by Julia Mills
Finding nothing but a few deer and a raccoon who were both looking for food, the dragoness slid the blade back into her bag and decided she better head home to get ready for ‘the dinner’ before Daire sent out a search party. Taking one last look at the calm waters, she wished it led to the ocean, and she had a boat.
Dragons can swim, too…
Turning, she heaved a sigh and with her head down trudged under the cover of the trees. Listening to the rustling of the nocturnal wildlife that called the woods their home, Dani was deep in thought at least a hundred miles away when a set of big, strong hands grabbed her by the upper arms right before she crashed into the hard planes of an incredibly muscled chest.
Throwing back her head, the dragoness looked all the way up the large body before her right into the scowling eyes of none other than the bane of existence, the dragon called Wolfe. Opening her mouth to ask what the hell he thought he was doing, Dani was forced to eat her words when the dragon’s mouth slammed to hers, and in one fell swoop, she was awash in a myriad of emotions that astounded, excited and confused her.
The more he demanded, the more she gave. His hands loosened on her arms, slid down her back to just above her butt, where he gently rubbed tiny circles that sent mind-numbing electricity straight to her center.
Her hand tangled in his hair as she pushed harder against his body, rolling her hips, needing more of what she immediately knew beyond all doubt only Wolfe could give her. Tearing his lips from hers with a gasp, the dragon nibbled across her jaw kissed down her neck and teased the top of her shoulder with his teeth. As he worked his way back towards her lips, Dani was lost to the power of their attraction and the feelings this one dragon pulled from deep inside her soul, where she’d thought them locked away and hidden forever.
The howling of a wolf, closely followed by another and then another shattered the spell Wolfe’s embrace had created. Pushing hard against his chest, Dani growled, “Dammit, Wolfe, stop.”
Kissing her ear, he whispered, “Never, mo chroí.”
Her arousal quickly turning to exasperation, Dani summoned all her power and with the palms of her hands on Wolfe’s chest shoved the mountain of a man away from her body with a loud, “Oomph!”
“What the hell?” Wolfe spat, more stunned than upset with his still lusty eyes and kiss-swollen lips making Dani have to push away her carvings for more of what they had just shared.
Stepping up to him, she growled, “I said, stop!” To further punctuate her reply, Dani pushed up onto her toes and slapped him across the face before stomping off while yelling over her shoulder, “And if you value your ass - or any other - ‘appendage’ do not follow me.”
Chapter Five
“I said, no, dammit,” Wolfe pouted. “I’m not going to that stupid dinner. We’re only here to be their bodyguards if the rogues show up and I haven’t seen shit.”
“Except that sexy wolf with the dark eyes and curvy body.” Grey waggled his eyebrows as he buttoned his shirt.
“She’s not a…” Wolfe stopped, remembering Dannika’s pleas for him not to tell her secret, wondered when he’d become so damned lame then quickly covered his faux pas by saying, “She’s not the reason,” all the while wondering why neither Grey nor Angus knew that Dani was a dragon.
“Yeah, okay, whatever you say, big guy, but I saw her stomping out of the woods and you in hot pursuit with a big, red handprint on the side of your face.”
“Well…it… I mean… I…” Jumping to his feet, Wolfe opened the door to their room and shouted, “Out! Just get the hell out, now!”
“I’m going. I’m going,” Grey scooted by with a wide smile on his face. “What do you want me to tell Angus, Olivia and the others? They are expecting you to show up tonight.”
“I don’t give a crap what you tell them,” Wolfe growled, slamming the door the second his friend had crossed the threshold.
Leaning against the doorframe, the Guardsman could only shake his head as he listened to Olivia whisper, “Is Wolfe okay?” And Grey respond by laughing, “Oh yeah, just all tied up in knots over a woman.” But it was Angus’ grumbled, “He better just give in. If the Universe and Fate are involved, poor boy doesn’t stand a chance.”
