by SL
eyes. Derek felt his heart flutter in his chest. Gently, he placed his
hands on her shoulders. She didn't pull away, but, instead, ran the tip
of her tongue over her lips. Before he realized it, he'd leaned in,
placing a feather-light kiss on her mouth.
"You'd better get going," he whispered. He'd felt his blood warm
with desire, but reluctantly, he pulled away.
"I'll be back tonight." Her face brightened, her cheeks glowing with
color. "And I'll bring more supplies, too. Now, promise me you'll
stay out of trouble while I'm gone."
"Trouble? In the middle of nowhere?" He grinned, spreading his
arms in an expansive gesture.
"Derek?" Megan's tone was serious, although he could tell she was
trying to stifle a smile.
"Oh, all right. Cross my heart, no trouble." He sighed, tracing a
little x over his chest with his fingertip.
As he'd watched her leave, the warmth of her promise lingered in
his heart. For once in his life, he felt wanted ... and loved. Now,
standing on the porch, the wolf once again stirred under his skin.
"It's a lovely day," he mused out loud. "It'd be a shame to waste it."
He slid out of the tight t-shirt, borrowed jogging pants and sandals.
Leaving his clothes bunched in a pile on the porch, he strolled naked
through the autumn leaves, the sunlight warming his skin.
Derek felt an inkling of tranquility, an at-oneness with the natural
beauty that surrounded him. Casting a cautious glance back at the
small cabin, he knew he was alone. With a smirk of satisfaction, he
headed for the grove with a quick sprint. Reaching the first line of
trees, Derek effortlessly transformed and the wolf bounded off into
the woods.
* * * *
Megan's blood was still churning in her veins. She could feel the
effects of the moon even though the afternoon sun was shining
through the windshield. It was a strong moon, and a dangerous one,
but she had to remain in control ... for her sake and Derek's. She
gripped the steering wheel tighter as she recalled what had happened
earlier at the diner.
MacDonald was telling his side of the incident. Megan eyed him
across the table, listening, but not quite believing him. Not that
MacDonald was lying. She just felt he wasn't telling the whole truth.
"Yeah, I had a few beers and may have said some things out of
line." MacDonald shrugged his big shoulders. "But that Derek fella
didn't have to get out of hand. He's the one who lost control, not me.
I tell ya, he's a loner – always has been, always will be."
"What if he wants to join our pack? Have you ever thought of
that?" Megan hotly asked before she'd even realized she'd spoken.
"Doesn't he deserve a chance? A sense of belonging?"
Megan glanced around the table, her senses on alert as she studied
the other pack members. Gazing over at her brother, she was
disappointed to find he was blocking his thoughts from everyone ...
including her. But what did she expect? She knew he was only trying
to stay neutral and impartial to the whole situation.
"He's too unpredictable, moon or no moon. Besides, he's not even
sure of his parentage, Megan. If ya ask me, he's nothing more than-
than a mutt!"
Megan slapped a hand down on the table in aggravation.
"MacDonald, you will not talk about Derek Lee like that! It's wrong!
It's unfair to judge him before you even get a chance to know him!"
Ray leaned close, laying a cool hand on her shoulder. "Meg, calm
down and lower your voice." The tone of his voice was gentle, but
held a note of warning. Her entire body quivered with anger. Her
outburst had sent a ripple of shock and uneasiness around the table.
"So, tell us, Megan," MacDonald leered, pushing his chair back
from the table and holding her gaze, "how well have you gotten to
know him?"
That did it. Megan leapt to her feet as she gripped the edge of the
table for control, but her heart was pounding angrily, the wolf inside
her rippling under her skin. "You son of a bitch – how dare you!" she
growled. "I ought to – "
"Meg, no!" Ray swiftly rose and gripped her arm tight, whirling her
around to face him. Her anger lost its punch as she gazed up into her
brother's eyes. "Not here. Not now."
She inhaled deep, struggling on the inside to cool her demeanor.
Control. Breathe. Don't let him get to you. Stay calm, sis. Megan
blinked, realizing it was not her own thoughts in her head, but Ray's.
"I-I'm going outside." She nodded, her voice quivering. "Excuse
me."
Megan barely remembered walking through the crowded diner and
stepping outside into the parking lot. "Damn him! How dare he think
that I – that we – oh!" She fumed, letting out another hiss of anger.
But it wasn't like we didn't want to. A tiny smile tugged at the corners
of her mouth, recalling their kiss. She tried to shake the memory from
her head.
This moon's definitely got a hold on more of us than just Derek.
She let out a heavy sigh. Propping up against the side of her car, she
took a deep breath. She felt the autumn sun on her face and let the
coolness of the morning air quiet her thoughts, clearing away the
barrage of feelings that swirled inside her.
Only ten minutes had passed, but it felt like forever. She'd decided
to just wait outside, not go back into the diner. Her outburst had
drawn attention from a few of the other customers. She thought it best
to stay put. More than likely, the pack was finishing the meeting ...
without her.
