Falling For a Wolf Box Set (BBW Werewolf / Shifter Romance)

by Mac Flynn

  Adam smiled and I found our positions of dominance quickly changed when he wrapped his arms around me. My breasts pressed against his firm chest, and I noticed his shirt was covered by a slight sheen of dew from the fog. He leaned down and his sultry voice brushed against against my ear. "I could certainly arrange for a private showing if you wished."

  My cheeks blushed and I tried to push away, but he held tight. "You don't need much encouragement, do you?" I asked him.

  He chuckled. "I am male."

  "Doubly male with that wolf inside of you," I reminded him. I glanced back at the cabin and nodded toward the door. "Speaking of carnal things, you think you can handle being around Bunny again or should you hide away in your cabin until the storm's blown over?"

  He pursed his lips and followed my gaze to the door. "I am not sure yet. Perhaps a day away from her would be the wisest action to take."

  My shoulders slumped, but I nodded. "Unfortunately, yeah. Just wish me luck that I can make it out this visit with my sanity intact."

  "I will pray for you," he promised.

  I snorted. "Thanks, now get along before one of them comes out wondering if a bear's eaten us."

  Chapter 8

  Adam left me to my fate of a day alone with the pair of Whiniers. I stood in front of the door, took a deep breath, and-almost plunged inside. My outstretched hand hovered over the knob when the sound of raised voices greeted my ears. I leaned against the door and listened to the conversation.

  "Why do you always have to pick on me?" Bunny whined.

  "Why do you always have to fornicate with every male who bats his eyes at you?" her husband's louder voice growled back at her.

  "He came on me! It's all his fault!" she argued. I glared into space. She was more the viper than I took her for.

  Whinier snorted. "How can they help in when you attack them? And don't try to deny it! I caught you with that store clerk last year, remember?"

  "He was helping me dress," she defended herself.

  "But you insisted he undress you, and I had to pay a pretty penny to get him to stay quiet," Whinier countered. I heard heavy footsteps march a short distance across the floor and stop. "You're going to ruin us both with your antics! One more lawsuit and we'll probably be bankrupt!"

  "Alfred! Don't say such a thing!" I clamped one hand over my nose to keep from snorting. I'd forgotten my boss' first name. "What would our friends think if they heard you say that?"

  "We'd have more friends if you'd stop trying to jump in bed with all the husbands, and I don't give a hang of what they think! They haven't given me the connections that I wanted, so they can go jump in their expensive Olympic pools for all I care!" Whinier growled. There was my cut-throat boss. Even in personal dealings everything was business.

  Bunny scoffed and her high-pitched voice rang through the door. "And how is that different from my wanting to-to get to know the gentlemen better? Well? You're using them just as much as I am, so there!"

  "Mature," I muttered. My voice must have been too loud, or the door was too thin.

  "Shut up!" Whinier hissed.

  I coughed to warn them of my presence and stepped inside. The pair stood on the opposite side of the couch and Whinier hurriedly plopped himself down on the nearest cushion. Bunny scowled at her husband, but her face changed to a smile when she looked to me.

  "Only you? Where is that devilishly handsome man of yours? I didn't hurt him with my tripping into him, did I?" she asked me. I wondered if she had any shame.

  "He's been feeling a little under the weather, so he went home," I informed her.

  Her lip puffed out in a pout. "Oh phooey. Well, I suppose I'll just go take a nap. Not much else to do around here. Just call me when lunch is ready, and have some of that delicious cocoa of yours for my drink." She waved her fingers at me and strode into the bedroom where she shut the door behind herself. I heard her speak to her Snookums and there was the squeak of the bed hinges as she plopped herself onto the mattress.

  I walked over to the kitchen, grabbed Whinier's cocoa mug, added another dash of alcohol and moved to the couch. I stood before Whinier who clasped his head in one hand. His eyes stared into the fire and burned nearly as brightly as the flames with their anger.

  "You're drink, sir," I told him.

  Whinier took the glass from me, tilted back his head, and swallowed half the contents in one big gulp. He smacked his lips and gave a nod. "Not bad, but more whiskey next time," he advised.

