A SEAL in Wolf's Clothing

by Terry Spear

  When Leidolf arrived at the inn, he saw the vehicle in question, a green pickup with California plates that was tilting to one side. Women. Probably didn’t know how to change a tire or call for someone to come and fix a flat.

  He’d barely opened the door to his Humvee when a woman hurried out, red hair in curls down to her shoulders and bouncing with her every step, eyes sea green and wide and hopeful, brow furrowed as she clutched a leather satchel tightly against her chest and headed straight for him. Dr. Roux? At least he presumed that’s who she was, only he’d expected someone a lot less leggy and less stunning to look at.

  What he’d figured he’d see was a gray-haired older woman, her hair swept back in a bun, with oval gold-rimmed glasses perched on her nose. Instead, this woman looked to be in her midtwenties and in terrific form, with shapely legs and a body to match. He envisioned her hiking through woods on wilderness treks to observe wolves, dispelling the notion that she was strictly a classroom lecturer.

  “Dr. Roux?” he asked, feeling more like a knight in shining armor now.

  She didn’t smile but looked worried as hell as she chewed a glossy lip and then gave a stiff nod. “Did Millie send you for me?” She didn’t wait for him to answer and motioned to the truck. “I changed the tire already.”

  He frowned and glanced back at the flat tire.

  “Someone was nice enough to ruin the spare also when I ran inside to clean up,” she added, her tone peeved. “It was too late to have the spare fixed before the meeting.”

  Irritated that any of the townspeople would treat her that way, he bit back a curse. Yet he couldn’t help being surprised for a second time. First, by her appearance. Now, by how capable the little woman was.

  He motioned to his Humvee. “I’m Leidolf Wildhaven, rancher south of town. I’ll take you to the meeting and have one of my men fix the tires while you’re lecturing.”

  “A rancher,” she said softly, her voice slightly condemning.

  He cast her a smidgen of a smile. “Yeah, but cougars are the only animals that bother me of late. Wolves? They’re my kind of animal. Protective, loyal—you know, like a dog, man’s best friend.”

  “They’re wild, Mr.—”

  “I’d prefer you call me Leidolf.”

  “I’m Cassie. Never met a rancher before who liked wolves.” She sounded as though she didn’t believe he would care for wolves. Maybe even worried that he might cause her trouble when she lectured.

  From Wolf Fever

  The waxing moon was calling to her. Again. Lying on the soft mattress in Darien Silver’s guest room early that spring evening, Carol Wood tried to sleep. But she felt the growing white sphere begging her to shed her human frailties and run with the magnificent grace of the wolf, strong and agile, with purpose in every stride in the crisp, cold Colorado night air.

  She did not wish to be one of them—at least as far as being a part-time wolf—no matter how much several in the pack had encouraged her to embrace this new side of herself. The moon would soon be whole, but deep down she rebelled against the werewolf’s curse. Because it was a curse to her, just the way her premonitions and psychic touch often were.

  She’d grown up with her revved senses and had realized she couldn’t do anything about that aspect of her life, once she’d learned it wasn’t normal to have the abilities she did. But now to be—she squeezed her eyes tighter and rolled onto her back—a werewolf… No matter how much she wished the truth could be changed, she knew she’d have to deal with it before long.

  With all her heart, she prayed to keep her newly acquired bizarre condition—shape-shifting—at bay. Her body tingled with heat and her mind with apprehension. Even in the darkness of her half-asleep mind, she fought the change, fought the feeling she was losing control of her physical form. Fresh tension made every nerve ending prickle while she clutched the comforter underneath her chin.

  The heat, like the sun shining on a bright and warm Caribbean afternoon, invaded every pore, signaling the unwanted craving to shift. She moaned, tightening her hold on the comforter, her nails digging into the white eyelet. The moon was growing day by day, just like the damnable desire to shape-shift. No, not desire. Compulsion.

  Then, as if her psychic side finally gained some ground against the wolf, her second sight kicked in. The room and the need to shift dissolved into blackness, and the wolf in her vision appeared again like a lucid dream.

  As big as it was, with massive shoulders, broad muzzle and forehead, and long legs, the wolf had to be a male, standing proud and tall, watching her from the edge of the spring-green forest. Cloaked in rich bluish-silver fur with a lighter mask, and with his ears perked like an alpha male’s would be, he panted until he caught her gaze. His amber eyes focused on hers: the wolf wanted her. Beckoned her to come to him. But not as a human.

  As a wolf.

