Forbidden Attraction

by Lorie O'Clare

  If Martin heard them, he ignored the comment and entered the large barn ahead of them. Heidi quickly scanned the crowd, noticing Steve, her ex-boyfriend standing with a handful of other males toward the front of the barn. She spotted Bob and others she knew while following Tamara and her mate toward available chairs.

  “How are you enjoying your new den?” Tamara asked. “You know we miss you living with us.”

  Heidi didn’t believe for a minute that Tamara missed her at all. “You needed that spare bedroom for your new cub. And I love having my own den, and my own furniture. I don’t have to live with my clothes on a pile on the floor anymore.”

  They moved toward the front and the hairs on the back of Heidi’s neck prickled when she inhaled the obvious spicy smell of anger. She turned her attention again to the lunewulfs standing around Bob. They were definitely arguing over something.

  She watched them while taking her seat. Once, she would have judged them well-built, lean and capable of protecting their pack. Two days ago, her opinion of a male werewolf had been greatly altered. Granted she’d seen Malta males before since they moved to the mountains. But not up close and personal—and damn! Lunewulf males didn’t hold a flame.

  Maybe that was why, at the age of twenty-nine, she still didn’t have a mate. No male in this pack could possibly be as aggressive, as demanding and as intense as Nicolo. Steve continually whined about knowing where she was, whom she was with and when she would spend time with him. He smothered her, but in all his efforts to be the focus of her attention, not once did he come on to her the way Nicolo did the other day.

  Hadn’t she always fantasized about rough sex? Dreamed of being tossed around, pursued and conquered while she returned the aggression and demanded that she be fucked until she screamed? Her fingertips fluttered over her neck while she remembered Nicolo’s hand there, yanking her to him and whispering his sultry words.

  Steve glanced her way and caught her staring. She looked away, frowning as she took her seat. She prayed he wouldn’t come and sit by them.

  “Did you hear what happened?” Steve grabbed a folding chair and opened it, sitting backward on it next to Heidi.

  “What?” Martin asked, leaning around Tamara. “I smell trouble.”

  “Me too,” Tamara complained, wrinkling her nose as she made a face at her cub. “And it stinks.”

  “Everyone quiet!” Bob waved his hands in the air, walking the length of the barn to get the pack’s attention.

  A hush fell over the group. Steve adjusted his chair, moving a bit closer to her. Once she would have snuggled into him—in fact, the action seemed natural. She still considered him a friend and probably always would. Having met up at the Canadian border when the pack had been so much smaller, they’d run side by side until claiming this mountain. In actuality, Steve was as close to a den as she had. But there was no attraction, no sexual yearning when he moved closer to her. And glancing down at his arm, it amazed her how puny he looked in comparison to Nicolo.

  She looked up at Bob when he started talking.

  “We extend our sympathies tonight to the Frank and Jordeaux dens for the murder of their littermates.”

  “Murder?” someone hissed behind her.

  Heidi turned to look at the werewolf who’d spoken while several other pack members started yelling out what they knew about the deaths. Although it was hard to tell with everyone talking at the same time, it sounded as if no one had any facts. She looked quickly at Bob when he yelled for silence. The pack settled down and listened for the details.

  “John Frank and Les Jordeaux were found murdered at the edge of the mountain this morning, nearly torn to shreds by barbed wire conveniently hidden in brush. Neither of them saw it and by the time we smelled their blood, both were dead.” Bob ran his hand over his closely shaven head, looking down for a moment while the spicy smell of anger filled the barn.

  “And who do we blame for these murders?” Martin yelled.

  “We have no evidence to blame anyone at the moment,” Bob told him, but then added quickly when the pack started stirring again, “but we’re looking into it. Believe me, this matter won’t rest until we see the guilty parties lying at our feet with their necks broken.”

  “You know it was either the Malta or American werewolves who did it.”

  Heidi fought to keep her seat at the accusation. She glared around her, studying her pack while they began trying and convicting werewolves without any evidence.

