Lydia Dare Wolf Bundle

by Lydia Dare

That was when Elspeth knew what she had to do. If Ben wouldn’t come to her, she’d have to go to him. The female wolf in a pair held a noticeable place of power. Now it was time for Elspeth to display some of that power herself.

  She smiled the whole way back to her cottage.

  Ben ran through the forest in his Lycan form, feeling the freedom that came with the change, but this time there was a sadness with it as well. It was a gnawing feeling that chewed at his very soul. He wanted Elspeth. He wanted her more with every step he took.

  Ben’s ears perked up as he heard the cry of a wolf. It wasn’t Will—he’d heard that howl since adolescence. And he doubted it was the major—it seemed a bit more feral than what he’d expect from the softened old soldier. Then he remembered the wolf with pups that he’d seen. Of course, both those wolves would be out, basking in the rays of the moon as well.

  Ben clenched his eyes shut tightly. It was almost painful to think of the pair of wolves. He would never be part of a pair.

  He walked a bit farther and stopped. Then he felt it. It hit him harder than the carriage that had broken his arm. It hit him harder than an anvil thrown from a great height.

  Elspeth had stroked her mark.

  Ben gritted his teeth as lust swamped him. He fought the urge to run to her. Perhaps she’d simply grazed it when she was bathing. But that brought him to thoughts of her naked in the tub, and he ground his teeth together again.

  His front legs shook with a desire to run. His whole body quivered. Then two minutes later, she stroked her mark again. He lifted his snout and cried out. It was the longest and darkest howl of his life. If any of his kind heard it, they would surely think he was dying from pain.

  Stop, Elspeth!

  She touched him again. He could no longer fight it. He tore through the forest as fast as he could to her cottage. He brushed through brambles and briers, thanking his heavy coat for keeping him safe from them or he would be a bloody mess by the time he reached her.

  He ran toward the cottage, but the windows were dark. He stood up on his hind legs and looked through the bedroom window. Thankfully, he had never installed those shutters. She wasn’t home? Where would she be in the middle of the night?

  Then she stroked him again. His flesh quivered. It felt as though her hands dug deeply through his fur to reach his skin, where she scratched her fingernails against him. He stood still and tried to absorb it. He wasn’t able to fight it. Not anymore.

  Where are you, Elspeth?

  Then the wind shifted and he picked up her scent. The beautiful scent of magnolia met him, and he ran in her direction. He finally saw her, in the clearing where they’d made love for the first time. She lay in the middle of the area, on her plaid, completely and totally naked.

  The moonlight glinted off her alabaster skin, making her shine. Her breasts were full and crowned with rose-colored nipples. Even from where he stood, he could see that they were erect. He wanted to cup them in his hands and bring his mouth down to taste her. But he couldn’t. Not in this form. He stood and watched her.

  “I ken ye’re there,” she called. “Come out and let me see ye.”

  Elspeth knew she was taking a chance. It could be disastrous for them both. If he hurt her, he’d never forgive himself. But she had faith in his love for her.

  He stepped into the clearing. Her breath caught as she sat up to look at him. He was beautiful. There were no more adequate words to say. The moonlight glinted off his shiny brown fur. She nearly ached to touch it.

  He tipped his head as though to ask a question.

  “I couldna howl,” she said, shrugging her shoulders. “So I called ta ye the only way I knew how.”

  His head straightened.

  She held up her arm and was about to stroke across the mark again, but he suddenly raced across the clearing and stood before her. One corner of his mouth lifted in a fierce snarl.

  She held up two hands in surrender. “I willna touch it anymore.” He turned to leave. “As long as ye stay with me!” she called to his retreating form.

  He stopped, but did not turn his head.

  “Look at me!” she cried, frustration nearly ready to take over. He turned and walked back to her, his eyes half closed. She reached out a hand, but he skittered back out of her reach. “I want ta touch ye.”

  He didn’t move.

  “Ye willna let me do that, will ye?”

  He still didn’t move. She reached out a hand and stroked the silky fur on the top of his head. His eyes closed. Then she ran her fingernails down his back, scratching him gently.