  I smiled and sat down on the couch near him. For him, that was a compliment. "No problem, but I couldn't-"

  "-help noticing our argument?" He chuckled, but the sound was more bitter than mirthful. His voice dropped so it couldn't be overheard from the bedroom. "They've been getting worse, too. I should probably divorce her, but she's practically helpless on her own. Spends too much and doesn't know a thing about finance."

  "Have you ever thought about giving her to another rich sucker-um, gentleman?" I suggested.

  He snorted and turned to scrutinize my face. I was surprised to see the corners of his lips curl up in a smile. "You've got a lot of balls calling your boss a sucker."

  I shrugged. "I guess I got those from my dad," I joked.

  Whinier stood and wandered over to the mantel. He lay one of his arms over the top and stared down at the fire. "I probably should drop her on some young sap who wants a pretty face at his side, but she's-" Screaming. We both heard the terrifying sound from the bedroom followed quickly by the sound of yapping and barking mixed with a couple of horrendous growls.

  I jumped to my feet as Whinier raced to the door. We rushed inside with me behind him and found Bunny squished against the head of the bed. Her eyes were wide, and she cradled a bleeding hand against her chest. At the foot was Snookums, but he was no longer the happy little dog in her arms. His hackles were raised and he bared his fangs at his mistress.

  Whinier rushed around the left side of the bed and seated himself by her side. He lay a hand on her shoulder and shook her. "What happened?" he asked her.

  Bunny shook her head. Snookums took the movement as a sign of aggression and jumped at her. He flew only half the bed length toward her, but Bunny let out a shriek and pushed herself into Whinier's chest. "H-he wants to hurt me!" she sobbed.

  "Why? What happened that made him want to attack you?" Whinier asked her.

  She buried her face in his shirt and shook her head. "I don't know! I know don't! I was just laying here and he came up and sniffed me, and then started growling. The next thing I knew he-he attacked me!"

  Whinier glared and turned that face on the yapping dog. He swiped at it with his hand to push it back. "Get! Get away!" He turned his attention to me. "Monet, take that dog out of here!"

  "Sure thing." I snatched the dog off the bed. It squirmed, but didn't bite me. His full attention still lay on his mistress at whom he snarled and barked. I hurried out, but at the doorway Whinier called to me.

  "And close the door so it can't get back in!" Whinier ordered me.

  I shut the door and the dog instantly calmed. Snookums even looked up at me and wagged his tail. Puzzled, I walked over to the couch and plopped down to think about these new and unfortunate turn of events. I didn't like Bunny, but I didn't hate her. Well, didn't hate her too much. She had tried to play paddy-cake with my-Adam!

  "Oh shit," I whispered. That mark on Bunny's neck. His little love-tap to get her off him. He might have-

  I had to call him.

  I snatched up my phone, clutched the mutt in my free hand, and hurried onto the porch. Thank goodness I had his number in my phone, and I called the Stud's number. I placed the phone against my ear and listened to the rings. I paced the porch with the dog in my hands. Once. Twice. "Come on, Adam, please not be taking your winter nap," I murmured. Four. Five-

  "Is something wrong?" Adam's voice came through the phone. I noticed he sounded weary, but there wasn't time for idle chit-chat.

  "How deep does a scratch have to be for
someone to turn into a werewolf?" I questioned him.

  "The skin has to be broken, why?"

  "Because I think Bunny's flirtatious encounter with you has left a lasting and furry impression on her. Her dog just attacked her in the bedroom," I explained.

  "Damn . . " he whispered.

  "In a way, but what are we going to do? Advise my boss to get his wife a flea collar for Christmas?" I asked him.

  "No, there may still be time to reverse the effects," he revealed.

  I frowned. "But you said there wasn't a cure."

  "Not after the curse has taken hold in the body, but if the person is still in the process of the change there's still a chance. There's a brew I can make that she would need to drink, but that would reverse the changes and cure the curse," he told me.

  I breathed a sigh of relief, and didn't even care when the dog licked my face. "Great, what do we need?"

  "Some common household spices, but I don't have the most important ingredient. Dried wolf's bane," he replied.

