“Dear God.” A tall man looked at him from behind a desk, removing wire-framed glasses to gawk at him. “Are we barbarians? Find something to put on this werewolf.”
He sensed his two escorts glance at each other, more than likely wondering which one should leave his side. The two guards behind him made no sound, but he smelled their aggravation. With all of the humans surrounding him, the odd scent he detected when they were in the living room wasn’t as strong. But he smelled werewolf, not strong enough to be full-blooded. He’d always thought stories of half-human, halfwerewolf were myths.
“Mary!” The man pointed a finger at the woman with the rifle. “Do you get some cheap thrill out of standing next to this naked beast?”
Mary snorted, or possibly gasped. Adam didn’t take his eyes off the man behind the desk while she turned and left the room, shutting the door behind her.
“Are all human women attracted to you?” The man sat in his heavily stuffed leather seat, reclining easily. He removed his glasses, studying Adam.
“I’ve never noticed.” Adam stared at the human in front of him, wishing they were alone so he could detect his scent better.
He guessed the human’s age at no more than a couple years older than him. Strawberry blond hair cut short, and slight indentions on either side of the man’s face from glasses, gave him a scholarly look. He had a clear complexion, and pale green eyes that offered no secrets. This human wasn’t a warrior; his size would be no match in battling a werewolf. Not the look Adam had imagined for Christopher Hordan.
The human tapped his glasses on the desk before unfolding them and carefully putting them on. He looked at Adam over the rims, his expression disbelieving. “I assume you know who I am.”
Adam blinked, wanting to move closer so that he could single out the man’s scent, but all too aware of the metal collar around his neck. “I have no idea,” he muttered, not caring if the human believed him or not. Any show this human offered would only benefit him in knowing his abilities.
The man scoffed. “I’m Christopher Hordan, which you already know. And you are Adam Knight, special agent with Werewolf Affairs.”
Impressive. The human had done his homework. His knowledge of Werewolf Affairs bothered Adam, but hopefully Hordan’s arrogance would allow him to tell Adam how he knew of such a covert agency.
“The pleasure is all mine,” Adam muttered, suddenly aware of growing fear in the human men around him.
Hordan straightened, never taking his gaze from Adam’s face. “I doubt any of this is that pleasurable for you.”
The door opened behind him, the female’s scent filling his nostrils before she appeared. He looked down at her, noticing her glance at his cock before she could stop herself. Quickly she handed him a pair of sweatpants and a sweatshirt then backed away, almost backing into one of the other humans.
“Thank you.” He made his voice a little deeper than necessary, a luring tone he’d used on women in the past.
Images of Trudy popped into his head and he found himself comparing the two women. Mary lacked Trudy’s strength, her drive. And Mary was scared. Either she didn’t want to be here, or she didn’t trust the others around her. He couldn’t tell just by the emotions he smelled on her. And her facial expression remained relaxed, in spite of the nervous look she gave him before turning to avoid the other human.
Unfolding the drawstring pants, he felt the tug on the chain around his neck when he bent over slightly to put them on. They fit around the waist, but barely made it to his ankles. He didn’t care—clothes were clothes. One look at the sweatshirt and he knew it wouldn’t fit. He tossed it onto the chair facing Hordan’s desk, returning his attention to the werewolf killer.
“Shackle him, Matthew.” Hordan looked at the human holding Adam’s chain. “And then leave us, all of you.”
“But Father…” Mary began to protest.
Adam felt something cold wrap around one wrist, and then his hands were tugged behind his back to be locked together. The chain snaked down his spine, being connected to the handcuffs. He gave the restraints little attention.
Father? Now this is interesting.
He glanced from Mary to Hordan.
“Keep murder in the family, do you?” he taunted, curious how far he could push Hordan. Knowing the man’s breaking point would allow him to know when he could overcome the human.
Everyone seemed to still, except Hordan. He moved around his desk faster than Adam guessed him capable. Not stopping until he was inches from Adam’s face, the human glared at him, hatred swarming in his dark green eyes.
