Blood for Wolves

by Taft, Nicole

  I reached between us, his belt buckle clinking as I unfastened it. Then I traced my fingers down his back, slipping them inside the hem of his pants to touch his tail. He sucked in a breath as I ran my hands over the soft fur. I upped the ante a little more. Leaving one hand to brush his tail, I moved the other to the front and found him, hard and ready. I wrapped my fingers around the smooth shaft. He shuddered and let his head drop to my shoulder. I bit my lip and smiled.

  “You are,” he breathed against my neck, unable to finish. His hands tightened around my waist as I petted.

  I knew what he meant. I was different. A human unafraid of his wolfishness. We’d both been under the influence of magic before, but this was different. This time, it was just us. No magic. No seducing. Just us and our true desire for one another.

  “I am your mate,” I whispered back.

  He shed his pants and together we lay on his coat. The gold band on his ankle gleamed in the sun. I wanted to kiss him forever, to be this way forever. His tongue caressed mine. I moaned softly under his weight, aching for more. His hands found my breasts, his fingers stroking at their sensitive peaks. I entwined my legs with his, my body taking on a mind of its own as I arched against him, wanting to feel every inch of him. Wolf obliged, brushing his lips along my jaw, down my neck, until he wrapped them around one taut nipple, his tongue molten against my flesh. I whimpered softly, writhing under his hands, my body coaxing, pleading. He licked and nipped tenderly, sliding one of his hands down my belly, then lower.

  My skin tingled in every place he teased and touched. He was taking his time. Tasting me and learning the contours of my body as he’d never had the chance before. I took up one of his hands and brushed my lips over his fingertips, kissing his palm before gently sucking on one of his fingers. He groaned against me. I smiled. He hadn’t expected that. He looked up at me, the hazel in his eyes swimming in liquid gold as they changed. Oh yeah? they seemed to say. His fingers stroked between my legs and I gasped. Wolf’s mouth claimed mine, harder, more fervent this time, drinking me in as my hips rocked hungrily against his hand. I kissed him back just as violently, gripping at his shoulders and rubbing my entire body against his.

  He shifted his body. Yes, I chanted in my mind, yes, yes. He rubbed the tip of his shaft up and down my slick folds. I squirmed my hips in anticipation. He smiled, amused and pleased with my reaction. He lowered himself and slowly pushed into me. I closed my eyes, moaning. He felt so good! I’d never felt this way before. Never wanted a man as badly as I wanted Wolf.

  “Caroline. My heart,” Wolf said, his voice thick with desire, “open your eyes.”

  I did.

  “I want you to look at me.”

  With a single thrust, he buried his full length inside of me, my body instinctively wrapping around him. Wolf’s eyes burned gold into mine as I let out a breathless cry. His body shook and he groaned, as if trying to hold himself back. Then he began to rock, a slow, delicious movement that made the entire world fade away until there was nothing else. I moved with him, every second nothing but heat and desire, the coolness of the lake and breeze long forgotten. I never knew it could be this perfect. That two people could fit together like lock and key, lost souls making each other whole. I clutched at his shoulders, his back, soon crying out every time he pressed into me, filling more than just my body. He silenced me with fierce kisses. Beads of sweat glistened on his brow, his breathing heavy as he ground against me.

  I begged for more. Said his name too many times to count. We were gone, swept away on absolute ecstasy, nothing but his body and mine, fused together, mates for life. He whispered my name in my ear, told me how he loved me, and then murmured the word “never” over and over as if he’d forgotten what he wanted to say, his eyes shut tight as he drove deep, fast. I could only breathe, “I know” against his neck, my arms around him, desperately holding on, so close to the edge but not wanting to reach it. Not yet. I wanted more. More of his heat. More of him. All of him. Always.

  Finally I couldn’t hold on anymore, and the world became a flare of stars and bliss, my body shaking with pure pleasure as I came. A moment after, Wolf’s body went rigid and he clung to me as he pulsed deep inside. Both of us lay in a heap on his coat, breathing hard, slick with sweat. My entire body trembled and Wolf’s heart felt like it was beating a million miles a minute. For several minutes neither of us could move. After a time, I kissed the rough stubble on Wolf’s cheek.