  Even in her visions, the scene was one of cajoling, begging her to recognize her destiny, to give in to her wolf’s half. At least that’s the way she viewed him.

  Carol refused the wolf’s alluring gaze and the moon’s sensuous serenade.

  But the moon commanded her! Aroused her to do its bidding through its seductive pull, yanking her abruptly from the vision.

  The heat invading her body intensified now, like a fever that couldn’t be squelched. Never had the shift overtaken a vision in progress. The urge was growing. Yet she knew she still had some influence over the shift, like those born as lupus garous had an inborn ability to prevent humans from catching them during the conversion. Like them, if she wanted to change, the shift happened in a flash. And since she hadn’t just automatically shifted, she must have some control.

  Still, her muscles twitched with need as she shrugged off the comforter and blankets. She lay in her silky gown on the soft mattress in the pack leader’s chilly guest room, ready to yank off her garment before the transformation took over in case she couldn’t stop it. She envisioned the horrifying image of getting hung up in her gown as a wolf. Trapped, snarling, and growling, she’d try to free herself until she woke someone in the household. He or she would find her struggling in a cocoon of silk—furry legs kicking and sharp, wicked canines snapping.

  She gritted her teeth and pressed the palms of her hands flat against the soft mattress, battling the moon’s domination. She would not give up control and shape-shift! Not when she couldn’t rule her paranormal abilities. Not when she would now have to relinquish control over her physical form as well.

  But more than that, she feared the shift would change her forever. Forever! Doomed to live life as a wolf with the conscience of a human. Even a single moment as a wolf could permanently seal her fate. At least that’s what she thought a new vision was telling her, yet she couldn’t know for certain. That’s why fear consumed her to a greater degree every time the damnable shift threatened to overtake her.

  Cursing her fate, she ground her teeth and clenched her hands into fists, her fingernails biting into the palms of her hands, and attempted to think of anything that would halt the raging need to shift.

  She visualized Lelandi, the pack leader’s mate, throwing a first-ever All Girls’ Night Extravaganza the previous week exclusively for women in the pack—complete with werewolf-romance writer Julia Wildthorn’s latest novel made into a feature film, Wolfly Desires, popcorn, margaritas, and lots of laughter. They were still finding popcorn underneath cushions and beneath the couch in little clusters. Carol smiled at the memory, hoping they could repeat an activity like that soon.

  But then the heat rushed through her body again with a new wave of warning. Every muscle tightened, preparing for the fight. As if she’d called to the gods of psychic phenomena and they’d taken pity on her, her thoughts began to blur, and she knew her psychic sense was trying to take control again.

  Holding her thoughts hostage, the dreamlike image showed an out-of-focus
man, dressed in red and white stripes, who had knocked her down and was holding her there. Instantly, her blood cooled, the need to shape-shift withdrawing. A scrap of relief trickled through her. She focused, trying to see the mental picture more clearly, attempting to determine who had tackled her and why. Annoyance was the driving feeling she experienced from the encounter. Not fear. Loss of control, maybe. But the strongest emotion was definitely annoyance.

  Acknowledgments

  Thanks to my Rebel Romance critique partners who always help me to smooth out the story—Vonda, Judy, Pam, Tammy, Randy, Carol, and Betty. I appreciate Deb Werksman for making my books shine, for loving my wolves, and for being wonderful to work with. And Danielle Jackson, my publicist, who keeps me straight on blog tours. I’d be lost without you! And the incomparable art department that make winning covers for each and every book. But most of all, thanks to my fans, who give me ideas for new stories, share with me true stories about wolves—sometimes about raising their own wolf and wolf dogs—and visit with me all over the blogosphere. Your inspiring comments make my day!

  About the Author

  An award-winning author of urban fantasy and medieval historical romantic suspense, Terry Spear also writes true stories for adult and young adult audiences. She’s a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves and has an MBA from Monmouth University. She also creates award-winning teddy bears, Wilde & Woolly Bears, to include personalized bears designed to commemorate authors’ books.

  When she’s not writing, gardening, or making bears, she’s teaching online writing courses. Originally from California, she’s lived in eight states and now resides in the heart of Texas. She is the author of Heart of the Wolf, Destiny of the Wolf, To Tempt the Wolf, Legend of the White Wolf, Seduced by the Wolf, Wolf Fever, Heart of the Highland Wolf, Dreaming of the Wolf, Winning the Highlander’s Heart, The Accidental Highland Hero, Deadly Liaisons, and numerous articles and short stories for magazines.