  “My bet is on the Malta werewolves,” someone else yelled. “Ever since they took our mountain, those American werewolves have chummed right up to them.”

  “It’s because they’re scared of them.”

  “And we aren’t,” someone else added. “They try spooking everyone because they are freaks, biologically altered by some insane pack leader over on that island they used to live on until they got kicked out.”

  “Enough! Enough!” Bob yelled over the outbursts.

  Heidi couldn’t take it anymore. She jumped out of her seat and pointed at Bob. “Tell them what you heard. I heard it too. The Malta pack leader told you that the same kind of deaths happened in his pack. Why don’t you tell everyone here about that?”

  She ignored the suspicious curiosity she smelled on her pack and held her head high. Bob stared at her a moment while the room grew quiet.

  “Sit down, Heidi,” he said through clenched teeth. “I already told everyone we’re investigating this.”

  “But why won’t you tell everyone you talked to the Malta werewolf pack leader?” She turned and looked at so many eyes focused on her. Heat rushed to her cheeks but she wouldn’t back down now.

  “How would you know anything the Malta pack leader said?” Steve asked.

  “Because—”

  “Heidi. No!” Bob’s growl echoed off the barn walls.

  A hush fell over the pack. Heidi turned, staring at her pack leader, a man she’d always respected and looked up to. Yet he wouldn’t allow the pack to know Malta werewolves had helped her, had gone out of their way to return her safely to her pack. Slowly she took her seat, her opinion of Bob suddenly grossly changed. Keeping the information from the pack allowed them to continue to harbor suspicious and angry thoughts toward Malta werewolves. Prejudice and hatred would grow now with the murders. And Bob wouldn’t do anything to stop it.

  Hairs prickled down her spine. She focused on her hands, which she clenched in her lap, and ignored Steve, Tamara and Martin’s curious looks and the smell of concern on all of them. The moment the meeting ended, she jumped out of her chair, nearly leaping over Steve and marching toward the door.

  “Heidi,” Bob yelled, while everyone around them began descending on the food traditionally brought to a pack meeting. Everyone shared his or her kill after sharing pack news.

  More than anything, she wanted to ignore her pack leader, leap out into the cold night and run until her anger subsided. Her bones ached to change, to grow and give her freedom. A hard, fast run, tearing through her town and possibly even up the mountain sounded a hell of a lot better than the pending reprimand she was about to get. Although pack law strictly forbade single females to run alone, at the moment she didn’t care.

  She turned slowly. This was her pack. She wouldn’t ignore her leader or their ways. As much as it pissed her off at the moment, her lunewulf blood ran strong. Disrespecting her pack leader would be an open statement that she had turned her back on her pack. And she had no intention of doing that.

  When she reached Bob, he took her gently by the arm and pulled her to the side. With his back to the pack and her facing him, she saw the many curious looks others gave them. They sniffed the air, dying to know what her pack leader would say to her. And more than likely, most of them concluded he would give her a polite reprimand for her outbreak during the meeting.

  Bob ran his hand over his head, searching her face while he struggled with whatever it was he would say.

  “You have a lot of respect in this p
ack,” Bob began.

  Heidi nodded, unable to argue the point.

  “And finally I’ve been able to give you your own den. No one has harassed you there, right?”

  “No one.”

  Bob nodded. “You’re a grown bitch, but a sheltered one. I’ve never forced you into a mating, and I won’t do it now. But you have the respect of all males in this pack. None of them would harm you or try to rape you in your fur. I’m sure of it.”

  “What are you getting at?” She didn’t like the smells coming off him. It reminded her of her sire when he tried lecturing her on being a good bitch. She shoved the memory out of her head. Her parents had been dead for years now, and she wouldn’t confuse her thoughts by dwelling on them during this discussion.

  “Those Malta werewolves brought you back here with ulterior motives. It was as easy to smell as your anger and frustration now.”

  Heidi stared into his pale blue eyes. “Not once did either of them try to rape me,” she hissed. “I sat with one of them in the truck and he never touched me.”

