Changing Hearts

by Marilu Mann

  With Slade in the house, he’d gained someone else to knock around. What should he say to Joie? Should he tell her about the belt or the fists? Should he tell her how often they moved because the neighbors complained about the noise from the beatings? Would it shock her? Silence seemed to be his best option. Still, the short answer never hurt.

  “Yeah, you could say that.”

  Joie nodded, but didn’t say anything else. The cicadas started their incessant humming, while the tree frogs provided a percussive tenor to the night music. They sat watching the sun slowly take the evening light across the horizon, leaving only dusk. As the mosquitoes began to whine, Joie slapped her arms twice and her legs once before getting up. He never moved.

  “Well, I am going to call it a night. Good night, Malcolm, sleep well.”

  Savoring the sound of his name on her lips, he said nothing in return. The whoosh of the screen door closing emphasized the gaping holes in his ability to communicate with humans. He shrugged. Didn’t even know why he bothered other than the fact that he was bored. Lilacs and soft moss-green eyes that cried for him in wolf form and sweet lips that kissed him in human form had nothing to do with it. Not a damn thing.

  * * * * *

  Slade lay on his back, watching the ceiling fan. Night fell quickly this far away from civilization, but he couldn’t sleep. The old woman had returned while he had been out on the porch. She’d looked so tired that he’d carried her bag in for her. She’d thanked him.

  He got the feeling she wanted to talk to him, but after his dismal attempt with Joie, he honestly had no clue what to say. Humans weren’t on his short list of friends and he’d never had to deal with them for such a prolonged period of time. He’d tersely bid her goodnight, then turned back to the living room.

  He thought about the only human who had ever treated him well. The last interaction Slade had had with his old boss, Tonio, had been nearly twenty years ago. Two days before he’d been gunned down. No one since then, not even his own Pack, had ever done a damn thing for him without wanting something in return.

  Slade changed position again, trying to get comfortable on the pullout couch, seeking a cool spot on the sheets. Putting a six-foot-four-inch man on a foldout double bed wasn’t exactly the best idea in the world, and besides that, it was damn hot in the cabin. No central air-conditioning for this old place.

  He almost missed his suite at the mansion, but not the mansion itself or its inhabitants. The king-sized bed would have been a plus here too, though it would almost fill the small living room.

  Movement caught his attention and Slade turned his head slightly to see Joie coming out of her room. She glided, almost tiptoeing, toward the kitchen. Trying to not wake him, he supposed. He grinned in the darkness. Obviously she didn’t know he lay awake watching her.

  Her white nightgown glowed in the dark room. She disappeared into the kitchen and he heard a cabinet door open, then the fridge. Slade sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed, pulling on the jeans he’d dropped on the floor.

  Moving quietly, he reached the doorway in two long strides, then stood watching her. Sometimes in wolf form he would just stare at his prey before leaping, but this felt different. He felt a need to protect her from whatever might be out there…outside the cabin walls. Stupid wolf. She’s human, remember?

  Chapter Six

  Slade watched as Joie filled a glass with water from a pitcher in the fridge. She looked out the kitchen window as she took a long, slow sip. From his angle he couldn’t see what held her attention so he looked at what had his.

  He took in the tousled hair curling around her soft shoulders. The shapeless white gown ended just below her knees, emphasizing the curve of her calves. It was different from the one she’d worn last night. This one had a square neckline and lace around the bottom. Visually traveling her creamy white skin down to her ankles and feet, he licked his lips. She had small feet. He imagined pressing his lips and teeth to the arch of her foot until she screamed with pleasure.

  He stopped his roaming eyes on the curve of her hips. They were made for holding on to. Her breasts and her shoulders made him sweat. The sleeveless gown hugged her shoulders with thick straps, making him want to rip through the material with sharp canines, exposing her body to his gaze. She seemed to have been built just for him.

  The curve of her neck and jaw drew his attention next. In his imagination, he nuzzled into her there, breathing in her scent and feeling her pulse under his open mouth. Slade knew his eyes glowed. They always did when he became this aroused.

