by Beverly Rae
“I know, but she’ll be fine on her own, Walter. Which is more than I can say for you.” John slapped the older hunter’s arm good-naturedly, hefted his rifle into the crook of his arm and guided them away.
“Why aren’t we jumping them?”
Daniel resisted the urge to swat at Tucker’s breath tickling his ear. Or was it his own irritation he wanted to swat? Why weren’t they jumping the hunters? Instead, he hissed back, “I have my reasons. Take it easy.”
“This doesn’t make any sense. We need to—”
The thud of approaching footsteps hushed Tucker, and the other shifters crouched deeper into the darkness. Lauren burst into the alley, clutching her rifle, then slid to a stop. Slumping against the Dumpster, she lowered her gun to the ground, squatted and tugged at her laces.
“Oh, for Pete’s sake. This frickin’ thing won’t stay tied.” Oblivious to the shifters only feet away, she mumbled a few curse words and tightened her laces.
Daniel wasn’t surprised to find Tucker and the other shifters smiling. But their smiles left him with an unfamiliar, uncomfortable sensation. “Don’t think about it, men. We’re after the whole group. Not one female. We’ll skirt around her and catch up with the rest of them.” Why didn’t she hurry and leave? He scowled at her, wishing he could somehow warn her. Wondering why he wanted to warn her.
“Forget it, Daniel. Besides, she’s asking for it. She helped kill Tyler, right? Then she deserves it just like the other scumbags do. Tyler should have his death avenged.” Tucker had shucked his clothing and shifted, dropping to all fours and padding around the building’s corner before Daniel knew it. The other men disrobed and transformed into their werewolf forms, giving Daniel no choice but to follow them.
Crouching into an attack position, Tucker and the others moved toward their prey and surrounded her. Hearing their low growls, she froze and slowly looked up, her features resonating shock. She was outnumbered and she knew it.
Daniel, still in human form, approached her and stood behind his friends. “Don’t scream.”
Her wide eyes locked on to him and he could hear the change in her breathing, her puffs coming out in short, harsh bursts with the quick rise and fall of her chest. He sniffed, catching her alarm, her surprise—and something else. The odd scent swept through his memory. She was panicked, yes, but more. She was aroused. And, startling him, he was aroused, too. Yet instead of pleasing him as he’d thought it should, her fear wiped away the attraction and made the whirlwind in his gut grow bigger, wilder. He didn’t want her here, didn’t want her afraid of him or his pack. Instead, he wanted her away from them, safe in his arms.
At last, she tore her gaze from his and looked at each werewolf, one at a time. She swallowed, her mouth working to form words. “W-what are you doing?” A giggle followed her question, out of place considering the trouble she was in.
He wanted to tell her that he’d keep her safe, but the others would never accept that. Hell, even he couldn’t understand why he wanted to. When had she gained such control over his emotions? After one little grope session? Irritated, he forced his brain to counteract everything his body told him. “I would think a hunter would recognize a hunt.”
She didn’t react at first. Was she in shock? Then she blinked and tittered, realization lighting in her big eyes.
“That’s right. I saw you on the hunt. The one where you shot at me. The one where you and your friends killed Tyler.” At her wide eyes, he added, “Yeah, he had a name. We all have names and families. Does that make any difference? Does it make any difference that he was trying to help that homeless man? His name was Tyler and you murdered him.”
Her mouth fell slack and her eyebrows dipped toward her upturned nose while those big brown eyes hooked him and dragged him inside her soul. Eyes that could rip out a man’s heart and make it her own. He had to stop this fascination with this woman. Had to remember what she was. What she’d done. Who he was.
“No. That’s wrong.” She slapped a hand over her mouth, smothering yet another giggle.
What was all the giggling about? Did she think this was funny? He gritted his teeth, struggling to keep his annoyance in check. “Don’t deny it. I was there, remember? I was the other wolf.”
She nodded and stood up, slowly, deliberately not making any sudden moves. The tips of her mouth rose. “I know. I remember you.”
“Then you can stop lying.”
