Cry of the Wolf

by Karen Whiddon

  Wishful thinking? She massaged the back of her neck. What was next? She of all people knew better than to believe in fairy tales. Hellhounds. Had she completely lost her mind?

  Colton made her feel things she didn’t want, emotions she knew weren’t real. Needs and wants and wishes—all projections of a lonely and confused woman.

  If only she could change…

  Swallowing, Jewel knew she couldn’t refuse her body’s need, an urge that was as natural to her as breathing. The time to try again would come sooner than she liked. She could only hope Colton wasn’t around when it happened.

  Colton. Any way she looked at it, the man was trouble.

  She had to get out of his life before they both got hurt.

  Inside, her wolf whimpered, feeling the bars of the unwanted cage closing in.

  Chapter 7

  Colton insisted on driving her to work that night. On the way, they stopped at a discount shoe store so she could purchase a pair of black heels with his money. Money she promised to pay back immediately.

  She waited until she was in his truck before she slipped off her flip-flops and put on the new shoes. Colton said nothing, apparently relaxed and calm, though when she glanced over at him, she saw a muscle working in his jaw.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked, before she thought better of it.

  He glanced at her, frowning. “Someone’s trying to kill you. I’m afraid you’ll be an easy target, working in a public place like Jack’s.”

  “I know.” She touched his arm, wondering why she craved contact with him. “But I don’t have a choice. You know that.”

  “I could loan you the money.”

  Her throat felt tight. “You barely know me.”

  “That doesn’t matter.” He lifted one shoulder. “Besides that, I feel like I’ve known you forever.”

  “I feel the same way.” Again, words slipped out before she could stop them, words she’d had no intention of saying. “Listen, I should clarify something with you before this goes any further. I like you. A lot. But I have no intention of getting involved in any kind of relationship.”

  “Not ever?” Amusement colored his tone.

  “Not now. Maybe not ever.”

  “Jewel, relax. I just want to be your friend.”

  She sensed the falseness of his words, an untruth she didn’t think he even realized he spoke. He wanted more, she wanted more, and as long as they kept lying to themselves, they might be all right.

  Might being the operative word.

  “Good,” she said, playing along. “Because I just can’t handle—”

  “I know.” Changing lanes, he signaled a right turn. “We’re nearly there.”

  She had fifteen minutes before her shift started. After circling the packed parking lot, Colton finally located a space behind the building.

  “Are you ready?” he asked.

  Stomach in knots, she nodded. Slipping from his truck, she teetered a bit in the heels before throwing her shoulders back and lifting her chin. Crossing around the back of the truck, Colton joined her, his gaze sweeping over her in a way that sent heat flashing to her belly.

  “The shoes look good,” he told her, his tone low and decidedly masculine.

  “Thanks.” If he kept looking at her that way, she knew she would have trouble concentrating on her job. “Maybe you should go.”

  “Not yet.” The smile he flashed her seemed possessive. “I like this place. I think I’ll come in and hang out for a while.”

  Great. They crossed the pavement together. Several customers, all male, turned to stare as she passed.

  She felt…exposed. As if she needed to cross her arms over her chest. The low-cut, black-and-white striped referee uniform she’d been given could have come straight from Frederick’s of Holly-wood. She’d been shocked when she’d got a glimpse of herself in the mirror. Colton had taken one look at her when she’d emerged from the bathroom and his eyes had gone dark, full of heat.

  The way they were now.

  She shivered. Inside, she felt her wolf self stir and ruthlessly suppressed it. The last thing she needed was another complication, especially one so huge.

  Though not yet full dark, the night air felt different from the searing heat of the day. A light breeze blew in off the water, and with her enhanced sense of smell, she could detect more wildlife than the combined scents of fish and smoke and sweat allowed.

  She wanted to run free.

  Not now. For now, she was a human waitress, in need of tips. Lots of them. Nervously, she smoothed her shirt across her belly and concentrated on her walk. She’d have to learn to strut in the shoes, to play up the uniform for all it was worth.

