Authors: Virginia Cavanaugh
Julie shook off the memory as Ivan stepped out of the trees.
His blond hair had been cut short, shorter than he had ever worn it before. His
stint in prison had only made him larger in size. Big biceps strained against
the sleeves of the black shirt he wore. Bile rose, threatening to choke her.
How in the hell had he gotten out of prison?
“What’s this?” Arik asked, the thick accent in his voice
letting her know he found something interesting. Ivan’s family had been in the
states since his birth, but Arik had come here from Russia when he was a teen.
He’d lost some of that accent over the years, but at times it reappeared thick
as ever.
A loud growl sounded behind her and she flinched. Warm fur
brushed against her body and she recognized Luken in his wolf form, a mixture
of brown and white, sprinkled with black. Something wet caused the hair around
his mouth to clump. She shivered at the thought of what it could be.
She watched as he advanced in Arik and Ivan’s direction.
Behind her a man spoke.
“You can leave now and never return, or we can take you
down. Your choice.”
Julie glanced back and noticed the dark-haired man she had
first encountered in the clearing. More wolves started to appear, coming from
all directions. Each bared sharp teeth, their hackles rose.
“They are circling her,” Arik said, a slight tone of awe
lacing the words.
“Make your decision now or we’ll make it for you.”
“I wish to make a bargain,” Arik shouted.
“We don’t bargain.”
“I have heard tales…when I was a child. I never knew it was
possible. You’re werewolves, no?”
“What we are doesn’t concern you.”
“I would be willing to leave the woman alone, if in exchange
you make me one of you. Me and my men.”
Ivan tugged on Arik’s sleeve. “What are you doing? She stole
money from you.”
Arik laughed as he looked over at Ivan. “Why would I concern
myself with money when I could gain more than wealth? Do you realize the
power—”
“No deal. We don’t create power-hungry scum. Now, you have
three minutes to leave or we finish this.”
Julie watched as the expression on Arik’s face changed
abruptly. She knew that scheming look all too well. He knew he was outnumbered
here.
Arik put his hands up. “We go.”
Julie watched as they retreated, taking slow steps backward.
She could see the fury in Ivan’s eyes. He wasn’t happy. He whispered something
to Arik, but Arik cast him a dark look that had him holding on to the rest of
his words. The wolves advanced, including Luken. Another wolf fell in beside
him. A hand on her shoulder had her jumping with a small yelp. Her gaze met a
dark-black stare, but she relaxed when she realized it was the man who had been
speaking to Arik and Ivan.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to frighten you. My name is Scott
and I need you to come with me.”
She swallowed hard and nodded as she accepted his offered
hand.
“Ashok and Jasmine, you’re with me.”
The black wolf joined the lighter one that had been guarding
her and together they set off into the trees.
Luken stepped under the hot spray of the shower. Water
cascaded down his body, turning pink as it circled the drain in the floor. He’d
killed a human tonight, and he hadn’t been the only one. His pack took down
five of Arik’s men before they confronted him in the clearing. Most of his pack
members had only sustained mild injuries they would recover quickly from. All
except Mitchell, who had taken a bullet to the shoulder. A few more inches and
it would have hit his lung. It would take him at least a few days to be back in
action again. Their kind healed fast, but some injuries took a little longer.
With a growl Luken hammered his fist against the tile, but
not hard enough to crack it. This wasn’t his home, and even though he was
alpha, he wouldn’t disrespect someone else’s domain. While in Konrad’s pack he
hadn’t minded when his alpha came over looking for a brawl to release tension
because Konrad always replaced everything that was damaged, usually with
something better. But hell, he was fresh out with his own pack and didn’t have
the funds to waste on a lack of self-control. Next month would mark the last
payment to Konrad, and then he could finally start building a large nest egg
for his pack. Konrad had given him a small loan when he started out, but it had
been Luken’s top goal to pay him back. The alpha in him didn’t do well with owing
anyone.
He quickly washed and got out. He’d stopped by Javin’s on
the way back into the den. Julie had been frightened enough for one night, she
didn’t need to see him walk into his house naked with blood covering his skin.
Javin had set out a pair of sweatpants on the counter. Luken quickly put them
on.
On the other side of the bathroom door he could hear his top
advisors discussing the incident. No doubt they would want some answers, but
none of them would outright ask. They would never question their alpha, but a
good alpha didn’t hold things away from his pack.
But what could he tell them? It wasn’t as if she was his
mate. The whole damn thing frustrated the hell out of him. At least one thing
seemed for certain. He would give her the option of being turned—of joining his
pack. And if the mate bond didn’t form between them then, he’d just have to
keep her in his bed until his wolf got with the program, because at some point
the man had chosen, and he wanted Julie.
Teeth clenched, he gripped the brass doorknob and yanked.
That fucker, Ivan had shitty timing. Had the fucktard not chosen then to make
an appearance, Luken would still be buried balls deep inside Julie, relishing
every sigh and whimper she made as he rode her body hard.
