Ben’s heart rate increased as he envisioned another male touching or harming Bella. He was a good thirty-minute run from her campsite. “They’re still there,” he said, his voice monotone as he plotted the fastest way back to his mate.
“How would you know?”
“Huh?” He turned to his friend again, trying to focus. “Oh, I slashed their tires.”
Johan stood, his head tilted in disbelief. “You slashed their tires? I thought you wanted them gone? You do realize you’ve sealed their fate. If they can’t escape, those fucking wolves will rip them to shreds.”
He didn’t stand around to converse, but dropped down to all fours as his body shifted. His bones snapped and morphed as he went from man to beast in seconds. The change hadn’t caused him pain since puberty. It was as seamless as diving in the fresh water lake east of the cabin. In the blink of an eye, the change enveloped him, caressing his flesh, bonding all the facets of his mind into one. Once fully transformed, he leaned down and snatched his jeans into his mouth and bounded off into the forest.
* * * *
After an hour of hiking through near impenetrable forest and over downed trees and numerous obstacles, the group split up. Bella was too exhausted to argue when Keith led Amanda one way and told Dave to split up and go the other way with Sara. Nobody questioned the fact that Bella would be on her own. Like she’d raved, she was a queen in the forest. All her stories came back to bite her in the ass. She’d only been a kid when she got her survivalist awards. It was just one of the few things she had to be proud of in her life. The summer months spent away from her parents’ control were her best childhood memories. Those days had been about fun and innocence. The forest and potential danger around her was all too real, and she felt smaller than an ant in the center of awe-inspiring nature. Bella accepted her insignificance as she tried to make sense of the greenery around her.
She was lost. The distant footsteps and the sounds of the two couples arguing had vanished long ago, and every moss-covered tree trunk looked the same. If she knew for sure she’d come across Ben’s camp sooner or later, she’d have the energy to plod on, but only God knew where she was. She could be traveling in the opposite direction and deeper into oblivion. The sun was no longer high in the sky, and the thick forest canopy above her gave a sinister shadowy effect to the world below.
When the first set of glowing yellowish eyes stared at her from the thick tangle of brushwood in front of her, she stepped back on instinct. She held her breath when the second set appeared a few feet from the first. By the time she saw the third pair of eyes focusing on her every move, she’d resigned herself to a gruesome death. She had nothing to protect herself with, not even a utility knife.
Her voice failed to work when she attempted to scream. It was like a nightmare where nobody could hear her cries for help, but this was all too real. She could hear her heartbeat in her ears and heaviness of her breathing as she gasped for air. As she mentally tallied the odds and all possible avenues of escape, nothing gave her hope. She was trapped, alone, and helpless.
“Don’t you know it’s dangerous to be walking around the forest alone?”
Bella whirled around, a voice the last thing she expected to hear in her last minutes of life. A very naked man leaned against a tree, casually raking his gaze up and down her body, unfazed by the wolves moving in around her. When she turned to watch her back, the eyes that had been watching her were gone.
“Who are you?” Her entire body was tense and on guard. She felt surrounded and vulnerable, not sure if the man in front of her was more of a threat than the wolves or a saving grace. Where were his clothes, and why was he so comfortable with his nudity? He leaned casually with one broad shoulder against the tree, his arms crossed over his muscled chest. Keep your eyes up, Bella. For the first time since the sun began to go down, she was thankful for the thick shadows surrounding them.
“My name is Draco. The question is who are you?”
His eyes were a greenish-yellow and seemed to glow in the dim lighting like the wolves’ eyes had. When he took a step toward her, she moved away from him, closer to the wild animals. She felt like a trapped rat. “Stay away from me…”
“Would you prefer me to leave you alone with the wolves?” Then his deep baritone lowered to a whisper. “They don’t like you as I do.”
She had to stay safe, keep this stranger away from her. “My friends are nearby. My boyfriend will be looking for me.” Did her trembling voice give away her lie?
