After only a moment, a loud crashing noise rumbled through the underbrush, ripping her from her sleep. Two large male wolves burst into the thicket where she had stopped to rest, each taking a protective stance in front of the only two exits through the thorny brush. Similar in size, they were different colors. One was black as jet, the other, a deep chocolate brown.
The black wolf snarled, and Carly had the distinct impression he thought her a complete waste of fur. She glared at him and growled back at them both. God, she was so sick and tired of males of any species bossing her around. The black wolf advanced on her, his head lowered, staring her down. The brown wolf threw himself at the other male, tumbling them both to the ground.
Carly ran back the way she had come while the two males wrestled with each other. She might not trust Bastien’s friend, but she realized she trusted Bastien with her life.
Deserted, the large house with its double doors standing open stood against the setting sun casting a giant, hulking shadow over the front garden.
Carly reached out with her new lupine senses, trying to find a clue to their whereabouts within the structure.
It’s empty. Where is he?
The sound of large animals crashing through brush traveled through the dense woods. Caught by her keen wolf hearing, the thudding of the male wolves’ paws against the leaf-covered ground had her running toward the safety of the house. She almost felt their heavy breathing on the back of her neck as they raced to catch her. She wasn’t used to running for her life like this. It was tiring her fast. She stretched her body, getting the most use of every stride.
Where is he?
Bounding through the open front door, she sprinted up the wide circular stairs, following her nose to Bastien’s room. He wasn’t there, just his luggage. She pushed the bedroom door shut and collapsed on the rug next to the bed. Whew! That was a close call.
She jumped when the front door slammed shut, causing the pictures on the wall to tremble. Someone knocked on the door a few minutes later.
Carly fought the urge to ask who it was. You can’t talk now, you idiot. No one is going to understand anything you have to say right now. Except Bastien.
Crawling under the bed, she pressed her body against the cold hardwood floor. Her only recourse was to hide and go for the element of surprise. Her heart pounded as the knob turned.
Fighting the urge to pant noisily, she forced herself to take slow deep breaths instead. Carly fixed her eyes on the door. I hope it’s Robert. She chuckled to herself. If it is, he is in for one hell of a shock. He’s going to get that vasectomy he kept talking about... the hard way. Her upper lip lifted.
“Carly, are you in here?”
The door swung wide, coming to a slow stop just before it hit the wall behind it.
Bastien stood in the opening, his light blue shirt unbuttoned, his bare toes peeking out from under the hem of his slacks. Entering the room, he knelt down and looked under the bed. “There you are.”
How was he able to accept all of this so readily?
Carly’s attention shifted back down to his bare feet, then back up to the unbuttoned shirt that framed his flat stomach and washboard abs. She closed her eyes at the sight of the dancing muscles in his broad chest as he moved, putting some of his weight on his arms.
Why had he undressed? Looking up at the rich chocolate brown hair, Carly realized the hair was the same as one of the wolves she had encountered in the woods. Bastien?
He lowered himself to the rug, and she looked away, knowing she was about to drool over him any time now.
“Yes, baby?”
Are you— Her wide eyes darted around the room. Are you a— She couldn’t make herself think it. It was impossible. This whole situation is absurd. People just do not turn into wild animals.
“We do if it’s in our blood, Carly. How else can you explain everything that has happened to you?” He shifted position. Rolling up onto his side, he propped his head up on his hand and looked at her.
Oh, my God, he can read my mind! How many times had she admired his rear over the last several weeks? How many times had she wondered at the size of his... package? Her face burned when he suppressed a knowing smile.
“I’m a werewolf, Carly. My father and sister are both werewolves as well. And we generally try to mind our own business. But I can’t help it right now. You’re worrying me and reading you seemed the most expedient way to get the information I needed.”
She raised her eyes to meet his gaze. What about your mother?
