Hour of the Wolf

by Bell, Dana Marie

  Noah stood. Vasile was struggling to his feet. Beside him, Trajan was down. Dragos lay on top of Mina, his body limp. Mollie was struggling to contain Bradley’s fire, but without Greer there to help her she’d die before she could curb it fully.

  Behind him, only one voice continued on, only one droned out the spell, each syllable etched in pain. Gideon was continuing without the support of his coven.

  How could Noah do any less?

  Noah allowed a transformation to overtake him, one far too dangerous to let loose under normal circumstances. The monster of the night, the creature that roamed on the night of the full moon and devoured everything in its path.

  The lycanthrope. The wolfman.

  Noah howled his challenge as his wolf took almost full control. Its mate was safe, but its pack was in danger, and the alpha in him, the beast he normally kept contained, wanted blood.

  Nearly ten feet tall, he towered over the demon, who smiled gleefully. Why was the enemy so happy that Noah was in this form? Did he think he could control a wolf?

  He’d quickly learn why Noah preferred never to use this form. When the wolf ran free, only the moon goddess or his mate could control him, forcing him back to his senses.

  He’d only used this form once before, when he’d become alpha prime. It was usually kept secret from outsiders. He’d had to take the form in front of the other primes to prove he was worthy of being one of them. Others tried, and failed, destroying themselves in their own bloodlust. Noah had held on, kept himself from being overcome by a hair’s breadth.

  He prayed he’d be able to do the same now.

  Noah soared over the flames as if they were barely an inch high. His thick fur protected him from any hint of heat. He roared in Bradley’s face, allowing the demon to observe his sharp, elongated teeth. His mouth was now filled with the teeth of a pure carnivore.

  “Yes, alpha. Kill me. Eat me. Be one with me.” Bradley held his arms wide, welcoming Noah’s strike.

  Strike he did, ramming his hand into Bradley’s chest and pulling out his still-beating heart. All the while Bradley smiled as if he’d won.

  Noah grinned, well aware of what it appeared like on the muzzle that was a large part of his face. The dybbuk box was so close he could step on it in one stride. “I think not.” He tossed the still-beating heart into the dybbuk box, not at all surprised when the top snapped shut, the sting of magic making him sneeze.

  “No!” Bradley howled, falling to his knees. His hands clutched at his chest as his darkened flesh began to melt from his bones. “You tricked me!”

  “This isn’t the hour of your triumph.” Noah stood as tall as his bent knees would allow him and howled his triumph to his pack. Fuck, he hated this form. Even now the beast strained at the leash, maddened by the scent of both the red and black blood flowing from Bradley’s quickly dying form. “This is the hour of your eternal imprisonment. Hope you like brown, asshole.”

  Noah howled again, this time in warning as the black blood tried to wriggle away. Mollie, still barely on her feet, burned the black blood away as it trickled down to nothingness. The stench burned his sensitive nose, but still he thrived on it. He’d won. He’d defeated the monster.

  Now he just had to reel himself back in, become human once more.

  Not yet. Yew whispered in his ear, directing his attention to the floor. He glanced down to find a small, wriggling piece of tendon that was trying to escape Mollie’s fiery wrath. He picked it up and tossed it into the fire she was directing at the remains of the corpse.

  He’d been unaware of the oppressive sensation Bradley carried with him until it was gone. He was lighter now, his wolf wanting to run, to celebrate their victory over their enemy.

  Come home, alpha. We await you, Yew whispered.

  The need to be with his mate, to embrace her, overcame the wolf, once more bringing him in alliance with Noah’s wants and needs. The wolf backed down without a fight, allowing Noah to once more transform into a man.

  “Shit.” Lore stood behind Mollie, his nose bleeding, his eyes bloodshot, swaying on his feet. “Remind me not to piss your wolf off.”

  Noah sighed wearily and fell ungracefully on his ass. “We did it.”

  “Yeah, we did.” Gideon’s voice was cracking, almost broken. “As long as no one opens that fucking box.”

