Wolf on the Hunt

by N. J. Walters

“But you’re all full-blooded werewolves,” she pointed out.

  Louis leaned down until their foreheads were touching. She put her hands on his waist, not sure if she wanted to push him away or pull him closer.

  “Jacque and I spent our entire lives being told by our father that we were nothing but a disappointment. Armand’s father tried to kill him, not to mention what the man did to Sylvie.” Louis shook his head and his hair brushed across her face. “That’s her story to tell, not mine. Gwen and Anny were human until not too long ago.”

  Gray knew her mouth was hanging open. “You said that humans couldn’t be converted.”

  He raised his head. “No, I told you that ninety-nine-point-nine times they die and conversion is long and painful. I’ve never known or heard of another who converted and lived. Yet, both of the women are here.”

  She swallowed hard. That was a lot to take in.

  “Then there’s Cherise. She’s a pure blood who can’t shift. Her pack wanted to kill her for that.”

  Gray’s legs felt rubbery and she clutched at Louis for support. “Your world is so dangerous.”

  He snorted. “And the human world isn’t? You could be killed in a holdup or a drive-by shooting. How is that any less violent? At least we know who our enemies are. And, chère, we’re at the top of the food chain here. Our strengths and differences allow us to protect ourselves.

  She’d almost forgotten that he’d killed to defend his pack. Even though Louis was gentle with her, it wasn’t too difficult to picture him fighting to the death to protect those he loved.

  He was a protector. He’d said it before, and she believed him. She just hadn’t fully realized exactly what that meant to him and how much was expected of him.

  She should be frightened to death, but she wasn’t. No, she wanted to wrap her arms around him and keep him safe. How silly was that?

  He didn’t need her protection.

  Gray peered into his dark eyes and saw a yearning there that hit her straight in her heart. Louis was physically stronger than her. No doubt about it. But maybe he did need her protection after all.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Way to go, you idiot. Reminding the woman that you’re a killer is a surefire way to get her to stay. Not.

  Louis wished he knew what Gray was thinking. “We should get back.” They’d been standing here long enough. Even Shadow was getting impatient. The big dog was pacing, circling them and getting more agitated by the second. He was obviously picking up on Gray’s mood.

  She nodded, linked her arm through his and started walking. He released the breath he’d been holding. He’d half-expected her to bolt for her car.

  “Gator is probably cooking something special for supper. Maybe his famous Cajun chili. You should stay for that.”

  To hell with pussyfooting around any longer. He stopped and turned so he was facing her. “Stay the night. I want you here with me.” Better to deal with this now rather than worry about it for the next few hours.

  Gray tilted her head to one side and studied him. “Okay,” she finally said.

  Louis felt like howling in sheer relief. It almost seemed too easy, but he wasn’t about to question it. “Okay. That’s settled then.” He grabbed her hand again and picked up the pace.

  She laughed. “We in a hurry?”

  “I don’t know about you, but I’m starving.” The house came into view. Louis sniffed the air and knew only Jacque and Gwen were inside. The others had gone back to their place.

  “I could eat.”

  “We’ll grab a snack. Something to hold us over until supper.” He opened the door and she and Shadow went inside. He was eager to spend time with her inside where it was safer. Maybe after they’d eaten, he’d show her his room.

  His entire body tightened and his cock jerked. Yeah, he liked that idea.

  Jacque and Gwen were nowhere to be seen. Louis could hear the click of the computer keyboard and knew they were both working—Jacque on the pack investments and business interests and Gwen on her next book.

  “Have a seat.”

  She shook her head. “I want to help.”

  They worked easily together and soon had ham and cheese sandwiches piled high with lettuce and tomato ready. He’d put on a pot of coffee to brew and it was done by the time they sat down to eat.

  They’d barely taken two bites when Cole burst in through the back door. “Where’s Jacque?”

  The words were barely out of Cole’s mouth before Jacque strode into the room. “What’s wrong?”

