By the time Kyla made it home, it was almost midnight. Landon had been the perfect gentleman on the ride back, even cracking a few jokes to lighten the mood. She wanted so badly to know who exactly was under that tough exterior.
"Like I said, I had a lovely evening, Kyla. I would love it if you gave me the chance to take you out again sometime."
"I would like that," she nodded. "But I must tell you, my schedule is going to be hectic for the next month. We’re going into wedding season and as an event planner, I almost don't have time to breathe."
"I understand." Landon took her hand in his, gently kissing her caramel skin. "I’ll call you and we can set up a time that works for both of us. How does that sound?"
"Perfect." She tried not to smile too hard, but she couldn’t help it. Landon backed down the steps and bid Kyla goodnight. He stood at his car, waiting for her to go inside and close her door before he drove off.
She wasn’t sure why she felt so confused. On one hand, he had been a gentleman. He walked her to the door, asked her for another date, and waited until she was safely in the house. On the other hand, Kyla had wanted to do nothing more than to investigate the physical attraction that was between them by inviting him inside to see where a few glasses of wine and some tantalizing small talk could lead them.
It was for the best. There was no need to move the relationship too far forward when they hardly knew each other. She looked at herself in the mirror as she undressed. “No need jumping into anything too fast, Kyla,” she told herself. “You don’t know this guy at all, yet.”
But even as she said it, she knew it wasn’t entirely true. She might not know the facts about his life, but on a different, deeper level, she felt like she’d known him for years, that, in fact, they knew each other better than they knew anyone else. It was unsettling, and she worried that it was just in her imagination.
After a long, hot shower, she threw on her lounging clothes and got into bed. As Kyla lay there, she replayed that tense conversation with Landon over and over. He was right about one thing: she didn’t know much about werewolves, or any of those kinds of creatures for that matter.
Flipping open her laptop, Kyla began a search. At first, all she found was broad information about the history of the origin of werewolves. She narrowed her search to using the keywords werewolf, legend, Bayou Meroux.
The first thing that popped up was a news story from about ten years ago. There had been some werewolves spotted in Meroux and the townspeople were outraged. Kyla tried her best to remember when this occurred, but she couldn’t remember it. She had to have been about eight or nine at the time of the article. Several residents from the Bayou complained that their chickens and other livestock had come up missing. There had been an influx of wolf sightings prior to that. So there was an all-out campaign to drive out the wolves.
The only problem was that the wolves were not ordinary wolves. One of the oldest living residents of the bayou was now one hundred and two years old and he recounted how his family had been there over ninety years ago when the werewolves had taken over the bayou.
"It was a sight to see. People screaming in the middle of the night. Constant howling. Then people would go missing. Not to mention the livestock. My daddy lost half his farm to those creatures," the man stated in the article.
Kyla read on to find that over the years since that time noted in the turn of the century, there had been random werewolf sightings, but nothing to take note of. She clicked on another article which gave another perspective.
A woman in the bayou, known to dibble and dabble in otherworldly sciences, told a reporter that there had always been a struggle between the werewolves who originally inhabited the land of the bayou and the humans who came and moved in. To Kyla's surprise, the picture of the woman looked familiar. Suddenly she realized that it was the old woman that her mother used to get the jams and preserves from. Apparently, in the bayou, this woman was known as Madame C, a seer, an herbalist, and 'a woman who just knew things.'
According to Madame C’s recollection, there was an age old fight with the werewolves and the humans for the land in the Bayou Meroux. The article was more than twenty years old, but Madame C stated that the good residents of Meroux had never rid the bayou of the werewolves, but that the wolves simply lived among them in secrecy. She stated that was best for everyone because the wolves wanted their land, and the humans always claimed to want peace.
"We always fight what we don't know," she commented. "Bayou Meroux is sacred land and the wolves know it. They protect it. The land is nothing without them being here."
Madame C was asked if she would identify the wolves and she declined to comment.
Kyla scrolled back up to check the date on the article. At the time, Kyla would have been about eight years old. She remembered that was around the time that she and her mother stopped going to the bayou for jam and preserves.
A chill ran through her body when she thought about what could have happened to Madame C. Did something happen to her because she knew too much, or did she simply pass away because of old age? Kyla made a note to ask her mother in the morning. Until then, she lay back and continued clicking on stories about Bayou Meroux and its strained relationship with the werewolves.
Maybe Landon had been right. What if the werewolves were not totally the enemy and they were only trying to protect what was theirs?
Landon. So virile, yet he also had an air of vulnerability. She still wasn’t sure what the key to his mysterious nature was, but that didn’t stop her from wanting to spend more time with him.
Kyla drifted off to sleep with her thoughts of Landon.
*
With event season in full gear, Kyla hadn't had time to spend chatting leisurely on the phone with any of her friends. She was exhausted after twelve-hour workdays, back-to-back weddings, and simply looking ahead at her schedule of events. By the time she realized that she hadn’t talked to Landon, it had been over two weeks.
Maybe her mind hadn’t been aware of it, but her body ached with the need to see him.
