To Eternity (21 page)

Chapter 31

The third night, the moon glossed shadows across the lake made a monstrous creation of the wolf pair mating, again. He couldn't tear his gaze from the pale she-wolf with the red highlights to her fur, the larger male thrusting fast into her. The pair seemed oblivious to everything but fucking, just as they had been last night.

He inched his wounded paw forward, and as another rat raced along the run, he jabbed it. For a second, the squirming creature squealed out the last of its life skewered on his longest claw.

Still, they mated on the slope by the lake. Envy swept through his every bone at the rising intensity of her pleasure cries.

She
should
be
mine.

Absently he snapped off the head of the rat and dumped it with the others.

Mine.

A kind of choked tremble ran through him. He gnawed on the bloody opening of the rat's neck. The pile of heads had grown in two nights. Stupid creatures, they should have at least noticed how many of their brethren he'd eaten, except the heads, not the heads.

The female's high-pitched cries reached a desperate level.

He sniffed. The rich, ripe scent of Sian, the alluring fragrance of her sex wafted across to torture him from the other side of the lake. Her body should be warm and willing with his. She should be screaming out her pleasure for him.

Yet here he lay, barely able to walk. He'd crawled into this drainage ditch at the end of the fight with the yellow wolf. Exhausted, bleeding, terrified a lesser beast would discover him weakened as he was and take the opportunity to end his first full moon, along with his life, he'd huddled in the mire. The wounds had improved a little but never would he forget who made them and how, nor could anything ever make him lose the memory of Sian's betrayal. She had walked away.

His fur bristled.

The pair across the lake howled their pleasure still.

Won't
they
ever
stop?

He'd show them. He'd change back to himself soon. How he knew, he couldn't say, but he would. When he did, he'd find a way to show them he wasn't beat. If Sian had become wolf, then so could other women, lots of them. He'd find out the way to do it, and he'd make sure he had mates enough to howl into the moonlight like she did.

The hunger he'd experienced this full moon would be satisfied once he'd healed. He'd learn the things the big yellow wolf knew and he'd learn them fast. This so-called leader would wait a long time for him to return here. He spat a bit of rat bone out and peered again at the shadowy pair mating across the lake.

They could fuck each other stupid.

Never would he think of Sian as special again—she wasn't, not anymore. When he did get her, and he would, the best joy he could think of was to mate with her, then after tell her she meant nothing.

A growl formed at the back of his throat as he swallowed the last of the rat. The next full moon, he wouldn't return here. He'd find his own hunting grounds and a worthy mate. Not a prancing little bitch-wolf like Sian, no. Once he found out how to do it, he'd get a female much better than her.

While they were busy across the water, he made the effort to stand. He needed to get out of here before the moon was gone. His limbs trembled with the strain. The savage wounds had ripped the strength from him so he couldn't hunt or think of anything but his pain. He'd heal, though. The last two days his condition had improved by the hour. Tonight, he was fit enough to limp back to the city and get ready for the changing moon. If he had a little luck, he'd find something better to sustain him than rats.

One last look showed the pair of them now lying together, still joined. The male's haunches juddered as, yowling in pleasure, he filled her and licked at her muzzle. Revolting, vile. They'd both be sorry. He'd see they got everything they had coming to them. He'd destroy them, make them pay for all the hurts they had inflicted on him.

He staggered along the drainage ditch, stepping though the rank waterlogged mud and muck.
Oh,
they'll
pay.

The climb out of the ditch nearly finished him. He had to lie down and rest, his breathing raw and savage. He shook from the sheer effort, but he'd done it. If he could do this as badly mauled as he was, when he healed, he could do anything. He glanced to the moon. There would be time tonight to get back to the city.

The call to come here had been so powerful the first night he'd changed. His journey from the city sped by fast as he'd raced to follow the trail back to the grounds of this house. The return home would take a lot longer but he'd do it.

* * * *

The city scents offered a richness he'd missed the last two nights. This would be his hunting ground from now on, and damn Magnus Johansson
.
Silent but for the occasional pained whimper, he made his way in the darkness, slunk past sharp neon streetlights keeping to the deepest shadows he could find. He'd discover places in the city to hunt when he got stronger. Plans romped through him for hunting sites, for prey, and for satisfying the nagging lust deep in his belly, the need for meat, blood, and bone. The other desire would be satisfied, too.

A surge of energy like he'd felt when he had raced to Darnwell shot through him.
Yes,
here
I'm
on
home
ground.

This place, this world, it would be his. If he stayed here, there would never be a need to be a part of the vileness of Darnwell. One day, he'd wipe the place from the face of the earth. Lifting his chin, he howled to the last of the moon this night.

