Still, Raul hated the rules. He loved his family fiercely. For him, his siblings were above any rule, written or not. And should Warrick show up on his doorstep, he would not show any remorse. On the contrary, he would stand by his actions and defend his family if necessary. If that meant going up against Warrick himself, he would not hesitate to engage him.
Still, this particular late morning was not the time for considering how he would handle this situation. Monica’s face dominated his mind. Within seconds, he was filled with an uncontrollable urge to draw every line of it as well as her curvy, feminine figure. This time, neither fatigue, nor his injuries were going to deter him.
The bright sunlight blinded Raul as he opened his bedroom window. Along with the scent of wet soil and wood came Dean and Ray’s voices, working in the workshop adjacent to his cabin. Balsam fir, elm, and oak filled his line of sight. He smiled to himself, lifting an empty canvas. Finally, he would draw her; that simple fact was enough to make his heartbeat escalate. As Raul raised his brush, however, something outside caught his gaze. Unlike the day before, it was clear and windless. Yet he could see one tree rustling in the distance. He paid no attention to it. After all, it was spring. Birds nestled in each and every tree in the area. But before he could avert his gaze from it, Raul noticed a hand emerging from the branches and then the sunlight reflecting off of a tiny surface.
“Shit,” he murmured, tossing the brush across the table next to him. Being too far away, he couldn’t catch any scents or hear anything, but deep down, he knew what was in that tree: a human. Right away, Raul flipped around and strode out of his bedroom, wondering about the identity of the person in question. Thankfully, his brothers were too busy to notice the glare or him as he crossed his front yard.
He ducked a low-hanging tree branch as he entered the forest. His boots sank in the mud as he walked through the thick trees and brush. Raul had never encountered a human in those woods. Hunting was strictly forbidden. Certainly, he was intrigued, but also very tense. Whoever was hiding up on that tree was trying to avoid being detected, and for him, this was not a good sign. Why would someone be there in broad daylight? Why would they hide? Who were they watching?
A few minutes into his stroll, Raul spotted the tree that had grabbed his attention. It was a towering tree, several feet taller than the ones around it. The rustling ceased altogether as his confident steps brought him closer and closer to it. A light breeze blew through the forest. The scents that filled his nostrils forced him to stop. They were familiar ones that included roses and cinnamon. Closing his eyes, Raul sucked in the deepest breath possible, feeling his pulse rising. It was Monica. She might have been accompanied by someone, but for him, it didn’t matter. She was there. Now, he would be able to thank her properly and apologize for his reaction the night before. Starting toward the tree, he could even hear their voices.
“Mr. Butt Naked is approaching. What the hell? Did he see us or something?”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Kate. Yeah, someone’s coming. It looks a lot like him, but it can’t be him. I mean, where did that bruise on his face go? His arms were covered in stitches, too. I don’t see any of those.”
“I don’t have a clue, honey. Damn, he looks hot. I’d love to rip that tight shirt right off him.”
“Would you stop speaking, you and your filthy mouth? Can’t you talk like a lady for once?”
Raul stopped under the tree, biting his lower lip in a clear attempt to prevent himself from laughing. His gaze shot up as Monica’s scream echoed through the forest. His brows popped up as he saw her falling toward the ground, her back turned to him, arms extended. Raul held out his own arms. He bent his knees slightly to support her weight as he snatched her body out of midair.
“Doctor Mills,” he smiled down at her, catching a glimpse of a pair of binoculars, wrapped around her neck, “what are you doing here?”
“Bird watching,” Kate yelled. “Sparrows fascinate me. Do you know where I can find a nest? There’s none up here.”
“It is you,” Monica whispered, looking deep into his eyes, surprise written all over her face as he eased her feet down to the ground.
“Sparrows,” Raul gave an amused snort as Kate climbed down the tree. “Am I supposed to believe that?”
“How did you even find us?” Monica answered his question with a question.
“Through the magic of sight,” Raul smirked, running his gaze down her arm. “I was looking out the window, when I saw the sun reflecting off your watch.”