Finally, the diner door swung open. Members of the pack filed out,
talking among themselves. A low growl escaped from under her
breath as she saw MacDonald exit the diner, but he wasn't even
looking in her direction. His shoulders were hunched, his face pale
and lips tightly drawn as he headed to his truck on the far side of the
gravel lot.
I wonder what all that's about?
Ray and fellow pack-mate, Bruce Taylor, came out the door,
heading toward her. Ray was chatting with Bruce as they drew closer.
She couldn't help overhearing what her brother was saying. "I'm glad
you spoke up when you did, Bruce. I felt MacDonald was holding
back on us, too. Thanks for letting us know." Her brother grinned,
patting the other man on the back.
The two men came to a halt in front of her. Ray turned his gaze to
Megan. "Hey, sis, are you doing okay now?"
Her heart nervously skipped a beat. "Uh, yeah, I'm feeling better."
She blushed, and then her curiosity got the best of her. "So what
happened in there after I left? What was MacDonald holding back
on?" Her eyes darted from Ray to Bruce, then back again to her
brother.
Bruce rubbed the back of his neck with a hand, a slow grin
spreading over his face. "Well, I should have spoken up before
MacDonald made his dig, Megan. Sorry. But I was waiting to see if
he did or not. Hard to tell with a guy like him." He gestured with his
head in the direction of MacDonald's truck as it pulled
out of the
parking lot.
"What do you mean?" Megan raised an eyebrow in Bruce's
direction, folding her arms over her chest.
"I was off-duty that night and in the bar too. I overheard what was
said. MacDonald was drunk again. Derek was there asking a few
members about his chances of getting acceptance into the pack. That
was all. Then, MacDonald shot off his mouth, and basically said that
your family was full-blooded sithech. He also said there was no way
our pack would accept him ... especially you. After that, he insulted
Derek, calling him a Heinz-57 mutt."
Megan stared at him, speechless. Her mind was numb. She was
trying to comprehend what Bruce was saying. Ray wrapped his arm
around her shoulders.
"It seems like wolf-boy's fond of you, sis. I think he went off not
because dumb-ass MacDonald called him a mutt, but because he'd
struck a nerve when it came to you." Ray grinned down at her, giving
her a gentle, affectionate squeeze. "And it doesn't take any wolf-sense
to know you're having feelings for him, too. Right?"
Megan blushed again, her cheeks burning with color as butterflies
invaded her stomach.
"Whoa! That's between you guys." Bruce grinned over at them,
raising a hand. "I'd better get a move on. I go on duty at the police
station in a few hours and I don't want to be late. Y'all have a good
Halloween and be safe tonight, okay?"
Ray and Megan said their good-byes, watching in silence as Bruce
headed to his car. When he pulled out of the parking lot, Megan drew
a deep breath and glanced up into her big brother's eyes.
"I'm really glad Bruce spoke up, telling the pack exactly what
MacDonald said. I also had a funny feeling, but I thought it was my
own emotions getting in the way."
Ray chuckled, his arm sliding from around her shoulders. "Yeah,
remember Dad used to warn us about the October moon. He used to
say it was a 'bad moon risin'. Up until a few years ago, when I took
over as a pack leader, I never understood what he meant. It seems to
me that even MacDonald's petty envy over Derek's interest in joining
our pack was magnified by the moon the other night."
"Yeah." Megan nodded in agreement. "I can't believe he lashed out
at me, too. That was a nasty remark in front of the pack leaders. A
real low blow."
"Hmm, I think he also struck a nerve with you, sis."
"What do you mean?" she asked, but kept her thoughts carefully
guarded as she stared over at him.
"If I were you, I'd wait until after we get past this moon phase
before you and wolf-boy do anything rash. Please, promise me, Meg,
you'll play it cool. Okay?"
"Yeah, I'll be cool." She nodded, flashing him a reassuring smile.
"I promise."
After she left Ray in the diner parking lot, she drove over to her
house to pick up supplies for her and Derek. She'd also stopped off at
the local Target, purchasing him some warmer clothes before she
headed back to the cabin.
As she turned down the gravel road leading to the little hideaway in
the woods, her heart began to patter rapidly in her chest. She was
happy to be heading back to the quaint little cabin, returning to the
serenity of the forest ... and to Derek.
CHAPTER 4
His entire body ached. He was grimy and sweaty, too. However,
lucky for him, nothing was broken thanks to the thick bedding of
fallen leaves coating the bottom of the hole. Derek had been the
prisoner of the large earthen crater all morning. He'd kept watch on
the sun's rays as they shifted angles, revealing to him the passage of
time. The morning seemed to have lasted an eternity.
The sides of the pitted crater were crumbly, difficult to climb in
either his human or his wolf form. Reluctantly, he finally gave in,
realizing he was stuck until Megan returned back to the cabin.
