What A Wolf Dares (Lux Catena Series Book 2)

by Amy Pennza

  “Remy?”

  It took him a second to drag his gaze from the door to Lizette’s face. “Um…” He cleared his throat. “Yeah?”

  Lizette tilted her head. “You really like her, don’t you?” Her tone was soft and threaded with what might have been wonder.

  He opened his mouth, then shut it. Like her? That was one hell of an understatement. He hadn’t stopped thinking about her since the day they met. Every time he closed his eyes, her body filled his vision. For two months now, the thought of bedding another woman was like settling for a sandwich when someone had just shown him a feast. Now Sophie was in his house. Her scent filled his lungs. Yet there was a door and a whole mess of problems between them.

  Worse? He was one of those problems. What could he really offer her? Their Gifts were mismatched, and his was almost as undesirable as being a latent. All his life, being a Telepath meant knowing the women he dated would never expect more than sex. He enjoyed all the benefits of a relationship with none of the commitment.

  It was every male’s dream…wasn’t it?

  “Rem?” Lizette stared at him, a look of concern on her face. Over her shoulder, Dom’s gaze was watchful.

  He shook himself. Then he gave his cousin a gentle tap on the chin. “Of course I like her, ma crevette.” It was a silly nickname he’d given her when she first came to the Lodge at fifteen. Lizette was no “shrimp,” but he was tall enough to get away with calling her one.

  When she looked ready to persist, he waved her and Dom toward the stairs.

  “Come on. There’s a Buffy marathon today, and I don’t want to miss it.”

  11

  Sophie held her breath as the voices faded down the hall. A few seconds later, clomping feet let her know Remy and the others were headed downstairs.

  Max settled back against the dresser and smiled. “Please, sit.”

  She sat. When an Alpha gave an order, the safest course of action was to follow it.

  His smile faded, replaced with a look of concern. “Sophie…I hope you know you’re safe here, in the New York Territory.”

  Was everyone in this pack a mind reader? She folded her hands. “Yes, I know.” For some reason, she tacked on a “thank you,” as if he just offered her tea instead of making a solemn vow to protect her from her abusive husband.

  If he thought she was weird, he didn’t show it. Instead, he looked around the room, his gaze thoughtful. When he settled it back on her, he asked, “What do you think of Remy’s place?”

  Surprise jolted her. He’d banished everyone from the room so he could quiz her about Remy’s cabin?

  “Uh…it’s beautiful.”

  “And isolated. I’d much rather you stay in the Lodge.”

  Her heart thumped. At least he got straight to the point. “The Lodge?”

  “We’ve got plenty of room.” He smiled again. “If you ask Lizette, too much room. I just bought an apartment in the city, so we have a chance to get away every now and then. She says it’s nice not needing an intercom to call me down for dinner.”

  Sophie plastered a polite smile on her face even as panic built in her throat. He seemed to be waiting for a response, so she searched for something to say. “New York City?”

  “That’s the one.”

  “I’ve never been.”

  Surprise flashed across his features. “Your father has negotiated travel through my territory dozens of times over the years. He never took you?”

  Ha. Spend six hours in a car with her father? “He was always very busy.”

  “Well, now that you’re part of the pack, it’ll be easy to arrange a visit.”

  The panic pushed harder against her throat. Was he really going to force her to leave the cabin? He could do that. He could do anything he wanted.

  “There’s something else,” he said.

  Her heart did another violent thump. She licked her lips, which were suddenly dry. So was her throat. The Alpha’s pale blue stare wasn’t in any way threatening, but a tremor shot through her belly and down her legs. If she hadn’t been sitting, she would have fallen. When had she become such a nervous mess? As soon as the thought surfaced, the answer appeared behind it.

  The day I became Asher’s wife.

  “Sophie?” Max moved toward her, then seemed to check himself. Like he knew better than to get in her space. “Sophie, is something wrong?”

  She couldn’t meet his gaze, but the words refused to be stuffed back in her brain. In a rush, she said, “I want to stay in the cabin. With Remy.”

