Nya's Wolf: BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance

by Roxy Wilson

  But she needed to give him that space.

  She couldn’t keep pushing him aside as if that night didn’t happen, as if their first date was a mistake. They belonged together. Couldn’t she see that? Apparently not. Well, he would just have to try harder and convince her.

  When he reached her house, he parked the car. As soon as he stepped out of the car, his nostrils flared. Nya was in trouble. He didn’t have to hear the sounds that came from the backyard to know she might even be in danger. Someone screamed. He ran towards the back garden. He’d caught the scent. It was familiar.

  Faine was here, and Reece had a feeling what she had in mind wasn’t good for Nya. What the hell was happening with his pack? Why were they all bent on killing the woman he loved?

  What if he was too late to save her?

  Chapter Seventeen

  The peace of the night was broken by snarls and growls. Nya stared at the massive, sleek wolf that charged again and again at the tree, on top of which she was currently perched.

  She’d come out to enjoy the breeze.

  Instead, she was faced with an enraged wolf and potential death. While she didn’t know who the wolf was, it was easy enough to see that this was a werewolf. Who was he? What did he want from her? Was he from Reece’s pack?

  She had no answers.

  Fear coursed through her veins as she contemplated the situation. The wolf leapt up and nearly latched on to her shoe. A scream escaped her lips as she scampered slightly up, not confident if the tree would be able to take her weight. It was the wrong decision to climb on top of it. When the wolf charged at her as she stood in the garden, she rushed towards the nearest tree. She should have gone inside. That would have been the best option, but panic made her take a wrong turn. This was one of the newer trees she’d planted. It wasn’t fully grown yet, and she was quite concerned it might actually fall down.

  If she fell on the ground, the wolf would tear her to pieces.

  The mad rage that sparked in its eyes told her she wouldn’t be left alive.

  What had she done to invite such wrath?

  Her throat closed and she struggled to breathe. What could she do to escape unscathed? The house was too far. Once again, she wished she’d gone that way. She could have been safely inside the house, but instead she was stuck on the tree. Her mind grappled with possibilities but nothing came to mind. The wolf put its paws on the tree and glared up at her as it lunged as high as it could manage.

  Could it climb the tree if it was desperate enough?

  She wasn’t sure. Her tongue darted out to lick her lips. Staying up so high for too long wasn’t a good idea. It wasn’t cold yet, but the temperature was expected to drop later. She wouldn’t last the whole night, and for sure, the tree wouldn’t support her weight for too long. It was a mere sapling compared to the other big, fully grown trees. When she grabbed, jumped, and climbed up its branches, it was the easiest option.

  But now the easy option would get her killed.

  The wolf wandered back and then ran and leapt high. Nya screamed as she saw its teeth inches away from her face. Much to her relief, it dropped down. Unhurt, it tried the same tactic again. It might reach her on the next attempt and if not, it might be able to dislodge her.

  Shit.

  She was in serious terrible.

  The wolf sailed through the air, and its paws nearly reached her. She dared not even push it away because its teeth just waited to grab anything it could find purchase on. It hit the branch and fell. The tree creaked.

  And she could have sworn the wolf smiled.

  Just as she wondered if her only option might be to leap over the wolf and dash towards the door, Nya heard a cry. She looked up to find Reece leaping towards them. He shifted in mid-stride and headed for the wolf. The fight would be dangerous, perhaps even fatal for one of them. Much to her surprise, the other animal spun around and raced towards the forest. Reece gave chase, and within moments, they were both out of sight. She sat atop the tree, alone, and scared.

  “I can’t believe this,” she muttered. For a life that was wolf-free and peaceful, she had landed in a pack of trouble without any warning. If she’d known that meeting Reece would bring so much fire her way, she might not have told the police about him. Damn it. Of course, she would have done the same. After surveying the area, she got off the tree and hurried towards her house. Only when she was safely behind locked doors did her body feel light, lighter than it had in a long time, because of the sudden release of tension. “My life is a mess.”

  She should’ve gone upstairs and slept, but she was worried about Reece. While the other wolf appeared to be smaller and seemed scared of Reece, it was possible it only lured him into a trap, so it could hurt him. She was scared for him.

  What if something bad happened?

  What if he was hurt and lay alone in the forest with no one around to help him?

  The thought was unbearable. Yes, he was capable and strong, but she had a feeling the whole act was staged, so he would come to her rescue. No, it couldn’t be so. She didn’t know he was headed this way. The wolf that attacked her had no way of knowing that he was coming here.

  But what if his arrival was anticipated?

  Questions raged through her mind, and the lack of answers frustrated her. She called on his cell phone but he didn’t answer. Of course, he didn’t have it with him. He must have left it in the car. Should she go out and check?

  She was tempted to do so.

  Just as she opened the door, a wolf appeared.

  She froze.

  Was it the attacker?

  But as the animal padded towards her, she recognized it was Reece. She’d seen him enough to know this was him. And of course, his eyes were distinct. He changed forms as he came forward.

  “What happened?” she asked.

  “She got away.”

  Nya closed the door and stood at the patio. He walked up the stairs and joined her. Pleased to note he didn’t seem to have any wounds, she breathed a sigh of relief.

