Terry Spear’s Wolf Bundle

by Terry Spear

  “In the army for a number of years, different sides, different countries, different wars, time periods, trained in some of the more specialized forces later, Navy SEALs for one.”

  “No shit?” The cop shook his head. “I always wanted to be one of those.” His face turned stern again. “So how come you have to change the woman? Judge says she’s one of us, kind of.”

  “Long story, major nightmare.”

  “Too bad. It’s better when you both are willing. Happened to me, too, though.”

  “What happened?”

  “She’s still giving me grief.” The cop gave Hunter a smirk. “As soon as they allowed women on the force, she became a cop also. Said she wanted to see what I did all day. But don’t you believe it. She just wants to make sure I don’t turn another woman.”

  “How long have you been together?”

  “Ninety-eight years and counting.” The cop pulled into the back of the hospital. “Let me call Allan Smith. He’s a buddy of mine who’s taking care of the little lady.” He punched in some buttons on the phone and said, “Hey, Caruthers here. You got her?” He looked at Hunter. “The guy’s here with me. He’s a Navy SEAL. Yeah, that’s why he got the jump on the gray with the knife. I’m sending him in the back way. The reds are there?” He smiled. “I’ll tell him. Gotta go. See you this weekend to go fishing?” He laughed. “Okay, when it warms up a bit.”

  Caruthers shut off his phone. “Take the back stairs, third floor, Room 301. Let me tell you, pal, if I had it to do all over again, I’d turn my Greta in a heartbeat. There aren’t enough females in the world to go around. Sometimes we’ve just got to take a chance and hope for the best.”

  Allan Smith tucked his phone into his belt. “I’ll wait in the hall for your mate. All my best to you, young lady.” The cop left Tessa alone and closed the door.

  Sitting in a vinyl chair, she clenched and unclenched her hand. Now what would they do? She didn’t think Hunter would want to return to the hotel. Not after the killing there. She sure didn’t want to go there either. She shuddered. The look of death on the gray’s face would haunt her forever.

  “You must be Hunter Greymere,” Allan said beyond the door.

  Her heart gave a jump to hear that he’d arrived, and although she was relieved he found her before anyone else did, her stomach fluttered with apprehension.

  “I’d claim her nice and official-like to set things straight with the red and before some distant relation tries to take her home with him, if I were you. The other gray didn’t change her, by the way.”

  “Thanks, officer, for the advice, and the news,” Hunter said, his voice gruff.

  “Navy SEAL, eh? The guy must have been crazy to mess with you. I’ll be right here, so take all the time you need.”

  Now that he had his memories back, had Hunter remembered truly being a Navy SEAL? It definitely suited his character. Or was he continuing the tale, enjoying it too much to give it up?

  “Thanks.” Hunter opened the door, closed it behind him, stalked across the floor to join her, looking like a warrior with a mission, his harsh expression a mixture of sternness and worry, and she had an inkling he intended to turn her. She definitely had mixed emotions about the whole thing.

  “Navy SEAL? You really were one?” she whispered, raising her hands to offer herself to him, to take the plunge, to become something she couldn’t begin to imagine being. Part of her welcomed the change, the chance to be with the man who heated her blood like no other had ever done, yet part of her wanted to remain as she was, still wanting Hunter for her own, but without the life-altering change.

  “Yeah. You were right all along, Tessa honey. Meeting on the beach like we did was…karma. Although if I’d been more with it, I would have acted a lot more like one of the SEALs.”

  Her mouth slightly gaped. “How could you have been a SEAL as a werewolf?”

  “We can be anything we want, if we’re so inclined and have the aptitude.” He winked at her and the sexy look slid a volley of heat through her.

  And then she gave him a half smile. “Wonder what your SEAL friends would have thought if they’d known how we met.”

  “They would’ve been cursing my fortune that a beautiful woman had come to rescue me and not them.” He lifted her from the chair, hugged her to his chest, tighter than need be as if he’d feared losing her and wanted to prove to himself she was all his—which suited her just fine—then carried her to the bed. “We’ve got to talk.”

