by Jo Ellen
“What do I do now?” Olivia could feel her wolf but did not know how to call for the change.
Devlin stroked his hand down her hair, using his fingers to push the blonde strands behind her ear. “This is magic, so it’s easy. Simply picture your wolf in your minds eye and concentrate. There won’t be any pain. You won’t have muscles growing or joints popping in agony. The movies you’ve seen showing werewolves changing are done for dramatic effect. This is pure magic, not a horror show.”
Olivia tightly closed her eyes, concentrating on his instructions. She immediately felt the switch as the air seemed to swirl around her, and electricity moved through her body. Opening her eyes, she saw Devlin crouching in front of her and realized her view of the world had changed dramatically. She was no longer over six feet tall. Plopping down on her butt, she whined like a puppy in confusion.
Devlin laughed. “It’s alright, you’ll get used to the differences between human and wolf. But I’ve got to say, you are one beautiful wolf.”
Devlin stroked his hand down her white fur, the silky strands glistening in the subdued light. “I certainly won’t lose sight of you, your fur is like a beacon, my love. No running alone for you, I’m afraid. There’s no way you can blend into the forest. Also, now that we’re mated, we can speak to each other telepathically, which comes in handy.”
Devlin stood and called the magic into him, welcoming the feeling as he shifted. Standing much larger than his mate, his brown fur stood in sharp contrast to her brightness. He walked around her, inhaling and rubbing against her. Marking her as his with his scent.
She did the same, pushing up against him and combining their scents. She jerked when she heard a chorus of howls surrounding them.
The pack was welcoming her with their baying, making sure she understood she was one of them. Olivia’s wolf understood the message, nodding to them in acknowledgement before taking off to run in the woods. The pack opened their circle to watch her run by with Devlin right behind her.
Devlin let her run wherever she felt the urge, knowing they had plenty of pack land for her to enjoy the freedom of running on four legs. When she wandered close to their border, he herded her back towards their home. The cats would not have minded if they ended up running on their land, but his wolf was not comfortable yet with her leaving their property.
Olivia slowed as they reached the back door of the castle, and shifted back to her human form with Devlin right behind her. He reached around her to open the door and with his hand at her back, guided her through. Putting a finger to his lips for silence, he hurried her back to their room and into the shower.
She couldn’t stop talking as Devlin lathered her hair and scrubbed her scalp. “That was awesome! I could see in the dark! And the sounds, I swear I even heard mice burrowing in the leaves.” She was so excited she could hardly stand still.
Devlin had finished her hair after using some conditioner, and moved on to soap her body. As his hands slid all over her body, she finally became aware of him. Grabbing the soap, she took her turn to clean him up as thoroughly as he had her.
Her body was tingling in anticipation after watching the soap slide off his body when she took the showerhead and rinsed him off.
Devlin replaced the attachment back in its holder and turned her to the wall, putting her hands up against the tile before using his foot to widen her legs.
Olivia felt his erection press against her butt when his arms wrapped around her. His lips nibbled her neck as his hands moved to her breast.
She pushed back against him, groaning as she tried to turn around.
“Keep your hands where I put them,” Devlin growled.
His voice had deepened, sending delicious chills down her spine. Pushing between her legs, he moved back and forth, gliding against her cleft before plunging inside.
Devlin gripped her hips as he stroked, moving faster and faster, making her moan in appreciation. Releasing one hip, he moved his hand to her clit and rubbed her to orgasm, feeling her clench around him and causing him to release inside her.
He carried her out of the shower and quickly dried them both before laying her on the bed and wrapping his arms around her.
He sighed in contentment as he spooned her, both falling asleep in an instant.
Olivia sat up with a jolt when she remembered they had not used protection. Grabbing Devlin’s arm, she shook him awake. “We didn’t use birth control.”
Devlin looked at her blearily as he tucked her back against him. “You’re not in heat.” His eyes closed.
“What! I’m not a frickin’ animal,” she yelled.
Tightening his arm around her waist, he sighed. “Technically you are. I can smell when you ovulate, and right now, you aren’t. Go back to sleep.”
