Animal Heat

VAMPYRE FALLS: ANIMAL HEAT by ADRIANNA DANE Amber Quill Press, LLC http://www.amberquill.com

Vampyre Falls: Animal Heat An Amber Quill Press Book This book is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations, and incidents are products of the author's imagination, or have been used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, locales, or events is entirely coincidental.

Amber Quill Press, LLC http://www.amberquill.com http://www.amberheat.com http://www.amber-allure.com

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be transmitted or reproduced in any form, or by any means, without permission in writing from the publisher, with the exception of brief excerpts used for the purposes of review. Copyright © 2007 by Dream Romantic Unlimited LLC ISBN 978-1-60272-141-8 Cover Art © 2007 Trace Edward Zaber Layout and Formatting Provided by: Elemental Alchemy Published in the United States of America

Books by Adrianna Dane Achilles' Charm

The Argadian Heart Trilogy The Boy Next Door Breathless Peaks Carnal Carnivale Closing Time Come Into My Parlor The Diary Of Lillian Manchester, Book I: The Stranger Esmerelda's Secret The Exile: A Seductive Tale Fertility Rite Graphic Liaisons If You Dare... I Want Images Of Desire Immortal Treasure Jebediah's Promise Jewel Of Niveka Legend Of The Beesinger The Lion and The Rose Mariposa Soul

Also by Adrianna Dane The Midas Bride Nights In White Satin No Choice Primal Magic: Scent Primal Magic: Swan's Lake Realm Of The Ice God Ruthless Acts Sequestered Passion Smooth Finish Sylvie's Gift Tempt Me Not Therapy Train Me A View To Possession Whisperut Time Shift

Dedication Thanks to Lon Chaney, Jr., and Michael Landon for introducing me to some pretty mesmerizing werewolves at an early age, and memories of Saturday night chiller movies. My love affair with creatures of the night has been a long-standing one.

Chapter 1 There was something distinctly different about Treynor Black, and Rainna Elizabeth Spaulding was determined to find

out what it was that drew her so irrevocably to the man. She couldn't decide what she loved best about him. Was it his mouth, which tasted like pure carnal delight? Maybe his hands, that seemed to be able to elicit every lustful response from her body. Or was it his mesmerizing, brooding gaze that made her melt every time she was in close vicinity? She gazed down, meeting the salacious, languid look in his shadowed eyes as she surged and dipped over his body, her wet pussy sucking at his thick cock, greedy to consume every bit of his length. A slow, morning fuck, before dawn, drawing out the elemental pleasure of enjoying his hard body. His hands rested loosely at her hips as she rose up and slowly settled in undulating, rhythmic cadence. Smoothing her hands over his rock-solid chest that was covered in rich, dark, silky hair, his slitted gaze locked tightly with hers, a half-smile on his sculpted lips, she roamed over his body at will. One thing she did know was that she enjoyed his body very much. Anytime he knocked on her door, there was never a thought of denying him. It didn't even matter that he'd stood her up for dinner the night before and showed up on her doorstep at midnight. She angled her hips, her vagina wrapped closer around his rigid cock, the tip of his penis skittering achingly against the entrance to her womb, sending shockwaves of pleasure throughout her body. Gazing out the window, regretfully she encountered the first wisps of dawn through the window. He would leave soon and whenever he left it was like ripping out a part of herself. It was an odd feeling she didn't quite understand. His departure shouldn't affect her so acutely. She hadn't known him long enough to feel a deeper emotion beyond liking and enjoyment of his company. Of his body. She slid up and down, coating his rigid shaft with her juices. He reached up and cupped her heavy breasts, kneading them rhythmically as she rode him like a belly dancer swirling her lush hips to seductive music. Almost from the moment he'd entered her cabin last night, he'd barely closed the door before they'd been down on the floor, tearing at each other's clothing as though they were about to be separated forever and time was running out. The intensity of her response to him was like being swept up in a tornado with little ability to control her actions. He'd pushed into her hard, fucked her deep. It was fierce and ravenous, as though they hadn't seen each other for months, rather than hours. There was little sense of reality or their surroundings, it was all about the sensations, the tangle of bodies melded in the driving heat of lust with no relief in sight even as she orgasmed time and time again. Sleep was hardly a glimmer in her mind. It rarely was when they were together. Some primal urgency seemed to overtake them as they imbibed deeply with lusty thirst. Their combined scents filled the air in the cabin. Sex and sweat, earthy and hot. She loved the scent of him--it filled her with the desire to mate--regularly and often. It was hot and male and clean, yet primal. It obliterated every other thought in her head, as though she was drenched in primitive heat and nothing mattered beyond fucking him. He reached up and wound his hand in her long, brown hair. Drawing her down, he fastened his lips over hers. Her fingers curled, digging into his chest, as he thrust his tongue deep into her mouth. The purr of satisfaction that coiled in her throat, erupted into muffled sound, swallowed by his kiss. He lifted her away. "I have to go, Rainna. It's almost light." That sense of panic she always experienced at those words, threaded through her and she felt her pussy grip his cock tighter as though trying to imprison him there. It wasn't a need to orgasm, it was simply a need to keep him with her, locked inside her. Forever. He shuddered beneath her and then groaned. "Dammit, woman. If I could cart you off into the woods and fuck you forever, it wouldn't be enough." Surprisingly, his words alone sent her over the edge one more time. They mirrored the thoughts spiraling through her head. She bucked and ground her hips, driving him deeper. He thrust upward and spurted his hot semen inside her. Damn, yes.

How had she become so addicted to him so quickly? Once the tremors had lessened, she rose up and fell to the side of the bed, gasping for air. He twisted around, leaned down, and kissed her. He was preparing to leave. It was that kind of kiss. She lifted her arms to curl them around his neck. "Why, Trey? Why can't you stay?" She didn't want to beg. She didn't want to whine. It wasn't like her to play the simpering little woman. She'd always been a bit of a player, a flirt. Never engaging her emotions too deeply. She loved sex. Loved the adventure of fucking and foreplay. But she'd never fallen in love, never felt quite this same sort of intimacy. The thought that it might be happening now, when she could least afford it, scared her to death. The springs on the bed creaked as Trey left it to dress. Rainna sat up, pulling the white sheet up to cover herself. Suddenly, she was cold. Without his fierce, burning body pressed against her, it was like an ice-cold downdraft from the mountain flayed across her. Her pussy was still sopping wet, feeling abandoned and empty. From past experience, she knew the edgy feeling would slowly dissipate once he left. It was odd how that always happened. "I should be angry with you for standing me up for dinner." He turned to give her a sideways, slanted look as he pulled on his scuffed brown leather boots. His expression was closed, as it often was whenever she asked him questions. "I have a job to do, Rainna. I can't always be where I'd like to be. Duty has to come first." She knew about duty. Duty was what had brought her here to this remote town at the base of Mt. Ranier. She sighed. "I understand, Trey. You have a job to do. Even though you won't tell me anything about it. Or about yourself." If it was possible for his expression to grow any more remote, it did. He bent down to tie the laces of his hiking boots. "In time, Rainna." He straightened and looked at her. God, she loved his eyes. They were the most unusual color of blue, pale, like the clearest reflection of cerulean sky on the waters of a pure mountain lake. Yet, Treynor Black was as deep as the waters of Lake Tahoe. There were layers to the man, and she hadn't been able to reach the heart of him. Not yet. But then, didn't she have her own secrets? A past she couldn't share with him? Didn't dare share with him? It seemed they danced around each other that way. Or maybe the better word was duel. Dipping close and jumping back. Except when they were fucking. He strode over to the bed, ripped the sheet away and hauled her up into his arms. The searing kiss locked them together for that one moment and she wrapped herself around him, absorbing his blazing heat. Memorizing the feel of his hard body as he pressed her close, the soft fabric of his plaid flannel shirt rubbed against her breasts and unbelievably she felt the heat of lust rising again. She always marveled at how it never seemed to waver when she was with him. She was left breathless when he finally lowered her back to the bed, his pale gaze slicing through her. "I'll see you later." His words, in that rough voice of his, frictioned across her body like fine-grained sandpaper. This primal heat would not abate while he was here. She had grown accustomed to the signals of her body, the tightening of her nipples, the steady flow of her juices when he was anywhere near her. She didn't even have to see him to know he was close--her body simply responded to his scent. The blazing fire of arousal never let up. One would have thought that considering the amount of fucking they had done over the last month, some of the need would have lessened. But if anything, it had only grown worse. "Will you be stopping by the diner for lunch?" That was how they had first met. She'd never forget that first

encounter. She'd almost dropped a whole tray of dishes into his lap. Luckily, he'd caught the tray--and her--just in time. He shook his head. "Not today. But I'll stop by tonight." She bit her lip and nodded. Shivering, she pulled the sheet around her once again. "Later then." His gaze lingered on her. She had the sense that he found it as difficult to leave as she did to let him go. That he wanted to say something more. The thought warmed her somewhat. Then he whirled around and strode out the door. His absence left an empty silence inside the small cabin. Rainna glanced at the clock and noted it was only a little before five o'clock. Maybe she could get a couple hours of sleep before she had to be at work. She dropped back against the pillows, pressing her slick thighs close together. She pulled the pillow close and inhaled his lingering aroma. She knew from past experience the heat would slowly dissipate, but right now the ache was still vivid and pulsing. She reached up to cup her breasts and brushed her thumbs over her taut nipples, remembering. Her pussy clenched tightly with the echoes, clamping down on emptiness. But the feeling of contentment, of satiation didn't dissipate. She didn't know where this relationship was going to lead, but she couldn't bring herself to end it. Not yet. She'd been transplanted from town to town so many times, she'd lost count. The Witness Protection Program was more of a nightmare than a safe haven. It had been worse before she testified, but she still couldn't take a chance on building any lasting relationships. It was putting closure to that time of her life and the need to put down roots that had been the catalyst for her to make up her mind to leave the program and try to take back her life. But she still couldn't take too many chances with people she didn't really know. She'd taken back her real name, determined to retrieve who she was. But she still tried to be careful. She was far enough away from the situation that had gotten her into this mess, and the doctors responsible were now in prison, but it still paid to be cautious. It's one of the reasons why she was working as a waitress and not as a nurse. Less chance of being discovered. But then she'd met Treynor Black, and he was an animal of a whole different breed. From that first moment, the attraction to him was too fierce to deny. They'd hardly made it to somewhere private before fucking the first time. And once they'd started, they couldn't seem to stop. No place was safe when they were together. And everything was fair game. She smiled as she pulled up the quilt and snuggled beneath the covers. Her whole body ached in afterglow. It was going to be a long day, but at least she had tonight to look forward to. God. How would she survive if she had to leave this town, and leave Trey behind? It wasn't something she was going to think about right now. She simply wanted to bask in the lingering bright blaze of Trey's brand of lovemaking.

