The Wolf Within

by Sondrae Bennett

  Priorities. Right now she needed to explain. With Samantha in danger, Julie needed to make sure everyone else’s priorities were in line with hers.

  “The gifts this morning were creepy, but not in a life-threatening way. Chances are he’ll swing by the store if he wants to see me, especially since I’m living with Brendan now.” The thought of their house brought a smile to her face, but she forced herself to continue. “And since Samantha works here all day, any protective detail can watch both of us.

  So I think we should concentrate on protecting her. Even during off hours, I’ll be around her a lot as we prepare for the wedding next week.”

  “The wedding is off. We’ll plan another one once I’m sure it’s safe,” Jason declared. Because he held Samantha on his lap, he missed the heat that shot into his mate’s eyes. Julie hid her smile behind her hand, knowing what was coming as Samantha shoved his hands off and stood.

  “Oh no you don’t, Jason Callahan. You don’t get to make that decision by yourself. We are getting married as planned, and it is non-negotiable.”

  “But—”

  “Non-negotiable!” she yelled in his face before stomping off. Jason turned his head to watch her, his shock evident.

  Julie tried to stifle her laughter. It wasn’t every day the big bad Premier got schooled by his tiny, arctic fox mate.

  Normally, Samantha was more reserved and a bit meek, but she’d just proven to them she was more than capable of handling Jason when needed. Julie dared to look up, her gaze colliding with Danny’s. Both burst into laughter at the same time.

  “Ha ha. Very funny,” Jason snapped, following after his mate.

  * * * *

  “We need to talk.”

  Julie jumped as Brendan spoke in her ear. She hadn’t been paying attention, and he’d snuck up behind her. She looked over her shoulder and saw the fierce expression on his face.

  Uh-oh, this couldn’t be good.

  “Sure. Everything all right?”

  “Well, something’s bothering me. If you threw out the note, how were you planning on showing it to me later?”

  Although his voice was calm and reasonable, something in the way he watched her preached caution.

  “I don’t know. I guess I wasn’t thinking about it,” she lied.

  “Weren’t thinking about it, or weren’t going to tell me about it?” She wracked her brain, trying to remember anything she’d said or done that might have revealed her true intentions. Besides throwing away the card, she couldn’t think of anything.

  “Of course I was going to tell you. I wasn’t thinking.” As soon as the words left her mouth, she found herself backed up against the bookshelf, Brendan’s arms caging her. The anger burning behind his eyes would have scared her if she didn’t know for certain he would never harm her.

  “Laurie said you asked her not to tell me. So either she’s lying or you are? Something tells me she’s not.” His eyes changed to yellow, and as she watched, his fangs dropped.

  The animal was close to the surface. Very close.

  “I didn’t want you to worry.” It was a lame excuse, and she knew it.

  He growled, grinding his hips farther into hers and pushing her farther against the bookcase.

  “How can I not worry, knowing you would keep this from me?” He snarled at her. Actually snarled at her!

  Heat pooled in her belly, and she felt her blood bubble.

  What was wrong with her? She shouldn’t be turned-on by this primitive grunting and growling. As he moved closer, she gripped his shoulders, his breath falling hot against her skin.

  He ground his hips against her again, and his mouth claimed hers in a brutal kiss.

  Her head fell back with a clunk against the shelf. Reason struggled to the surface, her eyes opening as she realized they stood in one of the aisles during business hours.

  “Brendan, we can’t. Not here.”

  He growled but moved away. He took her hand and pulled her toward the back of the store, opening the door to the storage closet and pushing her inside. He followed her in before shutting and locking the door.

  “They’ll still hear us,” she whispered, as if they could hear the naughty thoughts in her head.

  “Let them. Then they’ll know you’re mine.” He pulled her back into his arms, his hand reaching under her skirt and pushing aside her underwear. He groaned into her mouth as he sunk a finger into her heat and felt her desire. Without warning he turned her around, flinging her arms on the wall above her head.

