The Wolf's Heart

by Jenna Leigh

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  This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental.

  Samhain Publishing, Ltd.

  512 Forest Lake Drive

  Warner Robins, Georgia 31093

  The Wolf’s Heart

  Copyright © 2007 by Jenna Leigh

  Cover by Anne Cain

  ISBN: 1-59998-515-2

  www.samhainpublishing.com

  All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  First Samhain Publishing, Ltd. electronic publication: June 2007

  The Wolf’s Heart

  Jenna Leigh

  Dedication

  For Bill, who knows when to be the big bad wolf and when to give me puppy-dog eyes. For not one but two Angela’s, the first whose prize for this story gave me confidence to keep on going and the second who said, yes. And last but not least, for those Mad Cows who in the midnight hour always cry more, more, more.

  Prologue

  Phoenix, Arizona

  “On a dark summer night, would you offer your throat to the wolf with the red roses?” ~Meatloaf

  She ran through the woods, icy terror shooting up her spine with each footfall behind her. The footsteps sounded strange, not like hers at all. Sweat stung her eyes and she impatiently wiped it away. “Elaine.” The name slithered deep into the recesses of her brain.

  She stumbled, almost falling to the forest floor. Redwoods and pines lined the path she traveled. Roots made the way treacherous. Her breath steamed out into the cool air in short bursts. She began to tire. She couldn’t stop because he would catch her. The images of what he wanted to do to her flashed through her mind and galvanized her steps. She poured on the speed.

  “Elaine.” There it was again, her name. It was a command for her to submit, to obey. Never.

  “Go away!” She turned to scream at him. The sight that met her eyes stopped her in mid-stride, for it wasn’t a man that pursued her, no, not at all. This was something else, a monster from a child’s nightmare. She’d had plenty of those—realistic, vivid and terrifying. Here was the cause of them all. But who or more importantly, what was he?

  He stood in shadows, at least seven feet tall and about half that wide across the shoulders. His legs were large, muscled, but deformed somehow. He wasn’t moving and her curious nature got the better of her. His amber eyes glowed brightly in the darkness.

  “I’ll never leave you, Elaine.” The beast took a step forward, still shrouded in darkness. Fear welled up inside her when he moved, prowling toward her. The moonlight crept between the trees, illuminating him enough for her to see the teeth, the claws and the desire.

  She turned to run but a root from a nearby tree proved her downfall. And what a fall it was, over the side of a cliff she could have sworn wasn’t there a moment ago. She yelled, her arms windmilling into the air in a futile attempt to stop herself from falling onto the sharp rocks below.

  The last thing she saw was the monster watching her with a smile on his horrifyingly familiar face.

  Elaine sat up with a scream lodged in her throat. She gasped for breath and pressed her hand to her heart when she found herself safe in bed. It was all a dream, The Dream, rather, one she’d had for the past ten years. Always it ended with that creature watching her. The look on his face was always the same too, hungry. Hungry for her.

  She rubbed her eyes and stood with a stretch and groan as she looked out her window. The sun was just beginning to lighten the horizon. She may as well get up and make coffee. She had a big day ahead; one that made her heart beat even faster than the dream. But not from fear, instead, it was…excitement.

  Chapter One

  Lainie stared at the massive black doors that led to Bei International’s CEO’s office and bit her lower lip in trepidation. She hadn’t seen the man inside in over ten years. How had the time changed him? Would he be the same?

  There was only one way to find out.

  She straightened the hem of her skirt and made sure her hair was still up in its clip. After knocking on the door, she took a deep breath to calm her nerves and waited for the call to enter.

  “Miss Westerbrook?” A deep voice made her whirl and put her hand to her throat. She looked up for what seemed like forever.

  “Yes,” she found her voice, proud that it didn’t quaver.

  The owner of the voice had short spiky blond hair and dark gray eyes. A dark business suit clothed a body that told of hours spent at the gym. When he smiled, his cheeks produced two deep dimples.

  “I’m Elaine Westerbrook,” she continued, holding out her hand.

  After a few seconds, he took it between his finger and thumb. She raised her brow at him in question and he laughed. “Forgive me, I’m told I don’t know my own strength. I’d hate to hurt you.” He smiled politely but she swore she detected a touch of menace. “My name is Kane.”

  Maybe it was just paranoia but she didn’t think so. The instincts that made her a good reporter told her she was right. However, even she’d admit that she had a wild imagination. “I’m sure you wouldn’t do something like that, huh, Kane?” She injected her tone with just the right combination of sweet flirtatiousness.

  “Not on purpose.” He took another long look at her before opening the door for her. A good thing, as she doubted she could have moved it herself.

  He stepped inside and cleared his throat. “Mr. Bei, Ms. Westerbrook is here to see you.” With another heart-stopping smile, he left her alone with his boss.

  Lainie waited for the man in question to turn. He didn’t at first, just continued to look out the window. How rude, and how typical of a man of his standing.

  “Marcus.”

  At the sound of his name, his shoulders stiffened and he slowly turned to stare at her. His lips curled into the same beautiful smile that stole its way into her dreams at night.

