by Beverly Rae
“So what’ll we do?”
Crooking his finger at the others, Skanland brought them into a huddle. “We wait. He’s gotta come out sooner or later and then we’ll follow him. Plus, this way, we can make sure how many we’re dealing with. From the smell, I figure it’s only one, but a big one. Or maybe two. But you never know until you see their hairy asses.”
The other hunters chuckled their agreement. Skanland led them to a nearby picnic shelter and they settled into their places to wait. They were too far for even Conrad’s sensitive hearing to pick up their words, but still close enough to watch.
Should I try and make it inside the building to warn Devlin? No, then we’ll all be trapped. He curled his lip in disgust. Why couldn’t these humans leave them alone? As far as he knew, no shifter had ever done them any harm, except in self-defense. But that didn’t seem to matter to the hunters. He couldn’t remember a time when the hunters hadn’t wanted shifters dead.
Can I take all four of them? Conrad sized up the men and decided he might have a chance. Four against one weren’t the best odds, but he’d had worse.
Hunters were a predictable bunch, which was why he never expected them to do what they did. After waiting only a few minutes, they regrouped into a tight group and strode away from the building and their intended prey. Conrad frowned, unable to fathom their actions. And try as he might, he couldn’t believe their departure was a good thing. Something was up.
Devlin and Tala exited the building the same moment he made his decision. From the daffy smile on Devlin’s face, he guessed they knew nothing about the hunters. “Shit. Talk about a dog in heat.”
Devlin’s eyes drifted toward the bushes where he was hiding and Conrad ducked. Since the hunters might be watching Devlin, he’d better stay out of sight, but close by so he could help if needed. If the hunters planned on jumping Devlin, he could give the hunters a surprise of their own. Meanwhile, business would have to wait.
Conrad kept low to the shrubs outlining the path Devlin and Tala followed away from the wolf area. He stayed a few yards behind the couple and paused whenever Devlin turned around to scan his surroundings. His friend could sense his presence, but hadn’t seen him.
The sun was starting to set beyond the horizon by the time they left the park. Purple and blues painted the sky as Devlin and Tala walked through the parking lot. Trailing them, Conrad ducked behind cars, keeping them within earshot, all the while on the lookout for the hunters.
“You can’t find your own car?”
“Not a word, Devlin. I don’t normally park in the public lot. I did today so you could see the park entrance. My reserved space is in the employee lot, so I’m not used to having to hunt for my car.”
Devlin’s soft chuckle matched Conrad’s. She’s a spirited one, all right.
A dark shadow darted by him. He searched the rows of vehicles and the hair on his neck stood erect in alarm. Another dark shape stumbled between a van and a motorcycle, bumped into a fender, and plopped onto his rump with a grunt.
Hunters! But clumsy ones. This could be fun, after all.
Devlin spun around at the hunter’s groan and Conrad ducked once more. Both he and the bumbling hunter froze until Tala started pulling Devlin along with her again.
“Psst!”
The hunter jolted, startled at Conrad’s hiss, his mouth falling wide to gawk at him. Wiggling his fingers in a small wave, Conrad closed his hand, leaving his middle finger extended. The hunter, dumbfounded, continued to gape at him.
“Aw, hell. Looks like I didn’t get the brightest one of the bunch. And that’s saying a lot.” Deciding the man needed more coaxing, Conrad snarled and quickly discarded his clothing.
Still the man remained motionless.
“What do you not get about a naked man, dude?” When the possible misunderstanding of his question struck him, Conrad cringed, hastening to clarify. “Now hold up. It’s not what you’re thinking. I meant…a naked man about to shift, you idiot.”
Without hesitating, he dropped to all fours and changed. Reddish-blond fur covered his body while his ears elongated and claws scraped blacktop. Growling, he tensed his legs and flung his body at the not-so-bright hunter.
ƒ
A nerve-splitting howl startled Tala, sending her spinning toward the sound. “What the hell?” Two shapes rolled against the side of a jeep, setting off its alarm system, striking with a force strong enough to dislodge a hubcap and propel the sphere straight toward her.