Chapter 2 The scent of evil pulled him through the forest. It was the same odor as that of the team who had killed his pack mates. He dropped low to the ground as he followed the trail, lowering his nose close to the ground, then back up to sniff the air. The smell lingered thickly, surrounding him. It was sweat and stench, making him want to vomit at the thought of sinking his fangs into the flesh of someone as evil as this hunter. He didn't know his name, just his smell. It was something he would never forget. And the guilt that lingered with it. Trey was the alpha for the pack and he should have been there to protect them. He should have known the information he'd been given was false and that they'd been betrayed. If he'd stayed, they would have been strong enough to fight them off, but separated, it had weakened and left the ones who remained vulnerable. At least this time he knew his brothers were safely hidden in the mountains. This was a totally different situation from

what had happened back east. He'd heard rumors of the Falls and the safety that could be found for shifters like him and the others. When they'd arrived, he'd been surprised at how organized everything was. It was a sanctuary created by and for species like him. As the government grew more and more determined to wipe out anyone with paranormal abilities, it had become of urgent necessity for the different species to band together to protect themselves from extinction. If you didn't sign the agreement to work with the government, then they figured you were against them and that marked you for extermination by the Paraspecies Investigation Agency. They were a new task force cloaked as an exploratory agency, but better termed as government assassins. It wasn't just a domestic organization, but had cells worldwide with ties to the highest level of government control. A shadow group that did the dirty work. And their jurisdiction extended to species like werewolves and vampires, and ran the whole gamut of special abilities, right down to the least bit of special power a human might possess. They watched and they waited. Whole families were annihilated because of one person, maybe a seventh son of a seventh son, or whatever, who might hold a speck of ability. They were rounded up and brought in. They were tested, tortured, and eventually killed. More like a torturous inquisition than a simple questioning. Their plan was to wipe the paraspecies out completely. But it was the more obvious groups, like the wolves, who were at the top of the hit list. The price on their heads might make anyone think twice about what they could do with that amount of money. And that's how his own pack had been betrayed, and Kyle and Sybilla had been killed. The news that one of the wolfhunters was near Silver Creek had brought him down to the town. The mountain vampires had long-standing ties in the town--humans who were loyal to the Falls residents. That was how he'd gotten the information that PIA had sent someone in. The people in Silver Creek couldn't be bought, so it had to be someone from outside who had passed on the information that paraspecies could be found here. Trey's sole focus had been to find the men who had murdered his family. He'd never expected to meet a woman like Rainna in the process. One who fueled the mating instinct like no other woman he'd ever met. It was dangerous for him to associate with her. It could mean her death if this wolfhunter ever realized she was connected to him. Connected was a real good word. Every time he got in close proximity to Rainna Spaulding, it was like all his common sense flew out the window. He simply couldn't help himself when it came to her. Something a lot more basic than his brain took over. Pure, ingrained animal instinct. He supposed it was expected that it would eventually happen. Timing was not on his side and now certainly wasn't a convenient time in any respect to establish a mating. When it came down to it, he wasn't certain he could protect her any better than he had Kyle and Sybilla. Rainna carried his scent now and there was no changing it. He wanted to take her back to the Falls, introduce her to his pack brothers, and make her his life mate, make her a part of his family. But what would she do when she found out what he was? And besides, humans without abilities weren't allowed to join the community. It was one of the laws of their society. It was too easy for a traitor to infiltrate. He had to put his mind back on track and return his focus to why he was here in the first place. And that was to hunt down a killer. He also needed to find out if there were others, and whether he was working alone, or if the team was close by as well. From what the council members said, this was the first PIA assassin that had come to Silver Creek. If he was alone, all the better. He could be dispatched quickly. But would that lead to others coming to look for him? If Trey killed him, the body would need to be removed to somewhere far away. He'd talk with the vamps about how they wanted it handled so it didn't draw attention to Silver Creek or Vampyre Falls. Although in his opinion it probably was already too late. Just having one of them show up in Silver Creek said they probably already knew about the Falls, and infestation by rodents such as these was probably not far behind. He sniffed the air again, smelled the strong scent of danger, and circuited the darkness and shadows. In wolf form his vision was far more acute than when he took human shape. He could move faster and more quietly through the thick vegetation as well, and his senses were more acute. The assassin was close, he could feel it, and he wasn't making any attempt to hide his presence. He probably had no idea he was even being followed. Obviously, he was too intent on whatever prey he had in his sight. What was he up to? Trey knew what he looked like. He'd seen him in town, but he'd tried to keep his distance, not wanting him to catch his scent. One thing about assassins such as these was that they had highly developed senses of smell and sound. It was

part of their training when they joined the agency. Whatever scent he was onto couldn't be good. He still couldn't fathom why someone would want to become a part of a group like that. Of course, there were the high bounties and he expected they enjoyed the thrill of the hunt, and the kill. Some of them were more bloodthirsty than others. And the wolfhunters were some of the worst. They collected the pelts of the victims they killed. He shuddered when he thought about Sybilla and Kyle. He'd never found their bodies and often had nightmares about what had become of them. All he'd found was a bloody trail that had led him nowhere. His brother, Carson, had gotten away with a wound to his chest from the silver-dipped knife that had sliced him open. He'd been lucky. They'd apparently taken them out one at a time after incapacitating them. Carson was probably meant to be the last. Donovan had been hunting when they'd attacked. He'd just returned and found Carson, lying unconscious and wounded on the ground, and had dragged him out of the cabin before the assassins could come back and finish the job. There'd been no sign of Sybilla and Kyle. Other than the bloody trail. Van had been required to make a choice and he'd lived with that knowledge ever since. There was always a plan B, and theirs was an abandoned gold mine they'd stocked with supplies--just in case. That's where Trey had found his brothers when he'd returned. Carson's wound had never healed properly. Of course, Carson still wasn't right in any respect. Sybilla had been his mate, and he doubted Carson was ever going to recover from that loss. The assassin veered to the right and Trey perked his ears. He shouldn't be moving in that direction. It certainly didn't lead to the mountain, nor back to Silver Creek. Shit.He was headed for Rainna's cabin. What the hell was he doing going in that direction? Suddenly he realized what the assassin was tracking. It was Trey's scent he was on. He was following it to Rainna's cabin. Sonofabitch! Trey took off at a dead run. He had to take the bastard down before he reached Rainna's cabin. He would not lose the woman he'd marked as his mate.

Chapter 3 Rainna rushed into her cabin, shouldering the door open, her arms full of grocery bags. Her plan was to make a special dinner for Trey. She knew his favorite meal was a thick steak with wild mushroom gravy, twice-baked potatoes, and corn on the cob. It wouldn't take long to grill the steak since Trey preferred his practically raw. He always seemed to have a voracious appetite. In more ways than one. She reached into the cupboard for the seasonings, pulled the head of lettuce and other vegetables out of the refrigerator, setting them on the counter, and was just reaching for the knife she planned to use for the vegetables, when the door of the cabin rocked back on its hinges and slammed against the wall. Whirling around, a butcher knife clutched in her hand, she reared back against the counter as she saw a man, who looked more like a wild demon than a human, filling the doorway. Black straggly hair down to his shoulders, a full black beard, a narrow face with small, beady eyes. He wore ragged Army fatigues, clutched an evil-looking machete in one hand, and had a rifle slung across his back. "What do you want?" she screamed He tilted his head to the sky and sniffed loudly. The smile that spread across his lips was not pleasant and made Rainna shudder. She clasped the knife tighter, knowing she and a cheap kitchen knife were not going to be a match for

this man if he came at her. He turned back to look at her and the expression on his face had to be the cruelest one she'd ever seen. "This place stinks of him." His black gaze narrowed. "You stink of the pack. Where's the alpha?" He took a menacing step toward her. "This time I'm going to skin him and take his carcass back with me." There was only one way out and he was blocking it. She had to find a path around him somehow. The cabin had never seemed quite so small before. "I don't know who you're talking about." She tried to inch her way to the other side of the tiny kitchen, hopefully forcing him farther into the room. "Who are you looking for?" "Black. Him and his pack. I got me two of them, but I know there's more. I've seen their markings. They've been here." He narrowed his gaze on her again. "And I'm guessing he'll be back. In the meantime..." That was when she tried to lunge past him, just as he took another step toward her, freeing a small space she might be able to use to get past him. At least she had the knife. She didn't know what Trey might have done to have this man tracking him; she didn't care because what she did know was that this man was bad. Really, really bad. Rainna bolted, hoping to take him off guard. She almost made it past him when he shot around and grabbed her by her long hair. He yanked her off her feet. She screamed as loud as she could before she toppled backward. She held little hope that someone might hear her--the cabin was too far away from town--but someone might be walking in the woods nearby. A long shot, but her best hope. Trey wasn't due to arrive for several hours. She was on her own. She yanked around and blindly jabbed out with the knife. But, again, he was too quick, too experienced. He grabbed her wrist in a tight, breaking hold, and twisted to the point where she thought the bones might snap. "No," she screamed, as the knife clattered to the floor from her numbed fingers. He dragged her up against him and his hot breath choked her. "You're a little spitfire, aren't you? Seems to me you could use a little taming. You and me are going to come to an understanding before Black gets here." That wasn't going to happen. In a quick movement, she jabbed her knee up as hard as she could and hit a bull's eyes. He yowled and suddenly she was free. Not wasting an instant, she whirled around and raced toward the open door. He was on her before she could reach it, ripping her shirt, yanking her back by the hair. "No," she screamed, whipping around. She dug her curled fingers into the flesh of his face. "Damn you, bitch. You'll pay for that." The next thing she knew pain shattered through her. She saw stars as his fist smashed into her face and blood poured from her nose. Oh, God, she was certain she was going to die. Before she could crumple to the floor, he hauled her up and threw her onto the bed. She rolled over and tried to crawl to the other side. He dragged her back, picked her up, and slammed her back down. She fought him with every bit of strength she could muster, refusing to give in to the pain. She knew she was fighting for her life. This time she tried for his eyes, curling her fingers into claws, she struck out fiercely. He deflected her aim, grabbed her arms, and slammed her back down again. She was losing strength and she knew it. He hit her across the face again and she felt the blackness start to descend. She fought it, knowing she would certainly be lost if she allowed herself to lose consciousness. She tried to lift her legs, to kick out. Her mouth filled with blood and she couldn't breath. She felt his vile hands at the front of her jeans and she fought harder, but knew she couldn't last much longer. She wiggled and refused to remain still. She would not give in. One leg achieved freedom and she kicked out. He twisted her leg and she screamed with pain. Then he punched her in the stomach, winding her, and she fell back, trying

to catch her breath, knowing something was broken. Tears blurred her vision. The loud echo of an angry growl shot through the room. The vile hands left her body for an instant, and she managed to crawl away on her hands and knees, toppling off the other side of the bed. Pulling herself up, she looked around and couldn't believe what she saw. It was a huge black wolf with a vicious look on its face. She had to be seeing things. She shook her head and tried to focus, but one eye was already beginning to swell and her vision was blurry. "Black. I knew you'd get here sooner or later. Too bad it wasn't just a bit later." Then the large wolf leapt straight toward the man, knocking him to the ground. They grappled on the floor, rolling over and over. The wolf's lethal fangs were bared as he growled and snapped, trying to reach the man's throat. Rainna dragged herself across the bed and folded to the floor. She tried to focus, to remain conscious, but she knew she didn't have much strength left. When she couldn't get her legs to function, she crawled across the floor, trying to find the knife that he'd forced from her hand. She saw the glint of silver just to the right of the violent battle. The man was now on top, trying to break the wolf's jaw, one hand at his throat. His machete wasn't close enough for him to reach and there was no way he'd have time to remove the rifle from his shoulder to use in this small space. If he killed the wolf, Rainna knew she would be next. She'd rather take her chances with the wolf later. Reaching for the kitchen knife, she fumbled. Her hand was still numb, and the knife clattered back to the floor. Using her other hand, she quickly recovered the knife and rose to her knees. With the very last of her strength, she lifted unsteadily to her feet and threw herself at the pair on the floor. She knew she'd only have one chance. Gripping the knife with both hands she thrust it into the assailant's back, pushing as deep as she could, desperate to hit something vital that would stop him. He arched back, howling with pain. She ripped the knife out, his flesh sucking at the blade, and plunged it in again, driving through muscle as blood poured out onto her hands. He stiffened and then finally dropped forward beneath her. She left the knife where it was and rolled away, closing her eyes. The violence and stench of blood was already making her ill. She had to get out. She couldn't be certain she had killed him. There was a whine and a blast of hot breath across her battered face. She managed to open one eye and she met the fierce, pale blue gaze of the wolf standing over her, watching her. There was no room left for fear. All that remained was the unbearable pain of her body. And a shocking moment of recognition. "Trey," she whispered before she blacked out.

