by Crystal Red
Loud howls echoed through the basement and pierced his ears.
Brandon eyed Victoria up and down. “What do you mean you’ll reward them? A T-bone steak or what?”
He didn’t know why he gave a shit about what she’d said, but hell, if it stalled her from hurting Kelsey, he’d be up for the conversation.
Victoria giggled like a sixteen-year-old girl. She put a hand to her lips and then looked down at the wolves. “Yeah, when they need to eat, but I meant something totally different.”
Brandon’s stomach twisted. On second thought, maybe he didn’t want to find out. If it came from Victoria, then obviously it’d be something disturbing.
The witch grinned as she poked him in the side. “Come on. I thought you wanted to know.”
“What does it matter? Just let me go! Damn it.” Kelsey groaned and fought the chains as she glowered at Victoria.
“Now, now.” Victoria waved a finger toward Kelsey. “Behave if you want to live a little longer. I need to finish the conversation with your hunky werewolf boyfriend.”
Kelsey sneered as she jerked her arms around again.
“You were saying?” Brandon looked away from Victoria’s eyes as he rubbed his temples.
“Lloyd and Patrick aren’t just my pets. They’re my lovers too.” The witch’s eyes lit up as she smirked at him. She patted each of the wolves on the head.
Brandon threw his head back and laughed to hide the creepy feeling that suffocated his insides. “Sleeping with your animals? You’ve stooped to a new low.”
“You really are disgusting,” Kelsey muttered.
Victoria lifted a shoulder. “We only make love when they’re in their human form, of course. I believe you would know about that, Kelsey.”
The two things growled as their red eyes stared in Brandon’s direction. He swallowed. Would the wolves attack him and Kelsey?
Kelsey thrashed her legs against the wall again. “What I have with Brandon is different.” She narrowed her eyes at Victoria. “It’s not disturbing like you are with your pets.”
Victoria huffed and rolled her eyes before turning toward the desk across from them. She opened the middle drawer and pulled out a small wooden stick. She sashayed back to them with a smirk on her face.
“What the hell is that thing for?” Brandon pointed to it as his jawline pulsated.
“Oh, don’t worry. You’ll see.” Victoria waved the stick in the middle of the room and spoke in French. A large black pot brewed with a glowing orange fire.
Kelsey’s eyes widened into saucers.
“Lucky for you, Kelsey, I don’t like the taste of humans.” Victoria snickered.
Brandon’s stomach twisted and bile threatened to rise in his throat. Damn. What the hell did I ever see in Victoria? She’s one crazy witch.
“Yeah, she is. I wonder why you liked her too,” Kelsey choked out as she tried to cover her gagging.
Victoria raised her eyebrows and gave a glassy stare. “I see she still has the ability to read your mind.”
He crossed his arms. “It doesn’t bother me one bit. I’d rather be with someone who isn’t crazy and selfish.”
The witch turned on her heels and walked in a circle. “There’s something you need to know, Brandon.” She gripped the stick tighter and pounded it against the cement floor. “You weren’t supposed to turn into a werewolf.”
Kelsey gasped. “How would you know anything about that?”
“Yeah, care to share the rest of the story?” His tone was cold as ice.
Victoria grinned. “Why, of course I will. My father was a wizard, and he married my mother, who happened to be a witch.” She tapped a finger to her lips as she continued. “I inherited my mother’s genes, and was supposed to marry a wizard too, which would have happened if my plan had worked. Too bad it didn’t.”
Kelsey grimaced. “You wanted to turn Brandon into a wizard so you could marry him, didn’t you?”
“Uh, yeah.” Victoria held her chin high. “Turns out a damn alpha werewolf had other plans. He got to Brandon before I could.”
Kelsey gave Victoria a curious look. “How did you know Brandon when he was sixteen?”
Victoria shrugged. “A vision of him popped up when I cast a love spell. Sure, I’m a couple years older than him, but I look good for my age.” She waved a hand over her body.
