Forever Werewolf: Forever WerewolfMoon Kissed (Harlequin Nocturne)

by Michele Hauf

  She’d never shifted. Lexi was stuck in a weird kind of partial shift.

  He could kick himself right now for his initial reaction, but he’d been freaked. Her eyes had been gold, like a shiny coin. They were—hell, eerie. And yes, he’d played it wrong.

  Maybe. He’d recovered and given her a hug, but he suspected the damage had been done. He should have taken a deep breath before reacting.

  “I’m an asshole,” he muttered. “But she’s still gorgeous. Still the same smart, sexy woman.”

  Her energy was stuck, stalled somehow. But if she couldn’t shift, she’d never be able to have children, to give some male wolf a family. Like him.

  “Don’t think like that,” he argued with his conscience.

  But it was difficult not to. All his life he’d dreamed of family, of living within a pack and creating home and hearth with his own children. Four or five kids sounded about right to him. A mini pack.

  And now? He’d met a woman who put him head over heels like a flip on the half-pipe. And even though all the cards were stacked against him, because he was not a pack wolf, he still had chosen to pursue the princess. The outsider had dared to stake a claim.

  But now? Would his efforts be worth the final result, which promised no family? Could he sacrifice that dream for a girl he’d known less than a week? How did he know he’d never run into another like her? Someone who made his heart stop, his words fumble, someone who brought his cocky attitude down to a simmer. She’d hooked him with one perfect unabashed smile.

  And he wanted to stay hooked.

  “I have to. She needs me. And I need her.”

  Whatever the future offered him, he’d take it and make it his own.

  * * *

  Lana carried the dinner tray Sven had picked up in the cafeteria for her father. She’d been sharing suppers with her father for years. It was their time together to talk about how the day had gone. She appreciated that Sven ran to get the food for her because she didn’t like the smell in the cafeteria. Cooking meat offended her. She had always taken ridicule for not eating meat, but it seemed cannibalistic to her on a level she didn’t want to explore.

  “Give your father my regards,” Sven said, stroking her hair behind her ear and kissing her on the lobe.

  She hated that. The kiss always echoed like a smack in her ear and he was slobbery. But his kindness overwhelmed the discomfort. He did have a kind bone in his body; Lexi was wrong about him.

  Liam strolled toward them, hands in his pockets, his head held high. He was one of very few in the pack who did not look down when around Sven. Good for him. He smelled liked grease or fuel, and she remembered he was working on the broken plow. She was so conflicted about her feelings for Sven. It was difficult deciding how to feel.

  “Liam.” Sven reached out and tagged the wolf as he made to walk past them. “I want to know I have your support, man.”

  “For what?” While he maintained a level head and looked Sven in the eye, Lana had noted Liam never looked directly at her. And yet, with a glance over her shoulder, she often caught him looking at her only after she’d passed him by. It was a little creepy. Did he always watch her when she wasn’t looking?

  “I need you to support me to become principal of the pack,” Sven said, as if the wolf were an idiot not to know what he was talking about.

  “Principal? Our leader isn’t dead, Sven.”

  “But he’s ailing. We need leadership. You know we do. Now.”

  “I agree with that. No one expected Vince would be lost in the avalanche, but…”

  Lana felt Liam’s regard as if a warm touch at her cheek. She looked aside, hoping Sven didn’t notice.

  “But nothing. We’ve got to take charge before the principal dies and leaves the pack in chaos. I will ask you to be my scion, Liam.”

  She caught Liam’s wince. Had he no desire to hold a position of authority? He was a quiet man who never did get involved in a fight or scuffle, but Lana thought he would make an excellent scion. Fair but firm. As well, he’d balance Sven’s aggressive style of leadership with a cool head.

  “I’d prefer to stand back and see what happens to Principal Connor.”

  Sven stomped before Liam, blocking his retreating steps with a hard shoulder to Liam’s shoulder. The two wolves engaged in a stare down, from which Lana felt waves of tension radiating outwardly. “If you’re not with me now, Liam, I can’t bring you along as my second. You’re either in or you’re out.”