Devlin grabbed her arm and yanked her out of the way of the vehicle’s airborne missile and into his arms. His eyes, that strange mix of brown and gold, held her until another cry—definitely human this time—broke their connection. One of the dark shapes scampered underneath a car and Tala stooped, hoping to see where it’d gone. “Did you see that?”
Had she really seen what she thought she’d seen? She bent lower to get a clearer view, but the shape was gone.
Two khaki-clad men raced in pursuit of the fleeing form, pausing to grab the first man and haul him to his feet. “Why’d you let him get away?”
The first man shook them loose. “It ain’t my fault. I ain’t used to seeing another man get naked.”
Tala crooked her head, wondering if she’d heard him correctly. A naked man in the zoo parking lot? Devlin had ended up naked in her clinic’s animal pen. For a second, she worried that he’d gone commando.
Devlin caught her suspicious glance. “Oh, come on. Tell me you didn’t think they were talking about me. Besides, we’ve been together all day.”
She made a face and turned just in time to see the men dash between the rows of cars. Several yards away, one of the men stopped and stared at Devlin as if only now noticing them. He pointed at Devlin but before he could say anything, the others reversed their course to snatch him along with them.
“Come on. We need to get out of here.” Devlin jerked her arm, breaking for the opposite direction.
She wrenched her arm free and whirled on him. “No! I want to see what’s going on. Don’t you?” She stared at him, confused by his lack of curiosity, when suddenly his face changed, its shape contorting, almost as if his jaw had extended before her eyes. It must be the excitement. She shook her head, denying what she’d seen. “I want to know what I saw. ’Cause if I didn’t know better, I’d swear I saw a wolf. I saw a man wrestling with a wolf.” But if the man wrestled a wolf, why did he mention a naked man? Naked men and wrestling wolves? Oh, come on.
“A wolf?” Devlin glanced in the direction the men had run and shook his head. “What color was the— Never mind. I’m sure he, uh, the man is fine. Besides, they’re long gone.”
“But I need to tell zoo security about this.” Tala turned back toward the zoo entrance.
“Tala!”
She found herself stunned by his gaze. His eyes, more yellow than brown now, trapped her, cementing her feet to the ground. Her breath shortened, quickening to match the pace of her pounding heartbeat. “Yes?” Suddenly the image of him kneeling at her feet, his tongue sliding over her naked skin, rocked her, weakening her knees again. She couldn’t believe she’d had a climax in the middle of the zoo. But she was damn glad she had.
“Tala!”
“I loved it.” Hell, yes, she’d loved every minute of their tryst in the bushes.
“What?” Devlin cocked his head to the side, confusion written across his face. Again he stretched out his hand to her. “Let’s go.”
Once she realized what she’d said, she shook her head and tried to regain her composure. Earth to Tala. You’re out of the bushes and in a parking lot with a wild wolf. Yet when she looked at Devlin, she wasn’t sure which wild wolf she meant. This time, however, she took his hand.
Leading her, Devlin sprinted away, weaving in and out between the rows of cars. Tala fought to keep up, her long legs lengthening to match his stride. Her breath scratched through her throat.
With unerring accuracy, Devlin brought them to her sports car, grabbed the
keys from her and punched the button to unlock the doors. He swung her into the passenger’s seat, then jogged to the driver’s side and slid into place. Shooting her a disgruntled look, he turned the ignition and pulled out of the parking spot without another glance.
“I don’t understand you. Why don’t you want to find out what’s going on? Especially with a wolf involved. And how’d you know where my car was? Not to mention letting me walk around hunting for it and looking like a dummy.”
Devlin grunted, and scanned the lot, worry flickering across his features, then shook his head. “No time. Not our problem.” He tossed her a smirk. “Didn’t ask.”
“What’s with the stilted speech? Don’t care. Me, Jane. You, Tarzan?”
He shook his head and kept his sight glued to the outside. “Home, Tala. Now.” Lifting both eyebrows, he added, “Clear enough?”
“Yeah, clear. Very bossy, but clear. And, by the way, I don’t take well to anyone bossing—”
Devlin stomped on the brake pedal, sending her flying forward. Her hands, held up to protect herself, rammed against the dashboard as her gaze locked onto the hood of her car. A very large golden red wolf crouched on the shiny blue surface.