  Noah turned his head to glance at the innocent-seeming box. “Can we arrange to shoot it into outer space now? Zander really wants to.”

  Mollie laughed. “I’ll talk to him about that, right after I call for someone to come pick our asses up.”

  Noah glanced down at his naked body. “Tell them to bring clothes.”

  “I dunno. Things are looking pretty impressive.” Mollie winked and pulled out her cell phone.

  Noah covered his junk, well aware of where she’d been glancing as she’d said that. “I’m telling Greer.”

  “Pfft. You go right ahead. He’ll come and carry me home.” Mollie laughed wearily. “Then I won’t have to walk my ass back to my car.”

  Huh. Why hadn’t Noah thought of that? “Good idea, except my mate can barely carry herself.”

  “I’ll call Amara for you. She’ll be happy to do a service for the ruling dryads.” Mollie held up a finger to stop the automatic protest that leapt to his lips. “Hello, Greer? I can see Noah’s impressive package...”

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Iva waited impatiently for the Baltimore group to arrive. They’d defeated Peter Bradley, and now they had to deal with the dybbuk box and get on with their lives.

  “I’m telling you, we can blast it into space.” Zander was beside her, still pushing the idea of having his air elementals give they dybbuk box one giant heave ho.

  “Not now, Zander.” The plants and trees whispered to her. Her mate was close, almost there. “They’ll be here soon.”

  “That’s so freaky, that you can do that.” Zander walked away, muttering to himself. She ignored him, focused solely on whether or not Noah had been hurt during the battle. They’d called ahead, letting Web, Inigo and Dr. T know that they’d be bringing in wounded. No one had said who those wounded would be.

  Finally, after eons of waiting, the cars and SUVs appeared in front of the hospital. The emergency staff was prepped and waiting.

  So was Iva. She should have gone with Greer to get everyone, but she’d been pulled into clean-up and helping get their own wounded to the hospital. She had some new scars to show her mate. Thanks to Greer’s healing, she wasn’t in a hospital bed herself.

  Unfortunately, Frisco was. Greer was still working on him, but he’d assured her and Zander that Frisco would live. If he was the worst wounded, they’d be lucky.

  The doors opened and her friends began pouring out. Mollie was being held up by Noah, her face pale. Noah shouted to the waiting medics, “She needs to get warm!”

  People began moving, a choreographed dance Iva had no part in. She moved to the side, watching anxiously as Noah assisted others out of the vehicles. Some had to be carried to stretchers, obviously unconscious or too weak to move on their own. Rock’s arms were covered in bandages, his expression a study in controlled pain. She began to move among them, speaking soft words here and there, reassuring them that everything would be all right. The wolves at least relaxed at her words, those that were conscious anyway.

  The battle had cost them, but they’d won the war.

  When all of the injured had been carted off, a sort of anticipatory hush fell over those left in front of the hospital. Iva smiled when Noah’s gaze fell on her, his expression filling instantly with relief. “Iva.” He held out his arms. “I don’t have a lot left in me, so you’ll have to come to me.”

  After all the times he’d come to her when she’d been communing, he deserved no less. “Thank the gods you’re all right.” She ran to him, eagerly embracing him, feeling for her
self that he was fine. She shivered, letting go of the fear that had been riding her over his safety.

  His arms encircled her tightly, his nose buried in her neck. He breathed deep, probably taking in her scent. “You were hurt.”

  “I’m good. Greer saw to me.” She rubbed his back, hoping to soothe him. “We won.”

  “Only one thing left to do now.” He practically melted against her, giving her some of his weight.

  Her smile widened into a wicked grin. “Shoot the box into space?”

  He chuckled wearily. “How’d you know?”

  “Zander wouldn’t stop talking about it.” She was pretty certain the elementals would do just as Zander suggested too. Once in space, the bastard demon would hopefully have all eternity to regret going up against Maggie’s Grove.

  “Gods, I want to go home, take a shower, and sleep for a week.” Noah lifted his head after sniffing her neck once more. “I want to wash the blood off of you as well.”

