by Dunbar, Natalie; Glass, Seressia; Jeffries, J. M. ; Banks, L. A.
Wolves. Dwayne Hudgens and his partners.
Kadim regained his feet, snarling, but the two betas attacked again. Simone leapt forward to intervene, but the third wolf blocked her, knocking her off her feet with brute force alone. She twisted, but he bit her, hard, between throat and shoulder.
Pain bloomed, causing her to howl in response. Behind her, snarls and growls coerced a loud yelp of pain, a yelp she recognized as Kadim’s. He was down, the two wolves circling, preparing for a fatal strike.
Faster than ever before, Simone turned human, flinging herself
between the wolves and Kadim. She curled over him, unmindful of the rocks and twigs digging into her bare skin. “Don’t you dare hurt him!”
The alpha, a large gray, growled. The other two wolves joined their leader, then one at a time shifted back to human. “Well, well, well, lookie here,” Hudgens said, a nasty smile on his face. “Miss High and Mighty ain’t all that anymore.”
Kadim didn’t shift, a fact that scared Simone more than Hudgens and his flunkies. She could hear his heart racing, his breath laboring. They must have hurt him badly.
I’m so sorry, Kadim, she thought, guilt threatening to choke her. Against her will she thought of Xavier, how he’d died defending her. She couldn’t let that happen to Kadim.
Clasping her wounded shoulder, Simone climbed to her feet, keeping herself between Kadim and the others. “What do you want?”
“You know what I want,” Hudgens said, licking his lips as he slowly ran his gaze up her body. “And when I’m done, you do my boys. Then we go back downtown, stop at a chapel to make it all nice and legal. Then you and your half of the hotel will belong to me.”
Her stomach roiled at the thought. “No.”
“No? You think you can tell me no, bitch?” He grabbed a fistful of her hair, dragging her closer. “I’m Alpha here. You do what I tell you, when I tell you, or the wolf dies.”
Simone closed her eyes, fighting the pain, the fear. She couldn’t do it. She couldn’t give herself to Hudgens; she knew enough about him to know that death would be preferable to being tortured by him and his clanmates. But she couldn’t make that decision for Kadim. She couldn’t let them hurt him. No one else was going to die because of her.
If she submitted to Hudgens, she’d give Kadim time to recover, to escape. As much as he liked her, he wasn’t Alpha. She didn’t expect him to challenge Hudgens over her, but maybe he’d make it to the French Quarter and Malcolm before she was too damaged to be of any use. If she were lucky, maybe Hudgens and his crew would get wasted and pass out, and she could kill them all before she—
Simone.
She stiffened, uncertain if she’d heard Kadim’s voice inside her head, or only imagined it. Kadim? Is that really you? Yes. I’m a telepath. We can finish this, if you can distract Hudgens long enough for me to regain power. How long? Seconds. He’ll pay for touching you.
“Well?” D-Money demanded, showing her roughly away. “Are you going to give me an answer?” Simone bared her teeth. I can distract him, but I really want to kill him.
Kadim’s warm laughter filled her mind, reassuring her that he would indeed soon be fine. Not if I kill him first.
She had two advantages on Hudgens and his crew: she was older and a Natural Were. Even though this marked the first time she’d shifted in nearly five years, she was willing to bet she could shift faster than they could. She could also partially shift her form, something only Alphas and a handful of Naturals could do. Besides, they needed her alive, at least long enough to get her share of the casino. They’d try to hurt her, but they wouldn’t kill her.
So she hoped, anyway. “You want an answer?” She raised her hands. “Here’s your fucking answer.”
She spun away from Hudgens, her hands instantly lengthening into scythe-like claws. She swung with deadly intent, catching Mutt across the throat. Blood sprayed like a crimson sprinkler as the Were grabbed at his throat, slowly sinking to his knees. Beside her, Kadim sprung into action, leaping past her to crash into Hudgens. The third Were turned tail and ran, heading for the road.
She couldn’t let him get away. She wouldn’t let him live.
