Immortal Wolf

by Bonnie Vanak

  This isn’t the right way to town. Where are we going? How long will it take to arrive? What will we do when we get there?

  Shh, he crooned into her mind. So many questions. Just relax and let go, enjoy the journey.

  But what if we run into trouble? It’s dangerous here in the human world. Anything can happen.

  Little one, let yourself live for the moment. It’s part of life’s adventure, to forge ahead without a plan. Just close your eyes and feel.

  Emotion clogged her throat. She felt too stiff and fearful of the unknown. But she closed her eyes and tried. Emily listened to the gush of wind racing past, smelled the fresh scent of water nearby. She tried to relax and imagined they were without boundaries or restrictions.

  His broad back felt like a sold, sheltering wall. Wariness faded. Raphael was her draicaron, and she had no choice on this trip but to trust him. He controlled the growling beast they rode, he was in charge.

  Slowly, she released her fears as if they were dandelions floating in the wind. A new awareness replaced the fear. I’m free. It feels like flying, she marveled.

  That’s why I love bikes. Nothing else will do. I relish my freedom, to be able to go anywhere I wish.

  Emily tentatively released her grip on him. Confidence filled her as she spread her arms wide, like eagle’s wings. Laughter spilled from her.

  I’m flying!

  She heard his laughter echo in her mind. Want to go faster?

  Oh, yes.

  Hold on to me, then.

  She squeezed him tight. Wind whipped past them. Pleasure filled her. Riding like this, nothing but open space before them, she understood why Raphael chose this way to travel. When another motorcycle passed them in the opposite direction, Raphael dropped down his hand in greeting. The other biker did the same.

  After a while, they reached the town. He guided them into a shopping center parking lot, found a space and stopped the bike and kicked down the metal stand.

  Swinging off the saddle, he held out his hand. Emily hopped off, pulled free from the helmet. Her gaze widened at the humans milling about, chattering as they went in and out of the shopping mall.

  It was silly to be afraid of them. Three pretty, young girls drew closer. They were dressed in short skirts that kicked above the knee and shirts that clung to their breasts and midsections. Their faces brightened as they gazed at Raphael.

  Something twisted in Emily’s guts.

  The girls looked at her with doubt. They pointedly stared at her baggy shirt, the faded, patched trousers, and laughed. The tallest, a blonde, said something in a haughty tone.

  Emily tapped Raphael on the shoulder. What is a fugly trailer trash?

  A scowl flashed over his face as he glanced at the trio. Raphael slid an arm about her waist. Never mind what they said. You’re beautiful as you are.

  I wish I could wear their clothing. I’m tired of feeling different.

  His dark gaze grew thoughtful, but he merely spoke into her mind, Come with me. I’ll fulfill your wish. Deliberately, he turned his back on the goggling girls, cupped Emily’s face and kissed her. It was a whisper-soft brush of his mouth, but she trembled at the sizzling contact between them. Raphael gave her a smile filled with sensual promise, then clasped her gloved hand.

  I don’t know their language. I can’t communicate in this world.

  I’ll teach you, chere. Inside, while we’re shopping.

  Emily studied the girls with a sad look. They want you. They’re trying to get you to notice them.

  He squeezed her hand. Who? All I see is you. You’re the only one for me.

  A small smile curved her mouth. She glanced at the blonde, who pouted at Raphael, one hand on her hip. I don’t know why the tallest one is interested in you. She is carrying a child.

  His eyebrows shot up as he glanced at the girl. Seriously? She’s not showing. How can you tell?

  Emily shrugged. Her scent. I can detect females who are bearing new life.

  “Interesting,” he murmured aloud, sliding a hand around her nape. Raphael stroked her skin, sending a shiver of pleasure down her spine. “You, Emily Burke, fascinate me. Let’s go shopping.”

  For the first time in weeks, she felt uplifted. Emily went with him, sweeping past the staring girls.

  Emily emerged from the dressing room and pivoted.