  She stared up at him, stroking his cheek. When he leaned in, nuzzling her palm, her heart almost hurt with how full of love she was.

  “I love you.” Noah’s gaze was full of devotion and tenderness.

  She closed her eyes, savoring the moment. “Shoot. You said it before me.”

  His body shook against hers as he chuckled again. “We’ll play rock, paper scissors to see who gets to ask who to marry them first.”

  She opened her eyes and glared playfully at him. “That had better be you asking me, wolfman. And the diamond should be—”

  He put his finger against her lips. “Don’t you have anything else to say to me?”

  She tilted her head as if thinking about it. “Oh, yeah. I kinda like you too.”

  “Damn it, woman.” He slumped against her once more, his head on her shoulder, his nose against her neck.

  Iva giggled, placing her head against his shoulder once more. “I love you too, Noah.”

  “You’re evil.” He sighed, his breath tickling her skin. “But I like you like that.”

  “Good, because I’m pretty sure that’s a part of me that’s never going away.” Iva closed her eyes, enjoying the simple pleasure of holding her mate in her arms.

  * * *

  Iva bit her lip, studying the preparations she’d made to mate with Noah the dryad way. They’d decided to wait until her cast was off to finish the mating, allowing her more freedom of movement as she’d need to be connected physically to Yew to complete her end of the mating. The children were with Selena and Ash at Selena’s cottage. She’d threatened to gorge them on pizza and bad movies until their brains leaked out their ears. The children, predictably, had been all for that idea. They’d happily hopped on Selena’s broom for take-off.

  Iva’s heart had nearly stopped when Selena shot straight up into the air, the children squealing with glee. Selena wouldn’t allow anything to happen to the kids, but watching them fly off over the treetops had nearly given her a heart attack.

  “Is everything done?” Noah had insisted on helping her prepare, wanting to be a part of every step. With the rest of the dryads giving them their privacy, they were nearly ready. His arms were wrapped around her, cocooning her in his warmth.

  She reached up with both hands to clasp his forearms, thrilled that the cast was off. “I think so.” Cushions surrounded the base of her tree, some huge, some small, making a bed of pillows for her and Noah to stretch out on. She wanted to be laying down for this rather than standing. She had the feeling Noah would want her on her hands and knees, and while she was a mighty dryad, rocks and roots could still hurt her knees.

  “Good.” Noah kissed the side of her neck. “Get naked, woman.”

  Iva bit her lip as a wave of desire swept through her. His voice had turned gravelly, the way it did when he was fucking her. “Whatever you say, alpha.”

  Iva pulled away from him and turned, showing him the shirt and skimpy shorts she’d put on. It was one of his button-down shirts, meant to drive him wild. If his intent expression and the way his fangs were showing was any indication, she’d succeeded in turning him on.

  This mating would be uncomfortable for him, binding him not only to her but to her tree. She wanted to make sure he enjoyed as much of it as possible.

  With that in mind, she began unbuttoning the shirt. She had no idea whether or not he was aware she wasn’t wearing a bra, but she’d bet her favorite shoes he was. Noah missed little, especially where she was concerned.

  She pulled apart the flaps of the shirt, revealing her bare skin and the cute boy shorts she’d worn. They were an orangey-red, the color the berries of her tree used to be before she’d been infected.

  “Damn.” Noah stared at her, then clawed his shirt off. It hit the ground, obviously ripped. “Just... Damn.”

  Iva smiled and leaned back against her tree. She’d need to be part of it for the claiming to take place. She’d place at least one of her hands inside, joining the three of them together once Noah entered her. For now, she had put her right hand in, waiting to see what Noah would do or say about it. She hadn’t told him this part, just that her tree needed to be involved. “Like what you see?”

  “Fuck yeah.” Noah strode toward her, his gaze still on her, or more precisely, her breasts. “I want a taste.”

  Iva giggled as a thought struck her. “You gonna lick it so it’s yours?”