Dawn wasn't far off. He needed a place to hold up until the transformation happened. He could feel the strange prickling inside his skin as he had when the change to wolf overwhelmed him. Scenting the air, he moved a little faster to reach his apartment. The garage would be the perfect place. He attempted a run, but his muscles screamed in protest.
Soon,
I'll
run
again.
The eastern sky had lightened with the first glimmer of day. He whined in pain when he jumped up to the open skylight window. He wormed his way through and fell heavily to the floor beside his Porsche.

The last scents he registered were polish and oil as he curled in a ball to wait for what must come next. The return to human form.

Chapter 32

Sian stared at the pills in the foil. Three days missed. The problem hadn't entered her head in all the anticipation of the full moon, in the joy of becoming Magnus's mate. She squeezed the amulet she wore. The incredible experience of bonding fully with Magnus proved so much more than she'd imagined. Even now, two days after they'd returned to human-form, she recalled with exquisite detail how they had loved together as wolves. She would have to resolve the issue before next month's full moon. One day this week she had best visit the doctor. Though Magnus had spoken of them founding a dynasty, which obviously meant children at some time, she'd rather think of the event a ways off in the future.

She swallowed the contraceptive pill with a swig of coffee before she headed to the study to see how many replies she'd had from people she'd invited to the house for the wedding. Once she'd dealt with them, she could concentrate on the walled garden project. Magnus, in a lighter mood than she'd ever seen before they bonded, had gone out, not to the local town but farther. He'd not be back until this evening. With her ring.

Magnus had not said he'd buy her ring today, but she knew. The thought exchange between them had deepened as he'd told her it would. They could almost speak without words at all. In less than three weeks, they'd be married. She'd organize the flowers and her gown before the coming weekend. Hopefully, Richard and Jess would be the witnesses. She'd not heard back from either yet. She'd called Jess several times, but the call diverted to voicemail each time she had tried.

While she printed out the two plans for the garden Martha had sent, she flicked through several pages of wedding gowns on the computer. She'd have to make her choice in the next day or so. Her excitement about the wedding had hardly built. It truly did seem as Magnus had said, a celebration of their bonding. The ceremony would join them legally, but with him linked so deeply into her mind, she didn't think they could be much closer.

The printer finished churning. She took the sheets from it, sat, and following the numbers on the pages, laid them out on the floor to create the full design. All of it looked good, and she could hardly wait for the project to begin. She'd another addition to the garden to make, too, one Magnus had come up with as they bathed together when they came back from the transformation.

The pagoda, though useful this last month, had its limitations, and Magnus wanted a secure place for them both. Though they'd not discussed his reasons for the need, she understood. Franklyn would be back at some point, he'd have no choice, and she'd never feel safe with him around. The idea of an underground retreat appealed to her. A manmade set of caves or caverns would be perfect. The garden company could work on the project, too.

Her phone gave a sheep “bahh,” and she picked it up. “Hi.”

“Sian, I got your e-mail. I'd be happy to be a witness at your wedding.”

“Thanks, Richard. I'm thrilled you'll do it. I'd much rather have you than anyone else. Tell me, is Jess on vacation or working abroad? I can't seem to get hold of her.”

“She's in hospital still. I'm sorry I should have sent you a message.”

“Hospital!”

“It's been crazy here the last few days with Franklyn out of the office. Jess had a bad fall at the end of last week. Cracked her head open on the arm of a chair. There was blood everywhere.”

“How is she?”

“Recovering but there is a possibility of permanent damage to her mobility.”

“Shit!”

“If you want to go see her she's in St. Agnes's Hospital. Ward fourteen. Upper level.”

“Yes, sure. Do you think she'll be able to be a witness?”

“No idea, but I'd suggest asking an alternative person because she might not recover in time.”

She sighed. “Poor Jess. I'll go visit her this week.”

“I'm looking forward to the wedding, Sian. I can't wait to see you roped and tied.”

“No, it will be a traditional affair, nothing like that,” she said and laughed with Richard.

“You want the band to play. They enjoyed the shoot so much because of all your hard work, I reckon I could get them to come back and play for you.”

“Fabulous, you ask them, then get back to me. I'll be thrilled if they can play.”

“Sure. I'd better go now, the office phone is blaring. Talk to you soon.”

“Cheers, Richard.” She ended the call and wondered how poor Jess had fallen so hard to do so much damage. Another hospital to visit. She'd go Wednesday afternoon, depending on the visiting times. They might need another person to be a witness. Maybe Magnus would have an idea of someone he could ask. Her one relative wouldn't be able to do it. Great Aunt Wendy was in her late eighties and suffered with such bad Alzheimer's, she didn't know who Sian might be.