  She wouldn’t mention that he touched her in her den. That was none of Bob’s damned business.

  He glared at her as if he already suspected the truth. “I’m taking into consideration what their pack leader told me. But the truth is, he could have told me that to cover the fact that they planned the murder that happened this morning.”

  “No.” She shook her head. “How can you see it like that? They are our neighboring pack. That won’t change. Yet you’d allow prejudice and hatred to grow over these terrible deaths. Here is our opportunity to learn more about them. You should be seeking them out, not accusing them without question.”

  She’d pushed him too hard. Silver streaked through his eyes while his short hair suddenly looked tousled around his head. “Now listen here, Heidi. And hear me good. Those Malta werewolves were after only one thing with you. If I hadn’t shown up when I did, who knows what would have happened.”

  She kept her expression tight, unwilling to even think about the possibilities. Bob would smell her emotions change in a second standing in front of her like this. And she wouldn’t give him that satisfaction.

  “You sniffed out something new and different. I understand that there’s a certain appeal toward danger and the unknown. But forget about them.” He sliced his hand through the air between them and she suddenly saw that Bob knew more than he’d originally let on. He detected her interest. “You’ll run with an escort tonight or find someone to see you to your den.”

  “You’d put me on a leash?” She couldn’t believe it.

  “I will always protect you, whether you like it or not.”

  She’d heard enough. No way would her pack suddenly treat her like a cub. “I’m going home,” she told him, and stormed out the door.

  Since her car was still in the shop and she’d rode with Martin and Tamara, she had a long walk ahead of her. At the moment, it sounded damned good. Maybe the cold night air would cool her temper a bit.

  “What was that all about?” Steve bounded out the door and fell into stride beside her.

  “I’m fine,” she told him, aware of his clean scent that had once turned her on.

  Nicolo hadn’t smelled dirty, but his scent reminded her of something wilder, more outdoorsy and untamed.

  “I’m sure you are.” He crossed his arms over his chest, keeping pace with her. “But I got orders to see you home, unless you want to go on the run with the rest of us.”

  At least Bob gave her a choice. But no, she wouldn’t cut him slack. In so many words, he’d made it clear what he thought of Malta werewolves. He’d tried and condemned them without any facts.

  “Fine. See me to my den. But then you leave.”

  Steve shrugged. “I’m cool with that.”

  Another difference between Steve and Nicolo—Steve was too proper. Why had that never bothered her before? Nicolo took what he wanted and made sure, with a look, a stroke of his hand, that she wanted it too. Just the thought of all that muscle and his dark skin and penetrating black eyes created a pressure that grew deep inside her. She hated the thought of pushing him out of her mind, but the last thing she needed was Steve smelling lust on her.

  “You want to tell me what’s wrong?” Steve asked quietly.

  “Not really.”

  “I’m a good listener.”

  She glanced up into his concerned expression. Even though they’d split up, she had to admit she still liked the wolf man. In spite of their differences, of her being unwilling to settle down and create a den with him, he hadn’t turned his back on her. Walking with her now, willing to hear any problem she had, proved that to her.

  She smiled. “Yes. You are. And thank you for seeing me to my den.”

  He didn’t ask her for more. And she had no intention of telling him more. When they reached her den, he stood at the bottom of her stairs and waited until she’d entered her living room. When she turned and waved, he trotted off, leaving her alone. Nicolo would have inspected her den to make sure it was safe.

  By midafternoon the next day, energy buzzed inside Heidi with enough fierceness she fought not to tremble. After picking up her car, which apparently just had a loose connection, she’d been given permission to pick up more pack supplies.

  “You’ll take someone with you,” Bob told her, catching her before she headed out of his den, where he also housed an office for pack business. “I hate that we don’t have a store here that carries what we need, but until we do, whenever we need stuff for pack business, I want you to have an escort when you leave the pack to get things.”

  “That’s fine.” She’d smiled easily, excited to get out of town again.

  “Why don’t you call Steve? I’m sure he’d ride along.”