  His eyes lit up. “What a great idea.” He pounced, almost knocking her to the ground. His arms were around her faster than thought, keeping her on her feet. “Careful.”

  Luckily, he hadn’t dislodged her hand. “Who are you warning, you or me?” Sometimes his strength was overwhelming, but he’d never purposefully hurt her.

  “Yes.” Noah licked her left nipple. “Mine.” He licked the right nipple. “Mine.”

  She chuckled even has her body came to life under his touch. Her laughter didn’t last for long, though. Noah had apparently decided to lick every inch of her he could see, because he began to explore her body with single-minded intensity. He paid special attention to her breasts, loving on them until she was panting with desire. He licked her hip bones, surprising her with the faint hint of ticklishness there. That sensation made her squirm away from him, an act that made her alpha growl out his displeasure. She stilled, trying not to move as he licked the other hip.

  With an expression of satisfaction, he carefully pulled off her boy shorts, placing them on the ground almost reverently. “You are definitely wearing those again.”

  “Am I?” Of course she was, but teasing her mate was so much fun.

  He glared at her. “I’m certainly not.”

  That did it. She laughed, picturing him in the tiny shorts. “But you’d look so cute.”

  He huffed, the sound so canine it only made her laugh harder. Mumbling under his breath, he eased her down onto the cushions.

  Yew’s branches swayed gently. Iva sensed a gentle nudge, as if Yew was reminding her of why they were there.

  Noah’s expression changed, becoming less amused and more focused. “I hear you, my lady.”

  Iva blinked. “Huh?”

  Noah smirked. “She wants us to get on with it.” He tsk’d. “She’s so romantic.”

  Iva gaped at him, astonished. “Did...she speak to you?”

  “Yup.” Noah licked her clit, almost distracting her. “Why?”

  Why?

  Why?

  “Mates don’t hear the tree’s words, that’s why!” It was unheard of. “No one does!”

  “No, it’s not unheard of,” a soft voice whispered in the back of her mind. “You’ve just forgotten how to hear us.”

  Iva was so stunned she didn’t realize that Noah had stopped touching her. He was sitting on his haunches, staring at her, patiently waiting for her. “You okay, sweetheart?”

  “Ah. Yeah, I think so.” She shook he
r head. “I rarely hear her voice, and I know the others haven’t heard their trees at all. She says it’s because we’ve forgotten how to listen.”

  “Well, perhaps we can figure out how Yew got through to us and help the others hear their trees as well.” He tilted his head, staring at Yew. “I wonder. Could we hear our wolves better if we listened harder?”

  “Maybe.” She shifted, making herself more comfortable. “We could do some research on...” His eyes had gone back to her, his focus once more solely on her. “Noah?”

  “Hmm?” He reached out and touched the tip of her breast with one finger. He watched what he was doing with a fascinated gaze.

  She shifted again as his soft touch began to stir her desire once more. “Nothing.” She tugged on one of the loops of his jeans. “Aren’t you a little overdressed?”

  “Mmm-hmm.” He cupped her breasts, his thumbs stroking across the hard tips of her nipples.

  She tugged harder. “Get these off, Mr. Wulfenbach.”

  Noah stood, shimmying out of his jeans and underwear so quickly she didn’t even get to enjoy the show. What she did get to do, however, was lean forward and lick the tip of his cock.

  Noah shook and groaned as Iva continued licking at the dripping tip of his cock. When he grabbed the back of her head and thrust into her mouth, she almost smiled in triumph. She’d gotten him to lose complete control of himself.

  Noah’s teeth were bared, his fangs glistening in the pearlescent moonlight. His claws were digging into the back of her head as he fucked her face. He came close to gagging her several times, but she held steady, determined to make him crazy before they mated.

  Fur sprouted along his arms in sporadic bursts. His eyes turned golden brown, glowing with power. His wolf must have joined in on their mating, ready for the bond that would complete them.

  “Enough,” Noah growled, pulling free of her lips. He flipped her around, pushing the shirt out of his way and lifting her rear in the air.