  I felt the color drain from my face. "Shit. Is that stuff sold in the store or something?"

  "Because of it's poisonous nature to humans, no."

  "Is it natural to the area?"

  "Unfortunately, no."

  "So what do we do?"

  "We would need to travel to my private garden three miles into the woods and retrieve a fresh sample," he revealed.

  I could have strangled him if he'd been present. "Why didn't you tell me that sooner?"

  "You're line of questioning hadn't reached that point," he pointed out.

  "We don't have time to waste! We have to get this poisonous-wait a sec." I wrinkled my face as memories of the noxious fumes came to mind. "How are we supposed to give this stuff to Bunny if it's poisonous to humans?"

  "We mix the ingredients with the dried plant. A slight bit will infuse the spices with the curative powers of the bane. Unfortunately, she will be slightly ill for a few days, but she will be cured."

  I shrugged to the empty world before me. "I think we can live with that if she can live with that. When can you leave?" I wondered.

  "Unfortunately, I don't believe I'm capable of making the trip alone. The short walk with Bunny and the walk to my home have tired me out more than I anticipated," he admitted.

  I cringed. "Damn it, so we both have to go?" I guessed.

  "Unless we can convince your guests to come with us that far, then yes," Adam agreed.

  Behind me beyond the closed door to my home I heard a door latch clack shut. I lowered my voice and tiptoed to the door. "I gotta go. Somebody's moving around inside," I told Adam.

  "I will try to regain my strength for the trip," he replied.

  "And think of a way to keep the Whiniers distracted while we go for a hike," I added before I shut off the phone.

  Chapter 9

  I stuffed the phone into my pocket and creaked open the door. My boss stood in the kitchen over the stove with the kettle in hand. I slipped inside and dropped the dog onto the floor. Snookums wagged his tail at his master and wandered up to Whinier while I followed the dog. Whinier noticed the pooch and glared down at the dog at his feet. "What the hell's wrong with you?" he growled at the dog. Snookums tucked his tail between its legs, flattened its ears against his head and scooted to the other side of the couch.

  "How's Bunny?" I asked him.

  "A little shaken, but better," he told me. He put down the kettle and ran a hand through his short, graying hair. "I just can't understand it myself. That dog loves her, and then he goes and does this."

  "Maybe she-um, maybe she got into something in the woods?" I suggested.

  He grimly nodded his head. "That could be. We should probably keep out of the woods just to be sure." There went the option of taking them with us on the long hike. Whinier fumbled with the kettle lid and ended up splashing water everywhere. "Damn this thing!" he growled.

  "Here, let me do it," I offered. His hands shook worse than a leaf in a tornado. I took the kettle from his hands and filled it with more water. "Was she wanting tea or cocoa?" I asked him.

  "Cocoa, but I'll get that," he insisted. He didn't move to the cupboard that contained the cocoa, but rather sighed and leaned over the counter. "Maybe coming here was a mistake," he murmured.

  "I'm sure everything will look better after you've had a bite to eat. It is almost lunch," I pointed out.

  Whinier shook his head. "I'm sure Bunny isn't easy to be around when she's trying to get at your boyfriend. No, we should definitely leave as soon as possible. Probably after lunch."

  My eyes widened and my heart quickened. If they left that would doom Bunny to a life as a creature the opposite of her name, and she wouldn't like all that hair on her body much, either. "No, it's fine, really. I'm sure she won't be bothering Adam again."

  He turned to me and raised an eyebrow. "Why do you say that?"

  My mind worked overtime and a half for an answer. "Because-um, because maybe she-um, maybe she picked up something from Adam. Yeah, he hunts and goes out into the woods all the time. Maybe she picked up something from him when she jumped him she got something from him that Snookums didn't like." Truer words were never spoken in a lie.

  Whinier furrowed his brow and rubbed his chin with one hand. "You're a terrible liar, Monet, but you might have something there."

  I blinked at him. "I do?"

  He slowly nodded his head. "Yes. Actually, it might kick her habit. Make her go cold-turkey for men, so-to-speak."

