Turning him gently, she pulled his face down to her shoulder. “You don’t have to tell me this.”
Fingers biting into her sides, he kissed her neck once before lifting his head. “She died, Dara. She died trying to give birth to his child. There wasn’t anything I could do to save her. There wasn’t anything I could do to save my mother—she killed herself, not that I blame her. I had to choose whether to stay there and keep answering to the man who basically murdered my whole family or going rogue. It wasn’t as if I could fight him and win, so I left. I’ve been chased out of every single territory I’ve landed in since and never told another wolf why I went rogue in the first place. I hate packs, hate what they can make people do in blind devotion, and yet…”
Again, his fingers clenched against her. She didn’t release him, holding him close while his whole body shook with fine tremors. “Lynwood—”
His voice was angry, the first real emotion he’d let leak through in the whole telling of it. “I know I don’t have to tell you, but I want to tell you. I left the packs with no intention of ever feeding into a broken system. And yet I want to be here with you. I want to protect you. I like your people, at least the ones I’ve met. I want…”
Pulling his face down, she tried to stop his words with her mouth. He kissed her, pulling her body close to his. But then he twisted his head back, rearing his neck so he could speak. “I want you. I don’t want to dominate you or whatever you’ve got in your head. I don’t want pack, but I understand it is who you are. Although I hate everything you represent, I want you more than my next breath.”
Shaking her head, she whispered, “I can’t change who I am. I wouldn’t if I could.” But she understood. She wanted him, too. Weak, she literally didn’t have the energy to deny what she felt for this damaged and yet somehow wonderful man. She wished, for perhaps the first time since she’d taken on the mantle of leadership, to be anyone but who she was. To live a life where it didn’t matter, and she could simply be irresponsible and follow her heart…which seemed utterly fascinated with him.
But it wasn’t who she was. It’d never been who she was. People depended on her and she couldn’t let them down, not even to be with him.
He rested his forehead against hers. “I know. But I figured you should know why I can’t—wouldn’t if I could—either.”
Since nothing either of them could say would change reality, she simply held him as time ticked by. Gray dots danced in her vision against the sunlight filling his shabby bedroom making her wonder if it would matter anyway.
If this thing managed to kill her, she’d let her people down and lose him anyway.
***
“This is stupid.” Charley wasn’t filing his nails for once. Instead, he sucked on a bottle of green pop and shook his head. Every few seconds, he’d shift his weight from one foot to another, his frustration evident in every twitch and in the furrowed line of his brow.
Rocking on his heels, Lynwood didn’t disagree with Dara’s second in command. “Yeah, I don’t get what good visiting a witch is going to do, either. I mean, we’re wolves. She’s a witch. Are you going to buy some magical dust and throw it at the crow thing if it comes back? Talk to an Ouija board? Have your fortune read? I think we’d be better off trying to track—”
“I find it funny how both you are treating this like a democracy. It isn’t up for a vote, and you have no say. I’m the alpha. I say we’re going to Odd Stuff. End of discussion. Pack or not, you’re on my lands, rogue, so you’ll obey. Do I make myself clear?” The waves of dominance rolling off her weren’t nearly as strong as normal, but Lynwood wouldn’t point it out to her. Her eyes were more yellow than blue, the dark circles under them stabbing at his gut and awakening all sorts of foreign urges to protect and help her, alpha magic or not.
“Don’t get growly, Alpha sweetheart. I simply pointed out the obvious.” The bell on the store jangled and Lynwood followed Dara’s small frame into a small shop reeking of herbs and dust. He sneezed and then shrugged when Dara shot him a glare. “What? It is dusty in here.”
“Oh, hey, Dara, right?” A short blonde woman sat behind a glass topped counter flipping through a graphic novel. After shooting them one glance and her short greeting, she turned her head toward a wrought iron, spiral staircase at the back of the shop. “Mia!” she hollered. “You’ve got company!”
“How do you know we’re not customers?” Dara asked. Charley passed her to bend over the graphic novel with interest.