Rolling his eyes as he stepped away from the door, Wolfe snorted sarcastically, “Whatever,” before grabbing his favorite AC/DC T-shirt and pulling it over his head. Crossing the room, he stood staring out the window, watching the wolves from the Blue Ridge Pack walking up to the Lodge for the ‘big dinner’ their Alpha and his Council had planned. The Guardsman knew he was being a stubborn jerk by not going to the dinner and was sure once word got back to Rian he would be mucking stalls until he as old and gray, but none of that mattered. There was no way Wolfe could be in the same room with that woman. She was obstinate, infuriating, beautiful and simply irresistible…all-in-all an enigma that he did not want or need in his life.
Yeah, keep telling yourself that, big guy…
Images of the tall, curvy, dark-haired beauty were never far from the forefront of his mind. Having seen the arousal in her deep brown eyes, felt her luscious pink lips against his, held her wondrously sensual body in his arms, the Guardsman was quickly becoming lost to the mating call he’d been warned about all of his life.
But there were so many questions, too many secrets. He could feel them stacking haphazardly upon one another like a pile of misshapen bricks, sure to fall at the first gust of a strong wind. Why was she hiding who she was? How had she come to live with wolves? Where was her Clan? She was a Healer; he could feel the strength of her power thrumming in every cell of her body, but there was something else…something old, wise and if he wasn’t mistaken, miraculous.
Then there was the fact that neither Grey nor Angus recognized Dannika as dragon. How the hell could that be? The old guy missed nothing. He might not know a cell phone from a microwave and still jumped when planes flew overhead, but when it came to sensing who or what someone was and uncovering their true intentions, there was no one better than Angus MacLendon.
More questions, no answers, it was all too much, not to mention his dragon acting like a lovesick pup. Wolfe could feel the beast pining for the dragoness within Dannika’s soul. The Guardsman had been forced to power more power into his mental blocks to keep the dragon from reaching out to its mate. Wolfe was beginning to think Fate, Destiny or maybe just good old-fashioned Dumb Luck seriously had it out for him.
“This is bullshit. I’m not going to stand here obsessing like some teenager over a woman who doesn’t even know who the hell she is. I need to get out of here.”
Pulling on his boots, Wolfe was out of his room, down the back stairs and out the kitchen door before anyone saw him. Racing through the woods at break-neck speed, he could think of nothing better than letting his dragon free. Pulling from the magic of the Ancient Dragon Kings, he wrapped himself in darkness, called forth the beast with whom he shared his soul and from one second to the next was transformed from man to dragon and blessedly flying towards the Heavens.
Moving his head from side to side, the massive beast smiled as he took in his midnight blue wings pushing up and down, propelling him ever higher. Reaching a safe altitude, Wolfe leveled off, reveling in the feel of the cool night air against his scales, the smell of the forest below and the bliss of the freedom only being airborne could give him.
Dipping down to skim the top of the water as he glided over, Wolfe was once again in awe of the dragon he had shared his soul with since birth. It never ceased to amaze him how majestic and powerful his beast truly was. From the tip of the battle horns jutting from his brow to the spiked end of his spade-ended tail, his dragon was fierce, loyal and just as stubborn as the man himself. There had never been a truer match between winged warrior and Guardsman. Wolfe thanked the Universe, Fate and the Goddess of All daily for the blessings and honor bestowed upon him.
Descending out of the clouds, the dragon flew faster and faster, traveling mile after mile above the mountain
s, taking note of the rough terrain and multitude of hiding places for anyone that might want to harm his new allies - the wolves. Dipping low into an especially dark gorge, the dragon curled his wings against his massive torso, and lowered into a soft landing on one of the larger ledges.
Quickly changing back to human form, Wolfe traversed the rough terrain of the canyon wall, making sure to keep his senses sharp for impending danger. Reaching the bottom, the pungent scent of resentment and aggression filled his nostrils. Staying to the shadows, the Guardsman crept around a stone crag alongside the gully. He worked hard to stay out of sight and out of the water, while getting closer for a good look at what was going on under the cover of darkness.