  Gray eased closer to Louis as the tension in the air grew thicker. He automatically put his arm around her even though all his attention was on Cole. Shadow hurried to her side and sat next to her chair.

  “I just had a call from ma mère.”

  “What did your mama want?” Jacque asked.

  Louis pushed back his chair and went to stand beside his brother. The two of them were a formidable sight side-by-side. Add Cole to the mix, and there was a whole lot of testosterone.

  Gwen padded down the hallway and immediately went to Jacque’s side. Gray’s stomach dropped and her hunger fled. She felt like the outsider, once again. Just like she had for her entire life.

  Before the sense of isolation and aloneness could really take root, Louis turned to her and held out his hand. Her heart jumped and began to pound faster. He frowned when she didn’t immediately join him.

  Gray eased Shadow out of the way and went to Louis as Cole continued to speak.

  “Elise came to them.”

  “Is Mama okay?” Jacque gripped Cole’s arm.

  “Oui.” The big man glanced at her and then Louis. Gray knew she wasn’t going to like what Cole had to say next. “Pierre knows Louis is seeing a human woman. He must have had people watching us.”

  This was bad. This was very bad. It was one thing to have human hunters pissed off with her, quite another to have a werewolf aware of her existence, especially since Louis had already warned that his father was a killer.

  “It’s the Dupointe brothers. Your mama didn’t think he’d given them any other instructions other than to watch us.” Cole glanced at her again and Gray shivered. “Elise thinks Pierre is going to come here and soon.”

  “I need to get out of here.” Gray’s first instinct was to run hard and fast. If Pierre couldn’t find her then he couldn’t kill her.

  “Everything will be okay. I’ll keep you safe,” Louis promised.

  She peered up into his dark eyes and read the sincerity there. “Who’ll keep you safe?” she asked.

  She knew she’d said the wrong thing when Louis stiffened and his expression grew cold. It was as though he’d taken a step away from her even though he hadn’t physically moved an inch.

  “I can protect you.” His voice was stiff, his tone cool.

  Gray wanted to scream with frustration. The men were watching her with various degrees of anger on their faces. Gwen’s expression was filled with sympathy.

  Gray knew she’d put her foot in it. She’d all but accused Louis of not being able to protect her from his father. Bad enough if he was a human male, but twice as bad considering he was a werewolf. Pride was a driving factor for Louis. She knew that much about him. She’d called his ability to protect the pack into question.

  “I didn’t mean it like that,” she began. She was very cognizant of the others listening to their conversation. Gray shot Gwen a pleading glance and the other woman immediately took control.

  “I think we should give Louis and Gray a few minutes.” Gwen took Jacque’s arm and tried to pull him toward the door. Jacque didn’t move. “We can talk more over at the other house.” She tugged again.

  Jacque waited until Louis nodded before allowing his mate to lead him away. Cole was already gone. He moved like a wraith for such a big man.

  The door c
losed and they were alone. Shadow paced beside them, catching the tension between them.

  She raked her fingers through her hair. “Look, I didn’t mean that I don’t think you’re tough,” she began.

  “Just not tough enough to protect you from Pierre.” His tone was cool, but she could hear the thread of hurt beneath it. She also noticed that both he and his brother referred to their father by his name, as if that somehow distanced them from him.

  She fisted her hands at her sides. She wanted to stamp her foot in frustration but figured that was childish. Problem was, she wasn’t feeling very mature at the moment. She wanted to shout at the world and shake her fists at the unfairness of it all.

  “I just meant you shouldn’t have to be put in the position of having to fight your own father. You said he’s mean and deadly.” Gray sighed. She knew nothing she said would appease his wounded pride. “Look, I know you’ll do everything you can to protect me.”

  Louis swore and closed the short distance between them. He gripped her shoulders and yanked her against him. She flattened her hands on his chest and peered up at him. He was one pissed-off male, yet she never once worried he’d hurt her.