  He adjusted his position for comfort in the jeans that suddenly felt very tight. The slight movement caused her to jump. He grinned when she leaned back, as if to get away from his position in the doorway.

  “Malcolm! You startled me. I didn’t know you were awake.” Her voice ran down his neck like a soft summer rain.

  “Too hot to sleep.” He ran his hand over his stomach and saw her shiver as her eyes followed his hand. He pushed his hips forward slightly, refusing to hide what he couldn’t cover. The fact that her eyes flickered to his growing erection made him even harder. He wanted her. Human or not, he wanted her. And she wanted him. He could smell her arousal and he could see her nipples pressing against the soft cotton gown.

  “It is warm tonight. Did you want some tea?” Her face became slightly flushed, either from the heat or something else.

  “No.” Slade took a step toward her. Her tongue flicked out, moistening her lips as he took another step.

  “Some water, then?” He smiled as she choked the words out.

  “No.” Slade reached out with one hand, touching her neck with just his fingertips. Her shuddering response nearly undid him. Her pulse tattooed under his fingers like a tango dancer on speed.

  He leaned forward, parting his lips over her mouth, not touching her, just waiting. Joie inhaled sharply, bringing her breasts in contact with his chest and Slade licked his lips. He purposely brushed across her lower lip with his tongue and when she moaned softly, took her mouth.

  She stood still as he kissed her. Slade lifted his head slightly. Her eyes were closed and her head leaning back. He waited until she opened her eyes then kissed her again, this time wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her closer.

  She opened her mouth under his. He dipped his tongue inside, sliding across hers, then came back for a longer taste. She fit perfectly into the curve of his body, her breasts pressing into his chest.

  Slade moved so that she was drawn even more intimately against him. He felt her cool hand touch his arm then slide up to his shoulder. She still held her glass in the other hand. “Joie,” he spoke quietly, waiting until she looked at him again. “Let me take you to bed.”

  She blinked twice, took a deep breath then pushed out of his arms, turning her back on him. “I don’t even know you.”

  “You know I want you, and you want me. Isn’t that enough?” Slade did what he’d wanted to from the first. Wrapping his arms around her from behind, he bent forward and nuzzled against her neck.

  He opened his mouth over her pulse and sucked, not hard enough to mark her, just hard enough so that she could feel him and he could taste her pulse. He pressed his erection against her buttocks, moving just enough to mimic what he really wanted from her.

  “No. Please.” She stiffened in his arms, her arms braced against the counter.

  He could feel her warring with herself. She wanted him, but she didn’t want to want him. Slade sighed as he released her. Though he wouldn’t take her against her will, he made no effort to hide the effect she’d had on him. Standing in the darkened kitchen with her body still against his, she had to be able to feel him.

  Joie took a deep breath and moved away from him. She put her glass in the sink, leaving the kitchen without another word. Slade stood perfectly still, breathing deeply, then turned toward the small bedroom off the kitchen.

  “Seen enough?” He’d caught the old woman’s scent just as Joie turn
ed away from him. She came into the kitchen now.

  “You got to walk careful, boy. My girl’s been hurt by a no-good man and she’s scared. He hurt more than her pride. He took something very precious away from my Joie. She’s been healing here. This place has been good for her, but she still needs time.”

  Tante Kay walked over to the cabinet and pulled two glasses down. Turning to another cabinet over the stove, she pulled down a brown earthenware jug.

  Slade laughed softly, “You’re kidding me, right?”

  “Best moonshine this side of Kentucky, boy. Ain’t no joke, this.” Tante Kay poured a healthy portion into both glasses then handed him one. “One glass of this won’t really affect your kind, will it?”

  “No. We don’t get drunk.”

  “Now that’s not what I heard, but that’s a story for another night. Drink up, boy, and then get you some sleep. Daylight comes early around here.”

  “Cheers, old woman.” Slade tipped his glass in her direction then upended it.

