Unmasking the Wolf

by Gissendaner, Christy

  There was no scent of a paranormal about her, yet the knife in her hand was deadly enough. Gina quickly realized her intent and yelled. “Luke, watch out!”

  He turned and dove to the side, using his body to block hers, as Meredith expertly threw the knife. It grazed his shoulder before clattering to the floor. His eyes glowed green, his hair ruffled and standing on end. “I’ll be right back,” he said to her before he turned to face the enemy.

  With a low growl, he stretched his arms and bent backward. His human form shimmered and then disappeared, replaced by his wolf form. A sleek golden wolf took his place. Gina sucked in a breath at the beauty of his animal form. He launched himself at Meredith, who attempted to block him with raised arms.

  They were joined by a black wolf, with glowing amber eyes. Dominic. He strode between them and turned his head to Luke. Luke eased away, retreating to Gina’s side. Unlike Dominic, he didn’t play with her. A fierce growl escaped him as he swung his powerful claws at Meredith’s face. Her head twisted to the side, neck clearly broken, and her body slumped to the ground.

  Dominic turned his head toward them, his amber eyes full of sorrow, before he slunk out of the room. Luke changed back to human form. Nude, his wounds stuck out in stark relief. Four claw marks cut diagonally across his chest, the wounds deep and jagged. A long scratch covered his arm.

  He bent down and gently touched her neck. “What are these marks?”

  She grimaced. “Taser.”

  “I’m so sorry.” Luke cradled her head and pressed a kiss to her bruised cheek.

  Shaking with the latent effect of her horror and fear, she forced words past her aching throat. “Is it over?”

  “It’s over,” Luke said in a consoling voice. “Meredith was responsible for Laura’s death.”

  “Oh,” Gina gasped. She wished her hands were free so she could hug him. “I’m sorry.”

  He clung to her, both needing the comfort of each other for several moments. Dominic stumbled into the room and they quickly broke apart. “Gina, it’s your father. Come quick.”

  Luke and Dominic proved strong enough to break the chains binding her to the chair. She shook her hands, attempting to get the blood flowing to her fingers again. Her wrists were chaffed and sore, but not as bloody as she’d thought.

  On shaking legs, she left the lab and hurried to the form crumpled on the floor. Her father had his head and shoulders propped against the wall. He had left hand clamped to his right upper arm. Blood poured from a hideous wound.

  “Papa!” Scared out of her wits at his pallor, she dropped to her knees beside him.

  “Bambina,” he whispered, a soft smile gentling his craggy features. “Did those bastards hurt you?”

  She touched his cheek, frightened at the clamminess of his skin. “I’m fine, papa. Don’t worry about me. We need to get you to a doctor.”

  “No doctor.” He tried to stand, but the attempt was weak.

  Luke and Dominic both urged him back to a reclining position. The look in the other men’s eyes assured her the wound was just as bad as she envisioned. “Oh, God. Papa, I’m so sorry.”

  “Hush.” Her father shook his head. “It’s not your fault.”

  Despite his words, guilt filled her. If she hadn’t been so headstrong, none of this would’ve happened. Her father, a man who’d never shown weakness in all her life, slumped against her. He’d fainted. It was almost too much to believe.

  She turned her gaze to Luke, who hovered beside her. “Will he be all right?”

  Luke carefully moved past her to assist Dominic in hauling Tony to his feet. “Let’s get him to a doctor and we’ll see.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Luke quietly entered the bedroom and stared at the scene before him.

  Gina was slumped over the bed, her hand wrapped tightly around her father’s. The alpha’s other arm was wrapped tight with bandages. A vicious swipe from one of the hybrids had nearly taken his arm off. According to the Luke’s private doctor, he would most likely never recover the use of his arm. Tony was resting now, courtesy of the powerful sedatives given to him.

  He crept toward the bed and touched his mate’s shoulder. “Gina, come to bed.”

  She lifted her head and stared at him through red-rimmed eyes. “I’m not leaving him.”

  He tangled his fingers in her hair and lightly stroked. “Your mother will be here in a couple of hours. You need your rest.”

