Wolf Kiss (Warrior Wolves Book 1)

by Christine DePetrillo

  “Whatever she wanted?” Flidae rushed to him.

  Both he and Brandy cowered, expecting the goddess to lash out at them. He wanted to put himself between Flidae and Brandy, but that sword tip was making a mark on his chest, blood trickling out in a warm, slow drizzle.

  “Please, don’t make me hurt him,” Brandy pleaded.

  The sword clattered to the floor between Brandy and Reardon and Flidae pushed Brandy out of the way. She landed on her bottom, her arms reaching back and breaking her fall. When she brought her palms to her lap, however, Reardon saw the torn flesh. The blood. The pain on Brandy’s face.

  Something in his brain exploded and suddenly he was ripping into wolf form again. He lunged forward and sunk his teeth into Flidae’s thigh, biting down until his teeth were deep into her flesh. He hadn’t expected that. Flesh. The goddess always appeared to be more apparition than anything else. When blood filled his mouth, he was doubly surprised.

  The shriek Flidae released also shocked him. “You monster!” She beat her fists against his head, but he didn’t let go. In fact, he clamped his jaws tighter until Flidae went limp between his teeth.

  Releasing her, he stared at the sword sticking out of her chest. Brandy’s hands still gripped the hilt as she looked wild-eyed at Reardon then back at the blade embedded in the goddess.

  “How is this possible?” Brandy asked, her voice hoarse from screaming earlier.

  Reardon shifted to human and pried Brandy’s hands off the sword. He pulled her back from Flidae’s body that slowly sunk to the floor in a heap of violet cloak and long, dark hair. Another bolt of lightning sparked into the cell and Brandy shielded herself against Reardon’s bare chest.

  He wrapped his arms around her, never wanting to let her go. She was shaking and he squeezed her tighter. “It’s okay, fairy lass. I’ve got you.”

  She raised her head and blinked teary eyes up at him. “Do you? Do we have each other?” She looked back to where Flidae had fallen to the ground. Only she wasn’t there anymore. “Where is she? Is she dead? Can a goddess be dead?”

  “I’m… not sure.” Reardon made a move to let Brandy go, but she dug her fingers into his shoulders.

  “Don’t let me go.” She buried her face in the curve of his neck.

  “I don’t plan to, Brandy. Ever.” He brushed his lips over her forehead. “But we need to figure out what’s happening here. While I’ll be the first to admit not having Flidae here is a wish come true, she’s also our ticket back to your time.”

  Brandy sagged against him. “I was so concerned about saving you, I didn’t think about getting home.” A strangled cry tore from her throat. “We have to get back to Dylan.”

  “And we shall. I promise.” He cupped her face. “My beautiful, brave fairy lass. You came for me.”

  “Of course I did. Do you have any idea how hard it is to find the perfect werewolf? I’ve been searching my entire life.”

  Reardon surprised himself by laughing. Only this magnificent woman could make him laugh when moments ago he’d been certain his life was ending.

  Maybe it was just beginning instead.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Brandy wanted to stay in the warm embrace of Reardon’s strong arms for a long, long time, but he was right. They’d both attacked—and made bleed—their only means of getting back to the sanctuary, her wolves, her family, her home, her time. They needed to find a way to zap themselves back. Quickly.

  “How do we find Flidae? If she could beam out of here, she can’t be dead.” Brandy released Reardon and nudged the fallen sword with her boot tip. She jumped back when a flash erupted from the sword and it completely disintegrated into a pile of black ash.

  Reardon grabbed her arm and pulled her up against him. “Flidae might not be done with us yet. Be careful.” He bent and poked a tentative finger at the violet cloak the goddess had left behind. When he did so, the garment shimmered and moved as if it were alive.

  “Get away from it.” Brandy pulled Reardon to his feet. She didn’t want to see him suffer any more than he already had. She wanted to get him home. Get him home and keep him.

  Forever.

  The cloak slowed its movement then changed from the violet color to something black and gray. Fabric swirled, a blurry pinwheel of motion. When it stopped, a pair of black jeans and a gray T-shirt were left in place of the cloak.