“I didn’t know this one came out already.” Poking his finger at the book, Charley raised a brow at the blonde. “Mind if I flip through it really quick?”
“Sure. I’m a huge fan of this series. Janie Smith.” Offering him her hand, Charley shook it before responding, “Charley. Nice to meet you, Janie.”
The other man snagged the book and moved to a window seat, so Dara approached Janie. “This is my, uh, friend, Lynwood Pierce. Lynwood, meet Janie.”
“Sup?” Janie asked him. Her eyes were an almost eerie blackish color. Instead of taking her offered hand, Lynwood waved at her awkwardly. His wolf didn’t want to get closer to the woman for some reason. “Hey,” he said lamely.
Janie smirked and a woman in a noisy skirt thudded down the metal stairs behind her. Bells and metal things clanked off the woman’s clothes, the noise meaning she’d be about as stealthy as a marching band. Dark curls bounced around a small oval face and the woman hurtled herself at Dara. His wolf twitched, but he tamped down on the impulse to protect her. Dara was an Alpha and didn’t need him to take care of her, so the thought was ridiculous anyway.
Electricity crackled in the room and he spun to see a man appear out of thin air behind Janie. “What the—?” Before he could finish the sentence, Lynwood heard a familiar, ‘snick’ behind him and assumed Charley also readied for a fight.
“Tamp down the testosterone, wolves. He’s my boyfriend.” The Janie woman looked annoyed, but not at either Charley or Lynwood. Instead, she turned her black gaze on the green eyed man. “What have I told you about beaming into rooms full of people? One of these days, you’re seriously going to freak someone out.”
The man grinned and the hairs on Lynwood’s arms raised. He didn’t like the guy, whoever he was. Something about his smile wasn’t exactly evil, but it wasn’t far from it either.
“Well, if everyone is done appearing in my store without wanting to buy things, I’ll do introductions. Dara, you’ve met Janie and Chance. Chance, Janie this is…”
Dara pointed at them each in turn. “Lynwood, Charley.”
“More dogs,” Chance sneered. “And it is snowy, so they reek of wet dog. Janie, you do attract the strangest creatures.”
“Hey, man, don’t look at me. They’re here to see Mia.” Janie shrugged, her hand lingering on the man’s arm.
Chance softened, a look of tenderness crossing his predatory face. “Well, then, if you’re not busy…”
“No, both of you, stay. Dara has a problem and you might be able to help.” Mia propped a hand on her hip. “I’ve read all over the place and can’t figure it out and you’ve been around since the stars were hung, Chance, so be a pal?”
Edging forward, Lynwood placed himself slightly between Dara and the man. He didn’t trust the guy, not when Dara was injured. The move comforted his wolf and Dara didn’t shove him away, which soothed the man.
Chance sighed, looking annoyed. “What’s wrong with her? Someone steal her bone?”
“Enough with the dog jokes, got it?” Charley stepped forward, filing his nails with apparent nonchalance Lynwood was beginning to recognize as his warning move.
“Whatever.” Chance shrugged.
“Some black winged thing keeps attacking her and it is draining her magic through her web.” Mia explained. “Nothing I can find explains what sort of creature—”
“Still not a web,” Dara interrupted, smacking a hand down on the countertop hard enough to make a display of crystal earrings bounce and c
lang. “And still not magic. It is draining our power through the pack bonds.”
“Same thing,” Mia defended.
“Still not the same thing,” Dara said, looking annoyed.
“Probably a skinwalker then.” Chance shrugged. “She’ll have to complete three tasks before he gets three drops of blood or he’ll take the wolves. Pretty common, really, but I guess not around here. Usually skinwalkers prefer the desert regions, but hey…anyone can hop a plane these days, right? I guess it makes sense, after all. I mean, up here, you aren’t expecting it which probably makes you easy prey. Can we go now?”
Everyone blinked at him. Except Janie. “Could you get your mind off sex for five solid minutes and give us all a recap which makes sense instead of the can of condensed soup version you spouted? Because I didn’t even get all that one.”
