Loyalty to the pack came first. All werewolves understood that. But that didn’t make some of his decisions any easier.
If dealing with Masterson breathing down his throat were the only thing on his mind, he might be able to focus a little bit better. He merged onto the highway, heading out toward the Olsen’s. His conversation with Elsa last night distracted him more than he should allow, considering the peril of his pack at the moment.
But he couldn’t get her words out of his head. His adorable moon princess had three mates. The thought of annihilating all three of them, making her his mate for life, more than appealed to him. And he had a right to know their names. But when she’d said Johann Rousseau, he’d seen blood.
Elsa didn’t understand the need to control all that was around him. There would be no point in explaining the dominating instinct that made up his very nature. He wouldn’t have her worry if she thought a threat existed to her happiness. Keeping her happy was his job. And one he planned on taking very seriously.
Remembering how that alpha male had strolled into his territory, a little too confident for his own good, Rick clenched the steering wheel. Johann Rousseau knew he had no claim to Elsa. The werewolf’s pack laws held no jurisdiction in Rick’s territory. But he’d strutted into town without a shred of worry in the air around him.
Rick had wanted the werewolf’s throat when Elsa mentioned his name. But he had no cause to challenge the man. Elsa had been a virgin when she came to him, willing and of age. Very willing. He grinned, knowing he would fight for her whether it was merited or not.
His thoughts flipped from Masterson to Elsa throughout the afternoon while he started on the Olsen’s deck. By late afternoon, he figured he would head back to town, needing to tend to a few pack matters before he headed home to his moon princess.
Sweat clung to him, even in the cooling late afternoon breeze. Sawdust covered his clothes. A shower would be nice. Elsa washing him sounded even better. He imagined her petite body, suds running over her firm breasts while she ran her fingers over his body. Remembering touching her, turning her so he could see that adorable ass, he reached down and rubbed his cock. Blood pumped through him, making him hard while he envisioned water streaming over her round curves. The softness of her skin under his touch, the warmth of her skin, made him ache to be inside her.
Pulling into the diner parking lot, he sat there for a moment, immediately noticing Elsa’s car wasn’t there. She would be at home, waiting for him, possibly even with a meal waiting. The only meal he wanted was that sexy naked body, spread out on his bed, eager for him. Maybe he should call her, let her know he would be there shortly.
“Rick.” Marty hollered at him, pulling him from his thoughts.
The serious expression on the man’s face alerted him.
“I was just about to call you.” Marty looked like he’d just showered, his damp hair clinging to his head. “I ran by your house, but when no one was there, I thought I’d stop by here first.”
No one was at his house. He wondered where Elsa was. “I’m headed that way. Figured I would check in with Harry first. He’s good on that computer, and we need to find some property to claim.”
He also wanted to see who was out and about. But there was no reason to alert the young werewolf that he worried Masterson’s pack may be sniffing around.
“It would be nice to get settled so I can look for work.” Marty wasn’t the only werewolf in his pack who was unemployed. Just another reason for Rick to act quickly. Every member of his pack relied on him.
The diner hummed with activity, several cubs pumping quarters into an old jukebox that thumped out a popular tune. Both Rocky and Harry worked the floor, hustling around tables, while customers chatted about the day’s events.
“Hi, Rick. Hey, Marty.” Samantha grinned at the two of them, silently toasting them with a beer bottle.
Adrenaline pumped through him when he realized Johann Rousseau leaned on the counter next to where Samantha sat, looking a bit too comfortable with his surroundings.
“Did you talk to Elsa? Is she calmed down now?” Samantha seemed oblivious to the tension he felt building around him.
“Calm her down?” he asked.
“Elsa?” Johann said at the same time.
He wanted to pounce on the cocky werewolf. The jerk came to full attention at the mention of her name. Rick imagined he’d been sitting here pumping Samantha with beer, just waiting for the right moment to bleed information from her so he could move in on his woman.
“Oh.” Samantha glanced at Johann, then back toward him, looking confused. “Ramona got her all pissed off this morning. She said some pretty weird shit. I don’t have a clue what she meant by any of it, and Elsa wouldn’t explain. But she ran out of here in a panic.”
Rage mixed with panic rushed through him with enough ferocity that his bones popped painfully, the change begging to come forth.
“Tell me exactly what Ramona said.” He would love to hear that Elsa challenged Ramona while he was at work today.
“None of it made any sense.” Samantha shrugged, worry contorting her pretty face. “Ramona said something about Elsa’s pack members. She’d met them and told them Elsa was here. Then she mentioned a reward. She rambled on like a lunatic. But it sent Elsa into a rage. She flew out of here. I haven’t seen her since.”
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. “Were there any names mentioned?”
Samantha shrugged, her gaze shifting from one of them to the other.
“Think, woman.” Rick cringed when she cowered.
“George and somebody. I don’t remember. I’m sorry, Rick.”
Rick turned to Marty. “Go find your litter mate. Take her with you and track down the two men she mentioned. I want them under lock and key.” He nodded to Johann. “You aren’t going anywhere either.”
“No.” Johann stepped around Samantha. “I can help.”