  Then, before her very eyes, he changed. His features shifted. He changed from beast to man. To man with a beast within.

  Before she could blink, he shoved her back to the ground and spread her thighs forcefully so that he could settle between them. He covered her completely. A wild thing, hoping to dominate.

  “What games do you play, Ellie?” he snarled against her lips as his hands slid into her hair and tugged.

  “No games, Ben. I simply want ta love ye.”

  He dipped his head at her shoulder and gently abraded the skin with his teeth.

  Heat pooled in her body where he insistently pressed his length against her.

  “In me,” she said, adjusting her body to lie directly beneath him.

  “I cannot claim you.” He closed his eyes. “You don’t know how much this hurts me,” he growled. “If you did, you would let me be.”

  “I’ll never let ye be, Ben. I plan ta claim ye as my Lycan mate this night. And every day from this moment on.”

  Ben was startled when Elspeth pushed his shoulder, shoving him from atop her body. Finally! She saw reason. She recognized the danger. But she just pushed him onto his back then climbed her naked body atop him, straddling his hips.

  Ben covered his eyes with his forearm. He growled and grabbed her hips to lift her off him.

  “I am half Lycan, Ben,” she said, pointing to the mark of the beast she wore on her wrist. “Just as ye are. And this night I plan ta claim ye as my Lycan mate.” She smiled at him, but there was suddenly something wild in her gaze. Something wanting.

  Ben moved to slide from beneath her. “Ye canna leave me,” she said as she covered her body with his. She lay along his length, her thighs parted to straddle him. Then her teeth touched the tender place where his shoulder met his neck.

  “Ah, God. I cannot fight you.” He wanted to scream.

  “Then doona try.” She licked across the sensitive skin and then moved to kiss his lips. Then she sat up and took him into her body, sliding down on him like warm silk, tight and soft.

  He grabbed her hips and clutched her tightly. Then he remembered how he’d bruised her the last time and took his hands down. She lifted them, putting them on her hips. “Help me. I doona ken what ta do.”

  So he clutched her hips and set the rhythm, then she took over. The beast in him was content to let her ride him. And he reveled in the way she took him fully within her body with every stroke. He’d never have believed it.

  Her breaths grew shorter and shorter. He knew she was close to reaching her peak. And the beast wanted to please her. He sat up to reach her breasts and drew her nipple into his mouth. All gentleness had left his body. He was afraid he’d hurt her when she cried out. But then she led him on when she said, “More,” and pulled his head toward her breast.

  While his mouth pleasured her breasts, his hand dove between her thighs and circled her center. As she cried out, she removed her breast from his mouth and bent her head to his neck. Then she exploded around him, and at the same time her teeth nipped the tender flesh of his shoulder. He stilled and threw his head back, growling as he enjoyed the supreme satisfaction he felt to have her claim him as her own.

  When she stilled, he held her face in his hands and looked into her green eyes. “I love you,” he said.

  “Then take me,” she laughed.

  Ben wasn’t gentle with her at all as he lifted her from him and set her on
the plaid. He was rough and demanding. And she loved it. On his knees, he pulled her back against his front, rubbing his length along her slit. She spread her legs to give him entrance. The tip of him touched her but didn’t slide inside. She wanted to shout to the heavens.

  “Don’t be so impatient,” he growled as he cupped her breasts and teased her into a frenzy.

  Sliding one arm around her waist, he pushed her shoulders down toward the blanket. “On your hands and knees, love.”

  “We’ve never,” she started.

  “Now we are,” he growled.

  She smiled. Maybe, finally, he would take her. Make her his in every way.

  When he slid into her in one hard stroke, she cried out. The pleasure of it was nearly overwhelming. He commanded her body as his hips thrust into her, forward and back. She moved to meet his thrusts and he went harder.

  Then he bent over her back to talk low in her ear. “I love being inside you. I love to feel you squeeze me, so wet and warm.” He had never before talked to her about what they were doing. But it excited her even more. He continued to mumble in her ear as he took her to new heights. Then when she was ready, they came together, just as he pierced the skin of her shoulder with the most gentle of bites.

