by Jane Jamison
“Because I had the same thing happen to me.”
Mona stared at her then put her focus back on the road. Neither one of them said anything for a while, both being caught up in the revelation and what it could mean.
“How? When?” asked an awed Mona.
“I was crossing the street when—wham!—all of a sudden, I felt like I hadn’t had sex in like forever. Like everything in the world no longer mattered except finding a man to take me.”
She reconsidered. No. Not a man. A specific man. No. Wrong again. Not one man. Men.
“Seriously?” Mona turned the car off the road and into the driveway running alongside the small rental home. She stopped the car and twisted toward Pamela. “Go on.”
“It was the strangest feeling I’ve ever had.” She wondered how far she should go. Then again, she’d always told Mona everything. In detail. “As you know, I’m a sexual woman.”
“Please. Don’t remind me. And no details. Never, ever again give me details.”
“Then I might as well not tell you.”
“You have to tell me.” Mona closed her eyes then opened them, having readied herself.
Sometimes her sister could act so…repressed. “Anyway, I’ve been turned on before, but never like this. There’s no way to really explain it, but all I wanted to do was to fuck these guys I’d just met. I mean, right there, out in broad daylight for all the world to see. I didn’t even care if they were rich or famous. How’s that for strange?”
“What guys? The ones who were on the other side of the street?”
She hopped up and down excitedly. “So you saw them?”
Mona leaned back as though she were too stunned to move. Her gaze swept knowingly over her. “I sure as hell did. The one with the black hair was fantastic. The best looking man I’ve ever seen.”
The one with the black hair.
Pamela remembered him, all right. And her sister was right. He was flat-out one of the hottest men she’d ever seen. But she’d felt drawn to the other two men. Thinking about them made her body tingle. Yet didn’t it make more sense that she’d be attracted to the best looking man there? She’d always dated men who were better than Mona’s dates. Handsome, rich, and, more often than not, famous. If a man didn’t have at least one of those three things, then she wouldn’t give him the time of day. It wasn’t a matter of being stuck-up. Instead, she had an image to maintain. With her career starting to really take off, she couldn’t afford to be seen with an “average Joe.” Even a good-looking “average Joe.”
“Pamela? That’s the guy you’re talking about, right?”
Her stomach did an odd flip-flop. Was it? “Sure. Of course.” Not really.
The gleam in Mona’s eyes faded. “So you’re really into him?”
“Yeah.” She nodded a little too emphatically, trying to convince herself as much as her sister. “Definitely. After all, if I’m going to hook up with someone around here for a little fun, then it has to be the hottest guy around.” She couldn’t resist adding, “And I think he’s into me, too.”
“Of course. Why wouldn’t he be?”
But the other guys were hot, too. Jealousy and greed tightened her stomach. Did she want the black-haired man only because Mona wanted him?
“You’re going to hook up with him, aren’t you?” Mona looked away. “Sure. That makes sense. You always find the most appealing man around. And, naturally, he noticed you, too.”
“Of course he did.” Will’s and Dillon’s faces flashed across her mind. She’d have to forget about them. Just like the time she’d dumped the duke for the prince while in Paris. A girl had to stick to her priorities no matter what her pussy screamed for her to do.
“Right. Of course he did,” repeated Mona in a voice devoid of her previous excitement.
“Yeah. You said it. It only makes sense. I mean, sure, we’re on vacation and all, but I have to maintain my standards. I’d be disappointing my fans if I didn’t.”
Taking the man Mona considered the best looking did make sense because doing what was best for her career was the most important thing. She had an image to maintain, a certain standard to keep, and that included the men she dated. But if that was true, then why did her stomach hurt even worse when she thought about never seeing Dillon and Will again?
Another memory came back, one from an even earlier time. She’d stolen candy from the store. Candy her sister had refused to buy for her. Mona had made her take it back and face the manager. She’d been angry at her sister, but more than that, she’d felt humiliated. Even then, even when she couldn’t have articulated the reason, she’d vowed to always have whatever she wanted, whatever her sister refused her.
