Werewolves of New York: Dontae

by Faleena Hopkins

  Green eyes narrowed and the Catherine he knew returned in a flash. “Oh really? Why is that, buddy? What’d you just do? What’s with that bite?” She reached for her neck. “Did you cut me?”

  He chuckled, still hard inside her. “No. I did not cut you.” He shut her up with few hard strokes. She wrapped her legs tightly around his hips, moaning and throwing back her head.

  When he stopped, she opened her eyes. “Then what? What’d you do?”

  He leaned down to whisper in her ear, “Lobsterrrrrrrrrr. You hungry?”

  She slipped spent arms around his neck. “So hungry! I thought I was going to eat alone.”

  “Never again.” He sobered and held her gaze, remembering. Her eyes clouded as she saw him change.

  “What is it?”

  “Don’t ever be unfaithful to me again, Catherine. If you have a problem with me, tell me. Let me do what I can. I may not want to hear it at first, but I will listen. And I will make it my life’s goal to make you happy.”

  She started to cry again. “I’m so sorry, Dontae.”

  “Shh…my strong woman doesn’t cry so easily.” She smiled through her tears. “It was the wrong time for us.”

  She gazed up at him, and he considered telling her that his wolf hadn’t done then what he was doing now. Claiming her. He could have told her, The wolf who lives in me is my primal side exemplified. He knows things before I do. His instincts are pure. Raw. Unfettered by society’s conditioning meant to numb our instincts and keep us slaves to fear and indecision. When he identifies the female he wants as his forever mate, there is no denying him. He hadn’t done that with you, when we were together before. I wasn’t ready, maybe. I don’t know.

  He chose not to tell her. Some things might cause more harm than good, and he did not want her feeling that somehow before she was not good enough. The truth was, it just wasn’t the right time, and they both paid for that with pain.

  “What are you thinking,” she asked him.

  He kissed her. “You’re not frightened now that you know what I am?”

  She smiled, eyes soft as she cuddled closer. “Do I look it?”

  He gave a half-chuckle. “When I shifted, you did.”

  She rolled her eyes on a light laugh. “Well, give a girl a second to process! And you didn’t warn me at all!”

  “You’ve always had a predilection for dramatic entrances.”

  “Oh really?!!” she laughed outright.

  “Yes,” he smirked. “So I didn’t want to bore you.” He kissed her again and the scent of her fertility lit him up inside like a fire exploding in his bloodstream. The pressure in his cock grew as his need for her returned. “Food can wait. I have to make sure of something…”

  “What are you talking about?” She gasped as he spread her thighs and filled her up, holding there and kissing her collarbone. This time they moved together like one, anticipating each other’s needs and meeting them. As he spilled more seeds for the waiting egg, he crushed her in a kiss that said he promised to take care of this child and its mother. For the first time in his life, the idea of growing old with just one woman didn’t sound repulsive. He couldn’t wait.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Catherine popped sweet lobster coated in melted butter into her mouth in between asking many questions. “Is that why I can’t find a record of your family?”

  He leaned forward so their conversation could not be overheard in the quaint fisherman-owned café. It felt very strange to talk of these things, but also very freeing, a feeling he embraced with caution. “I have a family, but they don’t have social security numbers, or drivers licenses. We lived—and they still do—outside of normal society in a more natural environment.”

  “What does that mean?” She reached for her iced tea, eyes wide.

  He smiled and cracked off a piece, pulling out a tender chunk of meat. “The woods. We lived in the woods. My whole life, until I moved to New York. Met you shortly after.” He chewed as she shook her head in wonder.

  “You really just lived in the woods.”

  “Yes. A very happy time, and very simple. But as I began my twenties, I grew…interested in more. It was my suggestion to try the lives lived by normal human males, instead. My closest friends joined me. It didn’t take them long to be persuaded.”

  A fisherman straight out of a storybook, captain’s hat and everything, walked over and dropped another lobster on their table, tan face ginning. “Nice to have people who know how to eat!”

  “Thank you,” Catherine laughed. “It’s really delicious. Did you catch these yourself?”

