Protected by Wolves [Shape-Shifter Clinic 4] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)

by Cara Adams

  Long before that Ambrielle and Wynter had returned, having not found the car the young men had arrived in, if it had ever been left there. Rowan wondered if the mastermind had seen what had happened to his team of young men and quietly driven away by some back route when no one was paying attention.

  Rowan had wanted Ellie to go home and stay at her own apartment in the safety of Garden Acres, but she’d been insistent that she go to work as usual, so that’s what had happened after the police had interviewed her.

  At least she had her brown-bag lunch today if she felt well enough to eat after losing her breakfast. He’d damn near lost his own breakfast with fear when he’d seen the metal on the road and was terrified she’d crash her car.

  The police officer who’d checked the metal had appeared very interested indeed when he’d noticed it wasn’t just nails, tacks, and spikes, but also caltrops, which were designed so that no matter how they fell there was always one barb pointing up to flatten a car tire. Rowan had noticed that, too. He thought that proved it was rather more than just a kid’s prank. Anyone might have a couple boxes of nails and tacks in the barn but caltrops—not so much.

  Thoughtfully Rowan called Oscar. “Can you meet me outside? I want to talk to you but without the ladies overhearing us.”

  “Give me ten minutes. I’m just writing up a patient’s chart.”

  “See you then.”

  Rowan parked in the driveway of the clinic again, then leaned against the hood of Mike’s car. The sun was shining, the sky was blue, and it was a perfectly lovely day. It was just that he had this niggling feeling that all wasn’t perfect in the world right now. Whether that was George Thorne’s fault or pure coincidence he wasn’t sure, but he had a sneaking feeling it was George. The only question was, had George sent those punks to Ellie’s apartment as well? She’d taken it as normal, but he thought it was rather suspicious that it was young men every time.

  “What’s up, Rowan?”

  Rowan looked at Oscar. He had black curly hair, black eyes, and broad shoulders. He was a typical muscular wolf. “I was wondering if you needed to talk to your attorney and your private investigator. That attack this morning not only smells rotten, it was no joke. Ellie could have been killed. If she hadn’t known what to do when her tires were punctured, if she hadn’t been able to steer her car properly, it doesn’t bear thinking about.”

  Oscar nodded. “I know. There were a hell of a lot of things on the road. No one could have escaped all that metal.”

  “And caltrops. Who has caltrops lying around? No farmer, that’s for sure. One of those could cripple your animals.”

  Again Oscar nodded.

  Rowan straightened up off Mike’s car. “Those four young men didn’t magically appear on the road there complete with tire shredders. Someone brought them there. Someone who never came back to pick them up, so therefore couldn’t care less if they were caught, or someone who took off and saved himself knowing they likely wouldn’t identify him. But we have pictures of them and of one of the kids at Ellie’s apartment. Likely they’re local or belong to some half-baked gang. Maybe your private investigator could find out who runs them and what his link is to George. If he is linked to George, that is.”

  “My personal thought is that George is behind it, but he may be hidden well back, with several layers of people between these kids and him. Too many to prove anything about him at any rate. But I can ask Harry Harrison to run some checks. I certainly agree this had the potential to be a true disaster. I’ve also contacted my attorney, Sierra Bond. If these kids go to court I want them charged. She said she couldn’t promise me anything, but at least she’ll try to ensure they don’t get off with a slap on the wrist.”

  “It’d be worthwhile knowing if any of them has a record. Your investigator should be able to find that out.”

  “Oh, he will. And you’ll be guarding Ellie?”

  “Yes. After the people at her apartment, I can’t help thinking she’s being targeted for a reason. Of course it could have been anyone today. That’s a public road after all.”

  Oscar looked thoughtful. “Yes, it could have been some innocent passerby. But Ellie frequently arrives ahead of time. She’s often one of the early birds. Of course some of us live at the house so we’re always there in the mornings. But of those who commute, yeah, often the first arrival would be Ellie.”