If Dreams would play for the wedding, she'd ask for her favorite track from the
Timeless
album. The music would fit perfectly with the dress she'd decided on, the one with the intricate ribbon fastening all the way along the spine. The front of it looked utterly demure, simple and sweet, but the back showed another side. If she wore it with elbow length, lace, fingerless gloves, it would look fabulous. Yes, the outfit would work the way she wanted. She could have the lilies she'd decided on, white and tiger lilies—fabulous.

Such a darn pity about Jess. She crouched back down to go over the plans Martha had sent her again.

* * * *

“Hello. Where are you?”

She looked up from the computer at Magnus's call. Darkness had set. The light from her screen reflected in the windows. “In here.”

“There you are, not working still surely?” He reached for her and hauled her from the chair into his embrace.

“Wedding things. I've got thirty replies from guests who will join us. Dreams, the band who played here for the
Timeless
film are going to come play for us. Richard sorted it this afternoon. He will be a witness. Jess can't be, though. She's in hospital.”

“What a pity about your friend, and what a lot you've accomplished since I went out this morning.”

“I've picked my gown, my flowers, and ordered both. I've also evaluated the garden plans and e-mailed Martha a lot of questions.”

“I see, yet while you have been so busy all I have done is chosen your ring.”

“I knew you would! Can I see it?”

He set her down and bent onto one knee. He took her hand, and with his other, presented a small green leather box. “For you, my perfect bride.”

How strange her fingers trembled now. They hadn't when she first touched her amulet, but while the gold-encased crystal was a part of her, this ring meant something different. She opened the case. “Oh, my.”

“Do you like it?”

The rectangular emerald set between two baguette-cut diamonds sparkled in the light from the lamp on her desk. She smiled. “It's perfect.”

“Not too big or ostentatious?”

“No, neither, it's beautiful.”

“Allow me to put it on your finger?”

She nodded. “Yes, Magnus.”

He took the ring from the box and slid it on to her finger. “Not too tight?”

She shook her head. “It's perfect.”

“I agree. The stone is flawless. I can see you like it.”

“Oh, yes. Thank you so much.” She reached up to kiss him, slid her arms around his neck, and pressed her lips to his. He tightened his embrace around her so her body molded to his. The fragrance of his cologne, appealing as it was, couldn't hide the more tasty scent of Magnus. Her body responded to the smell of him, the taste of him, and she gave a little whimper.

“Now?”

A kind of low growl rumbled at the back of her throat as she shoved his jacket from his shoulders and tugged at his belt. The craving for him hit her as strong as it ever had.

“Here.” He nudged her back toward a chaise in one of the alcoves of the study. She fumbled, reaching to stop herself falling.

Magnus thrust her skirt up out of the way.

“Yes, now!” Desire shot through her. Instant arousal hit a fresh high. She wriggled to help him drag off her thong.

He caressed her clitoris, but she needed all of him. “Don't wait, not today.”

His smile offered the promise of pleasure as he lowered the zip and kicked off his gray flannels.

She clawed at his back through his shirt as he entered. The sheer power of him silenced her pleas. The chaise creaked, offering an accompaniment to the rising rhythm.

Each thrust shoved her further along the route to fulfillment. She gasped for breath. Her nipples burned at his touch.

“I love you.”

She fell.

Over the edge and burning like an ember from a bright sun, the energy consumed her cries.

“Yes, for me!” He thrust again and groaned as he joined her delight.

She clasped him tight against her as their breathing slowed. “Magnus.”

“I adore you. We will love together forever.”

She opened her eyes and looked into his. The light she found there made her smile. “I darn well hope so, otherwise we could both be very miserable.”

He offered his hand as he withdrew from her. “We will always be one. No matter what.”

“Hmm, I think I need to talk to you about that.”

“At least give us time to be married first. Things may have changed by then.”

She reached up to kiss him as he adjusted his clothes. “Yes, they may, but there again they might not.”

Magnus clasped her hand and lifted it to his lips. “Whatever befalls us, we will face it together.”

She brushed the wrinkles from her skirt and picked up the discarded panties. “Yes, agreed. I'm so happy to be with you.”

He smiled. “I know. It's time we went down for dinner. I've news to share with you.”

A sense of wariness lifted the fine hairs on the back of her neck. “What's this news?”

His dark gaze held hers. She wasn't the only one wary. She clasped his hand and squeezed. “Tell me, Magnus?”

“I've received a communication from my father. My parents will attend the wedding.”

“Oh, my God.”