  "I'm not following you, sir."

  "What if we were to tell her that story? We could say she picked up something from this Adam fellow and that's what caused Snookums to attack her. If she hadn't fooled around then her dog wouldn't have bit her," he mused.

  "Aaaannnddd now that she's got whatever Adam gave her, it's not going to go away for a couple of days. So if she behaves herself than maybe Snookums will like her again. That way we can see if she's going to not-well, jump Adam," I added.

  Whinier chuckled. "I believe we may have put our heads together to make a most ingenious plan." He burst into more laughter and slapped me on the back so hard I was shoved into the counter. My boss didn't notice over the sound of his mirth. "Wonderful! Fantastic! I'm glad I thought of it!"

  I steadied myself and rubbed my aching stomach. "Glad you thought of it, too, sir. So I can expect you two to be staying for a few more days?"

  "Yep, you're stuck with us, and we'll see if we can't get things straightened out." He leaned toward me and winked. "And if this works you might be looking forward to a nice little bonus."

  I nervously smiled. "And if it doesn't?"

  Whinier frowned. "It better," he growled.

  "Of course it will work, sir! I'm sure it will!" Anything to keep him happy and here. Now all we had to do was get to that patch of wolf's bane and concoct the concoction to cure her curse.

  Whinier straightened and grinned from ear-to-ear. "Great! Oh, and I hate to do this to your boyfriend and you, but he's going to have to keep away from here until after we leave. That whole contagious thing won't work if we don't worry about keeping him away from her."

  I cringed and my words slid out with less enthusiasm. "Sure, anything you say."

  He nodded and chuckled. "Now let's get this cocoa to Bunny before she suspects something's up."

  With our physical powers combined we managed to get a steaming cup of cocoa. Whinier took it into the bedroom and I took myself out onto the porch. I moved to the other side of the cars, flipped open the phone, and dialed Adam's number.

  A phone rang from the bushes on the left side of the path up to Adam's cabin. The devil stood with his phone in his hand and pressed the mute button. His face was pale and he looked a little unsteady on his feet. "Has her condition worsened already?" he asked me.

  I frowned at him. "How long have you been standing there?"

  Adam stepped from the brush and walked over to me. "I walked down here after you called, but we must remain focused on
the problem at hand. Has her curse worsened?"

  "Actually, things may finally be going right for us," I told him. "I convinced my boss that we should lie to his wife and say she caught something from you that's made her dog mad so she needs to stay away from you and her dog for a couple of days until it wears off."

  "That is a relief. He won't harm her unless she approaches him," Adam replied.

  "Yeah, but my boss also said he wasn't going to let either of them outside for any more walks in case it's something she caught from the woods. Did you think of a way to keep them here while we go for our little walk?" I asked him.

  He pursed his lips and shook his head. "I am not as familiar with them as you, and though maybe you'd have a suggestion."

  I snorted. "I know these two just a little better than I know-" My eyes widened and my mouth split open in a wide smile. "Vandersnoot! That's it!"

  Adam blinked at me. "It is?"

  I turned to him and furiously nodded my head. "Yeah! We can distract them by throwing them at the Vandersnoots! They wanted us to come to tea yesterday, so now I just need to tell them I'll be bringing guests and then I need to get out of it somehow."

  He smiled and chuckled. "You're not only beautiful, but you're a genius."

  I playfully frowned at him. "It took you this long to figure that out?" I teased.

  "No, and this will prove it." He pulled me into his arms and captured my lips in a stunning, head-to-toe crackling kiss. When we parted I gasped for air and stumbled backwards when he released me. He caught me and steaded me.

  I steadied my woozy head in one hand and stared up at him with wide eyes. "You sure do know how to get a girl to feel faint," I told him. I shook the faintness from my mind and straightened. "And how did that prove you didn't just realize I was a girl-genius?"

  "That kiss was endowed with the love I felt for you from the first moment you stumbled into my clearing," he explained.

  "Well, they say proof is in the pudding, but in this case we'll make an exception and say it's in the kiss. Now that we've established my genius all we have to worry about is trying to get me out of tea time," I mused.