Chapter 4 Trey had never been so scared, or so angry, in his life. He quickly shifted back to his human form. There was no time to waste. He had to get her out of here and back to the Falls so Morganna could tend to her wounds. He could only hope nothing vital had been damaged or broken. He should have been faster, dammit. He didn't dare take her to the hospital in Silver Creek--there would be too many questions. He turned back to check the wolfhunter and determined without doubt that he was dead. The minute he'd released Trey's jaw, Trey had finished what Rainna had started. He had no regrets. He turned back to Rainna. Look at what the bastard did to her and she still kept fighting. She was his mate, dammit, and he should have admitted it to himself before this and convinced her to go back up the

mountain with him. It didn't matter if she didn't have special powers; he would make the council agree to allow her to remain in Vampyre Falls. If not, then he and the others would leave. They'd have no choice.He had no choice. He couldn't let her go. He found a blanket and carefully wrapped it around her. Then he located her purse with her car keys. Lifting her into his arms he carried her out to the car and placed her on the backseat, being certain to cushion her head. Once he was sure she was as comfortable as possible and that her breathing and pulse were steady, he went back inside the cabin. She was going to be angry when she woke up, but he had little choice at this point. If he was going to protect not only her, but everyone in Silver Creek as well as in Vampyre Falls he had to make sure he covered their tracks and that there was no trace of the PIA agent by the time it was done. He walked outside and around to the shed at the back. He picked up the can of gasoline and then went back inside. Pulling a book of matches off the counter in the kitchen, he lit the match and dropped it into the liquid pooling on the floor. It caught fast and he hurried outside, closing the door behind him. He'd use the cell phone before he got too far out of range and alert the fire department before the fire could have a chance to get out of control. Then he'd lose the throw-away phone. It didn't do him any good up in the mountains anyway. There was no phone service in Vampyre Falls, no vehicles other than ATVs. The electricity was powered by the falls. Fuck.The cell phone was back in his truck along with his clothes. What the hell was he thinking? He looked back at the cabin, wondering what his chances were to get to the agent to see if he had a phone. The flames had already begun to engulf the interior and he couldn't take the chance. He was going to have to make a quick stop before he could get her back to the Falls--he had no choice. Luckily there was a shortcut to where he'd left his truck hidden on the other side of the woods. Sometimes this clothes problem really irritated him. And no pockets in his wolf form. That was a real issue at times like this. One last check on Rainna and he got into the front seat and started the engine. As he pulled away, he checked the rearview mirror and saw the yellow flames licking at the structure. He spun out, throwing dirt, gravel, and clouds of dust behind him as he hightailed it for his truck. Once he got to it, he jumped out of the car and raced toward it. Yanking open the door he grabbed for his clothes and the cell phone. He punched in the number for the fire department, gave them the necessary information, and then tossed the phone. There was no time to dress--he had to get Rainna to the healer and fast. One of his brothers could come down later to take care of his vehicle. Tossing his clothes into the front seat of Rainna's car, he jumped in and jammed his bare foot down on the gas pedal. There was no going back. He could only hope that Rainna would eventually understand what he had done and why. He hoped his brothers would give her time to become acclimated with their way of life. They weren't much on patience. But if Trey planned to keep Rainna as his mate, and remain head of his pack, the others would have to accept her as well. And that was something he wasn't certain Rainna was ready for. **** She hurt. She hurt bad. Pain was about the only thing she felt when she woke up to find herself wrapped in a blanket, speeding down the road, the faint scent of burning wood assaulting her nostrils. The one thing she did know was that she was lying on the backseat of a car. She tried to focus, but her eyes were too bleary, one actually completely shut, and the side of her face felt like pummeled steak. She couldn't breath easily through her nose and she was afraid to touch it, to discover that it actually was broken. She was terrified to see any bit of her face from the way it felt. It was the fear of who was driving the vehicle that was the impetus to make her attempt to sit up, even though it felt like her ribs were broken. And then she finally managed to see who was driving the car. "Trey," she croaked. He glanced quickly around and then returned his attention to the road. She had no idea exactly how fast they were traveling, but she knew it certainly far exceeded the speed limit, especially on what felt like a dirt road. "You should slow down." She couldn't make out a lot, being half-blind, but it looked like-- "Trey...are you naked?" "I need to get you to a doctor," he gritted out, obviously ignoring her personal comment. "Goddamn it to hell. The sonfoabitch," he roared as he slammed his closed fist against the steering wheel.

"Is he...dead?" Her gaze connected with his angry, pale one in the rearview mirror. Some memory flittered in her mind and then disappeared. "Yes. But you didn't do it." "Was it the wolf?" She saw something flash through his eyes. "I should have gotten to you sooner. I knew he was in the area. I was tracking him, but I just never thought he'd go for you." She tried to collect her thoughts, to remember what the man had said before he'd attacked her. "He knew you. He was looking for you." His expression in the mirror seemed to grow more wary. It was his eyes, something about his eyes. "What did he say?" Again, the thought disappeared. "Just that he was looking for you. That he'd killed two others. Were they members of your family, Trey? Did he hurt your family?" "Yes, you could say that. It's one of the reasons I was in Silver Creek. I'd heard he might be close by." She tried to look out the window to see where they were headed, but couldn't quite make things out. Except they were going up the mountain. Shouldn't they be traveling in the other direction to find a hospital? "Where are you taking me? This isn't the way to the hospital." "I'm taking you home with me. There's a healer there who I trust to help you. I have more faith in her than any city doctor. Do you trust me, Rainna? I know you probably have a lot of questions, and I'll try to answer them. But right now, you need to rest. The car won't be able to take us all the way up. He hurt you and it's my fault." "He's the one who did this, not you. If you'd been there when he came, you might already be dead." "Give me a little credit, please. I know his kind. I've dealt with them for most of my life." "Who was he?" "He's a wolfkiller. Trained by the government as a were...as an assassin." "But I thought wolves were protected by the government?" "Not this branch. Not these...wolves. Have you ever heard of the PIA?" The acronym meant nothing to her. She shook her head, then was sorry she had moved at all. The pain in her head increased and she lifted her hands to press them against her temples. "God, it hurts, Trey." "Lie down, Rainna. Dammit, this old rattletrap of yours doesn't have any more kick than an old, lazy mule." The glare of the sun on the horizon hurt the one eye she was able to see out of and finally she lay back down on the seat, pulling the blanket up to block out the bright rays, unable to bear it any longer. She was going to have to trust Trey. She certainly wasn't much help to herself right now. But she definitely wanted to know more. What kind of branch of the government would train a man like that? She couldn't even imagine such a thing. She knew instinctively he wasn't a clean killer; he'd wanted to taunt and make his victim suffer. She knew it was wrong, but she was glad he was dead. She felt the car swerve to the right quickly and then jerk over uneven ground. Branches screeched against the sides of the car. Another turn and the car dipped down and then back up again, making her stomach somersault. And then finally it came to a halt and Trey turned off the engine.

Her poor old car wasn't up to terrain like this. She'd managed to purchase something that fit into her budget, but which didn't amount to a whole lot. It needed a good paint job and showed some spots of rust, but the engine ran and it got her to work and back. Trey got out of the car. She heard him rustling around and then the sound of a zipper being pulled up. He still hadn't explained why he was naked, but then he opened the back door. She peeked up at him from beneath the blanket and saw the look of worry on his face. He now wore a pair of jeans at least. "Damn, Rainna. I wish I could gut him all over again." She cringed at the vision that brought up. She tried to sit up, winced, and fell back against the seat. "I hope we don't have to go far," she gasped. The pain swamped through her like a rising storm, sweeping through her without surcease. "I'll be right back," he said as he whirled away from her. She had no idea what he was planning to do, but when her head started spinning, she quickly lay back down on the seat, trying to concentrate on breathing in and out. Actually, on just plain breathing. She would survive this. She heard the crunch of footsteps as twigs broke and dry leaves were crushed. She tried to look up, but found it too much of an effort. "My...brothers are coming down to help get you up to the village. Morganna is coming with them." "Who's Morganna?" she managed to mumble. She felt like she was starting to float away and was certain that couldn't be a good thing. "She's the healer I told you about. She'll bring something to help with the pain." He sat on the floor next to her. She wanted to tell him not to worry, that she would be okay. She wanted to offer him sympathy, but right now it just would take more strength than she could muster. "God, Rainna, I'm afraid to touch you. I don't want to cause you any more pain. You don't know how much I want to take you in my arms, to make it all better. I'm feeling pretty damn impotent right now." She tried to smile, but that was a worthless cause. "Impotent, you're not, Treynor Black. That I can certainly attest to. But you might want to put on a few more clothes--I'm really in no mood for sex right now." She tried to make light of the situation, but then the pain shot through her once again. She reached out to grip his thigh. "I'll be okay, just don't leave me. Okay?" "Not on your life, love. I'm going to make certain you're in a place where they can't get to you. Where you'll be safe." Was there such a place? It had been a long time since she'd been anywhere that she felt safe. "Later you can tell me why you were bare-assed," she mumbled, "but right now--" She tried to stay awake, but it was getting harder and harder. "Rainna," she heard the urgency in Trey's voice. She tried to answer him, but her mouth felt like it was full of cotton wool. And suddenly it was just too hard to try to stay alert. "Rainna!"

Chapter 5 Rainna woke up slowly, afraid to move too quickly. When she opened her eyes she found she could see out of both of them. She reached up to touch the side of her face. To her surprise, it didn't seem as bad as the last time she'd touched it.

Her mind felt clear. When was the last time she'd been awake? And where was she now? She took her time in sitting up, afraid of a return of the pain. Looking down, she realized she was wearing a man-sized, black, flannel shirt and little else. She lifted the shirttail and inhaled. It smelled like Trey. But where was he? Tilting her head, she listened, but heard nothing. Not a hint of movement. Moving slowly, she slid out of the big bed and looked around the room. She was surprised that she felt absolutely no pain after the beating she had taken. This obviously wasn't her cabin, so where was she? What was it that Trey had said? He was taking her to his home? Was this his house? Too many questions and no one around to give her any answers. It looked like the sun was just beginning to set. She padded over to the window and surveyed the area. She was apparently in the bedroom on the second floor. The house seemed to be situated in a populated area of the town, but there wasn't anyone on the street below. The narrow street bordered a huge lake. As she craned her head to look farther off to the left, she saw what looked like a massive waterfall. That must account for the underlying steady thunder she hadn't really been conscious of hearing until now. In some respects it was a soothing sound, sort of lulling. Turning her head, she looked in the other direction. From where she stood, it looked like the hub of the town was in the opposite direction from the falls at the other end of the lake. As she turned away from the window her stomach started to rumble and she realized she was quite hungry. How long had it been since she'd last eaten? Did she dare venture outside this room to hunt up some food? She wore nothing beneath the shirt and wondered if there was anything here that she could wear to give her a little more protective covering. She walked over to the scarred oak dresser on the other side of the room and opened first one drawer and then another, rummaging for something that would suit. She finally found a pair of jogging pants and slipped into them. They were too big for her, but she was able to tie off the waist so they at least wouldn't fall around her ankles at an embarrassing moment. Looking in the mirror, she was shocked to see no marks left from the attack. How could that be? She was a nurse; she knew how long it took for wounds like hers to heal. Had she been here for weeks rather than days? It really was time to get some answers. She guessed she should investigate beyond the bedroom since she obviously was feeling no pain and was apparently up to the task. Opening the bedroom door, she stepped out into the silent hallway. The room she was in appeared to be at the very end of the hallway. She counted three other doors as she walked along the wooden rail, circled the banister and headed down the stairs. It was almost too quiet. She stepped off the last step and wondered in which direction she'd find the kitchen. Veering to the right, she peeked her head in and found what appeared to be a cozy living room. Walking to the other side of the staircase and opening another door, she found herself in the kitchen. It was a good sized, square room with modern appliances and a butcher-block table at the center. She searched the cupboards for something she could put together quickly. Maybe a sandwich or some soup. "Well, look who's finally up and around." She whirled around at the deep voice coming from the doorway behind her. Flashbacks to the man who had broken into her cabin assaulted her. She backed up against the counter when she realized it wasn't Trey standing there, but a stranger. Tall, with a clean shaven angular face, dark, wavy hair that brushed at his broad shoulders. Where Trey's eyes were a pale blue that were almost transparent, this man's eyes were the deep fire of sapphire jewels. "Who are you?" she asked. "Where's Trey?" He took a step into the room and closed the door behind him. Something about the way he did it made Rainna feel like she was being cornered. She slid to the side, trying to move farther away from him. She frantically searched the room and saw there was another door leading to the outside quite near where she stood. Was it locked? At least she had another way out, unlike back at the cabin. When he gave her a wolfish smile, his white teeth gleamed in the dying light filtering in through the kitchen window. "There's no need to be afraid of me, Rainna. I'm Trey's pack brother."

