Red's Big Bad Wolf

by Jessica Coulter Smith

  White Paw Pack 1

  Red’s Big Bad Wolf

  Red Maybury has lived her life plagued with nightmares of something so horrific she isn’t sure she’ll ever get over it. Trust doesn’t easy come to her, especially where men are concerned, but when she discovers she’s the alpha’s destined mate, she becomes determined to overcome her fears.

  Ace Silver has known for seven years that Red is his mate, but he’s a hard, domineering man and he isn’t sure she can handle him. When her well-being is threatened by three of his wolves, he realizes the only way to protect her is to claim her.

  Giving herself to Ace, Red learns that in order to control her fears she must submit to him, but will it be enough? Can she face her past in order to have a future with the man she is quickly falling in love with? Or will old demons drag her down, dooming any chance they may have at happiness?

  Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Vampires/Werewolves

  Length: 33,442 words

  RED'S BIG BAD WOLF

  White Paw Pack 1

  Jessica Coulter Smith

  EROTIC ROMANCE

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

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  A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK

  IMPRINT: Erotic Romance

  RED’S BIG BAD WOLF

  Copyright © 2014 by Jessica Coulter Smith

  E-book ISBN: 978-1-63258-693-3

  First E-book Publication: December 2014

  Cover design by Harris Channing

  All art and logo copyright © 2014 by Siren Publishing, Inc.

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

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  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  Letter to Readers

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  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  About the Author

  RED’S BIG BAD WOLF

  White Paw Pack 1

  JESSICA COULTER SMITH

  Copyright © 2014

  Chapter One

  Ruby “Red” Maybury hurried through Belmont Woods, the darkness pressing in on her, leaving her feeling on edge. She knew she wasn’t alone, could feel eyes on her, making the hair on the back of her neck rise. The town of Burlison Heights, her small hometown in Maryland, was still too far away for her peace of mind. A quick glance over her shoulder reassured her no one was behind her but, as she whipped her head back around, she bounced off a hard, unforgiving surface. Sprawled on the ground, she looked up into the glittering eyes of Ace Silver, alpha of the local wolf pack.

  His gaze caressed her from head to toe, lingering on her breasts and splayed legs. She cursed her skirt, which had risen too far, and knew she was flashing him.

  “Little Red, Little Red. That’s as good as a dinner invitation.”

  “D–Dinner?”

  He gave her a wolfish grin. “I’m in the mood for a little cream for dessert.”

  Red felt her pussy clench with need. She wanted him. She’d always wanted him. But some desires were better left unfulfilled. Everyone knew the alpha of the White Paw Pack was untamable. Many women had tried, and all had failed. Oh, he’d pleasured them thoroughly before sending them on their way, but Red didn’t want to be one in a string of one-night stands. She may no longer have her virginity to offer to someone deserving, but it didn’t mean she would offer her body to just anyone.

  Ace leered down at her. “If you don’t want me to make a meal of you, you’d best run away, Little Red.”

  Needing no further urging, Red scrambled to her feet and darted off into the woods, racing as far away from Ace as she could. She didn’t get very far before she was circled by several pack members. She knew them better than she’d like to admit. Tate, Pierce, and Ian had teased and tormented her for as long as she could remember. The fact that they had her cornered so far from town registered and sent a chill of fear down her spine. They’d never physically harmed her before, other than a grabby hand here or there, but then there had always been witnesses in the past. What would they do to her now? The lust burning in their eyes turned her stomach.

  “If it isn’t Plump and Juicy.” Pierce grinned. “Imagine finding you here, so far from home.”

  “L–Let me go.”

  Tate laughed. “But we just found you. You don’t want to deny us our playtime, do you?”

  Ian laughed, and the sinister sound had her heart skipping a beat. She didn’t know what they intended for her, but it couldn’t be good. Maybe she should have stayed with Ace. At least he wouldn’t have harmed her. Seduced her, yes. But harm her? Never. He wasn’t known around town as a patient or gentle lover, but he’d never raised a hand to a woman before, not that Red knew of. Talk about being stuck between a rock and a hard place. Face her tormentors or stay with the man who could get inside her panties with very little effort? A man who would no doubt ruin her for all others.

  Tate tugged on her long hair. “Are you ready to play? We’ll give you a head start.”