Her mouth fell open and she grabbed Devlin by the arm. Yet even while she tugged on him, Devlin ignored her, scowling at the wolf. The wolf and Devlin stared at each other. Then, in the same moment, both Devlin and the wolf cocked their heads at each other and lifted one eyebrow in a what-the-hell-are-you-doing-here gesture.
Unable to believe what she’d seen, Tala whispered, “Did you see him? He copied you. You two did the same thing.”
But again, Devlin didn’t answer. Man and wolf concentrated on each other for several seconds more before the wolf tensed, muscles rippling in preparation. Baring his fangs, the wolf flicked his tail in a defiant swish.
“Go home. Now.”
“Go home? Are you kidding? He’s not a dog, you know. You might as well ask him to fetch your slippers.” Yet she’d swear she saw understanding in the wolf’s eyes.
“Get them!”
Devlin, Tala, and the wolf turned in sync to see the three men joined by a fourth. All of them rushed through a line of vehicles toward their car, guns drawn and ready.
Tala’s adrenalin kicked into high gear, sending her into flight mode. Devlin was right. This was no time to ask questions. At least, not until she understood what this was about. As though reading her thoughts, the wolf sprang away from the car, raking claw marks across her hood, and landing on the roof of a nearby sedan.
“Hey, my car!”
The damage on her car was forgotten, however, when the wolf lifted a front paw to cover his mouth, almost as if saying, “Oops. Sorry.”
Tala blinked, squinted at him but by then he’d lowered his paw and hunkered down into a low crouch. The sedan’s roof bent under his weight, creaking in protest when he bounded to yet another vehicle. She strained to follow the wolf’s path. Devlin rammed the accelerator pedal to the floor, lurching her against the seat.
She checked the side mirror to see the men stop in their tracks, shout angry slurs at them, and rotate as a group to continue the way the wolf had fled.
“Oh, my God. Is this amazing or what? I told you I saw a wolf.” Tala reached into her pocket, flipped open her cell phone and dialed. “He’s not one of ours, either. So huge. So amazing. And did you see his unusual coloring? God, he was beautiful.”
“I wouldn’t call him beautiful. Average, maybe.”
What’d he say? She stared at Devlin, not believing the tone in his voice. “Shit, Devlin. You actually sound jealous. Of a wolf.” Whether it was about a wolf or not, his being jealous was hot. And making her hotter by the second.
What was it about this man that made her react so differently than she ever had to any other man? What was it about this man that made her constantly think of throwing him to the ground and fucking him until they both fell apart exhausted?
Devlin ignored her, concentrating on wheeling her car around the parking lot. The car swerved, barely missing collisions with the parked vehicles on each row. She gasped and grappled for the strap above her. A low rumble sounded from deep inside Devlin and the warmth flowing between her legs doubled in intensity.
For Pete’s sake, girl. There’s a time and place. Get your mind off the sex. She ignored the protest her body launched, determined to stay in control. “Damn it all to hell and back, Devlin. Watch where you’re going.”
“I am.”
The strain in his voice shot her in the gut with apprehension, cooling the burn in her abdomen. He hadn’t appeared this nervous before they’d gotten in the car when the men were almost upon them. So why now?
After several rings, she heard a man’s voice on the other end of the line and pressed her phone to her ear. “Jim, it’s Tala. You’re never going to believe this. There’s a wolf. A big, beautiful wolf in the parking lot.” She laughed, astounded she could do so. “No, I’m not kidding. He’s huge and gorgeous with unusual golden-red fur. Get some men out to the lot, but not before you notify the authorities. Some jackasses are trying to hunt him down and I get the impression they’re not concerned about who might get hurt in the process.”
She listened to the disbelief in Jim’s voice, but didn’t let him finish. “I don’t know where he came from. Maybe someone’s pet got too big. Or more likely, he’s down from the mountains.”
Devlin yanked the car to the left, inches from a head-on crash with a lamppost.
Gritting her teeth, she clutched the armrest for support and silently sent up a prayer. “Shit, Devlin, watch out!”