“That is disgusting,” she grumbled.
With his eyes still closed, his lips turned up in a slight smile as he thought about all the ways he could mess with her fastidious outlook. He loved how she sounded so prim and proper and couldn’t wait to get her dirty, in every sense.
Chapter 9
They had an idyllic week getting to know each other, putting their worries on the back burner and enjoying being together as a couple. Devlin knew they would have to confront Willie at some point, but as he hadn’t shown himself lately, they could pretend everything was fine in their own little world.
The girls had gone shopping in Olivia’s car as she told him she missed driving her Lady Bug. He’d tried to talk her into getting something newer and safer and trading her car in after the repairs were finished, but she wouldn’t budge.
Listening, he heard the engine wind down, and the gears shift smoothly as she parked. Sitting at his desk with his hands paused over the keyboard, he started typing once he heard them enter. Knowing she was back home and safe meant he could concentrate on his work.
Olivia stuck her head in the door to tell him she’d brought him back some lunch. Moving closer, she picked up one of Lisa’s books resting on the corner of his desk and read the back cover. Arching an eyebrow, she asked, “Good book?”
Devlin grinned. “Yeah, but I need a partner to practice my newly learned skills on.” He pushed back from his desk, the gleam in his eyes making her back up.
Olivia giggled, slapping a hand over her mouth. Oh my God, she could not believe she’d just giggled like a teenager.
Trapping her against the wall, he gently leaned in and nipped her bottom lip. “Want to know what I’ve learned?” She gave a small nod. “Well, some men shove the woman against a wall, or just about any hard, flat surface.” He paused in contemplation, shaking his head. “But that sounds painful. I would never shove you unless it was to move you out of harms way.” Devlin placed a soft kiss on her forehead.
“Thank you for the consideration,” Olivia said wryly. “What else did you learn?”
He grinned devilishly. “Lube is your best friend. Always keep a tube in your pocket.”
Olivia laughed out loud. “So, you don’t have the proper skills to do it, oh, I don’t know, naturally?”
He’d moved on to her cheek, his lips pressing against her skin before pulling back to smile at her. “The area I’ve been reading about needs a little extra help to glide in smoothly. From what I’ve been reading, the back door, entrance to the underworld, starburst…”
Olivia ducked under his arm and went out the door. “Uh uh. Not happening. No way. No how.”
Devlin stuck his head out the door to yell at her retreating figure. “But all the books say women love it. You’ll see stars and fall unconscious screaming in ecstasy.”
He followed to make sure she didn’t throw his lunch out, and heard her mumbling under her breath, pretty sure the word idiot was being repeated several times.
Later, Rafe rounded everyone up for their weekly tag football game. “Do you play?” He asked Olivia.
“No, thank you but I prefer to watch. I don’t do sweaty.” Olivia informed him as she chose a lounger.
Ia
n wrapped Melanie up in a bear hug, replying, “But some things are worth getting sweaty for, right?”
Melanie tried to shush him.
Olivia blinked before smoothly taking a sip of wine. “Depends on the sport.”
Devlin plopped down at her feet, moving her legs aside. “She loves my manly smell when I sweat, don’t you my love?”
Lisa groaned in sympathy. “Umm, no. I don’t care how many books you’ve read stating women love that ‘manly’ smell, sweat stinks.”
Olivia laughed, agreeing. “Yeah, sweat dripping off your body onto me? No thanks. I’ll sit here and admire your glistening muscles in the sun.”
“So you’re objectifying me as just another boy toy?” Devlin grinned. “I can live with that.”
Rafe threw the football at Devlin’s head. His hand shot up and caught it one handed as Olivia squealed.
Rafe looked affronted at Olivia. “I wasn’t going to hit you. I knew Devlin would block. There was no way it’d get past his big head.”
Devlin threw the ball back at Rafe and shot off the porch, tackling him. The game was on.
“I thought this was touch football,” Olivia said.
