A London Werewolf in America

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by A London Werewolf in America (lit)


  She expected a lick, but received a human-style kiss on the mouth instead. That worked all kinds of wonders, too. “I love you,” he murmured against her lips. “Now hurry up and get better so I can show you properly how much.”

  * * * *

  Three weeks later

  Home is where the heart is, ran the old cliché. Though Set A Spell would always be Darinda’s place, Meadowlands was growing into her home. Her love, and therefore her heart, lived here. All that green and the blooming spring flowers didn’t hurt either. As she pulled up to the front door she waved to the gardener, a former employee of Big Alex’s who also preferred park green to city grime. Rolfe grinned hugely and waved a soil-stained hand at her in return.

  A hired beta. Well, Roderick’s ascension to leadership had been sudden, and he needed a second in command. Of course, Rolfe reported Roderick’s every move to Big Alex, which kept the King Wolf mollified. Win-win all around.

  Darinda was greeted by the sound of Aunt Letty singing in the kitchen. The “song” had no words to it, and rose and fell on gliding notes a human would have been hard-pressed to hit. “That’s lovely,” Darinda said. “Is that a pack song?”

  “A lullaby,” Aunt Letty said from the sink, and added pointedly, “for the pups.”

  “Roderick and I aren’t formally married yet. All things in their time.”

  “You and Roddy are alpha pair of the Chase clan. The family isn’t sure if you can breed. They’ll be watching for a litter. A word to the wise, dear.”

  Darinda snorted. “Where is he?”

  Aunt Letty snorted back. “Where he always is this time of day. As you already know.”

  That she did. The tender hum inside her head told her her mate’s location and mood. He was only a little exasperated today. Business must be going well. She stepped through the kitchen door.

  Roderick liked to move swiftly. Not only had he taken over Meadowlands, he’d had the back porch enclosed and turned into a sunroom, which he’d adopted as his office. The new room had wide windowsills, and Norman had appropriated the one nearest Roderick’s desk. When the dragon couldn’t be with her, he preferred Roderick’s company. This had to be the oddest case of male bonding in her experience.

  Ah. There was the source of the exasperation: Roderick’s new laptop. He still wasn’t fond of the screen, but with Emma’s coaching was learning how to better navigate the system. No Chase wolf would get caught flat-footed by technology ever again. The coyotes had taught them something after all.

  He leaped to his feet and had his arms around her before the kitchen door closed, as relieved to be away from the computer screen as he was to have her with him. She stopped his welcoming lick with a kiss. Save the tongue action for later, when it would do the most good. “And how was your day?” he asked.

  “The usual. We’re getting a lot more weres. Big Alex has been spreading the word. I have to go back after sunset. Come with me?”

  “Will the cat be there?”

  “No, Springsteen will not be there. He’s not as bad as he use to be. Since he fought Coraline he’s been, well, smug. He just hisses at wolves now. Doesn’t even puff up his tail.”

  “Last time I went in he jumped me.”

  “He was just saying hello.”

  “With his claws?”

  “You didn’t have to lock him in Norman’s tank. I don’t think he’ll ever forgive you. And speaking of whom…” She slid out of Roderick’s arms and went to the windowsill. “Hi, baby, I’m home. Did you have a good day with daddy?” She lifted Norman into her arms. It took more effort than usual. A patch of dead skin peeled off beneath her hand. “Oh no, I was afraid of this. He’s growing. I told you what would happen if you let him out of his tank.”

  “I want him with me. He’s better protection than Rolfe. How big can he get?”

  “Ever seen an elephant? They eat those. In two bites.”

  “I’ll get him a new tank,” Roderick promised. “If we can put one in near the desk.”

  “Daddy spoils you,” Darinda told Norman, and laid him back on the sill. A minute shift in her inner hum alerted her to Roderick’s mood. “You’ve got good news.”

  “Tamra and I have reached an accord. She’ll oversee our interests at home, in my name, while I expand our ventures here in America. It’s not the top position, but it ought to satisfy her.”

  “Can you trust her?”

  “As much as I can trust any lower-ranked were. She knows if she wants to challenge me she’ll have to come here, and I don’t think she’ll risk it. She has all the privileges of alpha status without having to defend the actual rank. With me here and her there, we ought to get on.”

  “What about your mother?”

  The hum darkened for a moment before it smoothed out. “Mother’s taking an extended holiday in Europe. Exploring the ancient Chase ancestral lands. I believe she’s in Norway. Tamra keeps close tabs on her.” His smile was brief and humorless. “She ought to enjoy a long life, as long as she never returns to the Manor.”