He shook his head. “She was human. My father loved her so much he mated with her, even though he knew there was a possibility that she could never accept our kind.” His eyes took on a faraway look. “She killed herself the first time she saw me shift.” He rubbed his hand over his face. “She said she couldn’t bear the thought that she’d had sex with an animal. She called my sister and me disgusting half-breed mutts. Then she shot herself in the head, in front of us.”
His face reflected his incredible pain, and Carly wanted to comfort him. She needed to comfort him the only way she knew how in this form. Crawling out from under the bed, she rubbed her head against him, nuzzling his chest, neck and face with her muzzle.
“I’ll admit that it was very painful to hear my mother screaming that she’d birthed freaks of nature instead of children.” He met her eyes. “It was devastating to hear my mate confirm it.”
Your mate? She gazed up at him, her head tilted to the side. You have a mate?
Disappointment rushed through her and her mind cried out at the thought that he was already taken. She stared at the floor as unfamiliar jealousy ripped through her.
Ignoring the pain and feelings of inadequacy, Carly pushed the jealous rage she had to the back of her mind. She had no right. Besides, mixed marriages never worked out. Just look at his parents.
He watched her intently. “Don’t you feel it? You are my mate, Carly. Those of my species mate for life. If you refuse me, you will leave me to the same barren existence that my mother has left my father. I will never love another if you leave me. I don’t think he’s even looked at another woman since he met her.”
I can’t—we can’t—but I’m human!
Bastien shook his head and sighed. “You were human, Carly. You’re not anymore. I’m not sure you’re one of my species either. You could be something else entirely. Will that stop me from wanting you with everything within me?” He shook his head, shifted his position and slid his hand down her back. “No, it won’t. I want you beside me every day of my life, no matter what you are or what you look like. I love you, Carly, and my heart knows no such prejudice. Can you say the same?”
Carly hung her head. Could she? Could she set aside the fact that he wasn’t human? What if she suddenly became fully human again, would he still love her?
He nodded. “Of course, I would. But answer this, if you found that you were totally human again, would you still love me?” Putting his hand under her muzzle, he lifted her head and gazed deeply into her eyes, searching. “Would you, Carly?”
Would she? Carly didn’t have to think very long or hard on that one. Of course, I would. I love you because of who you are, not because of what you are.
Bastien covered her paw with his hand, closed his eyes and sighed. “I’m glad to hear you say that.”
A ripple of pain tore through Carly, causing her to groan. Oh, God. Not again.
Bastien reached out with his senses, thoroughly scanning the area around the house. They were alone, except for Dimitri doing something downstairs in the kitchen. There was no immediate danger. So what was wrong?
Carly stiffened up, thrust her front legs out in front of her and trembled. I hate this. I hate this so much, Bastien. I wish I could make it stop, but I can’t control it. Suddenly, she convulsed, and saliva dripped from her mouth. My whole body burns, hurts. Why does it have to hurt so damned much? She would have fallen over onto her side if it wasn’t for Bastien holding her, his hands mass
aging her tight muscles.
Help me, Bastien, please! She opened her pain-filled eyes and stared into his for a moment. Kill me. Put me out of my misery. I can’t take this.... She sucked in a deep breath as a painful shudder overtook her. I can’t take this anymore. Kill me, please!
“I can’t do that, baby.” He shifted his position, drawing her more firmly into his arms. “I will try to help you though. Listen to me. Don’t fight it, Carly. It is too late for that now. Fighting the change only makes it harder and last longer.” He bent close, whispering in her ear, “Let go of your animal side. Reach for the part of you that’s human. Reach for it, embrace it and allow the change to come.”
It hurts. She let out a low groan that sounded like something between human and animal.
“I know it hurts, baby. But it does get easier every time. I promise. The more often you change, the less it will hurt.” He rubbed her back, loosening her aching muscles. “Relax, baby. Let go of the pain and embrace the change.”
Carly listened to the even tone of his voice, allowing the soothing sound to help her find a place where the debilitating pain couldn’t touch her. She reached for the change, visualizing her body as human again.