  Talk? She felt the tension in his muscles, saw the way his eyes darkened with need, smelled the subtle change in him, indicating he was becoming aroused. She wanted him with all her heart. So why didn’t his heated embrace make her melt against him? She stiffened instead, unable to hide a nagging concern. What if he changed her, then gave her to a beta wolf? “You don’t think I’m enough of an alpha.”

  “You’re an alpha all right. After you clobbered that gray with the fireplace tongs and tonight again with your crutch?” He gave her a small smile, set her on the bed, and tucked some of her hair behind her ear with a tender touch. “A beta female would have tucked tail and run. With your sprained ankle, if you’d been a beta, you would have easily given up. I saw you trying to keep Yoloff from biting you. If I could have, I would have ended his miserable life, too.”

  Hunter’s fingers shifted to the buttons on her blouse, his urgent struggle making her smile.

  But she still had to know—was he defying Devlyn? Taking her for his own? What were his intentions? Yet even so, she didn’t stop him. She couldn’t. Whenever he wanted her, she had no power to hinder him, just as she had no control over her own craving to have him. “I thought we were going to talk.”

  “I can’t deny I’m uncomfortable doing this to you, Tessa. I don’t want you to regret it. But I also don’t want to bite you. Wolves do bite in playfulness, but as a wolf to human?” He shook his head and pulled her blouse off her shoulders.

  So he was changing her. But that didn’t mean he was taking her for his mate. Despite wanting to know the truth first, her body instantly responded to his touching her, flames stoking her insides, a wet readiness preparing her for sex—not change. Want and need replacing common sense. His gaze focused on her face—watching for any sign of hesitation?

  The change. That’s what he was concerned about. “I used to play tug-of-war with my Irish Setter when I had one. She’d sometimes go for my hand by accident.” She hoped her lighthearted response would ease his concern.

  Hunter smiled. “Want to play tug-of-war?” He pulled her blouse off the rest of the way. “I’ve got to do this. We don’t have a choice.”

  She seized his hands and looked into his eyes. In that instant, he looked even more concerned, his mouth tightening, jaw clenched, brow furrowing.

  “I’m afraid, which isn’t being alpha like, is it? But I worry I’ll change too much. But more than that, what are you going to do with me afterwards?”

  Still looking stern, a hint of relief flitted across his expression. “You’re mine.”

  She should be ecstatic to have that question resolved, shouldn’t she? But she couldn’t quit worrying about the change. Instead of addressing his claim, she said, “I thought you couldn’t shapeshift unless the moon was out.” Yet she recalled the look Meara had given him.

  His sensual lips curved upward just a little as he started pulling off his clothes, revealing his beautiful body, rough hewn, rugged, capable of enduring great hardships, or giving her carnal pleasure. “I’m a royal and can do anything I want.” He gave an arrogant smile. “Almost anything.”

  “So as a royal, you can shapeshift anytime?”

  “That’s the beauty of it.”

  “That’s why you could be a SEAL. No worry about shifting while under water.”

  He chuckled. “No. And the group I was with—all royals, just for that reason.”

  She sighed. No scars marked his smooth as silk skin, every bit of toned muscles from his wide shoulders to his wel
l-developed chest, flexing in anticipation. She looked lower, from his narrow waist and hips down to his full blown erection standing at attention amidst dark curls.

  “I have to shift, but if you keep looking at me like you want to eat me all up…”

  Her eyes riveted back to his lusty gaze.

  “You might want to look away when I begin to shift.”

  “I’ve seen you shapeshift. You’re gorgeous. What if I’m motley?” Again, she tried to make light of the situation, although her stomach churned with renewed apprehension.

  “You’ll be beautiful. But Leidolf and Devlyn will want you unless we’re mated. Ready?”

  She nodded. He looked like he wanted to kiss her, his gaze lowering to her mouth again and lingering there…but then he took a deep breath and began to shift into his wolf form. She couldn’t get over how fast the transformation was. Would she shift just as quickly? If Ashton was any indication of a newly turned lupus garou, then yes, she’d change just as swiftly. Probably of a necessity, to avoid humans catching sight of them between forms.