“Boyfriend?” His eyebrows rose and humor rang in his voice. “Where is he? Shouldn’t he be near you, protecting you?” He cornered her against a thicket.
“He’ll be here.”
“I don’t think so.” Draco reached out and ran his hand down her arm. “You’re cold and all alone. Let me take care of you.” Rather than freaking out, an odd sense of calm trickled through her blood. She became lost in his eyes, spellbound by his rugged masculinity. There were so many questions plaguing her mind—who was he, why was he naked, why did he look at her like she was the only woman in the world? But all that mattered now was his dominant presence, his mesmerizing voice, and electric touch. Even being buck naked, the man was warm—almost hot. And she was so cold.
“There were wolves,” she whispered, barely able to form the words. Bella should be afraid, but every second felt safer with Draco.
“Are you afraid of wolves, little one?” He tilted her chin up, and she didn’t pull away. In fact, she felt a pull between them, making her rational thought fizzle away. All that mattered was the here and now, she and him.
“Yes.”
“No wolf would dare touch you when I’m with you. Do you believe I can protect you?”
“Yes.”
He caressed her face, lightly running his fingertips along her jawline. “Do you believe in fate?” She leaned into his touch, closing her eyes and just absorbing the energy between them. “I’ve seen you before. In my dreams.”
She opened her eyes and looked up into his. He stood so much taller than her, so broad and all male. “I’m confused.” It was the truth. She felt as if she were drugged, unable to think coherently. Her fear had dissipated. Why?
“As am I. A little human female.” He chuckled. “I never would have thought.”
“Are you going to hurt me?”
He pulled away with a frown, his exotic eyes narrowed in disapproval. “I just saved you from the wolves. I’m not here to harm you.” Her mysterious rescuer ran a hand through his mop of shiny black hair. She examined the sharp planes of his face, his strong jaw shaded by new stubble, and his unusual eyes. He aroused a hunger within her that she couldn’t squelch, not even with her uncertainties. “Now…tell me your name.”
“Bella.”
He repeated her name as if savoring the sound. “Bella.” Then he licked his lips, firm, full lips that she craved to feel between her teeth. She swallowed hard as lust crept up her body like unstoppable wildfire. This was ridiculous. In one day, two men had aroused a passion deeper than all the men she’d dated put together, a hundred fold.
“I need to find my friends. I need to leave.” She had to breathe, to clear her head.
Draco grabbed her upper arm as she attempted to shift away. He tugged her against the hardness of his body and stared at her with a heated intensity. God, was he ever warm. She wanted to wrap her arms around his waist as much as she wanted to run away. “Why do you resist me? I know you feel it, too.” His free arm reached around her body, securing her to him.
“Draco!”
Bella’s body jolted as the booming voice startled her. Draco released her and turned to face an enraged Ben. She had to stop herself from smiling. She’d been so desperate to find him and here he was. The remnants of daylight highlighted his dirty-blond hair.
“Benjamin. Out patrolling the woods again? I thought we had that covered.” While Draco remained nonchalant, the volatile energy radiating out from Ben was palpable.
“
What are you doing with her?” he snapped, stalking forward. With just low-hung, faded blue jeans and no shirt, she felt overwhelmed by all the muscled goodness. Both men had to spend their fair share of time in the gym with those chiseled pecs and abs. These men were unreal. They didn’t fear the elements or the beasts of the woods. She was afraid of everything at this point.
“Keeping watch. It’s not safe for a human to be hiking through the woods unattended.”
“Thanks for your concern. I’ll take over from here.”
Chapter Five
Draco didn’t need or want help from Ben, the youngest wolf from the new pack. He’d come to investigate outsiders with a few others on their new claim when he’d come upon her. As soon as his wolf picked up her scent, he knew she was his female. It was strange how instincts could take over so suddenly, but he’d heard the stories about finding one’s mate time and time again. When you found her, you knew, without a doubt.