  The liquid burned all the way down and he shuddered slightly. Though shifters didn’t get drunk like humans did, they could briefly feel the effects of alcohol on the body. This stuff felt like pure lightning.

  Tante Kay had taken a sip when he turned his glass up, now she smiled at him, inclining her head. “Good night, boy.”

  Slade grinned as she moved back into her own room. He put his glass in the sink beside Joie’s then turned toward the living room. No way could he sleep now, knowing that Joie lay in the next room, knowing how she felt in his arms and having had just the briefest taste of her.

  Sighing, he slipped out the back door. He wondered about the man who’d hurt Joie. Wondered if he could track him down, hurt him for whatever he’d done. Slade shook his head. “What the hell am I thinking?” Stripping his jeans off, he dropped them on the top step then shifted to wolf form and jumped off the porch.

  Moving quickly to the edge of the trees, he slid through the shadows, shunning the moonlight out of habit. Scents of the night called to him as he lifted his nose. Nothing out of place, nothing stirred but some swamp deer off to the right and an armadillo slightly in front of him. The detritus beneath his paws felt good as he dug down for traction.

  Slade padded farther into the woods. Once he reached a reasonable perimeter, he put his muscles to work. Reaching out with long front legs and pushing into the dirt with his legs, his body twinged painfully to remind him that he still needed recovery time. He slowed some, but still made a swift circuit of the area.

  He realized he was running a safety perimeter, something he’d do in any new area. Marking his territory, tree to bush to tree, he never slowed down. The full circle included the edge of the bayou as well as swamp floors. Night birds squawked dismay at his presence in their world, but he ignored them. He lay down in a thicket to take a breather then stretched, flopped onto his back and rolled around for a bit. Regaining his feet, he shook vigorously, dislodging dirt and leaves from his coat.

  Making his way cautiously back to the cabin, he leapt onto the porch before shifting back. Slade picked up his jeans and walked into the house. The sofa bed was only slightly more comfortable now.

  He dozed with one ear cocked for any out-of-place sound until he heard the old woman moving around. Slade rolled onto his side and kept his eyes on Joie’s door as he waited for an early morning glimpse of her.

  When she came out of her room she avoided looking his way at all. She wore another of those shapeless skirts and a green t-shirt this time. Joie went straight into the kitchen where Tante Kay already moved around.

  He heard the low murmur of their voices and got off the couch. Slade had no compunction against eavesdropping, especially when he heard his own name mentioned.

  “I don’t know exactly what I saw, Tante, but it just wasn’t normal. Malcolm was there then he wasn’t.”

  “You musta been dreamin’, child. What make you think he can disappear?”

  “He didn’t disappear, that’s not what I said. He was there and then a wolf was.”

  “A wolf?”

  “The wolf. The one we found in the bayou. The one we sewed up and fed the other night. I know it was the same wolf because of the markings on his left leg. Those markings are in the same place that Malcolm has his tattoo. And his eyes. They were glowing.”

  Slade stood dumbfounded. Just as the old woman had said, Joie was working her way around to the realization of what he was and she hadn’t freaked out about it, yet. He zipped his jeans and stepped into the kitchen. Both women turned to face him. Joie stared hard at him then walked a little closer. “What are you?”

  Slade stiffened slightly as he met her eyes. “What do you mean?”

  “You’re a werewolf.” She could have been telling him gators lived in the swamp her voice came out so damn matter-of-fact. It zinged him clear to the soles of his feet to realize she really didn’t seem to be scared.

  “I’m a shapeshifter.” He spoke quietly, staring straight at her, waiting for her to scream, faint, something.

  “Then I wasn’t dreaming?” Her eyes widened but he couldn’t smell fear.

  “No.” He shook his head slightly, still watching her closely.

  “Loup Garou, Joie. We got us a real live Loup Garou.” Tante Kay cackled, breaking the tension holding Joie and Slade in place. The old woman slapped her knees with both hands as she watched them.

  “What are you doing here, in the bayou?” Joie stared hard at him now. Slade met her stare with his own and let his eyes glow slightly.