“I believe a ‘thank you’ is in order,” Monica muttered, straightening her shirt. “Thank you. You just…” she faltered. “Saved me from a very hard fall. No, we weren’t watching birds. I was actually looking for you. I wanted to know more about what happened to you, but I don’t even know your name.”
“I didn’t thank you for last night, either,” Raul spoke, a hint of sadness in his voice. “I’m sorry. My name’s Raul. Raul Bradford.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Raul,” Monica said with a polite smile. “We would have driven into town if the road hadn’t been blocked off because of a landslide. We left the car and kept going on foot.”
“The tree was my idea,” Kate interjected, raising her hand in the air. “We’d have a good view of the town, and we wouldn’t have to start knocking on people’s doors, looking for you. I’m Kate, by the way.”
“Hi, Kate,” Raul tipped his chin down in a friendly gesture. Mother Nature had kept the two women out of Paxton, much to his relief. Socializing with them could invite a lot of unwanted attention.
“So, what was it?” Monica asked, putting a little force in her voice. “The animal that attacked you, I mean. What happened to your wounds? You seem to have healed very fast.”
At that, a bitter smile spread across his face. Yes, Raul was thrilled to see her again, but the woods were not a suitable place for a discussion, especially with Monica’s friend around. He wasn’t willing to share his secret with her, anyway. Still, he had a bigger problem, one that could put them in harm’s way, should they linger there longer. The wind would carry their scents. It was only a matter of time before everyone in town found out about their presence. The two women had to get out of there fast.
“It was a black bear,” He said, his voice dropping down an octave. “Now, please, go home. I’m sorry, but I’m pretty busy.”
“A bear!” Monica exclaimed, narrowing her eyes at him. “I don’t think so. In fact, I…”
“You heard the man,” Kate gave her a gentle, elbow jab. “Thank God it wasn’t a wolf,” She went on, starting forward.
“Why?” Raul wondered. Then, Kate looked back at her friend, with a sly smile on her face, before leaning over him.
“She has a thing for wolves,” She whispered in his ear. The irony made his heart sink. He was interested in a woman who loved lupines. Monica was talking to one, and she didn’t even know it.
“You girls have a nice day. It was good to see you again, doc,” Putting his hands on his waist, he gave a small nod to a puzzled Monica, watching as she strode off. Her butt was hugged by tight, skinny jeans. He would love to reach out and squeeze, show her just how much he loved her figure. But, he couldn’t even speak to her. Frustration was building up deep inside. And, when the young doctor whirled her head around to face him, he clenched his jaw, wishing he was human for just one day, so that he could spend it with her. Nevertheless, the image that had stayed with him until they saw each other again was replaced by the moment he had grabbed her in midair. It was better, in every conceivable way. Her face was much clearer; but, more importantly, her big, hazel eyes were open and gazing right into his. Raul had found a way to thank her, one that would make Monica remember him for the rest of her life...
Chapter Six
Raul had managed to become Monica and Kate’s favorite topic for very different reasons. On their way back to the doctor’s house, Monica couldn’t forgive herself for not pressing him
any further. She still didn’t have an answer about his wounds, and she couldn’t believe that he had been attacked by a bear. Monica was amazed by the sheer quickness of his healing. Moreover, his explanation didn’t make sense at all. Raul’s wounds were not consistent with a bear attack. Grizzly bears and black bears typically have long, razor-sharp claws. The marks she had found on him were not as deep, a clear sign that they were made by much blunter claws. The only thing consistent with a bear attack was the bite marks on his shoulder. Monica didn’t have a chance to measure them, but they were wide enough to have been inflicted by a bear.
On the other hand, Kate commented on his fantastic looks, amused by Monica’s persistence. Throughout their short drive, she would not stop mentioning his masculine body. Kate wasn’t annoyed at all by Monica’s stubbornness or her continuous questions. She was just being her usual self, questioning everything.
Still, the doctor would not let up, much to her friend’s frustration. Indeed, Monica was so obsessed with finding some answers that would satisfy her curiosity that, for the remainder of the day, she neglected Kate and spent most of her time doing online research. Despite her friend’s requests to drop this nonsensical quest and go out for a drink, Monica would not change her mind.