Bastien was in her mind, helping her to push the animal side of her back, bringing her closer to being human.
Carly screamed as the intense pain rushed through her when her bones, muscles and organs reshaped. It migrated into every cell, every tissue in her body. It would have been worse had Bastien not been there to help her through it.
Chapter Twenty-four
Sharing her thoughts, Bastien knew when she was finally, truly able to let go and reach for the change. He watched, his mind reeling at what he heard in her mind. The torment she went through while her body shifted from one form to the other. Her inner screams were horrifying. Her pain was more intense than anything he’d ever felt in his life. He mentally blocked what he could for her, even knowing it would never be enough. His hands stroked her silky coat in an attempt to comfort as he waited for her body to change, and he felt her smooth skin beneath his fingers. He willed it to happen quickly, wanting this over with as soon as possible.
Gritting his teeth, he concentrated on helping her when all he wanted to do was hunt down the bastards responsible for her condition and tear their throats out. He could almost feel the soft skin of their necks giving way to his sharp incisors. Their warm blood spurting against his teeth and running out onto the ground when he dropped them where he stood.
They would pay for her pain. They would pay dearly for everything they had put Carly and the rest of his family through. He would see to it personally.
It took almost ten minutes for her to change. Not as long as before, yet still, it was much too long. The toll on her body was too great for such a long episode. Soon the pain would drive her mad. She would live her life afraid of the change, never really living as the fear consumed her will to have a normal life.
Even now the thought of death was preferable to the burning pain she felt each time she changed. How long before she thought to end her life while in human form because she couldn’t bear the pain of another shift?
“It’s okay, baby,” he whispered in her ear as she lay naked on the rug. His body half covered hers, his arms still wrapped tightly around her, from gathering her close when she had writhed on the floor in agony.
He wouldn’t allow her to hurt herself. During the change, he’d rested his upper body across hers, pinning her to the hardwood floor. This was hard enough on her already. She didn’t need to come out of it with broken bones.
Carly lay silently beneath him, her eyes scrunched up as tears trickled from the corners, running into the hair at her temples. “I’m sorry.” She tried to sit up, but Bastien still held her beneath him.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
“I’m going to get dressed.” A flush filled her face and she turned her head away. “I can’t lay here like this forever, you know.”
“Why not?” he asked with a grin. “I’ve got you right where I want you and in a very interesting state of undress.” His hand moved across her ribcage, sliding over her slightly rounded stomach to rest just above her pelvic bone. He leaned forward, pressing his lips to her ear. “I love you, Carly,” he whispered. His breath swirled around the outer shell and he reached out with his tongue, caressing the lobe while she trembled beneath him.
“I’m not sure we should do this, Bastien.”
“Do what? We’re just lying here enjoying each other’s company.” He raised his brow. “Unless you’ve got something... more interesting in mind.”
Bastien knew she did. She just wouldn’t admit it. Their minds were linked now. He rested his forehead against hers and looked deep into her eyes.
“Mother nature meant for us to be together, Carly. Don’t you feel it?” He pulled her closer. “Besides, I’ve just realized something.”
“What?”
“We haven’t even kissed since I got you back. And that’s a tragedy.”
Squirming beneath him, Carly nervously licked her lips. He could hear her thoughts. She imagined what it would be like to kiss him, to make love with him.
Those thoughts aroused him more than he had ever thought possible. His body hardened unexpectedly and he pressed himself against her, his cock straining against the confines of his zipper. Bastien lowered his head slowly, his eyes never leaving hers, watching for a sign that she wanted him to stop.
With her lips parted slightly and her head tilted to the side, she looked so damned sexy he couldn’t stand it. He almost groaned when her focus shifted to stare at his mouth as he lowered his head to hers.
As gentle as a soft spring rain, Bastien feathered kisses across her forehead, nose and chin. When their lips met, his lips caressed hers gently, never asking for more than she was willing to give.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Carly raised her hand, without conscious thought, threading her fingers through his silky, espresso-colored hair.