  “Hiding. I had to leave my Pack.”

  “Why?” Joie sank into a chair at the kitchen table.

  Kay stood to fill three coffee cups then joined her. Both women looked at him expectantly. Slade stood in the doorway, staring at them. He couldn’t believe they weren’t freaking out. He considered the wealth of questions she’d posed in that one word. Why?

  “My former lover tried to kill me by poisoning me. Then she got her boyfriend to fight me. I wound up killing him. But I couldn’t win another fight because of what she’d done, so I got the hell out of there. Now the Pack will be looking for me.”

  “Lover?” Joie arched an eyebrow at him and Slade couldn’t stop the brief grin that stole across his face. She sounded jealous.

  “Former lover, and yeah, I’d say trying to kill me qualifies her for ex-lover status. I damn sure don’t want to fuck the bitch again.” His language intentionally harsh, he wanted some response from her. Pushing away from the doorframe, he stuck his hands in his back pockets. Joie’s eyes strayed over his chest before moving back up to meet his gaze.

  Tante Kay burst into laughter while Joie’s face tightened. She got up, moving jerkily across the kitchen. Pulling eggs and butter out of the fridge, she shot a glare at him.

  “Why are they looking for you?”

  “I was Alpha. When you’re Alpha, you’re responsible for the others you lead, you don’t just leave. I issued a challenge to someone outside the Pack. While I fought him, Maggie and Cutter tried to kill me. I turned on them instead of the person I’d been fighting. I killed Cutter, I may have killed Maggie. Another shifter, one who isn’t even part of my Pack, forced me to change.” He paused, remembering how it felt to have the change forced on him, how his body had felt stretched to the limit, the pain he’d endured. Shaking his head, he continued, “I still don’t know how he did that. Then I ran.” He shrugged again.

  “You killed…” Joie’s voice trailed off and she shuddered. Tante Kay just continued to stare at him.

  “They were tryin’ to kill you, Loup Garou?”

  “Yeah, Maggie slipped me some silver nitrate to weaken me before the fight. The other guy should have killed me but I was winning. That’s when they jumped in. Cutter came at me with a knife and Maggie came at me tooth and nail. I fought them off and broke Cutter’s neck. I left when the rest of the Pack started to fight. If I didn’t kill Maggie, they’ll be looking for me.”

  Not even sure
why he told them the truth, Slade couldn’t stop the words. It came almost as a relief to talk about what had happened. For whatever reason, these women made him feel safe. He paused. Safe? When was the last time he’d had that particular feeling?

  “They’ll hunt you down?” Joie turned to face him now, the pan and eggs forgotten for the moment. “That’s barbaric.”

  “That’s Pack justice, baby. We’re not like you.” Slade didn’t keep the heat from his voice. She needed to get that particular thought through her pretty head. The Pack would come and if he didn’t get out of there… Joie finished the thought for him.

  “Have you put us in danger?” She stood there with her hands on her hips, the morning sun causing her hair to glow and her eyes catching fire, actually standing up to him! Slade couldn’t believe she had the guts.

  “No. They’d never think to look for me among humans. Even if they do find me, they won’t hurt you. And I’ll do what I can to protect you.”

  Whoa! Where the hell did that come from? Slade couldn’t believe he’d just offered to protect two human females. He ran a hand through his hair, watching as Joie tracked the movement. Damn me, I still want her.

  “You do what you need to do, boy. You’ll stay here until it’s not safe for you to stay.” Kay thumped her coffee cup on the table. “You gonna fix them eggs, cher?”

  Joie shook herself slightly then turned to the stove. Slade stood perfectly still for a long moment, just watching the two women, then moved slowly into the kitchen. Sitting down across from the old woman, he picked up the coffee cup.

  He stared into the dark liquid as if seeking answers. This couldn’t be happening. They couldn’t just be accepting what he was, what he told them. When nothing else came of his soul-searching he stood up, setting the cup down hard and pushing abruptly away from the table. Slade left the kitchen and stalked to the end of the porch.