“I’m sure you would love to do that.” The thought of the werewolf helping himself to Elsa was enough to make him want to rip the man’s neck wide open.
“Maybe we should discuss this outside.” The coolness in the man’s voice made Rick’s blood surge through him.
Never had the urge to kill surged through him with more force. One down and two to go. “No problem.” He gestured toward the door.
Samantha was on her feet instantly. Marty turned to follow him. He stopped the man, putting his hand on his chest. “Go do what I told you to do. I’ll handle this.”
“Samantha.” The young woman looked wide-eyed from him to Johann, obviously clueless about what was going on. “Go over to my house and call me when you get there. I want to know if Elsa is there or if her car is there.”
She nodded, giving all of them one last glance before hurrying out the door.
There was no time to waste. Elsa had run. He was sure of it. And damned if he knew where she would have headed. If she ran this morning, her scent would barely be detectable. It would take a bit of wolf power to track her down. He would use his pack if needed. But first he needed to secure the area, and make sure the werewolves after her were detained.
Following Johann out the door, he sized the man up. Several inches shorter than he was, and with a smaller build, the werewolf must want Elsa mighty bad to challenge him. He wouldn’t stand a chance.
Johann turned when they reached the edge of the building. “I don’t want to fight you.”
Rick was almost disappointed. “Why are you here?”
“I heard from some of your pack that a new bitch had arrived in town. The description matched Elsa’s. She and I are from the same pack.” Johann shrugged, his lack of fear in front of Rick annoying him. “I thought maybe if she had found a pack she liked, I might like it too.”
“And you expect me to believe that?” It dawned on him that Johann might know he couldn’t defeat him, so thought he would try to outsmart him. Well, it wouldn’t work.
“I know Elsa is running. Our pack leader has gone insane. And
what you believe or don’t believe right now really doesn’t matter.”
Rick still itched to teach the werewolf some manners.
Johann studied him for a moment, probably determining how much longer he had to live.
“If members of my pack are here, I can find them faster than you can.” For the first time, the werewolf relaxed, his shoulders rounding while he held up his hands in a gesture of surrender. “Look. Keep me with you. I’m not here to cause trouble. Let me prove that to you.”
“You won’t cause trouble.” Rick could knock him to the ground, humble him just a bit. Thoughts of showing the werewolf how to respect a pack leader almost distracted him. He didn’t have time though, although he itched to pound the man just once. “And I guarantee you won’t get near Elsa.”
The man showed some intelligence by not smiling. “I won’t deny she is a hell of a catch. I’ve known her most of my life.” Johann paused, squinting toward the parking lot. “If Elsa wants you, I will toast your mating.”
Rick sighed, praying that she did. “There are a few matters to tend to first.”
Chapter Nineteen
Elsa unbuckled the collar she had around her neck. Moist sweat underneath the leather clung to her skin. The small denim bag tied to the leather collar bulged with her clothes. It had bobbed against her chest for the past few hours while she ran, and she was more than glad to have it off of her.
The cold night air attacked her naked body, sweat clinging to her skin from having run through half the night.
“I wonder where the hell I am.” She pulled her clothes out of the cloth bag quickly, knowing standing naked in an open field wasn’t the smartest move, even if she didn’t detect any humans in the area.
Leaving her car in Rick’s driveway, and running in her fur had been a quick decision. Werewolves frowned on running before the sun went down. But she hadn’t been thinking clearly. All she knew was that there was no way her pack would haul her home.
She had left her car at Rick’s. Whether she’d thought about it at the time or not, she would have to go back to get it. That in itself told her she wanted to go back to Rick. She wanted him.
She buttoned her jeans, then slipped into her tennis shoes. A quiet country road spread out before her, angling off before it disappeared in the darkness. After walking along it for an hour or so, with no town in sight, she wondered who could own so much open land.
What a perfect haven this would be for werewolves.
An old home, appearing abandoned, spread out before her, its sprawling porches and many gables offering secrets of past lives. A rickety “for sale” sign had been stuck in the ground by the road. She doubted many people drove by to notice.
The front porch steps seemed not quite rotten, and she sat down on them, staring at the incredible night sky that spread out before her.
What a mess her life had become. And all because she wanted her freedom. But running like this wasn’t being free. She didn’t want to continue to dodge werewolves, desert a pack just when she’d grown attached.
“And that’s what I’ve done.” Not only did she care about Rick, but also she could become good friends with Rocky and Samantha.
But Ramona had ruined all of that for her.
“Or are you letting her ruin your life?” Leaning back on her elbows, she stared at the millions of stars in the heaven, while thoughts of the previous days consumed her. “How do I take control?”
That’s what she needed to figure out. Rick would say to trust him. And she did. But if her pack came swarming around, they would bring trouble to his pack.
Rick would know she’d run by now. And he’d be furious. She imagined him turning the town upside down looking for her. He would be worried and grumpy by now. Not a werewolf to cross.
“But what do I do if I go back?” The answer to that question hit her before she’d finished talking to herself. “You will challenge Ramona. That’s what you will do.”
Yes. Dammit. She needed to challenge Ramona before her pack could find her. That way, she would be mated to Rick. Her pack couldn’t touch her then.