“You mean a couple hundred years older,” Brandon said with a snort.
The witch walked up to him and pressed her face to his. She jabbed a fingernail into his chest. “Watch your damn mouth or you’ll be the first to die!”
Brandon ground his teeth. “What is it with you? Why can’t you just let this go?”
“Because you’re supposed to be with me!” Victoria stomped a high heel against the cement floor.
The creatures growled at Brandon.
Victoria smiled and patted them on their heads. “Easy, boys. Mamma’s going to take care of them soon.”
“You won’t get away with this, Victoria.” Kelsey’s voice lowered to a warning tone.
“Victoria, you know this is never going to happen.” Brandon shuffled his feet. “You belong with a wizard like your mother told you.”
“It’s too late for me.” Victoria looked at Kelsey, then at him. “If that stupid alpha werewolf hadn’t been there before me, we’d be together. Not you and Kelsey.”
“Maybe that’s a good thing,” Kelsey said in a soft tone.
Brandon glanced around the room. There had to be a way out of this. He didn’t know how much more of this crap he could handle.
“It wouldn’t have worked out either way, Victoria.”
The witch’s eyes darkened as she glowered at Brandon. “And you think falling for a human is so much better?” She sneered as she continued with her rant. “You put her life in danger and her friends. Look what happened to her mother!”
“It was because of you!” Kelsey’s eyes flashed with anger.
“You can’t prove I had anything to do with your mother’s accident.” Victoria’s face reddened.
Kelsey rolled her eyes. “You’re the only one with a wolf pack. How stupid do you think we are?”
“Shut up!” Victoria shrieked. She marched up to Kelsey and slapped her across the face.
“You little…” Kelsey sputtered as blood dripped from her mouth.
Brandon flinched and his stomach clenched as anger swelled. Victoria had struck the woman he loved. How can I do this to Kelsey? I have to save her before it’s too late.
He ran up to Victoria until he stood face-to-face with her. “You want to hurt someone, then do it to me. Don’t take your anger out on her. She’s not the one who broke your heart. I did.”
Victoria laughed in a low and bitter tone. “Oh, please. Revenge is nice and all, but you did nothing to my heart. A person would actually have to have one for it to be damaged.”
“How could I forget,” Brandon muttered.
When the witch had her back to Kelsey, she nodded for Brandon to push Victoria into the pot. He took a deep breath and gave one hard push. Victoria screamed and flew into it head first. A loud sizzling noise filled the basement. He and Kelsey choked as the scent of burnt flesh permeated the air.
Relief washed over him until the two wolves ran toward him. They howled and their red eyes glowed. He spied the wooden stick Victoria must have dropped when he’d pushed her into the pot.
The creatures continued to creep closer, and he snatched up the stick. As they approached, he wacked one of the beasts on the head with it. The other one whimpered and back away. Brandon caught the other wolf off guard and slammed the stick onto its head. Both animals lay on the floor, motionless.
“Are they dead?” Kelsey’s eyebrows drew together. “Don’t you have to snap their necks to make sure?”
“Yep,” he answered.
He walked up to the werewolves and snapped each of their necks. Within a few seconds, ashes from the dead animals bodies formed small piles.
He rushed over to Kelsey. “Are you okay? Do you know where the key is?”
She shook her head. “Victoria knocked me out and chained me to the wall. I woke up this way.”
“Oh, sweetie,” he said in a tight voice. “I’m so sorry you had to go through this shit. It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have let you leave.”
“I’m not blaming you, Brandon. Can you just find the key? We have to get out of here and call the police.” Tears rolled down her cheeks. “What the hell are we going to tell them?”
“I have no fucking clue,” he muttered.
Brandon ran over to the desk and searched through each of the drawers until he found a set of keys. He hurried over to her and tried a few until finally one unlocked the cuffs. Her legs wobbled, and he caught her before she fell. He put Kelsey over his shoulder and then rushed up the steps.
