A Wolf's Embrace (Wolf Mountain Peak Book 4)

by Sarah J. Stone

  “Well, well, well…” irony dripped off her tongue, as she clenched her jaw… “if it ain’t “rudeness” personified. What the hell are you doing here? Why are you running? Is someone chasing you?”

  “I…” Joe gasped, his chest heaving, as he bent double. “I saw two, huge wolves, not far from here.”

  “And what, you thought we needed help?” Melissa spoke in a flat voice, narrowing her eyes at him. “You’d actually help out two girls from, how did you put it last night?” She asked, tapping her index finger on her jaw. “Oh, yeah; a hick town. By the way, don’t worry about the wolves. They passed us by, a couple of minutes ago. They don’t prey on healthy individuals.”

  “Ok, I deserve that.” He admitted with a quick nod, bending back up. “I’m really sorry about last night. I was a jerk.”

  “That’s a major understatement, mister,” Melissa protested. “I praised you, and all you did was turn around and insult me.”

  “I can explain all that,” Joe assured, his voice lowering, as he pursed his lips. “Just not here. Not while you’re this mad at me. How about a drink tonight at the ‘Red Maple’? Say, 9pm?”

  “That explanation had better be good,” she murmured, her face becoming less stiff, as a small smile formed on her face. “I’ll see you tonight.”

  “So long,” Joe responded and tipped his head down in a polite gesture, somewhat relieved that Melissa had accepted to go out with him. Feeling grateful that she had given him a second chance, he hoped that his narrative would clarify to her why he had been so terrible to her the night before. If anything, the young blonde seemed like a decent woman who deserved to be treated with respect. Joe strolled out of the site that had mesmerized him that day, wondering if he could give her more than that.

  Chapter Five

  Melissa and Julia could not stop laughing. Much after they had left Acheron River, the two friends recalled the stunt that Melissa had pulled on Joe, and the terror on his face. Much to her pleasure, the poor man looked like he had seen a ghost. Her plan had worked like a charm. It might have sounded cruel, but for her, it was just punishment for his behavior. Melissa’s initial thought was to give him a nasty scar to remember her wolf by. Still, this would invite a lot of unwanted attention. Joe was a lawyer; he could easily go to the press, and bring all kinds of trouble to Shandaken and Paxton alike. A simple sighting of a wolf her size could not be proved, unlike the awful scar that her bite would leave him.

  The sunset found Melissa feverishly preparing for her date with Joe. She was stressed; perhaps more stressed than she should have been. Indeed, the 24-year old felt like a school girl getting ready for the prom. After rummaging through her closet for more than an hour, she chose to wear a violet mini dress that brought out her eyes. She looked at herself in the mirror, and struck a pose, firmly believing that her outfit and her curvaceous figure would entice him. As soon as that notion crossed her mind however, Melissa frowned at herself. Why? Because: she was on the verge of making a big mistake. At last, she would go out with a man entirely different than anybody else she had dated so far, and yet, she was about to treat him like a regular guy. Yes, the prospect of seducing him sounded very intriguing, but, if she wanted him to take her seriously, she had to put that thought aside. Melissa had had enough hollow relationships. Now, she was searching for something more meaningful, and she was not going to get it by throwing herself at Joe.

  A few minutes before nine o’clock, she was parking Ray’s truck outside the “Red Maple”, her pulse rising, as she eagerly anticipated the moment of seeing him again. As she stepped onto the pavement that led to the entrance though, a male voice rose above the noise of the bar.

  “Over here!” Joe cried, standing at the gate of his house, as he waved his hand in the air. A spark of curiosity kindled within Melissa. He was the one to suggest the bar. Why wasn’t he waiting for her in there? Why would he choose the privacy of his home? She couldn’t know. He didn’t give her much time to speculate, either. Joe had a tight, white shirt on, along with a pair of faded jeans. She couldn’t see his shoulders, the part of his torso that had tantalized her imagination the night before, but she was more than happy to scan his body from bottom to top, as she sauntered towards him. Now she was especially glad she had decided to wear an outfit that better fit her as a person: a pair of softly worn faded jeans; her most comfortable black leather calf-high boots underneath; and a newly favorite royal blue, short-sleeved, silk button up shirt.