“I’m not lying.” She took a step forward, making the werewolves growl. In a move he had to admire, she lifted her chin and faced them down. Deep breaths raised and lowered her chest, drawing his appreciation. She seemed calmer and, thankfully, she didn’t giggle again. “I didn’t shoot your friend. In fact, I helped him.”
Daniel guffawed along with the half-growling laughs of his friends. “Wow. I have to give it to you. You’ve got balls.” He scowled at her, no longer amused. “Oh, so you tried to help him? Like how you tried to help me by filling me with holes? Lady, you are one piece of work.”
She didn’t buckle under as he thought she would. Instead, she glared back at him, keeping her head high and ignoring the werewolves. The shifters closed the semicircle around her, tightening the trap. “You don’t understand. If you’ll give me a chance to explain, I’ll—”
“You’ll what? Tell us that you’re working with P.E.T.A.?”
His sarcasm had the effect he’d wanted. The determination in her eyes flared. She definitely had nerve. Lots of nerve and sexy fire.
“Look, you jerkwad. If you’d open your ears instead of flapping your gums, you might learn something.” She fisted her hands on her hips, challenging him. “Why don’t you ask your other friend? She’s alive, isn’t she? Or at least she was when you two escaped.” Her gaze flickered for a second, then fixed on him.
He had to give it to her. Bringing up Mysta was a gutsy move. “She’s alive. No thanks to you.”
“Damn it, you hardheaded hound. I was trying to help her when you came along and took over.” Lauren waved her hand at the shifters. “I guess that’s what you do best, huh? Take over? Play alpha?”
“I don’t play at anything. And like I told you before, I am no dog. Too bad you didn’t understand that or maybe you wouldn’t be in the fix you’re in now.” Tucker shoulder-bumped Daniel, his subtle reminder that time was precious. “I know, Tucker. We need to get out of here before the others realize she hasn’t caught up to them, then double back for her.”
They needed to stick with the plan. A revised plan, however. Sure, he’d wanted to hurt a hunter tonight, but not this one. The command to attack Lauren stuck in his throat. “I don’t want to risk the hunters coming back before we get this done.” He silenced the pack’s disagreement with one glare. “Take her back to the safe house.”
They planned on kidnapping her? Lauren let out a giggle-turned-squeak and waited for whatever happened next. She backed away from the approaching werewolves to bump against the Dumpster.
Daniel’s friends broke the ring to pace in front of her, never taking their eyes from her. She couldn’t understand everything they said, but his command had thrown them as much as it had her. Suddenly, the white werewolf beside him changed, his legs elongating, his fur melting away, his face transforming into the man who’d accompanied Daniel to the dental office. A very nude man.
She dropped her gaze to the ground, looking away from his maleness. “You’re kidnapping me?” No, this couldn’t happen. “Seriously?”
Daniel’s hand on her arm brought her head up and she stared straight into his emotionless face. Her heart pounded, her pulse raced. His eyes drew her inside, showing her the animal within him and drawing her down until she was sure she could feel his heart beating along with hers.
“Better to kidnap you than to kill you. Don’t you think?” His low voice rippled through her, shockwaves of warm, liquid sex appeal. For a second, she forgot the werewolves, forgot the hunters, even forgot to breathe.
He blinked, breaking the trance he�
��d put her in. “Right now I’m not so sure.” She giggled. Had he almost smiled? The brief flash of humor disappeared before she could catch it and keep it with her.
“Let’s go.” His hold on her tightened, shooting pain up her arm as he dragged her with him. The werewolves turned the corner and changed, then dressed with clothes hidden in a dark corner. Within seconds, they pushed on, forming a wall around her, like a rock star escorted off stage by security guards. However, she felt anything except safe.
She should scream. Maybe if she did, John and the others might hear her. Yet if she did, if she drew the hunters back, then the shifters could get hurt—or worse. Glancing at Daniel’s hand on her arm, she wondered if his touch had somehow stolen her voice. In fact, every time she glanced at him, more of her panic eased away. He was so handsome, so masterful. She watched the others and couldn’t help but compare them to him. Tucker may have him outdone in size, but Daniel exuded the personal power of a born leader. She hurried, keeping pace with his purposeful strides. Although it didn’t make sense, having him close to her helped keep the terror at bay. If she kept near Daniel somehow she’d get through this.