  “You’re mine, Julie. Don’t ever forget that. You will not keep secrets from me. Will you?” God help her, the demand in his voice burned through her, heightening her senses.

  She’d never seen this side of him, but it was sexy as hell.

  “No more secrets.”

  She leaned forward, her head hitting the wall as he plunged into her from behind. Her hands clenched, searching for something to grip onto as sensation after sensation flooded her.

  This was a side of Brendan she’d never seen. He was wild, letting his animal instinct control him, and she loved every minute of it. He pressed her shoulders farther into the wall while his other hand tilted her hips back. A strangled cry passed her lips as he sunk farther into her.

  He made no effort to start slowly, but thrust into her with abandon. She neither needed nor wanted anything slow. The raw intensity of his need made her feel powerful. He might have pushed her up against the wall, but she’d pushed him to this. This was about his passion for her, and she gloried in every moment.

  His hand stroked up her back, reached around and pulled down her shirt and bra, exposing her breast to the cool air.

  The heat of his hand covered it, circling the nipple before rolling it with his fingers, pinching and releasing in rhythm.

  Each pinch, timed perfectly with his inward thrust, propelled her need higher.

  She felt the climax building where they were joined. Every glide brought her closer to the edge, and she cried out, struggling to reach the precipice. Her hips jerked as she tried to shove back against him, but his hand tightened, preventing it. The message was clear. He controlled the pace.

  “Say it,” he demanded.

  Say what? Pleasure filled her mind, dulling everything else.

  All she could concentrate on was the feel of him inside her.

  She moaned as if in pain when his hips froze, his hand stilling her movements. No matter how much she wiggled, she couldn’t escape his grasp.

  “Say you’re mine, Julie.”

  “Yes, I’m yours. All yours. Please.” She knew she begged, but couldn’t stop the words. Release was so close yet out of reach. She needed him.

  With one hard thrust, he was seated fully inside her. She cried out as her body clenched around him.

  His lips nuzzled the back of her shoulder. It was the only warning before his teeth sank in, marking her. Giddiness filled her, even as pain shot down her shoulder. Finally she was his forever, and no one could claim otherwise. The sharp sting faded as heat radiated outward from the mark in a steady throb.

  The orgasm crashed through her without warning. Her muscles tightened before the world exploded, blinding her.

  The onslaught of sensations bombarded her until she shattered. Never had she experienced release this intense.

  She heard cries and vaguely registered they were hers before conscious thought fled.

  The last thing she heard before the world went black was Brendan calling her name, but she was helpless to respond.

  * * * *

  “Julie, come on, baby, wake up.” He sat on the floor, cradling her in his arms and nuzzling her cheek with his nose.

  Jesus, she’d scared ten years off his life. One moment she was clenched tight around him, and the next she’d fallen forward and would’ve hit the wall if he’d been slower reacting.

  He’d heard that a mating bite gave both lovers intense orgasms when the enzyme binding them together was released. But he hadn’t realized
what “intense orgasm” meant until he’d experienced it firsthand. He was lucky he hadn’t passed out along with her.

  As the bond linked them together, Brendan’s world had exploded. He’d felt her pleasure at the connection, and they’d fed off each other. The enzyme wouldn’t change her, although she might gain some shifter perks. Not that he wanted to change anything about her, except maybe her ability to scare the living daylights out of him.

  She groaned. His breath whooshed out in relief at the sound. Her eyes opened, and her gaze connected with his.

  The wicked smile curving her lips was so contradictory to his frantic worry he had to take a mental step back. His brows furrowed in concern.

  “Are you okay?”

  “No.” His heart stopped, but her smile belied the words.

  “I’m not ‘okay.’ I’m wonderful.” Then she looked around in confusion. “How’d we end up on the floor?”

  Stunned, he continued to stare at her. Could she really not know she had passed out?

  “What?” she asked, looking nervous.

  Now that the panic had abated, he felt … smug. Making Julie orgasm so hard she passed out could easily become his favorite habit.