As he carried her outside, he spotted Chad and Beth. Their complexions remained pale as they stood on the dead witch’s front lawn. Brandon set Kelsey on the ground and gawked at them. He held her against him.
“How did you know where Victoria lived?” Brandon gaped at them.
Beth chewed on her bottom lip. “I had Chad follow you. The police should be here soon, and the fire department. We smelled the smoke. What happened?”
“Victoria kidnapped me and wanted to have her two werewolves kill me. She had this wooden stick, which she used to create a fire in a big black pot. Brandon pushed her into it and then killed her pets. It’s over.” Kelsey forced a smile, even though her lip remained puffy and dripped blood.
Beth walked over to Kelsey and hugged her. “I’m so glad you’re all right.”
Police sirens blared and red lights flashed as two squad cars arrived along with a large fire truck.
They were questioned by the police. Brandon and Kelsey explained to them that Brandon’s crazy ex-girlfriend had kidnapped Kelsey. They described how Victoria practiced witchcraft and had pet wolves that she planned to have kill Kelsey and Brandon.
Despite the quizzical looks the police and firemen gave Brandon and Kelsey, they believed them, because all that remained in Victoria’s basement was a pile of ashes. It was as if the witch had never existed, let alone her pack of werewolves, which really worked for Brandon. The less the police knew about the unexplainable the better. Now if only he could convince Kelsey to share his crazy world with him.
Chapter Sixteen
Kelsey crawled into her bed and snuggled under the covers. Alone. She needed time to think. Brandon had said he understood. No man had ever told her he loved her. So, why did it feel so right? Sure she said it to him as well, and meant every word, but the thought of forever with a werewolf still boggled her mind. If they got married, would their children inherit a wolf gene? I hope not. Brandon doesn’t like this burden. What if there is a cure? She shook her head. He’d received the bite at sixteen. He wasn’t born with it. Their children would be human.
For once, she slept well with only good thoughts and no worries on her mind. The next morning she dressed and then sauntered into the kitchen. Her gaze met Brandon’s, then Beth’s and finally Chad’s.
The scent of brewed coffee entered her nose. She walked over to the counter and poured herself a cup. “What’s up?” She grabbed the creamer out of the fridge and then added a spoonful into the mug.
“We wanted to make sure you were okay,” Beth said. “You went through a lot. I can’t imagine how awful Victoria was to you.”
“I think we all knew the truth the moment we met that bitch.” Kelsey sipped her coffee.
“I’m glad you’re okay. So, are you getting hitched to Brandon?” Chad grinned, then sank his teeth into a glazed donut.
Kelsey set her cup on the table. She tottered as dizziness set in.
Brandon rushed to her side and clutched her waist. “Don’t listen to him. I’m not going to make you decide to run off with me into the sunset anytime soon.”
“Then what do you want? I thought we agreed to date. Don’t you want something more someday?”
Beth chewed on her lip. “Maybe we should leave them alone.”
“I like the sound of that.” Chad winked.
Beth scowled. “That’s not what I meant, you ass!”
“We’ll be next door if you need us.” Chad placed a hand on her shoulder. “And if you guys do get married, I want to be the best man at your wedding.”
“Of course.” Kelsey smiled. “Thanks for being here for me.” She looked at Brandon and her heart sped up. “For us, I mean.”
Once Beth and Chad went next door, Brandon cupped her chin. “What I want,” he exhaled, “is you, Kelsey. Forever. I never thought I’d find a woman like you. Let alone want to make as my wife.”
His sweet words made her heart melt. She needed him so much. He made her whole.
“We’ve been through so much together in such a short time,” she murmured.
“Yeah, and we still have so much more to go through. That is if you haven’t changed your mind yet.”
She laughed. “Why would I do that?”
“You said you needed time to think.” He scrubbed a hand over his face. “Can you still read my mind?”
“No, not since Victoria died. The spell must have been broken when she burned in the fire.”