  Raphael couldn’t think. Breathe. Damn she had been lovely before, with an ethereal, fairylike quality, but this clothing turned her into a sexy siren. The jeans, her choice, hugged every inch of her limbs, molded to her rounded bottom, accenting her curves. The white scoop-necked shirt was equally revealing, clinging to her generous breasts and revealing what had been previously hidden.

  She was gorgeous. A hot number, as Gabe would say.

  He couldn’t think of Gabe now, the fact his brother put his life at risk for this transition. Male instincts roared to the surface. He wanted to take Emily by her gloved hands back to the dressing room, tug the new jeans past her hips, spread her legs wide and thrust deep inside her.

  Take her standing up against the wall, watching her pretty face flush with arousal. Feel her wet heat surround his surging cock, hear her tiny cries of excitement echo in his ears as he made her climax.

  She was a virgin, he sternly reminded himself. Her first time shouldn’t be rough and impassioned. He would take extra care with her and be gentle and slowly teach her to respond to her natural desires.

  Raphael complimented her look, admiring the flare of color tinting her cheeks as she murmured thanks. He fingered a stray curl escaping the tight knot of her hair and frowned at the rich golden red mass she kept bound. “What about your hair?”

  “It’s fine as it is.”

  A note of defensiveness hovered in the words. Later. Not here in public, but the first time their bodies were joined, he would see her hair released in a waterfall of curls spread on his pillow. For his eyes, and his alone.

  Heat flooded his body at the thought of her drowsing in the lassitude of sexual satisfaction.

  Oh, yes, chere. You will. With a little mental push, he sent her the image.

  Emily’s eyes widened and darkened. He chuckled and ordered the sales clerk to assist her in cutting off the tags so she could wear the purchases. He gathered up the two dresses Emily wanted as well.

  Outside, Emily shivered, so Raphael shrugged out of his leather jacket and draped it over her shoulders. She thanked him as she slipped into the coat, the sleeves draping past her gloved hands. She looked adorable. He wanted to keep her warm in other ways, entering her in the dark night, covering her body with his so she’d never shiver again with anything but pleasure.

  She nibbled on her luscious lower lip as they walked back to his Harley. “So, you prefer these trousers, the jeans? Why did you wear the leather pants when you first arrived?”

  “To show off my package.” He winked at her.

  “What is a package?”

  “Something I’ll teach you about later,” Raphael murmured, his blood heating anew.

  Reining in his control, he helped her back on the Harley. They rode through town, toward a restaurant he liked. After parking in a hard-to-find empty space, he escorted her toward an Alpine-shaped building.

  “You’ll like this place. It has great steak. Cooked just like we want. Raw.”

  He was charmed at the shy smile she gave him.

  Several motorcycles were parked outside the restaurant. Raphael went still, recognizing the scent. Draicon. Outside the Burke pack, he hadn’t seen another since his arrival. These were bikers, and he felt instant camaraderie. Male possessiveness swept over him as he glanced at Emily.

  “Stick close to me,” he said quietly, holding her elbow.

  Sitting at the bar inside, five tough-looking males wearing leather nursed longneck bottles of beer. They whirled about on their stools as he and Emily entered. The males slid off, swaggered forward. One eyed Emily with a little more than polite interest, his gaze centering on her breasts.r />
  Raphael uttered a warning growl deep in his throat and tightened his grip on his mate. The male biker edged back and looked elsewhere.

  The shortest of the five, a burly Draicon whose head was covered in a blue bandana, stepped forward. “Haven’t seen our kind about in a long while. Only human bikers.” He grinned, showing even white teeth. “How’s it going, dude?”

  Returning the other’s knuckle salute, Raphael relaxed, feeling a pull of kinship.

  “Kevin, Upstate New York. You are?” the leader asked.

  He introduced Emily by first name only and gave his full name. The other males stepped back, staring at his white lock of hair, then him, then dropping their gazes, their stances suddenly respectful. He felt the previous friendliness flee, replaced by thick unease. They knew who he was. Suddenly he felt very old and weary.

  It was always like this. Always on the road alone, others fearing him too much to let down their guard. How did you make friends with the one Draicon who could kill you without consequence?

