by Неизвестный
He went down face-first, his strangled cry muffled against the earth. When he raised his head, tears made stripes through the dirt on his cheeks. He mumbled a prayer.
If she could talk, she’d tell him his God had nothing to do with her. Instead, she growled. He would be too easy, no fun at all. She sat back on her haunches and watched to see what he’d do next. Crawling like a snake, he used his elbows and knees to inch his way over the dirt. She allowed him to reach a pine tree in his path and watched, amused, as he stood and assessed the height. A mature white pine could reach a hundred and fifty feet. This one didn’t look that tall, but the lowest branch was easily thirty feet up. Terror could make a person do amazing things. Curiosity assailed her.
He looked at her over his shoulder, a pitcher checking a runner at first base. She looked back. A cat and mouse game, just the way she liked it.
He hugged the trunk, locked his hands behind it. Jumping up, he planted both feet on the tree. He pushed out and up, rested for a few seconds, then pushed with his feet and slid his hands up the tree. Slide and shimmy, slide and shimmy. His face turned beet red, his feet scraped raw. He might make the first branch after all. Admirable. A more worthy opponent than she first suspected.
He had one foot on a sound-looking limb. She could sense his relief. When he placed his other foot, she heard a crack and saw him lose his purchase. He fell like manna from heaven. She waited to see whether he would get up, but he cried with the pain of his broken legs. Too bad the game ended so quickly.
He got what he deserved but Malcolm wouldn’t see it that way. His lust for the human woman blinded him to their devious ways and his misplaced trust would be the death of him. She had to make him see the truth. His future lay with her.
Malcolm’s warning forgotten, she slipped off his shirt, shifted, and leaped through the window. Ralf growled but didn’t follow.
She pawed the ground in front of the house, leaving pheromones from the scent glands between her toes. Her message might be invisible to Karin, but it would broadcast loud and clear to Malcolm.
She approached an old oak and sniffed the gouges in the bark. Malcolm’s heavy musk filled her nostrils, a wild animal smell that warmed her blood and evoked images of mating. Aroused, her vulva grew swollen and slick, preparing for him. She imagined his rough hair abrading her back, his huge cock penetrating her. No question, she’d welcome him into her body as a wolf or a man—his choice. One a human woman could never offer him.
Placing her paws on the wide trunk, she stretched her limbs and scratched with alternate forepaws. Her marks next to his, her scent combined with his, just as it should be. He’d get the idea.
Satisfied, she looked around at her new home. She scented Malcolm’s approach and waited for his arrival. He stopped a few yards away. His ears stood erect and he curled his lip back to display his incisors. He was angry because she disobeyed.
When he came closer, she met him halfway. She pranced around and rubbed her body against his in greeting.
He tilted his head and studied her for a few seconds, then nuzzled her. She knew he wouldn’t stay mad at her for long. Encouraged, she showered him with affection, nibbling and licking his muzzle. When he pushed her away with his snout, the pain cut deep. Her anger flared hot as she watched him walk off.
She didn’t give up easily. With dogged determination, she ran in front of him and blocked his path. He stopped, stiff-legged and tall. She turned her back, lifted her tail, and brushed it over his muzzle, giving him a whiff of her heated sex. There was no mistaking the invitation. Her heart hammered. She looked over her shoulder and waited for his next move.
His penetrating stare pinned her while he bared his teeth and snarled.
She growled back. He ignored it and moved on. It would serve him right if she ran away and left him. He’d chase after her and beg her to come back—maybe. Unwilling to take the chance, she put her tail between her legs and followed him inside.
Chapter Twenty-seven
Karin drove toward Macon, calling her doctor on the way. She suspected Frank drugged her, and she wanted assurance her baby would suffer no ill effects. She breathed easier when Lyndale agreed to see her immediately.
The knots in her stomach began to unravel, and then her cell went off, and they twisted again. More angry than frightened, Karin looked at Frank’s name and debated whether or not to answer. He had some nerve calling her after what he’d done, and she sure as hell had no desire to talk to him. Rescues and good deeds wouldn’t cut it this time. He crossed the line. She wanted nothing more to do with him.