  Lana hoped the look she gave Liam was viewed as pleading, but he didn’t even blink away from Sven’s stare. And she wanted the quiet wolf to agree, for the reason that they needed a level head in leadership alongside her fiancé, but Liam shook his head and stepped back.

  “Can’t do it. Sorry.”

  He strode off. Sven’s anger tightened the air and Lana felt the hair on her neck prickle.

  “I should get this to Daddy.” She rushed away. It was never wise to remain near Sven when his anger stung the air.

  Chapter 9

  The moon sat high and bright in the starless gray sky. Lexi pressed her fingers to the window, the cold fogging around her fingers as she gazed out across the grounds. The pack males had loped off toward the forest moments earlier, and bringing up the tail end of the group had been a gorgeous red-furred wolf.

  She’d never known what it felt like to race across the snow on four legs, paws beating the ground, senses on ultrahigh. Lana had often boasted over the freedom of it, but also complained how nasty shifting could be when she returned home because when she shifted back to were form her hair was mussed and it left her skin dirty and in need of moisturizer.

  Lexi thought it would be nice to come back to were shape feeling her muscles stretched and brushing off the dirt. To finally know her full potential as the werewolf she had been born. Why her body had gotten stuck in a partial shift—eyes only—she would never know. The doctors suspected she would never shift. Broken, she. And no satisfying match for any wolf who wished to raise a brood within the pack.

  She couldn’t imagine what it must feel like to crave the shift, or to crave the sex that could keep the werewolf at bay on this night. Her body repulsed those cravings.

  Yet, deep inside, somewhere, she hungered for him. For another kiss. Another tender touch. Perhaps a claiming embrace. And her skin warmed and prickled to remember the scintillating allure of Tryst’s skin against hers. Soft, their connection, then a little harder, warm and firm; it stirred her desire and she moaned with want.

  Had his touch awakened something inside her? Tapped into her cold heart? Was it possible? Perhaps, but he could never reach the broken part of her that required fixing. No man could be capable of such a feat.

  Watching until the red wolf disappeared around the copse of white beech, she then turned and slid down against the window, clutching her knees and burying her tears in muffled sniffles.

  * * *

  The pack raced over the snowy hillside, following Liam’s lead. When in wolf form, the were—or human—mind was present but set back, not quite able to think in human thoughts yet capable of recognizing pack members by scent, and knowing things humans did yet unable to vocalize except with howls and yips.

  Tryst surrendered to the animal within and took in scents of tree bark, snow and nearby animals as the world rushed under his paws. His claws dug into the snowpack, sending up whifts of snow in his wake. He dodged alongside one of the wolves and they raced, dashing at top speed, until slowing and coming to a stop at the peak of a hill surrounded by trees coated in white hoarfrost.

  Moonlight glistened over the wolves’ fur and puddled in the paw prints pocking the snow. Shades of white, gray and black painted the world, and everywhere the snow glittered, almost as if they trod faery grounds.

  The males caroused, nipping playfully and dancing about one another. It did not become aggressive. Liam, tail held high, kept watch should any of the males snarl or defy another with a lowered head and revealing teeth. But, a
s well, this was a time of freedom, and none would be chastised for acting out as their nature demanded.

  Liam put out the first howl, a long, high call to the night. The other wolves joined in, growing a chorus to the wild. Tryst added his voice, reveling in the shared camaraderie for the first time in his life. Jubilant, his wolf pounced through the powdery snow cover. This night he had found a home.

  Near morning they returned to the outbuilding and the wolves shifted, coming to were form, their extremities stretching to human length, accompanied by groans and sighs as they left behind the freedom of the wild.

  Tryst tugged up his jeans and nodded to Liam, who high-fived him.

  “Thanks, man,” Tryst said. “That was like nothing I’ve ever experienced.”