With a lull in her schedule, Kyla called Jess to see if she had heard from Landon. Jess said she hadn’t. Kyla called a few times, but he didn’t return any of her calls. She felt like a fool. Everything in her mind told her to stop calling, and that he wasn’t interested in her. Everything in her heart said the opposite.
At the end of the day, she had to know for sure. Dusk was falling, and the air had an electric quality to it. Before she thought too hard about the situation, Kyla jumped in the car and was on her way to the bayou. If she had taken another minute to think, she would have turned the car around.
She wanted to see, at the very least, that Landon was all right. As she drove, the moon hung mystifyingly overhead. It was larger than life tonight, so big, round and full, she felt like she could reach out and touch it. Once out of the city, Kyla marveled at the stars, how they twinkled so brightly, and how clear the sky was.
She was impressed with herself, that after only coming out to the area once, she remembered the route to Landon's home. Then again, it was just one exit, a long stretch of paved road, and a turn into his driveway. Once she arrived, she saw his car in the driveway.
A pang of anxiety surged through her, but she had already made it out here, and there was no good reason to turn back now. Except her crippling fear of rejection. No, she’d have to get over that. If things with Landon weren’t meant to be, she needed to know. No more waiting around for a call that wouldn’t come.
She climbed the steps to the front door, which swung open before she could knock.
"You must be Kyla."
Kyla recognized the blonde-haired beauty from Jess's parties. "I am. I was looking for Landon."
The girl stepped outside of the door, looking up into the sky.
"I'm his cousin, Carolina. He's here. I’ll go let him know that he has company. Come on in."
Carolina held her hand out in a welcoming gesture and stepped to the side as Kyla walked i
n.
The home was a mix of comfort and old world style. Rows of books lined the walls. Statues were spaced all around, and the furniture was trimmed in gold leaf. One element of the décor didn’t quite fit in—a rifle leaned up against the front door jamb. Kyla was willing to bet it was loaded and ready to go.
“Expecting some kind of trouble?” she asked Carolina, pointing to the gun.
“Just the usual,” Carolina said, shrugging. “Way out here in the middle of nowhere, an alarm system isn’t any use at all. I’ve never had to shoot the thing, but Landon keeps it cleaned and ready, just in case some crazy wanders out here.”
Kyla nodded. “Must be frightening out here sometimes.”
“Not usually,” Carolina said. She led Kyla to a study filled with books and knick-knacks. "Have a seat. Make yourself comfortable."
"Thank you."
But when Carolina left the room, Kyla didn’t sit down. Instead she browsed around the study. Pictures of family were all around, and everyone looked just alike. Kyla could tell in one picture that it was a young Landon with his father after a fishing trip. The young boy smiled from ear to ear while standing next to his father, showing off his catch of the day.
She heard people coming, some whispering, and then the door to the study opened. There he was, gorgeous as usual. Kyla’s heart stopped in her chest, then started thumping again at triple speed. This man definitely had an effect on her.
"I hope that you don't mind,” she said, speaking quickly in her nervousness. “When I hadn’t heard from you, I thought to come and check on you."
Landon didn’t speak a word. The intensity in his eyes said everything. He came to her, taking her in his arms, and kissed her passionately. His touch ignited a heat within that Kyla never knew existed.
When they came up for air, Kyla felt light-headed. "So I guess that you aren't mad that I came out here?"
"No. Not at all. As a matter of fact, I was just talking to Carolina about how you and I hadn’t seen each other in weeks. I got so busy with work, and with some…issues with the neighbors, that I didn’t want to bring you into my troubles. Then I wanted to surprise you, but I know how important your work is to you, and I didn’t know how you’d react to a surprise."
"And what advice did Carolina give you?"
As Landon spoke, Kyla noticed an amulet hanging around his neck. She only noticed because Carolina had been wearing the same intricate trinket.
A sheepish smile came across his face. "She said that I should go for what I want."
His hands settled on her waist, and his lips pressed softly against her neck. "I don't know why I want you so much. Is it too much too soon?" he whispered.
"No, it's not." Kyla was breathless.
He stepped back and tugged on her hand. "Come with me."
They walked through the house and out a set of double French doors. The wraparound porch overlooked the grassy area of the back yard where they had been for their first date.
Fireflies, stars, and moonlight were the only illumination, and there was a peace and stillness in the air. Her hand in his, they strolled along the banks of the river.
"Kyla, I know that I may have come across as a bit erratic to you. I have to admit that there’s a lot going on with my family right now. It’s the kind of thing that I didn’t want to talk about with you if nothing was going to happen between us."
"And what do you think now, Landon? Is there something happening between us?"
Turning to her, he kissed her lips, and his hands gently massaged her shoulders.
"I would like there to be,” he said. Then he leaned forward to continue the kiss.
Kyla felt his kiss from her lips to the center of her being, as the two of them sank to the ground, locked in each other's arms. His mouth was delicious, like apples and sweet bourbon, and his hard body against hers was just what she needed to feel. Landon's hands explored her, loving her ample curves. Her legs parted for him, wanting to invite him in, but in her heart, Kyla knew that they needed time to cultivate what was growing between them. Instead of rushing, she settled for lying against him in the mist of the night, wrapped in the arms of a man who was full of passion.