“I guess you’re right,” added her sister in the strangely monotone voice.
Guilt hit Pamela. If her sister was interested in a man, then she should back off.
Good old Mona. She’s always been there for me. She’s given me every chance in the world, even if it meant giving up her own chances at a better life. What would I do without her? I should let her have this one.
The idea of being without her protective sister frightened her. Not only because she depended on her sister so much but because Mona was the one person she truly loved. She wanted to tell Mona to go for the guy, that she’d step out of the picture, yet she couldn’t.
Mona’s eyes widened as she stared out the windshield. “Holy crap.”
Pamela looked in the same direction and saw the enormous animal standing on the porch of the rental home. “What the hell is that?” Was it a large dog? Or, worse, a wolf?
Mona’s knuckles were white from gripping the steering wheel. “It’s a wolf. A really big wolf.”
Pamela met Mona’s frightened gaze. “He’s even bigger than…” She couldn’t bring herself to complete the sentence. Terror had taken hold.
“The other one,” whispered Mona.
Pamela could hear her own breath wheezing in and out, in and out. Looking back at the animal, she studied it, almost doing so in an out-of-body way.
Is it the same wolf? But how could it be? Why would it follow us?
Amber eyes, just like those she’d seen coming at her before her brave sister had thrown her body between them, glowed. She felt herself screaming and yet heard no sound.
No. Not again. I can’t go through this again. I can’t.
Mona rested her hand on Pamela’s leg. “It’s not what you’re thinking, Sis. It’s not the same wolf. The other one was black with a white circle around one eye.”
She couldn’t take her attention away from the animal. If she did, then turned back, she was afraid she’d find it sailing through the air, fangs dripping, claws extended, ready to finish the job it had tried to do on the photo shoot.
“Pamela, it’s okay. He can’t get to you. We’re safe inside the car.”
Were they? She had the horrible feeling that the beast could break through the glass if it halfway wanted to. Did it want to? Would her sister throw her body in front of her to protect her yet again?
“All we have to do is wait it out. It’ll leave sooner or later.”
Somehow, against the overriding stiffness of her body, Pamela managed to shake her head. It wasn’t going to leave. She was sure of it. This was no ordinary wolf.
Fear threatened to strangle her, and yet, the strange sensation she’d felt on the street came back. How could she be terrified and yet drawn to the animal?
They sat in the car for several more minutes, neither one of them taking their eyes off the wolf.
“Why isn’t it going away?” moaned Pamela. “Damn it. We’re like sitting ducks here. He’s going to wait us out.”
“I don’t know. It’s really weird.”
“We should call someone. Animal control. The police. The Texas Rangers. Someone. Anyone.” She clutched Mona’s arm. “Or leave. Why don’t we just drive away?”
“No. I can handle this.” Mona let out a string of curse words then reached around to the backseat
and grabbed the bat they always kept in the car to scare off the more intrepid photographers.
“What do you think you’re going to do?” Pamela tried to hold on to her sister’s arm, but Mona was already halfway out of the car. “Mona, get the hell back in here.”
“We can’t wait any longer.”
“We can call for help.”
“Even if they get here in time, they might take photos. I can see the headlines already. ‘Pamela Frost, captured by a stalker wolf.’ No, thanks.”
“But, Mona—”
“Don’t worry. I’ll be careful.” Mona gave her a weak smile, trying to ease Pamela’s fear. “I have to do something. The ice cream is melting.” She slammed the door.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” yelled Pamela. “We can buy more ice cream.” She knew Mona had only been kidding, using the ice cream joke to cover her fear. “Please, Mona, come back.”
But once her sister made up her mind, there was no stopping her. Mona strode toward the house, ignoring Pamela’s begging.
“Listen up, wolf. I want you off my front porch right now.” Mona came to the bottom of the steps, bat raised, ready to strike. Mona’s voice was loud and firm, without a shred of fear lacing it.