  “Fuck! Why would anyone target her?”

  * * * *

  Ellie had wanted to be at work, to be in her office with the silence and the computer screen, making order out of the chaos of the medical reports. She got pure pleasure out of deciphering coffee-stained notes and charts scribbled over by three different people with three different colored inks. When she finished, everything on the screen was neat and orderly, the patient’s health a clear trail from suffering to wellbeing.

  But today that wasn’t happening. Deep inside herself she was wondering whether it was important that the assailants were young men. Of course, most punks were young men, but it seemed suspicious to her. And why were they picking on her? What had she ever done to hurt them?

  Yeah, the age-old cry. She’d never done anything to deliberately hurt her family either, but the fact she existed was enough to send them into screaming fits at her. So likely there was some obscure reason why these people hated her, too.

  Ellie pushed her keyboard away and crossed her arms on the desk, resting her face on her forearms.

  It’s not my fault I’m not a cat. I always wanted to be a cat. For years and years I thought that one day, if I believed in it hard enough, I’d be able to shape-shift, but it never happened. I didn’t get the gene. It’s not my fault. If I could have chosen, I’d’ve picked the gene. You’re my family. I only ever wanted to belong!

  But that’s not the problem here. The problem is that George hates Oscar and wants the property for himself. So why me? Is it just that I look like a soft target? I look helpless and small?

  “I don’t fucking know. It doesn’t make sense.”

  Ellie pulled a tissue out of the box and wiped her face. She hadn’t been crying. She never cried, especially not for her hateful family. She sniffed, then blew her nose.

  All she could do was remain on guard for potential trouble. Well, she’d been doing that all her life pretty much.

  Oh hell. I wonder how much three tires are going to cost me? I hope they can be repaired. I don’t think getting my apartment deposit back will be enough to pay for three new tires. Just another thing to worry about!

  Ellie thought of Mike and Rowan. She was spending way too much of her free time dreaming about them these last few days. She’d only known them a couple days and already her mind was filled with their handsome bodies and their kindness and thoughtfulness. They’d both made it very clear they were determined to protect her, but they didn’t push her around or demean her abilities. They were just there, helping her, looking after her, and making her lust for them. Well, likely they couldn’t help that!

  Sunday was going to be a problem, though. Every Sunday afternoon she visited her grandma. They’d had to sell her house and move her into an assisted-living facility, but with Ellie taking over the repayments for her father’s bills her grandmother had gone guarantor for, and her parents had refused to pay, her grandmother was able to meet her own monthly living costs.

  Once again Ellie felt hatred burn through her at what her family had done. Her father had been embroiled in get-rich-quick schemes since she was small. On this occasion he and her mother had somehow convinced her grandmother to go guarantor for them. Of course the scheme had failed, but not before her father had taken all the money and spent it, leaving her grandmother with a mass of bills she was unable to pay.

  Selling her house and moving into the assisted-living facility had helped Grandma get the interest payments down to a more manageable level, and Ellie’s salary was making a difference, too. But there were still a few years more before the debt would be gone. Although now she could
put extra money into it…No, she’d better not get her hopes up. As soon as the current crisis was over she’d be out looking for an apartment elsewhere again. The wolves wouldn’t let her stay there indefinitely. But still, even a few months of extra money would help her grandma.

  But how was she going to visit her? No one knew where she went on Sundays, and she didn’t want her family to know either, or they’d be around knocking on her door trying to make her buy into whatever money-making scheme her father was currently embroiled in. Maybe she could make Mike and Rowan wait in the parking lot so they didn’t know who she visited? No, that wouldn’t work, her family would guess in a few seconds. Well, she’d just have to swear them to secrecy she supposed. Or escape from them. Could she do that? Give them the slip? She wouldn’t be in any danger. What she did on Sundays was something no one on Earth knew except for her and her grandma.

  * * * *

  “What are your plans for the weekend, Ellie? What time will you need us to be waiting for you tomorrow?” Rowan asked.