  Marcus stood a little over six feet. His slanted eyes told of his Asian ancestry; however, she saw his mother’s Native American heritage there as well. He’d been blessed with the best of all his genes. Tall, dark and deadly didn’t even begin to describe him. The man was some USDA prime, genuine beefcake, the man to whom she’d compared all other men she’d ever dated and found them lacking. Life was so bloody unfair.

  “Lainie, long time no see.” His voice had changed over the years to a deep baritone.

  “Ten years.” She tried to relax, but found she couldn’t. Her stomach fluttered as she took him in.

  He’d been a teenager the last time she saw him. Now his shoulders were broader, but the rest was still lean and hard. The light of humor was missing from his eyes, replaced by a look of superiority and disdain. His hair was still inky black and straight. It was longer than she remembered. This was a surprise; she would have thought that he would have it short, to suit his tycoon persona. Apparently not, as it reached the shoulders of his charcoal-colored suit, nothing off the rack for him.

  Marcus Bei, once the friend of her childhood, was now the head of his father’s software company. Bei International was a worldwide operation and this man was at the helm.

  “You still look exactly the same.” He finally moved forward, gesturing for her to sit in the chair across from his desk. He politely waited until she’d done so before sitting down himself.

  “Surely no
t!” She laughed to cover her nervousness. “I was so gawky back then.”

  He gave her a probing glance which she didn’t attempt to interpret before he leaned forward, lacing his fingers together on top of his desk.

  She stared at those long fingers, strong and capable, and shivered but covered it by shifting in her chair.

  “What can I do for you, Elaine?” He pinned her with his dark gaze.

  “I have a favor to ask,” she began, only to be interrupted by a short bark of laughter. “What? It’s only a small one. I—”

  “Just spit it out.” His words made her look up, and she noted that his eyes matched his tone perfectly; flat, hard and empty. It seemed he had changed, and not for the better.

  “Never mind. This was a mistake. I’ll get my story by myself with no help from you.” She wished she’d never come here at all. He only made her remember happier times in her life, before she lost the small amount of security she’d gained in her teen years.

  She stalked across the black marble floor, her heels clicking out a staccato rhythm that matched the pounding of her heart. She was furious and didn’t care if he knew it. She reached her hand out and grasped the handle, jerking it with all her might. It barely budged. Was the damned thing made of lead?

  A hand appeared over the top of her head and pushed the door shut. “What in the hell are you doing?” She turned to glare up at him, thankful she’d worn heels. At least she wasn’t staring at his breastbone. At 5’4”, she used to think she was average, but the world seemed to have grown taller when she wasn’t looking.

  Marcus loomed over her, probably on purpose. “I thought you wanted a favor, Lainie.” He drawled her nickname and if he wasn’t leering, she’d turn in her press pass right now.

  “You said no.”

  “I don’t even know what your favor is, so how could I refuse?” He had a smirk on his face she wanted to knock right off. Belatedly, she remembered how he used to tease her when they were younger. He hadn’t changed all that much.

  Strangely enough, that was comforting. She straightened to her full height and attempted to look down her nose at him. “I want you to take me to the Caulder Ball.”

  He blinked in surprise and triumph surged through her veins. Ha, he never saw that coming. “Why?”

  “Something strange is going on in his company.” She kept her answer purposefully vague. “I need to get close to see how high up it goes.” She knew he had an invitation. All the bigwigs did.

  “What sort of strange goings-on?” He leaned forward and she tried to lean back but the door halted her progress. He moved a little nearer. Did he sniff her? He did! She’d showered just this morning.

  She opened her mouth to tell him off when he fitted his lower body snugly against hers.

  “You smell nice, Lainie. Almost good enough to eat.” He sniffed her neck again.

  “Are you on drugs?” She shoved at him but he was like a stone wall, not even budging an inch. “Marcus! Get the hell off me!”

  “If I give you this favor…” he moved back, but only slightly, “…what do I get in return?”

  “My undying gratitude?” she ventured. When he only arched his brow she snapped, “What do you want, my firstborn?”

  “That could be arranged.” His grin turned wolfish. “I could make a donation to the cause, if you’d like.”

  Marcus waited for Lainie to digest his words. He knew the minute she became aware of their meaning because her green eyes lit with fury. Here came the sparks. He anticipated her next move with relish because he hadn’t felt this riled up in a long time. Marcus ruled his emotions with an ironclad fist. He had to, being who and what he was. There was no other option for a man in his position.

  When she’d contacted his office and asked to see him, the first response had been a definite no, and then he’d changed his mind, three different times. He was all too aware of his lack of control around this particular woman. Even ten years didn’t erase the memory of the clamoring of his heart, the pounding in his ears and the howling in his brain. He’d learned his lesson the hard way. Always keep your emotions in check.

  Since then, he had. He practiced meditation; he made sure not to get into situations that would test his limits. And he sure as hell stayed away from Lainie Westerbrook, the teen temptress all grown up into a sexy beauty who still had the ability to make him hard as a rock just by walking into the room.

