Billionaire Wolf (The Pack 17) (Nocturne)

by Karen Whiddon

  But when they reached the house it was completely empty. Apparently the vehicle that just left had taken every Drakkor away. Including Maria.

  * * *

  Maria didn’t understand why the Drakkor Council wanted her spirited away, but her father and the three from Eyrie immediately agreed. They all piled into the one vehicle, a minivan with three rows of seats, refusing to give her a chance to even say goodbye to Ryan. Micah had suspended a still-unconscious Tracey a few feet above Maria’s lap.

  They drove fast, as if they were fleeing something. Screeching around corners, the driver accelerated rapidly, apparently intending to get on I-45 and leave the island.

  Only when they’d gone a fair distance from the beach house did Micah explain. “The Council has received information that there is a vigilante Pack Protector on the loose. That’s who killed Polacek. We could not take any chances with your safety. Once we know for certain Colton Richards is clean, we’ll brief him and he can fill in Ryan.”

  Ryan. Even the sound of his name filled her with longing. Anger rose in her, making her magic begin to bubble in her veins. Her aura reflected this—even she could see how unsteady it was, shifting and changing color like a thunderstorm over the sea.

  “Maria.” A note of caution in her father’s voice. “Get yourself under control.”

  She took several deep breaths, trying to clear her mind, and after a moment she thought she’d regained some sort of balance. A quick glance at her father confirmed this as he gave a small nod.

  Now, to deal with the rest of them. She’d just about had enough of other people telling her what to do.

  “Where are you taking me?” Maria asked. “And maybe you can also tell me why I’ve gone from being Polacek’s prisoner to yours.”

  “We’re headed somewhere safe,” Micah said. “Don’t worry, we’re not driving all the way to Colorado.”

  “Or Wisconsin,” her father put in. “I have to say, I don’t think it’s a good idea to separate my daughter and Ryan right now.”

  Micah chuckled, staring at her. “I told you that you wouldn’t end up with him.”

  She stared right back. “Well, you’re wrong.”

  “They won’t be separated for long.” This from one of the Council members, the one driving the van.

  “I think you’d better give me a time frame,” Maria demanded. “Because this whole capture and run thing is getting really old.”

  “Maria,” Micah snapped. “Be careful. You are speaking to a member of the Drakkor Council.”

  “You know what, I don’t care. I’m fed up. I’m one of the four remaining females of our people. I should be allowed to have a say on what happens in my life.”

  Dead silence. A quick glance at her father revealed Javier had begun to perspire, something he always did when nervous. Micah’s pursed lips and prolonged silence told her he thought she’d done it. Clearly, they all expected she’d brought the wrath of the Council upon herself.

  “She’s right,” the man in the front passenger seat finally spoke, his voice deep and rich with authority. “While we have an obligation to keep you safe, we don’t have the right to do it against your will.”

  “Good.” Leaning forward, Maria spoke directly to him, ignoring the others. “Then stop the car and let me out. Now.”

  The backseat occupants erupted in protest. But the man—she never got his name—made a small gesture to the driver and the van pulled over.

  “Maria, please.” Her father, his expression afraid, stretched out his hand to her.

  Taking it, she squeezed lightly. “I’ll be all right. Trust me. My magic is strong.”

  Ignoring Micah, who pleaded with her to reconsider, she got out of the car and headed back down the road toward the beach house. She wasn’t entirely sure what she’d find when she got there, but she no longer wanted to fight her destiny, no matter what Micah or his cronies claimed to have known or seen.

  Chapter 18

  After finding her gone, Ryan’s control slipped. His beast, raging and snarling, mirrored the fury and anguish inside him. Baring his teeth, he growled.

  For the first time in his entire life, Ryan didn’t struggle to rein in his wolf. He let the change rip through him, tearing his clothing as his bones elongated and his body went through the rapid transformation from man to wolf.

  And then, running full out, as fast as his four legs could carry him, he went after her.