  “Am I heavy?” he mumbled, one of his hands finding mine and clasping it tightly.

  “No.” I wriggled beneath him. “You feel wonderful.”

  “Mm. So do you, my heart.”

  After a few more moments, he raised himself on his elbows to look down at me. His eyes were still gold. His tail came around to sweep against my side.

  “I’m going to have to jump into the lake again,” I said, smiling. “I’m all hot and sweaty now.”

  He grinned wolfishly. “I like you like this.” He closed his eyes for a moment as he breathed deep. “Besides, now you smell like me.”

  I laughed and grabbed his shoulders, hauling myself up to kiss him. For a moment I had a vision of rolling him over, kissing him senseless and riding him like there was no tomorrow. The thought made my skin flush, but I dismissed the notion.

  “Come on babe,” I said. “We have to get back to Alex and Marianne.”

  He nipped at my nose and then got up, helping me to my feet.

  I did get into the lake again, but only for the briefest of dips. Wolf said I smelled like him. I did. And I liked it.

  I yawned, snuggling deeper in Wolf’s coat. What a day. Saved Wolf’s life (all right, so Alex actually saved Wolf’s life, but damn it, I’d tried). Rescued Marianne (with help). Made love to Wolf. I tossed a leaf into the fire. The combination of my dip in the lake and the best sex I’d ever had left me in a place far beyond content. All things considered, I was surprised that Alex had fallen asleep before me. He lay stretched out near the fire like a cowboy, snoring softly beneath his black hat. Wolf sat beside me, gnawing on a piece of jerky. Marianne stared at the fire, occasionally throwing in a small twig or sprig of grass. I guessed she didn’t want to fall asleep with Wolf so near. Or maybe because she’d been asleep for so long already. Whatever the case, I was determined not to sleep until she did. If I was her Guardian, then that was my duty.

  Wolf suddenly swallowed down his last bit of jerky and sat up, his nostrils flaring.

  “What is it?” I asked, on instant alert. Marianne’s head snapped up. I stood and reached out around me with whatever magic sensing power I had, but felt nothing. Wolf touched my arm.

  “A pack.”

  A group of wolves materialized, stepping out from behind trees and thick brush to form a semicircle around us. I tensed and moved to wake Alex. Marianne whimpered.

  “No,” Wolf said. “Don’t worry. I’ll talk to them.”

  He bounded over to the wolves where one—the biggest—came up to him. Alpha, I thought, then went to Marianne’s side and put my arms around her. The alpha sat and stared up at Wolf, his eyes glowing in the light of the fire.

  “It’s okay. They’re not here for you. They’ll go away once they’ve finished talking to Wolf.”

  I really needed to quit saying stuff when I didn’t know if it was true. But Wolf had chatted with a pack before at night when I was completely helpless and nothing had ever come of it. I wondered if this was the same pack.

  Something shuffled in the leaves. A wolf pup emerged in the firelight. By my guess, he couldn’t have been more than a few months old. I wondered at the pack letting him run with them. Shouldn’t he be at home under babysitter supervision? He sat on his haunches and stared at the two of us, panting happily. I felt the tension in Marianne’s body abruptly give way to confusion.

  “What is that?”

  Now I was the confused one. “That’s a wolf pup.”

  “A wolf pup?”

  Good heavens did she really not know? �
�A baby wolf. A young version of an adult. The way you’re a young person.”

  The pup tilted his head back to let out an aggravated little yowl. He wanted to play.

  “I didn’t know they were so small.” Marianne inched closer for a better look. “Do they all start like this?”

  “Every one of them. We start as children, so do they.”

  “He’s so cute.”