“Removing werewolves is hardly murder. You are a mutated mistake, the devil’s seed, a gross atrocity,” he spit into Adam’s face. “How dare you attempt to call my actions murder.”
A fire burned behind the angry expression on Hordan’s face. Adam wondered if the human’s green eyes weren’t just a bit darker than they had been a moment before. But what really caught his attention was the human’s scent. It wasn’t right. Christopher Hordan was halfwerewolf, too.
Chapter Nineteen
The rise and fall of the voices downstairs didn’t help Trudy’s nerves. She paced Margo and John’s bedroom where Margo had assured her it would be okay to watch television. But she couldn’t concentrate on any show. Clicking the remote, changing channels every few minutes, she strolled from one end of the room to the other, glancing out the window, and then out the bedroom door.
The only place to sit in the bedroom was on their bed, but every time she glanced at the king-sized bed, with its iron floorboard and headboard, her mind conjured up all kinds of possible activity that might have taken place there.
Adam probably fucked Margo on that bed. Every time she imagined him pounding his cock into Margo, a tingling raced through her. She licked her lips, picturing Margo’s naked body, the round curve of her rear end, and Adam’s cock diving deep inside her. And John would have been there, too. Possibly kneeling in front of Margo, while she sucked his shaft deep into her mouth.
Trudy knew what it was like to be with more than one werewolf. But to seek it out, to enjoy it, crave it. She’d seen the look in Margo’s eyes when she had admitted to fucking Adam, how her expression had flushed. Adam was an awesome lover. Any woman would enjoy him.
And that was what Margo had done. She had enjoyed him. She hadn’t fallen in love with him. She had John. She’d told Trudy she wouldn’t fuck Adam if John wasn’t there. And she’d made it clear that she enjoyed more than one werewolf at a time sexually. It was playing to Margo, nothing more.
So you have nothing to be jealous over. She walked up to the bed, running her finger over the heavy comforter that fell over either side.
“I would love to know what you are thinking right now.” Margo’s comment startled her.
“Oh. Shit.” Trudy’s hand went to her heart, unable to stop the ferocious beating that she could feel through her shirt. “I guess I was lost in thought,” she stammered, suddenly embarrassed that she hadn’t noticed Margo come into the room.
“John wanted me to let you know everyone is gone. You can join us downstairs if you like.” Margo moved around the bed, silent in her bare feet. She grinned. “Or I guess we could all watch TV up here.”
Margo’s suggestive tone left Trudy’s mouth dry. Turning away from her, she walked to the window. The cool pane felt good against her hand, and she wanted to press her face against it, needing the coldness to ease the fever that seemed to be racing through her.
“Have you ever had another lady join you two in bed? Or just other men?” She had no idea why she blurted out the question, or even where it came from. She didn’t care about their sex life. And the answer didn’t matter to her, did it?
“Other couples have joined us a few times, and Adam has several times. That’s it.” Margo hadn’t moved closer. Her voice was calm, her answer quick and to the point.
Trudy sighed. She sensed Margo wanted her to understand, to accept their ways. She turned
around, keeping her hands behind her, her fingers resting against the windowpane, its coolness her life thread at the moment.
She studied the beautiful black woman sitting relaxed on her bed. Margo didn’t say anything, possibly giving her time to digest what she’d just told her. Trudy licked her lips, wishing for a drink, anything to soothe her dry mouth.
“I’ve always thought of myself as pretty open-minded. Even when our pack issued the law giving us three mates, I embraced it, excited and willing to mate with all of them.”
Margo nodded. “Maybe this is different because of Adam. Did you truly love any of your mates who were assigned to you?”
She had wanted to love them. She’d tried with everything she had to love Matthew. Thoughts of him gave her chills, a cold sweat breaking out over her flushed skin.
“I tried to care about them, but no, I didn’t love them. Not the way you love John.”
“Or the way you love Adam,” Margo added.