The phone stopped ringing, and she breathed easier, then it started right up again. This time curiosity won out over her anger. She wanted to know whose body had been found.
Frank apologized profusely, but not for drugging her or undressing her. She listened in disbelief while he told her how bad he felt about leaving her alone. Then he chastised her like an errant child. He went on and on about how she shouldn’t have gone out in her condition and how worried he was.
“You’re not well. You should have waited for me to drive you home.”
“Why didn’t you take me home yesterday?” she snapped.
“Karin, you were green and practically unconscious. How could I take you home and leave you alone? I offered to call a doctor, but you wouldn’t hear of it, so I figured I’d let you rest until you felt better. Then an emergency came up and I had to—”
“Frank, you took my clothes off.”
“I only wanted to put you to bed, but you were all over me.”
She gasped. “What are you talking about? That’s not true.”
“I wouldn’t lie to you,” he declared in deadly earnest. “You threw your arms around my neck and dragged my head down.” He cleared his throat. “Don’t get me wrong. I’m glad you decided to take the initiative. I’ve been ready to get physical for a long time, but after our talk, I made up my mind to wait until you were absolutely ready. When you came to me, all hot and passionate, I was glad I waited till you wanted it as much as I do.”
“I don’t remember any of this.” Her voice got louder and she gripped the steering wheel until her knuckles turned white. “You took advantage of me.”
“When you calm down and think about it, it will come back to you. I wish you hadn’t run off. We need to talk.”
“I don’t want to talk. I just want to know where you went when you left me. Trudy told me someone found another body. Who is it, Frank?”
“How in blazes does she get her information? I never told her about any body.”
“Well, she knew. Who was it, Frank?”
“This is strictly between you, me, and the coroner. I don’t want the news to get out until the next of kin is notified.”
“I won’t say anything.”
“A hiker found Glenn’s body in the gorge,” he said solemnly. “Looks like another wolf attack.”
“My God!” she exclaimed. “Surely there’s been a mistake.”
“No, I’m afraid not. I identified the body myself and waited for the coroner.”
“This is horrible news!” She had no love for Glenn, but she wouldn’t wish this on her worst enemy.
“I didn’t want to tell you over the phone.”
“I’m okay.”
“No, you’re not. Let me come over and we can talk about this in person. If you’re ill, you—”
“No! I’m not at the refuge. I’m on my way to an appointment.” She hung up and parked in front of the doctor’s office, so upset she had to calm herself before she walked in.
She told her story while the doctor examined her. She’d gone to a party last night and drank a glass of ice tea. Then she felt sick, went home, and passed out. She suspected someone slipped something in her drink. There had been a large crowd, and she had no idea who it might have been.
Her doctor took a urine sample for testing and urged Karin to go to the police. How could she tell her she suspected an officer of the law? She couldn’
t drag Frank’s name through the mud without proof. Even with proof, it would be a losing battle. She had gone to his house. Trudy saw her leaving, and by now, everyone knew she’d spent the night with Frank. No one would believe she hadn’t been a willing participant.
The doctor didn’t seem satisfied, but she dropped the questions. “If the tests come up negative, I’ll have to assume whatever it was passed out of your system quickly. I don’t think it will hurt the baby, but we’ll keep a close eye on you.”
Karin never mentioned her other fears about the baby. She’d already made up her mind to move back home. She liked Dr. Clark, but Philadelphia had some of the best hospitals in the country, and she wanted the best medical care possible.
Besides, she didn’t intend to expose her child to small town gossip and prejudice. Her mother lived in the city, and she would help her find a place nearby. Her child might not have a father, but he or she would have a loving grandmother.
She would stick around a little longer, just to make sure this latest attack didn’t have repercussions for the pack. She needed time to make plans anyway.
