Old Henry bolts.
Shit.
Benjamin looks terrified. His horse is struggling against his control.
I start to run. I can’t let the horse throw him. He could break his neck. He could—
A massive gray wolf steps out in front of me. I hold up my hand to blast it with my ice powers if it moves even an inch closer to me. Howls come from all around me.
And then, across the little road, I see half a dozen wolves step out of the clearing. There’s too many!
“Go, Benjamin! Go!”
“But you—“
“I can take care of myself! Go!”
His eyes fill with terror as he snaps his reigns and takes off. But I can’t watch him go, because the wolf in front of me is tensing as if to jump.
Here goes nothing.
Chapter Two
I send a burst of my ice powers out, freezing its front legs. Its eyes widen, but I don’t have time to do more. I already know there’s no way in hell I can use my magic fast enough to stop a dozen wolves that seem determined to kill me.
So I do something I know will keep me safe.
Closing my eyes, I raise my hands and use my powers. My magic stretches further than I’ve ever sent it before. It spreads across the field and into the woods, then over me, swirling into the clouds. I feel it wrapping around me. And then, I stumble opening my eyes.
My hands reach out to catch myself on the ice dome that I’ve enclosed myself within. I’m breathing hard. And shaking. But I know I’m safe. The wolves won’t be able to reach me in the safety of my icy shelter.
But to my surprise, I’ve also coated the field in snow. White flakes drift down, creating an unnatural winter in the clearing. Nice! That should scare the damn wolves!
But all the gray wolf in front of me does is cock his head. It’s expression far too-intelligent. And not the least bit frightened.
Weird.
It shudders. Then, in the blink of an eye, transforms. Where a wolf once stood, a man crouches.
I feel my jaw drop. The wolf is a Shifter? Wolf-Shifters are rare and known for keeping their abilities private. So what is he doing here?
Slowly, he lifts his head. My breath catches. His long, light brown hair hides most of his face, but two stunning hazel eyes peer out at me with a possessive heat I’ve never seen before.
He rises to a standing position, his hands still encased in ice.
I’m immediately overwhelmed by him. He’s huge and muscular. Handsome in a roughish way, with his dark stubble, and broad shoulders.
He raises an incredibly cocky brow at me. “Why hello.”
His deep voice seems to vibrate through me, awakening something inside of me that stretches to life.
I close my mouth. Then, unable to help myself, I let my gaze slide down over his naked body. Why hello! I like the sight of his miles of smooth muscles, but even more than that, my body likes the sight of his very impressive package.
I could stare at that all day. Yum!
“I’m Blake.”
My gaze snaps back to his face and reality hits me like a face full of cold water. What the hell is wrong with me? I’m in the middle of the woods, with some strange wolf Shifter, and all I can do is stare at his big, long, thick, tasty-looking...
Shit! I focus on his face again. Threatening myself with everything I can think of not to look down again. I refuse to be distracted. I’ve just lost my horse and my friend because of this stranger, and I can’t forget that.
I square my shoulders. “I think you have some explaining to do.”
“Me?” he says, crossing his muscular arms over his chest. “I think it’s you that should be explaining yourself to me.”
I give him my most you didn’t just say that look. “So you scare off my horse and escort, and you think I owe you an apology?”
“Yes.” He takes a step closer to me, his movements too smooth to belong to a human. “You carry your delicious scent through our territory, forcing us to track you for days. Which I consider quite rude.”
“My scent? What the hell does that mean? And you’ve been tracking me? That sounds a little stalkerish, if you ask me.”
To my surprise, he laughs, the sound rich and masculine. “You are a delicious smelling Elementalist. Every inch of you calls to my pack and I. We knew the instant we caught your scent that you would be our mate. So, yes, I consider having to go through the trouble of tracking you to be quite rude when we both know you’ll be in our beds by the end of the night.”