By the time they made it to the black SUV, her chance to escape was gone. Tucker opened the door, then reached for her. Daniel grabbed her, making her the meat in a shifter sandwich. She wanted to giggle at the idea.
Their bodies, those of hardened warriors, pushed against either side of her. She tucked her head, unsure of where to look. If she turned either way, her breasts would brush against a chest. Heat flashed through her and she struggled not to face either man. She was a captive, and yet all she could think about was sex. What the hell was wrong with her? Although perhaps thinking about sex was better than giggling at them again.
“Nothing happens to her, Tucker, got it? Take her to the house and keep her safe. I’ll take care of her later.”
He was leaving her alone with the pack? Fear burst to life again. “No, Daniel. Don’t leave me alone…” The unspoken with them floated in the air. He stared pointedly at her hand on his arm. She yanked it away and tried to cover her embarrassment. “I mean, how do you know they won’t do something to me when you’re not around?”
“You have nothing to worry about.” Daniel lifted his hand, nearly caressing her cheek, then dropped it. “They’ll do as I say.” He nodded, indicating the back seat. “Get in.”
Tucker moved out of the way, allowing her to slide into the back seat. He followed her and she scooted to the other side of the vehicle, wanting to stay as far from him as possible.
“To the house, Luca.”
The driver nodded and started the car. Lauren twisted to stare out the back window, hoping to implore Daniel to come with them. He stood on the street corner, his head cocked to the side, reminding her of the beautiful black werewolf, and lifted his hand to wave. Almost as though ashamed of the action, he dropped his hand quickly and strode back into the dark alley.
“Uh-hem.” Tucker tipped his head toward the front of the car. “Relax. It’s only a short drive.”
Lauren inched closer to the door and placed her hand on the door handle. How had this happened to her? And more to the point, how was she going to save herself? Did she dare jump from the moving car? One look at the locked door shattered that idea. She sneaked a peek at Tucker who shot her another—hungry?—grin. Stifling a titter, she closed her eyes and sent a silent message to the one man who could help her—Daniel. It didn’t make sense. John was the one who would help her, but she felt safer with Daniel around and she wasn’t about to question her instinct. At least not yet.
The vehicle screeched to a stop a short time later. Dreading what she might see, Lauren peeked through the tinted window and blinked. An ornate metal gate swung open and the SUV continued down a long winding driveway lined on each side by beautifully manicured lawns and topiary. The grounds, however, were insignificant frames to the magnificent mansion at the end of the circular drive. Stately white columns stood guard at the front of the house while luscious greenery decorated its pristine white walls. Lights sparkled along the drive, a precursor to the brilliance of the lights burning brightly inside.
“Ah, home, sweet home.”
“Are you kidding me?” Lauren followed Tucker out of the car and lifted her gaze to the top of marbled steps leading to the elaborately carved front doors. “This is a shifter house?”
“You were expecting something less? Maybe an oversized dog house?”
Tucker’s grin mocked her, rushing the heat of her embarrassment into her cheeks. “I, uh, I don’t know what I expected. Just not this.”
“Yeah, it’s pretty spiffy, huh?” Tucker waved his hand, motioning for her to start up the steps. “After you, m’lady.”
Lauren led the way, only now noticing the men and women who stood guard around the house and yard. “Are you expecting a war?” She heard his growl and tried not to let it bother her—much.
“We’re always at war. Or maybe I should say we’re always the targets of a war by you hunters.”
Moving through the intricately carved doors opened by two burly men, Lauren entered the grand foyer and couldn’t keep from gawking. The largest chandelier she’d ever seen held court over the marbled entrance, casting glittering prisms of light to the three wide hallways and a winding mahogany staircase leading to the second story. A large room, beautifully decorated, waited to the left.