  I smiled. Caroline McKenna, saving wolves, one eight-year-old at a time. I decided to push things a little further. I slowly extended my hand toward the pup, keeping my eyes on the alpha the entire time. If he or any other wolf made the slightest move of disapproval, I’d back off in a heartbeat. The alpha cut his eyes to me for a moment, and I hung there. Wolf glanced back, his eyes luminous in the firelight as always. The pup started licking my fingers. The alpha snorted and then turned back to Wolf. The two resumed whatever conversation they were having. I didn’t understand how that worked, seeing as the alpha didn’t actually speak. Though I could see Wolf’s mouth moving and him gesticulating, I couldn’t hear what he said.

  I gave the pup a quick scratch behind the ears and then sat back, patting my leg. He understood the gesture and bounded over. They certainly were smart here. Marianne jumped in surprise but didn’t recoil. I ruffled the pup’s ears. He tried to bite at my fingers in play.

  “Go ahead,” I said, “give him a pat. He won’t hurt you. He’s just as curious as you are.”

  Slowly, Marianne reached out to touch the delighted pup. I took my hand away and his attention abruptly switched to her. He sat silently, softly panting, as if he understood her uncertainty. Then again, for all I knew he did. Marianne’s hand touched the top of his head. Her eyes widened.

  “It’s so soft.”

  I smiled again.

  “Caroline.”

  I looked up to see Wolf beckon me. I put a hand on Marianne’s shoulder.

  “Stay here. Be gentle with him. I’ll be right back.”

  She nodded, her gaze still fixed on the pup.

  I went to Wolf’s side, wondering what it was he—or the alpha—wanted. For several long minutes nothing happened. Wolf remained silent and the alpha only stared. Finally I leaned over until I touched Wolf’s arm with mine.

  “What am I doing?” I whispered.

  “I’ve been telling packs about you when I’ve run into them,” Wolf said. “They told others, and this one wanted to see you for themselves.”

  I stood there for a moment, stunned. “Am I really the only human that doesn’t hate wolves?”

  “No.” Wolf gave me a small smile. “But none of them would jump on an execution pyre or howl in the night.”

  So he had heard me the night the harpies caught me. I looked to the alpha. He stared at me, then tilted his head.

  I didn’t know if it was this place, the wolf, or my extensive study of them at home, but suddenly we were having a wordless conversation.

  Can you help us?

  I quirked my mouth. I don’t know. I don’t think that’s why I’m here.

  Could you help us?

  I don’t know. I shifted. I’m sorry.

  The alpha looked at Wolf, then at me again. You may touch me.

  I blinked in surprise. I didn’t hesitate too long though; I didn’t want to insult him. I wasn’t sure what he expected to get out of this, but he must have some ulterior motive. I knelt and ran my hands over his head, gently rubbing his ears. Then it hit me. I was petting a wild wolf. A wild wolf in a magical place where they could communicate. I started grinning like an idiot.

  You are truly not afraid of us.

  I bent to put my forehead against his. No, I’m not. Then a thought hit me; alphas moved in pair. Where is your mate?

  I have not yet found one. He leaned forward and sniffed me. He cut his eyes to Wolf again. She is the sort for whom I might become human. A fine choice.

  Whoa. Random.

  He licked my cheek and got to his feet. He let out a brief howl to gather the others. Over my shoulder Marianne was feeding the pup a small bit of jerky. He gobbled it down, licking at her fingers greedily. Marianne was smiling for the first time since I’d met her. The alpha howled again and this time the pup obeyed. With a little yip in Marianne’s direction, he bounded off with his pack. The wolves melted away into the darkness of the trees, vanishing the same way they’d come.

  I sat down beside her. “So what do you think?”

  “I don’t know,” she said, sounding as though she were surprised at how little she knew.

  I put my arm around her, hugging her close. “I understand. Think you can sleep now?”

  She nodded and nestled into me, closing her eyes.

  “Is there room for one more?” Wolf asked above me.

  “Only if it’s okay with Marianne.”

  She opened her eyes and stared up at Wolf. After a moment, he hopped back and crouched on the ground.

  “I can stay over here if she wishes,” he said, gazing longingly at me.

  After a few more minutes, she nodded. Wolf immediately moved to my side, putting one arm around my shoulders and resting the other hand possessively on my leg. He pressed his face into my hair and inhaled deeply. I laughed to myself. Within a few moments more I drifted off, my head resting comfortably against Wolf’s chest.