  “Good evening.” Joe welcomed her with a polite smile, as he pushed the gate open.

  “Hey,” Melissa said, returning the smile. “I thought we were going to the bar.”

  “I was just there,” he responded, showing her the way, towards the left, to a small table in his yard. “It’s good, but it’s a little too loud for my taste. Have a seat.”

  The corners of her lips curled into a smile as she spotted a bottle of wine and two glasses on the table. That small detail was an indication of what a gentleman he was. Melissa seated herself beside him, looking up into the starry sky, as Joe picked up the bottle.

  “Again, I’m really sorry for my behavior last night,” Joe uttered, his tone calm and steady, as he poured wine into her glass. “I was upset about something else, and I took it out on you.”

  “I’d like to know what that was,” Melissa confessed, lifting her glass, as he filled his own glass up.

  “To second chances,” he proposed as a toast, tapping her glass with his. “I’m a lawyer in New York, Ms. Bradford. This is my sister, Emily’s, house. I came here for the weekend. My life is very complicated. I need to deal with all kinds of craziness every day; twenty-four, seven. Interacting with clients can be very frustrating.”

  “Try again,” she urged, her brows twitching into a disapproving straight line above her thin nose, as she tried to disregard the fact that he had called her by her last name.

  “What, you don’t believe me?” Joe squinted down at her, surprise written all over his face.

  “I know about you, Joe,” Melissa assumed a firm tone, intensifying her stare. “I know about your wife. My friends and I were in the cemetery yesterday. It was hard to miss it, really. I saw you cry. You must have loved her very much. So…” she paused, easing her glass back down on the table. “Why don’t you tell me what really had you all worked up last night? Be honest with me this time.”

  “Ok,” he said on an exhale, leaning his back against his seat, as he averted his gaze from her. “It’s that song I played with my sister and her friend. The one you liked so much. I dedicated it to Laura when I lost her. I was reading the lyrics, remembering our wedding day, when you showed up. It was the best day of my life. She was glowing with love. We danced to ‘Please forgive me’, our song. I’ll never forget that.”

  Undoubtedly, Joe’s short story moved her. He was the sensitive man she believed him to be. Yet, it also made it crystal-clear to her that he was still someone else’s. He was still clinging to the past, to a life long gone. As he completed his last, few sentences, Melissa’s motive to spend any more time with him vanished into thin air. Rising from her seat, she cast a glance full of pity down at him, as a bitter smile formed on her face.

  “Why did you even ask me out?” She whispered, lightly shrugging her shoulders. “You’re not over her.”

  “I’m sorry.” Joe sighed, slowly getting up as well. “I…”

  “Stop,” Melissa commanded, thrusting her hand up to his lips. “You don’t have to apologize. I can understand. Care for a friendly piece of advice?”

  A simple nod served as his answer, as she dropped her arm.

  “Stop living backwards,” she instructed in a voice that could only be called a whisper, her heart sinking at the realization that she would have to give up on him that very night. “Goodnight, Joe Stanton.”

  At that, Melissa turned her back on him, unwilling to gaze upon the eyes of the man she knew that could never be hers. Joe embodied an untouchable dream, a fantasy that co
uld not come true. With a heavy heart, she dragged her feet across the yard, her eyes on the black gate to the right, as she recalled Kate’s words:

  “That man is in pieces.”

  How right she was… Joe was a wreck, and probably a wreck beyond salvation. Melissa was desperate to drive back home. She could hardly wait to share her story with her friends. As usual, they would lend a sympathetic ear, and try to ease the pain that had been festering in her soul. As she reached down to grab the gate’s latch, she felt pressure on her hips. In a split second, Joe spun her around to face him. A gasp of shock left her lips, as he held her close. Tilting his head down, he plucked at her lips teasingly once, before covering her mouth in a hot, passionate kiss. The most amazing thing happened as she curled her arms around his neck. Melissa could smell him. A wave of his scent filled her nostrils. A sweet, cherry fragrance engulfed her, as his clean-shaven jaw brushed over her chin. Melissa would not even bother asking herself as to why this was happening. She was living in the moment, enjoying the one and only kiss she would ever get from him. Her mind could not be troubled with any theories. She was touching him. She was feeling his soft, warm lips. His kiss was as sweet as his scent, shattering her disappointment, sweeping her off her feet, as he held her tightly in his arms. Joe splayed his fingers over her hips, loosening his grip, as he slowly opened his eyes.