His cock sprang to life at the thought. Great, now he would
be addressing his wolves with a raging boner. This should be awesome. He tried
to think of every boner-deflating thought as he walked down the hall. At least
he was down to a semi when he walked into the kitchen.
Six expectant faces looked his way. None of them said a
word. It was a heady feeling when that kind of loyalty came your way. Luken
looked at each of them in turn. Two females and four males. His inner circle.
All of them made him proud to call them pack.
Javin and Scott leaned against the long counter while
Fausta, Elena, Tobias and Nick sat around the small kitchen table.
Each had superior strength, but he chose them for many
different reasons. Fausta didn’t let any wolf forget that females could be
every bit as vicious as any male. A warrior to the core, covered in golden
skin. An exotic beauty with a wonderful mind. A deadly combination. She had
come to Konrad’s pack thirty years ago, but she never talked about where she’d
come from. It had actually surprised Luken when she’d signed up to go with him
during the split. Nonetheless he was glad to have her with him. Elena was his
mama bear of sorts. Mess with the pack and she’ll attack. Elena was strong in
ways that Fausta wasn’t. She had an emotional strength that allowed her to be
tender or savage depending on what was called for. Fausta always seemed a
little rough around the edges. Elena was soft and curvy, motherly. Most of his
males called her the hot mama. Her auburn hair curled around her heart-shaped face
and her green eyes beckoned.
Tobias sat reserved in his chair. The wolf was lethal. Cold
calculation. His black-eyed stare held Luken’s. Arms like bands of ebony
crossed in front of Tobias’ large chest. He definitely wasn’t a man of many
words. Luken knew he could count on Tobias to always think with a level head.
And then there was Nick. Javin’s younger brother and destined to be just like
him. His fair features were similar to Javin’s. The two smart-asses would be
the death of him. But they differed in what they brought to the table. Javin
was a fierce protector and selfless, willing to lay down his life for his pack.
While Nick was just as ready to protect, he was also a genius with computers
and strategy. He could hand someone their ass in a chess game in no time flat.
Scott brought strength and unity to the group. A born leader.
“I know you are all wondering why we put ourselves out there
for the human female, but I don’t really have a great answer. The only thing I
can tell you is she is in trouble and she needs us. She doesn’t have anyone to
help her and I plan on giving her the choice of joining our pack.”
“Then she is one of us until she isn’t,” Tobias said.
“He’s right,” Elena spoke up. “If you believe that you’ll be
changing her in a few days, then she gets the protection of the pack just as
everyone else does.”
“I agree,” Fausta voiced.
“But there is more, isn’t there.” Javin stepped away from
the counter and opened the fridge, retrieving beers to pass around.
Luken shrugged. He knew Javin wasn’t questioning him, he was
making an observation. “Maybe.”
Elena smiled, leaning forward with her forearms on the
table. “Wow. Luken has a human girlfriend. Never thought you would go human
before.”
“He’s whipped,” Javin said, laughing.
Luken popped the top on his beer then shot the metal lid at
Javin. It caught him in the ear, which cut off the laughter and any further
smart-ass comments. “I’m not whipped.”
Elena started laughing next. “If you say so.”
“I am not beyond sending the next lid your way,” Luken
warned, but his words carried no steam. He even felt his own lips curl into a
smile as Elena fixed her green-eyed stare on him, the depths of the emerald
color shimmering with mischief.
Luken leaned against the door frame. “Anyway. Enough about
my sex life. We need to discuss the more serious matters.”
“I agree.” Javin pushed himself up to sit on the counter.
“His sex life would be a very boring topic to continue.”
Scott hid a smile as Luken growled.
“Hey, I was just agreeing with you.” Javin beamed.
“Arik.” Luken shot Javin a dirty look. “That is our enemy’s
name, at least the main one. His right hand is Ivan, who happens to be Julie’s
ex. He is fresh out of prison and we’re unsure if he escaped or if he was
released.”
“Do you think they’ll come back for a second round?” Fausta
asked.
“That’s hard to guess at until we have more information.
Fausta, I want you to hit the computer and dig up anything you can on these
guys. Nick, help with that. Scott, I want you contacting local packs. I didn’t
much care for the way Arik was looking at my pack like he wanted a toy of his
own. Asshats like him make trouble for the rest of us when they’re in control
of a pack. Problem is, Arik has some serious money, and as we know, there are
alphas out there who would do just about anything for money. Greed isn’t only a
human trait.”
Tobias stood up. “The most logical thing to do would be for
Arik to hunt down one of those alphas. I don’t think he gives a shit about your
woman. That man wants power.”
“But we can’t rule out Ivan. I think his beef with Julie is
of a more personal nature, and I got the impression that if he can’t convince
Arik to return for Julie then he might do so alone. I want security increased
until we see what they’ll do. I don’t want the young pups outside the den
either. Alert their parents to the dangers. In all, we took out five humans
tonight. We can’t put anything past Arik. We don’t know how he’ll react. He
could incite the other humans and cause a mess, although I’m leaning more
toward him looking for a creator. But if he doesn’t find one then there’s
always the possibility he could go the other route. We just don’t know.”