  “Every day of my life!” He nodded to Dontae and left them to their meal.

  The wolf picked up the new lobster and cracked it for his mate with as much effort as he would use breaking a toothpick in half. Her eyelashes rose slowly. “Dontae…”

  He continued breaking off small sections. When she didn’t say anything, he looked up. “Mmm? What?”

  “Did you beat up the motel guy?”

  Dontae paused and blinked toward his plate. He picked up a wet cloth and wiped his fingers, considering how much he should reveal. It was not normal for him to be forthcoming. Not normal at all. “What do you mean?”

  Her eyes narrowed. “Dontae.”

  He paused and exhaled deeply. “How do you know about that? You were gone.”

  It was her turn to look away. “Yes, well, maybe I went back for you.” She nodded and took a sip from her glass. It occurred to him that he wasn’t the only one having a hard time opening up “I went back, but you were gone. The cops were taking him away, but the door. It was in half, just like what you did with that lobster. I know it’s not the same thing but the way you just did that. I can’t believe I didn’t notice your strength before, when we were together!”

  He shook his head and wrapped thick fingers around his beer, keeping it on the table. “I hid it. You couldn’t have noticed because I never let you see it. Restraint, that’s another reason you felt I wasn’t being me around you. Because I wasn’t.”

  “Oh.” She sighed and took the outstretched lobster chunk. “Well, that makes so much sense now. They said you saved that woman. I saw his face. He was really bloody.”

  “Good,” Dontae muttered, lifting his beer to his lips. He took a big sip, his memory clear in his mind of the man who’d nearly succeeded. “It was me. We do what we can to stop things like that from happening. My hearing, smell, strength, and speed. Why not make use of them?”

  Catherine sat there holding the uneaten lobster. She played with it, incredulous as she stared at him. “You save people?”

  “We do, yes.”

  “You and the guys.”

  “The four of us. We…fight crime.” He gave a tongue-in-cheek wink. But she wasn’t laughing.

  “Dontae,” she leaned forward. “That’s amazing! I can’t believe it.”

  Humble was never a feeling this wolf employed, so now that it was on him, he didn’t understand it. Stammering, he shrugged and picked up the tail. “Have some more lobster.”

  She gave a soft chuckle and took the offered distraction. “Thank you.” He was very grateful when she changed the subject, “So you’re telling me that both Nathaniel and Darik are married now?”

  Feigning annoyance, he shook his head. “Yes, damn them. But don’t leave out Eli. He’s been taken down, too.”

  She threw the lobster on her plate in comical shock. “Shut UP! No way! Someone snagged Eli? You must be joking.”

  “I’m not joking. You should have seen the wedding. It was very, very Eli.” Dunking a pink and white piece of meat in butter, he looked out at the bay. A beautiful place. And he felt right at home. “I think I might need to move closer to the water.”

  She looked out, too, her smile softening. “It’s very soothing.” A sudden twist in his stomach took Dontae by surprise. With the sun playing on the rippling water, he felt an unexplainable unease, as if something was terribly wrong. He dropped his hand to the
table and gripped it, concentrating. Catherine glanced over and frowned. “You okay?”

  “No. I just had a terrible feeling I’m needed. Let me see if they have a phone I can use.” He started to call over the fisherman, but Catherine reached over and touched his hand.

  “I have a phone.”

  “You said you didn’t.”

  “I lied.” She pulled it from her purse. Off his look, she demurred, “No more lies! I promise! But I didn’t want you to call for help just when you got in my car. It was selfish. I’m sorry.”

  The compliment of the gesture pleased him, so he shrugged a shoulder and took the outstretched phone. “Sneaky woman.”

  “Sneaky wolf,” she countered with a wink.

  He laughed his usual one guffaw followed by the lingering chuckle. Dialing Darik, he waited for the answer, his smile fading as the rings kept coming. When it went to voicemail, it vanished. He dialed again.

  Then his best friend answered with confusion, “Hello?”

  “It’s me, Darik. I’m using…someone else’s phone.” He ignored the look Catherine threw him. Now was not the time to talk about who he was with. “What’s happened?”