My mouth drops open again, but I quickly close it. I’ve only had sex with three men in my life, and none of them were half the man that this one is. Actually, just looking at his very large and erect cock makes me want to break my icy shelter and mount him, but there’s no way I’m going to have sex with some guy who’s been following me. Nor will I have sex with his pack. And the whole mate stuff? That’s a hard pass for me.
Which reminds me. There’s more than one wolf in this clearing. My gaze runs over the grass. So why are they staying hidden? What are they planning?
Better get them out of here as quickly as I can. “Sorry, but I’m not interested.”
He takes another step closer. “You’re saying you don’t want me?”
Oh geez. “Nope,” I lie, trying to keep a straight face.
His eyes narrow. “Then it will become our life mission to change your mind. We’ll do whatever you ask of us, and then you’ll accept us as your mates.”
I don’t know why I find his statements so hot. Maybe because most of the men I’ve met seem to think that it doesn’t matter what I think or feel. But this wolf-shifter appears to realize that wooing me is his only shot. Which I kind of like.
Not that I’m considering this whole insane idea.
“Sorry, buddy, but I’m still not interested, so if you and your men will just take off...”
He frowns and looks down at his hands. Smacking them together, he cracks the ice one piece at a time until the blocks of ice hit the ground. Flexing his fingers, he stares back at me.
“What is it that you wish in a male? Strength? I have that. Intelligence. I have that too. And I know I’m standing naked before you, but I assure you, I know exactly how to use the generous equipment I’ve been given.”
A nervous laugh explodes from my lips. “A bit arrogant aren’t you?”
He moves closer until he places his hands on the ice that encloses me. “If you’ll remove this barrier between us, I’ll show you that my words are true.”
Suddenly, howls fill the air. But their tone is different. Blake whips his head around, and I look where he stares. It’s the six wolves from across the road. They’re moving towards us with their lips drawn back and their sharp teeth visible.
“Shit.” Blake looks back at me. “Tell them you’re our mate. Trust me.”
The largest wolf transforms into a man. He’s smaller than Blake, with neatly trimmed hair and dark eyes. His gaze locks on me.
Instinctually, I try to step back, but my ice-prison prevents me from doing so.
“What do we have here? A delicious smelling Elementalist delivered straight to me for my enjoyment?” The strange man says, purring the words in an unsettling way.
I stiffen. “If you think I’m here for your enjoyment, you must have been hit by a stupid-tree.”
His nose wrinkles. “A stupid tree?”
Blake laughs. “Our mate is calling you a dumb-ass.”
The other Shifter prowls forward. “Your mate? I’m afraid not. She isn’t marked by your scent, and she’s in my territory.”
Blake’s hands clench into fists, but he keeps his tone light. “She was in my territory first. Her presence here was a mistake.”
“A pleasant one,” he says, and then his gaze goes to my bare leg, exposed by my torn skirt.
“Eyes up here, asshole.” I cross my arms over my chest, daring him to keep staring.
Anger leaps into his eyes. “Apparently no one has taught you to h
old your tongue. That’s one lesson I’ll be glad to give you.”
“Malvome, if you try to touch her, I’ll be forced to kill you.”
The Shifter’s gaze snaps to Blake. “It seems you and I have a problem. We both stake a claim to her, and yet we can’t simply tear her in half.”
I flinch at the image. “Sorry buddy, but there’s no way I’m going anywhere with you.”
He doesn’t look at me as he speaks. “I don’t remember saying you had a choice in the matter.”
For a second I’m too taken-aback to speak. At first I had no intention of telling this guy that I belonged to Blake and his pack. But now? Well, if I have to throw my hat in with one group, it’s going to be the one that doesn’t seem to be led by a piece-of-shit.
“I belong to him and his pack,” I say, pointing at Blake. “So, sorry, but not sorry.”
Malvome’s mouth pulls into a chilling smile. “And yet, my pack is larger and stronger. If Pack Eclipse wishes to fight for possession of you, they may, but I doubt they’ll leave this field alive.”