  Kevin spoke in a lowered tone. “You’re the Kallan. Why are you here?”

  “What are you doing here?” Raphael challenged.

  The leader glanced at his companions. “Passing through, touring the park, that’s all. This area has bad vibes for us. We’ve heard stories about what happens to Draicon who like to remain.”

  He felt Emily go still. “And?”

  “They don’t last long enough to write home about it.” Kevin gave Emily the barest glance. “There’s been rumors about Morphs. Hard to tell with all the wildlife, and the Morphs learned to cloak their scent, too. I’d hold tight to your female.”

  “I plan on it.” Raphael swept them all with a searching look. “Have you seen anything?”

  “Bear on a hiking path where we camped,” spoke up the Draicon who had eyed Emily. “Just a bear, though. He showed us his teeth and we showed him ours. Ours were bigger.”

  The five chuckled and then fell silent, as if laughing before the Kallan broke unwritten protocol. Raphael inwardly sighed. Curiosity radiated from Emily, who stared at Kevin. “You like wearing leather pants. Is it to show off your package, too?”

  He bristled as Kevin smiled at her. Testosterone filled the air as a challenging growl rumbled low in Raphael’s throat. He’d never seen males back off so quickly.

  Kevin nodded to Raphael. “Be careful of your female, Kallan. Around these parts, things aren’t as they seem.”

  They returned to their beers, Raphael gazing thoughtfully after them. Reports of Morphs and vanishing Draicon. Suspicion flooded him. Morphs only inhabited territory where they could find likely food sources. Killing humans provided some energy, but the most powerful energy came from killing a Draicon and absorbing the energy of their dying terror.

  He put the thought aside to examine later.

  Upstairs, the restaurant boasted a hardwood floor, floor-to-ceiling paned windows and green painted walls. Staring upward at the hand-carved wood beams on the sloped ceiling, Emily bumped into an elderly woman. The woman glared, despite the apology Emily offered. Raphael protectively stepped between them, guiding her to a far corner booth, ignoring the woman’s loud remarks about “criminal biker types who shouldn’t be allowed inside decent places with decent folk.”

  “I didn’t realize I was a criminal element,” Emily whispered.

  “The way you look makes me want to do something very illegal, right here and now.” At her bewildered look, he added, “Starting with that lovely mouth of yours.”

  Her smile lifted his spirits.

  The ponytailed waiter came over with a laconic stride. “Take your drink order?”

  “Microbrewed beer?”

  The waiter rattled off a selection. Raphael ordered two mugs. “We’re thirsty,” he said mildly, his words putting a hurry to the kid’s steps.

  “Sweet,” Raphael murmured, gazing at Emily as she looked around with interest. At her inquiring look, he added, “You.”

  Emily blushed. His body stirred as he imagined the rosy flush tinting her entire body as she lay naked beneath him, the sultry look in her eyes turning them to…

  He leaned forward, fascinated. “Your eyes are changing color just like before. They were green, now they’re violet. No, more like amethyst.”

  She touched the corner of one eye with a gloved finger. “Yes, they do that.”

  Interesting. No Draicon he knew ever shifted eye color. Only one being he’d ever met could do that, and she was not Draicon. The thought slammed Raphael like a sledgehammer. He studied Emily carefully.

  Impossible.

  The waiter returned with their drinks. Raphael lifted his mug, drank deeply as she sipped, her eyes widening in apparent surprise.

  “It’s good,” she said, drinking more.

  “I’m trying to get you tipsy so I can take advantage of you and have my wicked way with you,” he murmured, winking at her.

  “Then I’d better drink more and faster,” she shot back, smiling.

  He laughed, delighted with her spirit. The pretty flush on her cheeks contrasted with her translucent skin. Raphael reluctantly studied the menu instead of Emily as the waiter returned.

  “I’ll have the filet mignon, very rare, with fries.” He snapped the menu shut.

  She smiled at the waiter. “I’ll have the sirloin, medium rare, and potato salad.”