  “I’d give my life to protect you.”

  Inside, Gray was screaming in denial. That was the last thing she wanted. “That’s what I’m afraid of.” Her voice was a hoarse whisper. “I don’t want you to die for me.”

  He heaved a sigh, wrapped his arms around her and nuzzled the top of her head. “What am I going to do with you?”

  “Let me go.” She curled her fingers into the fabric of his shirt even as she said the words. He held her closer, and she felt him shaking his head.

  “I can’t.”

  He didn’t elaborate, didn’t try to explain. And that spoke volumes. More than if he’d tried to give her reasons. Louis was operating at the most basic levels a man could. She belonged to him so he’d protect her. It was as simple and as complicated as that.

  “What am I going to do with you?” Her words were tinged with frustration. How had her life gone from predictable to so complicated in a matter of a couple of days?

  He eased her back and the anger in his eyes had changed to something much hotter. Lust.

  The man had lost his mind. “Really? Now? We’re talking about your father and the rest of his pack wanting to kill us and you’re in the mood for sex?”

  He shrugged and grinned. “What can I say? I’m a simple creature.”

  He was anything but simple. If he were, he’d be easy to manipulate. “We should probably join the others. There was probably more that Cole didn’t get a chance to tell us.”

  She tried to pull away, but he tightened his hold on her. “Promise me you’ll stay here.”

  “Louis, be reasonable. We don’t know for sure what your father will do. If I leave here, he’ll have no reason to bother with me.”

  He shook his head. “Pierre doesn’t need a reason. He’d find and kill you because he knows it would hurt me.”

  Gray couldn’t fathom that kind of hatred. “You really believe that?”

  Louis skimmed his fingertips over her face before rubbing his thumb across her lower lip. In spite of the seriousness of the situation, her body reacted to his nearness, to his touch. Her skin tingled and her nipples puckered. She touched the tip of her tongue to his thumb, and he growled.

  “I know he’d kill you in a heartbeat if he has any idea what you mean to me.”

  Okay, that was a complete mood killer. Fear shoved aside the warm, fuzzy feeling that Louis’s touch had given her. Then she thought about what he’d said. “What I mean to you?”

  She wasn’t sure she was ready to hear anything else. She wanted to put her hands over her ears and hum a tune so she wouldn’t have to listen, but that would be childish. It also wouldn’t change anything.

  Louis leaned down and kissed her. Not what she’d been expecting. He slid his tongue past her lips and inside her mouth. Fear and sexual frustration collided and heat washed over her. His big hands cupped her ass and lifted until her pelvis was pressed against his large erection.

  She slid her fingers through his hair and anchored herself as their kiss got hotter and more out of control. He slanted his mouth over hers again and again. Their tongues tangled. She moaned when he playfully nipped her bottom lip. His hands molded her behind and the heat from his skin penetrated her jeans.

  Her pussy contracted and her panties were wet. She knew he could smell her arousal. With his sharp senses there was no hiding it. She scented warm male musk as it poured off his body and mingled with her own sweeter essence.

  She ran her hands across his back and chest, over his thick biceps. She’d never known a man as strong as Louis. His wildness called to a primal instinct she’d always tried to hide deep inside. She knew now it was the wolf part of her nature. And she was no longer able to suppress it. Instead, she let go and gave it full reign.

  Gray hadn’t realized Louis had moved until her back hit the wall. He ground his pelvis against hers, rubbing his thick shaft against her pussy. Even through all the layers of their clothing the sensation was electric. She moaned and used his shoulders to get the leverage she needed to lift herself up and down. The motion stimulated her clit even more.

  He tore his mouth from hers and dropped hot little kisses along her jawline. He tugged on her earlobe with his teeth and teased the whorl of her ear with his tongue. Gray moaned and gasped, needing to be closer to him. She wanted to be skin to skin with him plunging in and out of her slick core.

  “Louis.” She moaned his name when he nipped at her neck. It stopped short of real pain and she knew she’d most likely have a small bruise there, a reminder of his passion.