A howl spilled from her throat as she shifted on the run, leaping across the clearing. She ripped into the back of the Were’s thigh, bringing him down. He was trying to change back to human form, but she didn’t care. They’d encroached on her clan’s territory, tried to hurt her, hurt Kadim. Her wolf wanted blood. Now.
Her claws dug into his sides, broke through sprouting fur and knotting flesh. He managed to twist beneath her, closing his half-formed jaws on her right foreleg. Yelping in pain, she rolled, taking him with her, exposing his belly to the sky. Just for a moment, just long enough. With claws and teeth and no finesse, she gutted him, not giving him the honor of taking his throat. He didn’t deserve it. None of them did.
Pain radiated through her leg and shoulder, causing her to limp. Shaking herself to jettison some of the blood and gore clinging to her fur, Simone turned back to the clearing, determined to help Kadim. Hudgens was an alpha, and a dangerous one at that. Kadim wasn’t, but she knew there was power in him, power he could tap to defeat Hudgens. The alpha couldn’t be allowed to live.
She limped back into the clearing as fast as she could, driven by the fierce sounds of mortal battle. Light glowed through the trees, light that didn’t come from the moon. At the edge of the clearing she stopped, transfixed.
The darker wolf was on fire.
She watched in amazement as the flaming animal leapt onto the remaining male, jaws closing on throat. The gray wolf yelped once before claws, teeth, and flame overpowered him.
The fiery wolf brightened, flames elongated to a human shape. The dead wolf began to burn as the flaming shape picked up the man she’d killed earlier, threw it on top of Hudgens. Somehow the second body caught fire.
Simone crouched in the undergrowth, her animal instinct screaming with the urge to run. This was unnatural. This was wrong.
The figure straightened and turned toward her. She whimpered despite every urge not to, shuffling backwards into the protective cover of the forest. The acrid smell of singed fur and charring flesh assaulted her nose. She needed to run, but her leg wouldn’t obey. When the figure took a step toward her, she growled in warning.
Fire seemed to sink into skin as Kadim regained his normal human form. “Simone?” he called, spreading his arms wide. “It’s me, Simone. It’s all right. You can change back now.”
Simone overrode the wolf’s instinct, wrenching slowly back to human form. She stumbled to her feet, pain causing her muscles to scream in protest. It hurt like a bitch to change forms so much in such a short time frame; she’d be paying for days, if she lived that long.
“Kadim.” She stumbled again, unable to figure out how to make her human legs work. “Kadim. Thanks for not dying.” “Simone.” He caught her around the waist. “Simone, your arm.”
“He bit me, the bastard. Good thing I’m already a werewolf,” she said, trying not to gag on the stench of burning flesh. The two bodies in the flames were almost completely ash, yet she couldn’t feel heat, and the surrounding vegetation didn’t burn. “How is that happening?”
Kadim’s image blurred, but not so much that she couldn’t see worry in his expression. “Simone, do you realize you’re stuck in a halfway state?”
“Huh?” Blinking away the blood and gore on her face, she looked down, surprised to see that her legs were bent the wrong way. And covered with cinnamon-brown fur. “Oh crap. That explains the trouble walking.”
“Can you change back? Either way?”
She looked at her legs, concentrated. Nothing happened, except pounding inside her head. “Apparently not.” Kadim frowned down at her. “Has this ever happened before?” “No.” She tried to take a step, faltered, and would have fallen if
not for his arm around her waist. “My fault, for going too long between Changes. My wolf wanted to take over, wanted blo
od. I couldn’t let them hurt you; I couldn’t let them take you away from me. I must have burned out.”
Her breath hitched as the night spun. “I think—I think I’m going to freak out now.” Kadim swung her up into his arms. “I’ll take care of you, if you wish it.”
She looked up at him, at his eyes so warm and sincere. Warmth. He was so warm, and she remembered the column of flame moving over Hudgens. No Were she’d ever met could command flame, not even some of the European Weres who practiced magic.
“Who are you?” Her hand reached up to cup his face, but she touched his cheek with a claw-tipped paw instead of fingers. “Oh, shit.”
She tried to wriggle out of his arms, but his hold tightened. “Simone, don’t.”