  Even though doing so went against every instinct in her body.

  At the entrance, one hand on the door handle, she turned to face Colton, trying again to send him packing. For some reason, this was a spectacle she didn’t want him to see. “Thanks for the ride.”

  He nodded. “No problem. I’ll bring you home, too. What time do you get off work?”

  She blew her breath out. “I don’t know. Could I call you when I need you to pick me up? Or, maybe I could get a ride. I’m thinking I’ll be working late, until whatever time this place closes.”

  “That would be 2:00 a.m.” Expression implacable, he stopped her with a touch on her arm. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

  Though every instinct screamed no, she nodded. “I have to. You’ve done more than enough to help me out. I couldn’t possibly accept any more.”

  “All right, then.” He pulled open the door. “After you.”

  Staring up at him with a sinking heart, she realized he meant to stay. The thought crossed her mind that his presence would make her role playing more difficult, though she wasn’t sure why. This felt all wrong.

  Yet, he wasn’t her mate.

  She lifted her chin. Her emotions made no sense. Colton wasn’t her other half. Neither was Leo. Maybe she was one of those shifters destined to spend her life alone, watching from the sidelines. She had no mate, nor would she. Ever. She was no longer Pack. Right now, she was only Jewel Smith, a mostly human woman made destitute by a fire, needing to work so she could escape and stay alive.

  She stepped through the door, keeping her head high.

  Instantly, the noise level died from a steady roar to a low hum as everyone turned to stare.

  “Hey, baby,” one man called out. Someone else whistled.

  From her side, Colton glared. “You’d think you’d never seen a new waitress before.” His tone contained a warning.

  “Not one that good-looking.” The man who’d whistled stood. Two of his buddies instantly dragged him back down.

  Her new boss, Big Al, materialized from the back. “I don’t want any fights in here,” he warned Colton.

  “And I need this job,” she seconded. Taking a deep breath, she headed toward the kitchen.

  After a brief conversation with Colton, Big Al followed.

  “Everyone, gather around,” he hollered. “Cooks, waitresses, barkeeps, all of you.” Then, one by one, he introduced her to her new co-workers.

  After the fifth name, Jewel knew she’d never remember. She focused on the names of the three other waitresses. Sarah, a dark haired woman, was about Jewel’s age, while Jolene and Carrie Ann were much older. The two bartenders on duty that night seemed pleasant enough, as did the cooks and dishwashers and busboys. Once Al showed her how to punch the time clock and explained what was expected of her, she was handed a pad and pencil and put to work.

  The rest of the night passed in a blur. But always, though he wasn’t in her section, she was conscious of Colton sitting at a table in the back, nursing a beer and watching her.

  Somehow, he made her feel protected. Foolish, she knew, and even more unwise to enjoy the feeling.

  While running trays of drinks out to the crowded, mostly male tables wasn’t difficult, it was exhausting. A few hours into the evening, Jewel’s back ached and he
r thighs and calves felt swollen.

  Carrying a tray loaded with beers to a rowdy group of city workers, Jewel spotted a familiar face. The man who reminded her of Leo’s friends, the man Colton had met for lunch. Sitting alone at a table. Watching her.

  Prickles of alarm skittered down her spine.

  Jolene brought him a beer and Jewel managed to turn away. What was he doing here? Did Colton know?

  The next time she was able to glance his way, she got her answer. Colton had joined him. Heads bent, the two men talked earnestly.

  A customer called her name and she spent the next several minutes filling orders and carrying drinks. When she looked up again, Colton sat alone.

  By the time last call was announced, her feet were swollen, too. Her entire body ached.

  “So what’d you think?” Sarah asked, handing her a container of salt so she could began refilling the shakers.

  “I didn’t realize I was so out of shape.” Jewel smiled ruefully.

  “There’s a lot of running around,” Carrie Ann agreed. “But with the way they were tipping, I think it’ll have been worth the pain.”

  “Amen to that.” Jolene patted her pockets. “Maybe I can make my house payment after all.”

  The others laughed.