I look to Blake, hoping this man’s blowing smoke. But somehow, even though I’ve just met the handsome stranger, I can read the truth in the tension in his shoulders.
He knows he and his men will lose against this enemy.
Chapter Three
Two more wolves creep out of the grass and stand before me. They snarl at Malvome, their lips drawn back. But more wolves emerge from the woods across the road. Counting the ones that came with Malvome, there are twelve wolves in total.
How many are in Blake’s pack?
My stomach twists. I could let this play out. If I stay in my ice dome, none of them can hurt me. I could wait until the battle distracts all of them and then escape.
And yet, I can’t convince myself to do it.
My gaze moves to Blake’s back. On his shoulder is an intricate tattoo of a dark moon. I stare, unable to pull my gaze from it. Unconsciously, my hand touches my own shoulder, where a nearly identical tattoo graces my skin.
A tattoo I was too young to remember getting.
I’m overwhelmed. I felt attracted to Blake. I felt intrigued by him. But now? Now, I feel a connection to him.
But is that enough?
Shit.
I place my hand on the dome of ice, and it begins melting beneath my touch. The men are arguing. Their voices growing louder. Two more wolves emerge from the grass to stand in front of me, and at Blake’s back. I’m nervous around the wolves, but when one gazes back at me, his golden eyes gentle for a flash before he turns back to face his enemies.
As I continue to melt the ice, I count the wolves. Six verses twelve wolves? Those aren’t good odds. But six wolves and an Elementalist? I grin. We can take them.
“Three challenges then? Winner takes the female.”
Blake nods. “Agreed.”
“Whoa! Not a chance! I won’t be won in a game!”
My Shifter spins on his heel and steps past his wolves. His gaze locks with mine, and he speaks, his voice barely above a whisper. “This is our only chance at protecting you.”
“I’m not a prize!” I hiss.
His eyes soften. “I’m sorry. But it must be this way.”
“I won’t go with him.”
His jaw twitches. “We won’t lose. You have my word.”
When he reaches out and touches the ice that encases me, his mouth pulls into a frown, and he looks at his wet fingertips. “Whatever you’re doing, stop it. You’re safe in there.”
“Well,” I glare at him. “I could help out there.”
“Stay where you’re safe!” he commands, his voice holding all the authority of a king.
“Make me.”
He opens his mouth.
Malvome speaks from behind us. “Have you changed your mind? Will you simply give her to us?”
A snarl escapes Blake’s lips, and he whirls around. “Fuck you!”
The other man laughs. “You’re already attached to her, aren’t you? How precious!”
One of the wolves in front of me suddenly transforms into a man. He rises to stand on his feet beside Blake, then looks back at me.
Damn it. Are Shifter men built with the same parts as human men? Because... wow. This man has black hair and blue eyes. He’s not nearly as large as Blake, but there’s power in every inch of his muscular body.
Blake speaks to the man in a low voice. “She’s planning something foolish. I entrust her life in your hands.”
The man nods. “Yes, my liege.”
Liege?
“The first challenge will be a race,” Blake announces. “Between you and myself.”
Malvome smirks. “First one to the Widow Ruins wins?”
“I accept.”
Both men transform back into wolves and move to stand beside each other. An unheard signal sends them both racing away.
Unwilling to wait any longer, I push the ice in front of me with my hands and knees, and it crumbles forward.
The man who was charged with taking care of me spins around, his blue eyes locking on mine as I climb out of my ice. His gaze is hot for one second before his arms come around my waist.
“That was a mistake,” he growls into my ear, pressing me against him.
For one second I feel panicked, and then the enemy wolves are launching forward. Roars of fury split the sky. A battle ensues in a flurry of teeth and claws.
Was this my doing? Or because Blake left?
The man who holds me suddenly spins me around and pushes me toward the woods behind us. I don’t need to be told what to do. We both start running. If I can get a little distance, I can see the best way to use my powers to help the Eclipse Wolf Pack.