"His brother?" His stare burned straight through her, and she found herself getting lightheaded and unable to move. Her body was responding in an altogether unexpected, sensual way that wasn't right. This was Trey's brother, not Trey. He stepped closer to her. His scent was very similar to Trey's, and obviously she was having some sort of reaction to it. This was definitely not right, yet she felt herself drawn to him and helpless to deny the earthy attraction. It had to be because of her weakened condition after the attack. "Yes, you might say that." He was now close enough to touch her and he did just that, stroking her hair. It was a gentle touch as he petted her and then cupped her cheek. She found herself wanting to lean into that touch, to kiss the palm of his hand, to run her tongue along the callused flesh and to suck his finger into her mouth. Her heartbeats grew more rapid. His heady scent wafted over her and her pussy began to leak her juices, almost the same way it did when Trey was nearby. She clenched her thighs together, hoping to stem the reaction of her body to this man. Where was Trey? He wound his hand in her hair and gently pulled her toward him. She couldn't seem to resist him. Dropping his head, he inhaled loudly and then let out a satisfied breath. "Ahhh, it's been a long time. You wear his smell well." "Wh-what do you mean?" "It's been a long time since I've been this close to a human female. Our female was killed you know. Well, actually she was Carson's mate, but we all cared for her. She belonged to all of us." She didn't understand his words, wanted to ask questions, but the heat was already beginning to rise. He reached out and unbuttoned the top button on her shirt. And then another one. She held her breath, her body tightening, readying itself. She felt the familiar animal heat shoot through her, claiming every inch, demanding attention, and release, just as it did whenever she was with Trey, needing him to fuck her. She fought against its control. She wanted Trey, not this man. She knew it in her heart. In her mind. But her body didn't seem to care what the rest of her wanted. It was responding to the touch of him. The familiar scent so much like Trey's. And the smell of his lust. She swayed toward him as the last button came undone and the shirt was suddenly puddled at her feet. He reached out to tweak her hardened nipple and she gasped at the intense sensation of pleasure-pain that erupted inside her. She felt herself opening, yielding, even against her better judgment. It was the deep, familiar, rumbling growl coming from the doorway that awakened her from the heated trance-like state. Her gaze broke from his and arrowed toward the doorway. She screamed and backed away, almost stumbling over her shirt that was tangled around her bare feet. The man reached out to steady her and looked around to see what had upset her. She was shocked when she heard him laugh when he saw the big black wolf with bared teeth standing in the doorway, its pale blue eyes trained on the man holding her. "Dammit, Trey, you're scaring her. Don't be an idiot. I'm not hurting her." And then, to her amazed disbelief, the predatory animal standing there began to change shape. Her jaw dropped and she felt Trey's brother's hand tighten on her arm, imprisoning her so she couldn't run out of the room screaming. If she'd been the fainting sort, this would have definitely been the time to do it. Thankfully, she wasn't. "It's all right," he tried to soothe her. "He should have told you what he was." She blinked, and then blinked again. A werewolf? Her lover was a werewolf? This was not possible. He was crouched near the floor and then straightened to stand on two feet. He was naked and beautiful. So this was why he'd been naked in the car and hadn't given her an answer when she asked? And by the look in his eyes, he was ready to tear his brother apart.

Chapter 6 "Trey," she gasped out. What had gotten into her? She was standing here in a kitchen shirtless, in front of two men. How had this happened? And her hormones seemed to be raging out of all proportion. Treynor didn't alter his attention from his brother to her. "You're overstepping, Donovan. She's mine. And you haven't been invited." As though Donovan wasn't the least bit concerned, he turned back to Rainna and dipped his head again, inhaling her scent. "She smells beautiful, Trey. Her scent is unique. So human. So female." "Donovan, I'm warning you. Get the fuck away from her." "Fuck. That's just the word I was thinking." His mesmerizing gaze locked with hers. "I should defer to my brother, Rainna. After all, he's the one who mated you first. And he's the alpha. But you are so tempting." He dropped her arm, stepped back, and shrugged. "And he's older. Since he is the one who found you and brought you here, I guess I better defer to him." "Excuse me?" she squeaked. She crossed her arms over her breasts, trembling in reaction to the lust that seemed to be driving her every action. "I'll wait until you're willing." He turned back to Trey without waiting for her to respond. "She's ready, Trey, but I can see you're not." He walked a short distance away from them. Trey stalked over to her and yanked her against him. She knew the look in his eyes, understood the demand of her own body. It was the same as it always was. He would be inside her within seconds. Fast and hard, the way it always was when they first came together. He shoved her pants down and lifted her clear, crushing her breasts against his chest. "Trey," she whimpered as she rubbed her body against his. "I know, love," he answered, stroking her hair with his hand, soothing her. Cradling her against his chest, he stalked over to the table and settled her on the sturdy surface. "Can I at least watch?" Donovan whined. Trey looked at Rainna. She saw the question in his eyes. She felt the rising heat, the odd exhilaration at the thought of Donovan watching them fuck. She shuddered with arousal. "You have to say it, Rainna. If you want the bastard to leave, tell him to get lost. If you want him to stay, you have to say it. I'm not going to answer for you." She'd never been in a situation like this before. "Do you want him to stay?" "Whatever you want. If you want to fuck him, it's your call." "No, I want you inside me." She hesitated and then looked over at Donovan. His jeans were unzipped and his steel-hard cock was fisted in his hands as he stroked back and forth. She found herself wondering what he would be like. How he would be different from Trey? "He can stay." "Are you sure?"

She leaned back with her elbows on the table and her thighs spread wide apart. Looking down she saw the sheen on her thighs. "Yes, I'm sure." "I got her ready for you, brother. It's the least you could do. It's been a long time since I've seen a human woman as pretty as her. It's not like you not to share." "Damn you, Donovan. You never give up. Stay then." Without another word he splintered Rainna, slamming deep into her slick channel. She grunted, arched, and lifted off the table as his hands fastened onto her hips. Driving in again and again until she shattered in a mind blowing orgasm. He pulled out and thrust home, retreated and pressed deep once again. She turned her head after the second orgasm and saw Donovan masturbating as he watched them fuck. His glittering blue gaze focused on her cunt, watching Trey's glistening prick glide in and out between her engorged lips. His cock was thicker than Trey, yet seemed a bit shorter, the widely-flared head bloomed, oozing with pre-cum. Her eyes fluttered closed as she sank into the pleasure, allowing it to wrap around her. "He wants to touch you," Trey gritted out. "He needs you to touch him." His hands gripped the edges of the wooden table. She thought about touching Donovan as Trey fucked her. God, yes, she wanted it. She wanted both of these men. She loved Trey, but she needed them both. She had thought she was going to die back there at that cabin and she hadn't. But it had been damn close. She turned her gaze on Donovan's thick, engorged penis, wondering if it would fit in her mouth. It looked like it was already set to explode. "Donovan, come here." His eyes shifted to look at her face and she saw the hunger etched in every line. "Are you sure?" He now looked hesitant, no longer the brash, in-control stranger. If anything, he looked even more sexy than before. "Dammit, get over here so I can suck your dick. Don't make me say it again." She saw his glance slide to Trey and then back again. Walking over to the table, his dick in his hand, she opened her mouth, and using her hands to guide him in, she sucked him inside. The sounds of animal growls filled her ears as she sucked on Donovan and Trey fucked her hard. She moaned around Donovan's cock, the breadth of it almost cutting off her air and the sound of her muffled moan of pleasure. He tasted hot and salty, his flesh smooth, silky steel, veins pulsing, growing more rigid and ready to explode. It was the simultaneous roar of both men that sent her over the edge in the most explosive orgasm she'd ever known. She swallowed Donovan's cum as Trey filled her womb with his semen. She felt the bite of Trey's hands on her hips, Donovan's hands rubbing her breasts, tweaking her nipples. When it was over, Donovan pulled out and quickly zipped himself up, leaving the kitchen without another word. Rainna looked up at Trey, who was still hard and buried inside her. He now had her full attention. She could taste Donovan's pleasure and she pulled herself up, wrapping her arms around Trey. "We're not done by a long shot. But am I being fucked by a man or a wolf?" He grinned and his teeth flashed in the darkness. He shot forward and she felt that special pleasure ache that drove her crazy, dropping her right into the heart of lusty abandon. "Would you settle for a horny wolfman who's probably going to fuck you till dawn breaks through?" Now that's what she wanted to hear. Donovon was good and tasty, but Trey was the one she wanted. And he would always come first. She'd be certain to ask about the wolf thing later.

Chapter 7

The sexual heat had finally diminished enough for Rainna to think coherently once again. When she was around Trey it never subsided entirely, but at least she was sated enough to act civilized. She now sat at the kitchen table with a half finished bowl of homemade vegetable soup in front of her and several slices left from a loaf of fresh herbed bread setting on a cutting board in the center of the table. She sat back in her chair and looked first at Trey, who sat beside her, and then at Donovan, who sat across from her. Both of them had that hungry, wolf look in their eyes. "Okay, so now I think it's time for a little question and answer session. Think you can handle that?" The lust was replaced by wariness as they stared back at her. She thought she should feel embarrassed after the raging intimacy that had taken place with Donovan, but she just couldn't seem to muster up any guilt over the incident. There simply had to be more to her response to him than what was on the surface. She had a feeling they both knew the answers. "What do you want to know?" Trey asked as he pushed his bowl toward the center of the table. "Where are we?" "We're on the other side of the mountain. It's a place that would be very difficult to reach by just anyone." "You mean humans? Like me?" He nodded slowly. "Yes, I guess so." "What's the name of this place? It looks like a town of some sort, but I don't see very many people around." "Well, to be honest, there are no actual humans here--or at least fully human residents. It's called Vampyre Falls and it's a retreat, or sanctuary, you might say, for the hunted." "The hunted? I don't get it." "I'm assuming you've already figured out that we're not exactly human." Turning into a wolf and back again? Yeah, she'd guess that would come under the heading of not quite human. "So. Are you and Donovan both wolves?" "Werewolves would be the proper term. And, yes." "You're brothers? That's what Donovan said." Trey slanted a look at Donovan. "Pack brothers. Not quite the same as blood brothers. We hunt and live together as a unit. We grew up together, but we don't have the same parents. Although our ancestors came from the same village back in Germany." "I guess I sort of understand, but not really. That man...the one who came to the cabin...you called him a wolfkiller." Trey nodded. "Yes, they're hired and trained by the government to exterminate us. There's a shadow organization called the Paraspecies Investigation Agency." "I've heard of them. Don't they investigate supernatural happenings and things like that? Aren't they the ones who check into the alien stuff?" She saw Trey look at Donovan and their expressions grew hooded again. Trey then looked at Rainna. "That's the official explanation. But in reality they're out to exterminate all of us." "Why?"