* * * *
Avoiding Frank was easy. He had his hands full. Angry residents wanted the wolf found and killed, animal rights groups wanted her found and protected, and the Wildlife Bureau just wanted her found. Glenn had no immediate family, so Frank and Trudy planned the funeral. Trudy actually had the nerve to call and ask for her help. Most likely Frank put her up to it. She refused. She didn’t want to see Frank. Besides, Glenn had never liked her. He’d turn over in his grave if he knew she had a hand in sending him off.
The test results came back. Barbiturates were found in her system, but Lyndale said most problems result from long-term use. They would watch the baby closely. It made her more anxious to move home than ever. Lyndale said she would send her medical records to her new physician once she got settled. Again, she suggested Karin talk to the state police, but she refused. What good would it do? Trudy’s sharp tongue had been wagging nonstop and everyone thought she’d been sleeping with Frank for weeks. When she started showing, they would think she carried Frank’s baby. She planned to be gone before then.
Good old mom. She already had several apartments in mind, even sent pictures. Thrilled about the move, she couldn’t wait for the homecoming. Karin held back her big news, wanting to tell her in person. Once she got over the initial shock, no doubt she’d be excited to be a grandmother.
She thought about Malcolm. Obviously, he wasn’t thinking about her. He and Sable were living together. She tried to put him out of her mind, but she couldn’t turn off her feelings so easily. Sometimes her emotions overpowered her, and only a good cry would help. Raging hormones made it worse.
Malcolm awakened long-repressed feelings in her. She felt a strong connection with him that she never had with anyone else. But he didn’t love her. There would never be a future with him. Still, she remembered every minute they spent together and regretted every minute they wouldn’t. She should have stuck to the plan and spent her time with only four-legged males, but then she wouldn’t have her baby.
The thought stirred up guilty feelings. Malcolm had a right to know about the baby, and she owed her child a father, even an absent one. She had to tell him before she left. Best-case scenario, Malcolm would accept the truth and want to be involved with his son or daughter. If he didn’t believe it was his or chose to stay out of their lives, she would move to Philly knowing she at least tried.
Chapter Twenty-eight
Malcolm lay naked on the pine planks of the great room. The odor of orange tung oil filled his nostrils. With his head pillowed on his arms, he watched the moon rise.
“This is crazy. Why do you sleep down here when you have a comfortable bed upstairs?”
He sighed and turned toward Sable.
She sprawled in a seductive pose, one leg bent and resting against the back of the couch, the tangle of hair at the juncture of her thighs soaked with the evidence of her arousal. The musky perfume of a she-wolf in heat teased his nostrils, a constant reminder he hadn’t taken her yet. It wasn’t for lack of opportunity. She was always ready.
Loathe to move, he finally raised himself up on his elbows. Malcolm did a front stretch, then a back stretch. A growl of satisfaction from his inner wolf rumbled through his body. Finally, he pushed off the floor and sprang to his feet.
“I don’t mind the floor. Go back to bed.”
He cared for her but not in the way she wanted and expected. Mating for the purpose of procreation didn’t feel right. Sex with the she-wolf would be routine and mechanical, and he couldn’t force himself to take the final step.
“I’m lonely. Come with me.”
He started to pace like a caged and moody beast. He missed what he had with Karin. She took him to the heights of ecstasy, and the taste of a real relationship had spoiled him for anything less. The mind-altering pleasure he found with her couldn’t be duplicated with Sable. He knew from the first they weren’t mates, but he thought without Karin in his life, he might find a measure of peace with her. It hadn’t taken long to realize she would never make him happy. He tried to set his feelings aside to make her happy. Instead, they were both miserable.
Much as he tried to stop them, harsh images of Karin and Frank haunted him. The thought of Karin locked in a passionate embrace with Frank tore him up and dimmed his vision. Fierce waves of possessiveness surged through his veins. Karin belonged to him. He wanted to go after her, grab her, and run away someplace where no one would find them. He tried to hide his feelings from Sable, but she knew something was wrong.