  Brandy and Reardon stared at the clothing as if it were going to suddenly rise up from the stone floor on its own and attack them.

  “I realize you desperately need those,” Brandy whispered, “but I’m afraid of what putting them on might do to you.”

  “It won’t do anything.”

  Brandy’s heart nearly leaped right out of her chest at Flidae’s voice behind them. Instinctively, she stood between the goddess and Reardon. She wasn’t letting Flidae harm her werewolf. Not happening.

  “You’re not dead.” Brandy’s voice crackled a little and she cleared her throat, wishing she had some magic of her own that would transport them back to the sanctuary before Flidae had the chance to toy with them further.

  “Goddesses are eternal, mortal. While you can temporarily incapacitate us, you can’t kill us.” Flidae was fully restored. Not a trace of blood anywhere though Brandy had seen Reardon’s wolf teeth tear into her leg and she’d skewered Flidae with that sword as if she were a cube of meat ready for the grill. The goddess even wore a new cloak. This one was a rose color and appeared to be as soft as a rose petal too.

  “You live forever?” Brandy asked.

  “Live might not be the correct word.” Flidae floated deeper into the cell. “A better word would be exist. We exist forever.” The goddess’s eyes darted to Reardon. “I live through what I command. When my wolves don’t act honorably—as in they change their men without consent—I feel that betrayal as well. When you lead wolves onto the battlefield and massacre the enemies of your employers, I feel that wrath, that hatred, that fierce clinging to the last shreds of life. I could tolerate when it was just you out there, killing your way through your life, as a human. Once part of your army was wolves and you and those wolves killed, however, it was too much. Too much for even a goddess to shoulder. My protection binds us. I punished and scattered all of you to spare myself the grief.” Flidae closed her eyes for a quiet moment. “I feel all those emotions, and when you… love, I feel that too. I’m not supposed to, but I do.”

  Reardon regarded Flidae for a stoic moment. Her expression gave her a faraway look, as if she were somewhere else, with someone else. Who was she thinking of?

  When she shook her head and pointed to the clothes, Reardon retrieved them. He put them on and stepped in front of Brandy. After lowering to his knees before the goddess, he grabbed Brandy’s wrist and gently tugged her down into position beside him. His head was bent low, so Brandy did the same.

  Her gaze zeroed in on Flidae’s feet. Hooves. The goddess had hooves instead of feet.

  “You’re willing to take on paws, human?”

  Brandy flicked her gaze up to Flidae’s face. “If it means I get to be with Reardon longer, I get to be with my son longer, then yes, I’m willing to be changed.” She was destined for this to happen to her. She knew that now.

  Flidae turned her attention to Reardon. “And you truly want to make her happy? It’s not just what you will get out of the union?”

  Reardon squeezed Brandy’s hand which he now held. “I only want to please this woman beside me. I want to give her everything she’s ever wanted. Her son too.”

  Flidae glanced from Reardon to Brandy and back to Reardon. Brandy would have paid big bucks to read the goddess’s mind. Was she going to spare them? Was she going to allow them to be happy?

  Or were these their final moments together? Their final moments period?

  Flidae rubbed her thigh where Reardon had bitten her then her hand grazed over where Brandy had impaled her with the sword. “I witnessed firsthand what you two are willing to do to protect each other
. It may surpass the protection I offer all the wild things. You were able to injure me and spill actual blood because I got too caught up in your very human emotions, your mortal reactions to one another.” She looked at Brandy. “You said love was something worthy. I have never experienced love, but have witnessed it between the two of you. I won’t deny you something so powerful.”

  Brandy wanted to pop up to her feet in excitement, but Reardon held her firmly in a kneeling position.

  “Thank you, Flidae. We are humbled by your gift,” he said as his hand squeezed Brandy’s again.

  “See that you don’t waste the gift, wolf.” Flidae eyed Brandy. “I suppose I should say wolves. Turn her and you shall both be returned to her time if that’s what you choose.”

  Now Reardon dragged Brandy up to standing. “What of my men? Shall they be granted access back here?”