  “Head start?”

  Tate smiled, his long canines flashing in the moonlight. “We like to chase our prey before w
e eat.”

  “Eat?” she squeaked.

  “Oh, don’t worry. We’ll make sure you like it.”

  Oh god. They were talking about eating, as in… Revulsion rolled across her nerves. The last thing she wanted was any of their hands anywhere near her, much less their mouths on her… She gave herself a mental shake. There had to be a way out of this.

  “You aren’t running yet,” Ian said in a singsong voice. “Tick tock, Ruby Red.”

  Realizing there was no other way out of this situation, other than to outrun them or outsmart them, she took off back in the direction she’d come from, hoping to run into Ace. If anyone could get his pack under control, it would be the alpha. Surely he wouldn’t let them touch her, not if she didn’t want them to.

  She didn’t get far before someone tackled her to the ground, the dead leaves crunching under her weight. A nose traced the shell of her ear before Ace’s voice had her relaxing against the uncomfortable ground.

  “Little Red, didn’t I warn you about sticking around for dinner?”

  “Your pack.”

  “What about them?” he asked, his tongue tasting the side of her neck.

  “They’re coming for me.”

  His body stiffened. “Who?”

  “Tate, Pierce, and Ian. They told me to run, that they were going to…” She couldn’t even finish the sentence. She’d already been brutalized once in her life, so she couldn’t imagine going through it again, times three. Tears gathered in her eyes, but she refused to show weakness.

  With a growl, Ace levered himself off her body, holding his hand out to her. She tentatively placed her fingers against his palm and he hauled her to her feet. His palms brushed the leaves from her plaid skirt and pulled a few from the long tresses hanging down her back. Footsteps approached, and he placed himself in front of her.

  “Alpha,” Tate said, sounding surprised.

  Red leaned sideways to peer around Ace’s big bicep. The three wolves had come to a screeching halt in front of their leader and looked more than a little nervous. She couldn’t wait to see what Ace would do to them. Maybe he’d rough them up a little for scaring her. Of course, once they were gone, she’d have to deal with the delectable alpha once more. There was no doubt in her mind what price he would ask from her for services rendered. Could she give in to him? She wanted to, more than anything.

  “Were my instructions not clear?” Ace demanded.

  “Yes, Alpha,” Pierce said, hanging his head. “We only thought to have a little fun.”

  “I know all about the fun you three have in the woods with unsuspecting women. The difference is that those women actually have fun with you. What’s the rule about Red?”

  “Keep our paws to ourselves,” Ian said.

  Wait, there was rule about her? He’d actually told his wolves to keep their hands to themselves when it came to her? Why? It wasn’t like she’d spoken to him all that often. Stared at him longingly, yes, but talked? Not so much.

  “And what happens to any who break that rule?” Ace asked.

  They gave each other scared looks.

  “Well?” Ace demanded.

  “They’re punished,” Tate answered. “Alpha, we didn’t mean—”

  “Silence!” Ace roared.

  The three wolves cowered before him.

  Red pressed her hands to the alpha’s back, stepping closer to him. She could feel the anger coursing through him, but she didn’t understand it. No one had ever cared what happened to her before, so why did he care so much now? Yes, she’d thought he might help her, but she hadn’t expected this.

  “You chased her. Hunted her like prey. Made her think she would come to harm at your hands.” Ace growled. “Turn yourselves over to Rook. Explain to him why you’re being punished, because if I get my hands on you right now, there might not be anything left.”

  Ian whimpered.

  “You endangered my mate.” Ace roared.

  Whoa! Mate? No. Uh-uh. There was no way she was his mate. If that were the case, he wouldn’t have been sleeping his way through the town and outlying areas. He would have sought her out, wouldn’t he?

  The three males scattered, running back toward town, and she assumed to the pack’s Beta, Rook McCrory. Ace turned to face her, his hands reaching up to grasp her biceps, his hold firm yet gentle.

  “Are you all right?” he asked.

  “I’m fine. What did you mean I was your mate?”

  He sighed. “I didn’t want you to find out this way.”

  “Were you ever going to tell me? I’ve known you my entire life and you’ve never let on. And if you thought your pack was protecting me, you were sadly mistaken. Those three have taken much delight in tormenting me every chance they get.”

