Wolf Rain

by Flesa Black

  “You think you’ve stopped us?”

  The voice was sticky with blood and bile, a sure sign that he wasn’t going to be able to heal.

  “I’ve killed your pack.”

  The blond haired man gave a vicious smile and laughed. “There’s still one more.”

  Harm wheeled around, expecting another attack, but nothing was there. Again the Shifter laughed, the sound catching on a wet cough.

  “He’s not here, Partial.”

  He turned back and glared down at the man. “Where is he?”

  The alpha’s eyes moved up to stare at the sky…to stare where the airplane had gone. A loud, rending growl ripped through the air. Harm didn’t realize he was making the noise until his hand was inside the Shifter’s throat, his fingers hot and wet as he gripped the other man’s windpipe. Instinctually he yanked, pulling the inside of the Shifter’s throat out through the slick flesh. His fist was still holding the gory organs as he stared up into the horizon.

  Diana and Jack were in the air, alone with a Shifter. He took a precious few seconds to stifle the need to scream, then turned to run back inside in hope of radioing the two to warn them.

  ***

  Diana climbed into the airplane and hit the large red button to close the ramp. She didn’t dare look back as she rushed towards the front. Harm would be fine. He had to be. Her mind automatically began working as her father had taught her. She scanned the cargo area, noted the fixed tanks that held the Alupenite mixtures, measured the space and mapped out the placing of straps and controls. It was a comforting process that soothed her.

  Taking a deep breath, she moved the rest of the way into the cockpit, hurrying to climb the two steps that brought her flush with Jack.

  “There was a pack on the tarmac. Harm…Harm said to take off.”

  He gave a quick nod of acknowledgement. “Well, come on in, darling, and keep me company.”

  She stopped long enough to stare at the dark haired man in amazement. “Harm’s trying to keep Shifters off of us, and you feel the need to be glib?”

  He didn’t look at her as he began taxing down the runway. “It’s what gets us all through the night, Diana. Either you laugh or you go daft. Harm is good, very good. He’s one I don’t worry about.”

  Harm… She tried not to picture what was happening out on the tarmac. He would be fine. She kept repeating that like a mantra as the engines roared dully and they lifted into the air.

  “We should be in place soon.” Jack turned, giving her a surprisingly solemn look. “Are you ready for your destiny?”

  “Is anyone ever really ready?”

  He didn’t reply, only lifted an eyebrow then turned back to maneuver the plane through the gray clouds. “We might hit some turbulence. Just stay buckled in.”

  She was cinching the belt when she heard a distinct metal click. Instinctively, Diana unfastened her strap and tensed her muscles for attack.

  “I can’t let you do this.”

  She didn’t bother to see who was behind them. She lunged up, swinging her leg in a round kick. Her heel connected with the gun just as the man fired, sending it skittering underneath Jack’s feet. Diana didn’t pause as she continued her turn, slamming the door shut and locking it against their attacker. It only took a few seconds for her to register the sounds of alarms and the caustic smell of electrical fires.

  “Jack?”

  “Bloody damn nob! Son of a bitch!” He was holding his left shoulder, blood seeping through his tightly closed fingers. “Bleeding dickhead PM Clarke!”

  “Jack…what?” She stared at him, fighting back shock.

  “Clarke! Clarke just shot me!” The plane gave a sharp jerk and he hurried to steady it. “I’ll pop his head right off!”

  “No, you won’t.” She took her coat off and pressed it against his wound. “I’m a smart woman, Jack, but I can’t fly a plane. We came up here to distribute the damn Alupenite, and that’s what we’re going to do.”

  A large crash banged the door, first one and then another. It was a hard pounding that shook the metal around them.

  “There’s no help for it.” Diana reached down and jerked Jack’s gun from his belt. “He’s back there with the tanks. There’s no telling what he might do. I’m going to have to deal with him.”

  He stared at her for a moment, looking as if he wanted to argue. Finally, he let out a long sigh. “If you get hurt Harm is going to have my arse. I’m very attached to my arse, Diana.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  She took a fortifying breath, focusing on what she had to do. There was no way around a confrontation. They couldn’t risk a slip-up now that they were this close.