Adam. She wanted to find him, needed to know he was okay. But she had a feeling John wouldn’t approve of her running alone back to his home, or worse yet out on her own to track him. And she wasn’t sure she could stay here in their home with them.
Trudy looked away from the compassionate expression Margo offered her, focusing instead on the lacy curtains bordering the other window in the room.
“I’m not sure what my feelings are for him,” she admitted. And it was the truth. She lusted after him. She wouldn’t deny that. Her body craved having him buried inside her again. But that wasn’t love.
She worried about him. This job he had was a dangerous one. And in spite of his cocky, arrogant manner, he wasn’t invincible, even if he was just battling humans.
Margo stood and even barefoot, she hovered over Trudy by a few inches. Her black hair shone from the overhead light, while her brown eyes looked soft, gentle, against her smooth caramel skin. Trudy could see her hardened nipples through Margo’s loose fitting T-shirt, but wouldn’t speculate if she were aroused or cold.
“But you have feelings. We know you are worried about him.” Margo reached up, taking a strand of Trudy’s hair and rubbing it between her fingers.
Trudy had the strangest sensation of leaning into Margo’s hand. Her actions seemed so motherly. But Trudy had never had a mother. Her grandmother had raised her. And Grandmother Rousseau hadn’t taught her to rely on the strength of a mother.
“Of course I am worried about him. He is seeking out a killer.” She straightened, relying on her own strength. “But I’m sure he wouldn’t have been sent to protect so many packs if he wasn’t good at what he does.”
“He’s the best at what he does,” Margo whispered, her fingers running through Trudy’s hair, combing it, stroking it. “And he deserves the best. I think he might have found that in you.”
Trudy felt her stomach flip-flop, Margo’s praise humbling her and exciting her at the same time. She’d never been attracted to a woman before, although she knew a beautiful lady when she saw one. But something raced through her, a curiosity of sorts. What would it be like to make love to a woman?
She took Margo’s hand, giving it a friendly squeeze. “You flatter me.” She would keep her wits about her, and not be seduced just because her emotions were on a seesaw at the moment.
Margo pulled her into a hug before Trudy had time to react. “I know you want to go back to his place,” she whispered in Trudy’s ear.
“Am I interrupting something?” John’s baritone about made Trudy jump out of her skin.
“Well hell.” Margo seemed to have jumped a bit too. She must not have heard her mate approaching either. The floorboards in this house were as solid as a rock.
John chuckled, not seeming a bit bothered that he had startled both of them. “I wondered what you two were up to.”
“We were just talking.” Margo ran her hand over Trudy’s hair and she watched John watch the act.
His fingers flexed into a fist than relaxed. A small sign of the control he must be administering. Of course he had no idea what they’d been doing up here alone. Knowing how his mate was, his imagination could only torture him.
“Margo reassured me that Adam is the best at what he does, and there is nothing to worry about.” Somehow having Adam in the conversation made her feel better.
“He will be able to handle the matter,” John said with calm resolve. Almost as if he believed everything had already been taken care of.
She would love to know that he was coming home, mission accomplished. Her insides flip-flopped when she remembered his parting words to her. Her pussy throbbed thinking about him hunting her down. But it wouldn’t be a game. And she didn’t want to imagine what Adam would be like angry. Somehow she needed to get out of here.
“I believe you.” Her calm exterior impressed even her. Inside, her stomach was forming a painful knot, while her heart refused to slow to its normal beat. She needed a long cool drink, and a place to nap—alone—for a while. “Maybe we’ll hear from him tomorrow. Should I just take the spare bedroom tonight?”
“I stripped the sheets from it this morning.” Margo moved toward the bedroom door. “I can get fresh sheets.”
John reached for her, stopping her. “You two sleep in here. I’ll take the couch.”
He kissed Margo’s forehead, and then smiled at Trudy before retreating. The overwhelming sensation of suddenly being caged in consumed her. He would ensure neither of them left the house, leaving them together in an upstairs room, with him asleep at the bottom of the stairs.