  Silence fell over the room. When she risked a look up, he was studying her with a frown.

  “I’m sorry,” she said quickly. “I shouldn’t have questioned your order—”

  “No apology necessary.” He raised his eyebrows. “I told you I’d rather you stay at the Lodge. I didn’t order it.”

  Her heart rate slowed. So he was a very literal Alpha. Good to know.

  He settled back against the dresser. “You have my permission to stay in the cabin if you’re more comfortable here, but it would be irresponsible of me not to warn you about getting involved with Remy.”

  Her cheeks heated. “I…” She wanted to press her hands against her face, but that would make things worse. “I’m not involved with him.”

  Max spoke gently, but his tone let her know he wasn’t about to take any bullshit. “The kiss I saw downstairs would suggest otherwise.”

  Maybe her face would catch fire. That would be a good enough distraction to get her out this conversation.

  “I’ve known Remy since he was a child,” Max said. The way he phrased it reminded Sophie that Max was approaching forty. With the way werewolves aged, it was easy to lose track. He paused, and she got the sense he was trying to choose his next words carefully. “I trust him with my life. He’s never hurt a woman—”

  “I know that.” It was stupid to interrupt an Alpha, but Sophie didn’t need a lecture about how most men weren’t like Asher. This was part of the reason she’d wanted to flee to Europe. Once word spread of what she endured in her marriage, pity would follow her like a black cloud. Was she doomed to spend the rest of her life being handled like delicate china? As if she was a broken thing in need of coddling? Because that was even more unbearable than being invisible.

  Max shook his head. “You misunderstand me. There are different kinds of hurt, especially in a relationship. Remy has never hurt a woman because the women he dates know exactly what they’re getting.” His pale eyes seemed to see through her. “And what they’re not.”

  Wariness rose in her chest. She recognized a warning when she heard it.

  “Remy will keep you safe,” Max said. “He’ll make you laugh. As long as you’re with him, he’ll look after you and see to your every comfort. He’s a gentleman. He’s charming. Women wait in line to share his bed.”

  Another surge of heat blasted her cheeks. She wanted to look away, but something about the Alpha’s gaze stopped her. It was like a magnet holding her in place.

  His expression shifted. Now it was almost…sad. “But nothing with Remy is made to last. All that charm and attention has an expiration date. The women he’s been with have always known that. Even the ones who might have stayed with him couldn’t. Not with his Gift.”

  Protests gathered in her throat. She didn’t care about his Gift. Her father had forced her to marry another Finder, and look where that had gotten her. At the same time, her sire’s voice rang scornful in her memory. His disdain for Telepaths was well known. “What would one of those sneaks do in a fight, huh? Talk each other into submission?”

  Max watched her for a moment, as if gauging the impact of his words. “I don’t know you, Sophie, so forgive me for making assumptions. But Alphas have to do that sometimes. And my gut tells me you’re not a woman who’s content with flings.”

  “No.” Not that she’d had much opportunity. The wolves in her father’s pack knew she’d never marry anyone from the territory. She was currency, and her fa
ther meant to spend wisely.

  “My best Hunter is a Telepath,” Max said. “My Beta is a Telepath.” A ghost of a smile touched his mouth. “The New York Territory has become known for its collection of misfit toys. With Lizette coming into her Bloodsinger ability, we’re on track to have more Turned latents than ever. I see diversity as a strength. The race could die off without it. But I don’t kid myself by thinking other Alphas share my views.”

  He didn’t have to clarify what he meant by “other Alphas.” Compared to his fellow pack leaders, her father’s opinions were medieval.

  “Remy is a realist,” Max said. “He takes his pleasure where he can find it, and his Gift means he doesn’t have to worry about commitment or consequences. The women he’s been with know they don’t have to worry about consequences, either.” He paused, then delivered the final warning in a tone that was unmistakably stern despite its gentleness. “An Alpha’s daughter can’t afford to ignore consequences.”