  “No.” Her blue eyes snapped with determination. “It’s my fault he’s here. I’m going to stay.”

  “Oh, Gina.” He sighed and gathered her into his embrace. He buried his nose into her ponytail, relishing the scent of her. “It wasn’t your fault.”

  She pulled back. Unshed tears made her eyes sparkle like gems. “I have to go back.”

  Fear jolted him into a living nightmare. “Go back?”

  Her lips trembled, but she kept a firm gaze on him. “To Clinton. Papa is going to need my help.”

  “But . . . ” Luke broke off his words, too upset to voice his emotions. Was she leaving him? “What about your life here?”

  “My life is in Clinton. Coming to Boston was a mistake. I never should’ve left.”

  Even though he longed to be understanding and caring, anger filled him at her words. “Are you saying you wish you’d never met me?”

  Her face drained of color. “No. I could never wish that, but you have to understand. My father has lost his arm because of me. I’ve got to go.”

  “For how long?” He stepped away from her, struggling against the urge to yell. “How long will you be gone?”

  She cast her gaze toward the floor. “I’m not sure.”

  This couldn’t be happening. They were mated, for fuck’s sake. Did that mean nothing to her?

  He shoved a hand through his hair. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

  Tony shifted and a tiny moan of pain escaped him. Gina was at her father’s side in an instant, murmuring nonsensical word to him and smoothing his hair back from his forehead. Luke watched her, alternately wanting to kiss and shake her. Could she not see they were perfect together? Had the past couple of days meant nothing to her?

  Standing there, watching her tenderly care for her father, he made a decision. He wouldn’t push her. “I won’t stop you.”

  She turned her head to stare at him, the dim lighting casting a pale glow over her vivid features. She visibly swallowed. Her voice sounded strained, as if she had to force her throat to give sound to the words. “It’s not how I wanted it. Please don’t be mad.”

  Mad? Oh, he was way past that. But beneath the fury lay a heartbreak no amount of alcohol could stifle but damned if he wouldn’t try it. He didn’t say a word, couldn’t trust himself to speak. He left the room and joined Dominic, who waited nervously in the living room.

  “How is he?”

  Luke went to the sidebar and poured them both a shot of whiskey. “He’s resting.”

  Dominic appeared relieved. “And Gina?”

  Luke tossed back the shot, the fire of the liquor burning its way down his throat. “She says she’s going back to Clinton.”

  “Say what?” Dominic was clearly puzzled. “Why?”

  “To help her father.” Luke dropped onto the couch with a ragged sigh.

  “Wow. Didn’t see that one coming.” Dominic sipped his whiskey and claimed the armchair situated near the couch. He twisted the glass in his lean fingers. “I can do it. I can go to Clinton and help Tony.”

  “You don’t have to do that.”

  Resolve strengthened Dominic’s features. “Yes, I do. If I’m going to be alpha, Uncle Tony is going to need me. I’ll go back to Clinton.”

  “No, you won’t.”

  Luke turned at the sound of Gina’s voice. She stood in the doorway of the bedroom, eyeing them both suspiciously. “I will not have my life planned for me. Jesus, you guys! That’s what I came to Boston to escape.”

  “Exactly.” Dominic stood and gave voice to t
he words in Luke’s heart. “So why are you going back? It’s not what your father would want for you, wasting your life to help him.”

  She strode forward and poked her finger in her cousin’s chest. “And it’s not what he would want for you. You have a life here. L-12 can go to trial. You have to be here for that. What good does it do for me to stay in Boston? There’s nothing here for me.”

  Dominic’s gaze cut toward him. Luke tried to act like the pain wasn’t knifing through him, but the younger wolf seemed to sense it. “Shit, Gina. There’s everything for you here.” He pointed toward Luke. “He loves you. Are you just going to throw all of that away?”

  Gina’s eyes rounded with horror. “Oh my God. Luke, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that.”

  “No, I understand.” He got to his feet and smacked the glass down on the coffee table so hard it was a miracle it didn’t break. “I don’t want to stand in your way.”