  As the waiter left, Emily glanced around curiously. “I only ate out in public a few times with my father,” she explained. “Urien disapproves of mingling with humans.”

  “Well, it’s about time you started breaking some rules.” He leaned back, one arm draped over the booth’s edge. “Why do you keep following a pack who has shunned you?”

  Emily toyed with the paper napkin in her lap. “I suppose because I know nothing else. It feels comfortable.”

  “Did that dress you wore feel comfortable?”

  She looked surprised. “Not really.”

  “Then, like the dress, you should discard the rules. If they don’t fit you, stop being a slave to them.”

  “I’m not a slave to them.” She narrowed her eyes.

  “If you’re not, why not let down your hair,” he challenged.

  She stared down at her lap.

  “Besides, you’ve already broken at least one rule. Doesn’t your pack forbid eating anything but natural food? I wouldn’t call a toaster pastry natural food.”

  A half smile touched her full mouth. “That was Helen. She encouraged me to buy them. I wanted them because they looked sweet, and I adore sweetness.”

  He removed his arm and leaned closer. “So do I. There is something to be said for sweetness.”

  He could show her exactly how sweet. Raphael half closed his eyes and reached out to her. He sent her an image of exactly what he wanted to do to her. A furious flush tinted her cheeks as her lips parted. Raphael was charmed as she glanced shyly away, toying with a stray tendril of her hair.

  He felt pressed to push her harder and faster than he’d like because they had little time.

  Emily’s gaze met his, the spark of arousal flaring in her amethyst eyes. “You never follow the pack, do you? You’re very unconventional.”

  “I can’t follow the pack,” he said quietly.

  How could he explain to her that his life was filled with power, but with power came loneliness? Others distanced themselves from him. Even his family, those he was closest to, regarded him with awe. He knew his father, the Alpha, had been relieved when he struck off on his own. It was one type of power play to discipline his brothers into obedience necessary for the pack.

  But how did you force a Draicon who could take your life, without consequence, into submission?

  “You’re a loner,” she said suddenly.

  Raphael nodded.

  “I guess I am, too. But I don’t want to be.”

  Amethyst faded from her eyes, replaced by gray, as if the irises were dark storm clouds filled with raindrops. Sorrow tinged her voice and hi
s heart turned over. He knew the kind of loneliness that came from being different, having a power no one else understood and everyone feared.

  “You’re not alone,” he pointed out. “I’m here with you.”

  The tremulous smile she gave him was like watching the sunrise steal over the bayou, filling the dark world with radiant light. Her eyes became green again, and he felt lost in their depths and the brilliance of her smile.

  Her smile faded. “Do you think that’s why Aibelle cursed me with the death touch, because you and I are mates? And now I am like you, someone who kills?”

  Raphael felt as if someone sliced his heart with a hot knife. He physically ached. The waiter returned with their plates of food. He motioned toward her meal. “Eat. You need the protein,” he curtly ordered.

  “It isn’t easy, what you do, Raphael. You must possess great strength.”

  Her soft voice eased the tremendous ache in his chest. As she dug into her steak with enthusiasm, eating fast but with dainty bites, he picked up his steak knife. “I don’t enjoy it.”

  “But those you help cross who are elders, and ready, they are thankful. I’ve read the ancient texts. I know the importance of the Kallan. You’re so different from them.”

  “Because I’m not a pureblood,” he mocked.

  Emily looked surprised. “No, you’re not. I know what Urien has said in the past about Draicon he considers inferior. I heard him say, long ago, that you were not qualified because of your heritage.”

  The piece of steak lodged in his dry throat. He swallowed hard. “And you believe everything he says.”

  “No, I don’t.” She drained her beer and he stared in surprise. “If I did, I wouldn’t be desperate to find what the texts say. I’d gladly accept his word instead, and go to my death willingly.”

  Emily thumped the mug down on the table.

  “You’re a fighter. You wouldn’t,” he insisted.

  A small smile touched her lips. “I wouldn’t.”

  She hiccupped, and he smothered a grin. She was tipsy, and emboldened. He liked her this way. Hell, he’d like her any way.