“I think I should have followed Julia this morning,” Kate groaned, casting a glare over at her. “It would have saved me the trouble of walking four miles in the mud, not to mention having to put up with your crazy questions.”
“There’s nothing crazy about my questions, dear,” Monica retorted, frantically typing on her laptop. “I should have asked him to tell me more about his encounter with the bear.”
“You want to spend the night on the computer? Knock yourself out,” Kate shrugged, rising from her seat. “I’m out of here.”
Upon hearing her last sentence, Monica finally took her eyes off the screen and looked up at her.
“I’m sorry, Kate. I–”
“Yeah, yeah,” Kate raised her hand to chest height. “I know what you’re going to say, you little weirdo. You must find out what happened to him. Personally, I’d be totally happy with the explanation he gave you. The next thing I’d do would be to ask him out. The guy’s smoking hot. And judging by the look in his eyes, he likes you. But noooo! The geek in you doesn’t want to date. She prefers online research. She doesn’t allow you to have some fun. It’s a shame, if you ask me.”
“That was quite a rant,” Monica smiled, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment as she got up. “I hate to see you go.”
“I hate to see you alone,” Kate responded in an emphatic tone. “Look, I don’t like to repeat myself. Think about what I said.”
“I will,” Monica assured. “Let me walk you to the door.”
“I can show myself out,” Kate replied in a much sweeter voice. “I’ll call you when I get to New York. Goodnight.”
“Drive safely,” Monica said, regretting her decision to focus on something else other than her friend. It would take them a while to see each other again and yet, she had allowed her curiosity to consume her. She wouldn’t stay in the living room. Instead, Monica went to her front door and stood under the doorframe, waiting for Kate to drive off. Just when the headlights of her red Ford Focus were switched on, though, a howl rose in the air, stifling out the sound of the engine, reminding her of her favorite beast. It echoed through the wilderness, bringing a small smile to her face as it sent chills down her spine.
You have your pack, Mr. Wolf. You may be facing hardships in the wild, but you have your mate to rely on. I have nothing. I’m all alone up here.
The howl faded as Monica made her way back to her living room. By then, the sight of her laptop on her couch was not as appealing as earlier. Besides, her eyes were hurting, and she had troubled her mind too much to consider doing any more research. But before she had a chance to put it away, her doorbell rang.
“What did you forget, Kate?” Monica asked herself, quickly heading toward her front door. As she pulled it open, though, she discovered that her friend was not the one on her doorstep. It was Raul, with a gentle smile on his face and a large, rectangular object in his hands.
“Good evening, Dr. Mills.” He spoke in a calm, steady voice, stepping into her living room. “How are you?”
His massive figure and his baritone voice filled her heart with warmth. It was a surprise for her to see him again, one that–for a moment at least–ruined her solitude.
“Mr. Bradford, I wasn’t expecting to see you,” Monica confessed, feeling heat blazing up her neck and landing in her cheeks. “Come on in.”
“Thanks a lot, but no,” Raul shook his head sideways, once. “I just came to give you this. It’s just my way of saying ‘thank you,’” he added, lifting the object higher to hand it over to her.
Baffled by the sheer size of it, Monica glanced down at the gray paper that covered it and then up at him.
“A gift?” she asked, placing her hands on either edge. “That’s very noble of you.”
“Open it.” His gesture moved her. Monica’s heart fluttered as she began to tear the paper. Still, it was nothing compared to how she felt upon discovering what the torn paper revealed: a painting… a painting of her. She was in his arms, gazing up at him, in a white tank top and a pair of jeans, a thick tree trunk behind her and… a gray wolf in the background, with a diamond-shaped patch of white on his right shoulder, staring at her, ears pricked high. It was the scene of her rescue. Raul was much more than just a big, handsome man. He was an artist, an artist kind enough to draw her.
“Oh, my God,” Monica whispered, unable to believe her eyes as she put her fingers over her lips. “That’s me!”