Devlin fixed her with an expression loaded with worry. “Trust me. He’s not someone’s pet.”
“I’m more worried about your driving than the wolf, you maniac.” She covered the phone. “How do you know, anyway?”
“I just do. Trust me on this one.”
“What? Yeah, Jim. I’m here. Huh? No. Just a friend. Now get going before someone gets hurt or the wolf gets away.” She clicked off the phone as another swerve swept her against the door.
Devlin spotted the exit and whooped, whipping the car out of the lot and onto the road running parallel to the zoo. The car banked off the side of the road, spinning its wheels in the gravel and rocking Tala against the door. “Hey, come on! Are you trying to kill us? Slow down.”
Devlin looked down at his foot and eased up on the gas pedal. A truck’s horn blared, jerking their heads up toward an oncoming eighteen-wheeler.
“Shit! Devlin!” Tala fell sideways and grabbed the steering wheel. The car careened to the right and onto the shoulder of the road. Gravel, dirt and debris struck the car and windshield, tearing a cry from her throat. “Hit the brake!”
Instead, Devlin slammed his boot down on the accelerator, sending the car fishtailing along the side of the road. She screamed, losing her grip on the steering wheel.
“The brake, Devlin. The brake. The other one!” Tala bounced in her seat and braced for the inevitable crash.
Devlin’s jaw slammed tight and he thrust his foot onto the brake. Jerking forward, Tala’s head whipped back and forth, catching her tongue between her teeth. Blood squirted into her mouth but she held fast to the dashboard and handgrip. At last, the car came to a stop.
Anger broke through her fear. “Where’d you learn to drive? The Indy 500?”
He grumbled at her through clenched teeth. “I’m doing the best I can.” Shooting her an odd look, he added, “Considering.”
“Considering what?”
“Considering I’ve never driven a car before.”
Tala didn’t know whether to laugh or to cry. But for damn sure, she’d get him out of the driver’s seat. They’d gotten lucky this time. Usually the road leading to the zoo was filled with motorists, but today, only a few cars had sped by them, honking their horns in warning.
“Are you seriously telling me you’ve never driven before?”
Devlin, in typical macho-male style
, glared at her and returned to staring out at the road. “Not officially. I never had a need to drive.”
“How can you not have a need to drive?” Who was this guy? First he howls like a wolf, then he comforts a wild wolf. Then, to top it off, he ends up driving my car when he doesn’t know how. She swallowed, thankful that the bleeding had stopped. She ran the possible scenarios through her mind. Was he from another country? One where owning and driving a car wasn’t the norm? Was he Amish? Perhaps independently wealthy with a chauffeur? Yeah, he had the air of a man who answered to no one. But, even with a paid driver, why wouldn’t he have learned to drive?
“But you managed to get us on the road. You almost killed us a few times, but you knew enough to get us out of the parking lot.”
“I watched you drive to the zoo. It didn’t look too difficult.”
Tala wondered if the day could get any stranger. “Oh, right. It’s a cinch. No need for any actual lessons.”
“Look. Don’t make this a big deal. You can drive if you want.” Devlin swung open his door, pushed his massive body out of the car and strode to the passenger’s side.
Blowing out a huge breath of relief, Tala climbed over the console and into the driver’s seat. “Gee, thanks. I believe I will.”
She switched on the engine, waited for her hands to stop shaking, and pulled onto the road. Picking up her ringing phone, she hoped her jangled nerves wouldn’t show in her voice. “Tala here.”
Devlin kept his head averted, looking out the window, obviously hoping to avoid her inevitable questions. Unfortunately, Jim did nothing to soothe her uneasiness. “You didn’t find anything? No wolf? No men? But how?” She noted the disbelief registering in his words. “And nobody else saw or heard anything?”
After Jim’s explanation, Tala shut her phone and slid it back into her pocket. Even though Devlin didn’t act interested, she decided he needed to hear the news. “The head of security said they canvassed the entire lot and came up empty. No men and no wolf. Only a couple of dented and scratched cars. They’re continuing to check out the rest of the zoo, but nothing so far.”