  At last, she managed to tear her gaze away from his. Fire still burned in her cheeks. Somehow, she found her voice. “I understand.”

  “He wouldn’t use you. I want to make that clear.” Max’s tone gentled. “But it might feel that way.”

  “I…understand.” She felt stupid repeating it, but what else was there to say?

  He was quiet a minute. Then he sighed and pushed away from the dresser.

  Even with her eyes lowered, she saw him move to the door. He stopped, one hand on the knob. “You came here for sanctuary, and it’s yours as long as you need it. Just be careful looking for it with Remy Arsenault.”

  He left, the only sound in the room the soft click of the door.

  12

  Remy stood at the kitchen island, his gaze on the forest outside the window. Max and the others melted into the trees, the two Hunters bringing up the rear.

  What the hell had Max said to Sophie upstairs? Remy lifted his eyes to the ceiling. Whatever conversation had passed between them, the Alpha hadn’t been inclined to share. He’d spent fifteen minutes with Sophie, then came downstairs and announced it was time to return to the Lodge.

  Before he left, he’d leveled a look at Remy. “Sophie has been through a lot. She needs rest.”

  Indignation had spiked in Remy’s chest. Like he didn’t know exactly what she’d endured? Max hadn’t seen the bite marks that piece of shit had left on her. He hadn’t cradled her blood-soaked body in his arms.

  Just as he opened his mouth, Lizette rose from her plate of half-eaten pancakes. “Remy knows that, Max.” She went to her husband and stretched up on her toes so she could plant a kiss on the underside of his jaw. “It’s probably better if she stays here,” she murmured. “There are so many people at the Lodge; it could be overwhelming for her.”

  Max grunted. He raised her hand to lips and kissed it.

  “Thank you,” Remy said into her mind. A glancing pain shot across his forehead, but the discomfort was worth it.

  Lizette had been the last one out the door, and she’d given him a reassuring smile as she stepped over the threshold and onto the porch. “Good luck,” she’d mouthed before following the Hunters down the steps.

  Now, he trained his gaze on the ceiling once more. His cousin had a point. The Lodge was filled with wolves, every one of which would be curious about Sophie. Sanctuary was something of an extraordinary remedy. Alphas didn’t often tread on one another’s authority, and accepting a fugitive wolf into their pack meant doing just that. Only an Alpha assured of his power was in a position to do it. Under any other circumstances, Max didn’t need to worry about offending a fellow Alpha. No other territory in the country could rival New York’s resources or political clout.

  But this situation didn’t pit one territory against another. Two territories were squeezing Max from both sides, and each one had good reason to want Sophie back.

  His gaze fell on the table where her abandoned plate sat, a puddle of congealed syrup on the surface. When he kissed her, the sugary liquid had been hot on his tongue. Instantly, his cock hardened. How the hell was he going to sleep tonight, knowing she was in his house and totally off limits?

  Lizette was right. They could all use some luck.

  The floor creaked, and he jerked his head up.

  Time to stop being a coward. It was also time to stop worrying about his libido for once. He left the kitchen and hit the stairs, taking them two at a time. When he reached the hall, Sophie was just emerging from his bedroom. She froze, one hand on the jamb.

  “Hey.”

  “Hey.” Christ, she was beautiful. That damn undershirt clung to her curves and stretched across her hips. Beneath the cotton, the indentation of her navel was a faint, dark shadow. He dragged his gaze to her face. “Do you want a shower?”

  Red flooded her cheeks, and he could have bitten off his tongue. He let out an awkward laugh. “Shit. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it that way.” He shook his head at his own idiocy. “Let me rephrase that. You’ve had a long morning and an even longer night before that. I want you to feel comfortable here. There’s plenty of hot water if you want it.”

  She touched the ends of some hair that had fallen over her shoulder—a nervous gesture she probably wasn’t even aware of. “I’d…love that, actually.”

  He nodded toward his bedroom. “There’s only one full bath in the house, in the master. It seemed like a waste to install another one.”