“That’s right,” he affirmed. “I would have drawn you sleeping on the couch, but…” He paused and sucked in a deep breath. “It wouldn’t be as good.”
“Why?” she inquired as her gaze shot up to meet his. “Because of the light?”
“No,” Raul’s lips curled into a crooked smile, “because you were sleeping. You have beautiful eyes, Monica. They’re like tiny globes of gold. I couldn’t leave them out.”
His words made her heart melt, like a candle in a roaring fire. Monica’s fingers began to shake as a wave of desire washed over her. Unable to hold the painting any longer, she leaned it against the wall to her left, maintaining eye contact with him. Monica reached her arm toward the door and slammed it shut, feeling her heart ready to explode out of her chest as Raul dropped his gaze from her intense stare. She leaned in, wrapping her arms around his neck, but as she did, he stepped backward and tossed his head up.
“Don’t tempt me, doc,” he said in a near whisper. “We can’t.”
“You tempted me first,” Monica said in a husky voice, sensing his firm skin under her hands as she stroked the back of his head. “It’s beautiful. No one’s ever done this for me. Why can’t we? Are you married?”
“No,” Raul said on an exhale, tilting his head down. “It’s a lot more complicated than that.”
By then, nothing he could say to her was enough to deter her. If anything, the small movements of his alluring lips fueled her desire. The stiff, nerdy doctor was gone. His actions had sent her away. In her stead was a woman who would live for the moment, determined to take what she wanted. Monica tilted her head up as her hands crept around his head. Her lips crashed against his as his arms snaked around her waist. She shivered in his tight embrace as their fiery kiss sent waves of pleasure coursing through her. Raul’s clean-shaven jaw brushed her skin as she cupped his cheeks in both of her hands. Monica was aching for his touch. She hadn’t been with a man in a long time, let alone with someone who had made her put all of her inhibitions aside in the blink of an eye. She pushed her tongue into his mouth to taste him as he sucked on her lower lip. Much to her disappointment, his hands did not go up or down. And just a few seconds into their kiss, she realized why as he gently pushed her back. A rattling noise tore the silence as she opened her
blurry eyes, lips still quivering. Raul took his arms off of her and shoved his right hand into his pocket.
“I really need to go.” The rattling was cut off as his deep voice filled her ears. “Here’s my card. Call me if you need any help.”
“Why can’t you stay?” Frustration was lingering in her broken voice. Monica would not stop staring at him as if she thought that her penetrating gaze would get him to open up. “Why won’t you talk to me?”
Her questions didn’t have the effect she had been hoping for. She could see it in his saddened eyes. He couldn’t offer her an explanation. For some reason, he had shut down on her. Raul slowly turned around, reaching behind his back for the door handle while still looking at her.
“I hope I can explain it to you someday,” he whispered, casting one last glance at her over his shoulder. “Goodnight, doc. Please take care.”
Chapter Seven
“What the hell were you thinking?”
The same question that Dean had asked Raul the night before flashed through his mind. In his eagerness to give Monica the painting, he had neglected to predict her reaction. And what a fine reaction it was… his gift blew her mind. It threw her right into his arms, and Raul would have liked nothing more than to claim her as his. Still, the consequences would be dire. He wouldn’t mind taking on his alpha for breaking the rules. However, if he became involved with her, he would automatically paint a target on her back. His savior deserved a better fate than to die an agonizing death.
Raul’s descent down the hill was nothing like the previous night. His heart felt heavy on his chest. He wouldn’t shift. Instead, he preferred to stay in his human form. Maybe it was the emotions pounding through his veins that made him want to stay upright. Anger, frustration, and mainly loneliness were much closer to his human nature. Raul was missing Monica more and more by the second. He could still feel the taste of her kiss in her mouth. Part of him was dying to go back, hug her tighter than before, and pour his heart out. Meeting her had turned his secret into an awfully heavy burden, a burden that had been weighing down on his shoulders. But Raul would not go back. Deep down, he knew that such a move would only make matters worse. He had already resisted her once. Rejecting Monica’s sexual advances twice sounded more like a Herculean feat.
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