Blood of the Maple

“What hmm? And what was that noise?”

“I think Greer doesn’t like you wanting to date Mollie.”

Carter snorted again. “He had his chance and blew it. Now it’s my turn.”

Greer threw his hands up in the air. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“Mollie asked you to prom, remember? And you turned her down. Some say you turned her down so hard she completely bottled herself up and that’s why we rarely see the old Mollie. But you watch. I have every intention of bringing that Mollie back. All that fire and passion. Think about it, Greer. That’s a hell of a fire a man can warm himself at.”

“She was a child, Carter.”

“So you knew she had a crush on you?”

Parker was fascinated. He hadn’t intended to open a can of worms, but apparently he had.

“No!” Greer’s hair moved on its own like leaves in a breeze. “She had a crush on Mina, not me!”

Carter erupted once more into laughter. “Dude. You are blind. But hey, your loss will definitely be my gain. Thanks for the call, Parker. I’m more than happy to repay this debt.” Carter disconnected the call.

Greer’s eyes were wide and unfocused. “She wanted Mina, not me.”

“And that’s why you turned her down, because you thought she wanted your queen?”

Greer shuddered. The sound of leaves rustling was painfully loud in the quiet greenhouse. “Partially.”

“And are you going to let our resident fireman win the lady?”

If looks could kill, Parker would have been digging himself out of his grave again. “What do you think?”

“I think he’s two kisses up on you.”

“Are you trying to get one of my wolves into trouble, Mr. Hollis?”

The deep, gravelly voice sent Parker’s beast into a frenzy. He prepared himself for battle with the man who’d hunted Amara through the woods like an animal. “Noah Wulfenbach, I presume?” He turned to face the huge wolf standing in the doorway.

Noah Wulfenbach had to be at least six-four, with dark hair and eyes black as night. An aura of power surrounded him that had been missing from the other wolves Parker had met.

This man was dangerous; he knew it, and he was damn proud of it. If he’d hunted anyone else’s mate Parker would have felt a grudging respect for him. Hell, he might even have believed the man had been well within his rights.

Except he’d hunted Amara. And Parker was as dangerous as the wolf.

“I believe you wanted to speak to me.”

Parker grinned viciously, not that he cared. “Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t drain you dry.”

Noah shrugged. “We were protecting our people.”

“You would have killed her.”

Again the wolf nodded, showing no remorse.

“What would you do if it had been your mate?”

“I have no mate, so I don’t know.”

Greer jumped lightly onto the end of the broken table, and Parker knew where some of Tolkien’s light-footed elves had gotten their abilities. The dryad stood on the tilted edge with all the ease Parker showed on the level concrete floor. “Knock it off, Noah. You were wrong, and you know it. Unless you make reparation to both Amara and her blood mate, you’ll have trouble no matter what forest you enter.”

Noah crossed his arms over his chest and glowered at Greer. “Can you tell us where Terri is?”

“I wish. She’s hidden so well not even the tree roots can find her.” Greer jumped off the table edge. He landed gracefully, barely making a sound. “But maybe I can check with the others. We’ve never searched for anything like her before, and we’re not entirely certain we can find her.”

“You’re the Dr. Doolittle of plants. If you can’t get something out of the forest, I’d be shocked.” Noah took a step forward and extended his hand. “Tell me about hamadryads, Parker.”

He eyed the alpha wolf with disdain. “Why?”

“So our cubs don’t make the same mistake we did.”

Greer rolled his eyes and returned to his plants. “That’s his idea of an apology, by the way.”

“The only way to stop the mistakes of the past from repeating themselves in the future is if we learn from them. What are the signs of the hamadryad? How will we know one when we see one? What can we do to assist him or her, and can a hamadryad go bad?”

Parker growled.

“Not that yours did.”

It was a concession, of sorts.

Noah had asked Parker the question, but it was Greer who answered. “The hamadryad is the truest guardian of the forest you’ll ever meet.” Greer kept his attention on the plant on the table. “You really fucked up going after Amara the way you did. If you’d been alone, she could have killed you with a thought.”

Noah’s left eyelid flinched, the only indication he gave that he understood exactly how merciful Amara had been.

“You saw her other form?”

Noah nodded. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“And you never will again.” Parker watched Greer, happy, fun-loving Greer, go cold. The dryad’s gaze bored into the alpha to drive his point home. “The hamadryad can be human or—” his gaze darted over to Parker, his lips twitching, “—weretree.”

Noah coughed. “Weretree?”

Parker rolled his eyes. “Shut up.”

“They can command any plant life within a certain radius to do their bidding, but it tires them, and their first instinct is to protect that plant life. Hell, their first instinct is to protect every living thing within the hamadryad’s territory.” Greer grinned. If he’d been a vampire, his fangs would have been showing. “Amara would sooner chop off her leg than hurt the people of Maggie’s Grove. Too bad the same can’t be said of all of you.”

Noah was silent.

Parker stared at him and knew what he wanted him to do. “I want an apology from you.”

Noah scowled. Someone less sure of himself might have growled.

“Not to me. To Amara. Your pack has tormented her for years, tried to kill her. If it were up to me, those trees you wound up in would have pulled off your furry nuts.”

Noah couldn’t quite hide his wince.

“But my mate didn’t do that. She left you safe and sound in your woodsy cocoons and came home to protect your mates, your cubs. So yes, I think you owe Amara an apology.”

Noah met his eyes, and for a moment there was the distinct possibility the wolf would attack him.

Noah took a deep breath and bowed. “Of course.” The man straightened, looking like he’d rather be anywhere but here. “When and where?”

He was willing to do it in public? Parker jumped on that. “Two nights from now, at Mayor Ibanescu’s Founders’ Day party.” Dragos had considered canceling the celebration, but Amara had pointed out that now more than ever his people needed to relax and remember why Maggie’s Grove had been established in the first place. They needed to be reminded that this was home—for all of them.

But if they didn’t catch Terri before Dragos’s party, they’d be one giant target. Dragos planned to have a security detail with strict instructions on how to spot Terri and her peculiar brand of magic. Someone would figure out where she was and alert the mayor, who would fetch Parker, Amara and anyone who’d agreed to help them which, from what Dragos had said, would be the entire freaking town. Terri wouldn’t survive very long if she went after the partygoers. Rumor had it the witches had something especially vile planned for the rogue witch.

Noah sighed. “Of course.” His expression hardened. “But after this our debt is paid and our safe passage through the woods once more secured.”

Parker nodded. “Done.”

The wolf held out his hand, and Parker took it. “Done.”