Night Wolf

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NIGHT WOLF by KAREN ERICKSON Amber Quill Press, LLC http://www.amberquill.com

Night Wolf 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 Karen Erickson ISBN 978-1-60272-139-5 Cover Art © 2007 Trace Edward Zaber Layout and Formatting Provided by: Elemental Alchemy Published in the United States of America

Also by Karen Erickson Covet Hard To Resist

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Dedication Thank you to my editor Catherine for helping me so much with this story, my first ever shifter! I appreciate your input and patience.

Chapter 1 "Please, please make love to me. I can't wait any longer." She pleaded and didn't care how needy she sounded. She'd beg him to take her, beg him to make her his. Mark her, fuck her, possess her until she wanted to die with pleasure. The stranger's hands smoothed over her naked body, warming her already inflamed skin. She writhed beneath his touch, her legs becoming tangled in the cool, soft, cotton sheets, and she marveled over every sensation that seemed so much more intense. The sound of his breathing, the heat emanating from his large muscular body, his callused fingers all over her yearning flesh. She wanted more, so much more, but didn't know what to say, didn't know how to ask. Her lids fluttered open, but she couldn't see her dream lover, couldn't make out his features, his face. Who could this man be? Why did he come to her only in the dead of night? How did he know what made her feel good? "Talk to me," she whispered, her voice thready with need. "Tell me who you are." He growled, there was no other word for it, and she stiffened, fear suddenly consuming her. "Tell mewhatyou are!" He threw back his head and howled into the darkness. The sound was lonely and sad, and she ached for him. Felt sorry for him. Wanted to fuck him and take all of his sadness, his loneliness, away... **** Amanda lifted her head, glancing out the open window above her desk. The almost full moon enabled her to see much outside, but not enough in the distance. She glanced back at her computer monitor, read the last couple of sentences she'd just written, and shook her head. Never in her life had she written a romance about a werewolf. What had possessed her to turn her mystery hero into a shifter? The lonely howling sounded again in the quiet night and Amanda stilled. Of course she was writing a werewolf hero; she heard that howling every night, all night long. Sometimes it sounded so sad and alone. Other nights he sounded angry, ferocious, deadly protective. Sometimes there was a group of them, but more than not it was a solitary creature. Howling alone and long into the night. Her friends thought she was crazy for living out in the country all by herself, but she liked it. Enjoyed the solitude and peace that living in the city could never give her. Whenever she felt the need for company, she always had plenty of friends in town who would go out to dinner with her, hang out, go to the movies. Sometimes her friends would come up and visit her. Besides, this house was her one last piece of her husband. After losing Carl, she hadn't had the heart to leave. She still didn't want to leave. Not that she pined away for her dead husband anymore, but still... She liked to have at least

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something they'd once shared. You need to get out more, date men. Find someone, indulge in a relationship. Amanda knew her friends were right, but she didn't feel the need. She had her vivid imagination, which allowed her to write a bounty of erotic romance novels. Her career had turned onto the fast track over a year ago and she'd never looked back. Multi-book deals, an agent who believed in her, and a fan base that grew by the day. It didn't feel real. Yet it was. This was her life as Mandy Barnes, author. Her fans probably thought she led this incredible, glamorous lifestyle. Her reality was so far from the truth it wasn't even funny. The howling sounded again in the quiet night. With a sigh, Amanda closed her document and shut her laptop. It was late, past midnight, and she needed to get to bed. Tomorrow was her normal day to go into town and run various errands, and she wanted to get an early start before it got too hot. Running in and out of stores in one hundred degree heat was not her idea of a good time. She padded through her ranch house, turning off lights and the television, scooping up her cat Lewis to bring back into bed with her. Throwing open the sliding glass door to allow the cool early summer breezes in, she climbed into bed and cuddled close with her purring cat. Her mind was too wired to sleep, she realized as she absentmindedly petted Lewis on the head. Thoughts of her latest story ran through her mind, plot points, character highlights, all of it buzzing with such clarity she flicked on the bedside lamp and grabbed her notebook. Her pen flashed over the page, writing everything down in the notebook before she forgot it all and fell asleep. Again a long, almost pained howl sounded in the dark, so ominous Lewis lifted his head, emitting a low growl. Amanda glanced out the sliding glass door, wishing she could see, wanting to know exactly what was out there. Of course, maybe she didn't want to know, didn't want to see. It was probably best she lay in bed, ignorant of all the wild things going on in the darkness. Too distracted to think, she set her notebook on the bedside table, shut the lamp off, and settled her head on her pillow. **** He ran through the dark night in single-minded pursuit, seeing the house loom ahead in the distance. His breath came in short pants, his body weak from exertion and pain. He hadn't meant to get caught up in that rogue pack, thought he'd be able to slip by them, but they'd caught his scent and circled him. He'd stood his ground, growling, his entire body tense and revealing just how big he was. It had been no use against five of them, no matter what his size...or theirs. They went in for the kill and nearly won. He'd fought like he'd never fought before, teeth gnashing, claws striking. If his instincts were right, he killed one, which only fueled his brothers. The scent of blood had made them howl like mad, and he didn't know how he'd done it, but he'd slipped by them. Wandering off for a restless walk when his pack wasn't ready to head back home had been a mistake. He didn't even realize how far he'd gone until he heard the low growl of warning emanating from their leader. Too far from his own to call for help, he had no choice but to fight. The rogue pack was notorious for hanging around where they weren't wanted. Considering the fact they were a group splintered off his own pack years ago, it was almost as if they enjoyed toying with their former brothers. Seemed they enjoyed attacking their former brothers even more. Now he ran like hell toward the woman's house. He'd spotted her weeks ago, admiring her from afar ever since. He even thought about shifting into his human form and approaching her, but figured she would freak out. A single woman living all alone in the middle of nowhere usually didn't appreciate strange males coming to their homes. Not that he didn't blame her.. His pack didn't normally mate with humans. He knew it happened, had heard of it many times in other packs, but he'd never experienced it himself. He preferred to fuck his own kind, he thought with a grim smile. Fellow shifter women understood him, understood his need to be an animal and his need to be a man. Too much trouble came with a human woman, trouble he didn't need. He had enough of that already.