  “Goodnight, Ms. Bradford,” he whispered, his mouth less than an inch away from hers, as her hands crept around his neck.

  “Why did you do that?” She wondered, her voice wobbly, as she sensed his hot breath on her skin.

  “You wouldn’t understand,” Joe claimed, a whisper of sadness darkening his brown eyes, as he eased out of her hold. “Goodnight.”

  “Why?” Curiosity and frustration sent Melissa’s voice three octaves up, as she leaned towards him. “Tell me.”

  He sucked in a deep breath, blinking slowly, upon hearing her request. Joe dropped his gaze down to the ground, pursing his lips, as he put his hands on his waist. Melissa was waiting for his answer with bated breath, but all that he could provide was silence. Just like that, he had shut down on her. She would not speculate. Neither would she pressure him. There was no point in insisting. It was obvious to her that she could not become part of his life. Keeping her mouth shut, she cursed her luck, as she stormed out of the yard. Alas, a relationship with a gentleman would have to remain a dream.

  Chapter Six

  Melissa might avoid speculating, yet, deep down, she knew that her friends would not do so as well. Kate and Julia would start guessing, as soon as she told them how her date went. Monica would be subtler, but her attitude would be overshadowed by squeaky remarks or ironic comments. Melissa needed some understanding. She could do without the teasing, and the – more than certain – argument that her friends’ behavior would lead to. A return to her cabin did not feel at all like a wise choice. On the other hand, some solitude was guaranteed to benefit her. Surrounded by the elements, Melissa would be able to gather her thoughts, and attempt to find some peace of mind, without having to worry about Kate or Julia’s reactions to her date.

  Acheron River lay closer to her, miles away from Paxton, and any prying eyes, alike. The taste of Joe’s kiss was still in her mouth as she closed the driver’s door behind her. Once again, Melissa looked up, as she paced along the shore. Thick clouds were beginning to veil the hundreds of stars that graced the night sky. The pale moon had not been covered just yet, casting its ample light down on the river and the trees. Almost immediately, her gaze landed on the spot where she had found Joe earlier that day. However, Melissa decided to push the memory of that encounter out of her mind, recalling it was a negative thought, precisely like her date with him. It was a thing of the past, one that she had to let go, if she had any hope of finding the man of her dreams. Staring down at the sparkling water, she watched it go over bigger and smaller rocks, as it flowed down the stream. Within seconds, a pair of red eyes reflected on the surface. She was not alone. The identity of her company was well-known to her.

  “Roman’s grandchildren keep on failing me.” Helena said, a hint of sadness in her tone, as she pulled her hood back from her head. “You are all quite careless, with the exception of Ray. I still haven’t caught him off his guard.”

  “Hey, Helena,” Melissa spoke, tossing a swift glance down at her. “How have you been? It’s been a while.”

  “I have been rather preoccupied lately,” Helena declared, moving her gaze up to meet Melissa’s, as she wrapped her fingers around her staff. “Kate has allowed me to play with her mother’s book. I’m not going to ask what you’ve been doing. I can see it in your eyes. You are troubled.” A silver glow sprang from the top of the stick, and shot all the way down, as she tapped it on the ground. Before Melissa knew it, the witch was standing right beside her. “The man you met with tonight cannot give you what you seek. You are better off without him.”

  “How would you know about that?” Confusion and curiosity tightened Melissa’s mouth, as she narrowed her eyes to slits. “Have you been stalking me or something?”

  “Not you. Him,” Helena replied in an emphatic tone, her face stiff, as a shadow of fear crept into her eyes. “Joe Stanton brings great evil with him, my young one. You may see him as a young, attractive man, but all I see is the blackness that dwells within him.”

  “Blackness?” Melissa gave a derisive snort, as she raised her eyebrows. “Are you sure we’re talking about the same man?”