  “You’ll never catch up to that car!” Colton shouted after him. But Ryan didn’t even look back. He simply didn’t care. He was done sitting around and letting others take action. Maria and he were mates—he saw this clearly now—and no wolf let his mate be taken from him without a fight.

  He ran and ran and ran and still he saw no sign of that car. At this hour, the infrequent traffic made it necessary for him to duck and hide whenever he saw headlights coming toward him. If any of the locals—or hounds forbid, a tourist—were to report seeing a large wolf running down the road, he wasn’t sure how animal control might react.

  Finally, slowing to a lope, then a trot, and finally a walk, he conceded defeat. Once again, Maria was gone. And once more, he’d failed to save her.

  As he sat on his haunches on the side of the road, aching, a howl building up in his throat, he spied someone coming on foot. The breeze carried her scent in his direction.

  Maria?

  Disbelieving, he got to his feet. Taking care to stay in the shadows, he padded toward her. When they were maybe twenty feet apart, he moved into the light.

  She stopped, the moonlight turning her dark hair silver. Only then did he realize he was still wolf, but it didn’t matter. He’d seen her as dragon, the time had come for her to see his lupine side.

  Still closer he came, and she held her ground. When he reached her, she dropped to her knees, right there on the pavement, and burrowed her fingers deep in his coat.

  “Ryan,” she said, her voice certain. And then she gathered him to her and wept.

  He held himself completely still, not entirely sure how to react. Her tears brought him pain, even though he sensed they were tears of joy.

  Finally, she pulled back, wiping at her streaming eyes with the back of her hand. He nuzzled her, tasting the salt, and padded a short distance away, back into the shadows. Once there, he rapidly began to shape-shift.

  Only after he’d changed back to human did he realize he had no clothing—what he’d been wearing lay in shreds in the driveway of his beach house.

  “Ryan?” Maria, moving toward him. “I’m not letting you out of my sight again.”

  “I’m naked,” he said, warning her. Also, as always happened in the instant after the change, he was fully aroused.

  “Good,” she growled, her voice sexy and breathless and so, so happy. “I’ve been dying with wanting you.”

  When she reached him, her eyes widened. “Well, you are definitely as happy to see me as I am you.”

  To his amazement, she began yanking off her clothes, only stopping when her naked skin was gleaming.

  He hauled her up against him, his arousal almost painful. He inhaled sharply, flesh pricking as she climbed on top of him, taking him into her in one smooth motion. They came together with as much heat as summer lightning. Her lush curves molded to his as she began to move, riding him.

  He claimed her mouth with his. She gave herself freely to his passionate kiss, just as she gave her body, with abandon.

  Release loomed close—too near, too fast. He gripped her waist, attempting to slow her down. But she only shook her head, arched her back, her shapely breasts taunting him, and continued to move.

  With each motion, his heart beat with the pulse of her name. A tormented groan escaped him as he lost the battle for self-control.

  No. Unwilling to let this end, he rolled, so that her body now was under him, the sensual beauty of her naked body stealing his breath.

  “Ryan,” she began. Kissing away her protests, he began again to move, this time
with agonizing slowness, determined to prolong the ecstasy.

  She cried out, urging him faster, first with her hands and then with her entire body. His control snapped, and he gave himself over to the movement, to her, to the shuddering, shining moment of ecstasy as they reached the pinnacle together, the pleasure explosive, yet pure.

  Love. This, he thought, tucking her curves into him as he held her. This was love. True love, the stuff of fairy tales and legends. The kind he’d never believed in until now.

  Trembling, she clung to him, her body still damp from their lovemaking.

  Finally, she moved away, collecting her clothing from the grass. “Now what?” she asked him, once she was dressed.

  He faced her, unashamed of his nakedness, hoping she could see the love he felt in his eyes. “Now we discuss the future.”

  Her laughter made him smile. “No, I meant more immediately. How are we going to get you back to your beach house without any clothes? If someone sees a naked man strolling down the road, you know they’re going to call the police.”