  Chapter 16

  The next morning felt like any other. Cool. Full of bright sunlight. The perfect time for camping. A shame we weren’t actually camping for fun. A tent would have been nice. At least I felt cleaner.

  Our breakfast consisted of rabbit, courtesy of Wolf, cooked over a newly built fire courtesy of my lighter, which delighted both Wolf and Marianne to no end.

  Finally we were on our way again, traipsing along the path until Wolf informed us that we had to leave it in order to get to Marianne’s village. We marched through the leaves, probably the strangest group to travel through the kingdom since the days that wolves and humans were friendly. Wolf led the way with me and Marianne behind holding hands, and Alex in his Sentry uniform bringing up the rear. Probably enough to make anyone who saw us think he was hallucinating.

  “Do you know the story of Little Red Riding Hood?” The question had nagged at me ever since I’d heard the name of the kingdom and the apparent problem with wolves.

  Wolf gave me a funny look. “No.”

  “So no story of a wolf eating up a grandmother and then a little girl, only to be rescued by a huntsman? Kind of tragic?”

  Wolf scoffed. “Do you mean the story of how the House of Red and House of Hood came to be?”

  “Uh, sure.”

  “That’s not how it goes. The only truly tragic stories are the ones with love in them.”

  “So if I’m wrong, tell me the real story.”

  “It’s a story long forgotten by humans. That or most of them muss it up to know it the way you know it. There was a lovely girl named Adria Red, and she was the next queen of the kingdom. She was in love with a wolf, and he was very much in love with her. They might have made things better for wolves in the kingdom, had they married. But a huntsman by the name of Teron Hood wanted Adria to himself. The kingdom was just extra fat on the bone.”

  “Is this going to be a Romeo and Juliet story?” Alex asked, less than thrilled at the prospect. I shushed him, and Wolf continued.

  “One day Adria set off to visit her grandmother who lived in a small house in the forest. After living so long in the castle, she wanted to be free and out in the open—some say the grandmother might have been part wolf herself, but no one really knows. The wolf wanted to surprise Adria by showing up at her grandmother’s, and when the huntsman saw him heading that way, he decided this was the perfect opportunity to get rid of the wolf. He got to the house first and poisoned the grandmother. Then he snuck out to wait for the wolf.

  “When the wolf arrived, he saw the grandmother was dead and didn’t know what to do. Then the huntsman appeared and convinced the wolf that Adria would think he’d killed her and the only w
ay to save himself and their love was to eat up the grandmother’s body. The wolf did just that, except the poison in the grandmother’s blood got to him too, so soon he was asleep on her bed, full and sick.

  “When Adria arrived, she saw the wolf and didn’t know what to make of her missing grandmother, and then the huntsman appeared again and told her that the wolf’s bloodlust was too great and he had eaten her grandmother alive. He proved it by cutting open the wolf’s stomach and showing Adria the remains of her grandmother. Adria despaired, her heart broken, and she told the huntsman to do with the wolf what he wished, and ran out of the house. The huntsman took out the grandmother’s body and just in case the wolf survived, replaced it with heavy stones before sewing him up again.”

  “How the hell could he do that without killing him?” Alex asked. I shot him a look that clearly told him to shut up.

  Wolf frowned at him. “Huntsmen are very skilled with their knives and needles. Don’t tell me you’ve never kept a trophy for yourself.”

  Alex’s face colored and he mumbled something about not doing it himself.

  “When the wolf finally awoke,” Wolf said, getting back to the story, “he could barely drag himself from the home. He didn’t know where Adria or the huntsman was; he didn’t know what had happened. He could hardly even walk. Because of the stones in his stomach he couldn’t eat, and wandered the forest in confusion for many days. The huntsman had comforted and wooed Adria until she finally consented to marry him. Most of us like to think that she never forgot the wolf. Even if she did, she was reminded of him again when he dragged himself to the castle, and died by the walls of starvation.”