"They consider us dangerous. They can't control us, so they want to kill us. They've already killed Kyle and Sybilla. That's why I went down to the town. We'd heard a group of them were getting close. I'm sorry you were hurt in the process, Rainna." She shook her head and pressed a hand to her forehead. "I'm trying to understand all of this. What happens if I go back down there? There are things you don't know about me. I was trying to get my life back together." Trey sighed. "They think you're dead, Rainna. You can't go back there." Her head shot up. "Dead? Why would they think that? And what happened to that man? You said I didn't kill him. It was the wolf, wasn't it." And then understanding dawned on her. "You were the wolf, weren't you?" He nodded. "Yes. And I killed him." He paused for a moment, looking at her. Then he turned to Donovan. "Can you give us a minute? I want to talk to her alone." "Sure." Donovan rose from the table. "I should go check on Carson anyway. I'm just about due to relieve him." She looked at Trey. "Who's Carson? And relieve him from what?" "We're far enough up the mountain and deep enough in that most people couldn't find us--not without help. But we still need to have sentries in case someone stumbles onto us by accident. Or tracks one of our own up here. Carson is our pack brother, and Donovan's going to relieve him on watch. It's our week to work the north side, near the falls and the vampire caves." "This is all just too much for me to take in." Trey reached out to twine his fingers with hers. "I know. I'm sorry you got mixed up in all of this. But you can't leave." She yanked her hand from his. "What do you mean I can't leave?" "Rainna, they know who you are. You have my scent. For now, they think you're dead, that you were killed in the fire." "What fire?" she shouted. The headache was growing worse. "I had to set the cabin on fire, make it look like an accident in order to cover up what happened." "This is crazy. The government's been trying to keep me hidden for months in the Witness Protection Program and you up and kill me off in one night." He leaned forward. "What are you talking about Rainna?" "I was on the run myself. I was a nurse when I had a life. But I caught the doctors I was working with peddling drugs on the side. I had to testify. The people involved were not happy with me. It's why I didn't want to get involved with you at first. But things have been quiet. I thought it was over with and that I could get my life back. And now this." She picked up the bowl and silverware, got up and headed over to the sink. She poured the remainder of the soup down the sink drain and rinsed out the bowl, trying not to focus on the magnitude of what was happening to her life. She felt Trey's strong hands on her shoulders, just before she sensed his closeness. "Rainna, I'm in love with you and I don't want you going back down there. I want you to stay here. With me. You're my mate and you belong with me." She set the bowl down in the sink and latched onto the counter edge as she stared out the window into the darkness. "I don't fit here, Trey. I'm not like you. I'm not sure I fit anywhere anymore." His hands tightened. "You fit with me. Perfectly." God, he was right about that. They did seem to fit perfectly together. But he wasn't human. And she was. How could that work? "I don't know, Trey. I-I love you, too. But obviously, we're very different." She whirled around. "I'm not sure I'm up to the lifestyle you seem to want me to live."

"What's that?" "Well...Donovan for one thing. There's something about you...werewolves. You exude something and I don't know what it is. But every time I'm around you, it's like I've got this itch that won't stop." He smiled. "Yeah, well I've noticed that. It's strange that it happens to you. Humans aren't usually affected. It's like a type of animal heat." "Yeah, that sounds about right. It's pretty primal." "It will probably happen with Carson, too. He'll have a similar scent. We've been together a long time." "Dammit, Trey. So you don't just hunt and live together. You fuck together, too?" For the first time she saw an interesting shade of red travel up his neck and into his cheeks. "Well, nobody's going to force you to do anything, Rainna. Ever. If you don't want them around, all you have to do is say so. They'll never force you to do anything. We do tend to share just about everything." He leaned forward. "But I'm pretty possessive about you, Rainna. I'm not sure I want to share you with them. I want you for myself. But the hormones, the responses when the arousal gets high... It's going to be hard. For you." "Can I have some time to think about all of this?" He nodded his head. "The council meeting isn't until next week. I'll take you around so people can meet you and you can get a better feel for the town." "The council meeting?" "Yes, anyone who requests to live in Vampyre Falls has to be approved by the council and then put up for a vote to the community members." "You're kidding." "This isn't your average community, Rainna. It's a sanctuary. Every creature here is part human, but not all human. Some are human with special abilities that put them on the wanted list. We're all hunted. Many have lost families, friends, lovers to PIA and they want us all exterminated. The Paraspecies Investigation Agency is empowered to use any means necessary to exterminate anyone with the least bit of unusual ability. They were only formed in the last couple of years, but they're already becoming lethal to our kind. Just look at the size of this town already. And there are others. You are the first human without any extrasensory ability to be considered before the council. They've made a special exception for me." "So they could send me away, even if I wanted to stay?" "I'm afraid so." He cupped her face and looked deeply into her eyes. "If they send you away, I'm going with you. I won't leave you unprotected." "But, Trey, obviously you can't do that. They're out to kill you. I've beat the odds once, I'll do it again." "There's no argument. I've already talked it over with Carson and Donovan. And there's no further discussion on it." She felt the weight of his decision. It wasn't only her life, but his life she had to worry about. This was not going to be an easy decision.

Chapter 8 Rainna was torn between wanting to stay in the mountains with Trey and her need to return to the normal, civilized

world she had left behind. From the moment she'd caught the discrepancy in the medication, her life had been turned upside down. Why she had ever thought it would return to some normalcy once the trial was over, she had no idea. What if the council members turned Trey's request down and wouldn't allow her to stay in Vampyre Falls? What if they did approve the petition? Then she would have to face her elemental responses to Carson and Donovan, which she found so confusing. She walked along the shore on the other side of the lake toward the falls. Trey would just be getting off his shift, as he had told her earlier in the day. She was still so shaken by her responses to Donovan that she tried even harder to control the hormones raging through her body whenever she was near the "wolf brothers," as she had dubbed them in her mind. Since she had been in Vampyre Falls she'd met other shapeshifters, vampires, and a government-created species known as shadowwalkers. There were many odd creatures she couldn't even begin to name. The government had apparently once again become frightened of what they could not understand or control. She was surprised at how many different species existed, some she had only read about in myths and stories and was now discovering for the first time that they really did exist. It was enough to boggle the mind. But again her question was how she fit into the scheme of things? Could she find a place for herself in their world? She looked up and saw Trey waiting for her. He was talking with another man, a dark, shadowy figure with skin as pale as the snow on the mountain peak. They both turned to look at her as she drew closer. Trey's brooding eyes were on her as she finally reached them. She could tell there was something on his mind. He reached for her and possessively enfolded her into his arms, leaning down to kiss her. She felt the familiar heat rise inside her and, as she leaned into his kiss, she wondered how long it would be before the other man left them alone. She was not about to have a repeat performance as she'd had with Donovan. The control she'd been trying to exert over the last couple of days was beginning to crumble, and she had a feeling she wouldn't be able to fight her emotions much longer. Trey drew back and turned to look at the other pale-faced man. Rainna's eyes widened when she saw that he had pointed ears. "Rainna, this is Morganna's husband. You remember I told you about her. She's the main healer here in Vampyre Falls. This is Kellen. Kel, this is Rainna. My mate." Kellen offered a hand and Rainna reached out to clasp it, trying not to shudder at the coldness of the clasp. It was when he smiled that she saw the pointed incisors. She shot a sideways glance at Trey. "A vampire?" "A breed of sorts. He and Morganna hail from the fae world, but yes, he's also vampire. It's a long story." "There are a lot of species here that are like that, aren't there?" "Yes. Many are outcasts from their own kind. Hunted by humans and their own people as well." She stepped closer into Trey's embrace. She wasn't sure she exactly trusted a vampire. "It's all right, Rainna. He wouldn't hurt you. The people who live here all sign oaths that they are bound by. It's against the law to practice their craft, whatever it may be, on anyone living in Vampyre Falls. Many have learned the consequences of preying on other species similar to themselves." He nodded toward Kellen. "Kel knows very well what it means to have a foot in two worlds. And to have been brought there forcibly." "I should be going," Kellen said. "It's been quiet. Carson should be back soon to let us know if there are any rumblings in Silver Creek." Kellen nodded. "I'll feel better once he returns. It's difficult to prepare not knowing what's happening in the outside world. We'll talk later." He turned and Rainna gasped because it was as though he just disappeared into thin air. She turned to Trey. "I'm not sure I'll ever get used to the strange ways of the people here."

He shrugged. "We're all different, but being hunted seems to draw us together to fight the enemy from outside. If it weren't for that, who knows how we would respond to each other. But for now, we've come to an uneasy alliance." "Are there no phones here, no way of communicating?" "We have two-way radios. No cell phones because of the mountains and bad reception. No phones lines up here, I'm afraid. We're pretty well cut off. We do supply runs at regular intervals and reconnaissance missions. That's how we got some clothes for you." "Where's Carson? He's not here? You said something about him having gone to Silver Creek?" Trey nodded. "He needed to deal with your car and my truck. We don't want anyone to find them and ask questions, maybe go looking for you. If you decide to return, we'll deal with things then. He's also scouting around to determine whether we have anything to worry about regarding the hunter. We need to know if our friend was alone or not." She hated to ask, but she had to. "And Donovan?" "He's around." She pressed him. They might as well get it out in the open. "I haven't seen him. Not since..." She let the words trail off. "We're trying to give you time, Rainna. I know it's difficult." She looked up at him. "You want me to accept them, don't you? I thought you wanted me for yourself, Trey. Not as just someone to satisfy the sexual needs of three men. Is that why you brought me up here? As a convenience?" He grabbed her arms and shook her. His eyes glittered in the moonlight and she heard a growl erupt from his throat. "Dammit, Rainna, that's not the way it is. It's dangerous being associated with us. Something could break open at any time, attack any one of us. You're human, and I want to be sure you're protected if something happens to me. Carson and Donovan would take care of you." "You can't be serious." "It's the times; they're dangerous. After the deaths of our packmates, we don't take chances any more. Rarely will we leave the Falls together. One of them will always be here with you if something happens to me when I leave the mountain." "If you leave, I leave," she said stubbornly. "That's not possible. You can't shift into wolf form. You don't have the same survival instincts. I never should have dragged you into this, but it's done now and I don't want to lose you. It's my job to be certain you are cared for if something happens to me. My pack brothers can do that for me." "So, I'm supposed to fuck them, so you have a clear conscience to go play elsewhere?" "Dammit, that's the problem with you being human. You simply don't understand the instinct for survival in the same way. This is how we are made; it's what we are. If you can't understand that, I'll get you out of here and find some other way to assure you're protected." "How dare you say I don't understand. I've been on the run and in hiding for the last year. I don't want another lover besides you. I don't want a back up if you should die." She gripped the lapels of his jacket tightly. "I want you. If you die, I think I will, too. So you can't. Do you understand me?" He yanked her into his arms and his fierce, hard mouth swooped down to claim hers. The burning heat inside her flared swiftly to consume her. She pushed at his jacket frantically as he thrust her back against the stone wall that surrounded the lake. The control she had tried to maintain for so long shattered completely.