  “Your man is still waiting out there for you.” Big Al finished drying the last of the beer mugs and slung his towel over his shoulder.

  Her man? Jewel felt her face heat.

  “Poor Colton.” Jolene nudged Carrie Ann. “He probably only had three beers all night.”

  “Is he driving you home?” Sarah asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Ketchups all refilled,” Big Al announced. “Salt and pepper shakers?”

  “Done.” Carrie Ann grinned. “I’m thinking we might get out of here fairly early tonight.”

  “Early?” Jewel glanced at the clock. She had to stifle a yawn. More than an hour had passed since closing time. “Three-thirty in the morning?”

  “Seems mighty early to me.” Still grinning, Big Al pushed through the swinging doors. “Come on, y’all. Let’s get out of here so I can lock up.”

  The scent of smoke still overpowering her nostrils, Jewel followed him, her gaze immediately going to the back table, looking for Colton.

  The table was empty.

  Stunned, she turned a slow circle. No one but the employees occupied the bar.

  “Looking for me?”

  She felt a rush of warmth at the sound of his voice behind her. She couldn’t believe she hadn’t heard his approach, or detected his scent. But then her ears were still throbbing from the sound of the band’s amplifiers and all she could smell was smoke.

  Instead of answering, she flashed him a grateful smile.

  “Are you ready?” At her nod, he took her arm and led her to the truck. She held herself stiffly, a hundred questions swirling in her mind. Only when he’d started the engine and pulled out into the road did she open her mouth.

  “Who was that man?” she asked, trying for nonchalance and aware she failed mightily. “The guy you were sitting with at table fifty-three?”

  “Fifty-three, huh?” Colton smiled. “That was an old buddy of mine. We used to work together down in Houston. He’s trying to get me to go back to my old job.”

  She let her shoulders sag with relief. “He looks like he could be one of Leo’s associates.”

  “Roy? Don’t worry about him—he’s harmless.” Giving her shoulder a brief squeeze, Colton turned up the radio. The strains of a soft country ballad filled the cab.

  On the drive home, she must have dozed. The next thing she knew, Colton was shaking her shoulder, his breath warm on her cheek.

  “Wake up.”

  Blinking, she sat up and dragged her fingers through her hair. “Are we there already?”

  “Yep.” Climbing out, he crossed to her side and opened her door. As she slid down, he steadied her, and she fought the unreasonable urge to slide into his arms, belly to belly, chest to chest.

  His swift intake of breath told her he somehow knew.

  “Good night,” she told him, shaking off his touch and staggering toward the house. When she reached her room, she peeled off her smoke-scented clothing and fell into bed, grateful for the feel of the clean sheets.

  If she dreamed at all, she didn’t remember. When sunlight streaming through the window woke her, she glanced at the bedside clock and smiled.

  She’d slept in. It was nearly noon. She should have the house to herself since Colton would have gone to work long ago.

  Sitting up in bed, she flexed her arms, then her legs, wondering at their soreness. She wasn’t used to spending so much time on her feet.

  Her pockets, however, were full, stuffed with tips. Though she knew Colton felt uncomfortable with her job, for the first time in months she felt confident, as if she just might have a chance at beating Leo after all.

  The day looked promising. She worked again that night, which meant more tips.

  Reba called and they chattered awhile until the Realtor’s other line beeped and she had to take that call. Jewel was pleased, feeling as though she might have made the first girlfriend she’d had in years.

  But as she padded to the bathroom to hop into a nice hot shower, her wolf made itself known. The beast was not pleased.

  Staggering, Jewel clutched the edge of the footboard. The wolf fought for freedom, using teeth and claws. With a cry, Jewel fell to the floor, her body jerking with violent spasms. This felt wrong—was wrong. She couldn’t change now, her body still wasn’t ready. Whatever Leo had done to her still hadn’t left her system.

  Her wolf cared nothing about that. Too long denied, the beast wanted to run, to hunt, to break free.

  “No!” she cried out again, loudly. Too loudly.

  “Jewel?” Colton’s voice.