  She looked so beautiful standing there in the sunshine in the clinic parking lot, her head for once raised and her huge silver eyes behind her glasses shining with intelligence. But there was something else in them, too. Guile perhaps? Worry wiggled its way into Rowan’s heart. Yes, there was something going on in her mind. But what?

  “I only just moved into the new apartment. I’ve still got a lot of unpacking to do. I won’t need you until seven as usual on Monday.”

  So she was planning something. She hadn’t said she was staying home, she’d said she had a lot to do and wouldn’t need them. She was going to give them the slip at some stage over the weekend. Now why would she do that? Was she working with George after all? Was this whole protecting her thing a scam and she was in on it up to her slender neck?

  “Are you sure?” Mike asked her.

  “Yes. But thank you for your concern.”

  Ellie turned and got into her car, so Rowan and Mike jumped into Rowan’s car. Once they were following her out of the clinic grounds, Rowan said, “She is going somewhere over the weekend. She just doesn’t want us to come with her.”

  Mike turned so Rowan could see him while still watching the road. “Yeah, that’s the thought in my mind as well. At least she didn’t lie outright to us, but it doesn’t look good. Why would she run way from us when her life has been in danger so many times?”

  “Do you think George is paying her to distract us? That he’s planning to do something else somewhere else while we’re running around after Ellie?” Rowan really didn’t want to think Ellie was on the side of the bad guys, but what other excuse could there be. They still didn’t even know if she was human or not. She’d never told them anything personal about herself at all.

  “That doesn’t make sense. The Alpha can call on twenty other men to help him. There’s not only us available.”

  “That’s true.” Rowan followed Ellie as she turned off the highway onto the road to Green Acres.

  “Do you think we should stay here and watch her anyway?” asked Mike.

  “Yes. Something is going to happen this weekend, and we need to be here when it does, even if she’s only going to sneak out to buy a chocolate bar. It’s our job to protect her and that’s what we’ll do.”

  “But she’ll recognize our cars and Karen’s car, too,” objected Mike.

  “Good point. Call Sam and ask if we can swap cars with him for the weekend. He’s still watching those other two women isn’t he?”

  “I like that idea.” Mike pulled out his cell phone while Rowan watched Ellie enter the gated community and drive around to the back of the area out of his sight.

  “Hey, Sam, it’s Mike. We were wondering if we could swap vehicles with you for some surveillance over the weekend.”

  Mike had evidently hit the speaker button because Rowan clearly heard Sam’s answer. “Sure. I’m waiting outside the beauty salon. The women are getting their toenails painted right now. It could be a while. How long do these things take, Rowan. You’ve got a sister, you should know.”

  “It depends whether they’re getting their feet massaged as well, and if they get their fingernails painted. Hell, Karen can spend a whole day in there, sometimes.”

  Sam groaned and Mike and Rowan laughed. “I’ll text you when I get to Green Acres. Of course, I may have gone insane by then.”

  Mike clicked off the call and rang his favorite pizza provider, ordering them a large pizza each and a couple cans of soda. “If we’re going to be here all night, I don’t plan to starve,” Mike told Rowan.

  “Apparently not. Okay, you wait here with the car and I’ll walk around to Ellie’s apartment and just check everything’s okay.”

  Rowan handed the car keys to Mike, then nodded to the security guard and walked through the small, people-sized gate. The driveway seemed a lot longer on foot than it had in the car, but the grounds were well kept, the grass green, and the gardens quite pretty, so the mile-long walk to the rear of the property was interesting. Ellie’s car was sitting in her reserved parking space, and when he walked around the building and looked up, her drapes were open. Not that he could see inside from down here of course. And there were no trees nearby to climb either. Her apartment was quite private.

  For a moment he considered running up the stairs and listening at her door to make sure she really was inside, but that was pretty stupid. Mike was waiting at the only exit and her car was here, so if she wasn’t in her apartment she was still behind the security gate, and therefore quite safe. Sighing, he began walking back to the gate.