  But wait. What did he just say?

  Anger simmered inside her. “She?”

  Reece had the grace to blush. “Faine. A member of my pack. She got away. I could have chased her, but I wanted to come back and make sure you were okay. Also, I was a little worried that she may have an accomplice.”

  Nya raised an eyebrow. “Members of your pack have been taking too much interest in me. I don’t find it healthy. In fact, I damn near died today. She wanted to kill me.”

  “Perhaps she was trying to scare you,” he suggested.

  How dare he defend a wolf that nearly killed her! “She scared me into a heart attack. And yes, I know she wanted to kill me. I saw it in her eyes. What’s her problem?” Nya frowned. “Faine? I’ve met her before. She works at the bank, doesn’t she?”

  “Yes, she does.”

  “She’s also a werewolf?”

  “Yes.”

  She shook her head, confused. Had she imagined that rage in that wolf’s eyes? No, she didn’t think so. It was real, and it was directed at her. “Why does she hate me?”

  “I’m not sure.”

  Nya had a feeling he was hiding something. She wanted to ask him a hundred questions but at the same time, she just wanted to go in, collapse into bed, and sleep. Maybe it was better to leave things now, but these encounters managed to scare her. Once was already too much. “Who else is going to come after me?”

  He frowned. “I don’t know what’s going on with my pack. Foster has already left town. Smith and Duncan assured me they wouldn’t attempt anything like that again. Actually, they wanted to come and apologize but I told them not to, as you were still mad. Faine? She took me by surprise.”

  Nya remembered Faine’s eyes and the intense hatred that gleamed in there. Something clicked in her mind. “Did you date her?”

  “Never.”

  She surveyed him. Was he telling her the truth? What did it matter anyway? It wasn’t as if she was dating Reece. H
er initial assessment was right; getting involved with Reece wasn’t good for her health. “I hope it never happens again.”

  What would she do if it did?

  She couldn’t walk into the police station and complain to them about werewolves. She would be committed to a mental hospital faster than she could say ‘wolf’. No, she would have to think of something else to make the werewolves clear off her property. It all started with Reece, and it would have to end with him. The quicker she severed all ties with him, the safer she was.

  “I’m going to stay here tonight to make sure she doesn’t come back.”

  “You don’t need to do that. I’ve learnt my lesson. From now on, I’m not stepping foot in the garden until I’ve applied a license for and received a gun. I do know how to shoot, and you had better warn your friends that if I see any of them here, I’m going to shoot first and ask questions later.”

  “I wouldn’t blame you if you did.”

  “Why, that’s so nice of you.” She frowned. It wasn’t fair to take her anger out on him, but he was here and thus…the convenient scapegoat. “I’ve got to sleep now.” She turned and then looked back. “You don’t need to stay here.”

  “I’ll feel better if I do. Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.”

  Sure, he will be. The forest was his home. How could she forget that he was a werewolf? As she opened the door, another thought struck her. She turned to face him. “Why did you come here? Did you know she was after me?”

  “I came to see if you were all right.”

  Another lie. He’d definitely come here for another reason, but she couldn’t figure out a way to make him say it. Did he seek another chance with her? Well, he wasn’t going to get it. “Take care, Reece.” Nya went inside. She was determined to ignore his presence. Perhaps it was rude of her to let him wait outside when he would be so much more comfortable inside, but she couldn’t afford the intimacy of having him in her house. The man was a magnet, and she was drawn to him like a moth to flame. He would burn her, and the worst of it was that he didn’t even want to do so.

  After a hot shower, she felt better. Nya changed into her night clothes. She lifted the curtain to peer outside, but everything was quiet. She couldn’t see him. He must be in the forest. Wolves had a strong sense of smell, and just his presence would be enough to deter the others from coming to her house.

  What the hell was wrong with his pack? Why were they all after her?

  She hadn’t done anything to make them angry. Perhaps Faine was jealous because Nya was involved with Reece. Perhaps she wanted him for herself, or maybe she just didn’t like that another female dared to infringe on her territory. Whatever her reasons were, she managed to scare Nya in a way that the men didn’t. While they only shocked and confused her, Faine’s rage was something else to behold. Nya hoped never to come across that woman again. Perhaps, now that Reece had discovered her intentions, she would also leave town.

  Or maybe—she would become even more determined to catch Nya alone.

  How long could Reece protect her?

  She was so tired. Not physically, but mentally. This was becoming quite a torture. If things didn’t settle down soon enough, she might have to leave town herself. No. She wasn’t going to allow these rogues to run her out of town. This was her home, and she was staying right here. If they had a problem with her, she would face it chin up and to hell with the consequences.

  Nya almost smiled at the thought. Brave words. But if she was faced with one of those wolves again, she was likely to scream her head off. After dropping the curtain in place, she settled into bed. Her thoughts remained with Reece.

  How long did he intend to stay here? Would he be all right?