  Aiming at the door, she waited until there was another bang against the metal. The moment he hit she squeezed off a round. Silence hung for an endless moment and she had a quick spurt of hope that she’d incapacitated him. She opened the door inch by slow inch, searching for a dead or injured body. She was surprised to find that the cargo area seemed empty.

  Easing out, she held the gun in a secure grip, sweeping the space before closing the cockpit door. He had to be here, he couldn’t have just disappeared.

  That’s when she heard it, the faint growl from above her. He was on the damn ceiling. She ran forwards, but it was too late. His feet smacked her, shoving her hard enough to bring her to her knees and send the gun dancing across the metal floor. She jumped up, whirled around to look at him and swallowed a gasp of disbelief.

  He was a man…but he wasn’t. His facial features were still human-like, but were harsher and extended. The green irises of his eyes were expanded, his pupils bright black. Good Lord, he’d managed to hold himself in between. Even if she shot him, she doubted the wolfsbane would have any effect. She’d have to be precise and place the bullets where they’d do the most damage.

  “You seem surprised to see me,” he said with a sharp grin.

  She balanced herself against the vibrations of the plane, taking care to hold her position steady. She was ready when he pounced, quickly pushing back against his heavy weight. She felt his fingers tear at her shirt and knew that he’d ripped her skin. Her knee came up hard and fast, but he twisted and her blow landed on the inside of his thigh instead of his balls.

  He shoved her back, banging her head against the metal. Her ears were still ringing when he lunged again. She crouched and rolled away, heard him smack against the wall and hoped he was injured. Unsure if he was stunned, she jumped back to her feet, her vision clearing from the blow to her head.

  She saw Clarke positioned like a marathon runner at the starting line, his gaze on her. He charged with deft speed and she barely had enough time to shift to the right. She felt his fingers pull the flesh from her ribs and gasped.

  “Sweet blood.”

  She turned to see him lick the red liquid from his knuckles and sneer. The muscles in her legs bunched and coiled as she leapt across to kick him in his jaw. He twisted backward, his thick body spinning for a moment. She saw an opening and didn’t hesitate, switching targets to immediately kick his knee and knock his solid leg out from under him.

  He hit the metal floor with a resounding thwack, but bounded up in one efficient move. Diana’s eyes scanned the cargo area, her gaze finally landing on the gun that was only a few feet away. Her mind raced frantically as she tried to create a new plan. She needed a distraction, something that would give her the few seconds she needed to reach the weapon.

  “Why are you doing this?” she asked, edging towards the gun.

  He gave a low chuckle as he wiped the back of his hand across his broken lip. “Only someone naive would ask that. Power, you daft girl. The power to exploit, to blackmail, to keep people in check. Do you think I could have become prime minister without a few broken bodies left in my wake? And I’m not about to give my position up now, not when I’m about to declare martial law. I can’t have you taking my God and government-given power. Besides, if there aren’t any Shifters, there wouldn
’t be any reason for me to take complete control of this little island, now would there?”

  “You’re insane.”

  “I’m practical.”

  She lunged for the weapon but his reflexes were much faster. He grabbed the back of her neck and flung her away, sending her to other side of the cargo area. She hit the floor and her bones jarred with pain, the jolt dazing her for a moment. She struggled to her feet, thinking for a next move.

  The plane went into a sudden dip, the drastic loss of altitude and resulting hard shiver of the metallic body sending both of them down. Diana forced her mind not to panic as she remembered everything she’d seen when she’d stepped onto the plane. The ramp control…it was directly above her.

  With a few quick twists Diana wrapped her left arm in a sturdy cargo strap and smacked the red button with her free hand. The ramp door began its gradual descent, depressurizing the bay for a few crucial moments. The wind was sucking her body, pulling her down, but the strap held her in place. She watched as Clarke crouched low, his feet holding steady against the vicious gust. He took one cumbersome step forwards, then another, and she knew that she might be in trouble.