The wolf tilted its head to the side as though studying the strange woman. With a growl, it lowered its head, put its ears back, and dropped its tail.
Pamela pushed against the door and slipped out. Yet her feet wouldn’t carry her toward her sister. After what the other wolf had done to Mona, how did she have the courage to face the animal? “Please, Mona, come back to the car.”
“Not happening.”
Pamela wasn’t sure if her sister was talking to her or to the wolf.
Mona put her foot on the first step. “You’d better get, damn it, or I swear I’m going to slam this bat upside your head.”
The wolf’s growl was low and mean. Its amber gaze darted between Mona and her as though expecting Pamela to take its side.
“Okay, I’m going to count to three, and then I’m going to let you have it,” warned Mona.
“Mona, no. Please stop.” She had to go, had to help her sister. Yet still she remained caught between the car and the passenger door, unable to make her legs move.
“One.”
The wolf growled again and hunkered lower, getting ready to pounce.
“Two.”
Bright white fangs shown as it pulled its lips back.
“Three.”
Pamela really didn’t think Mona would actually try and hit the wolf. Maybe the wolf hadn’t thought she would, either. They were both wrong.
Mona let out a warrior-like yell and swung the bat. The ensuing crack as the bat met the wolf’s head split the air. At first, the wolf appeared to be stunned so badly it couldn’t move. Then it shook its head and let out an even meaner growl.
“Go on. Just try me, you son of a bitch!” yelled Mona.
At least the wolf wasn’t a dumb one. Following yet another growl, it bounded away from Mona, raced to the end of the porch, leapt over the railing, and disappeared into the woods.
Pamela was certain her knees would give out. But then she was running toward Mona. Getting in front of her sister, she took her by the arms—arms that were trembling—and said, “What the hell did you think you were doing? Good God, Mona, you could’ve been killed. You already survived one attack. Why would you try for another?”
Mona let out a breath and dropped the bat. “Is he gone?”
Pamela glanced toward the forest. “He’s gone.” Wrapping her arm around her sister, she kept her steady and led her up the steps. “Let’s get you inside.”
“Okay.” Mona’s voice was shaky. “But don’t forget the ice cream. I want a huge bowl right now. After all, I just about died for it.”
Pamela laughed, the relief flooding out of her. Mona was shaky, but she was coming back.
Thank God. What would I ever do without her?
* * * *
Mona forced her way through eating the ice cream. Not that she didn’t enjoy it, but it was hard to enjoy even creamy goodness when the pain in her stomach kept getting stronger. As always, the pain struck unexpectedly, lasting for several minutes. If only someone could tell her why she hurt. Maybe then she could find a way to endure it.
Pamela touched her arm. “Are you okay? Is there a problem?”
As she usually did, Mona hid it from her sister. Why make her sister worry when there was nothing she could do? “I’m fine.” To help cover the pain, she forced herself to stand and walk toward the refrigerator again. “I shouldn’t do it, but I’m going to. I’m getting another bowl. How about you?”
Pamela’s face scrunched up, fighting the urge to give in. “I really should start eating better. I’m going to get fat if I keep eating everything I want.”
Mona arched an eyebrow. “Yeah. That’s it. Rub it in.”
“Sorry. But only a little bit more. We both need to watch our waists, you know.”
* * * *
Barrett loved his brother, Troy. He really, really did. But at that precise moment, he could’ve laid him out six feet under. “Did our mother drop you on your head when you were a pup?”
Troy sent him a scowl as he tossed his keys onto the side table and headed into the small kitchen. He sent Barrett yet another scowl before yanking the fridge open and snagging a beer. “I told you. I wasn’t certain.”
“How can you not be certain when you feel the connection?” Barrett sat on the edge of the couch, doing his dead-level best not to lunge to his feet, shift, and teach his brother a thing or two.