Luken brought the bottle of beer to his lips and took a long
drink, then smiled as he lowered it. “Javin. Since you like worrying about love
lives so much, you’re on Kendall duty.”
“Seriously?” Javin indicated his own body with his hand.
“You’re really going to waste all this muscle on babysitting?”
“Yep.”
Javin scowled as the others laughed. “That’s just wrong.”
* * * * *
Julie sat down on the dark-leather sofa. The night had
definitely been wild to say the least. She’d walked with the two wolves and the
dark-headed man in silence for about thirty minutes when a small community came
into view. Scott let her know this was their den and that she was to follow the
two wolves to Luken’s home and wait for him there. It had been kind of awkward
walking with the two animals…er…people. Honestly she wasn’t really sure how to
refer to them.
She knew they would be able to hear her if she spoke, but it
wasn’t as if they were going to talk back. So instead of filling their ears
with her nervous chatter she’d chosen to walk with them in silence.
When they arrived, the black wolf remained outside, while
the gray-and-white wolf had nudged her toward the door. Julie had been
surprised to find it unlocked, but she walked inside followed by the wolf.
The furnishings in the living room were geared more toward
comfort than style. A leather sofa and loveseat lined two of the walls. A big
flat-screen hung on one wall and a recliner sat with its back facing her. No
pictures decorated the cream-colored walls. Either Luken had moved in recently
or he really didn’t care much for interior design.
The wolf had taken off down the hall and now Julie could
hear a shower running. Maybe this wolf was a relative or something of Luken’s
since she seemed to make herself so comfortable in his home.
A few minutes later the water shut off and Julie turned to
see the lithe beauty coming down the hall. Long white-blonde hair flowed down
her back. She’d put on a T-shirt that Julie had once seen Luken in, so she knew
where the woman had gotten it. She really hoped this girl was a relative,
because she really didn’t like the picture she presented wet from a shower
wearing his shirt. The hem hit her mid-thigh, revealing muscular legs covered
in pale, creamy skin. Her coloring as a wolf didn’t differ much from her
coloring in this form. A china doll. A well-built china doll.
Jasmine smiled as she walked into the living room. “I guess
I should properly introduce myself. I’m Jasmine, and I‘m one of the pack’s
patrol members.”
Julie accepted the woman’s offered hand and gave it a quick
pump. “Julie. I guess I’m the one who has caused y’all trouble.” Well, she
really couldn’t say she was Luken’s girlfriend or anything, and fuck buddy
didn’t have a very nice ring to it while sitting here with this hot
half-dressed Barbie doll who apparently knew Luken way better. And why did that
bother her so much?
Jasmine took a seat in a chair opposite Julie. “It’s no
trouble really. For whatever reason our alpha values you and so the pack values
you. It’s not a hardship to offer protection.”
Julie felt her brow furrow. The blind loyalty in this group
was astounding. “I appreciate it. And I’m sorry to bring this to your door. I
tried to talk Luken into letting me out, into walking away, but he wouldn’t.”
Her gaze fell to her lap. She didn’t want to be a burden to these people. At
one point last night she’d envisioned meeting the other people in Luken’s life,
but she sure as hell would have chosen different circumstances under which to
meet them.
Jasmine waved her concerns away. “Really. It isn’t anything
big. I’m more interested in getting to know you. And I bet you have a hundred
questions. So how did you and Luken meet?”
Julie looked up at Jasmine. The smile she wore looked
sincere, and Julie wasn’t sure how to interpret the situation. Her past
dictated for her to be wary. Even a smiling someone in Arik’s bunch was holding
a knife they wanted to bury in your back. But this woman was trying to put her
at ease and Julie trusted Luken, and he trusted Jasmine. “We met at the bar
nearly five months ago where I work.”
“Which bar?”
“Harry’s.”
“Oh wow. That means you should know Tyra.”
Julie’s heart missed a beat. “You know Tyra?”
Jasmine laughed. “Of course. She’s my old alpha’s mate.”
Julie blinked. “Tyra’s a wolf?”
Jasmine gave her a
duh
look.
She wasn’t sure why it hadn’t occurred to her before now,
but it made perfect sense. “Would that be Luken’s friend? The tall guy with
dark hair?”
“Yeah. His name’s Konrad. We split off of his pack right
after he and Tyra became a mated pair.”
Julie tried to absorb all of this, but she felt a little
lost. “So did y’all have a fight with them or something?”
“No. We’re still very close. It’s just that Luken needed to
split off. He’s a natural-born alpha and he couldn’t remain under Konrad. The
only other choice would’ve been to fight to the death for dominance. They chose
to make the split. Those of us who wanted had the choice to go with Luken.
We’ve even picked up some strays in the last couple of months.”
Julie’s head was spinning. Fighting to the death? Really?
Would this be any different than living with Ivan in Arik’s world? Oh God, is
that what she’d heard over the phone? Had someone else had a death match that
Luken watched?