Chapter 9

Trey ripped at her clothes as he pushed her to the ground. He knew he could very well lose her and the thought of that tore him apart. He had to be inside her as quickly as possible. How could he make her understand the instinctual mating that neither he, nor his brothers, could fight? That basic tenant of survival. He yanked her jeans down her legs and ripped the fragile panties away, exposing her glistening mound. Leaning up, he unfastened his jeans and shoved them down, exposing his burgeoning dick to the night air. He was hot, and hard, and he needed to be inside her, to master her in the ways of his kind. How could she ever understand what drove them all? She was not wolf and would never be one. But she was certainly alpha female and more than a match for his primal nature. As he fastened his hands on her legs and pushed them wider, she reached up to grip his shirt and yank him down. He didn't resist. How could he, when it was exactly where he wanted to be? She lifted and spread her legs, reached down and wrapped her long fingers around his cock, pressing the tip to her opening. She was already wet and ready, her lips engorged, and he slipped between them burying himself inside her vagina. Wrapping his fingers in her hair, he anchored her to the ground. He felt the snarl building, high and fast, the need to claim his mate, the fear of losing her. The instinct to bind her to him was too strong to fight. The emotions magnified inside him were so strong he felt himself start to shift. It was something he'd never allowed to happen before, he'd always kept control of the wildness. He pulled out of her just in time and fell back, his eyes never leaving her shocked face as the change began to take him. He shot up to his hands and knees, watching her, as he slowly backed away. "You're mine," he bit out in a guttural voice, as the shift moved through him, altering him, bending him. "You're my mate. Mine, Rainna." As his muzzle lengthened and his vocal cords altered, as his legs and arms shortened and fur covered his flesh, he was horrified by what his deep emotions for Rainna were doing to him. He was alpha, but in the end it was his ancestors who dominated him and he could not change what he was. How could Rainna ever accept the call of his nature? He howled at the bright, full moon, knowing that this was his weakest time and realizing that he should have exhibited more control. This was not a night he should have allowed his passions to run rampant. Once last look at Rainna and he whirled away and loped off into the woods. He had to get away from her. He didn't think he could stand it if he saw fear and loathing in her eyes. He had to run the passions off, far away from her. Then he would return to face whatever it would mean to his future with or without Rainna. He only knew that if she left him, there would never be another to take her place. Not for him. **** Rainna watched as Trey disappeared into the darkness. With shaking hands she re-dressed. She wasn't quite certain she could believe what had just occurred. She wanted to understand, but she just wasn't certain that she could. When she was dressed, she sat back down on the stone wall and stared out at the glistening lake, the thunder of the falls surrounding her, blocking out every other sound in the night. One moment he was a man and the next a wolf. How was she going to come to terms with that? This whole pack thing was turning her world upside down. The heat of her need began to subside. She turned her head as she saw a flicker of white off to the side within the darkness of the trees. She turned more fully in that direction. It looked like a ghost. Rainna didn't move. Taking a deep breath, she reminded herself that there were all sorts of creatures who lived here and this was probably just another. She wished Trey were with her. As she watched, the figure breached the trees and moved closer. It was then that the features of the ethereal creature became clearer. It was a very pale woman dressed in a white, flowing dress. Her features were fragile and lovely in an otherworldly sort of way. She stopped next to the wall where Rainna sat. "Hello, Rainna, my name is Morganna. May I join you for a bit?" Rainna vaguely remembered the name. "You're the healer." Morganna smiled and nodded as she floated to the wall to sit beside Rainna. She gazed out over the lake. "It's all very

strange to you, isn't it?" Rainna looked at her, noticed the pointed ears peaking out through her long wavy red hair. And the hint of pointed incisors as she smiled. "You're a fairy? Or a vampire?" A haunted look came into her large, luminous green eyes. "A bit of both, I'm afraid. And yet, neither." "I'm sorry. Are you and Kellen the only ones who are...both?" "Here, yes." Rainna was curious about almost everything she discovered here. She should be afraid, but for some reason she wasn't. "How did it happen? You weren't born that way, were you?" "No, not at all. Both Kellen and I come from the fairy realms. Our story is a long and difficult one. But in the end, I chose to be with him and to do that, I needed to accept the nature of what he had become." She turned to look at Rainna. "It's not easy, is it? Some decisions can be very hard." "Do you regret making the choices you did?" The look that came into her eyes was one of pure joy and love. "I could never regret being with Kel. He's my life. And I would do anything to remain with him. You see, I know what it's like to lose the one you love. When I was given a second chance, there was nothing I wouldn't do to be with him." Rainna stared out at the lake and the reflection of the full moon. Did she love Trey enough to give up her past and stay with him? To become a part of his pack and not just his mate? She turned back to Morganna. "You sacrificed a great deal, didn't you?" Morganna turned her head and looked off toward the edge of the forest. Rainna followed her gaze and saw a dark shadow standing there. "I regret nothing, Rainna. It's all been worth it." She rose to her feet. "I have to go now. I know the decisions you need to make are difficult ones. He loves you very much." She was gone in an instant, crossing the ground quickly to join the dark shadow at the edge of the forest, and then they disappeared from sight. Rainna wrapped her arms around her upraised knees. It was a lot to consider. Or was it so much in the end? She loved Trey. Okay, so he wasn't like other men. But that was something she figured she could learn to deal with. But then there was the thing with Carson and Donovan as well. Could she deal with that kind of relationship? If she planned to stay, it was definitely something she was going to have to consider. It wasn't something she should just jump right into. Right? There was a rustle to the right and she turned to see someone striding toward her. He had on different clothes, but she knew who it was. Her body was already aware. "You've changed." Trey's expression told her he didn't find the humor in her double entendre. "I'm sorry, Rainna," he said as he sat next to her. "If you really want to leave, I'll find some other way to see that you're protected from harm." She looked at him for a long time and saw the turmoil in his eyes. She held out her arm, for the first time certain of exactly what she wanted. "Bite me." His expression turned to one of shock. "Excuse me?" "Bite me and make me a werewolf, too. Wouldn't that solve everything? Then I would be just like you and could go where you went. And you wouldn't have to worry." Then he did laugh. Uproariously. This was a side of Trey she'd never seen, yet she found it as appealing, if not more so, than his very serious side.

"What's so funny?" He finally gained control of himself and turned his pale gaze back to her and sat down beside her. "This isn't the movies, honey. That's not how it's done. Actually, I don't know if I can explain exactly how we became what we are. At least for the members in this pack." She moved closer and snuggled again him. "Try to tell me. I want to know." He wound his arm around her and pulled her against him. "It goes back a long way. The story that's been told is that Cerberus, Hades' three-headed guard dog visited the village of my ancestors. A witch tended his wound, but somehow his blood spilled into the water supply, or the witch put it there on purpose. Anyway, anyone who drank from the well fell under the werewolf curse. And it's passed down through the generations. The people in the village were eventually hunted, many were killed, and the village itself burned to the ground because of fear. Eventually my family wound up here, in the States. And that's the story, or at least as much of it as I know. My bite isn't going to make you a werewolf. It might make you sick for a long time, but that's about it." She was silent for several minutes. "Just hold me, Trey. I don't know what to do. There isn't a simple answer, is there?" She felt the power of his arms surround her and it made her feel safe and protected. "No, Rainna, there is no easy answer. Just one you can live with, I guess."

Chapter 10 Rainna stepped out onto the porch the next morning with a mug of coffee cupped between her hands. The atmosphere seemed so different up here from anywhere else she had lived. The billowing clouds in the sky appeared to hover closely, shutting out the direct light of the sun. She had to wonder if some of the people that lived here had something to do with that. From what she had gleaned so far, there were quite a few who did not thrive well in direct sunlight. Which is probably one of the reasons the town seemed more lively after dark than during the daylight. She turned as the screen door banged shut behind her and she heard a sharp expletive uttered. Donovan was holding his arm, which was wrapped in a white towel. She quickly set her cup on the porch banister and rushed over to him. "What happened?" she asked as she reached for his arm. "It's nothing...just stupidity," he grumbled. "I sliced my arm with one of the knives in the kitchen. I simply wasn't paying attention." "Let me take a look." He tried to yank away. "It's not necessary. Morganna will be able to help me. You don't need to worry about it." She refused to let him go. "Donovan, I'm a nurse...or at least I was a nurse. Let me take a look." Finally, he stopped fighting her and allowed her to carefully unwrap the arm. The cut wasn't as deep as she thought it might be, but it was still bleeding. She supported it firmly and looked at it more closely. "I don't think you'll need stitches. Come back inside and I'll take care of it for you. Do you have antiseptic in the medicine cabinet?" "Yeah, I guess," he mumbled. She led him into the downstairs bathroom and made him sit on the commode. She set about cleaning the wound, then reached into the cabinet and pulled out a gauze bandage and some adhesive tape.

She bent back over him and began to carefully attend to the wound, making certain that it was clean. "I don't think it will leave a scar. It looked worse than it was. You didn't nick anything vital. There was just a lot of blood." "You have good hands, Rainna. It hurt like hell, but the minute you touched me, something happened. That cut was deep enough to require stitches. I'm not such a candyass as to run for a doctor at the least sign of blood." She looked up at him as she finished applying the last bit of tape. "What are you talking about? It really isn't that deep." "That's what I'm trying to say though. It was. Until you put your hands on my arm." She laughed. "That's ridiculous, Donovan." He covered her hand with his own and she caught her breath. She felt the heat begin to swamp through her. She had stayed away from him for a reason. And he had respected her wishes. But now, they had been forced together because of the situation. She tried to pull away, but he gripped her hand. "It's true, Rainna. There's a sensitivity about you or you wouldn't be so susceptible to Trey and me. If Carson were around long enough, it probably would be the same with him." "You don't know what you're talking about." "Yes, I do. Morganna could help you get more in tune with your gift. I'm betting this cut will be fully healed by tomorrow. And you. The cuts and bruises you sustained down at the cabin. You were completely healed within two days. Even Morganna's special herbs can't do that. It's you, Rainna. And you do belong here. You belong with us." She pried her arm from his grasp and drew away from him. She tried to remember the patients she had attended over the years before she'd had to go into hiding. Now that she really thought about it, she'd never lost a one that had been in her care. Was there something to what Donovan was saying? While she had been preoccupied, Donovan had gripped her arm again and was slowly drawing her toward him, until his lips were barely an inch from her own. She could feel his breath against her face. "Donovan--" And then his lips claimed hers and she felt the tingle, the tightening of her womb, the ache in her pussy. He pulled her onto his lap, his hand clamped down onto her thigh, imprisoning her there. He lifted his head to gaze down at her. "No one wants to hurt you, Rainna. Trey loves you. And we all want to protect you. He'll do whatever you ask. If you want Carson and me to go, we'll do it. Because we love Trey, too. But you need to know there is a chemistry between us that links us and makes us stronger. If that's broken, it's going to leave all of us vulnerable. I'm not trying to put pressure on you, but it's a fact of our world. It's what's killing us slowly. When we separate, we're left vulnerable. We didn't realize exactly how strong the bond was until Kyle and Sybilla were killed." He released her and she jumped up, staring down at him, her breaths coming short and fast. She saw the truth in his eyes. "I want us all to survive, Rainna. And I think times are going to get tougher. More and more people are eager to join us every day because we're being destroyed in the outside world. You have to be protected, not just because of your relationship with Trey, but because of the gift I sense in you. You are one of us." She didn't have words to answer him. She couldn't deny what he said because some part of her finally understood the truth. How she came to have this gift she had no idea. What it would mean to her future, she couldn't begin to imagine. But she had to think about what Donovan was telling her and not just summarily toss aside what he said. She'd seen too much already, to not at least consider what he was saying. "I'll think about what you've said. I don't want to see Trey hurt. That has to be my first concern, you understand? I love him with all my heart. If something were to happen to him, I think I'd die. But to be honest, I'm attracted to you as well. But even in saying that, it isn't that simple, is it? So I need some time. Okay?" He nodded, released her, and rose up, towering over her. "That's all I ask, Rainna. I know it means re-thinking what you were taught in regard to society and monogamous relationships. One man, one woman. But there's so much more at stake here. I'm just asking you to consider that."