  He left the room quickly, not trusting himself to stay around her.

  •●•

  It was almost a week before Angela Moretti proclaimed her husband well enough to travel. Gina hated feeling like her family was encroaching on Luke, but he insisted they stay in his condo while Tony recovered. Gina shared a room with him, but they seldom spoke, much less touched. He spent his days at the office, working late and coming home long after she was in bed.

  “Ready?” Dominic lugged another piece of luggage to the front door and waited for her to join him.

  Gina gave one last look at the apartment she’d called home for the past several days. Luke was at the office, either not knowing or caring enough to say goodbye. She knew he was upset about her leaving, but what did he expect of her? She couldn’t leave her mother to deal with the farm by herself while her father continued to recover. He’d regained a bit of motion in his fingers, but couldn’t lift his arm yet. If Luke’s doctor was right, he would probably never be able to use it again.

  “Did he say anything?”

  Dominic held open the door for her. “Luke?” He shook his head. “Naw, he hasn’t talked much to me lately.”

  “Is he still mad at me?”

  Dominic’s gaze gentled. “What do you think? The woman he loves is leaving him. He’s bound to be hurt.”

  Gina blinked to hold back the tears. “I didn’t mean to hurt him.”

  “Then don’t.” Dominic used his body to block her from entering the elevator. “If you love Luke, stay here with him. Uncle Tony will understand.”

  “I can’t.” Gina’s throat ached with emotion. “I’m all they have.”

  “They have me.”

  “I can’t ask you to do that, Dom. Luke needs you here.”

  Dominic shook his head. “He needs you.”

  She swiped her fingers beneath her eyes to wipe away the tears that escaped. “He doesn’t act like it. He won’t even speak to me.”

  “He’s hurt. Give him time.” Dominic touched her arm. “He’s lost everyone he’s ever cared about. Are you going to make him lose you too?”

  Gina sighed. “It’s not forever. I can come back.”

  “When? You have to face that your father will probably lose the use of his arm.”

  “No. Don’t say that.”

  “It’s the truth.” Dominic ran his hand through his overly long hair. “Let me go. I can set up a satellite lab and continue my research from home.”

  “I can’t let you do that.” It was tempting, so very tempting though. “I’m his daughter. He needs me.”

  “He’ll have me and your mother. Luke needs you too.”

  “Don’t make me choose. I can’t choose between them.” Gina hated this, hated being torn between her responsibility and her desires.

  “Look me in the eye and tell that you don’t love Luke. If you can do that, I’ll let you go.”

  She tried to meet his gaze, but the burning question in her cousin’s eyes refused to let her lie. “I love him, okay? I’m totally crazy about him. But it doesn’t change things.”

  Dominic grinned. “Why doesn’t it?”

  “Because he . . . he needs someone stronger than me. I’m nothing special.”

  Dominic’s gaze moved to a spot over her left shoulder. “I think there is someone who would argue with you about that.”

  Gina spun around and gasped. Luke stood a few feet behind her. He was delightfully disheveled, his hair damp from the rain and his tie loosened and lying limply around his neck. He’d never looked sexier to her.

  “Did you mean it?” His gaze probed hers for the truth.

  Although nervous, she held her own gaze steady. “Yes. I love you. I don’t want to leave.”

  “Then don’t.” Luke opened his arms to her. “Stay with me.”

  “Do you want me to?”

  “Hell yeah, I do. I’ve been going crazy thinking about you leaving.”

  She rushed forward, his delightful scent wrapping around her as he folded her into his embrace. He kissed her forehead and held her close. “Stay.”

  “You wouldn’t talk to me. I thought you wanted me to leave.”

  “Never that.” He tipped her chin up. “I love you. I want you with me. Please say you’ll stay.”

  She closed her eyes, joy and hope warring with her need to help her parents. “I can’t abandon them.”

  “You don’t have to. We’ll go to Clinton whenever you want.”

  “We?” She opened her eyes to focus on his face. “You’ll go with me?”

  He chuckled. “I can’t wait to meet all your Moretti relatives.”