  “Then I’ll just have to make sure no one sees me.”

  Once they reached his gate, which still sat wide-open, he hurried over to where he’d shape-shifted earlier, hoping there might be something salvageable he could put on. But, since he hadn’t taken the time to remove anything when he’d changed to wolf, every bit of his clothing had been torn or shredded.

  He held up the tattered remains of his shorts and put them on. “At least it’s better than nothing.”

  “It looks like you are worried for nothing,” she said, looking around. “It seems as if everyone is gone.”

  * * *

  Making love with Ryan had sealed the deal, as far as Maria was concerned. No longer would she worry about her father, or the Drakkor Council, or anyone else for that matter. Ryan might never love her in return, but that no longer mattered to her. She loved him with every bit of her heart and that would have to be enough. She’d enjoy being with him for as long as he wanted her.

  Back at his new beach house, it appeared as if everyone had vacated the premises. Which meant the Pack Protectors were out hunting their own rogue. And she and Ryan were alone. Though she knew better than to let down her guard, she wanted one night with him before returning home, one morning to wake up with him beside her.

  Inside the house—which truly looked amazing—Ryan locked the doors and closed all the blinds. When he turned to face her, his expression serious, she tried to figure out the best way to tell him what she’d decided.

  “We need to talk,” he said. “About our relationship.”

  “Shh.” She put a finger to his lips. “There’s no need. After all of this happened, I realized you’re right. You’ve been right all along. I want the same thing you want, for however long it lasts. Let’s just enjoy our time together while we can. Life’s too short to worry about nonsense.”

  He frowned. “But you said you need to find your mate. What about your destiny? Your burning need to have a baby. What about that?”

  If her laugh sounded a bit brittle, she pushed the thought away. “There’s no need to worry about me getting pregnant. See, that’s part of my destiny. Both parties need to be in love for a pregnancy to occur. And since neither of us loves the other like that, it simply won’t happen.”

  She expected to see relief in his eyes, maybe even joy. Instead, his frown deepened. “Maria, what about you? What about what you want?”

  “I just told you what I want. You. On your terms, exactly the way you stated you wanted it. No strings attached. That will be enough.”

  “What if it isn’t?” Gently, he cupped her face with his large hand. “I know you want more than that.”

  Confused, not understanding why he no longer seemed to want her at all, she realized she might have misunderstood what had driven him to rescue her.

  “What about you, Ryan?” she asked. “Not too long ago, you had no problem telling me what you wanted out of life. I get that, but maybe I need to know more. What is it you truly love? Money? Power? Freedom?”

  “You,” he answered instantly, his gaze unwavering and certain. “I truly love you.”

  She heaved a sigh. “I’ve already told you, you don’t have to say you love me to get me to be with you. I want to. No need to lie. Not now, not ever.”

  His eyes narrowed. “You don’t believe I love you.”

  “I’m pretty sure I know what you really mean by that,” she said. “I get that you clearly like your freedom. You don’t want to be tied down, because you believe you’d run the risk of eventually growing bored.”

  He only shook his head. But then, she’d known he wouldn’t refute her statement.

  She could understand this. But through loving him, she’d also come to see a relationship could be so much more. Unlike land, which sat solid and unchanging, she’d come to understand love would be much like her beloved ocean. Always there, but sometimes stormy, with crests and waves. Other times, calm and smooth as glass.

  But she couldn’t teach him this. It was, she believed, something he’d need to learn for himself.

  “Ryan, I love you.” She gave him the most precious gift she could give, though once again he’d never know. “I love you enough to give up my search for a mate, at least until you get tired of me.”

  He stared at her as if she’d spoken in a language he didn’t understand. “I can see I have some convincing to do,” he finally said, his smile so sensuous her knees went weak.

  Both intrigued and tired of playing his game, she leaned into him for a long, deep kiss. “Convince me again,” she said.

  And so he did.