  He nuzzled her jaw, enjoying the way her head tilted to give him more access. She did it without thought, unaware of the action, her body opening into his embrace.

  “Promise me you won’t keep things from me anymore.

  Mates shouldn’t have secrets.” She pulled away, and he felt the loss like a blow to the heart. But as he was about to follow her, she turned around, straddling his hips and resting her forehead against his.

  “I didn’t mean anything by it. I didn’t think it was a big deal, and didn’t want to worry you.” Needing to touch her, he stroked her back. Mentally reaching out with their new connection, he sensed her regret.

  Each mating was different, but he could tell their bond was strong. He couldn’t read her thoughts, few pairs had that ability, but he could sense the nuances of her emotions. It was a handy trick, considering her skill at hiding them.

  Wanting to test the link between them, Brendan thought only about Julie, letting his love for her, the delight he took at holding her in his arms, fill him. He projected his love through the bond and watched Julie’s eyes dilate with pleasure.

  “Oh, Brendan,” she whispered before her lips slid against his in a tender kiss. Her tongue slipped inside his mouth, gently stroking his as if they had all the time in the world.

  After all, they did.

  Chapter 10

  Julie glanced at her watch with a frustrated groan as she exited her car. There wasn’t much she hated more than being late. And being late to Jason and Samantha’s wedding went beyond “bad.”

  The past week had flown by, her connection to Brendan growing each day. She’d be in the bookstore, minding her own business, and all of a sudden she’d be horny and know Brendan had thought of them together. It took some getting used to. But she couldn’t be mad. Knowing without a doubt she was the only woman for him was a rush she couldn’t begin to explain.

  Earlier, Brendan had shooed her out the door, calling Ethan to let him know she was on her way to Jason and Samantha’s where the girls were meeting. He would be taking his own car to meet the boys at the B&B Gwen owned, except for Ethan who was on guard duty.

  Much to Jason’s consternation, Samantha had insisted they adhere to the tradition of not letting the groom see her before the wedding. It had been quite a fight, and Jason had relented only after Ethan agreed to sleep in the guest room and protect Samantha with his life. Jason had been overbearing ever since receiving the note. Not that she blamed him—the thought of losing Brendan was enough to make her feel like dying.

  She was more than halfway to the house when she remembered the gift for Samantha she’d left sitting on the counter. The sapphire hair barrette had been a favorite of their grandmother, and would look beautiful in Samantha’s pale blonde hair. It would also cover something old, borrowed and blue. She dialed Brendan and cursed as it rolled over to voicemail, knowing he must have already left.

  Turning the car around and speeding home, she hoped she could somehow beat the limo to Samantha’s house.

  Pulling into the driveway, Julie rushed into the house and snatched the silver-wrapped gift from the counter. She paused only long enough to lock the front door on her way out before hurrying to her car.

  As she reached for the car door, a hand seized her from behind, covering her mouth. She dropped the keys and the gift in her terror, realizing too late she could’ve used them as a weapon. She tried to struggle free, but her attacker’s other arm surrounded her waist, preventing any movement. The arm was strong, too strong for her to break free. She couldn’t think, terror preventing any thoughts from forming. Oh God, she couldn’t die like this!

  She tried to pry away the hand over her mouth and drew in a breath to scream. The world went hazy as a sickening odor assailed her, and she drew in another breath to still the spinning. As her limbs collapsed, she realized what had happened and tried to hold her breath, but it was no use.

  Reaching out, Julie sent one thought through the mental connection between her and her mate.

  Brendan.

  It was her last ditch effort before she fell into the black abyss beckoning her.

  * * * *

  Brendan smiled as he walked into the B&B, Moonlight Burrows. Jason paced the entryway where a hassled Alyssa, Gwen’s best friend and co-owner of the inn, attempted to calm him.