Closing his eyes and seeming annoyed by their ignorance, the man stroked his hand up and down Janie’s arms as if trying for patience. “Skinwalkers. Google it. They’re a thing.”
“So the crow thing is a skinwalker? I thought it was another word for shapeshifters in general?” Dara looked confused.
“Yeah, they steal animal spirits to make them stronger. Crow, raven, wolf, there’s a bunch of preferred forms for them. They steal your animal spirit and go about their day if you don’t stop them. No biggie, I mean, because if they take your wolf, then you don’t have to turn into a dog, right? Probably it would be an improvement.” Chance shrugged.
“Hardly. We are our wolves. We’re one.” Dara looked exhausted and Lynwood fought the urge to touch her. Likely it would make her appear weak and he wouldn’t undermine her ability to control the situation by risking it.
“Not actually one, or the skinwalkers wouldn’t be able to strip your beast away, am I right? Now, you’re starved and I’m burning up. Let’s get out of here so you can get something to eat.” Chance nudged Janie again.
She simply rolled her eyes at him. “Yeah, it hasn’t been five minutes, lover boy, so get your mind off sex.”
Lynwood didn’t try to make sense of their banter, focusing on the skinwalker problem. “What did you mean about three tasks?”
“Seriously, don’t you people have google? Three tasks, pretty common stuff. Power of three, three times three, just about everything magical follows the rule of three. You complete three tasks, break his hold on you, and poof, everyone still gets furry when the moon is full.” Chance waved his hand, lips still twisted in an annoyed sneer.
Mia was rummaging behind the counter, pulling out dusty books and stacking them in a haphazard fashion. “I can find a triad of tasks, but which kind to beat a skinwalker?”
“How would I know? I’ve never been hunted for my ‘pelt’ of power. I’ve met a few skinwalkers, met former wolves, but I never asked for details.” Chance stroked the woman’s arms again and she relaxed into his embrace. Part of Lynwood was jealous of the easy display of affection. No matter how strongly he felt about Dara, he’d never have a similar kind of comfort level with her. “You’re weak,” Chance added to Janie. “Please, let’s go get you something to eat.”
Since Janie’s strange eyes transformed, going full black, and she’d gotten visibly paler during the conversation, Lynwood couldn’t disagree with Chance’s sentiment.
“Ha! Found it. Hey, Chance, you’re good with myth stuff. It says we need a puzzle box or trapping mechanism of some kind. Do you have—” Mia stopped speaking when Chance waved his hand in the air. Light seemed to pool in his palm and then he smacked his hand down on the countertop. He left a dull gold looking box, about the size of a pack of gum, lying on the glass as if it cost him no effort whatsoever to pop the thing into existence.
“There. I helped. We’re leaving. Bye now.” With those words, he and Janie vanished.
“Huh,” Mia mused. “That was easier than I expected. Okay, well you just completed the first portion of your quest of three. You need to collect two more items and you’re good to go.”
“What did he mean about stealing my pelt?” Dara picked up the ugly little square and stuffed it in her pocket.
“Okay, if we’re going rule of three on this, he needs three drops of—hey, I bet that is what Vic was talking about. Do you see what I mean? The kid always nails it. Anyway, he’ll have to complete three tasks, but he’s collecting your blood. He needs it three times and, oh.” Mia looked crestfallen. “Hey, he’s got two on you already. If he manages another attack, I think he takes your wolves.”
“Just mine?” Dara’s hand closed on Lynwood’s arm. “Or my pack’s wolves?”
Mia looked down, her face unhappy. “I think all of them.”
CHAPTER Eleven
“So, the only way I’m going to remember the items is by that poem, to be honest. How about you?” Dara chewed on a mouthful of eggs and pointed her fork at Charley. One of the perks of hanging out at the short order cook’s house was he made an excellent breakfast.