  She watched in awe, how his body changed gracefully, effortlessly, painlessly, from the muscled hunk to the healthiest specimen of a wolf she’d ever seen. Beautiful almond eyes captured hers and then before she could say a word, the wolf that was Hunter jumped on the bed and nuzzled her cheek.

  She stroked his head. “Hurry and do it before I change my mind.” Her skin perspired lightly and in the cold hospital room, she shivered.

  His amber eyes remained fixed on hers and then he dipped his head and nipped her uninjured arm.

  “Ow,” she said, frowning. “Jeez, Hunter. That hurt like a hard pinch and you didn’t even break the skin. But I’ll have a bruise for sure there now.”

  If a wolf could look contrite, he did and tried again. His second bite was as lame as his first.

  “Ah for heaven’s sakes, Hunter. Another bruise. Hurry and do it right or I’m calling it quits.” She hoped her words would make him stop worrying about hurting her. She’d heal quickly anyway, wouldn’t she?

  He bit again and broke the skin this time. Her eyes watered and she bit her lip. Blood trickled from the bite on her arm, and he licked it away. And waited.

  Self-doubt filled her. Maybe he didn’t turn her either, just like Yoloff hadn’t. What if she was some strange anomaly and couldn’t be turned? Maybe her great-grandmother couldn’t be either and that’s why she died of the fever? A sadness filled Tessa with the notion neither her ancestor or she could forever be with the one she loved.

  But if the change had taken effect, what was she supposed to feel like? Except that her swollen ankle and arm where Yoloff had bitten her were tingling with the strangest sensations, nothing else was different.

  Hunter continued to watch her, not shapeshifting. She hoped to hell he wouldn’t have to bite her again.

  “Too bad with all of your enhanced abilities, you can’t talk when you’re in your wolf form, too.” She glanced at the door. “Someone’s coming. You’d better hide under the bed.”

  Hunter didn’t budge, just continued to observe her.

  “I mean it. I…I hear several people.” Her heart pumped harder.

  “Howdy, folks,” Allan said at the door.

  “Did he do it yet?” Leidolf asked, his voice guardedly amused.

  Leidolf. Her heart took a dive.

  “It remains to be seen. I’m taking care of things here. Why don’t you run along?”

  “Tell Hunter four of his people want to return with him. The fifth wants to stay with one of my widowed males to be his mate. When Hunter’s through here, he and Tessa can meet me at the hotel. Different set of rooms. Just check at the front desk. Dinner’s on me.”

  Tessa relaxed. Leidolf didn’t want her, thank God for small miracles.

  “I’ll let him know.”

  Tessa took a deep breath, smelled the air, and looked at Hunter in his feral wolf form, her eyes widening. “You’re a gray. I mean, I smell a special scent that surrounds you. A wildness, like a fresh spring day, the woods, the great outdoors.”

  She swore his mouth curved up just a hair, before he began to shapeshift—his body straightening, his rich fur pelt vanishing, leaving behind bronzed skin over hard muscles. Until he stood before her, one gloriously built male stud.

  He touched her face, his amber eyes gazing into hers, his expression concerned. “How do you feel, Tessa?”

  She loved him for it, for being concerned about her welfare above all else. No one but her mother had ever treated her that way.

  Tessa took his hand and kissed it. “Better. My ankle feels strange. Prickling and numb, but not sore any longer. And where you bit me, the skin’s already sealed up. The bruise you gave me has gone away. Where Yoloff tore the skin feels ticklish, like when injured skin is scabbing over and new skin is created to take its place.”

  “How do you feel in here?” Hunter said, still frowning as he reached for her forehead with a whisper-soft touch.

  “Oh. I don’t think I’ll know the answer to that question until I’ve experienced more of the changes.”

  He unbuckled her belt and then unzipped her jeans. “You’re not upset?”

  Her eyes grew big. “You’re going to make love to me in a hospital bed?”

  He leaned over and kissed her lace-covered breasts, stirring her craving to make love to him.

  “You bet, alpha mate of mine. We do it often, whenever and wherever we can.”