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Tonight, though, he had to see her. Needed her to take care of his injury so he could go back out and look for his own pack. He wasn't fit for travel in this condition, couldn't survive the night all alone with the scent of his blood on him. No, those rogue wolves would find him in an instant and take care of him. For good. He approached the house and slowed his gait to a brisk walk, concentrating on returning to his male form. Within seconds, he was human again, unclothed, dirty and bleeding. The woman would be frightened, but she wasn't heartless, he knew that on instinct. She wouldn't turn him away once she saw his wound. At least, he hoped she wouldn't.

Chapter 2 Amanda's eyes blinked open at the sound and she craned her head, listening. A glance at the clock told her it was past three in the morning. Was that a knock at her door? It sounded again, a faint rapping against wood, and she sat up, causing Lewis to meow. She climbed out of bed and threw on her robe, her hands shaking when she tightened the belt. Who would be knocking on her door in the middle of the night? Who even knew she lived out here? Her house was fairly hidden from the road, the gate securely locked so no one could drive up without her knowing it. The fence around her property was fairly new and in good shape. Whoever was at her door must've walked up, and it was quite a trek from the main road. The knocking came yet again. She stopped in front of the door, hesitant. Should she turn on the porch light, revealing someone was in the house? Should she speak to whomever it was through the door and tell them to hit the road? What to do, what to do? Hell, she didn't know what to do. The knocking sounded one more time and Amanda jumped, pressing her hand against her thumping heart. Whoever was on the other side of her door was certainly persistent. Trepidation trickled down her spine, but she squashed it. What if someone was in trouble? What if it was one of her neighbors? She reached for the baseball bat she kept by the front door just in case and slowly turned the lock. Flicking on the porch light and opening the door at the same time, she gasped in shock at the sight before her. A large man, a very large, verynakedman, lay sprawled across her front door step, his back propped against the wall. He was huge, covered in dirt, grime and sweat and a large gaping wound dripped blood from his left calf. "I'm sorry to bother you," he croaked, his breathing labored as if he'd just ran a great distance. "But I was wondering if you could help me." "What happened to you?" Her gaze wandered over his muscular body. She couldn't help the tiny tingle of awareness that shot through her veins at the sight of him. Bronzed skin stretched over wide shoulders and chest, tapering to slim hips. Even unaroused his cock was impressive, resting amongst a nest of dark curls. Her eyes came upon his calf and she repressed the cry of anguish that wanted to slip from her mouth again. He was severely injured, the wound large and jagged and most likely very painful. "I was, uh, in a fight. And I lost." His voice was grim, his full lips twisted in a sardonic smile. "Do you want me to call the police?" What was she going to do? How was she going to get this man into her house? She was only five foot five, one hundred twenty pounds and this man looked like a giant. He probably weighed twice as much as she did. No way could she lift him and drag him into the house.