“One to charm you, one to harm you, one to trap you in a box? Yeah, I don’t get what the witch thing is with poetry, but that’s the only bit I remember. We have the box to trap the crow, and Mia said we could get the necklace at a strip club, so really the hard part is going to be the third item, the one to charm him.” Charley seemed intent on his own food¸ but she could hear Lynwood practically thumping things around the kitchen. Turning her head his direction, she accidentally looked at the window again.
The figure was still there. Since no one else seemed to see the birdlike man, a black profile which hadn’t moved from the window since they’d returned to the house, she figured it was another hallucination, like the black dots, caused by the two attacks from the skinwalker.
Eerily, the thing seemed to be smiling at her.
When Lynwood left the kitchen and moved to brood in front of the glass, placing the two figures face to face from her vantage, she shuddered. She must beat this bastard, if for no other reason than to protect those she cared about. “Hey, Lynwood, could you get away from the window?”
He glared at her, but moved from the glass. The thing outside smiled bigger, gap-toothed whiteness surrounded by black, and she rubbed her eyes as if it would make it go away. It didn’t.
“Look, I want to get going. Pack it up, people.” The men didn’t complain and she went to Lynwood’s bedroom to change. Charley had brought her a bag of clothes and she already took off her shirt when she heard the door creak open. “Go away. I’m changing.”
The door closed again, but she heard him breathing behind her and his scent practically drowned her in needing. “Lynwood, for a submissive male, you sincerely have a problem following directions.”
“I would prefer if you stayed here, and let us retrieve the necklace.” Lynwood’s voice was soft, practically a whisper of sound.
Snorting, she turned to face him. “Yeah, sending you to a strip club, lover boy? I think not.” Two strides brought her toe to toe with him, and she tilted up his chin with her fingertip. “Hey, we’re going together. I’m not going alone, which is more of a concession than I’d usually make, so deal with it.”
Lips twisting in a grimace, Lynwood shook free of her touch. “What does it matter if I go to a strip club, Dara? It isn’t as if this thing between us is going anywhere. We both know it.”
“I—” She couldn’t refute his words. She couldn’t mate a man outside the pack. She couldn’t sleep with him again and risk losing control, claiming him. Hard enough to resist making him her own when she didn’t know the whys of him.
Getting to know him? Liking him as a person? It didn’t help quench the fire burning in her just for him. Even then, even knowing that, being so close to him was an addiction. Her hand stroked over his chest, seeking his flesh. Giving into temptation a little, she went on tiptoes to touch his lips with her own.
When the otherwise passive man growled deep in his throat, spinning her to pin her body against the wall, no fear of his dominance surged. Instead, she thrilled as his desire shoved him so far
out of his comfort zone. His need overruled sanity enough to leave him devouring her mouth with his own. “I need you, sweetheart,” he growled.
His openmouthed kisses trailed down her neck and his hand captured her breast, slipping beneath her bra to cup flesh. Her own growl answered, rumbling up from her throat as she braced her nails into his shoulders to pull her legs up and around his waist. The man tasted like sin, practically melting in her mouth. She wanted him inside her, filling her up and making her whole.
Holding her. Giving her someone to lean on while everyone else leaned on her.
When his teeth barely grazed her collarbone, her eyes popped open at the spike of pleasure. But then she saw the thing.
Still looming in the window. Still grinning. “Stop. Lynwood, stop. We need to leave.”
She pushed power into the words, although she knew it would have the dual-edged effect of forcing him to cede to her will while giving him whatever pleasure he derived from her strength. He bowed against her, fingers spasming before he backed away. But, “As you wish,” was all he said.
She moved to pass him, and his hand snaked out. The wrist he used wore the bracelet she’d given him and his hand looked so dark against her pale arm. Blinking fast, she accepted the fact she didn’t want her time with him to end. Didn’t want to face the reality he would only stay until she’d beaten the skinwalker. Then he’d leave. For both their sakes. “I really would prefer if you stayed here,” he added.
“Well, I’d prefer a lot of things I can’t have, so deal with it.” Snarling the words, pretending anger she didn’t feel, should make her feel better and give her some distance from emotions she neither asked for nor wanted to give up.
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