  There was a hard bump against the aluminum shell, then the plane pitched nose down. Clarke lost his balance as she held onto the strap with a death grip, sending up a silent prayer for intercession. Then, like a miracle, the gun slid along her thigh. She grabbed it, lifted it and aimed the barrel directly at Clarke’s chest. She fired and the impact sent him back along the ramp. She pulled the trigger again, again, again, each time forcing him closer to the edge of the ramp. She gritted her teeth when she saw his heels hit the bottom of the door. She pulled the trigger one last time… Click.

  The sound was like the ricochet of a cannon shot. She was out of bullets and almost out of time as the air pressure equalized inside the cargo bay. Her mind whirled with images of the area, images that showed her only one possibility.

  Clarke’s voice carried loudly over the wail of the wind. “You didn’t really think you could beat me, did you, little girl? You don’t have enough fire in your belly to murder someone.”

  She reached up and grabbed the innocuous object fastened just below the controls. “Funny you should say fire.”

  She hurled the red extinguisher at Clarke, watching as the blunt end smacked him cleanly in the chest. It was just enough to send him over the edge and hurtling through the air. She stared at the empty ramp, relief pouring through her as her heart hammered in wild, staccato beats. It was too bad she wouldn’t be able to watch Clarke hit the earth below.

  With a tired sigh, Diana closed the ramp again, and in the sudden stillness heard the hiss of the Alupenite being deployed. Laying her aching head back with infinite care, she closed her eyes and let the sound drown out the throbbing pain of her body.

  Epilogue

  Diana stood in the bedroom she shared with Harm and stared at herself in the cheval mirror. She was shocked by the elegant person who gazed back. Millicent’s image appeared behind her, her classical features lit with a smile.

  “You look smashing, Diana.”

  She grinned back in the mirror and ran her hands down the cool white satin of her strapless gown. “I’m still having trouble believing all of this.”

  The older woman eased up to adjust one of the miniature white roses that adorned Diana’s hair. “What’s so hard to believe? That Harman loves you? That you’ll be the first bride to have a nighttime wedding in nearly thirty years? That you’re working in an elite government experimental lab? Or that your bruises have finally faded?”

  “All of it, I suppose.” She bit her bottom lip and turned, the scalloped edges of her dress swishing around her toes. “I can’t believe it’s only been three months, and here I am getting married.”

  Millicent lifted one graceful eyebrow as she laid comforting hands on her shoulders. “Harm knew you were supposed to be his straight off, which didn’t surprise me. But I think you knew he was meant to be yours, too.”

  She felt her lips tip up as a full smile spread across her mouth. “Maybe I did.”

  “I’m shocked he’s waited this long to put a ring on your finger. Speaking of which, he’s already rung four times. He’s getting impatient.”

  “Then I guess we’d better go. It wouldn’t do to keep the new S.A.S. commander waiting. I could have an invasion force battering down my door.”

  Millicent’s chuckles followed her out of the bedroom, lending a light air to the townhouse—no, terrace, Diana corrected herself with a soft laugh. She needed to use the proper terms now that the government had declared her an honorary British citizen.

  Gazing out at the darkening landscape, she felt a small pang of regret. If only her father had been alive to witness everything that had happened. The world was slowly returning to normal. Those who had been Shifters were integrating back into society smoothly, and the government was making sure they had all the help they needed. But more than knowing his formula had worked, her father would have been happy to see her with her new life, a life that held joy now instead of fear.

  “I love you, Dad. Thank you,” she whispered softly.

  Quietly wiping away an errant tear, Diana took the bouquet of purple irises and white roses from the bed to hurry down the stairs towards her future.

  About the Author

  To learn more about Flesa Black, please visit www.flesablack.com/main.htm. Send an email to Flesa at flesa@flesablack.com.

  She’s the only mate he wants. But love isn’t on the menu.

  What’s a Ghoul To Do?

  © 2008 Mardi Ballou

  Lilith P. Graves needs to get a life. A social life. This shouldn’t be a problem, since she’s partnered with her best friend in the “Fangly, My Dear” dating service. Problem is, she keeps falling for the wrong guys, and they don’t get more wrong than the super-hot alpha Rafe Graywolf.