  He stilled and sucked in a deep breath. She sensed the change in his mood from passion to concern and wasn’t quite sure what had caused it. She studied his face, but once again, he’d drawn on a mask of inscrutability, but beneath it, she sensed the swirl of deep emotions.

  “What is it? What’s wrong?” One minute he’d been almost lost in passion and the next he’d stopped. If his thick erection wasn’t still pressed solidly against her core, she’d worry that he no longer wanted her.

  He swallowed heavily and his mouth tightened. A muscle twitched beneath his right eye. His brown eyes were so dark they almost appeared black. “Louis?” He was starting to scare her with his intensity.

  He sighed and brushed a kiss over her forehead. “I’m sorry.”

  She knew he’d smelled the tiny tinge of her fear. “I don’t want you to be sorry. I want to understand what’s wrong.”

  He tried to smile but failed miserably. “I almost lost control.”

  She tilted her head to one side and studied him. “And would that be so bad?” She kinda liked it when he’d lost control in bed, but she sensed he meant something a little different this time.

  His big hands still cupped her butt and her legs were wrapped around his hips. She doubted he even realized he was still holding her. “I was close to claiming you,” he told her.

  She frowned. “I don’t understand. What exactly is claiming?” Even as she asked the question, a part of her wanted to turn her head to the side and offer her neck to him. Some long, lost instinct that welled up from deep inside.

  “It’s like marriage, but permanent. If I claim you, we’re bound together.” He turned with her still in his arms and carried her into the living room. He sat on the couch with her facing him and straddling his lap. “You wanted to know what you mean to me?”

  Gray wasn’t so sure anymore, but she’d never been a coward. She nodded.

  “Everything.” He slid his hands up her back and then down again. She had to fight the urge to arch into his touch. “You’re it for me. My wolf recognizes you as his mate.”

  It was too much for her to take in. “What do you mean your wolf recognizes me?” She
didn’t understand werewolf culture at all. Their ways were so different from the ones she knew and accepted. Yet there was a part of her that reveled in his words, wanted to be the one he chose.”

  He leaned his head back against the sofa and released a long sigh. “It’s hard to explain.” He picked up her hand and placed it over his heart. “It’s a knowing deep inside. My wolf acts on instinct, and he wants you as his mate as much as I do.”

  Mate. Her head was spinning. That was so…permanent.

  “I thought I’d felt the call once before, but I was mistaken.”

  “Who?” A tsunami of jealousy crashed over her. It was so unlike her that she shivered. The emotion was very unsettling. The almost blank expression on Louis’s face told her she wasn’t going to like his answer very much.

  “Gwen.”

  Gray tried to push away from him, but Louis wasn’t letting her go. She slapped at his shoulders and shoved against his chest, but he held on tight. Shadow started barking and lunged toward Louis, teeth bared.

  “No,” she yelled at her dog. She immediately stopped struggling. “I’m okay, boy. It’s all okay.” The last thing she wanted was for Shadow to attack Louis. Even worse, she didn’t want Louis having to defend himself. She knew he could easily harm Shadow without meaning to.

  The big dog warily crept closer. His ears were pinned back and his tail was tucked low. She put out her hand to him and spoke softly. “Everything is fine.” She crooned to him until he tentatively licked her fingers. She rubbed beneath his chin and then behind his ears.

  “I didn’t mean to upset either of you.” Louis covered her hand and petted Shadow. “I was drawn to Gwen. We’d been living here alone for a couple of years when Gwen came into our lives. Or should I say, we burst into her life.”

  Jealous continued to eat at Gray. She didn’t like the feeling. “What happened?”

  He shook his head. “Nothing. She only had eyes for Jacque.” He twined his fingers with his. Shadow gave a huff when they stopped petting him, but he jumped up onto the far end of the sofa, curled up and kept one eye on them.

  “I kissed her once,” he told her.