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"No!" he said sharply, his pale blue eyes meeting hers. She noticed they looked full of fear, and worry. And maybe a little bit of shock as well. The injury had to be getting to him, no doubt about it. He probably needed medical attention and fast. "No, the police aren't necessary, really," he said, his tone softening. "Is there any way I could come in for a minute, get this wound cleaned up? I won't take up too much of your time, but I think I need to get this bandaged." He smiled, the dazzling appearance of it doing strange things to her insides, and she averted her gaze, not ready to deal with it. "I think you need more than a bandage. You need to rest, get your injury checked out by a doctor, not to mention put some clothing on." "I'm, uh, sorry about that, the lack of clothing. I must have lost my stuff in the fight." His explanation was certainly lame, and she didn't doubt for a minute that he was full of shit. What in the world would anyone be doing running around in the country naked in the middle of the night? Who could he have gotten into a fight with? None of it made sense. "Can you stand up? There's no way I can carry you inside." Amanda glanced at him briefly, then looked away. It was making her uncomfortable, having such a handsome man in the buff so near. She hadn't had sex in over two years--since Carl died--the last time she'd had a naked man in such close proximity. It made her uneasy, more than aware of her differences as a woman compared to his blatant masculinity. Her heart fluttered in her chest at the idea of having to touch this man, even briefly. She didn't know how she was going to deal. "Yeah, I can stand up." He struggled to his feet, almost falling down. She reached out, steadying him by grasping his upper arm. Her fingers barely fit around his bulging bicep and she marveled at the pure strength that pulsed beneath her touch. "Thanks." He righted himself, wobbling on one foot. She grabbed his hand, wrapping his arm around her shoulders to steady him. "Can you walk inside, maybe hop on one foot? You probably shouldn't put any pressure on that leg." His side pressed into hers, her head barely reaching his shoulder and his presence nearly overwhelmed her. With a nod from him, she started inside, half dragging him with her, amazed that she could move such a large man with relative ease. She blamed it on the adrenaline pumping through her veins. Even though the situation was bizarre, Amanda had to admit it was exciting. "I'll take you to my guest room," she said, that particular room closest to where they were. Also on the opposite end of the house, the farthest room away from her bedroom, which was probably best. Having this man too close wreaked havoc with her senses, her practicality. Silly considering she'd known him for only five minutes. Amanda managed to get him into the guest room/office painlessly, watching as he dropped onto the bed with a groan. He stretched out, his eyes closed, his body taut with tension, even his penis semi-erect. Hurriedly she went to the closet, grabbed a blanket and threw it over his middle, hiding his shouldn't-be-but-was-tempting cock. "Thanks." His cheeks were ruddy and she wondered if he was embarrassed, as aware of the crackling attraction between them as she was. There was no way for her to tell since his eyes were closed, his expression unreadable. "I'll go get some supplies and bandages for your wound. I'll be right back." Amanda went through her bedroom to get to her bathroom, noticed Lewis sitting on the bed with a curious expression on his face and his ears back as if irritated. "What's wrong buddy?" She flicked the light on in the bathroom and scrambled through the drawers, finding antiseptic cream, bandage pads, gauze, and even a butterfly bandage. She glanced at herself in the mirror, noticed her

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wavy brown hair was wild around her head, mascara smudged beneath her eyes, her rattiest pajamas on. God, she looked a frightful mess. She was surprised the man didn't run howling into the night. Howling...what made her think that? All that howling you heard before you went to bed.Ha, maybe he was attacked by a wild bunch of wolves and luckily made his escape before they tore him to shreds. Yeah, right. With a tiny snort, she turned off the light and went to the kitchen, grabbing a clean washcloth and a bowl of warm water before returning to him in the guest room. He hadn't moved from his spot, his breathing even, his chest rising and falling with each breath. Asleep. Maybe this was easier, taking care of him while he slept. That way she didn't have to listen to his deep voice, didn't have to think of him in any way other than clinical. She was nurse to his patient and that was it. She set her supplies on the bedside table, pulled a chair up, and sat next to him. Lifting the blanket, she shook her head at the sight of the deep gash, wishing she could take him to the hospital. He probably needed stitches, and his injury was sure to take a long time to heal. Where exactly was he going to heal? Did he have somewhere to go? Did he live somewhere close? Heck, she didn't even know his name. How was she supposed to guess where he lived? Saturating the washcloth with water and squeezing the excess out in the bowl, she smoothed it over his leg, cleaning the dried up blood that stuck to his skin first. His calf was thick with muscle, the skin bronzed and covered with a light dusting of dark hair. She soaked the washcloth again and went for the wound itself, cleaning the edges first and then working her way in, wincing at the severity of the cuts and gashes. Whoever had hurt him had sure done a number on him...as if he'd been attacked in an almost feral manner, she realized as she stared at it in fascination. It looked like he had been...bitten. As if someone had torn into his flesh, gnashing it with sharp claws. A low meow sounded behind her, and she turned to see Lewis sitting in the doorway, his ears completely flat to his head, his tail flickering in a sign of anger. He hissed in the direction of the bed and Amanda shooed him away. Weird. "Ah, holy shit," the man groaned, and she startled, leaning back in her chair. His eyes were wide open now, filled with pain. He blinked at her, scrubbed his hand over his face and grimaced. "Fuck that hurts. Excuse my language." She squeezed a wad of antiseptic cream on her shaking finger and dabbed it on his wound, careful when she heard him hiss particularly loud. She felt bad, but had to do it to get the wound completely clean to her satisfaction. Once she finished cleaning, she brought together his torn skin and applied the butterfly bandage. Pleased that it closed his wound rather well, she placed a bandage pad over it and then wrapped gauze around and around his calf, clasping it tightly. "There, you're clean." She glanced up and their gazes met, his grateful though still pained. "I appreciate it. I can't believe you did this for me when you don't even know me." She shrugged, more than a little embarrassed, not to mention she felt stupid. No, not every woman who lived all alone in the middle of the country would allow a naked stranger into her home. He probably thought she was a real idiot. "Well, I'm Amanda. If you tell me your name, then I guess we'll know each other." He smiled. "Dane. My name is Dane." "Okay, Dane, do you want something to eat? Maybe some pain medication to help take the edge of? Ibuprofen?" Amanda stood and cleaned up the mess she'd made, her movements efficient, stiff. She didn't want him to get any