He shifted and ordered his pack mates to give them privacy. Reluctantly, they skulked away, consumed by the forest. The fact that the girl was human amused him. Draco had always detested the human race. They destroyed wildlife for sport and ravaged virgin forest out of greed. They took more than they needed and only left a path of destruction behind them. Humans were weak, soft-skinned, and, in his opinion, the inferior race.
But there was no denying that he’d do anything for the frightened little human. His hatred did not include her. She was beautiful with big, dark eyes on a pale face and adorable feminine features. All his protective instincts seemed to surface when he drew near. She was his, and he had to take care of his own. In one moment, he had a new purpose in life. Unfortunately, he knew little about the human race, except that they didn’t know shifters existed, one of many obstacles he’d have to overcome. Fate certainly had a sense of humor.
He’d watched her for a few moments before revealing himself. She might have feared him initially, but he could smell the moisture escaping her body as her hormonal signature fluctuated, increasing by the minute.
“You don’t understand. Finders, keepers, friend.” Draco had learned the ins and outs of his new pack from his new alphas, Callen and Ethan. They were fair and honorable. Finders, keepers was one of their ways—you kept what you hunted and shared of your own free will. He liked that. Although he’d normally be more than happy to share everything with his friends, he would not share his woman.
Ben moved forward, his eyes darting to Bella and back to Draco. Why was the shifter radiating such malevolent energy? You’d think Bella was his mate the way his eyes narrowed as if ready to kill for her. It made no sense. She was clean, with no scent of a male on her body, no claim of ownership, no love bite.
Draco wanted the merge to be successful. His pack had been desperate to find their true leader, and when they found Callen after decades of absence, they all vowed to make the merge work no matter how difficult. The new pack had only four members besides Callen, one being another alpha. So on top of adjusting to obeying two leaders when he never had to follow the rules of even one, Draco was forced to create friction by guarding his mate from his new pack member. He didn’t lash out because if he could handle the situation diplomatically, he would. The elders of his group continually preached about the importance of the merge, but, if the young shifter pushed him, well, he wouldn’t hand over his woman after just finding her.
“Finders, keepers won’t work here. She’s mine, Draco.”
“Whose?” questioned Bella, looking between the both of them.
Draco furrowed his brows. “She’s unmarked, which means she’s up for the taking.” While his voice remained steady, there was no denying the threat it carried.
“Back off while you can.”
Bella’s fear signature finally captured his attention. “What’s happening here?”
Draco maintained his position in front of Bella. He’d shelter her body and protect her from his pack mate to the death if need be. The poor little human was scared and clueless. Ben was ruining everything. Although love was something that developed over time, the bond from finding his female was no less significant.
“Give me two minutes. I promise to explain everything.” Bella shouldn’t have to hear what they had to say. She was an innocent human and no doubt confused by their hostility. He took a couple steps forward until nearly chest-to-chest with Ben. They were similar in height and build, both several inches over six feet. “You don’t understand, pup. The moment I picked up her scent, I knew. She’s my mate, and I plan to mark her properly.”
“I think you’re confused,” he grated out. “Maybe it’s the new territory or something messing with your senses, but she’s clearly mine. I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life.”
“Well, isn’t this perfect?” Draco threw up his hands and paced the area.
“In these parts, it’s custom to wear clothing.” Ben shook his head in disapproval.
Should he be ashamed? He’d never hidden his human flesh behind manmade clothing before. He spent most of his time in wolf form anyway.
“Is it? Are you threatened?” Draco chuckled, reveling in the shifter’s discomfort. He knew his body was strong, and his cock nothing to laugh at, even semi-flaccid.
“No, but I know how to respect a woman. Exposing yourself is, well, just plain tasteless.” Ben tilted his head to the side with a sly smile, thinking he’d gained some ground over Draco.
Draco turned when the air shifted behind him. Bella was attempting to sneak away. He shared a confused glance with Ben before going after her. “Bella…where’re you going? It’s not safe in the woods.”