  “Well, hell, Hunter. Why didn’t you tell me that before?”

  He chuckled darkly. “You’ll fit right into the pack, Tessa.”

  “Are you sure about this?” She motioned to the room. “Shouldn’t we go somewhere more private?”

  “The room’s well guarded with our police friend at the door. It’s up to you, but until I’ve mated you, you’re available to any unmated male out there who’s willing to fight me for you. So yeah, I’m sure about this. You can’t be out of my sight until then.”

  “But we’ve already made love. Doesn’t that count?” Not that she didn’t want to make love to him and like now, but it made her realize she didn’t know all the rules of Hunter’s world yet, and she could get herself into a lot more hot water. Well, more than she was already, until she understood what was going on better.

  He shook his head, then brushed a kiss against her lips, mouth-watering, mind-numbing. Everything about him made her bones and muscles melt like lava beneath his heat. She knew he’d take her for another sensual ride like she’d never known with any man before him, and she was past ready for everything he could give her.

  Wanting her like no other, Hunter quickly removed her clothes, desiring to claim her like any wolf would its chosen mate, male and female alike. He wanted the first time to be slow and leisurely now that she was a lupus garou. Making love to her all night long would have sufficed, but not with a bunch of reds breathing down their necks. Or Yoloff and his brother still on the loose. And Devlyn would soon be a problem.

  Tessa had already covered herself with the thin hospital blanket, her skin raised with chill bumps. As usual, the hospital room felt like a refrigerator.

  “Next time I make love to you, we’ll have a well-heated room and no huddling under the covers,” he said, his brow raised.

  Tessa’s infectious smile heated his blood, sparking his desire.

  He jerked the cover aside and climbed on top of her, then pulled the blanket over them and molded to her soft body, pressing his arousal against her mound. “Not much room, but it should suffice.”

  “Hmm,” she said, yielding to him, wrapping her arms around his back, her embrace every bit as possessive as he felt about her. “Seems like the right amount of room to me. You just need to put that well-honed lance somewhere where it’s not so dangerous.”

  He chuckled darkly.

  Everything seemed to fade in the room, the noises in the hospital, the cold air circulating about them, the odor of antiseptics.

  Take me, her expres
sion silently pleaded. She moved her legs apart, giving herself completely.

  “I know just where to sheathe it.”

  “Do.” She licked his lips. “Mate with me so I’m all yours.”

  That was all Hunter wanted to hear, yet he couldn’t help saying what he knew was in his heart. “You’re all mine, anyway.”

  She cast him one of her impish smiles that said he was being full of himself as usual, which stirred his compulsion to have her even more. He pressed his lips against her sensual mouth, his hand kneading her soft breast and then ran his thumb over her nipple, the rosy crown peaking. Not enough. He could never get enough of tasting or touching her. Of breathing in her subtle arousal.

  Her gaze soft and sultry, she turned her head toward the door.

  He wanted to groan out loud at her distraction. “You’ll learn to ignore the sounds that aren’t important,” he whispered, then turned her head back to his, lost himself in the exotic sparkles of blue against green in her languid eyes.

  He slipped his erection into her wet folds, the heat of her body sparking flames in his. Wanting to fully mate her, possess her, claim her like he’d craved from the first moment he’d seen her checking on Uncle Basil, her determination, her concern for him, her friendliness toward his sister even when the feeling wasn’t reciprocated. No matter how much he’d tried to reconcile himself with the notion that he couldn’t have a human for his mate, he’d wanted her.

  “Ahh,” she said, pressing her pelvis against him, working him as he deepened his thrusts. Her eyes closed, her tongue licked her swollen lips, and he captured it, sucked on it, making her mew.

  Claiming her felt more than right, like they had been meant for each other since the dawn of time. He’d worried he would notice a difference, that she wouldn’t be feral enough, not lupus garou enough to satisfy some primal need. But she was perfect, her hot, supple body molding with his, her moves every bit in sync, deepening the bond, the feelings, the ecstasy. Just as driven to satisfy her sexual needs—and his—to consummate their relationship, to delve into the unknown and conquer it.