  He didn’t look like a man happy about his impending marriage, but Brendan knew that wasn’t the case. He was chomping at the bit to get back to Samantha. He knew from hanging around their family so much that they’d only spent one night apart their entire relationship during which Samantha had gotten lost, ended up in a different shifter town and scared the living daylights out of everyone. Just the thought of anything similar happening to Julie made his eyes shift to the wolf’s.

  He shook his head. Nothing had happened to Julie. He’d bet that right now she was gushing over Samantha’s dress and sipping champagne. He needed to get control of himself.

  Using the connection between them, he reached out and sensed her worry. But he knew without digging deeper it was an oh no, I spilled something on my dress worry and not anything more serious.

  Well, if she’d ruined the dress, he’d be more than happy to help her remove it. He smirked. The past week had been the best of his life. And the hottest. Julie had met him move for move, doing anything and everything he’d asked. But as much as he’d never thought he’d say it, the best part wasn’t the sex. It was being able to curl around her afterward, feeling her rest against him and nuzzle his chest with her nose.

  He understood Jason’s frustration over not being able to spend the night with Samantha. Now that he was mated, being separated from Julie left him anxious, as if her mere presence settled his wolf. But even so, the tableau in front of him seemed a bit extreme. Unless something had happened to the women. A brief flash of panic accompanied the thought.

  “What’s the matter?” Brendan demanded, stalking farther into the room. Danny stood to one side, leaning against a wall, watching his brother pace.

  “Nothing. We just spoke to Ethan, and he said everything is fine.”

  Brendan glanced back at Jason. This was definitely an extreme reaction if they knew everything was fine. Even after being separated from his mate for the entire night.

  “So what crawled up his butt?” Brendan asked.

  Jason turned toward him and the fire in his eyes made Brendan take a step back. He held up his hands in surrender before things got out of hand. Jason turned around and resumed pacing.

  “Apparently,” Danny paused and tried to hide his smile,

  “Samantha is pregnant. And it’s causing some rather dominant protective instincts to come out.”

  No wonder Jason’s reaction had been so extreme to the threatening note. He was surprised Jason had agreed, even
with Ethan there, to leave her for the night. He thought about how he would feel if Julie carried his child. The rush of giddiness almost made him dizzy. Julie swelling with his child would be a beautiful sight.

  “As soon as Dad gets here, we’re going to head over.

  We’ve already told Ethan, and he’s going to hurry the girls along too. I don’t think the inn can take much more damage.”

  Glancing around, Brendan noticed one of the chair backs lay on the floor behind the seat. Poor Alyssa. Now he understood why she wasn’t taking the relaxed stance Danny had.

  Charles, their father, walked in the front door, took one look at his son and ushered them all outside and into the car.

  No words seemed needed.

  Jason growled, and Brendan covered his chuckle with a cough. He didn’t want to meet Julie with a black eye if Jason took offense to his amusement. The conversation buzzed around him, but he tuned them out as his mind tried to focus on the haziness filling his brain.

  Something wasn’t right.

  It came on suddenly, a rush of alarm, but he knew it was from Julie. This wasn’t some worrisome dress concern. This was full-fledged, bomb-exploding terror. It only lasted a second before it was gone, but he hadn’t imagined it. He swore he heard his name echoing in his head with fear and pain.

  Trying not to panic, he looked toward Jason and Charles. If something had happened to the women they would have sensed it as well, right? After all, they both had mates there too. Jason continued to growl, but didn’t appear any more anxious than before. Charles smiled and chatted away with Danny, looking as if he hadn’t a care in the world.

  Brendan bit his lip in indecision. He didn’t want to rile Jason any more than he already was, but he needed to ask.

  Was it his imagination or Julie crying for help? He had to know. “Did you guys—” he paused, considering how to phrase his concern, “—sense anything just now? Anything at all?”

  All three of them stared at him for a minute before shaking their heads. Jason’s eyes bore into him, demanding he tell them what was wrong.

  “Never mind. Must be that artist imagination.” He turned toward the window, so they wouldn’t see his frown. It had felt so real. And Julie hadn’t even been on his mind at the time.