Shadow of the Wolf

“Damn. He’s stronger than I thought.” Lana shivered, grateful when Chris pulled her close, burying her face in his neck. “Can he hurt Grammy?”

His arms tightened around her. “I’ll protect you both. You have my word on that.”

She didn’t even have to think over everything he’d already done to protect her. “I know.” The soft wonder in his face was worth her show of trust. She smiled and fed him a bit of sandwich. Hmm. Maybe we can work this out after all.

Chapter Seven

It didn’t take long to get everything packed back into the car. Gareth volunteered to drive Annabelle, leaving Christopher alone with his mate and a burning need to let the wolf free. The two women exchanged quick hugs, and they were off, heading back to Christopher’s house and the problems that hadn’t gone away. If anything, the new threat Cole had obliquely uttered had upped the stakes considerably. Lana would never forgive herself, or him, if anything happened to Annabelle.

And still, the only thing he could think about was his need to rip his clothing off his body and run until he collapsed.

Damn it, how could he have forgotten? Most days it wasn’t a problem, because he’d made sure it wasn’t one. He’d even gone to a college in the suburbs, living in a place that had a good wooded area behind it for short runs. It was a lesson he’d learned from his parents. His relatives might work in the city but they lived outside it.

Now, thanks to his illness, he hadn’t run in two days, and the wolf was anxious to get out of its cage. The only reason he could think of for the wolf to be so itchy to get out was the fact that they had yet to fully claim their mate. “Once we’re back at the house, Gareth and I will be going for a run.”

“All right.” She put her hand on his thigh, the warmth of her seeping through the rough denim. Suddenly his wolf’s urges were heading in a completely different direction, one that had his cock rock hard enough to drill holes in steel. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

He could think of a few things she could do that might help. Unzipping his fly, lowering her head, taking his prick out of his pants, sucking it into the warm cavern of her mouth…

“Chris? You might want to pull over.”

He looked at her. “Why?”

She gestured with her chin towards the steering wheel. “Your hands are sprouting fur.”

“Fuck.” He pulled over. Luckily they’d already left the city, but they were still on a major highway. He leaned his head back against the seat, closing his eyes and taking deep breaths.

He couldn’t understand it. He should have more control than this.

Her hand tried to leave his thigh. His growling response startled even him. “Chris?”

The fear in her voice nearly killed him. He reached for the door handle, ignoring her when she reached into her purse, determined to get away from her before his wolf got the better of him. He was terrified of what he would do to her if that should happen.

She reached out and began to stroke his hair, freezing him in his tracks.

“Artemis who guards the night

Aid us now in our plight.

Man and beast within collide;

Bring forth the man to guide.

By your hand, by my decree.

As I will so mote it be.”

She pressed something into the palm of his hand, stroking his fingers over it, using her own to guide him, her other still tangled in his hair. Her quiet chant continued, her soft voice something both he and the wolf could focus on. The feel of the cool stone helped center him, guided the man back to the surface and dominance.

“Lana?”

“Shh. It’s okay, Chris. I’ve got you.” Sweat beaded her brow, her voice tired. “This wasn’t natural, Chris.”

He ground his teeth. Fucking Cole again. There must have been more of the wolf hair than I thought.

“He must have held back some of the wolf hairs from the earlier spell.”

“He was trying to force the wolf out, tried to nullify the contract we have with it.”

She shook her head. “I don’t think he can do that. I think he did try to bring out your wolf, but it wouldn’t have hurt me. I’m sure of it.”

He wasn’t. She hadn’t felt the raw hunger his wolf had blasted him with. But the wolf lay docile now under her palm, ready to beg for more caresses from his mate.

He opened his fingers and stared down at the milky white gem in his hand.

“Moonstone?”

“I invoked Artemis.” She grinned wearily. “And you are a werewolf.”

He snorted, too tired to argue with her. “I’m sorry if I scared you.”

Her fingers shifted, closing his around the moonstone again. “I think you scared yourself more than you scared me.” She shifted in her seat. “Are you all right to drive?”

He nodded. Already he could feel his strength returning. “Yeah, I think so.”

“Good.” She yawned. “Wake me when we get there, okay?”

“Lana?”

“Hmm?”

“Thank you.”

She blew him a kiss. “Welcome.”

He began to drive, comforted by the sound of her breathing. She slipped into a doze, eventually sliding completely into sleep. He understood now why Becketts withered and died when their mates did.

It had been two days, and already he couldn’t imagine living without her.

Now he just had to get her to understand she could live with him.

* * *

The next morning Lana woke to find herself in Chris’s arms again. He’d tugged and prodded until she’d sleepily agreed to follow him upstairs. She hadn’t been awake enough to realize he’d led her straight into his bedroom, and now here she was with her own warm werewolf at her back.

Frankly, saying anything about it at this point was probably stupid. The man had already had the milk, after all. No sense in complaining about the fact that he’d stolen the cow and was getting set to raid the barn and move into the house.

“Chris.”

His arm tightened slightly around her waist. He mumbled something incoherent.

She poked at his arm with her finger. It barely gave, the flesh tight over corded muscle. “Chris.”

“Sleepin’.”

“I noticed. But I need to get up.”

“Nuh-uh. Sleepin’.” He buried his face in her hair.

She’d only woken up with him twice and already she could see a pattern emerging.

“It’s morning.”

“It’s dark.”

“How can you tell it’s dark if you’re sleeping?”

He sighed roughly. “Because I opened my eyes long enough to look.”

She patted his arm. “You have to let me up. I need to get ready for work.”

“Can you get a job where you don’t need to be up at o’dark hundred?”

She could hear both man and wolf whining in his voice. She was having a hard time holding back her smile. He sounded like a little boy whose favorite toy was being taken away. “I like my job, thank you.”