  She lifted an eyebrow. “Are you sure about that?”

  “Well I know Dominic and he isn’t so bad.” Luke shot a grin to her cousin, who openly watched their reunion with a pleased expression.

  “Trust me; you’re going to regret saying that.”

  His expression sobered. “No, I won’t. I love you, Gina.”

  “I love you.” And in her heart, she knew she’d found her mate. Being with him was the right thing to do.

  Epilogue

  Giant rows of corn stretched as far as the eye could see.

  Gina stood at the edge of the field and watched as the leaves gently swayed back and forth. The sun was setting low in the sky, a burst of orange and red lightening the horizon. It was the perfect ending to a beautiful day.

  Warm hands landed on her shoulders and rubbed up and down her bare arms. “Are you cold?”

  She shook her head, heat spreading outward from where Luke touched her. It was amazing how much had happened in less than a year. L-12 had successfully finished the clinical trials and was now being marketed to lunar wolves. Her father had managed to regain most of the use of his arm, despite the doctor’s dire predictions.

  “You miss it,” Luke remarked.

  She gazed at the familiar fields, where she’d spent most of her childhood and felt a pang. “Sometimes.”

  “What would you say if I asked you to move back here?”

  She pivoted and stared at him. “What do you mean?”

  Luke smiled. “With L-12 on the market, I can afford to take some time off.”

  “But your work is in Boston.”

  “Yours too.” He nudged his forehead against hers. “But I’ve already talked to Vino. He’s thinking about opening a shop here in Clinton and wants you to run it.”

  “Me?” She was surprised by how well she’d grown to love her job at Vino’s pastry.

  “So what do you say?”

  “You’re serious?”

  Luke nodded. “I like it here. You’re too stubborn to say it, but I know you hate being away from your family.”

  There was no use denying the truth. Being in Boston for most of the past nine months had changed her, made her realize how much she loved her hometown. “What are you going to do here?”

  “I was hoping I could be your husband.”

  She sucked in a breath. “What?”

  Luke got down on one knee and extended his hand. In his palm rested a t
iny white velvet box. “Marry me, Gina.”

  “Oh my God. Yes. Yes!”

  “Don’t you even want to see the ring?” Luke teased.

  Her fingers trembled as she reached for the box and opened it. Nestled inside was a pear-shaped yellow diamond. “It’s beautiful.”

  Luke stood and reached for her hand. He slid the ring onto her finger and sealed the promise with a kiss. “I’m going to enjoy spending the rest of my life with you.”

  “I suppose it’s a good thing I ran away.” She met his gaze and saw forever reflected in his eyes. “It made me find you.”

  About the Author

  Christy Gissendaner is a romantic comedy author and believes laughter and love should go hand in hand. She lives in Alabama with her husband and three sons and is always hard at work on her next novel. In her spare time she loves blackjack, karaoke, and anything resembling a vacation!

  http://christygissendaner.webs.com

  Taliesin Publishing thrives on introducing you to new authors and stories. If you enjoyed this book, please continue reading for excerpts of other stories releasing soon we think you’ll love. And, please spread the word.

  Taliesin Publishing

  Where great stories give birth to legends.

  That Pearly Drop by Jianne Carlo

  Étaín wrinkled her nose at Larkin’s too-depictive command, but held her tongue until the three warriors departed. A stiff wind rattled the shingle attached to the shop into which he had disappeared. She hugged her arms, pretended a shiver, and mimicked a sneeze.

  Cedilla gave her a sharp inspection. “Rory, run after the cart, and fetch milady’s wool brat. Make haste and return to us. Did I not say ′twas too cold for that summer brat? Your da will have me whipped if you catch a chest chill again.”

  “Aye. You had the right of it Cedilla. I should have donned my heavy cloak. Forgive my stubbornness. Look, we are at the baker’s pasty shop and his ovens fair heat the air. Wait here for Rory, while I warm my chilled flesh inside the shop.” When Cedilla frowned down at her, Étaín added, “I will be but an ell away from you and the door is open. I will come to no harm.”