“You should put me down and walk away,” she said, sudden fear clogging her throat. “Once the clan finds out about this, I won’t be able to stay in Vegas. They’ll try to put me down, and my instinct will be to fight them. I don’t want to fight my own clan.”
“You won’t have to, I promise. If you wish it, I’ll help you.”
“No, Kadim.” She hiccupped, her vision blurring again. “Something like this was bound to happen, since I haven’t shifted in five years. I’m going to cancel our bet. You didn’t cause this, so you don’t have anything to worry about with the clan. They won’t blame you; in fact, they’ll probably accept you. My brother needs a strong second. You’re a good fighter, and you bring in money for the casino. You’re worth your weight in platinum.”
His dark gaze seemed to burn with an inner fire. “And you are more precious than rubies.”
“No, I’m the clan fuck-up, one step away from omega.” She looked at her arms, tried and failed again to shift. A bubble of hysteria made her shiver. “Actually, I’d say this wins me the position paws down.”
“Simone.” The growl in his voice forced her to focus on him and not the pain numbing her senses. “Wish yourself into my care, please? Just wish it.”
She sighed, her eyes sliding shut. Why not? Hoping and praying and concentrating hadn’t brought on her Change. All she had left were her wishes. If Kadim needed those in order to help her, so be it.
“All right,” she whispered against his chest, her energy gone. “I wish… I wish you could help me.”
Chapter Four
Kadim stared down at the woman sleeping soundly in his bed. She looked the way he’d imagined, as if she belonged there with her coppery skin and dark hair beautiful against the gold of the silk sheets.
He’d been trying for the better part of a year to get closer to her, to unravel her mysteries, only to have her reveal them all in one bloody, emotional hour.
Simone had defended him as fiercely as if he’d belonged to her clan, as if he meant something to her. And she’d truly believed that he’d be accepted into her clan while they ostracized her.
As if he could be content without her, when she was the reason he’d come to Vegas in the first place.
With a wave of his hand, he refilled the brazier of loose incense beside the bed. The fragrance had helped recharge him, and in turn allowed him to help her; to smooth her transformed arms and legs back into their human shape. She’d slept through it all, for which he was grateful. She’d have questions enough when she awakened.
She was right about one thing, though. Their bet was off. He’d wanted more time before giving her his last confession, but he no longer had the luxury of time. She’d seen his true form; she now knew he wasn’t a Were. He had to tell her everything, but how would she handle the truth? Would all his careful strategizing come to nothing, like a house of cards?
No. He hadn’t come this far, planned this carefully, to lose her now. Not now, when he needed her even more than he had when she’d first arrived. Not now, when his very existence depended on her making the right decision.
No sense in putting off the inevitable. Expelling a breath, he leaned over to stroke the back of his hand down her cheek. “Simone. Wake up, Simone.”
She blinked slowly in response before her dark lashes swept up, her gaze finding him. “Kadim.” She took a deep breath. “Is that wolfs bane I smell?”
“It’s a special healing incense,” he explained, searching her face, wondering when the pointed questions would start, and how he’d answer them. “Besides the wolfs bane, there’s dragons blood and nag champa, among other things.”
A smile bowed her lips as she inhaled again. “I’m going to have to tell Claire to order some. One of the shops at the hotel really needs to stock some of that. Much better than drinking wolfs bane tea for rough Changes, that’s for sure.”
She stiffened suddenly, her eyes again finding his. “Healing? Am I okay, then?”
When he nodded, she pulled her hands free of the gold silk sheet, holding them up in the candlelight. Both arms had reverted to their normal toffee-almond color; her fingers their usual length and not elongated claws. He’d even healed the bite wounds on her wrist and shoulder. Like she’d said earlier, it was a good thing she was already a Were, because he wouldn’t have been able to stop the lycanthrope virus from infecting her. Even he had his limits.
A gasp escaped her lips as she threw back the sheet, revealing her bare body. Her beautiful shapely legs stretched along the bed, with the knees bent the proper way for a human and completely fur free.
“You fixed me.” Her smile spread like cozy heat through his insides. “You actually fixed me.”