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ideas, think that she was an easily affected woman. She was all business. "Pain medication sounds good, maybe some water. More than anything I just want to sleep." She nodded. "No problem. I'll grab you something and bring you back a glass of water." When she went to leave, he stopped her, his long fingers wrapping around her wrist neatly. "Thank you for helping me, Amanda. I mean it. You don't know how grateful I am." She gazed down at him, her skin tingling where he touched her, his warm blue eyes making her want to melt. She smiled tightly, pulled away from his grasp and rubbed her wrist where his fingers had just been. "Of course. I'll be right back." Oh, God, what had she just done?

Chapter 3 The scent of the woman called to him. He tilted back his head, lifting his nose into the air. His senses had been so full of blood and dirt and fear last night he hadn't even noticed her smell. Hard to believe, considering the first whiff of her this morning had his cock instantly hard, his skin breaking out into a sweat, his entire body quaking. This woman, Dane's savior as he liked to think of her, called to him like a mate. He rolled over onto his back and grimaced, the pain from his calf shooting up his leg and making him want to cry out. He gritted his teeth, refusing to behave like a baby, and swung his body to the side, his legs over the edge of the bed, so he could get into a sitting position. Glancing down at the bandaged leg, he noticed blood had started to seep through the more than thorough bandage his lady savior had wrapped around him last night. Great. Rubbing his eyes with the heel of his hand, he then looked about the room, his gaze landing on what looked like a pile of men's clothes on an overstuffed chair in the corner. Not even willing to consider exactly why she had a man's clothing in her house in the first place, he stood and gimped over to the chair, then plopped down on it in relief. He hoped this woman had more pain medication. He desperately needed it. After struggling with the clothes for longer than he liked, he finally settled on wearing the loose-fitting sweatpants only and ventured out of the room. The smell of food cooking drifted down the hall and he followed it, his extra sensitive nose leading the way. She stood in front of the stove, her lithe body clad in a short cotton robe, her long bared legs making his mouth water. This woman was unlike any other he'd been drawn to before. The shifter women of his pack were shorter, with more meat on their bodies, curvier. Amanda was the opposite. She was of average height and thin, almost too thin, with those long, long legs and an equally long neck. A dancer's body, if he had to classify it. She moved with unconscious grace even around the kitchen. "Good morning," he said, his voice rumbling. He cleared his throat, blaming the previous night for the extra rough sound. With a startled cry, she dropped the spatula into the pan and whirled around, her fingers pressed against her lush lips. She shot him a tentative smile and dropped her hand, playing with the belt around her waist in a nervous gesture. "Good morning. I didn't expect you to be up and about." "I'm sorry." He shuffled deeper into the kitchen, closer to her. Even amongst the delicious aromas of bacon frying and