“You’re making me nervous,” Sable snapped.
“I think I have cabin fever.” He came and sat beside her.
“Let me distract you.” Sable reached out for him. “Let’s make a baby.”
His wolf reacted on instinct, always responsive to stimuli, like a randy dog. He closed his eyes and tried to wrap himself around her scent, but it was no good. He wanted Karin. He held back a frustrated howl and pulled away.
“What’s wrong?” He could hear disappointment in her voice. She knew there was a problem. If they were true mates, she would already bear his mark.
“Nothing. Go back to sleep.” He stood. “I’m going for a run.”
* * * *
For as long as she could remember, he had been the object of her childhood fantasies. She wanted him, but he belonged to her sister. When she saw him at the refuge, she knew destiny brought them together. Her heart twisted, and she boiled with jealous anger when the human female would approach the cage covered with his scent. If the cage hadn’t separated them, she might have killed her. She told herself to be patient and thought of freedom and the day she and Malcolm would be together. Desperate for escape, she willingly let the men use her for their plans. She had plans of her own. At the first opportunity, she turned the tables on them. Malcolm belonged to her now, and she would never let him go.
She anticipated a warmer reception from him, but he had already developed an attachment for the human female. She didn’t blame him. She’d satisfied her own needs with human men, but now they had each other, and she expected him to forget the refuge manager. A child would change everything, create a bond, and bring them closer together. He just needed more time.
The sound of his cell phone broke into her thoughts. She retrieved it from the kitchen and checked the display. Snarling, she listened to the message.
“It’s Karin. I need to talk to you. Alone. I’ll wait at the refuge. Please, it’s important.”
Enraged, she deleted it. The bitch would never leave him alone. As long as Karin was alive, she stood between them and prevented Malcolm from marking her. She could fight another she-wolf, but Karin was human and no match for her. She’d kill her easily and Malcolm would never forgive her. There had to be another way to get rid of her.
Finally, it came to her, a perfect plan to rid herself of the female once and for all, but she had to act quickly. She t
hrew a few things in a bag, shut the window so Ralf couldn’t follow, then left the house and shifted.
* * * *
Sable loved the night, loved to run in the dark shadows under the moon. She accelerated until she was no more than an insubstantial blur weaving between the trees. Anyone who happened to glance her way would think the wind disturbed the rustling leaves. Her paws barely touched the forest floor, her fur rippled in the breeze, and she exalted in her element.
Malcolm kept her hidden away in the house, and she missed this. The freedom exhilarated her, but she needed to be cautious. One careless mistake could ruin everything. Hunters still combed the woods for her, and traps had been set. She’d rather be dead than caged again, but she had no intention of getting caught. Her senses were sharp, her hearing so keen she could hear a pine needle fall. No detail, no matter how trivial, escaped her. She had everything she wanted now, and nothing would stop her.
The refuge appeared in a clearing. She stopped under cover of a stand of pines and dropped the bag she carried in her mouth. The ATV parked outside indicated the refuge manager waited inside.
Time to shift and pay her a visit. The sound of an approaching vehicle stopped her short. Her head snapped up and swung around.
A truck pulled in and parked not twenty feet from where she stood behind the trees. She watched closely and resolved to let nothing stand in the way of her plan.
Nostrils flaring, she scented an enemy on the wind.
The sheriff stepped out, unscrewed the cap of a flask, and took a long drink. He wiped his mouth with back of his hand. The smell of liquor mixed with his own vile scent.
So, sheriff, we meet again.
She focused on him with a mixture of hate and the thrill of pursuit. She revealed herself and let out a long, low-pitched snarl. Frank spun around. His jaw dropped, and the flask slipped out of his hand.
He hesitated for a second, then reached for his pistol. He looked confused when he realized it wasn’t there. He turned back to the truck, but the wolf moved too fast. She snapped her jaws on his leg and broke the bone like a matchstick. He went down heavily, screaming in pain, and kicked at her with his other leg. She held on and dragged him away from the truck.