  He sank to the ground atop her, and rolled to the side, taking her with him to cuddle against his chest. “That’s all ye have for me, wolf? A teeny, tiny bite?”

  “Yes, I found that I could control the beast more than I thought.” He absently brought his hand to his own shoulder. “I think you bit me harder than I bit you.” He chuckled and slapped her bottom so hard it stung.

  “I wasna worried, even if I’d broken the skin. Because I ken I can heal ye.”

  “Heart and soul, witch.”

  Epilogue

  “GOOD MORNING, WILLIAM,” ELSPETH SAID BRIGHTLY as she held open the door for her brother-in-law to enter the cottage.

  His eyes swept across her, landing on the exposed skin of her neck and shoulders. His light blue eyes twinkled. “Found Ben last night, I see.”

  She couldn’t hide the blush that warmed her cheeks. “I doona think he’d appreciate that.”

  Will laughed. “My dear sister, Ben rarely appreciates me. It’s one of his flaws.”

  Elspeth shook her head and started back toward her small kitchen. “Would ye care for some tea?”

  “No. I’ve just come to say good-bye.”

  “Ye’re leavin’?” She stopped in her tracks to turn back and look at him. Will hadn’t been in town all that long, and the journey was tiresome, as she well knew.

  He shrugged. “I only came along because I didn’t trust Benjamin to return my coach in one piece. I’d prefer it not be set aflame by your well-meaning friends in a fit of pique.”

  She couldn’t help but laugh. “They’d never do such a thing. Ye’ve charmed them all.”

  “Ah,” he agreed with a roguish grin. “It’s a curse I have.”

  Elspeth gestured to the old threadbare settee. “Ben’s asleep, let me wake him for ye.”

  “In a minute, lass,” he replied with a smile. “Sit down.”

  Curious, she took the spot beside him. “Ye want ta talk ta me?”

  Will nodded. “You’re good for him, you know. I’m glad he has you.”

  “He’s good for me, too.”

  “I’d tell you that if he starts behaving foolishly to let me know. Knocking sense into him has become a bit of a habit of mine, but somehow I don’t think you’ll need my help.”

  Neither did Elspeth. She and Ben were more connected than ever, and she knew in her heart that they’d turned a corner the night before. Nothing to come between them again.

  “My wife is capable of bringing me to heel on her own, William,” Ben said from the bedroom doorway.

  Will winked at Elspeth. “Take care of yourself, lass.” He rose from his seat, striding toward his brother. “And you, little brother, I’ll miss you. Will I see either of you in England anytime soon?”

  Ben ambled into the great room and shrugged. “I suppose I’ll bring Ellie to Westfield Hall for the holidays. Mother will be dying to meet her, as will Simon, I’m sure.”

  “The holidays it is, then.” Will embraced Ben, then stepped away from him. “Take care of her, Benjamin. You don’t know how lucky you are.”

  “I know exactly how fortunate I am.” Ben crossed the room and slid his arm around Elspeth’s waist. “Besides, she’s stuck with me now.”

  She laughed. “Travel safe, Will.”

  Her brother-in-law saluted her. “I always do.”

  “Ye could always stay a couple more days.”

  Will shook his head. “Alas, I have my debauched lifestyle to return to.” And with that he winked at her and then left them alone.

  Elspeth turned in Ben’s arms. “How are ye, my handsome wolf?”

  His hazel eyes darkened seductively. “Missing my witch.”

  “Are ye?” she giggled.

  “Hmm,” he growled. “I don’t think the beast is completely sated, Ellie. You better climb back into bed.”

  His suggestion sent a jolt of anticipation straight to her core. “But breakfast.”

  “I think I’ll just have you instead.”

  Ben glowed with pride as he led Elspeth into Alec MacQuarrie’s drawing room and a footman announced their entrance. “Lord Benjamin Westfield and Lady Elspeth Westfield.”

  The finest families in Edinburgh were present, and the people who’d once looked down on his wife now smiled at her with acceptance. When Elspeth spotted Caitrin on the other side of the room, she squeezed Ben’s hand. “I’ll be back soon.”