  He growled again.

  “I didn’t tell you that to piss you off.” She licked her lips. “I still don’t understand the whole mate thing.”

  “I’m too dangerous for you, Red. I may want you, but I can’t have you.”

  Now there was a laugh. Wasn’t that just what she’d been thinking about him earlier? That she wanted him more than anything, but couldn’t have him? Maybe they were more alike than she’d thought.

  “There are more dangerous things in this town than you, Ace. If you only knew…”

  No, if she was truly his mate, maybe it was better if he didn’t know. She could only imagine the bloodbath that would ensue if he got his hands on her attacker. Red knew who had held her down that night, knew who had stripped her innocence from her. But when she’d gone to the cops, someone had called ahead to tell them she was taking drugs and hallucinating. Instead of testing her, they just took the caller’s word for it, seeing as how it was the police chief’s son. They patted her on the head and sent her on her way. Maybe if she’d had a family to turn to…

  His hands caressed her arms. “Where did you go just now, Red?”

  “Nowhere,” she said softly. “It isn’t important.”

  The lie was bitter on her tongue. She wanted to confide in him, to be able to tell someone and have them believe her, but she didn’t dare set the alpha loose on the town, set on revenge for his mate. Even if he didn’t want her. Or maybe the problem was that, like her, he wanted her too much. How many times had she dreamed of being with Ace Silver? Too many to count.

  His eyes flashed golden. “I don’t believe you. You’re lying to me. I can smell it on you.”

  A shiver raked her body. “I can’t tell you.”

  “Can’t? Or won’t?”

  “Won’t.”

  He pulled her closer until the tips of her breasts brushed against his chest. Red watched as he bowed his head, his nose nearly touching hers.

  “You’re going to tell me, Little Red. I may not be able to claim you the way I want to, but I will protect you. As long as there’s breath in my body, no one will harm you.”

  “Except you?”

  He appeared taken aback. “Me?”

  “Knowing we’re mates, you don’t think it will hurt every time I see you with another woman? Knowing that you’d rather take her to your bed than me?”

  A growl rumbled from his chest. “I haven’t been with as many women as you seem to think.”

  She snorted. “Everyone in town knows your reputation. I can hardly go anywhere without some woman talking about how fantastic you were in bed.”

  “They’re lying. Would you like to know how many women I’ve taken to my bed in the last seven years?”

  “Seven years?”

  “I’ve known you were my mate since the day you turned sixteen. Your hormones changed and your scent beckoned to me. You were young, innocent, and untouchable to someone my age. I’m twelve years your senior, Red. I may not have been able to claim you, but I still honored the fact that you were mine, and I made sure the word was put out around town that you were to be untouched unless you wished it otherwise.”

  She couldn’t stifle the bark of laughter that escaped her.

  “I’m teased by
your pack mates, called ‘that fat girl’ by my peers, and the women delight in making sure I hear about how wonderful you were when you took them to bed.”

  “Never happened. I haven’t touched any of them, not since discovering you were mine.”

  “It doesn’t stop them from being cruel. It just means I wasn’t hiding my feelings as well as I’d thought.”

  He caressed her nose with his. “Do you have feelings for me, Ruby Red?”

  “If we’re truly mates, then you already know the answer to that.”

  “You’re too soft. Too sweet for me. If I claimed you, you would come to hate me. I’m a hard man to live with.”

  “So you’re going to doom me to a life without love?” she asked.

  “You dated the captain of the football team in high school. No reason you can’t date again.” He frowned. “Come to think of it, I haven’t seen you with anyone since then.”

  Please, don’t let him dig any further! She tried to hold his gaze without giving away her secrets. It was for his own good, even if she would love to see Sean Baxter punished. The star quarterback had gone on to play all through college, and had he not blown out his knee, would have been playing professionally. Instead, he managed his daddy’s business. He’d led a charmed life, despite his injury, and Red would love nothing more than to watch him topple from his lofty height.

  Ace’s gaze scanned her face. “There’s something you aren’t telling me.”

  She opened her mouth to protest, but he shook his head.

  “Don’t even think of lying to me. I should have noticed sooner, but I was trying too damn hard to avoid you.”

  “It’s nothing, Ace. Leave it alone. I’m fine.”