  Flidae had turned toward the cell door and was on her way out. She paused and glanced over her shoulder at Reardon. “They shall be granted access when they complete their own journeys.”

  She left and neither of them moved for a long beat of silence.

  “So we get to live?” Brandy leaned her head on Reardon’s shoulder then looked up at him.

  “Aye, we do.” He turned those beautiful green-gold eyes her way. “We get to live our days together. Loving each other.” He caressed her cheek with his fingers, and she couldn’t resist pushing her face into his warm palm.

  “That sounds perfect to me.” Brandy brought Reardon’s hand up to her lips and kissed his knuckles.

  “Are you sure you want to be turned? Take your time with this decision. It can’t be undone.”

  Brandy stepped closer, slid her hands up Reardon’s chest, and clasped them at the back of his neck. When his arms came around her waist, answering him was the simplest thing in the world.

  “There is nothing I want more than to be a werewolf, Reardon. It will be the best of both worlds for me. I can still be the wildlife biologist who oversees wolf residents at Silver Moon and raises Dylan, but I can also fraternize with the pack as I’ve never been able to. You can communicate with them in wolf form, can’t you?” She knew she probably sounded like a super excited dork, but the potential to speak to her wolves exhilarated her.

  “Aye. I can speak to them in wolf and human forms.” He laughed when Brandy’s eyes widened.

  “Score! I’ve spent all these years researching lycanthropy and now that I can become a shifter myself, I can’t refuse.” She hugged him. “Plus, I get you in the deal too. Winning all around.”

  “I’m glad you feel that way, but I think I’m getting the best deal here. I get a home, a pack, a son, and the most amazing woman I’ve ever met. Spending our lives together is like a fantasy.”

  “Let’s get started on that fantasy, shall we?”

  Brandy corralled her hair onto one shoulder, baring her neck to Reardon. When his pupils zipped open, only a thin, golden glow surrounding them, she shivered in anticipation. She felt like prey again. Happy prey. Eager prey.

  Reardon made slow work of it. He took his time dropping light kisses along her shoulder and around her neck. His tongue glided over her skin, making her entire body quiver. He slid his hand into her hair, cradling her head and pressing his nose to her ear. His teeth closed gently over her earlobe then he tugged. In the next second he was soothing the area with his tongue, his lips.

  Brandy wanted to simultaneously melt into him and jump around like an excited kangaroo. The conflicting sensations had her groaning with need.

  “Reardon, please.” The more he toyed with her, the more aroused she became. “I can’t take anymore.”

  A raspy chuckle rumbled in his throat which she silenced with an aggressive, fiery kiss. She owned his mouth, her hands kneading his shoulder blades while she pressed her front to his as his arousal sought to bury itself deep within her. She wanted nothing more.

  Well… maybe there was one thing she wanted more.

  “Turn me. Now,” she pleaded.

  Her eyes widened as his canines extended and he ran his tongue over the sharp points.

  “I have a feeling,” he moved in closer, “you’re going to be delicious.”

  She was more than happy to be his snack. When his teeth pierced her flesh, she let out a small cry, but the pain was gone before her body had time to register it. Her blood soared in her veins, racing to all points like a red hot current. She threw her head back, arched her spine, and gripped Reardon’s shoulders as they both sunk to the stone floor of the cell. Her breathing was labored and the bite area was slick with her blood when Reardon retracted his canines, but she didn’t care.

  She. Felt. Amazing.

  “Brandy? Are you all right, lass?”

  “All right? I’m wonderful.” Her entire body was a tuning fork, vibrating, sensitive, aroused.

  “The change must be different in females then.” Reardon’s brows lowered. “When I changed my men, they were not feeling as you are now.”

  “Soul mate, remember?” She pointed to herself. “That bite was meant for your soul mate. That’s probably the difference.”

  And she was overjoyed to be his soul mate.

  “I need to be inside you,” Reardon whispered hoarsely. “Please.”