  “You could have it,” Liam said, “if you joined the pack.”

  “The Alpine pack would admit a lone wolf?”

  “You’d probably have to challenge a few of us to show your strength and intent, and someone would have to put in a good word with Principal Connor, but yes, I know you would be welcomed. All the men here tonight agree you are a good man.”

  “Wow.” He didn’t know what else to say to the generous offer.

  Thoughts immediately shifted to his family in Paris. His mother, Viviane, was more sane than insane lately, and he never missed spending the weekend cooking outside on the patio with her and talking about her paintings. His father and he were close, and he often did jobs for Hawkes Associates, and would really miss that work, but he could do the same work at a distance, because the firm operated worldwide.

  And then there was Vaillant, his vampire half brother. He was growing to like him, and they’d gone to nightclubs a few times together. Vail liked the faery clubs, which kind of freaked out Tryst, because his brother was a recovering dust addict—one reason he felt he had to keep a sort of protective eye on his older-by-two-minutes brother.

  “You thinking about it?” Liam asked.

  Tryst nodded. “Lots to consider.”

  “Just tell me when you’re ready, and I’ll talk to the principal. And try to avoid any more scuffles with Sven for now. You want to appeal to the principal, not beat up his choice for scion.”

  “Got it. Though, I think the guy has an innate GPS that navigates his fist to my face.”

  “Yeah, well, he’s got it in his head he wants to become principal, so I’m not sure what he’s up to, or of what he’s capable. Lay low, in any case.”

  “Will do.”

  Tryst lingered in the building, pulling on his sweater and boots while the other wolves filed out, heading back to their beds to sleep off the long and exhilarating run.

  He couldn’t help but wonder what Lexi would think of the idea of him joining the pack. Would she approve, or would having him around all the time offend her?

  She’d said nothing about him offending her, and he’d taken that as an open invitation to get closer to her. Close to the one woman who attracted him as no other before her.

  The one woman who could never satisfy his desire to start a family because she could not shift.

  How crazy was it that she had never shifted? She’d never known the freedom of racing across the earth, or the power of shifting into half were, half wolf form as werewolf and really coming into her own life energy.

  She couldn’t know what she was missing. It must drive her insane with wondering and endless hope.

  But Tryst knew one thing: he could be happy with a woman like her. Up to this point, he’d accepted that he’d probably have to marry a mortal, because female wolves were not jumping all over him, a lone wolf.

  But to snag a mate who was werewolf? It would rock.

  It might also drive him nuts if Lexi could never know the immense pleasure of mating while in werewolf shape. He’d done it once with a female wolf. While in were form he generally did not recall what his werewolf had done or experienced, but the remembrance of mating had stayed with him as a feeling rather than visual memory. Out of this world, insanely satisfying sex. Like nothing he could ever describe, but like everything he wanted again, and again and again.

  “Lexi,” he muttered. “What am I going to do about this mark you’ve scored into my heart?”

  Was he falling in love with her? He’d been in love a time or two with mortals, but this felt different. Stronger. Deeper. Compelling. Almost as if he was in the exact place he should be right now, and he shouldn’t go anywhere else. Ever. Not without Lexi by his side.

  Tryst wanted to go immediately to Lexi’s room, but a crazy notion instead veered him toward the south tower where he asked permission to see the principal. As he waited outside the door, he smoothed back the hair from his face. He should have taken a look in the mirror, made himself more presentable. As Liam had said, if he wanted to be considered for the pack he should present a good front.

  He hadn’t made a decision about that yet. But he wouldn’t ignore the proposition.

  “Five minutes,” the assistant told Tryst, and stepped aside to allow him entrance.

  He could hear Principal Connor’s raspy breathing as he entered the room. The man was lying in bed. He rushed forward, but as he got to the end of the bed, he remembered protocol, bent to one knee and bowed his head. “Principal Connor, thank you for seeing me. I’m worried about you. Is there anything I can do? Perhaps I can contact my father for you?”