She should be back soon, she promised. Gazing up to the top of the
wide opening, his frustration mounted. Frustration and hunger. He
was anxious until he heard the sound of a car off in the distance.
Megan's back! His heart soared with happiness, his nerves flooded
with relief. She'll get me out of here!
Knowing his senses would be keener in wolf form, Derek
effortlessly transformed. Remembering how Megan mind-talked, he
wondered if it could be done, conveying messages over a distance.
Ah, what the hell ... it's worth a try. Raising his nose to the sky, he
mentally strained, sending out a psychic message. Meg! Megan! Can
you hear me? Meg! I need your help! Meg?
* * * *
Megan shook her head in disbelief, placing an armload of bags onto
the kitchen table. The cabin was quiet and empty. Derek was no
where in sight. Now, where has he gone? Maybe he's running off a bit
of sexual frustration. She grinned at the thought . Lord knows, I could
use a good run too!
Returning back outside to her car, she busied herself with the
remainder of the bags when something nudged at her mind. It was
like a mental poke. Listening to her instincts she stilled, holding her
breath, and concentrated on the sensation. But whatever it was went
silent. "Oh, that moon's now screwing with my mind too, damn it!"
she cursed, hefting the bags into her arms and heading toward the
cabin. "I swear, I can't wait until this moon waxes and – "
Oooooo! A distant howl rolled through the woods. Megan stopped
dead in her tracks, the hairs on the back of her neck rising in response.
Oooooooo! It was a call for help.
"Derek?" she yelled, depositing the bags swiftly onto the porch
before she jogged in the direction of the distressing call. "Derek,
where are you? I hear you! Keep howling!" she called out, stripping
out of her clothing as she transformed, then picked up her pace. In her
sithech form, she dashed off into the thick, amber-shaded grove in
search of him.
Ooooooo! His howl sounded strange, muffled, but unmistakable.
She hurried on all fours through the bed of fallen leaves with her keen
nose sniffing, seeking a clue to which direction to take. Ah ha! She
gloated, finding the trail tainted with his unmistakable scent. Megan
followed it deeper and deeper into the woods until she came to a
shaded glade.
Oooooo! A howl arose from a midsized hole in the ground. Derek?
She slowed her pace and cautiously padded to the opening, gazing
over the edge into the leaf-lined pit. To her relief, a pair of amber
eyes glowed back at her from the bottom. The tawny-colored wolf let
out a soft whimper.
Derek! Are you okay? she mentally conveyed, her heart racing
against her ribcage.
Yes, I'm okay. Be careful. Those leaves around the edges are slick.
How long have you been down there? Can't you get out in human
form? she inquired, padding easily around the rim of the earthen-
cavity, pondering the situation. Derek transformed and stood upright,
naked and dirty at the bottom of the pit with a frown on his face.
"I've been waiting for you to return all day. I trie
d to climb out, but
the dirt is too flakey and loose. I won't be able to climb out unless I
have something sturdy to grab onto."
She could sense his frustration. He shrugged his shoulders, looking
as helpless as a baby wolf pup. Her heart ached with desperation and
longing.
Don't worry ... I have an idea. I'll be right back! She turned and
scampered back in the direction of the cabin as fast as her limbs could
carry her.
* * * *
He stared up at the opening and blinked in disbelief. Well, this'll be
the second time she's saved my ass. He shook his head. Megan was
once again putting herself out on a limb for him. That was twice in
just a couple of days.
"Well, I'll just have to think of a special way to thank her." He
grinned, as a heady scent of she-wolf drifted down into the hole and
filled his senses. The sun was still lingering in the sky, but Derek
could feel the stirring of the moon in his blood. The feeling made him
ache for Megan's caresses, her honey-sweet kisses and her body.
Derek shook his head. "No, it's more than that," he grumbled out
loud, engaging the moon's strange sensations within him. "I want her
to be ... to be something more. I want her to be ... to be my mate!"
Mate. The realization hit him hard, like a punch in the gut. Never
in his single, solitary life had he ever met a woman who he wanted for
both her body and her spirit. Megan McShaw was definitely special
... and he wanted her forever.
"But it's impossible right now. She's keeping a distance between us
until this Halloween moon fades. Damn it!" He swung his foot in
frustration, kicking up a cloud of leaves.
"What's wrong? Are you okay, Derek?" a familiar voice called from
above.
Hoping she didn't hear his outburst, he glanced up and cleared the
tightness in his throat. "I-I was just letting off some steam, that's all.
It's not easy to be stuck down here most of the day, you know."
"I found some rope back at the cabin." She grinned, holding up a
coil of thick rope in her hand. "Now I need to find a sturdy tree trunk
to tie it around." Megan's face disappeared from the opening once
again, but he could still hear her voice. "I'll help get you out of there
in no time."
"Sorry to be such a pain, Meg. I wasn't paying attention where I