  She was sure he would too. “I’ll give him a call.”

  Of course, she knew Steve and a handful of other werewolves were up the mountain working to clear snow. It wouldn’t be her fault if he didn’t have a signal.

  “See if he’ll drive. I’m not sure I trust your car right now.” Bob wouldn’t come out and say that old Otis should retire as pack mechanic. The werewolf was getting up in years and lately had grown hard of hearing.

  “Otis had one of his boys check my car out. I’m sure it’s fine. But I’ll do as you say.”

  Bob nodded, and she knew he watched her when she headed out the door. She could feel his gaze burning her back.

  He wouldn’t intimidate or bully her though. Like he’d said himself, she was a grown bitch. And damn it, she’d make the call on how she led her life.

  Bob would throw a fit later tonight and howl all kinds of threats at her, but at the moment, she didn’t care. It had been three days since she’d seen Nicolo. He’d told her they would meet again, and she wanted it to be now.

  Maybe Malta werewolves didn’t like bitches chasing after them. She hesitated only a moment before pushing the buttons on her cell phone for directory assistance.

  “I need a listing for Nicolo Spalto,” she told the operator.

  An automated voice sounded in her ear, telling her the number—which she quickly wrote down—and then offering to put the call through. Her heart thudded so hard in her chest she wasn’t sure she’d be able to talk. Not to mention, what the hell would she say?

  And what if it did piss him off that she called?

  A deep baritone came on the line, demanding with no formal greeting that the caller leave a message. The phone beeped in her ear and she cleared her throat, fighting the nervous excitement that climbed in leaps and bounds inside her.

  “Nicolo, this is Heidi. I’m heading into Valle today to see if I can buy some supplies there.” She hesitated. Like she would leave a message to come meet her and fuck her. “Just thought I’d let you know,” she added quietly and then hung up before her voice cracked or she said something foolish.

  Her heart had reached her throat, throbbing painfully, and nervous energy rushed through her with so much fierceness she c
ould barely walk. Her bones popped, excitement over her adventure calling the change forward inside her. She fought the urge, biting on her lower lip until she tasted blood while she gathered her purse and coat then headed out the door.

  Not telling Bob she headed for Valle instead of Cuchara, and that she made the trip alone, would get a collar wrapped around her neck faster than anything. With that knowledge in her head, she planned on making the best of her day.

  And if Nicolo didn’t show up?

  Her foot almost slipped off the clutch, and she jerked the steering wheel, causing her car to slide on the recently shoveled road. Damn. If she didn’t get a grip on her nerves, she’d wreck her car before reaching Valle.

  She told herself entering American werewolf territory couldn’t be any worse than entering the human town. Deep inside, she knew she sauntered into enemy land, though—or make that slid into their land. Her car obviously didn’t like winter.

  Nicolo had told her she needed new tires. But with the meager salary she got working in the pack office, there were only so many extras she could afford each month. Obviously new tires needed to be bumped up the list.

  By the time she reached Valle, her nerves were about shot. She did what she did for her pack though, not just for her own personal interests. Granted, she hoped and prayed she’d see Nicolo. Every inch of her ached to see him, but she had another mission, one a hell of a lot more important than buying office supplies.

  She pulled off the road at the first gas station she saw, adjusted her stocking cap over her head and stuffed her hands in her coat pockets as she sauntered into the station. An indifferent teenager barely glanced at her.

  The young werewolf chatted on her cell phone, lowering her voice when Heidi approached her.

  “Can you tell me where I can find your pack leader?” she asked, praying her nerves wouldn’t be overly noticeable.

  “He’s usually at Bernie’s Den,” the young bitch told her.

  Heidi got directions and headed back out. That had been easy. Maybe she got all worked up over nothing. After all, she didn’t have any proof that American werewolves hated her kind. Once again, she witnessed how prejudice spawned from lack of communication and false assumptions could cause the wrong conclusions to be drawn. Maybe these werewolves didn’t care one way or the other that she entered their town.