“That was nice of him.” Trudy didn’t know what else to say, awkwardness washing over her. And she hated the feeling. She shouldn’t feel uneasy about anything, other than how Adam would react when he came home and she wasn’t there.
“He thinks you are going to try to sneak out and return to Adam’s.” Margo winked at her, reading her thoughts.
Margo offered her an oversized shirt to sleep in, and then changed into her own pajamas.
“I’ve only worn these a few times,” she mused, looking down at the baggy shirt and matching pajama bottoms she had on. “They’re comfy.”
“They look it.” Trudy edged toward the bed, not sure which side she should take.
Margo slid under the covers on the opposite side, so Trudy followed suit. Laying there in the dark, she wondered if sleep would ever come to her.
“Good night,” Margo whispered, rolling over so her back was to Trudy. “Sleep well.”
Trudy doubted she would. And that annoyed her. Adam seemed to have control over her and she didn’t even know where he was. With a sigh, she knew she couldn’t give him that much power. He wouldn’t want a wimpy werewolf. Even if he thought he wanted her to obey his every word. She needed to think for herself and she was better off here with Trudy and John. Her muscles relaxed. She wasn’t doing anything wrong. Maybe Adam would get upset. But damnit, he wouldn’t own her. She was quite capable of thinking for herself, and she had all the faith in the world that she could make good choices when it came to her own safety.
A calm resolve settled over her, and she drifted off to sleep.
It was still dark out when she woke up and realized she was alone in the bed. Voices drifted up the stairs from the living room, and she sat up, the covers nestled around her, listening.
John and Margo had company. She could smell the other werewolves. Her ears tickled while she strained to hear their words, something about a human meeting. The werewolves wanted John’s permission to break it up.
“We need to take matters into our own hands,” a woman said. She didn’t recognize the voice but the female sounded determined. “We heard what they said. Those humans are bragging about capturing the werewolf leader.”
“That means that Knight has failed us.” A male werewolf said that, but Trudy had a hard time concentrating on the rest of the conversation.
“We don’t have all of the facts.” Margo sounded like she was trying to calm the werewolves down.
> And this was true. She didn’t have all of the facts. But Trudy had heard enough. If Adam had been captured then he needed help. She wouldn’t lay around waiting for him to return if he was in trouble.
She found her clothes in the dark and dressed quickly. Thoughts of trying to sneak out of the house crossed her mind. But she wouldn’t do that. More than likely John would try to stop her, but he wouldn’t be able to. She was headed back to Adam’s house. He could accompany her, find an escort, or let her go on her own. She didn’t care. All Trudy knew was that she planned on heading out now. The sooner she could learn where Adam was, the sooner she could help him.
Chapter Twenty
“Absolutely not.” John Campbell towered over her, his large stance making him more than menacing. His brow knit together while he stared at her as if she were out of her head. “I will not let you go back to Adam’s house. It’s not safe to run alone, and I have no one available to accompany you.”
“I’m of no use to you here.” Trudy would stay calm. Aggravation crept down her spine, its spiciness filling the air around her. “At least there I stand a chance of finding out where he went. Maybe I could contact his assistant.”
That was the last thing she planned on doing.
“I’ve already spoken with Raven.” John gave her a long, appraising look.
She didn’t falter. And she wouldn’t back down. What she said made sense. Whether she could get this alpha male to see that was another question. He turned to Margo, as if searching for help in reasoning with a female. Trudy rocked up on her toes.
“I take it she didn’t give you any reassuring news.” Trudy swallowed slowly when John returned his attention to her. She wouldn’t let him intimidate her.
Margo almost looked like she would smile, but crossed her arms over her chest and managed to appear serious. Trudy had a feeling she was enjoying watching her mate be challenged.
And in all sincerity that wasn’t what Trudy was trying to do. John was pack leader. She respected him. That was why she wasn’t sneaking out when their backs were turned.
Lunewulf 5: In Her Soul Page 11