  Darinda didn’t try to hide her shiver from him. Parts of werewolf culture would always rub her wrong. She got off the subject in a hurry. “I wish I had good news. Cole Duquesne is gone. He snuck out of the clinic sometime after lunch. Dr. Clark’s assistant called to warn me.”

  Roderick dismissed the news with a snort. “He won’t come here. He knows what’s waiting for him.” He nodded toward the dozing Norman. “He can’t go back to Lupin Hill. Albert will rip him to pieces. I’m amazed he didn’t kill the little bugger at the clinic.”

  “Albert wasn’t told until after he’d been sent home. Dr. Clark’s orders. Just because Clark’s a vampire doesn’t mean he wants to see blood all over his recovery room.”

  “If he has any brains at all, he’ll go to his coyote kin in Wissahickon Gorge and stay way from wolves. Assuming even the coyotes will have him. We’ve seen the last of that rubbish.”

  “And Orrin?”

  Roderick’s mouth tightened. “Big Alex’s people have no word.”

  She didn’t respond. Three weeks was too long for a wolf to run lone, especially an omega in an unfamiliar country, and both of them knew it. Darinda would continue to light candles and send prayers into the night.

  Aunt Letty poked her head into the office. “I’m hearing lots of chatter out here. Wedding plans?”

  “Catching up on our respective days.” Roderick slipped his arm around Darinda’s shoulders and drew her close to his side. She responded by circling her arms around his waist. She was starting to like this werewolf territorial stuff. “We’ll get to the wedding, never fear.”

  Letty sniffed. “You’d better. It’s been three weeks. Time’s wasting. Dinner will be ready in an hour. Make sure you wash your hands.” She shot a glower at the garden. “And tell Rolfe to stay out of my hollyhocks.” She slammed back inside.

  “Hollyhocks?” Darinda said.

  “Rolfe likes to dig. He must be getting territorial again.”

  “I’ll say. I can’t even get near the vegetable patch, and I planted it. Since when did we go on the clock?”

  “For?”

  “The wedding.”

  “That’s just Letty. She’s eager for puppies. When the time arrives, you’ll be grateful she’s here.”

  “She’ll have to get in line. Mom’s been waiting twenty-six years for Paul and me to make with the grandchildren. You want territoriality? You ain’t seen nothing yet.”

  “Has she ever had to housebreak a werewolf?”

  “Okay, that might fall outside her skill set. I’m sure she and Letty will come to some agreement. How about you and Charlie? Are you sure he’s okay with you taking over his turf?”

  “The city is Charlie’s territory. He’s overjoyed his mother has someone to watch over her. Meadowlands is ours, as long as Aunt Letty remains in our pack.”

  “Huh. Some pack. You, me, Aunt Letty, Rolfe and Norman.”

  “And our pups.” He smiled ferociously. “Witc
h and wolf. Magic and were. Our line will rule this country.”

  “Whoa! Slow down there. I’m opposed to world conquest on principle. And nobody’s turning me into a puppy mill. You get one to start with. Maybe two. Twins run in my family.”

  “Ron and Hermoine?”

  “Not in this lifetime.”

  He chuckled. “Fair enough. That leaves just one thing.” He took a deep breath and huffed it out. She thought she felt a brief shiver. “Darinda Lowell, will you marry me?”

  “I thought we’d agreed to that already.”

  “I never officially asked. It’s been rather hectic.”

  “You forgot?” Slowly, Darinda thumped her head against Roderick’s chest. “Hecate’s tits. I can’t believe I forgot you forgot to propose.”

  “As long as you don’t forget to say yes.”

  “Yes. Yes, I love you and yes, I’ll marry you. But no taking over the world.” She kissed him to seal the deal. He was quite good at human-style kissing. And quite a few other things. She broke the kiss to grin up at him. “We’ve got an hour before dinner. Want to sneak upstairs and make some magic?”

  This time he kissed her, and knocked the breath right out of her lungs. On the sill Norman stirred, belched out a puff of smoke, and stretched himself to better catch the sun.

  THE END

  [email protected]

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Pat Cunningham was born at the Jersey Shore and grew up in Pennsylvania. Corrupted by Star Trek and Marvel Comics at an early age, she began writing science fiction and fantasy stories, publishing over a dozen. Paranormal romance allows her to combine fantasy, romance, humor and adventure into one package. She currently lives in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. A London Werewolf in America is her first full-length novel.

  Also by Pat Cunningham

  Coyote Moon

  Best of Breed

  Available at

  BOOKSTRAND.COM

  www.BookStrand.com

 

 

 


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