  With the history of bad blood between her kind and his, the message is clear: Vegetarian demi-ghouls need not apply.

  Obeying the call of duty, Rafe took the role of alpha at a rough time for the pack. For the sake of stability, the elders insist he find a mate. Now. A dating service isn’t normally his cut of steak, but he has little time—or choice.

  But Lilith…now there’s a choice morsel he could sink his teeth into. Too bad they’re on opposite ends of the ghoul-werewolf social spectrum. Not to mention the food chain…

  Enjoy the following excerpt for: What’s a Ghoul To Do?

  She was going out with Rafe Graywolf. Even if it was only to conduct an intake interview, she could almost consider it a date.

  His grin came slow and easy. “I take that as a ‘yes’. Lilith, as you’re doing me the favor here, where would you like to eat?”

  Huh. She couldn’t see Rafe going for Vinnie’s Veggie Garden or any of her usual haunts. Weres went for red meat, cooked rare. Stifling her usual “ewww” at that prospect, Lilith reviewed a roster of possibilities. No way could she could endure a steakhouse. Then it struck her. She had to be upfront with him about not only what kind of food she ate, but who she was. “Before we go any further, I need to tell you some things about me.”

  A wicked grin lit up his face. “From the expression on your face, I’d expect you to confess to being a serial axe murderer or something along those lines.”

  At the moment, she’d prefer that identity to the one she was about to reveal. “I’m a vegetarian.”

  He cocked a brow. “So you won’t ask to sample my barely singed filet. Can’t say I understand why anyone would want to be a vegetarian, but I like a bit of mystery in women. Is that it? Are you ready to go?”

  If only. “One more thing. The reason why I’m vegetarian. You see, I’m a demi-ghoul, on my dad’s side. If I weren’t a strict vegetarian—”

  That rattled his cool. Lilith could see the precise moment when the truth of her identity registered—the moment he jolted back in his seat. What a moment for her empath skills to kick in. On the other hand, i
t wasn’t like this had never happened before—or wouldn’t happen again. Lilith held her head up and locked eyes with Rafe. She loved her family, both branches. Any guy who set a speed running record in his sprint away from her wasn’t worth—

  “That’s a new one for me, Lilith. Anything else you want to mention?”

  He wasn’t running. She straightened her shoulders. “I’m also an empath from Mom’s side of the family.”

  “Great. Then you realize I’ve got to eat pronto or I’ll get crabby.”

  Her mind scrambled to come up with the perfect place to satisfy their needs. “Italian or Mex?”

  “Italian,” he snapped back.

  “Cassio’s?”

  “In North Beach? Sounds great.”

  “But what about the elders waiting in the outer office?”

  He looked at his watch and made a face. “They’ll have to get their own dinner. I’ll let them know. Ready to go?”

  Rafe whipped out his cell, had a quick conversation with an elder and then phoned for a reservation. Before she could think of anything else to hold them up, they were out the door.

  ***

  Seeing Lilith shuffle the lettuce, olives and cheese cubes of her vegetarian antipasto around her plate, Rafe figured she wasn’t very hungry. At least she seemed to enjoy the excellent sourdough bread and Chianti. He, on the other hand, practically inhaled his steak and pasta.

  He wondered what was bothering her. Lilith was an intriguing mixture of shy and sophisticated. Sophisticated wasn’t hard to come by in San Francisco, but Rafe met very few people he’d consider shy. He liked that about her. He also liked the way he felt near her. Warm. Hot. She appeared to have no idea how damn sexy she was. He wanted to nuzzle the porcelain skin of her long, delicate neck. She brought out a mix of lust and protectiveness unlike any he’d ever felt. Pleasurable as these emotions could be, he also sensed he should be on his guard with her. Lilith P. Graves had him experiencing emotions very new to him. Most of all, though, she turned him on. He wanted to brush the blond curls back from her ivory cheeks and kiss the path they traced.