Before he could answer her, she rose to her knees to throw her arms around his neck. Laughter bubbled from her as she scattered exuberant kisses across his face in enthusiastic thanks. Despite knowing that he shouldn’t, Kadim dragged her close, needing to feel her skin against his. The soft warmth of her naked body pressed against his, causing an immediate and unmistakable reaction.
Her kisses began to slow, to change, until she lingered over his mouth. When she pulled back, he instantly released her and opened his eyes, apology ready.
She stared up at him, her eyes dark with something far from upset. “Why aren’t you kissing me back?”
He ground his teeth as her left hand pushed open his robe to lightly stroke his chest. “You were thanking me,” he managed to say. “I didn’t want to take advantage.”
Smiling, she pressed closer, brushing her belly against his erection. “You’re not taking advantage. You bested a rival, won a challenge. That means you get a chance to mate with me, if I want. And I very much want. Don’t you?”
“Months,” he said, as she pushed his robe off his shoulders. “I’ve been wanting you for months.”
“Then let’s not waste any more time, okay?” she asked, wrapping her fingers around his erection. He took a deep shuddering breath as she stroked him, causing him to thicken in her hand.
“Make love to me, Kadim,” she whispered against his lips, her voice urgent, hypnotic. “Let everything else wait for a while.”
Growling, he threaded a hand into her hair, keeping her in place as he took over the kiss. He pushed his tongue against her lips, needing to taste her. She responded eagerly, parting her lips so that their tongues slid together. One of them groaned.
He slid a hand down her spine, giving in to the urge to stroke the satin of her skin. She moaned in response, hot and open against his mouth. When she shifted against his erection again, his brain short-circuited.
Simone felt a change in him, as if a switch had been thrown. His fingers sent tendrils of heat sparking through her as his hands slid up her body to cup her breasts. She moaned into his mouth again as the pads of his thumbs brushed across her nipples. “Where are your condoms?”
“What? Oh, of course.” He waved a hand toward the intricately carved nightstand beside the bed. The drawer opened, revealing a box of condoms.
“Neat trick,” she murmured, sliding away from him to get the box, open it.
“I have more,” he offered.
“I don’t doubt that for a minute. Let me show you one of mine.” Sitting on the edge of the bed s
o that her knees flanked his, she tore open a foil packet, removed the condom. His entire body tensed as she reached out, wrapped her fingers around him. She stroked him with gentle pressure, enjoying the hot, hard feel of him.
“Simone…” his voice held a definite note of warning. Taking her time, she unrolled the condom onto his erection, teasing herself as much as she teased him. Anticipation puckered her nipples as she stood; needing to press her body against his again, press her mouth to his again.
His hands immediately slid down her back to cup her butt as his mouth slanted over hers. Every nerve ending in her body flared to sensual life. She had to have him.
“No more games, Simone,” he said, his breathing harsh against her neck. She could hear his heart pounding, sending blood into the thick hardness pressed against her belly. “Do you want this? Do you want me?”
“Kadim.” She pushed against him, straining upwards. So close, so very close…
He pulled away, and she nearly howled in protest. “I want to hear you say it.”
She’d say she was the Queen of England if it would get him inside her. But she knew what he meant. Cupping his face in her hands, she stared unblinkingly into his eyes. “Months,” she growled, repeating his words. “I’ve been wanting you for months.”
“Turn around,” he demanded, his voice hoarse with barely restrained desire. “On your knees. Now.”
The desire boiling in him, a perfect counterpoint to her own, made her hot. She dropped to all fours on the bed, and then turned, waiting. She needed this, needed him wild, demanding, dominant.
His hands wrapped around her hips, dragging her to the edge of the bed. She shivered as she felt his fingers glide over her skin and between her thighs, testing her readiness. After everything that had happened, she was more than ready, and pushed against his hand in blatant hinting.
He removed his fingers, and then she felt it, felt the thick head of his penis pushing between her thighs, sliding. Rubbing along her lips. Widening her stance, she angled her hips, eager for him to fit them together. With one short, sharp thrust, he did.