Kneeling down, the Guardsman got as low to the ground as a six-foot-nine-inch man can and crawled under a long rock ledge at the edge of the circular ravine that was filled to capacity with angry, snarling shifters. Now, closer to the action, he could scent not only pissed off wolves but also angry coyotes, belligerent black bears and several livid deer.
The man who appeared to be in charge of what Wolfe could only surmise from the rage filling the air was a rally for all those willing to declare themselves enemies of the Blue Ridge Wolf Pack, was most definitely a wolf himself who unequivocally hated all things associated with the name Daire MacTavish. It was kind of miraculous the shifter had everyone’s attention since he was most definitely not an Alpha. He possessed neither the magic, the power, nor the presence for leadership and his tall and lanky frame along with his long, unkempt beard made Wolfe guess he was a Beta at best, but most likely an Omega, which meant someone else was pulling his strings. His dark eyes exuded animosity, just as his clenched fists and gritted teeth spoke even louder than his raised voice of the vengeance he sought.
“That stupid son of a bitch thinks this is his land not because he fought for it or even earned it, but because he was born into it. Well, that’s just not the way it works, now is it?” The Leader raised his fist in the air as the crowd cheered then threw back his head and howled.
As the answering howls, roars and cheers died down, the wolf went on, “This is our land, not to be governed by some wet-behind-the-ears boy who was raised with all the advantages and prestige his ancestors stole from our people.”
Again, the shifters in attendance applauded, shouting threats against the MacTavishs’ and their Pack. Some had allowed their emotions to get the best of them and were partly shifted, while others’ animals-to-call merely flashed like holograms over their human features. The venom the speaker spewed against the Blue Ridge Pack, the stronger the stench of violence became.
Just about to take to the sky and rain fire down upon the angry mob, Wolfe stopped his backward motion when a small, elderly woman with a long gray braid and deep wrinkles in her leathery skin toddled onto the stage. He watched her arthritic fingers hold so tightly to the top of her gnarled walking stick that her swollen knuckles turned white, but even more entranced with the eeriness that seemed to cling to her.
Now, that’s the leader…
A hush fell over the group as the woman’s low, raspy voice floated on the cool breeze. “Now, is not the time for violence.” She raised her free hand to the sky. “See the waxing crescent moon shining high and bright in the night sky? That is a sign from the Goddess that we are to create and grow, not tear down and destroy. So, my children to have the blessings of the One from whom all goodness flows, we must take this time to plan and form strategic alliances with those not present here tonight.”
She lowered her hand, placed it atop the other on the handle of her cane and leaned forward. Wolfe could feel the raw power flowing from her to every shifter in attendance. The other man may have been riling up the crowd, but this woman, she was their real leader. Her magic was old and strong and if the Guardsman wasn’t mistaken, a mixture of several different animals, along with the spirit of the Earth.
A true Shapeshifter?
“In fourteen days the full moon shall rise, and as our Goddess has commanded, that is the time to begin things. It is when our aspirations and hopes are the most visible and therefore, the most attainable.”
It was so quiet Wolfe could hear the humongous bear shifter at least twenty feet in front of him slowing taking each breath as the old woman hobbled to the front of the large, flat rock formation she and the wolf were using as a stage. Leaning so far over her cane, the Guardsman was sure she would topple into the crowd at her feet, the Shapeshifter once again let her magic freely flow to each of the shifters hanging on her every word as she commanded in a clear voice reminiscent of a heavenly host, “Return home, rest, conserve your strength for our time to rule, to conquer, to vanquish all who oppose us is just over the horizon. May the Goddess of All bless and keep you, my children.”
Without another word, she turned and slowly made her way off the rock and into the crowd. Wolfe watched in silence as the mass of shifters parted like the Red Sea and she was Moses. Exiting to the left of the basin, the woman disappeared from sight followed by two single-file rows of the people to whom she had just issued her decree.
Waiting until the last shifter had disappeared, the Guardsman crawled out from under the ledge, made his way back to the craggy wall of the ravine and up to the butte where he’d originally landed. Looking into the distance, he made sure the shifters were still moving away from him before calling forth his dragon and once again taking to the sky.