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eggs cooking, he could smell her delectable womanly scent. He still didn't understand how he'd missed it last night. His senses had to have been off kilter from the injury. "I didn't mean to scare you." "Oh, no, you're fine." She turned around, plucked the spatula out of the pan of eggs and grabbed a paper towel, wiping off the handle. "I assume you're hungry?" "Yes, actually I am." Dane limped over to the small kitchen table that rested against the far wall and sat down heavily in a chair, all of the breath whooshing out of him. He'd wanted to leave her house today, travel in daylight when the opposing pack would most likely be resting, but he doubted that could happen. He'd be lucky to walk across her house before collapsing in a dead heap. "How's your leg?" "I think I need a new bandage. And it still hurts. That hasn't changed." "I'll change it after breakfast." She bustled about the kitchen, popping bread into the toaster, pouring two cups of freshly brewed coffee. Dane leaned back in his chair, enjoying the domestic scene. He could get used to this and quick. No.He had no business thinking of doing anything domestic with the woman. Nothing sexual either, though he certainly wanted to, as did his cock. He shifted in the chair, trying to adjust the growing hard-on in his pants, but it was no use. Instead, he scooted his chair up against the table, hoping to hide his erection beneath it. She set a plate covered with steaming hot food in front of him and he glanced up at her appreciatively. "Thank you, it looks delicious. Smells good, too." So did she, but he wasn't about to tell her that. She seemed a little too skittish for compliments this morning. Besides, he shouldn't say anything like that. There was nothing between him and the woman besides gratitude on his side for her saving him. That's it. "Do you want anything in your coffee? Cream, sugar?" She didn't give him time to answer, bustling over to the counter in a whirlwind of energy to grab the large mug. Setting it in front of him, she gestured toward two bowls sitting in the middle of the table. "Both are in there if you want it." She was beyond efficient, he noted as he shoveled buttery scrambled eggs into his mouth. Her measured movements served a purpose, and she moved about the kitchen as if she'd done it all her life. Dane wondered idly why she didn't have a man. Why there were men's clothes in her home but no man to wear them. It made no sense. If he wasn't who he was, he would take this woman in an instant. Make her his and never let her go... "Thank you for the clothes." Maybe she would tell him why she had the clothes in the first place. "Oh, you're welcome." Her gaze flitted over his bare chest, then looked away. "They were my husband's. Luckily enough for you, I never got rid of them." "You were married?" Amanda grabbed her plate and cup of coffee and went to sit down across from him. "Yes, I lost Carl two years ago. Cancer. He built this house for me, for us." A widow. It made sense. It also made sense why she lived all by herself in the middle of nowhere. "I'm sorry for your loss." She shrugged, her slim shoulders almost bony beneath the thin cotton of her robe. "Thank you, but it was a long time ago. I spent four wonderful years with him and I'm thankful for that." "You like living out here? All alone?" His teeth crunched into the crisp bacon and he wanted to groan in pleasure. She certainly knew how to cook a good breakfast.

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"I like the peace and quiet and my neighbors are close enough for comfort. After the hustle and bustle of the city, it's relaxing to come back here and not have to deal." "A single woman all alone out here though...do you ever get scared?" He munched on a piece of toast, watching her carefully. The rogue pack had spent an inordinate amount of time in this area for the past few months, seeking out members of his own pack, he figured. He wondered if any of them had come too close for her comfort. "Well, sometimes it can get a little creepy out here, I guess. I have my cat to keep me company, but even he gets freaked out. He freaked out last night. There's been a lot of howling going on lately." She laughed, the sound of it nervous, and scooped a bite of fluffy eggs onto her fork. "There are a lot of coyotes around. They get noisy at night." Hah,coyotes. The wimpiest wild dogs on the earth, he thought with disgust. Some of the members of the rogue pack were coyotes, which went to show how much integrity that pack had. Absolutely none. "Strange men show up on your doorstep in the middle of the night as well," he said with a smile, ready to gauge her reaction. She blushed prettily, her smooth cheeks turning a nice pink color. "Well, that was definitely the strangest thing that's ever happened to me out here in the middle of the night, I will admit. You're lucky I didn't bash your head in with my baseball bat." "I'm very thankful you didn't." He kept his voice low, tinged with a growl. Shit, he was tempted to shift right now, sink his cock into her wet warmth, and fuck her on the kitchen floor. Her eyes met his, full of wariness and, if his instincts were correct, the faintest tint of arousal. He sniffed. Shewas aroused. His cock surged in the loose sweatpants. Dane wanted to fuck this woman more than anything he'd ever wanted before. Her chair scraped across the wood floor and she stood, her hand held out toward him. "Are you finished?" He picked up the last strip of bacon and handed her the plate, their fingers grazing against each other. Electricity shot up his arm, went straight to his groin and he wanted to groan with the force of it. The attraction between them was strong, no doubt about it. She appealed to his senses, his baser instincts, like no other. Maybe it was her delicate appearance, her quiet confidence, the beautiful way she moved. Shit, he didn't know what exactly it was, but she threatened to bring the beast out of him. Almost as much as the near full moon that hung in the midnight sky the last few nights. "You should take a shower," she murmured, stacking the plates into the sink. "After you're finished, I'll clean your wound and change the bandage. The guest bathroom is the first door on the left in the hall. There are plenty of fresh towels." "Fine." He nodded and got up from his chair as fast as he could, which, considering the injury, wasn't very fast at all. Dane had no idea how long he'd have to stay with the woman, which wasn't good. He needed to leave, needed to get back to his pack before the rogue pack found him. Staying with Amanda for too long could not only put himself in danger, but could put her in danger as well.