  Darik sighed relief. “Where are you?”

  “Maine. Why? What’s going on?”

  “Did you go back home?”

  Dontae glanced to Catherine who had her tea in her hand, eyebrows up. “Not quite. I’m the other way, near the coast.”

  “Well, get back here. Someone’s come.” From the way he said that, Dontae knew it was a wolf. There would be no other need for privacy.

  “One of ours?”

  “No.”

  Dontae’s muscles went rigid. “Are you okay? Are you threatened?”

  “Just get back here. Right now we’re fine. There are three of us, one of him. But he says he has questions.”

  “I’ll drive back tonight.” Dontae hung up—his normal goodbye. Standing, he called over to the fisherman. “Can we have the check?”

  “What’s wrong? What’s happened?” Catherine rose up, too, grabbing her purse and setting her glass down quickly.

  They walked to the counter together to pay the bill as he muttered under his breath. “I’m not entirely sure. But it’s not good. I have to go back.”

  “I’m coming with you!”

  He handed the man his credit card, his mind already back in Manhattan. Who was there with them? What did the wolf want? How did he find them? Well, that wasn’t a difficult question to answer. Wolves can smell other wolves just like they can smell fear, fertility, arousal. It was part of their primal make-up designed for supreme survival.

  As he signed the slip, he told her, “You’re here for a vacation. Stay. Join me when you’re done.” He heard her heart jump then race. Thanking the fisherman, he took Catherine’s hand and led her out of there. As soon as they stepped into the cloak of night, he reassured her, “Nothing will have changed as far as you are concerned.”

  “You didn’t tell him you were with me,” she reminded him, unable to hide her hurt.

  “I didn’t tell him because as you well know, you and I did not end on good terms. And up until a couple hours ago, I hated your fucking guts. Do you think they don’t know that? Whose side will they be on? Who will they be protective of?” At her silence, he added, “They need me. Someone has shown up uninvited. Now is not the time to explain us.”

  She jogged to keep up with him. “Look. If we are in this, then I don’t want to be left out. I’m coming with you!” He didn’t say anything for the six-block walk back.

  As they entered the B&B, she said under her breath, “Dontae!” Mr. Willoughby waved with a smile.

  Dontae nodded curtly to the man, held the door open for her, and muttered, “Catherine! I am not going to argue about this!”

  The widower watched as they headed for the stairs. “Still having fun?”

  Catherine threw him a look and he lost the smile. Dontae liked the man, though, so he glanced over and nodded to him. “Great time.”

  Up the stairs they went. “I’m not arguing. But I am driving you back.”

  “I have a car.”

  She stopped outside his room. “You rented one?”

  “Bought one. Did you see the Mustang out front?”

  She dropped her jaw. “The pretty blue one?”

  “PRETTY? It’s not pretty. Don’t fluff up my ride, thank you very much.”

  Laughing, Catherine followed him in. “Fluffers are those people who keep the guys hard for porno movies.”

  He grabbed his suitcase and threw it on the bed. Pausing, he turned to her. “Is that true?”

  She nodded, eyes bright green with amusement. “Uh huh.”

  He pursed his lips as he headed to the bathroom for his razor and shaving cream. “Interesting. Well, don’t fluffer up my car, then.” He smiled at her laugh, returned and tossed the items into the suitcase, zipping it up as he added, “You’re staying here. Enjoy the days. Get over your ex. Do what you have to.”

  The air changed in the room, so he looked over to see why. She appeared to be speechless. But that would be too good to be true. Oops. Old habits die hard. I want to hear what she has to say, now.

  “What’s with the face?”

  “You’re giving me space on purpose to get over Jonathan?” she whispered.

  A fist punched his heart and he closed his eyes against jealous pain. “Don’t say his name again.”

  “Sorry.”

  “And yes. If you just broke it off, that was a long time that you were together. You came up here to do that, so stay and do it. I’m not worried. I know you’ll come back to me this time. At least I fucking hope so.”