  “Take your time, lass,” he replied. Months ago he had hated Cait’s interference, but she’d come to grow on him. And Elspeth did love the chit like a sister.

  He watched his wife walk across the room with a regal confidence she’d lacked when he first met her before the Fergusons’ ball those many months before. She had blossomed since finding the major. He never would have guessed that meeting her sire would have helped her come to terms with her past.

  A hand clapped him on the back, and he turned to find Alec regarding him curiously. “If you can drag your eyes off your wife for a minute, I’d like to have your ear.”

  Ben smiled. “Of course.”

  He had been so caught up with Elspeth, he hadn’t noticed until now that Alec seemed different somehow. Solemn. Distressed.

  Ben followed his friend to a far corner of the room. Whatever this was must be serious. “What is it, Alec?”

  “I’m afraid you’ll think I’ve lost my mind.” He began, as his eyes flashed toward Elspeth and Caitrin. Then he rubbed his brow. “There’s an old Scottish lore about a group of fabled witches—”

  Ben swallowed uncomfortably. “Witches?”

  “Aye,” Alec breathed out slowly. “I always thought it was nonsense, but…”

  “Well, of course it is. A group of fabled witches?” Ben chuckled. “You’re right, MacQuarrie. I do think you’ve lost your mind.”

  Alec met his eyes. “The thing is, Westfield, Miss Macleod… well, I think she might be a witch.”

  Ben laughed even louder. “Alec, that has to be the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. The woman is at my house every day. She’s haughty and full of herself, but a witch?”

  Alec shook his head. “I’m sure you’re right.” He sighed. “I suppose I should return to London, where my mind doesna play tricks on me and women actually want my attention.”

  “You’re leaving Edinburgh?”

  Alec shrugged. “I’ve been chasing the lass so hard, and she hasn’t budged a bit. I suppose I was hoping maybe she was a witch, because that would explain things. I think I need a change of scenery. I’ll be off in a few days.”

  That was probably for the best, at least for the time being. If Alec discovered the truth about Cait, it would only be a matter of time before Elspeth would be figured out as well. Ben tried not to feel guilty about misleading his best f
riend, but he’d never risk his wife’s secret. “We won’t be too far behind you. I promised we’d go to Hampshire for the holidays. You’re more than welcome to visit us there.”

  Across the room, Elspeth found his eyes and she touched her belly. She wasn’t showing yet. Very few people knew she was expecting. His family, the major, and her coven. But her glow was hard for him not to bask in. “Excuse me, Alec.”

  His friend laughed. “Well, I had your attention for a few minutes. Go on.”

  Ben wasted no time doing so and crossed the floor, sliding his arm around Elspeth’s waist. “How are you feeling, love?”

  Caitrin rolled her eyes. “Ye’re as bad as a mother hen, Westfield.”

  He winked at her. “You should be thanking me. MacQuarrie was just telling me he thought you were a fabled witch.”

  Her mouth fell open. “He was?”

  “I talked him out of it.”

  She bit her bottom lip and furrowed her brow. “I, um, should talk ta him.”

  “I don’t know, Cait. He’s headed for London. You may want to leave him be.”

  But she paid him no attention and started off toward their host. Ben looked down at his wife. “What was that about?”

  She shrugged.

  “Jonathan,” Ben suggested, his mind now back to his wife as he moved his hand to her belly. “My father’s name.”

  “It’s a fine name,” she said, grinning up at him. “Though we have months ta find just the right one.”

  “Or Desmond,” he offered, with less enthusiasm.

  Elspeth laughed at him, her emerald eyes dancing with mirth. “I doona think my father would appreciate the way ye said that, Benjamin.”

  True, the major would surely blast him if he thought Ben were serious, which he wasn’t. Any name would be fine, as long as the child was healthy. His lips twisted to a grin. “Your grandfather was Liam. Liam Westfield has a nice ring to it.”

  “Ye ken,” she began, smoothing her palm across his chest, “it might be a girl.”

  He rolled his eyes playfully. “Heaven help me from living in a house with more than one witch.”

  Elspeth giggled. “With the size of that monstrosity ye’re buildin’, I could have my entire coven move in with us and ye’d never notice.”