  Damn. What was he doing home? Belatedly, she remembered it was Saturday.

  “Jewel?” Closer now. Any moment she expected to see her doorknob turn and her door open.

  She couldn’t let him see her.

  “Yeah.” Somehow she managed to respond. “I’m okay. Just…that time of the month.” A boldfaced lie, but one virtually guaranteed to stop any man dead in his tracks.

  Evidently it worked.

  “I’ll be in the kitchen,” he said. “I’ll make another pot of coffee.”

  “Sounds good,” she managed to say, teeth clenched. Her entire body shuddered as another tremor shook her.

  “Not here, not now.” She had to struggle to breathe, to keep her bones from lengthening. One finger popped as her nails turned into claws. Her left hand—too late; already a paw. This could be good—she hadn’t gotten that far before—if the rest of her body would only follow.

  Instead, pain knifed through her, ripping her apart.

  “Nooooo…” This time she remembered to keep her voice down.

  Her wolf-self fought for all it was worth, desperate for release, for freedom. Equally determined to keep it caged, Jewel fought back, aware the inner struggle was ripping her apart.

  How much longer she could go without trying to change, she didn’t know.

  Finally, the wolf acquiesced.

  Gasping, tears running down her cheeks, Jewel climbed to her feet and staggered into the shower. Water on hot, she turned the spray full force, wishing she could wash away whatever curse or poison Leo had used to infect her.

  Drying off, she touched her silver wolf necklace for luck and got dressed. Choosing to let her hair air-dry, she studied herself in the bathroom mirror, decided she’d pass for human, and headed to the kitchen where coffee and Colton awaited.

  She’d never seen a man look so good in jean cutoffs. Back to her, he fiddled with something on the kitchen counter. Pausing in the doorway, she let her gaze drink in the sight of him. The shorts rode low on his hips, showing a hint of his red cotton boxers. His muscular legs were tanned and he wore black flip-flops. His T-shirt fit well, showing off his toned arms and…

/>   He turned, catching her studying him, and smiled. She felt the force of that smile like a punch to her solar plexus. Damn.

  “Good morning.”

  Somehow she managed to respond. “Morning. Have you been up long?”

  His smile widened. “Since about eight. I ran into town and brought you something.” He indicated a metal box, the same one he’d been fiddling with when she’d arrived.

  Her heart stuttered. “A gift? You shouldn’t have.”

  “I wanted to.” He waved his hand. “Go ahead, open it.”

  She didn’t move. Though he had no way of knowing, in her previous life with Leo, a gift always meant a service she had to perform as repayment, usually something painful and humiliating. With Leo, nothing was ever free.

  But this was Colton. Searching his craggy face, she saw no hidden malice in his easy smile.

  “Go ahead, look at it,” he urged. “I think you’ll be pleased.”

  She wanted to, oh how she wanted to. But years of training usurped her desire and instead, unable to help herself, she backed away, shaking her head. “No thanks, I’ll pass.”

  His smile faltered, then disappeared. “Jewel?” Narrow-eyed, he stared. “What’s wrong?”

  Gritting her teeth, she forced herself to stand still and to look at him, though she couldn’t quite manage to stop the fine tremors than ran through her. Inside, her ever-vigilant wolf raised her head. “No gifts, okay?”

  “What?” Tilting his head, he studied her face. When comprehension dawned, his frown cleared. He took a step toward her, then stopped. “This has to do with Leo, doesn’t it?”

  All she could do was nod.

  “My God, what did he do to you?”

  She took a deep, shuddering breath, then another, clearing her throat before she could speak. “How did you know?”

  “It was written all over your face, in your eyes. You look haunted. Afraid. Despite everything that’s happened to you, I’ve never seen you look like that. What the hell did that bastard do?”

  To her credit, she managed to force a smile. “Believe me, you don’t want to know.”

  “Believe me, I do.”

  “I don’t want to talk about it.” Despite her unreasonable terror, she couldn’t look away from the box on the counter. “Please, take that thing, whatever it is, and put it away.”