Shadow of the Wolf

He winced and followed her out of the kitchen. “I can tell my future mate that our children are little mutants because of you.”

“No blaming me for your wizardlings, dude.” She sat back down on the floor, handing Chris his soda.

He snorted and stepped over her, plopping himself on the sofa. “Hey, bro.”

Chris grunted, sweeping some magenta onto his design.

“Isn’t he just a little ray of sunshine when he’s working?”

Chris lifted his hand from the mouse long enough to give Gareth the bird.

“Ah, sibling love. Makes me glad I’m an only child.” She toasted them with her can before popping the top.

“Wait until you meet the rest of the family.”

Chris looked up, a frown on his face. “Do you two mind? I’m trying to work.”

“Sorry. So sorry.” Lana stood and tiptoed out of the room, making shushing noises at Gareth and bowing to Chris whenever he looked up. The reluctant amusement on his face made her overly dramatic posturing worthwhile.

She headed into the kitchen again intent on making sandwiches. Maybe feeding some meat to her grumpy wolf would tame him a bit.

Grammy came up from the basement, a look of concern on her face. “What is it?”

“I heard from someone high up in the witches’ council.”

Uh-oh. “And?”

“It’s confirmed. The wizard king is gravely ill. None of their healing spells are working. He wants to name his successor before he passes on, and he’s definitely considering someone from either the Becketts or the Godwins.” She shook her head sadly. “He even went so far to ask one of our specialists to look at him, but there was nothing that could be done for him. Poor man.”

“Do they know who he’s thinking of naming?”

“We’ve been scrying all day, but so far none of us has been able to come up with anything.”

“Which means either he hasn’t decided himself or he’s blocking any magical attempts to find out.”

Grammy nodded, grabbing the bread. “That makes sense. I’m certain the other kings would do the same.” She sighed, the bread dropping onto the plate. Lana took a good look at her, just noticing the dark circles under her Grammy’s eyes. “I’m too tired to cook tonight, sweetheart. Do you mind sandwiches?”

Lana thought about ordering in pizza but reluctantly decided against it. She had no idea if Cole knew where they were yet and she wasn’t willing to take chances. There were so many things he could do to the pizza, or the delivery man, that fell into the “not good” category. “I’ve already started making them. Why don’t you let me finish? Have a seat.”

“Thank you, dear. I will.” Grammy settled wearily onto the bench.

Lana called the men in to grab the sandwiches once they were done. Chris entered first, the frown of concentration gone from his face. He was even smiling. Lana saw Gareth wink at her before Chris swooped down, planting a hearty kiss on her cheek. “Did you have a good day at work, dear?”

She snorted. “Not too bad. You?”

“I had a very good day. There was this cute new girl in the office. I swear, I think she flirted with me a few times.” He was grinning down at her, cradling her body in his arms, swaying gently against her. But something manic was in his eyes, something wild and untamed.

“Really? Do I need to be worried about her?” She studied him closely, worried by what she saw.

He shrugged. “Nah. You’re much cuter, and you smell better.” He sniffed her neck, laughing when she playfully slapped his chest. He turned his head, his grin turning savage when he saw the sandwiches. “Roast beef.” He reached over and grabbed one, shoving half into his mouth in one go.

“Ew.” Lana stepped back. “Slow down, Captain Carnivore. You might choke on the gristle.”

Chris looked shocked for a moment before swallowing hard, making a weird face.

She thought maybe the beef got briefly stuck halfway down. Not surprising since she usually packed half a cow on her sandwiches. “Sorry.”

Gareth sighed. “I need a run too.”

The brothers exchanged glances. “Where?” Chris sat, pulling Lana into his lap and handing her a sandwich. “Eat.” When she squirmed to get more comfortable, he growled, tightening his arms around her waist. It was like he thought she was trying to get away.

She settled down, hoping it would calm her wolfman down.

“No place around here is safe. We’d have to head out of the city a ways. Thanks.”

Gareth smiled sweetly at Grammy when she passed him the lemonade, but his expression remained troubled.

“Do you two need to change every day?” Lana bit delicately into her sandwich. Rich tomato and tangy mustard burst over her tongue. Yummy. She hadn’t realized how hungry she’d been until she’d taken a bite. The moment she did the low-level grumble that had been rattling Chris’s chest ceased, and his big body eased.

What the hell?

“I wouldn’t go more than three days without changing. Things can get, pardon the pun, hairy if we don’t.” Chris dropped a kiss on her shoulder. “It’s been a while since I’ve had to deal with that problem. We might not be able to stay here too much longer.”

He sounded genuinely regretful. Considering the circumstances she couldn’t find it in her to call him on it. He was looking really uncomfortable. She decided to put him out of his misery. “Back to your place then?”

“I think so.” He rubbed his hand up and down her back. “I’m sorry, Lana. I should have thought of this. I wish I didn’t have to break my promise to you.”

She kissed his cheek, hoping to ease some more of the tension in him. “Don’t worry about it. I’m sure there are some perks to dating a werewolf.”

“Like?” He settled her more securely on his lap. She could feel his erection growing under her bottom, a different hunger lighting his eyes.

“Hmm. Never having cold feet in bed again?”

Gareth laughed. “Yup, that’s the biggest perk all right.”

She put the sandwich down on the plate and wrapped her arms around Chris’s neck, focusing on him. “And you already come housetrained.”

His lips twitched. “True.”

“And if you chew my shoes you can afford to replace them.”

He looked ready to burst, either in laughter or indignation, she couldn’t tell which. “I am not a poodle.”

“Well, that’s good. I’m not really into yappy dogs.” She ran her hand teasingly down his chest and used her best seductive voice. “I like real dogs.”

Gareth’s head was on the table, his shoulders shaking.

Chris was still fighting a laugh when his cell phone rang. “Hello?” The tension she’d managed to almost eradicate once more tightened his shoulders, the laughter fleeing from his face. “What do you want, Cole?” She tried to hear what was being said but couldn’t.

All she could hear was a soft murmuring voice, but the tone came through loud and clear, the menace in the sounds dripping from the speaker. Chris’s eyes narrowed, his mouth tightening at whatever Cole was saying. “You really don’t want to do that, Cole. Trust me.” The last words were said in a low growl that sent shivers down her spine. Her wolfman was getting seriously pissed off.

When his eyes darted to Grammy, it was Lana’s turn to stiffen. “What?” She mouthed, hoping he’d be able to give her an answer.

“The Evans family is off limits. Don’t threaten them again. Do you understand me?”

He listened for a moment, his hand tightening painfully on her hip, his gaze boring into hers. “What makes you think he’ll pick you once he finds out you’ve been threatening innocent bystanders? Cole? Cole! Damn it!” He closed the phone and tossed it onto the table. “We have to leave tonight. He’s not only found out who you are but where we are.”

He exchanged a look with Gareth that worried her. “He said to tell you hi.”