But was that the only reason she wanted Rick?
No. Hell, no.
She glanced around, knowing no one was around her, then lay back on the old wooden steps. Pressing her hand against her belly, she savored the warmth of her own touch for a moment before sliding her fingers under her jeans.
She would challenge Ramona for Rick. The werewolf was worth fighting ten women over. Never before had she met a man like him. So tall and good-looking, a tough exterior with a passion underneath that couldn’t be bridled. He’d held back when he fucked her, she realized that. And she wondered what kind of lover he would be if he ravished her without hesitating.
Running her fingers over the warm folds of her pussy, she parted the sensitive skin, rubbing herself until moisture coated her.
“Will you be rough with me, Rick Bolton?” The thought made her wild with lust.
Thrusting her fingers deep inside her pussy, her wetness wrapping around her hand, she could see him watching her. If she closed her eyes, his hands were on her. He would grab her, tearing her clothes from her.
“Yes. Oh yes.” She fucked her pussy hard and deep. “Put me where you want me, Rick. Fuck me until I scream.”
She loosened her jeans with her free hand, allowing room to move so she could push deeper. Rick’s cock would press through her narrow hole, gliding against muscles and hitting points in her cunt that ached to be satisfied.
Maybe he would throw her onto the bed, or better yet, up against the wall. Her head fell back, while she imagined him pinning her, his large body pressing against hers. The animal in him would barely be contained.
She pushed her sweatshirt up, the night air teasing her aching breasts. Gliding her fingers over her skin, she continued to finger fuck herself while running her fingers around her hard nipple.
Rick would push her against the wall, her breasts smashed against its hardness. “Every bit of you belongs to me.”
Yes. He would claim all of her. She ran her soaked fingers from her pussy down to her ass, imagining Rick’s large calloused fingers teasing the small, puckered hole. A quickening tightened her womb while her temperature soared. She began panting, fucking both of her holes with her fingers while pinching her nipples.
“I want you, Rick.” She cried out while small waves rippled through her.
She didn’t move, lying there exposed to the chilly night air. Her hand brought her little satisfaction. Instead she had created a yearning, a craving to experience the real thing.
Rick. Nothing would be right until she was with him.
With a broken sigh she stood, adjusting her clothes. It would be daylight before she could make it back to Rick’s pack. But she couldn’t run in her fur when the sun was up, the risk of being spotted and generating fear was too high. A nap sounded good, but there was no time.
“I need to go home.” She liked how that sounded.
Home. Yes, and back to Rick. The time had come to take on Ramona, and claim what she had decided would be hers.
Standing and stretching, she imagined the wrath she would face when she returned to Rick. All of his worry over her would turn into anger once he had her safe and back in his lair. She couldn’t wait for the aggressive sex that would follow the thorough scolding she was sure to receive.
She shivered against the night air, while folding her clothes neatly and putting them back in the denim bag. Once again she buckled the collar around her neck, preparing for her journey back to Rick. Anticipation riddled through her bloodstream along with the change. Bones popped, altered, transforming her from woman to werewolf. Her heartbeat accelerated, muscles grew. She dropped on all fours, thriving on the power that surged through her.
With the speed inherent to her breeding, she tore across the countryside, heading south, back to the pack she would make her own. Back to Rick.
Several hours later, the sunrise burned her vision,
and her muscles ached from fatigue. At this rate, she would need a good nap before challenging anyone. Maybe she hadn’t planned this so well. Her mind seemed lost in a fog, thoughts of Rick and Ramona, her pack, and his pack, all muddling together.
At first she thought she imagined it, the smell of other werewolves drifting through the air. The ground vibrated from their running. Several at least appeared to be running at top speed, toward her. She slowed, testing the wind, searching for scents that would clue her in on their whereabouts.
Warning barks alerted her. She stopped and turned, searching the countryside until she spotted a werewolf moving toward her. Even in his fur, she recognized her pack mate, former pack mate that is, George Ricard.
Shit. Not like this. I need to get back to Rick.
George stopped too, glancing over his shoulder, but then giving her his attention, his tail wagging slowly, triumphantly.
I’m not going with you. She lowered her head, growling her warning.
George pounced on her, moving faster than she anticipated. His ferocious bark terrified her. Panic ripped through her, while his impact knocked the wind from her lungs. If she could get to her feet possibly she could outrun him. But he’d sent her rolling, and her head hit the ground.
He was on her before she could clear her thoughts. His heavy breathing in her face made her want to gag. Coughing and disoriented, she struggled underneath him.
Get off of me. Her howls didn’t seem to faze him.
In a wave of fear, she realized he meant to mount her, fuck her right in the middle of the field. And she’d heard others. Was Frederick with him? Would the two of them claim her as their mate? Would they take turns fucking her until she couldn’t move any longer? She would be at their mercy, theirs to do with as they pleased.
No. This can’t be happening. She fought. Determination flooded through her. Her vision blurred and she couldn’t tell what part of him was where. She couldn’t get up, and George was on top of her. She struggled until she found flesh, and then bit down as hard as she could.
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