He circled around her and walked out of the bathroom. Rainna put away the bandages and tape. As she closed the cabinet she saw herself reflected in the mirror. Did she know who she really was? Could she give these men what they needed? Did she want what they offered? She was frightened by the feelings that ran rampant through her. She didn't understand the strong, primitive attraction that was at the base of her responses. Trey would do whatever was necessary to make her happy. Could she take the chance that her moralistic upbringing could put his life in danger?

Chapter 11 The meeting with the council was in an hour. This was the moment of truth that would guide the path she followed. And if she stayed, would she accept the relationship required to protect not only Trey, but all of them? "Are you ready?" Trey asked from behind her. He drew closer to circle his arms around her waist and pulled her back against his chest. "It will be all right. They'll accept you." "Am I really what you want, Trey? Can I make you happy?" She twisted around in his arms to look up at him. He gazed down at her with that transparent blue gaze that had unsettled her from the first. He cupped her face. "You do make me happy. I wanted to keep away from you, but from the moment you set that first cup of coffee on the table in front of me and gave me that beautiful smile, I knew I was a goner." "It isn't just the animal heat you spoke of?" "Hell no. I know the difference. What I feel with you goes a lot deeper than that. The animal heat is superficial most times. An itch that needs to be scratched. And we do what comes naturally. But with you it goes deeper--more spiritual, if I can use that word. I feel your spirit wrapped right around my heart when we make love." "Oh, God, that's a beautiful way to put it. I feel the same way about you. I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to you." His expression grew guarded. "These are dangerous times for all of us. I wish I could promise you that nothing will happen. But I can't. That's why--" he trailed off and looked away. "You want me to bond with your pack brothers," she finished for him. He just looked at her and said nothing. She was treading into unknown territory here. "This will ease your mind, won't it? It will make it easier for you to do the job you need to do. And come back to me safely. Donovan says it strengthens the ties between you." "Knowing you'll be looked after if something should happen to me? Yes, I guess it would. Neither one of them will let anything happen to you." "You really are that close, even though you aren't blood brothers." "We may not be brothers by blood, but in heart and soul, we're probably closer than any brothers could be. Carson's a bit of a loner, especially after Kyle and Sybilla were killed. It's why you haven't seen much of him. He's got a lot of anger burning him up inside." "I love you, Trey. I'm afraid if I do this it will change how you feel about me." "Will you love me less, Rainna? Do you care less for me after what we did with Donovan in the kitchen that first night?"

"No, of course not." "I'm not going to lie...sharing you comes hard for me. But my relationship with Carson and Donovan...it's unique and hard to describe. Even for wolves." He gave her a lopsided grin. "But in this, you are the heart of us as a pack. I can feel it already. You have a sensitivity that keeps us all human, more human than we've ever been before. In our relationship to each other." "Donovan said something about that the other day. He called me a sensitive." "Did he? He's a little more intuitive than I thought he was." Suddenly she reached up and twined her arms around Trey's neck. "Fuck me, Trey. Right now." She needed to bond with him in that most elemental way before they left this house. Panic rose inside her, the need for that special closeness they shared. It went beyond the animal heat of sex alone. He didn't need a second request. His eyes dilated as he unzipped his pants and shoved them down to his thighs. She pushed her panties down and stepped out of them. Without hesitation he lifted her and she wound her legs around his waist as he thrust inside her wet cunt. She pressed closer to him, feeling his penetration all the way to her soul. "Trey, whatever happens, don't ever forget how much I love you. That I'd do anything for you." She heard the rumbling growl erupt from deep in his chest. It excited her, drove her even higher. She undulated her hips, then arched forward, pulling him deeper, feeling the tip of his cock pressed against the opening of her cervix. "I love you," she screamed as an orgasm ripped through her. It was fast and hard and soul-deep. He thrust twice more and then she felt him erupt inside her, pouring his seed into her womb. He was so much a part of her, filling her with such pleasure. She clung to him, unwilling to let him go. "Hey, you two. We're going to be late. Carson just arrived back from Silver Creek. He's going to report to the council, so get a move on." Rainna felt herself flush with embarrassment. Would she ever get used to this household? Donovan grinned and then ducked back out. Trey slowly slid from inside her. Yet even being embarrassed by Donovan's appearance, she felt more settled and ready to face the town council, Trey's scent clinging to her. She felt as though he'd marked her in some elemental way and she was tied to him completely. They straightened their clothing and exited the room. She stopped outside the door and looked up at him, a hand on his arm. She'd come to a decision. "Trey?" He turned and looked down at her. "What is it? There's nothing to be afraid of. This is just a formality." She licked her lips. "Whatever you want. I'll do whatever it takes to stay with you...and become a part of your family." It was a moment before she saw understanding dawn in his eyes and then an expression like relief crossed his face. He leaned down to claim her lips possessively. "It will be all right, Rainna. I'll always take care of you." She knew that, had always known it. But she planned to take care of him as well--it wasn't strictly a one-way deal. The tingle between her thighs reminded her that it wasn't strictly self-sacrifice that would allow her to accept his brothers as her lovers in this relationship. It was the animal heat of desire that threaded through her body, helping her to recognize what she must do.

Chapter 12 The town hall was a wooden structure near the heart of the town at the opposite end of the lake from the waterfall. Rainna couldn't deny that she was extremely nervous about what this meeting would entail. The first part of the meeting would be with only the council members. At nine o'clock, an hour later, the town meeting would take place where the community would vote on issues the council brought to their attention. If all went well, her admittance into the community would be placed before them. She was flanked by Treynor on one side and Donovan on the other, with Carson, the man of few words, trailing behind. "Let's get this over with," Trey said as he opened the door and allowed Rainna to precede him inside. The room reminded her of the inside of a church. There was a stage at the front, and wooden benches lined up evenly facing the stage. Trey called them the Council of Five. There were five people sitting at the table in front of them. Treynor also told her that the five represented the five sections of the town as it was now laid out. One member represented the shifters, one member for humans with special abilities, one who represented water species, one representing the miscellany of species that had been mutated from other species, and half-breeds. It wasn't perfect, but for the time being it sufficed to see that everyone was represented equally in the running of this sanctuary. If one walked through the town and understood its makeup, the town itself was divided into quadrants by species, like any city where cultures gathered together with like cultures. Rainna expected she fell under the heading of humans with special abilities. But then again she lived with three werewolves who were represented by the shifter faction. She guessed it was no less complicated than any other government political structure utilized in order to maintain order among a vast number of differing cultures. There were three women and two men on the council. One of the women rose to her feet and, raising a gavel and bringing it down, she brought the meeting to order. "We will hear the report of Carson Temple of Treynor's pack. He's just returned from Silver Creek. We will hear what he has to tell us of his investigations. Then we will discuss the matter of Treynor Black's human visitor for whom he has requested sanctuary and whether she will be accepted into our community. Carson?" Carson rose from the bench and walked over to stand before the Council of Five. The council woman returned to her seat and the members waited attentively for Carson's report. Rainna studied Carson as he stood, still as a statue, and reported on the growing number of hunters gathered in the town below. He was tall and gangly, a haunted look about his narrow face. Unlike, Trey and Donovan, Carson had dark, hungry eyes, the look of a soldier always on his guard, closed off. Someone who had witnessed more than his share of tragedy. In the few times they had been together, he'd kept his distance, but his eyes were always studying her as though he was trying to dissect her. She had to wonder what conclusion he had come to where she was concerned. She was brought back to the present, when the council woman again rose. "Thank you, Carson. We will consider what you have told us before we make any decision on re-enforcing the security of the town." She turned to the other council members. "I believe we need to get in touch with our contacts in other localities to see if they are alerted to any new or increased activities in their areas." The others nodded in agreement. Then she turned back to Carson. "I think that's all for now. We will call on you if we have any other questions or need further elaboration." Rainna saw him slide a sideways glance in her direction and then he quickly returned his attention back to the council. "I may not remain here long. I think it wise to go back down to keep watch of their activities." "Don't we have supporters there to send word if things get worse?" "Yes, ma'am, but--"

She cut him off. "Then, we think it's best you remain here for the time being." Rainna could tell that as far as the council was concerned, for now the matter was closed. She saw Carson's shoulders slump for a moment, then he straightened, turned and walked back to the bench and sat down. He didn't look in their direction, but kept his attention straight ahead. Rainna really did have to wonder what he was thinking. "On to the next matter. The application of Rainna Spaulding for sanctuary. Ms. Spaulding?" Rainna was terribly nervous. What if she said the wrong thing? And suddenly she very much wanted to stay in Vampyre Falls. Treynor squeezed her hand in a display of support and nodded. She slowly rose to her feet and stepped forward. She felt like she had been shoved under a microscope as the five very different council members surveyed her as she stood there. It was her worst nightmare, like being thrust into a crowd naked. Under some circumstances that might not be an altogether horrible thing, but here was a different matter entirely. "Ms. Spaulding, we read Treynor Black's report and understand your life would be in danger should you return below. Is that correct?" Rainna tried to clear her throat and speak. It took her a moment before she could answer. "Yes, I believe so. I was in hiding from people who wanted to see me dead because I testified against them regarding a drug matter. And then," she looked over at Treynor, who nodded, "a man came to my cabin in Silver Creek looking for Trey. He would have killed me if Trey hadn't come in the nick of time." "So not only are you in danger from your own honorable past deeds, but because of your association with one of us." "Well...yes, I guess so." The council woman leaned forward. "Tell me, Ms. Spaulding, what skills do you have that would benefit this sanctuary? We've never allowed a human such as yourself into the community before. It would be too easy for our enemies to infiltrate us in that way. Anyone with paranormal abilities is welcome because by virtue of that special gift alone they would eventually become one of the hunted. But what about you?" "Wait," Donovan shot up from his seat on the bench. "May I speak?" The council woman turned to look at him. "Do you have something significant to add that we should consider?" Donovan looked at Trey, who nodded, and then back at the council members. "Yes. I think it will have some bearing here. I was injured the other day and the wound would have required stitches. Rainna touched my arm and in attending to the cut, it began to heal, more rapidly than it would have with even Morganna's herbs. It's my opinion that Rainna has abilities she is unaware of." He pushed the sleeve of his shirt back to expose his arm to the council members and ripped away the bandage. There was hardly any scar left. "As you can see, it is almost completely healed. No human without the healing touch could have done this. Even though she apparently has never thought of herself as being in possession of these abilities, I have spoken with Morganna and she has agreed to tutor Rainna if she is allowed to stay." The council members looked at Rainna, and she thought there was something more in their eyes than had been there previously. "This certainly does change things. You have several who would speak up for you. It is an admirable quality to have garnered such loyal supporters so quickly, Ms. Spaulding. Is there anything else you would like to add?" Rainna shook her head. "No, I don't think so." She turned to look at Treynor and then her gaze shifted to his brothers. She turned back to the council, understanding for the first time, what she needed to say. "Except." She gulped quickly. "I love Treynor Black and I would never do anything to hurt him. And I care for his family as well. They've made me feel a part of their...pack and I really want to stay and do what I can to help." "Wait for us outside and we will consider the matter before us. We will call you when we have reached a decision." The four of them shuffled outside into the darkening twilight. Treynor put his arm around her and she rested against him. Donovan gave her a crooked grin. The look that Carson gave her was unreadable, yet the sense she got from him was a deep hunger as he looked at her. For what, she couldn't be quite certain.