“This way.”
She hesitated, wishing she could study the paintings and sculptures lining the foyer, then followed Tucker into the nearest hallway. “Is this where the pack takes all its prisoners?”
Tucker’s engaging laugh would be contagious under different circumstances. “I guess so. Considering you’re the first hunter we’ve ever brought here.”
“So you’ve never had a hun—uh, human here?” Photographs of striking men and women of various time periods watched her as she doubled her pace to stay behind the large shifter. Without warning, he came up short and she had to sidestep to keep from bumping into him.
“I didn’t say that.” Tucker opened a door, allowing her to enter ahead of him. “Humans, yes. Hunters, no.”
The room was twice the size of her apartment. Feeling like a princess—albeit a captive one—Lauren glided around the room, running her hand over the luxurious textures of the bedspread and loveseats. She continued examining the beautiful room, her senses taking in the rich and the subtle, yet colorful details. “Wow. I never knew shifters lived like this. I mean, I thought only royalty and movie stars lived in places this grand.”
“I think there’s a lot of things you don’t know about us.”
Her fingers slid over the marbled nightstand next to the king-sized bed and fanned along the heavy curtains on the window. What the hell? Pulling the draperies aside, she touched the glass almost as though she could wrap her fingers around the iron bars on the other side. Her heart plummeted. “Bars on the windows? Do you guys kidnap a lot of people?” She turned to find Tucker watching her. “Or are the bars to keep others out?”
“You’re the first captive. We do, however, sometimes need a room where we can confine a new and uncontrolled werewolf.”
She couldn’t help but bait him. “You mean you use this room as a cage?”
He coughed, ignoring her jab, and added in a subdued tone, “So, how’s your friend?”
“My friend?”
“You know. The cute one at the front desk of your office.”
If she didn’t know better, she’d swear he was blushing. “Do you mean Bobbie?”
His grin told the whole story. The man—the werewolf—was smitten with her best friend. She turned away to hide her smile.
“Yeah. Bobbie.”
“She’s good. Uh, she was kind of upset that you didn’t leave a phone number. You know, for our records. Maybe you should give her a call.”
“So you’re playing matchmaker now?”
Lauren turned toward the sound of the voice. Daniel stood in the door
way, his face an inscrutable mask, his eyes boring holes into her soul.
What was it about this guy that unnerved her? She frowned as the real question took its place. What was it about this guy that turned her on? Granted he was handsome, but she’d known other handsome men. She slid her gaze down his hard-toned body. No, this was more than simple physical attraction. “Where did Tucker go?”
The space between his thick eyebrows puckered. “Tucker had other matters to attend to. More important than discussing your friend.” He closed the door behind him. “I want answers.”
“Oh, well, I thought they’d make a cute couple. Bobbie’s into big—”
“You know what I’m talking about.”
Lauren did, but she didn’t relish trying to convince him of her innocence. “I already told you. I was helping your friend. Both of your friends.” She had to make him understand. Not only to save herself, but having him believe her seemed important. “Don’t you remember that first time I saw you? When the female was trapped and then you showed up? You both got away that night.” She clasped her hands, zeroed in on him and urged him to hear the truth in her voice. “Both of you got away because I helped you.”
“We got away on our own accord. I don’t remember you stopping the other hunters. In fact, you should be thanking Mysta and me for not harming you. And now I’m supposed to believe you were trying to help Tyler, too? Is that the load of crap you’re trying to feed me?”
Sometimes a head was just too hard to knock any sense into it. But she’d sure like to try knocking some sense into his hard head. “I’m not feeding you anything but the truth. If you’re too bull-headed to know it, then there’s not much I can do.” She puffed out an exasperated sigh and took a different approach. Maybe if she could get him to concentrate on the first werewolf she’d managed to help, he’d listen to her explanation about Tyler. “How is your female friend? She was wounded, but I wasn’t sure how badly. If you’ll talk to her, she can tell you that I wasn’t going to kill her. In fact, I put my gun on the ground and told her as much. How many hunters would do that with a cornered werewolf?”
