Justin propped himself up on an elbow. I watched him with rapt attention. As a man he was a splendid specimen. Without a doubt too handsome, too powerful, too magnificent for someone like me. My tail drooped. I owed this alpha my undying gratitude though. I’d do my best to keep from being clingy when he inevitably moved on.
Justin cocked his head in a wolf-like manner as he examined me. He opened his mouth to speak, but just then the big bay window shattered inward as a large, lean, and hairy monster crashed through. I saw a snarling mouth full of foam-bracketed sharp white teeth. The creature had enormous paws that didn’t seem to feel the jagged glass underfoot as it bounded directly for me.
I had just enough time to recognize an angry Meredith in her wolf form. The next moment she was lunging for my throat. Her fangs snapped, missing, then closed on my throat. I knew I was going to die.
But then her sharp teeth raked my tender skin, drawing lines of fire but not ripping my throat out. Justin had knocked her sideways. I saw his strong, muscular frame guarding me as she rolled and twisted to face him. She crouched, looking him over hungrily and licking her chops. She looked at me with malevolent hate just before she launched herself at Justin with a fearsome roar.
Meredith was hurting someone I loved again. I couldn’t believe this was happening again. The horror of it turned my knees to water. I shouted Justin’s name but it came out as a howl. He hadn’t had time to shift and his human body was far too vulnerable to withstand a furious assault by a werewolf as vicious as Meredith. He got in one good punch, then tried to wrestle Meredith down, but her fangs snapped in a fast blur. She got past his guard to slash and rip at his throat. I saw Justin’s blood.
My body went from numb to outraged in a heartbeat. I shook off my paralysis and charged Meredith, fear filling me that I was too late. I tackled her, heedless of the consequences. I didn’t know anything about fighting but I knew I had to keep this homicidal bitch from killing my alpha, the werewolf I loved.
She tumbled sideways. She hadn’t expected me to attack. That, alone, gave me the advantage. My fear and determination gave me the courage to do what needed to be done. My pain about what she’d done to Digger combined with my fury about her attack on Justin, building my resolve. This werewolf would never again hurt a living creature with her malice. I went for her throat as I’d seen her do to Justin, clamping down and shaking my head. I refused to let go. In my human form the gruesome death I gave her would’ve revolted me, but in my wolf form it seemed appropriate, natural, and right. It felt like justice. I kept my fangs pressed together until I tasted blood, kept them buried in her throat despite her scrabbling claws at my belly or her eventual desperate whimpering tugs to get away. Then I ripped out her windpipe. I turned away as she collapsed into a spreading pool of red already on the floor.
Terror iced my veins when I saw all that blood. If Justin was dead, I’d never forgive myself for my hesitation. I’d finally mated with Justin. He couldn’t be dead, I told myself. I’d found someone to truly love who not only made me feel beautiful but who was an alpha who had the power to rescue me. An alpha who’d killed for me. We belonged together.
I made myself turn to look at Justin. All the breath whooshed out of my body with relief. He was sitting up, pale and clammy but not bleeding to death. The wound on his throat seemed to be healing with supernatural rapidity. I emitted a high-pitched whimper of happiness and bounded over to nuzzle him fiercely. He laughed and petted me. “I’m fine. Change back,” he suggested. I backed up, gazing deep into his eyes. I saw nothing but love. My heart skipped a beat, then started to glow.
I knew what I had to do now. Even as I did it, I was contentedly envisioning moving out of my crappy little apartment and into Justin’s wonderful house, where Digger would be the most spoiled Labrador Retriever in the world, roaming fearlessly in the werewolf wilderness now that the threat to her had been permanently removed. And I’d live happily ever after too, mated for life to Justin.
In my wolf form, I went to Meredith’s body.
Then, keeping my gaze fixed on Justin’s to watch his dawning understanding and his formal nod of acceptance that made me start to tingle all over again, I dragged my first kill to Justin’s feet.
***
Curves for the Alpha Wolf
Caroline Knox
Copyright © 2013 by Caroline Knox
All rights reserved.
This novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination, or, if real, used fictitiously.
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the express written permission of the publisher, except where permitted by law.
First Printing: August 2013
Curves for the Alpha Wolf Page 3