Flying as fast as he could, cloaked by magic and the darkness, Wolfe watched from above until the large group of rogues split up based on species and crept into the different caves and canyons they apparently called home. Making a mental map of all their locations, he quickly changed course for Blue Ridge Pack lands to deliver what he knew to his allies. Calling ahead to Grey he asked, “Are you and Angus still at the dinner?”
“No, that’s been over for almost two hours. Where, the hell are you? It’s nearly one in the morning.”
“Flying back. Is Angus with you?”
“Flying back? Have you lost your ever-loving mind?” Grey yelled then more calmly added, “No, Olivia and the old guy went for a walk…if ya’ get my drift, but Ellie and Caleb are here.”
“I really…”
The rest of Wolfe’s reply was cut off when a grumbled, “Who you callin’ old guy?” cut through his mind. “I can kick both your asses with one hand tied between my back. And you need to learn to use your private bond, you interrupt me one more time and I’ll…”
“Okay, ol…I mean Angus, I get your point and I’m sorry for interrupting, but I really need to talk to you.” Wolfe let the images of what he’d just witnessed flow through the bond he shared with both Guardsmen, waiting impatiently for them to comment.
Glimpsing the Blue Ridge Pack’s Lodge, the midnight blue dragon descended from above the clouds, changing to his human form the second his feet touched the ground and took off running. Racing past the lake, he had just crossed over into the woods when Angus spat, “Son of a…”
“My thoughts exactly,” Wolfe agreed.
“Is that old woman what I think she is?” Grey asked. “I thought her kind had been gone since before the Dragon Kings made their deal with King Arthur.”
“Aye, me too, lad,” Angus answered, then to Wolfe said, “Show me where you were when you saw this?”
Arriving at the back of the Lodge, Wolfe jogged up the steps into the kitchen, inopportunely crashing right into Dannika. Stepping back, the Guardsman opened his mouth to apologize at the same time he realized the dragoness had been holding a piece of cake that she was now wearing.
“Why am I even surprised?” Dani huffed, grabbing a towel and wiping icing off the black dress that lovingly hugged her curves.
For a split-second Wolfe imagined stripping the silken fabric from her body and replacing it with his hands and lips, then her words and tone registered and all he could do was scoff, “I’m sorry, princess. Send me the bill for your dry cleaning.” Giving an exaggerated and sarcastic tip of his ima
ginary hat, the Guardsman scooted to the right before heading out of the kitchen with a parting shot of, “Next time watch where you’re going. Some of us have places to be.”
Chapter Six
“That damned man,” Dani swore under her breath, still trying to get the light blue and white buttercream out of her favorite dress. “I swear I will scale him like a fish the next…”
“Who you gonna scale like a fish?”
Spinning around, ready to blast whoever dared to be funny when she was so pissed she was seeing red, Dani bit back her words as both Daire and Becky burst out laughing. Shaking her head at two of her favorite people in the world, the dragoness eventually smiled which led her to chuckling, “You two, if you don’t stop laughing at me.”
“Well, to be fair, you sounded like you were about to raise seven kinds of hell and you look like you just got last place in a cake eating contest,” Daire snickered. At least Becky had the decency to look ashamed along with her ear-to-ear grin and like a good friend, stepped forward with a clean towel to help Dani clean her dress.
“There’s no ‘being fair’ about it. Those damn dragons can’t leave soon enough for me,” Dannika grumbled.
“All ‘those dragons’?” Becky asked, using air quotes. “Or the one that looks like a giant and makes you all kinds of flustered when he’s nearby?”
Glaring as she growled through gritted teeth, Dani clarified “He does not make me flustered. He exasperates me.”
“I think the lady doth protest too much,” Daire coughed into his hand before ducking just as the towel Dani had been holding flew over his head.
“Shut. Up. Daire.” Then grabbing the towel from Becky’ hand, she added, “And you, my ‘best friend’,” she used air quotes in defense of Becky’s, “Can leave, too.”
Pretending to pout, complete with pushing their bottom lips out, both Daire and Becky pleaded, “Don’t make us go, Dani, please.”