Chapter 4 Amanda washed dishes, her hands slow against the soapy pans, her mind wandering back yet again to her handsome,

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mysterious guest. When he'd walked into the kitchen with just the old sweats on, her mouth had threatened to hang open like a drooling dog. His muscled chest had been beautiful. Smooth bronzed skin stretched over lean muscle, the lightest smattering of dark hair right in the center of his chest. Rippled abs, so flat and tempting, practically begging her to lean over and lick a path down the dark trail of hair that led from his belly button down past the waistband of his pants. She shook her head at her lustful thoughts. She didn't even know the man, certainly couldn't have sex with him. What if he was a criminal on the run? He'd behaved strangely last night when she mentioned contacting the police. He'd acted as if he had something to hide, like there was something he wasn't telling her. What could it be? And did she really want to know? Amanda rinsed off the dishes and set them in the drying rack. She pulled the drain, wiped down the sink and threw the dishrag onto the rack. With a sigh, she turned and stared at the closed bathroom door; she could hear the water running in the shower. She imagined the mysterious Dane standing under the hot spray of water, his body glistening and damp, those muscles accentuated to their finest. His cock would be long and thick, standing at attention just for her when she entered the bathroom. He'd turn off the water and wait for her, water dripping down his delectable body, and she would lap it up. She'd lick his skin and the water would sizzle on her tongue, his body burning beneath her mouth. Her lips would wrap around the head of his cock and she would sigh with pleasure at his taste. He'd fill her mouth, fuck it slowly, and she would give back as much as she could. Would want him to melt with pleasure, want his cum to shoot down her throat so she could drink it, swallow him whole. Hear him growl when he entered her, feel him finger her clit as he thrust deep within her cunt. Fuck her until she couldn't see straight, until she couldn't feel or think about anything else but him... Amanda shook her head, stunned at her train of thought. What in the world was wrong with her? Why did this man affect her this way, make her want to toss all sensibility to the side and have her way with him? It didn't make any sense. She realized the running water had long since stopped and she could hear him moving about in the bathroom, even heard him mutter a few expletives. She went to the door and raised her fist, suddenly unsure. Should she knock, ask if he needed help? Everything she needed to replace his bandage was in this bathroom. Should she offer to come in and change it? She gave in and knocked, calling his name softly. "Yeah?" His voice sounded strained. "Whenever you're ready I'll change your bandage," she murmured against the cool wood of the door. The door suddenly swung open and she stepped back, her heart beating madly in her chest at the sight of him clad only in a towel. It wrapped precariously around his slim hips, dipping low enough that she swore she saw a shadow of pubic hair. Swallowing hard she trained her eyes on his face, not on his still damp chest. God, the man wasbeautiful. "I took the old bandage off. It looks a little better." "Let me see." She walked into the cramped bathroom, the steam from the shower wrapping itself around her, making her hotter than she already was. Making her nipples stand at attention, her cunt drip with moisture. Oh, wait, that was the man, not the steamy heat. "Why don't you sit down," she suggested, opening the drawer and pulling out the bandages and a tube of antiseptic cream. Dane glanced around, then dropped the toilet lid down. He sat awkwardly, his injured leg held out at a weird angle. His towel gaped at the center of his legs and her skin heated. She was going to have to kneel at this man's feet; she didn't want to glance up and catch a glimpse of his privates!

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Okay, maybe she did. "Ready?" She straightened her spine and turned to look at him, her gaze roving over his damp curling brown hair. The rough stubble on his face, the fire in his eyes...everything about him was dead sexy, beyond sexy, deliciously thrilling. He grimaced. "I guess." Amanda knelt at his feet and stared at the still angry-looking wound. It didn't really look that much better from last night, but at least it was clean. She dabbed antiseptic cream on the gash and wrapped his leg with a fresh bandage. "Thank you." His voice a husky growl from above, it slithered down her spine, settled in her most intimate area. She restrained the shiver that wanted to overtake her body and allowed her gaze to travel up his length. Big mistake. He sat with his legs spread wide, and there was no denying she caught more than a glimpse of his semi-erect cock. Hell, she couldn't tear her eyes away from it. She thought it had been impressive last night but...oh, my.Long and thick, it curved upward between his legs, growing right before her eyes. He growled again, this time a sound unintelligible, and his big hands were at her shoulders, kneading her tense muscles. She lifted her head, met his light blue eyes sparkling with heat and unmistakable passion. This time she did shiver. "We shouldn't do this." His words startled her. She thought he would want to do this, whateverthis was. The attraction between them had been an almost tangible thing from the beginning. "You're right, we shouldn't," Amanda finally said. "But I want to. I think you want to, too." She didn't say a word, just allowed her hand to settle on top of his muscular, hairy thigh. His eyes shut, lips tight, and he spoke between gritted teeth. "There are...things you don't know about me. Things you don't want to know about me." He opened his eyes, so intense, searching her face. "If you knew the truth, it would scare you. You would tell me to get the hell out and never come back." God, he probably was a criminal on the run. What if he hurt her? Did he want to hurt her? His hand came out, cradling the side of her face. His touch was so gentle, the expression on his face tender, though his eyes shone with lust. He didn't behave like a man with pain on his mind. "Tell me to leave, Amanda." His voice was a harsh whisper. "Tell me to get the fuck out of your life." "You're injured; you can't leave." His thumb brushed against her cheek and she gasped. "I won't send you back out there. You need to rest, at least for a few days." Dane closed his eyes and shook his head once. "I stay here for another night and I can't be held responsible for what I might do to you, what might happen to me." His words confused her. "Do you want me to take you somewhere, back to your home maybe? Do you live close? Have friends or family who could take care of you?" She wondered if he would tell the truth, confess what was really going on in his life. Would he even be honest enough to tell her he was a criminal on the run, a man who had done something wrong, dangerous even? Probably not. "No, I don't really have...anywhere to go. No one to help me." His hand dropped away from her face and he closed his legs, yanking the towel closer to him. His expression had taken on a hard edge. "Thanks for changing my bandage." Amanda stood, startled at his abrupt dismissal, his seeming change of mood. She shoved the bandage materials back