Suddenly, she felt the heat radiating from all three of the brothers with an intensity she'd never experienced before. It made her want to rip her clothes off right there in the middle of the town square and fuck each one of these men as thoroughly and wantonly as she could. She gasped and pulled out of Trey's arms and staggered away, hunched over against the pleasure-pain throbbing through her. "Rainna, what is it?" Trey followed her. She turned and backed away from him. "Too much testosterone, I think. I've never been this close to all three of you. You have no idea what that does to me. I think I'm fighting a losing battle here. You win, Trey." Carson and Donovan had trailed after Trey and he held up a hand to halt them. His pale gaze captured her attention. It was stormy and bright. "This isn't a good time to say something like that, Rainna." She crossed her arms over her sensitive breasts and winced. "Do you think I don't know that? Dammit, right now you all have to stay away from me. You don't know how much I want to just lay down right here and let you fuck me." One long minute passed before he whirled away without saying anything more and hauled his brothers to the other side of the building. She watched them as they talked in hushed tones. She wondered what they were discussing, but getting any closer to them right this minute simply wasn't possible. She whirled away from them. Maybe if she wasn't looking at them directly, she could get this damned reaction under some sort of control. Sitting in the meeting with the council members she hadn't noticed it quite as much. But now that the meeting was over, the waves of desire grabbed hold of her like stormy waves on the sea. She looked up as a man stepped outside. He wasn't one of the council members. "They've made a decision. You can come back inside." Stiffly, she walked back inside, her slick thighs rubbing together, her pussy wet and dripping. She hoped this would all be over soon.

Chapter 13 Trey grabbed her hand and pulled her out the side door of the meeting hall once the full town meeting was adjourned. Her application for sanctuary had been approved. "Trey, where are we going?" "You'll see in a minute." "I thought you were going to take me to see Morganna so I could speak with her." "Tomorrow. We'll do that tomorrow." She pulled back. "What's the hurry?" Finally he turned to look at her and she immediately knew why he was in such a hurry as her gaze dropped and she noticed the thick bulge in the front of his pants. But they weren't heading back toward the house, and that was something she didn't quite understand. But instead of asking, she just nodded her head. "Okay, then. Let's go." He smiled and she could see the flash of his white teeth beneath the full moon just before he swooped down and

kissed her. He plastered her close to his body and she could feel his prominent erection against her mound. He gripped her cheeks and pressed her closer, until he was lodged between her lips, her wet panties pressed into the cleft between her labia lips. The animal heat and smell of her lover flooded her quickly. She arched back and looked up at him, but his features were shadowed in darkness. "Wherever you're taking me, we better get there fast." He turned away and pulled her behind him. They circled the lake, heading in the direction of the falls. Then he pulled away from the path and into the woods. When they reached a small clearing, he stopped and she saw a feral glitter of intent deepen the color of his pupils as he pushed her to the ground and covered her with his own body. She had to wonder as she arched into his hands how much of Trey was ruled by the animal side of his nature and how much the man? How much control was he required to exert to retain his humanity? She knew what it took her just to control the arousal she felt every time she was around him, and now his brothers as well. How much more was he required to exert to rein in the shift to animal form? He gripped her shoulders, pressing her flat to the ground. "Are you certain you want me and all the baggage loving me comes with?" There was no longer any question in her mind. "Yes, Trey, I want it all. As long as you remember I love you. Everything I do is because I love you." His darkened gaze locked with hers as he ripped open her blouse, exposing her pale breasts to the moonlight. Dipping his head, he sucked one of her nipples into his mouth. She tried to reach up to touch him, but he fastened her hands to the ground with his own. She arched up as her body tightened in response to his possession. Moonlight glimmered over his body and she could almost taste his essence as she breathed in deeply. Her jaw was slack as she sucked in the night air, the scent of pine and male heat. The smell of her own rising arousal, the slickness of her juices dripping from her pussy. "Please, Trey, I need you." She tossed restlessly beneath him. He lifted his head and turned his attention to her other breast as a light, cool breeze trembled over her wet, sensitive nipple. She shuddered in reaction to the sensation. As he sucked her, he reached down, curled his fingers into the waistband of her skirt and effortlessly ripped it away. One finger hooked in the waistband of her panties and they were gone as well, leaving her naked except for the moonlight highlighting her bare flesh. He tracked a path down over her rib cage, across her soft stomach and down to her mound. Lifting her legs, he separated her thighs and then buried his tongue into her moist, hot channel. She couldn't hold back the cries of pleasure as his tongue buried deep inside her, retreated and flicked across her stiffened clitoris, and then back inside her vagina. "Trey. Oh, God, Trey." It was then that she shattered completely as she orgasmed with the force of an invading storm drenching the earth. He sucked every drop of her cream, lapping across her lips, tunneling deep with his tongue. He kissed the inside of her thigh and she shuddered with the aftereffects, but she still needed more. He rose above her, and when she looked up, all she saw was the shadow of a predatory male, possession bright in his eyes. "You're certain, Rainna?" He looked off to the left and her gaze followed his. Her eyes widened when she saw what stood there. Two huge wolves, silvered in the full moonlight, eyes glittering brightly, standing there. Waiting. And watching. Waiting for her summons. She couldn't take her eyes off them. But she gave Trey the answer he needed. The response they all needed. "Yes, Trey. I love you and this is what I want." As she watched, the wolves began to shift, just as she had seen Trey do on that other night. Muzzles shortened, tails retracted, paws became hands and feet, dark, silvery fur shifted to warm, male flesh. She had been shocked the first time she had seen the change occur, but this time she was intrigued, aroused, and

ready. Carson and Donovan slowly rose to their feet and moved toward them, naked and muscular, moonlight glancing over their hard flesh. Trey moved back and Donovan took his place. He held out a hand and helped her to rise to her feet. She felt the heat of another body behind her...Carson. Her gaze again connected with Trey's. He now stood to the side as his brothers caressed her naked body, learning her curves, and the slick texture of her intimate flesh. Trey unbuttoned his shirt and shrugged it to the ground. His gaze imprisoned her. She felt his brothers' hands on her body, arousing her to new heights. "For us, Rainna," Trey whispered into the night. "For all of us," she responded, as Donovan leaned forward to brushed a kiss against her neck. She shivered as she felt Carson's fingers trace down her spine and cup her cheeks, separating and kneading. Neither of them spoke as they aroused her body, odd mixtures of sensations coursing through her. Donovan reached down and pressed two fingers inside her, a swift penetration that left her gasping. She felt Trey's presence beside her and out of the corner of her eye saw him hand something to Carson. Then she felt something cold squirted into her rectum followed by fingers opening and penetrating her anus. She cried out at the dual penetration of the brothers, almost unable to catch her breath at the pleasure that shot through her as they thrust in and out, in and out with their slick fingers. It wasn't long before the second orgasm that night swallowed her up, and she bucked against them as she soared into the night, crying out. Carson was the first to remove his fingers, and Donovan did the same as they lowered her to her knees and she felt the cool, moist earth beneath her. Donovan tilted her head back and licked the column of her throat. Carson twisted a lock of her hair around his hand and anchored her, arching her neck back, he licked at her jaw, her cheeks, and across her lips. And then she felt the head of Donovan's prick at her engorged entrance, just as Carson pressed past the rings of muscle in her anus. She heard the soft, rumbling growl of sound emanating from in front and behind. The soft sighs of the night surrounded her as they each pressed inward, opening her to their lusty desires and her soft flesh enclosed around them, hugging them, welcoming them into her body. She turned her head and opened her eyes. Trey was there next to her, watching her intently. Her gaze dropped to his stiff erection, bobbing enticingly. She reached out to surround the thick, silky shaft with her hand, spreading the pre-cum oozing from the slit across the stretched head. "Trey," she moaned, as the brothers' rhythm increased and she felt Donovan's thumb circling her hard, sensitive clitoris. "Oh, God, Trey," she repeated. Her heart was too full in that moment and she was about to shatter. It was Carson who came first, she felt him pulsing into her narrow channel. She came fast upon feeling his sperm spurt into her rectum. And then Donovan yelled as he orgasmed, pulsing deeply inside her pussy. And then she felt the slickness of Trey's cum as he spurted into her hand. Her sated gaze again locked with Trey's. "I love you," she said over and over again. She felt the deep connection of these primal men as they baptized her with their pleasure, drawing her into their family, making her feel part of them all, tied in some spiritual way she couldn't define. She looked up at the huge face of the moon as the brothers slowly exited her body and Trey pulled her into his arms. She shuddered with emotion. Donovan and Carson silently withdrew and, as she watched, they shifted back into their animal form, then trotted off into the night. Trey stroked her hair and held her against him as she tried to calm her emotions, her body replete and well satisfied. Then he helped her to her feet and drew her out of the forest and toward the lake. It felt frigid, but he pulled her against his hot, fiery body and they floated together for a long time in the clear, pristine waters. She felt his arms supporting and protecting her as she gazed up at the huge, shining moon above. She was at peace with the choices she had made. She didn't know what the future might hold, but she felt the coil of love surrounding her with this family she had chosen as her own.

She felt Trey's moist breath against her neck. "I love you, Rainna." She smiled and leaned back against his chest. As long as she had Trey's love she was content. Then she heard the lone call of a wolf in the distance from the opposite direction the brothers had headed. She raised her head. "Another brother?" "No. From another pack." "Thank God," she answered as she leaned back and floated contentedly in her lover's arms. She really didn't think she was up to handling another of his relatives. But for now the animal heat inside her was quiet and replete.

Adrianna Dane Theresa Gallup uses the pen names of Tess Maynard and Adrianna Dane. Theresa has been writing since the age of 10. A legal secretary for 30 years, she is currently working on another erotic romance, as well as a full-length romantic mystery/suspense. She has been married for 30 years and has three grown children (a daughter and twin sons), and is a new grandmother. Writing as Tess Maynard, her first published short story appeared in the ezine,The Whispering Forest , in January of 2004. Writing as Adrianna Dane, where adding sensual heat to romance is her motto,Esmerelda's Secret was her first foray into the erotic romance genre. Having traveled and lived from the East Coast to the West Coast, Theresa receives inspiration for her stories from a variety of sources, including music and poetry, and her tastes are eclectic. For more information about current projects, visit Theresa's web sites at: www.tessmaynard.com or www.adriannadane.com. **** Don't miss The Lion And The Rose, by Adrianna Dane, available at AmberHeat.com!

Man or beast? Mikelas, half man, half beast, caught between worlds, desperately needs his bride. As tradition demanded, he invoked the magic of the ancient marriage coin, but his Midas mate didn't answer, and without her, he is doomed to revert to his animal form forever. At one minute to the stroke of forever, a new scrying is performed and Rosemarie Edwards receives a very special gift meant only for a woman of Midas blood. Rosemarie doesn't believe in fairytale love--she doesn't have faith in humanity at all. Certainly not with the memories of her tragic past shrouding her from any hope of future happiness. But an attractive messenger with an intriguing gold rose and a special invitation will send her on a savagely sensual journey that will change her life from a black-and-white existence filled with painful reminders to the full Technicolor of devastating desire. One night of sizzling animal passion in what she thinks is a dream leaves her with a throbbing, visible reminder of the claim of her dominant mate. How did it happen and why does she respond so intensely to the scent of the golden rose? Only by accepting the mysterious invitation to Midian will she find the answers she needs and maybe discover that there can be a happily ever after.

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