  The principal smirked and gestured for Tryst to walk around to the side of the bed. His head was supported by a thick pillow, his lips dry and his eyes bloodshot. Not looking as well as he had when he’d given him the terse warning yesterday. Tryst’s heart went out to the man and his family. No one should have to suffer.

  “My father knows the best doctors,” Tryst tried, but the old wolf put up a hand to beg his silence.

  “Thank you,” Edmonton rasped, “for respecting my request. Last night.”

  “No problem. Your daughter is…” He shouldn’t let on that he admired her, but that would be lying. The old man must suspect he was interested in Lexi; otherwise, he would have never issued the warning. “I understand you love your daughter, Principal, but what I don’t understand is your worry over her when you know she is unable to shift.”

  Edmonton choked and Tryst grabbed the water glass by the bed and helped him to drink. “Sorry. I shouldn’t upset you.”

  “She told you?” the wolf rasped.

  “Yes, she showed me her eyes.”

  “She must…have reason to reveal herself to you. You said…you would stay away from her.”

  “I am. I did last night. But I consider her a friend. And she is the castle chatelaine. We do run into one another.”

  “Be truthful with me, boy. What…does she mean to you?”

  There it was. He couldn’t lie to the pack leader. Doing so would put him in the same ranks as Sven. The Nord, indeed. And if it gave any reason for the principal to disapprove his future quest for pack admission, he couldn’t regret the truth now. “I like Alexis, Principal Connor. I respect her. Admire her.”

  “Do you love her?”

  Trystan shrugged. “It’s been less than a week. I haven’t known her that long.”

  “Tell me…boy.”

  The principal’s anger was apparent in his sharp tone. Tryst did not want to risk upsetting him, thus pushing him into a weaker state. But he’d come here to make his truth known. He was no man to sneak about and try to pull one over on a person of such authority. His father would never allow him to use duplicity with friends.

  “With due respect, Principal, I think I am falling in love with your daughter.”

  “That is enough.” The principal coughed and gestured forcefully that Trystan step away.

  He backed to the end of the bed and offered another respectful bow.

  “I would never lie to you, Principal Connor. And I’m sorry if it offends you, but I don’t think a guy can help who he falls in love with. I would never do anything to harm your daughter. And if joining the pack would change your opin
ion of me—”

  “Leave her alone. Pack wolf or not, I’ll not condone the two of you pairing up.”

  “But I’m determined to do this correctly. If the pack would have me—”

  “We will not,” the principal said with astonishing clarity. “No wolf with vampiric lineage…is worthy of my daughter, broken as she may be. You serve me no honor by ignoring my request to stay away from her.”

  “I did. Last night I went out with the other pack members. It was an honor to be invited along with them.”

  “Liam can be too kind. Know that I appreciate your help here at Wulfsiege, but I’ll see that you are removed from the premises if you so much as look at Alexis again.”

  Hell, this was not going well. He didn’t want to get kicked off the property, and he certainly wasn’t improving his chances to be considered as pack material.

  “I respect your wishes, Principal Connor, and will honor them. But unless Lexi is also in agreement, I can’t promise she will do the same.”

  “You let me deal with my daughter, boy. Leave now.”

  Tryst nodded and left the tower room. That had not gone well at all. But he didn’t regret standing before the pack leader and declaring his truths. If only there was a way to make the principal understand how much he cared for Lexi. It was apparent no other males in the pack had an interest in her. Shouldn’t the principal want to see his daughter paired with another wolf?

  Sure, but not one with vampires in his family.

  “Damned vampire blood.”

  Smacking a fist into his palm as he charged around the corner in the hallway, Tryst ran right into the blonde princess. She collided with his chest. Standing a bit taller than Lexi due to the high heels, her hands roamed over his abs and she cooed, tilting up her blue eyes and licking her red lips.

  “I found a big, strong one.”

  “Take your hands off me, Alana.”

  “Why? You afraid I’m too much woman for you? You prefer them broken, like my sister?”