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into the bathroom drawer and turned to leave. "Amanda--I'm sorry. I just don't think you'd understand." She didn't turn back around, didn't want to look at him. Wondered if maybe he was right, if it would be best if he left. She knew one thing--she probably wouldn't understand. She didn't understand her reactions since she laid eyes on this man less than twenty four hours ago. "I'll leave you alone so you can dress."

Chapter 5 The moon shone high in the dark sky, casting its ethereal light through the window of Dane's room. He stared at the perfectly round moon, unable to look away from it. His body was on hyper-alert, ready to shift at a moment's notice, and he willed it not to. He wouldn't be able to control himself if he shifted into his wolf self. Doing so would surely cause him to behave like a rutting beast and push himself upon the woman sleeping down the hall. His instincts would kick into high gear; her scent would flood his senses and he would have no choice. He'd have to claim her, have to make her his. With a growl he rolled onto his side and punched the pillow beneath his head in frustration. The wound on his calf ached, but not as mightily as the ache between his legs. He'd jerked off once to the vision of Amanda in his mind and already his dick was hard again. The woman was going to drive him insane with lust, he just knew it. His entire body pulled taut with restraint, and he rubbed the back of his neck, desperate to howl in frustration. What would it hurt to shift, just for a few minutes? He could prowl the perimeters of Amanda's property, make sure no one from the rogue pack was lurking around. He had no idea if they knew where he'd ended up, but he didn't want to take any chances. It might not be smart to go outside and leave his scent to linger long after he came inside, but he knew he'd feel safer if he at least checked things out, made sure everything was okay. Dane climbed out of bed already naked and snuck through the house. He opened the back door quietly, shut it with a soft click, and crouched on the back porch, settling himself onto his hands and knees. Within seconds, his muscles stretched and he threw back his head, hair springing over his entire body. He'd been holding it back so strongly he shifted with ease, as if his body needed to acquire his wolf form. He felt better already. A quiet yip escaped him and he trotted out into the back field, his steps hindered by his injury. The bandage had torn off when he shifted and he had no idea how he was going to explain that one to Amanda. He couldn't worry about it now. He had other important things to concentrate on, like making sure Amanda was safe. The night came alive to his sensitive ears. Bugs chirped loudly, frogs bellowed and burped, and an owl screeched in the distance. All of the sounds familiar, warming his blood, making him feel at home. His pack lived miles away and he wished he could go home. If circumstances were different, if his leg were better, if his returning wouldn't put the rest of his pack at risk, he'd be there tonight. He couldn't risk the long travel, though, especially with the rogue pack lurking around, looking for him. And he knew without a doubt they were lurking. The hair on the scruff of his neck stood straight up, and a lone howl sounded far into the night. A howling he knew belonged to a member of the pack that had attacked him last night. He ran back to Amanda's house as fast as he could with the injury hindering him. Luckily enough the howl had