  She had to stop thinking about him. He was a grown man and quite powerful. There was no need for her to worry about his safety. Still, it took her a long time to fall asleep, and even when she did so, her dreams were laced with images of him. His lips on her, his skin brushing against hers. Even in her dreams, she surrendered all too easily. Nya slept and dreamt, and while she didn’t realize it, she had a smile on her face as she thought about him.

  Chapter Eighteen

  The rain drizzled down on him, but he hunched close to the trees and protected himself as best as he could. It was morning, and he could have gone home, but he wanted to make sure Nya was back in her office where at least she would have company. He dared not leave her alone. Faine’s attack threw him off.

  Why did the female wolf take such a dislike to Nya? Was she working with Foster? Were they both trying to kill Nya?

  He wasn’t able to answer any of these questions, and it irked him to realize there were too many mysteries in his life and he didn’t have the answers. When the patio door opened, he remained hidden. Nya came out, and he drank in the sight of her. Without makeup, with her hair tied back, her face was even more beautiful. He caught her scent, musky, strong, and so unabashedly female. There was nothing he wouldn’t do for her. She was the love of his life, and it was time for him to stop fighting his feelings for her.

  When he saw her atop that tree, with Faine trying to reach her, his heart nearly stopped beating. She was unhurt, and he was relieved with that. But anything could have happened. He shook his head as he thought of the other possibility. What would have happened to his beloved if he hadn’t come? What would have happened if he’d arrived too late? It was just a coincidence that he arrived at her place at all.

  From now on, he had no intention of leaving her alone. He would shadow her whenever she was home. All he had to do was stay outside, and yes, the job had its rewards. He could look at her whenever she came outside, and that was more than what he had before.

  “Reece,” she called.

  He hesitated. What did she want? He padded out and then shifted.

  She cocked her head. “I forgot to ask you before. What happens to your phone and wallet when you change?”

  His lips quirked in a smile. “Anything in my hands or in my pocket becomes a part of my fur.”

  “That’s convenient.”

  “Yeah, it is.” He stopped at the stairs. If he climbed up and came too close to her, he wouldn’t be able to resist her appeal. “You’re heading for the office? I’ll leave once you go.”

  “Did you sleep?”

  “I can sleep anywhere,” he assured her. Of course, that wasn’t exactly true. He’d been so rattled by the attack on her that he could barely close his eyes for a few hours. Luckily, nothing untoward happened in the night, but there was no guarantee it wouldn’t happen the next day. Until he found Faine and figured out what she was up to, he wouldn’t be able to relax.

  There was hesitation on her face as if she were trying to make up her mind about something. “I was just about to have breakfast. Would you like some?”

  It would have been foolish for him to turn down the offer, but the truth was, the night gave birth to another idea in his head. It seemed Nya was in trouble because of him. The more he tried to go out with her, the harder his pack appeared to resist the attempt. She was already the victim of two attacks, and if there was another, she might not survive. He needed to be careful. As much as he loved her, he couldn’t risk her life time and time again.

  Perhaps it was better to stay away. “No, I’m fine. I’ll go home and eat.”

  She crossed her arms. “You’ve been out all night, protecting me. The least I can do is serve you a proper breakfast. You have to come in.” Nya smiled that charming smile of hers. “I insist.”

  His head said no, but his heart said a resounding yes. Dammit. He couldn’t turn her down, but from tomorrow on, he would make more of an effort to keep his distance. The tables appeared to have turned. While last night, she seemed eager to stay off his radar, now he was determined to do the same.

  He wanted to pursue her, but not at the cost of her life. If anything happened to her, he wouldn’t be able to forgive himself.

  He strode after her. The kitchen already smelt of eggs and bacon.<
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  “Take a seat,” she said. She placed a heaping plate in front of him, with slices of whole grain bread and of course, a hot cup of coffee.

  Of course, he hardly tasted anything because she sat opposite him. The silence was awkward. Words had never been a problem between them but now, they hardly had anything to say to each other. He blamed it on his pack who’d created so many problems between them. He recalled their first date. It was so easy, so friendly, and now they barely looked at each other.

  He wanted to get out and leave her alone. While he would be back at night to watch over, he wasn’t so keen to pursue anything else, until he’d sorted things with his pack.

  What could he do to convince them to leave her alone? Perhaps…nothing. Or perhaps he could put the fear of God in them and make sure they stayed as far away from her as possible.

  “More coffee?” she asked.

  “Sure. Wait. I’ll pour.” He stood, walked over to the coffee machine and poured two cups. “Sugar?”

  “No, thank you.”

  So formal. So stiff. Not that he could do anything about it. Their relationship was jinxed. The harder he tried, the greater trouble she appeared to be in. The only thing he could think of to keep her safe was to stay far away. He put the cup down in front of her and took his place. Would there ever be a time when he could sit across the table and share a friendly meal with her? Or were they destined to remain poles apart?

  “I take it the police haven’t made a move towards you yet?” she asked.

  Reece shook his head. “No. Thank God for small mercies. I haven’t heard from them. Lendl told me they’ve been asking questions, but it looks as if they don’t have anything concrete to pin on me.”

  “Lendl?”

  “Yes, I meet him every Tuesday at Sal’s. We have dinner today.”

  “I’m glad you went to Sal’s. It’s a great place.”