But Landon peeled off his shirt, revealing his rippling biceps and broad shoulders. Between his kisses and his touch, Kyla couldn’t hold back. She wanted him as much as he wanted her.
Never too rough, Landon undressed Kyla, peeling off her clothing as if he were unwrapping a gift. He was the perfect lover. Touching her in all of the right places, and some places that she had not known would fill her with bliss, Landon guided both of them to ecstasy. “Is this okay?” he kept asking.
Kyla could only answer yes, every time.
“How does this feel?” he asked, rubbing his thumbs along the mounds of her breasts.
“Mm-hmm,” she said.
“No,” he whispered. “Tell me, lover. Tell me what you like, how you like it.”
Sweet whispers in her ear, always being aware of what she needed, Landon took complete control. When he was sure that she had reached her climax, he joined her, their bodies settling in the soft grass, entwined in one another's arms.
Kyla tried to catch her breath as she lay there in the afterglow.
"I was not expecting that to happen."
"That is when it’s best, isn't it?" he asked playfully.
Thoughts were running through her head, and Kyla wasn’t sure that she should share them.
With a smile in his voice, Landon said, "The answer is yes."
"What?" she asked.
"I can tell by the look on your face that you’re wondering if this was right. The answer is yes. And the answer is also yes to your other question. ‘Will he stick around after this?’"
"A girl just needs to know these kinds of things, you know."
His gently kissed her on the forehead. "Anything else you want to know?"
"Since you asked, what are the amulets for?" She pointed at the necklace dangling against his chest.
"Safety."
“Safety from what?”
“Just safety.”
She frowned, partially upset that he would not disclose any more with her.
"Okay, look,” he said. “I want to share something with you, but I have to know that you will take this secret seriously and not hold it against me."
"I would like to think that I am pretty open, Landon. Try me."
She could see the uneasiness come over his face.
"I'm a werewolf," he blurted out. He leaned back, trying to gauge her expression.
"You are a what?" Kyla wanted to make sure that she heard him correctly.
"A werewolf."
Kyla laughed. "But don't they turn into beasts when the moon is full? The moon is as full as it gets tonight."
He didn’t speak, and simply held up the amulet.
"Safety," she replied, now knowing what that meant.
"Yes."
"I have to admit, Landon, it’s a lot to take in."
“I know. But we live amongst the humans all of the time, unnoticed. You probably know more werewolves than you care to realize."
She let the idea sink in. It hurt her, but she couldn’t handle this right now. It especially hurt because she knew that her leaving would hurt Landon immensely. “I think I need to go.”
He helped her gather her clothes. Even in the moonlight, she could tell that his face was pulled down in sorrow.
“You’re beautiful, you know,” he said. “You’re the most perfect woman I’ve ever met. I wish you didn’t feel like you had to leave.”
“I just…this is all rather sudden. I need some space to think.” But Kyla suspected she would drive away and never come back. He hadn’t been completely honest with her, and after what had happened with her ex-fiancé, she didn’t want a part of that. Besides, after all her fears, he actually was a monster. It was too much.
Landon got dressed, too, and started to walk Kyla around to the front of the house.
; “No, I’m fine,” she said. “I can find my car.”
“Kyla—” He held out a hand, as if to beg her to stay.
But she turned around and walked to the front yard, skirting around the wraparound porch.
She must have been walking very quietly in her subdued mood, because she overheard someone talking. A male voice was muttering something, over and over. Kyla froze, listening.
“Werewolf, werewolf, gotta put him down…werewolf, werewolf…”
She edged around the corner of the porch, and saw a man a few paces away, nodding to himself. He held a knife that glinted silver in the moonlight.
Terror washed through Kyla. This was one of the locals who was giving the werewolves trouble. Maybe one of those who had run off Landon’s parents.
No, she couldn’t let him do this. Where was Carolina? Where was a phone, so she could call the police?
A faint howl echoed from the bayou, far away, and another from the back yard. Had Landon transformed?
It didn’t matter. He was in danger. She wasn’t going to hold back anymore—she’d given herself to him because she loved him, not some perfect version of him.
She crept onto the porch. Easing open the front door, she grabbed the rifle that she’d seen there when Carolina let her in.
On silent feet, she tiptoed back into the yard.
She was putting her heart and everything else on the line, but it didn’t matter anymore. She’d live fearlessly now, if she lived through this.
The man was still muttering. He was an old-timer, she could tell, and his hearing must not have been so good, because he didn’t seem to notice her approach.
Suddenly, though, he spun around from his crouch in the brush, and Kyla screamed.
“Gotcha!” he said, coming after her.
“No!” She held up the rifle. Her father had shown her how to shoot—part of his “boy” lessons when she was a kid.
The man stopped and stared at her.
“You’re not a werewolf,” he said.
“No. And neither are those who live here. You’re hunting monsters—monsters who don’t exist here. Maybe they did back in the day, but they’re gone now. My boyfriend lives here with his family, and he’s the nicest gentleman you’ll ever meet. Nicer than you. He’d never sneak into someone’s yard to murder them.”
Bitten by the Alpha Wolf Page 3