  He snapped back to attention when she poked him in the chest, emphasizing each word with a stab of her finger. “Do you seriously think I’d consider sleeping with you for a story?” His lips quirked, but he hid the smile quickly, well aware of her hot temper. “Are you listening to me?”

  “Nope.” His laconic response had her glaring daggers at him.

  “Why in the hell not?”

  “I can see down your shirt.”

  “Marcus Bei!” She clenched her hands into fists. “You’re being deliberately crude.”

  “No, I’m being honest.” He smiled in an attempt to placate the little she-demon before she got started. Naw, he wanted her to explode. That way he got to pick up the pieces in the aftermath.

  “Why aren’t we friends anymore?” Her question sounded wistful to his ears. “I missed you.”

  His brain whirled at the quick change of subject. He’d forgotten the twists and turns of her conversations. Marcus turned and began to pace. “Don’t you remember what happened?”

  He saw the flush creeping up her neck with no small amount of satisfaction. She walked to the couch situated over by the windows and sat down. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Don’t lie to me or yourself.” He ran his fingers through his hair and stalked around the room. His blood heated in remembrance. “I almost did something that would have scarred you for life. Me, one of the people you trusted most in the world.”

  “But you didn’t.” Her voice was a whisper of sound.

  “I didn’t want to stop. If you’d stayed, I would have tried it again.”

  She sat stiffly on the couch, her head bowed and shoulders trembling. Cursing himself for a fool, he sat beside her. She didn’t move away and his heart warmed slightly because of that one small detail. “I almost took something from you, whether you were willing or not.”

  She raised her head and smiled, wetting her lips with her tongue, and he groaned. “Marcus, you silly, stupid man.” Damn her, she still had the same effect on him as always.

  “How’s that?” He frowned at her.

  “You stopped.”

  It took him a second to figure out exactly what she meant by that. When the light dawned, his mouth fell open. Her smile lit up her whole face in that instant. “Lainie, you don’t know what you’re saying.”

  “I’m not an idiot, Marcus. I wasn’t experienced at the time. But I damn well wasn’t as innocent as you thought.” She tossed her head back and laughed. “Why do you think I ran away? I was scared. I knew if you put your hands on me again, I would never want you to stop.”

  He sat there, shocked into silence. His whole outlook on life had been born in that moment, with honor warring with shame and desire. The fact that he had resisted taking her had always seen him through some of his darkest times. And he’d had some dark ones.

  He looked at her again, seeing her in a new light. The sweet child, the teen who had tempted him beyond reason and now the adult all melded together into one cohesive whole. Lainie was his for the taking. After all this time, he could have what he wanted with no guilt, and no regrets.

  Son of a bitch . He cursed silently as his thoughts screeched to a halt. No way in hell could he touch her; even if she did want him, she only saw what was on the surface. Marcus wasn’t what he appeared to be.

  She saw a nice, honorable, safe man who had been a friend, someone she’d known since childhood. He was that person, but beneath that thin coating of civility was a ravening beast waiting for his chance to create chaos, destruction and above all else gain possession of
this tempting treat.

  The kick in the ass was, in addition to being a rich, sought-after tycoon, he was the leader of Arizona’s own wolf pack. How do you tell a prospective lover that you turn furry on the full moon? And if you tell her, how do you ever let her go?

  Finally, he decided to let her make her own decision, albeit it an uninformed one. Sliding one arm over the back of the couch, he placed the other on the cushion beside her hip, effectively hemming her in with his arms. “What are you offering me? Be specific and please, be very sure.”

  “I’m offering us a chance to get to know each other again, Marcus.” Her eyes narrowed in either anger or desire, he could smell both warring within her. “I need to get information. I think someone is kidnapping people and doing experiments on them, and you sit here yammering about what you think you’re gonna get out of the deal.”

  He leaned even closer, his mouth a whisper of breath from her own, filing away what she’d said to check out later. For now, he had more important goals in mind. “We can negotiate that right now. I’m willing to accept an oral contract.” He winked and pointed at the floor between his knees. He kept his voice light, but the image of her naked and kneeling on the floor in front of him made his dick swell even more. The minute she’d walked in, everything stood at attention, now his libido was at red alert. Explosion was imminent.

  “No,” she spat. “You’re welcome to kneel, though.” Her lips curved into a smirk. “All the better for you to kiss my ass.”

  “There’s the sweet little Lainie-puss I remember so well.” He sat back and dragged her onto his lap. When she struggled to get up, he purred, “Ooh, baby, that feels good. Do it again.” She straightened and glared at him. Marcus laughed and pulled her into a warm hug. “I missed you, too.”

  She had her hair up in one of those vaguely scary hinged clips so he pinched it open and tossed it over his shoulder. When she was a little girl, her hair had been blond, but now it was darker, richer, with streaks of red, brown and honey gold shot through the wavy strands. He ran his fingers through it, reveling in the silky texture before lifting a handful to his nose and inhaling flowers, herbs and some other indefinable scent that was all Lainie.