“Take it easy, guys.” Their cousin Justin Breckinridge looked like the epitome of a laid-back guy as he slumped in the La-Z-Boy recliner. “It’s not like she’s leaving town tomorrow.”
“We don’t know that,” argued Barrett.
“We don’t know the other way round, either,” retorted Troy.
That does it.
Barrett hurled his body over the back of the couch and dove for his brother. Troy barely had time to set his beer on the counter before Barrett plowed into him, knocking him back against the other counter of the galley-style kitchen.
Shifting as he pummeled his brother, Barrett was ready to do more than land a few bruises. He wanted to take Troy’s tail and wrap it around his own neck.
“Damn it, guys. Knock it the fuck off.” Justin dug his hands into Barrett’s shoulders. It was a dangerous thing to do while a man was shifting, but then it wasn’t the first time Justin had hauled him off his brother. “Fighting isn’t going to solve a damn thing.”
Fortunately, the human part of Barrett’s mind was still in control. Although the world around him was filling with amber, he listened to his cousin and released Troy. Troy rolled away, his own shift started, then came back onto his feet.
Reversing his shift, Barrett let Justin shove him away, then push him against the couch. “Calm down, man.”
He was doing his best, but with his inner wolf howling to be set free, it wasn’t easy. “Did you hear what he said? He found our mate and didn’t bring her here. Hell, he didn’t even call us.”
Justin kept his palm against Barrett’s chest, ready to stop him again should Barrett’s wolf surge to the surface again. However, his eyes were filling with amber, too. “Yeah, I’ve got to admit it. I’m not sure what you were thinking, Troy.”
“He wasn’t thinking.” Barrett pushed Justin’s hand away, lifted his hand palm out to signal that he wasn’t fighting any longer, and stalked around to retake his place on the couch. “Not with this head”—he pointed to his crotch—“and not with this head.” He pointed to his head and sneered.
Troy took his beer again then paced to the other side of the room to confront his brother. “I was thinking, all right. That’s a shit fuck more than you would’ve done in my place. For one, I was thinking that the connection should’ve been stronger.”
“So you know all about the connection now,” pushed Barrett.
> “Back down, man,” murmured Justin. “Let him talk.”
“I know enough to know it should’ve been stronger. You two have heard about it all your lives, too. It should’ve knocked me for a loop. It didn’t.”
“So you’re saying you weren’t attracted at all?” questioned Barrett. He was still angry, still fighting to keep his wolf down, but with each passing minute, it was getting a little easier.
“Nah, man, I was attracted, for sure. Who wouldn’t be turned on by a beautiful woman? She’s a fucking swimsuit model for shit’s sake. But I didn’t want to tear her clothes off and bite her. Not like I thought I would.”
Barrett didn’t understand. None of that made any sense. He’d always assumed that when one of them met their intended mate, the instinctive bond that brought werewolves and their mate together would be so powerful there would be no denying it. “Either we’ve got the connection thing wrong or…” He hadn’t realized what he was going to say until he’d almost said it.
“Or she’s not your mate,” added Justin. “Shit.”
Troy plopped onto the other chair. “Well, that would suck.”
The anger Barrett had felt for his brother was long gone. Just thinking of finding his mate and having his brother not be connected to her was more than disturbing. It was frightening. Could he mate a woman who wasn’t his brother’s mate? Could he live a life without his brother sharing in his joy? Sharing their children? Sure, humans did it all the time, but it wasn’t what he wanted for his life.
“Don’t get too worked up yet, guys.”
Again, Justin came to the “let’s stay calm” rescue. But staying calm wasn’t easy after he saw the odd expression on Troy’s face. “What else aren’t you telling us?”
Troy didn’t try to deny there was something more. His glance away then back said as much. “Yeah, well, even shittier is the fact that the Collinsburg men were there.”
“So?” The word left a sour taste in Barrett’s mouth. A knot tightened in his stomach when his brother met his gaze.
“They said they got the connection. From the way they said it, they felt it big time. Exactly like I thought I should’ve felt it.”