  “That makes sense, if it’s only you here.”

  “It is. I live alone.” Most of the time. Would she hear the lie in that? Was it even a lie to begin with? He’d never really lived with a woman. He’d never wanted to.

  Sunlight from the window caught in her hair, turning the lighter strands to spun gold. She looked toward the light. “I can see why you like it here. The forest is beautiful.”

  “Max owns twenty thousand acres of it.”

  She swung her head back toward him. “Seriously?”

  “Mmmhmm.” He moved forward until he was beside her, then he pointed over the trees. “Penitentiary Gorge is about two miles that way, right next to the Lodge.”

  She followed the direction of his finger. Her head came just to his shoulder—something that rarely happened when he stood next to women. Normally, he got a cramp in his neck from angling his head down so he could talk to them. Not so with Sophie. He wouldn’t have to stoop to kiss her. If she turned, her soft breasts would brush his chest. It would take just the slightest tip of her chin to bring her mouth to his.

  “Remy?”

  It took him a second to realize she’d asked a question. He shook himself mentally. “Ah…what was that?”

  “I asked if your pack has an annual hunt.”

  “Nothing formal. We do rock climbing in the Gorge, though.”

  She smiled. “Rock climbing sounds a lot more fun than a hunt.”

  “Ah. Your pack is one of those.” A handful of territories still put on big, traditional hunts. Personally, Remy had always found the practice a bit odd, like they were going along with the whole Hollywood werewolf myth. Why not howl at the moon or freak out over silver bullets while they were at it?

  “Yeah,” she said. She rolled her eyes. “My mom hates it, but my father insists on having one every year. I was so happy when he banned me from attending.”

  “Banned you?”

  “I never quite mastered the art of stealth. Believe me, I was much happier in my room, watching True Blood with a bowl of popcorn.”

  Happiness welled up like a helium balloon in his chest. “You’re a True Blood fan?”

  “Yes.”

  “Team Bill or Team Eric?”

  “Like there’s any question? Eric.”

  He laughed. “Me too. Bill was a drag.”

  “Such a downer.”

  They smiled at each other, early winter sunlight playing over their faces. The hall was quiet except for the quiet hush of warm furnace air pumping through the vent on the floor. Up close, he could see her irises were gold arou
nd her pupils. The color darkened to a soft, doe brown as it reached the outer edge. Most of the natural blondes he’d met had blue eyes. It was such a common color combination, he hadn’t realized how much he preferred Sophie’s variation on the theme. Her eyes were dark and rich, like milk chocolate melting on the tongue.

  “Well,” he said softly, “maybe after your shower, we can make a bunch of popcorn and watch True Blood.”

  She ducked her head, a shy smile teasing at her lips. “All right.”

  “I’m…” Should he apologize for the kiss? How could he, when he wanted to do the same damn thing right now?

  She peeked at him from beneath her lashes. She couldn’t know it, but the gesture was like a hit of adrenaline straight to his cock. “Yes?”

  If he stood in the hall much longer, he was going to kiss her again—and Max had made it abundantly clear how unwise that was.

  “Ah…nothing.” He shoved his hand through his hair, and he was sure his smile was just as bashful as the one she’d given him. But he was willing to look stupid in front of this woman. He was willing to do just about anything if it meant spending time with her. “If you’ll follow me, I’ll get you everything you need for the shower.”

  13

  Okay, Remy’s shower was amazing.

  Sophie gazed around the master bathroom, which was all smooth white tile and modern steel fixtures. A huge window dominated the back wall where a step led to an open shower ringed by a low wooden bench.

  He’d left her a stack of fluffy white towels and another change of clothes—more sweats, by the look of it, although she thought she spied a sweatshirt instead of the flimsy cotton she wore now.

  Which was good. Being in proximity to him meant hovering on a constant state of arousal. When he’d stood next to her in the hall just now, she’d had to lower her head to make her hair slide over her breasts. That’s what things had come to—hard nipples from discussing True Blood in the middle of the afternoon.