“Yeah, when the women play, there’s a lot of touching. Otherwise, it’s tackle and kill, basically,” Melanie said.
Olivia watched, secretly enjoying the brawny display. With the sun on her face, she closed her eyes and relaxed.
She was happy. Her soul settled. No more fear of being ridiculed when she spoke to thin air. Devlin accepted her for who she was and would not try to change her. She was still feeling her way with her new family, but she already liked them. The brothers with their loving and protective instincts, Lisa with her sarcastic wit, and Melanie with her quirky personality. She wondered where she fit in their estimation. Women usually resented her for her height and beauty, while she had always wanted to be one of those petite women who men seemed to put on a pedestal.
She wasn’t getting any resentment from the others, which she was thankful for. Lisa and Melanie were beautiful in their own right, knowing they were well loved and secure in their relationships. She relaxed and listened to the grunts and yelling, smiling peacefully.
“Willie’s back.”
Olivia jerked upon hearing Jack and sat up, her enjoyment stripped away in an instant.
The men stopped their game and gathered on the patio.
“Inside,” Rafe ordered.
They herded their mates inside to the great room, taking their seats on the sofas and waiting for Jack’s report.
“I should say; he was back. I didn’t see him, just felt that he’d been there. I can’t say if he was in and out, or if he’d been there awhile. The other ghosts hadn’t seen him either, but they’re not always there so no help from that end.”
Olivia gave Devlin a shaky smile. “Looks like the honeymoons over.”
Devlin growled. He didn’t want Olivia to have to deal with this fucker. This last week had been everything he’d imagined a mating would be. The thought of her confronting Willie was enough to make him go crazy. His wolf was snapping at the leash.
Olivia stroked his arm to calm him down, seeing how tense he’d gotten. “We need to go to Charlie’s and see if I can pick up on anything.”
“We’ll all go,” Melanie said.
“Like hell!” Ian growled. “You do not need to go.”
“Actually, I do. I think we need all the magic we have available to track Willie down. Baby,” Melanie reached for Ian’s hand, “we’ve already had this argument. You know Olivia needs help with the portal.”
They still argued back and forth, until finally, Rafe gave a sharp whistle, gaining their attention.
“Lisa and Melanie will go to the bar, but won’t be going through the portal, like we said.” The ladies nodded in agreement. “Melanie, I’d like for you to open the doorway. You’ll help from this side, same for you Lisa. You can link with Olivia before she goes in. Me, Ian and Devlin will go through with Olivia.” Rafe stared at Lisa. “I’ll inform you via our mental link if we have a problem.” He moved on to Melanie. “Close the door after we pass through, you’ll keep in touch via your link with Ian. He’ll tell you when to open the door for us to come back through. You two ladies will stay in the bar area with Niall and maintain your links.”
“Niall, I need you to watch over Lisa and Melanie. If Willie shows up in our realm, get them out,” Rafe said, knowing they could be stuck in the death realm until Melanie could open another doorway.
* * *
Arriving at Charlie’s, they stood back to watch Olivia as she scanned the room.
“Olivia!” her ghostly cowboys shouted.
Olivia saw them huddled at one end of the bar and nodded. She noticed people seemed to move around the spirits unconsciously, somehow knowing someone was there.
With Jack following and Devlin by her side, she made her way up the stairs to her unused room where the door stood slightly ajar.
Devlin reached over and pushed the door open, cringing when it squeaked like an old haunted house.
Rafe and Ian arrived after settling the girls with Niall in a booth. Once they made sure Willie was not around, they would wait until after midnight to convene in the bar and open the doorway since Olivia informed them spirits were more active after midnight.
“I can sense him, he’s been here,” Olivia said. “But he’s not here now, the feeling is too weak.”
They prowled around the room, sniffing.
“Unless he suddenly crosses over to this side, I cannot do anything. We’ll have to go after him in his world,” Olivia said.
Olivia still wasn’t sure exactly what she needed to do to get rid of him, but felt sure she had it within her. A sense of power grew in her head, and she pushed it back down, knowing the time was not right.