Bastien was amazing! She’d never felt this way with a man before. What was it about him that made just his kisses set her on fire?
Her entire body burned with need as his teeth scraped her lips and his tongue lapped at the corner of her mouth, begging for entrance.
Moaning, she opened for him. Losing herself in the kiss, she wanted nothing more than to crawl inside of him and stay there, protected, forever. With barely a thought, she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer, needing to feel the warmth of his skin against her own.
He pulled back slightly, feathering small kisses across her brow, over her eyes. “You don’t know what you do to me, darlin’,” he said, pulling her closer. “I just want to eat you up.” He grinned when she lowered her lids and blushed. “That wasn’t quite what I was talking about, but that’s not a bad idea, either.”
She pushed him away and sat up. “Let me go. I need to get dressed. I can’t very well stay in this room naked for the rest of my life.”
He canted his head to the side and winked, then moved away so she could get up.
She stood, then cast him a glance. “Do you mind?”
He grinned, purposely staring at the tight, light-pink peaks of her breasts. “I don’t mind at all.”
She made a circle with her index finger. “Close your eyes or turn around. I can’t dress with you staring at me like that.” Of course, she couldn’t. He would see all of her imperfections. He would see the scars left from Robert’s abuse. The ugly ones that crisscrossed her back like some macabre spider web.
Bastien became very still as he heard the echo of her thoughts. “You have scars?”
Quickly, she pushed the thought of Robert whipping her until she was bloody to the back of her mind.
“It’s so unfair that you can read my mind like that, Bastien. Haven’t you heard of privacy?”
“That bastard whipped you?” Bastien stared at her, waiting for her answer with a single-minded purpose. Knowin
g how protective he had become, he probably was.
Carly could feel the tension rolling off him in thick waves. He looked ready to do battle. Closing her eyes, she swallowed around the lump in her throat and nodded.
“Yes, he whipped me and yes, I have scars.” She lowered her eyes and stared at the floor, unable to bear the revulsion she was sure would show on his face.
Their mind link could be a blessing or a curse. Right now, it was the latter as he was unable to stop himself from picking the information from her brain. Her constant fear of his rejection frustrated him.
“Sonofabitch!” Bastien stood up, turned and punched a hole through the wall.
Carly scrambled away. Reaching into one of his bags, she found a shirt and pulled it over her head. Still, he heard the echoes of her thoughts. What was it about her? Why did she always fall for the men with such horrible tempers and deplorable lack of control?
Bastien watched her, his face an implacable mask. His eyes raked her bare legs. Frowning, he stalked over to her and reached out to grasp her arm. Carly cried out, flinching away. She didn’t think she could take a beating from him. It would kill her. Tears streamed down her face. If only she hadn’t provoked him.
BASTIEN STOPPED, RELEASED her and took a deep breath. “Baby, I’m not mad at you.” He shook his head and raked his fingers through his hair. “I’m mad at that piece of shit you call an ex-husband. More than mad, actually.” His eyes blazed. “Murderous would be a more apt description.”
Gently taking her arm, he turned her around and, grabbing the shirt, he raised it to her shoulders to inspect her body. “I’ll kill the asshole.”
Ugly scars marked her back and legs. He roared out his frustration at not knowing her sooner. If he had searched for her, perhaps he would have found her sooner and saved her from her ex-husband’s abuse. He tore the shirt down the middle in his rage.
It was his fault she had suffered this abuse. Had he not avoided looking for a mate, they would have been together sooner and that beast she called an ex-husband, never would have had the chance to harm her. He had been too arrogant, wanting nothing to do with a mate who could hold dominion over him forever. He didn’t want to resign himself to have only one woman in his bed for the rest of his life. The idea had been appalling. And Carly had paid the price for his selfish reluctance. God, he was such an arrogant, ego-centric prick.
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