  All Brandy could do was nod as Reardon unzipped her shorts and slid his hands in to cup her bottom. In mere moments, he had those shorts down around her ankles and she stepped out of them. He nearly ripped her tank top in two as he yanked it from her torso. It landed in a heap by her shorts and she set to work on ridding him of the pants and T-shirt he’d only donned a few minutes ago.

  She took a beat to look at him, to relish in his muscled perfection. Even with her blood staining his lips, she wanted him. Maybe more so. Was that normal?

  None of this is normal.

  But shit, Reardon was exactly what she wanted.

  “Did I hurt you?” Reardon ran his fingers over what must have been two bite marks on her neck.

  “No.” Brandy cut a path over his pectoral muscles with her fingertips. “I liked being bitten.”

  Reardon grinned. “Good to know, fairy lass.”

  In one quick motion, he swept her up by the backs of her thighs and she automatically clamped her legs around him. He settled himself inside her, easing in inch by precious inch until she was so full of him. So gloriously full.

  Rocking gently at first, he increased the pace and soon she was moving in time with him, synchronized, thrust for thrust, climbing impossibly high in the circle of each other’s arms.

  “I love you so much,” Reardon said as he shuddered inside her, causing the most amazing sensations to ripple throughout her body, touching her soul somehow.

  Soul mates. Yes, that was what they were. The very definition.

  “I love you too.” She tightened her hold on him as she crested over the wave he’d built between them and floated into pure bliss.

  He slowly lowered them so he could sit on the edge of the stone bench in the cell. Resting his forehead against hers and breathing raggedly while she sat in his lap, still surrounding him, Reardon said, “Let’s go home.”

  ****

  Was there anything more beautiful than his soul mate wearing his bite marks proudly on her neck? He’d finally claimed her and nothing would ever tear them apart. Nothing.

  “Why aren’t we zapping back to the sanctuary?” Brandy asked.

  Reardon detected the change in her heartbeat, the increased rhythm of her breathing, the somewhat wild look in her blue eyes.

  “You haven’t turned yet.” He smoothed his hand over her long red waves of hair. “I can’t wait to see your wolf form.”

  The smile Brandy gave him could have set an ocean on fire. Full of excitement, desire, allegiance to him. He’d never felt so completely bonded with anyone. He could feel her.

  “How long will it take for me to shift?” Brandy held her arms out as if expecting to see wolf legs.

  Reardon cupped her chin and stared
into her eyes. The blue was now electric, softly glowing, and intense. “Judging by the light in your eyes, I’d say we’ll be on our way in seconds.”

  “Really?” Brandy gripped his biceps. “My eyes are glowing like yours do?”

  “Aye. A brilliant shade of blue, fairy lass. They’re lovely.”

  Brandy leaned forward and pressed her lips to Reardon’s. In the next moment, she stumbled off his lap and wrapped her arms around her stomach, an expression of pain scrunching up her face.

  “What is it?” He stood, gripped her shoulders, and found her skin hot to the touch. “Aye, it’s the change. Are you ready?”

  Brandy nodded then let out a cry as she sunk to her knees.

  Reardon winced, thinking about the stone floor connecting with her kneecaps. Soon small pains like that won’t mean anything to her. For once in his life, he felt as if being a werewolf was, in fact, a gift. A gift he was able to share with her.

  “It’s happening!” Brandy looked up at him, her blue eyes on full glow now.

  After a powerful roar, her flesh rippled, her bones crackled, and gorgeous copper-colored fur covered her wolf form. Her eyes remained blue and her new body was lithe, sleek, and fit. She stole his breath away with her beauty.

  Brandy shook out her body then wagged her tail at him. That was all the invitation he needed. He shifted and immediately rubbed noses with her.

  This is amazing. Her thoughts rang out loud and clear in his own mind.

  Wolf looks good on you. That earned him a sloppy lick on his jagged ear.

  We can hear each other? She rubbed along his side.

  We are more connected than two people can ever be. Body, mind, soul. Reardon couldn’t stop looking at her. You are truly a sight, fairy lass.

  Brandy turned in a circle as if trying to see herself. When she pressed her nose to his again, the stone cell around them flashed out of existence and was replaced by a field of crunchy, dead grass.