Scared of Spiders

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said, lying badly.

“Josie,” he cajoled. She refused to meet his eyes. He knelt in front of her and forced her to meet his gaze. “Josie, baby, you’re not crazy.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure,” she retorted. “Because I thought I saw a wolf turn into a man, and that’s just nuts.”

“Not nuts. You didn’t mistake what you saw. We’re werewolves,” he said with a shrug and then held his breath as he waited for her reaction.

She opened and shut her mouth several times at his claim, clearly searching for words. Before she could say anything, Brandon walked into the office, his low-slung jeans and bare chest momentarily capturing Josie’s attention before her trademark blush and shyness made her turn away.

“So, how’s the news of our furriness coming along?” asked Brandon, looking between them with curiosity.

Josie didn’t answer, so Clint did. “I think our Little General here is having a hard time with the concept.”

Fire sparked in her eyes and tone when she spoke. “I get the concept fine. You’re both werewolves. What I want to know is how, why, and what’s going to happen to me?”

“The how is I was born this way while Brandon here was bitten.”

“You mean if that wolf had bitten me, I’d be a werewolf, too?” she squeaked.

“Maybe. But not likely. It takes at the very least an alpha to change a person, and even then, it’s fifty/fifty whether the human they bite will turn.” And those who didn’t died.

“So, your saliva is dangerous?” she queried, her telltale blush pinking again.

Clint hastened to clarify. “Only when we’re in wolf shape can our saliva, introduced into the blood stream of a human, change a person.” He neglected mentioning the fatal aspect. It shook Clint to realize that the rogue wolf with one bite could have taken her from them. It also made him question whether or not he’d ever have the guts to attempt to change her. She was so frail; what if they tried and she died. He couldn’t take the chance, but then again, if he didn’t, she’d never bear his pups and would live the short lifespan of a human. A catch-22 either way.

“Oh, good to know. So I guess, now that you’ve told me your secrets, you’re going to kill me.” She hunched in on herself, and Clint couldn’t help himself.

He laughed. “Oh, baby, you are so cute. No, we’re not going to kill you.”

“Definitely not,” added Brandon. “Although I’m not averse to biting.”

Josie’s head snapped back up in shock that turned into a grudging smile as she saw Brandon ’s grin.

Clint chuckled. “Ignore him. He’s just kidding.”

“No, I’m not. I love to nibble on that soft spot on the back of a woman’s neck… ” Suddenly realizing he might be saying too much, Brandon shut up.

Clint sat down beside her on the couch, and hoping she wouldn’t flinch or bolt, slid an arm around her frail shoulders. To his surprise, after an initial stiffness, she leaned into him and laid her head on his shoulder.

“I’ve got to admit,” said Clint, awed that she still seemed to trust him after revealing their secret. “You’re taking this awfully well. Most women would have run screaming.”

“Promise not to laugh?” she said, her voice uncertain. “But even knowing the two of you can change into wolves with big teeth, you don’t scare me.”

Clint’s heart almost stopped at her admission.

“Truly?” Brandon knelt at her feet and looked at her with longing in his eyes. A sentiment Clint echoed. She accepts us. How unexpected and remarkable.

Josie nodded her head. “Weird, huh, especially considering I’m the girl who runs from spiders.”

No, not so weird because you belong to us. But I think I’ll keep that revelation for another day.

“Well, that’s the great thing about knowing werewolves; we make great spider killers,” Brandon said with a grin.

And mates, thought Clint. “ Brandon, I’m going to run Josie home. Can you make sure the mess downstairs is taken care of?” He could see his beta bristle at the order to stay behind, but one of them needed to ensure the rogues were taken care of. That is, killed. He didn’t want to risk a single one of them bringing word of Josie’s existence back to whomever controlled them.

Brandon understood the need and gave him a quick nod.

To spare Josie any visual trauma-the blood splatter and sprawled bodies still decorating the warehouse below-he took her out via the rear fire exit. To his surprise, she said not a word about their strange route to his SUV. Actually, she was very quiet.

Once he got the SUV on the road, he broke the silence. “Tell me what you’re thinking.”

“Oh, just wishful thinking.”

“About?” Me and you naked was the answer he hoped for.

“I wondered what if would be like to be a werewolf and not be scared of stuff.”

“Being a shifter doesn’t make fear go away.”

“But it would help, I imagine,” she replied dryly.

She had a point. “Courage doesn’t come from a layer of fur and teeth; courage comes from inside.”

“Yeah, well, apparently the creator forgot to give me my dose.”

Clint chuckled. “Baby, I think you’re plenty brave. I mean look at the way you run the place, ordering those big bad wolves around like trained puppies.”

She blushed. “That’s different. It’s work and has nothing to do with bravery.”

“Really?” he said turning to look at her. “Tell that to my last two managers. I’d just about given up hope on getting someone with the right skills when you came along. And, guess what, you might be human, but you get the job done.”

“Great. But I still wish I had the other type of courage so I don’t turn into a blubbering mess when a spider pops out of nowhere,” she said with a grimace.

“If you don’t mind me asking, where did your fear of arachnids come from?”

“Would you believe from a nightmare?” She squirmed in her seat. “It’s dumb, I know, but I’ve had this recurring dream since my mom died when I was a little girl. As you might have guessed, it has a spider in it, and, well, let’s just say it’s gruesome. Ever since the nightmares started, I freak out at the sight of bugs, spiders being the worst.”

“As long I’m around, I promise to protect you from eight-legged freaks.” He managed to say it without laughing, but his lips twitched when she scowled at him.

“That is so not funny.”

Clint chuckled. “Sorry. I loved that movie.”

She tried to keep the scowl, but his humor ended up contagious and she giggled. “Thanks for not making too much fun of me. Just for that, the next time you get fleas, I’ll help you put your collar on.” She’d no sooner said the words than she clapped a hand over her mouth and her eyes widened.

Clint howled. “Oh, baby, I am really starting to think you’re not timid at all. It’s an act to hide your wicked side.”

She took her hand away from her face and smiled. “Only with you and Brandon. You both make me feel…” Her brow scrunched up as she tried to find a word.

“Like you’ve come home,” he murmured.

She turned startled eyes to him, but he avoided the question he could sense on the tip of her tongue. I don’t think she’s quite ready for the whole ‘fate has decreed you my mate’ thing yet. But he couldn’t resist dropping a light kiss on her lips. The brief contact sizzled, and he wanted more, but not in the car like a teenager. He made it out of and around the car in time to help her out, and then he walked her to her door. He grabbed her keys from her trembling hands, enjoying the fact his touch had unbalanced her as well.

In a deft movement, he unlocked her door and opened it. Before she could escape to the safety and normalness of her home though, he spun her and crushed her to him.

I’m done fantasizing and fist pumping. The thing I feared most, her rejecting me because of my inner beast, is no longer an issue. And besides, I can’t wait to taste her anymore.

* * * *