  Something about her tugged at his heart strings. She was so independent, and self-contained, yet underneath it all he sensed a lonely person who he wanted to shower with affection. What? I want her?

  Rowan paused for a moment and looked up at the sky. Yes, he wanted her. He scarcely knew her. In fact he knew nothing intimate about her at all. But he knew she was a strong and determined person, a woman who faced adversity head on and didn’t run screaming for help. He liked that about her. The fact that she had a delightful slender body, huge gray eyes, and shiny brown hair didn’t hurt either. And on the rare occasions when he’d seen her smile, her entire face lit up and she was stunningly beautiful.

  “I want Ellie Roth. Who would have imagined that!”

  But what if she’s working for George? What if she’s actually one of the bad guys?

  * * * *

  Ellie spent all day Saturday unpacking and rearranging things in her new apartment. This was the nicest home she’d ever had, and she kept stopping to look out the window and feast her eyes on the green scenery, or to discourage Kitten from getting into mischief.

  But at last it was all done, the boxes flattened, the trash taken out, and she was free to sit and stare out the window, a cup of coffee in her hand, and Kitten curled up on her knees.

  For the first time since the metal on the road incident, she was actually hungry, and she ate a plateful of pasta without feeling ill, and, at peace, she went straight to sleep that night.

  A naked man was lying beside her in bed, his body a hard wall of muscles, his fingers teasing her nipples to aching points, his lips soft yet demanding as they pressed against hers.

  Ellie arched her back, pushing her breasts into his hands, turned her head slightly so her mouth lined up even more perfectly with his, and ran her hands over his sleek slides and muscular back. God he was gorgeous.

  His spare hand slid over her ribs, across her belly, and rested on her pussy. Desperately she thrust her hips up, wanting his fingers inside her, or better still, his cock inside her.

  Instead his tongue thrust into her mouth, and she sucked on it, trying to tell him what she wanted.

  He broke his lips away from hers, giving a deep, rumbling, gravelly, sexy laugh, then bent his head down and sucked her nipple and the entire areola of one breast into his mouth. With his other hand he used his thumb to tease her clit.

  Ellie moaned, digging her hands
into his back, holding him pressed against her, grinding her body against his, wanting so much more. Needing to come.

  He was so much bigger than her, when he leaned over her he covered her like a human blanket, blocking out the world, filling her entire vision with himself as he lowered himself gradually down until his weight was on his forearms and his body touched her in all the right places.

  The moment his cock slid into her cunt, she exploded in release, aroused beyond being able to wait any longer.

  She reached up to his head, filled her hands with his soft fluffy—fur? Ellie blinked, and blinked again. Her hands were filled with Kitten, his big amber eyes shining into hers.

  “Kitten?”

  Holding him gently, she sat up in bed. The bedding was smooth and unruffled, the only mark on the pillow was where her own head had rested, the sheets and comforter pulled up neatly over her body.

  Her cunt was wet, but she was still fully dressed in her pajamas, the top buttoned up to her neck as usual.

  “Well, that was a hell of a dream. But who was the man? Who is my subconscious lusting after?”

  Kitten put his head on one side and stared at her.

  She wiggled back in the bed and sat leaning against the headboard. “I’ve certainly met two extremely good-looking men lately, but sadly they’re wolves, so not for me. Besides, two such lovely specimens would be bored to death by an ordinary person like me in a minute and a half, so thinking about them is wasting my time.”

  But there was no one else, no other man appealed to her.

  “Okay, Kitten, which one was it then? Was it Rowan? He’s the bossier one, the one in control, and the man in my dream was most definitely in control of the action. Or was it Mike? He’s more likely to jump into danger I think. He’s also a lot taller. But almost everyone is taller than me so that doesn’t help. And in my dream it was dark so I couldn’t tell eye color, and Mike’s hair is brown but Rowan’s is more a reddish brown in sunlight so I couldn’t tell that either? So who was it?”