tongue over my teeth, dragging my attention away from my thoughts. The sharpness of my fangs held marvel, as did the sweep of my tail. The power of my new form pulsed in my veins.
Lucas closed the distance in two strides, and ran a wet tongue over the side of my face. I rubbed my nose to his and stepped closer, wrapping my head over his back in a canine hug.
I wanted to run, to play, to hunt. I wanted to learn my speed, my strength, my agility, and Lucas seemed to understand. He crossed to the front door and paused, glancing back at me.
His musings in the jail flooded to the forefront of my mind, and I trotted next to him, sensing his unease. I licked his face to ease his fears. My stomach rumbled in concert with his. The transformation used every last bit of energy the eggs he had cooked provided. I needed more food.
Doubt shaded his blue eyes.
He didn’t realize the rules of the Dakota Guard still reigned true in this foreign body. Even though the urge to hunt overwhelmed me, what I hunted still mattered.
Humans were not on that list. Neither were the livestock in the fields behind us, even though they did smell divine.
The hesitation in Lucas evaporated, and his tension eased. With his paws, he unlatched the front door, and it opened on the night. I stepped out onto the porch and scanned the woods before I glanced at Lucas.
Try to keep up, I thought and then exploded from my haunches. I flew through the air, landing on my front paws before my hind legs hit the ground and pushed off. I ran so fast, the wind pulled tears from my eyes and my lungs burned. Lucas matched my pace, and his tongue lolled out the side of his mouth as he panted.
I slowed and came to a stop on a small grassy knoll, stretching my limbs. Lucas nipped my haunches, and I whirled on him, jumping up and putting my teeth on the back of his neck. He rolled under me, and before I knew it, I lay on my back under him as he stared down at me with his big wolf smile.
I climbed to my feet and froze with my nose in the air. Venison filled my senses. A deer was downwind, and I turned in that direction. Lucas turned with me. My mouth watered at the thought of the deer, but without a bow and arrow, I had no sense on how to take it down with wolf teeth.
I glanced at Lucas. Teach me.
He led the way with steps so light that even I had to strain to hear him. The doe came into view, and Lucas nodded his muzzle to the right. Crouching, he moved to the left. I followed his lead, veering to the right of the deer. Her ears straightened, and her head rose just as we came even with her front shoulders.
Lucas launched and his mouth clamped down on the underside of the deer’s neck. I followed, but I landed on the top of the deer, clamping down on the back of its neck. I jumped off, twisting the deer’s head enough to snap its spine.
Warm blood flowed into my mouth and I swallowed, cherishing the sweet taste. We tore at the carcass, both eating greedily until our bellies were full and only bone and sinew were left.
We licked each other clean before Lucas led me back to the cottage. He led me to a soft mat in the corner of the porch that I hadn’t noticed before. When he curled around me, I let out a soft sigh of contentment. I breathed in the night, thankful to be alive and at Lucas’s side. My future revolved around the werewolf next to me, and I knew it would be filled with unending adventure.
A pair of white doves landed on the railing near us and fluttered their wings. I stared at the birds, so out of place in the northern pacific woods. I blinked my eyes to make sure I wasn’t seeing things, but the birds remained in place. The doves almost glowed in the darkness.
I shifted, cocking my head at their intense stares. In concert with each other, their wings spread, and they took flight. On the breeze created by their wings, I could have sworn I heard my grandmother whisper how proud she was of me.
The End
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About J.E. Tayl
or
J.E. Taylor is a USA Today bestselling author, a publisher, an editor, a manuscript formatter, a mother, a wife, a business analyst, and a Supernatural fangirl, not necessarily in that order. She first sat down to seriously write in February of 2007 after her daughter asked:
“Mom, if you could do anything, what would you do?”
From that moment on, she hasn’t looked back.
In addition to being co-owner of Novel Concept Publishing (www.novelconceptpublishing.com), Ms. Taylor also moonlights as a Senior Editor of Allegory (www.allegoryezine.com), an online venue for Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror.
She lives in Connecticut with her husband and two children and during the summer months enjoys her weekends on the shore in southern Maine.
Visit her at www.jetaylor75.com and sign up for her newsletter for early previews of her upcoming books, release announcements, and special opportunities for free swag!
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You might also enjoy other Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy novels from J.E. Taylor’s backlist:
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When Naomi bites him back, his blood transform her into an immortal shadow, and puts Damian on a collision path with an angry archangel.
Single titles in this series:
NIGHT HAWK (Book 1)
TIGRESS (Book 2):
TRINITY RISING (Book 3):
THE RYAN CHRONICLES
Tom and CJ Ryan harbor the power of the Gods. Refusing to stand with Lucifer puts both of them, and everyone they love, on the devil’s hit list.
There are only so many ways you can break a man before his wrath changes the status quo. Rekindled by family, by love, by home and memories, the ruthless son of Ty Ryan steps into the shoes left under the family tree by his dad, and this time he’s out of mercy.