  She walked over and wrapped her arms around him, tucking her head into his chest. “I don’t know what to say.”

  “I’m just being logical. Why doesn’t everybody understand I’m driven by logic?” He wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her flaxen head. “I’ll get a new phone as soon as I get back. You know where I live if you don’t hear from me.”

  “Don’t say that!”

  He smiled and squeezed her tight. “I just meant if I’m not able to get the phone before you return. I don’t know what’s awaiting me, but I do know that I’m very capable of handling it, whatever it is. You’ve no need to worry. Not about me.”

  She craned her neck for a kiss, which he gladly gave her. “Okay. I’ll stay here.”

  “Good.”

  “I’ll miss you.”

  He laughed. “I can’t believe it, but I’ll miss you, too.”

  She gave his backside a swat. He chuckled then kissed her hard with finality. They released each other and he grabbed the suitcase and headed for the door, opening it for her to walk through.

  “You must be upset. You didn’t open it for me when we walked into your room.”

  He frowned. “Yeah, I guess I must be.” They walked downstairs, which made Thomas Willoughby raise his white eyebrows.

  “So, you are leaving tonight after all? I thought for sure—”

  Dontae threw the widower a half-smile. “This woman is the devil. But apparently I love the dark side.” He turned to Catherine and leaned down for a last kiss. “I love you.”

  “I love you, too,” she whispered, caressing his face. Her touch felt so good.

  “Well, now that’s a happy story!”

  They both looked over as Mr. Willoughby beamed at them. Dontae slapped Catherine on the ass so hard she yelped. “That hurt!”

  “You loved it,” he chuckled. “Goodbye Thomas!”

  “Goodbye Mr. Sheppard!”

  Heading for his car, Dontae’s smile vanished.

  What wolf would seek them out in the middle of Manhattan?

  Chapter Seventeen

  As Dante walked up to Nathaniel’s flat, the door opened and his friend stood in it, waiting, his face somber. “Never leave town without your phone again.”

  “I won’t do that again.”

  Emerald eyes f
lickered with mild surprise at the quick submission. Dontae didn’t notice—he was too busy heading to the living room where an unfamiliar smell disturbed him. The scent of man and animal strewn together in one dangerous package.

  Eli stood by the wall as he spun ice around his empty rocks glass, eyes flitting from the door to the other wolf. Dontae glanced to him as he walked in. They exchanged a nod as Darik stood and shoved his hands in the pockets of navy blue slacks, the suit jacket on the back of Nathaniel’s leather chair.

  His face was rigid. “Welcome back.”

  Dontae nodded curtly to him, then walked to meet the rising stranger. They locked eyes, giving Dontae time to size the other beast up. He was big. Too big. He was somewhere just over thirty, with a thick beard and strikingly hard features, dark brown eyes that were almost black.

  Almost.

  “It takes a brave wolf to stand tall in a pack not his own.”

  “I’m not afraid.”

  “Mm. I see that. Your name?”

  “Xavier Durant.” He waited.

  “Dontae. My last name is of no consequence to you. Your drink is empty. Nathaniel?” Dontae didn’t look back—his eyes were entangled with this Xavier character. He didn’t like that the bastard hadn’t blinked. “Why are you here?”

  “New York’s an interesting city,” the wolf smirked.

  Dontae did not return even a hint of amusement. “I mean why are you here. In my friend’s home. You’re messing with family.”

  “Easy now,” Xavier said, his hands slipping into the loose pockets of dark blue jeans. The thin white T-shirt pulled across his pectoral muscles and Dontae caught sight of large tattoo under the fabric. He didn’t care what it was of.

  “Here,” Nathaniel handed them both a glass. Dontae hadn’t even heard it being pored. He took it and was about to drink when Xavier offered his out to tap in the obligatory toast. Dontae growled and drank from the glass without obliging the beast.

  Xavier smiled outright and glanced around the somber faces. “Well, I can see why you waited. This is your alpha?”

  “None of us are alpha here,” Dontae snarled.

  The wolf’s brows rose in mild surprise. “No? I would disagree.”