I just can’t risk being close enough to be attacked while I’m doing it.
I’m panting as I push myself harder. Almost there!
But the instant we escape the open field, the ground beneath our feet shifts, and we break through the ground. For a second there’s nothing beneath my feet, and then I hit the earth. The fall wasn’t far, but it was a shock.
The Shifter beside me is instantly helping me up. We both look above us. Tiny rays of diluted light drift between the branches and leaves that hide this trap.
“Damn it,” I say, dusting off my hands. “What now?”
I can’t see his face in the dark. “For now, we hide.”
Yeah, right, because I’m so good at hiding when I could be fighting.
“Your pack’s outnumbered! They need us!”
“You think I don’t know that!” Each of his words are laced with anger.
And then, he pulls me against him again. But something is different. His arms move to hold me, cradling me gently.
“My job is to keep you safe, and I don’t think it’s possible out there. Down here? It might not be either. Your scent is too powerful. Too intoxicating. It might still lead them straight to us.” Then, his tone grew quieter, barely louder than a whisper. “I just wish it was one of them safely down here with you and not me.”
“Why?” I find myself asking, even though his touch is causing all kinds of tingles to run through my body.
“Because I was the first one to catch your scent. I should have stopped you. But I didn’t know what to do. I’ve never scented a woman before I wanted to make my mate. Instead, I went to the others. And that time lost gave you an opportunity to leave our lands.”
My hands stroke the naked skin of his stomach. “You couldn’t have known.”
“But I should have,” his breathing is coming in and out faster and faster.
It’s getting hard to think. “So, my scent is the thing causing all these problems?”
His nose nuzzles my hair. “God, yes.”
I shiver. “Then maybe we should try changing my scent?”
He stiffens under my touch. “Do you know what you’re asking?”
I shrug. “Yeah.”
Changing the way I smell hardly sounds difficult.
“Are
you certain?” he asks.
“Yeah, it’s simple right.”
He groans. “There’s nothing simple about this and everything simple about this.”
“So, let’s do it!” What? Rub some dirt on me? Some grass? This doesn’t sound complicated.
I open my mouth to ask him the best way to do this, but his lips are instantly on mine. And then I forget all about dirt and grass. I let this big, powerful Shifter kiss me. His mouth hard on mine. His kisses passionate and desperate.
He moves me backwards until my butt hits the dirt wall.
I run my hands up and down his stomach and chest. Wanting to touch all of him. But not knowing what’s mine to touch.
His hands start on my hips, but soon slide to my ass, grabbing me in the manliest damn way that I’ve ever been grabbed before. His kiss grows more intense, his tongue slipping into my mouth like he owns me.
My head spins. His touch feels unreal.
When his hand pushes aside my ripped skirt to grab my naked ass, I gasp around his kiss. He’s rocking me against a cock that feels hard and ready for me.
I finally let my hand slide down to grip him. Needing to stroke him. To make him feel half as out-of-control as he makes me feel.
He breaks our kiss, a groan tearing from his lips. “Oh god, don’t—”
But the rebel in me only squeezes him harder.
To my surprise, he pushes my hand away, and collapses to his knees. For a second I’m confused, and then he picks me up. I let out a tiny cry as my legs are pulled up onto his shoulder. He moves aside my skirt, and suddenly his hot mouth is on me.
I gasp. My head rolls back, and my fingers dig into his hair.
His mouth moves back and forth as he presses deeper, and then he licks.
I buck against him, shocked by my reaction. Had any man ever touched me when I was this hot? Had any man ever made me this aroused before?
He continues to lick and kiss my swollen core until I’m bouncing against him. I feel my orgasm building like a storm. And then, he sucks on my most sensitive spot.
I go screaming over the edge, bucking wildly, digging my fingers into the back of his hair. He doesn’t stop his onslaught, drawing my orgasm out longer and harder until at last I collapse back against the dirt wall.
Wings Horns and Shifters Page 4