“I have to find my friends.” Fear rang in her voice. He didn’t want her afraid of him. Ben had ruined everything.
“I don’t think Bella would be too pleased if your friends found them first, do you?”
Fuck. Eventually he’d have to reveal he was a wolf shifter and the truth would carry enough obstacles on its own. She’d blame Draco for not stopping an attack if the wolves decided to tear apart her friends. With a low growl, he turned to Ben. “Keep your paws to yourself.”
Then he bounded into the forest. Once out of sight, he dove forward, landing on four canine legs. He was the logical choice for Bella’s mate, not that pup, Ben. He’d never keep up with Draco in wolf form. The new pack was soft, used to living as humans and immersed in human culture. That was a sure fire way to lose sight of the wolf.
As he navigated the young saplings and underbrush with ease, his thoughts drifted. Draco would have preferred a female of his kind, but those were few and far between. He couldn’t even remember the last time one was born. When the plague hit, decades earlier, few females were spared its devastation. Shifters that were mated with the remaining female wolves continually birthed males. Due to the lack of selection, many wolves turned to human females, creating a generation of half-breeds. His elders said the mating call was a gift from the gods, something you couldn’t choose or turn away from. Now he believed the wisdom of their words. Bella’s spirit called to him. Although he worried about the future of his species, he knew he’d never choose another over Bella, not even if a female shifter became available.
* * * *
“Was that one of your friends?”
Ben didn’t consider any of the new pack his friends yet. He had been perfectly happy with just the five in his pack. Although he could accept Callen as a second alpha, only because they had been best friends beforehand, the new wolves were another story entirely. What started out as putting up with them for the sake of peace just became a lot uglier. One of the newcomers wanted to stake a claim on Bella. Big mistake. Here he was trying to play the gentleman and take things slow when that fool presents himself buck naked to her, courting her like a savage animal. If he had sensed fear rather than lust coming from his mate, he would have ripped the older wolf a new one. The fact that she desired Draco at all put him at odds. Even if she didn’t realize they were mates, the bond should have kep
t her from being sexually attracted to other males. Something was wrong. Perhaps the bond wouldn’t solidify until he marked her, which had suddenly become his foremost goal.
“Um, yeah. He’s in our hunting party. But that guy’s a bit off his rocker. You should stay away from him.”
She didn’t look pleased with his answer. “About our situation... We have bigger problems than just being unprepared for meals. Our truck has two flats. Know anything about that?”
He shrugged. “No clue. But I did talk with my friends about dinner. It’s all set.” Once he forgot about Draco and focused on the woman in front of him, his guards lowered and desire welled up inside him. “You hungry?”
“Starving.” Her smile was so sweet, she seemed to light up the darkening forest. Any time now and the residual sunlight wouldn’t filter in through the trees. Then the wolves would come out to play. With so many newbies on their territory, he didn’t trust being out alone with Bella. He could take better care of her at the cabin where the alphas could lay down the law if things got out of hand. “And cold,” she added.
He took her plea as an invitation and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, tugging her to his side.
“Aren’t you freezing with no shirt on?” She laid a palm against his chest. The simple physical contact made his groin stir. “You’re hot. How is that possible?”
“A person can adapt to most things given time.” Would she accept his wolf once he revealed the truth? Hollywood did a knockout job of messing up the truth about werewolves and every paranormal bump in the night. This wasn’t Twilight, and his real identity would likely be met with fear. Normally, he could appreciate that, but not when he needed Bella to accept him, love him, and certainly not fear him.
“I used to feel at home in the forest, but that was a long time ago. Now I’m spoiled by modern conveniences.” She sounded disappointed in herself for her change. As a human, there was nothing to be ashamed of for embracing the modern world around her. He could even appreciate his rare ventures into the city—soft beds, food served to your table, a gaggle of women giving him bedroom eyes. Now, there was only one woman for him, and he had to work fast to win her over before Draco or some other wolf tried to move in on his territory.
Bella's Wolves Page 4