  “I’m absolutely positive,” Helena stated, a touch of discomfort in her voice. “Like I said, I have been studying Marianne McIntyre’s book for a while now. It contains plenty of spells, and techniques to detect bearers of dark energy. Every now and then, I use them to find out if anything out of the ordinary has crossed the borders of our town or Shandaken. Last night, I was stunned to discover that one of those…” she paused; “despicable creatures lives amongst us. My agents notified me of your meeting. I was very relieved to find out that it ended rather quickly.”

  “Ok, stop calling him names,” Melissa urged, raising both hands up to her chest. “As far as I can tell, Joe is just a widower, who can’t get over the loss of his wife. What’s with all this ‘blackness’ nonsense? The guy seems to be very sensitive. That’s what attracted me to him in the first place.”

  “I’m not talking about his heart. I’m talking about his soul,” Helena explained, her voice deepening, as she leaned over her. “If uncompromised, people’s souls glow white. His is pitch-black.”

  “Go on,” Melissa encouraged with a nod, as the skin on her face tingled with fear.

  “My God…” Helena heaved a long, heavy sigh, squeezing her eyes shut, as she lifted her hand to rub her cheek. “I don’t know where to start. I did some research on him. Before Joe’s wife died in that accident, he was just a lawyer; an average nobody, struggling to make a living. His clientele was comprised of elderly people, and fired individuals, trying to get their jobs back. No surprises there. Lawyers don’t have it easy. Even in my time, few of them managed to reach prominence. Three weeks after her death, he was hired by ‘Cross and Associates’, a prestigious law firm in New York, which is very odd, to say the least. The man had no connections whatsoever. What could convince an accomplished lawyer like David Cross to employ Joe Stanton? Men like him do not like to take risks when it comes to their job. Tell me, what’s Joe’s current status?”

  “He’s very successful,” Melissa replied, her voice shaking, as her fear sent her heart into a flurry of wild beats.

  “Mediocre lawyers do not magically transform into excellent counselors, my dear Melissa.” Helena stated, as a stream of lightning flashed, lighting up the world around them. “Not unless they had some severe outside help. Joe must have been quite desperate. After his wife’s passing, his job was all he had left. There is one category of creatures that preys on human despair. It feeds off of it: Demons,” she added, as a deafening crack of lightning tore through the night, causing the grou
nd to vibrate beneath their feet. “My guess is that Joe sold his soul to a demon, in exchange for professional success.”

  “No…” a whisper of disbelief escaped Melissa, her eyes black with shock, as she shook her head sideways. “It can’t be.”

  “It gets worse,” Helena continued in the same, firm tone, as the first, thick raindrops fell on her hair. “Demons do not wait for the human to die of natural causes, before they can harvest their soul. Most likely, this one has given Joe a few years to enjoy his success: ten, maybe fifteen at best.”

  “Oh, my God…” Melissa whispered once again, feeling her heart ready to burst out of her chest, as she put her hands to her temples.

  “Now you can understand why I was so relieved that your date with him was a disaster,” Helena stated in a much sweeter voice, as she reached her left hand up to Melissa’s cheek. “You don’t need a man like him in your life, my young one. Stay away from him.”

  “I kissed him tonight,” Melissa’s voice picked up volume, as the scene of their kiss replayed in her mind. “I noticed something strange. Every human has a distinctive scent. I couldn’t smell his, until…”

  “He kissed you,” Helena finished her sentence, running her hand through her hair. “That’s because he let himself loose for those few moments. He decided to live, just for a few seconds. You must understand that the demon has a firm grip on his soul. That’s why it is black, and that’s why he cannot give himself to anybody. An enslaved soul must first break free of its shackles, before it can be given.”

  Helena’s conclusion shattered every last shred of hope Melissa had of having a relationship with him. She was confident that she could help him forget his wife. But, there was nothing she could do about the insanity that he had brought into his life by making a deal with a demon. Melissa desired a relationship, someone to rely on, not a man with an expiration date. Joe Stanton was not just unavailable. He was a victim of circumstances; even though she could feel for him, she could not take any chances with him.