“Good. I like the mystery better, anyway,” he said with a grin.
She inhaled sharply. “All I need is you, Brandon. I don’t want some big fancy ring or promises of a big expensive wedding. I love you so much. You have my heart. Forever.”
He placed a hand on her heart as it pounded. His gaze swept over her in a tender gaze.
“Silly woman, I plan on giving you everything you want and more. If a big diamond is on your list and a wedding too, you’ll have them. I promise.”
“What about kids? Do you want them?”
“It’d be fun to try.” He gathered her into his arms and held her snug against him. “How many do you want?”
“Three.”
He slid his hands down to her ass and squeezed. “Practice makes perfect.” The tone of his deep and sexy voice sent jolts of ecstasy down her spine.
“The counter?”
“Oh yeah.” He lifted her red dress just enough so he could take her panties off.
She hopped onto the counter with her dress hiked up to her hips. He handed her a foil package and then stepped out of his Levis and boxers. He roamed her body with his hands until he found her center and stroked her with a gentle tenderness. She gasped in sweet agony as tremors hit her one by one with each touch he made.
“I love to watch you come,” he whispered.
She continued to rock into his finger as blood rushed to her channel, and her toes curled when she finally found her release. After a few seconds, she caught her breath and tore the rubber open, then slid it onto his shaft.
He entered her core and filled her completely. The pleasure soared through every nerve ending as their bodies moved together. She wrapped her legs around him to feel even more heat.
She moaned as he nibbled her neck. His hips ground into her and took her slowly over the edge as her breath grew hot and heavy. Her body tingled with joy and happiness. The more he touched her, the harder it became not to finish. She wanted to share this moment with him—together as one.
Brandon clung to her as he picked up his pace, which became disjointed. They both erupted into a mind-blowing orgasm. He slipped out of her and then helped her off the counter.
“Now that’s what I call a good morning.” He grinned.
“Yeah. Not so bad. For a man or even a werewolf.”
His smile grew bigger and then he shut her up with a kiss that made her knees knock together.
Epilogue
Ten Months Later
Not one, but ten pregnancy tests lay on Kelsey’s bathroom counter. They were arranged from a digital yes to a plus sign, and the ones with two pink lines. Ten positives couldn’t all be wrong. She and Brandon were going to have a baby in seven months.
“Baby? Are you all right?” Brandon pounded on the bathroom door.
“Yeah,” she called. “I have something to show you.”
He opened the door and his eyes widened as he looked at what lay on the counter.
“We’re going to have a baby.” She clapped her hands and then placed one of his on her belly.
“Really?” His breath came fast and heavy.
“Yes. Two yes, four plus signs, two pregnant and two pink lines. I think there’s no denying it now.”
Brandon grabbed her hand and softly kissed each of her fingers. “Looks as if all that practice paid off, after all.”
“Yes,” she squealed. “I hope our baby is a girl. I always wanted a daughter.”
He frowned. “Girls are…”
“Are what?”
“Harder to parent. What if the baby is a boy?”
She shrugged. “We’ll love him no matter what. The next one could be a girl if we get a boy first.”
“Hmm.” His mouth grazed her earlobe, and she shivered.
She stared down at her shiny diamond engagement ring. They’d only been engaged for four months. The wedding was planned for September, but she needed to fit into her dress in order to get married.
“How about we get married in May instead of September?”
“Sounds like a plan. I think our son agrees too.” He patted her belly.
“You don’t think…”
“I don’t have a werewolf gene, remember? Bites don’t get passed on to children. Our baby will be fine.”
“You’re totally right.”
Her lips met his in a long and slow kiss.
The End
About the Author
Crystal Red lives in Wisconsin with her husband. As a child, she would spend hours in her room, writing short stories about love and romance. In her free time, she enjoys watching romantic movies, reading romance novels and doing crafts.
http://carolredcay.wordpress.com
Also by Crystal Red
Don’t Count Me Out