“I say we go have a drink. It’s too early for the witching hour, and he’s not here anyway. I won’t let him run us off our property,” Rafe growled.
When they got back downstairs, they saw Lisa and Melanie sitting stiffly in the booth. The stiffness left them when they saw their men.
Niall slid out of the circle booth to allow the brothers to sit with their mates and pulled up an extra chair for himself, leaving himself open to the single women staring at him hungrily.
“Okay everybody, relax. He’s not here right now, so we’ll have a drink and wait. Hank will close the bar around one, and then we’ll get to work. There’s nothing we can do right now with so many people here,” Rafe said.
“Aren’t they your wolves? Can’t you make them leave?” Olivia asked.
“I could, but why? You said the later it is, the better.” Rafe shrugged, unconcerned.
Olivia chewed her bottom lip. “Sorry Rafe, I’m a little nervous.”
“Come on, we’ll play some pool.” Devlin pulled her up.
She found herself relaxing after shooting a few rounds, and needing a bathroom. “No, you are not following me to the bathroom,” she told Devlin. “I’ll take Lisa with me. You know we travel in packs to the restroom, pun intended.” She winked.
Finished with their business, Lisa tucked her arm through Olivia’s after washing their hands. “How’re you holding up?”
Olivia was assuring her she was fine as they made their way back to the men, when she saw a tiny young woman clutching Devlin’s shirt and rubbing up against him. Marching over, she could scent the woman was wolf.
“Oh shit,” Lisa whispered.
Melanie, Ian and Rafe stood to one side, watching. The guys grinned when they saw Olivia.
“Umm, Devlin?” Melanie tried to get his attention, hoping to avoid a confrontation as she watched Devlin trying to move the female gently away.
Olivia moved directly behind the woman, watching Devlin’s eyes go wide in shock when she grabbed the skank’s hair and jerked her backwards.
Holding tightly, she put her mouth close to the woman’s ear. “Hey bitch, got a cold? Cause I know you can smell me all over him.
” She threw the woman aside and grinned evilly when the tiny female stood and gulped, her eyes widening in fear as she looked up at Olivia.
Turning, she ran into the crowd and out the door.
Devlin slid his arms around her waist. “Baby, that was hot. Too bad y’all weren’t wearing bikinis and slathered in oil.”
Olivia shrugged him off. “Old girlfriend? Want to tell me how many I’ll be running in to?”
Devlin stuttered while his brothers laughed. “She was congratulating me on my mating.”
“Next time a handshake will do, man whore,” she snarled.
Devlin grabbed her wrist and pulled her onto the dance floor before wrapping his arms around her stiff body. Holding her tight and barely swaying to the slow music, he spoke next to her ear. “My love, I’m a patient man, slow to anger and I’ll only explain myself once. I have not slept with the women in my pack, ever. Now, I do admit she was out of line, and I will gently explain to her why she should not touch a mated male. I’m sure she didn’t realize how inappropriate her behavior was.”
Olivia snorted. “Seriously?” Shaking her head, she grabbed his wrist to pull him along this time. “ Come with me.”
Arriving back at the pool table where Rafe and Ian were playing, she swept past them to stand before the table where Lisa and Melanie sat.
“Devlin seems to think that ho’ did not know what she was doing. What do y’all think, ladies?” Crossing her arms, she waited a mere two seconds before both females started laughing. Ian and Rafe leaned against the edge of the pool table, smirking.
“What? She wasn’t coming on to me!” Devlin exclaimed.
Ian rested his hand on Devlin’s shoulder. “Baby bro, you may be a genius, but that answer just got you a big F. And not in a good way.”
“Ian!” Melanie scolded.
Lisa reached over and patted the seat next to hers, raising a brow until Devlin took the stool. “Hun, not all women are sugar and spice. While she played the sweet and innocent card when you could see her face, behind that smile was a femme fatale snake waiting to take a bite. I’ve seen her kind before, trust me. They’re all like, butter wouldn’t melt in their mouth when men are around, but to another woman? Biggest bitches you’ll ever meet.”