  * * *

  The next morning, Maria woke to bright sunshine. Cradled in Ryan’s arms, she could hear the constant roar of the sea outside. Home. Surf and sun and sand, the screech of seagulls wheeling above the waves, and the man she loved sleeping next to her. Life couldn’t get any better than this.

  Smiling, her entire body humming with happiness, she slipped from the bed and padded to the bathroom. The luxurious appointments rivaled any expensive hotel and she grinned to think her own bedroom would fit easily inside this one area. Perks of dating a billionaire, she supposed.

  The thought dimmed her smile somewhat. If Ryan had been an ordinary person, she suspected their relationship might have been a lot less complicated. Ah, well. Reminding herself to enjoy him as he was, she exhaled, refusing to allow any negative thoughts. She loved Ryan for what he was. Heck, any other woman would be thrilled to date a celebrity.

  Though she’d showered the night before, she wanted to feel fresh after a night of vigorous lovemaking, so she stepped under the hot water and lathered her hair. The exotic tile and frameless glass stall was big enough for two and she entertained a fantasy of Ryan joining her. Once she’d finished, a bit disappointed that he hadn’t, she towel dried her hair and put on one of the short, fluffy bathrobes she found hanging near the shower.

  There were even new, unopened toothbrushes and tubes of toothpaste. Realizing that Ryan was well prepared for guests dimmed her enthusiasm somewhat, as she knew she wasn’t generous enough to share him with another woman. He was hers, and she knew they’d need to discuss relationship terms. Exclusivity would be her deal breaker.

  Back in the bedroom, she saw that Ryan still dozed. For a few moments, she watched him sleep, her heart full. She didn’t want to wake him, so she quietly closed his door and went to explore the rest of his house. As she’d expected from her brief glimpses of the night before, the place looked amazing, decorated in a beach theme with touches of the sea, which she loved.

  When she reached the kitchen, she stopped and stared, awed despite herself. A marvel of granite and copper, it could have been the showpiece of a cooking show or any home improvement magazine.

  Locating supplies, she made a pot of coffee and checked to see if he had breakfast food in the refrigerator. No surprise—a carton of eggs sat next to plastic-wrapped, thick-cut bacon. He also had count
ry-style bread for toast and three kinds of jam. She saw orange, apple and tomato juice.

  Again she realized this place had been stocked for guests, maybe a party. She bit her lip, remembering Ryan’s lifestyle. Though she’d been certain before, doubt crept in now. Not about how she felt. She loved him with all of her heart. But she also knew it would be only a matter of time before he found someone else and moved on.

  She needed to figure out a way to keep her heart from breaking when the inevitable happened. Right now, she needed to keep busy so she didn’t overthink things.

  Deciding to make a breakfast quiche, she found what she needed and got to work. Once she’d popped that in the oven, she poured herself a cup of coffee and went out on the patio outside the kitchen to drink it and watch the wind stir up whitecaps on the sea.

  A few minutes later, Ryan found her there. She smiled when she saw him. “Grab a cup of coffee and pull up a chair,” she invited. “Breakfast is in the oven.”

  He held up a mug. “Got it. By the way, the kitchen smells delicious.”

  Something in his tone alerted her. A certain hesitation, maybe. A thrum of urgency coloring his deep voice.

  “Is everything all right?” she asked, trying to sound lighthearted even as all her insecurities came rushing back. Would he send her away so soon? Surely not.

  “Yes. No.” He raked his fingers through already disheveled hair. “This isn’t going to work.”

  Though her heart plummeted all the way to the soles of her feet, she managed to keep her expression emotionless. Which wasn’t easy, considering her throat had become clogged with pain. “What do you mean?” she asked, dreading the answer.

  His eyes were like the sea during a storm. “This pretending. You don’t want a casual type of relationship, you never have.” He gazed intently at her. “And, Maria, you deserve more than that. You deserve it all—a husband, a home of your own, children.”

  Something lifted inside her. Relief, mingled with the pain. Sooner might actually be better than later. Though she didn’t know how she would bear it, after all she’d been through, she needed to stop selling herself short.