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sounded at least five miles away and he knew they were most likely on the hunt. For him, for dinner, for whatever, it didn't matter. He needed to get back inside. Panting, the back porch in sight, he remembered Amanda's pet cat had a water dish outside and he went for it, slurping up every last bit of liquid from the bowl. His stomach growled and he wished he had something to eat, wished he would've found a stray rabbit or squirrel for a midnight snack. Another low growl sounded and he glanced up to see the glowing eyes of Amanda's cat glaring at him as it sat on a chair. They stared at each other, the cat hissing, paw reaching out to swipe at him, and Dane lurched backwards. The last thing he needed was a nasty cat scratch on his nose. With a screeching meow the cat scrambled away and ran into the dark night. The porch light flicked on and he froze in surprise.Shit. The door swung open, Amanda standing there clad in only a thin T-shirt and a pair of cotton panties. His cock hardened at the sight of her and he was suddenly desperate to have her, throw his head back and howl long into the night as he filled her tight wet heat. She froze in the doorway, her eyes wide, her hand at her throat. He hunkered down beneath the table that rested against the house, his gaze never leaving hers. She stared back, her expression dumbfounded, and her hand dropped to her side. "Get out of here," she whispered, waving a hand at him. "Shoo." Dane shook his head, his eyes drifting over her long sexy legs, the shadowed spot beneath the center of her panties. He wondered what she would do if he approached her, nuzzled her sweet spot with his nose, lapped the cream from her cunt with his long tongue. She'd probably scream and bash his head in. "Go away. Go on, get out of here." She shivered, wrapping her arms around her middle. He turned and trotted out to around the side of the house, pretending that he'd left. He heard her gasp and he wanted to kick himself. Surely she must have noticed his wound. He heard the door shut, the lock turn, and he growled. Damn it, how was he going to get back in? His evening had just gone from bad to worse. **** Amanda turned the lock on the back door with shaking hands, her breath coming fast and furious. She ran back to her bedroom, her mind replaying the image of the wolf's face, the look in his eyes, the sound of his growl. The unmistakable wound on his leg that matched Dane's almost exactly. No.Her brain refused to acknowledge it, didn't even want to think it. Yes, the man was mysterious. Yes, he said he knew things, did things that she didn't want to know about. But no way could he be some half-man, half-wolf type being. That crap only happened on TV or in the movies. Or in the novels she wrote. Right? Of course. The last twenty four hours had been completely surreal, she could admit that, but now her mind was just flat out playing tricks on her. She needed to get to bed, get a good night's sleep so she could be fresh and rational in the morning. But she couldn't sleep, she realized after tossing and turning for a solid hour. All she could think about was the man who slept in her guest room, the wolf on her back porch, the pained howls that sounded in the distance. Lewis had scratched at the screen of the sliding glass door and she'd let him in, his fur and tail still puffed up from whatever encounter he'd just had. He was on alert, pacing about the room with every howl that wafted through the open door. Everybody was on edge. With a sigh, she flipped back the covers and snuck out of her bedroom and toward Dane's closed door. She stood in front of it for a moment, pressed her ear against the wood hoping to hear something, anything to let her know he was on the other side.

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She couldn't hear a thing. Her hand rested on the knob and turned it slowly. It opened with ease and she pushed at the door in full stealth mode. She didn't want to disturb him, just wanted to make sure he was okay, wanted to see if he was sleeping comfortably. Wanted to make sure he was actually in the room and not outside roaming about as a manwolf. Light shone through the open window, the blinds yanked up, the curtains parted. The white light of the full moon filled the room, almost as if the overhead light was on, and her gaze wandered to the bed. It was empty. Holy shit. Amanda ran out of the room and toward the back door, throwing it open without caution. Dane lay slumped against the back wall of the house, yet again completely naked, a fine sheen of sweat casting his body in a silvery glow. His lids slid open and those beautiful ice blue eyes of his stared up at her, full of longing. Hunger. Pure lust. "Amanda." His voice was hoarse, rumbling through her, making her belly quiver, her skin tingle. She wrapped her arms around herself, rubbing her hands up and down her arms to ward off the chill that ran through her. "What are you doing out here?" he asked. He sat up, resting his hands between his legs, but she saw his cock grow to attention. Felt the hunger that grew within her at the sight of it. She wanted him in the worst way, even though she knew it was probably a mistake. This man would bring her nothing but trouble. He was a freak, a strange man on the run, maybe even a fucking werewolf for God's sake. None of it made sense. "I should ask you the same question," she finally said. With tentative steps, she approached him, then stopped when she stood just in front of him, her crotch at the same level as his face. Dane tipped back his head, those gorgeous lips parted, his eyes sparkling in the moonlight. His shoulders appeared bigger, the muscles in his arms more defined by the light of the moon, and she yearned to touch him. Wanted to smooth her hands over his skin, feel his blood and heart pulse beneath her touch. So she did. She bent forward, rested her hands on his bare shoulders, released the tiniest sigh at their flesh making contact. His eyes slid closed, his mouth tightening as if he restrained himself, and her hands moved, gauging the width of his shoulders with her fingers. "I can smell you." His voice was a harsh whisper and she had to strain to hear it. "You fill my head and I can't get you out of it." "Why are you naked on my back porch?" She had to ask, didn't think he would give her a proper answer. Dane's eyes opened and his steady gaze met hers. "I think you know why." "I don't believe you." She didn't want to believe him. It was too scary to think it true. He shrugged. "Believe what you want to, Amanda. Though I think you know the truth, deep down inside." "I can't think about that right now." She shook her head. His hands were suddenly at her hips, his palms hot and hard and curving around to cup her panty-clad ass. "I don't want you to think about anything but you and me, us fucking all night long. It's going to happen, Amanda. It's going to happen right now unless you run back to your bedroom and lock the door. You should, you know?" "I don't want to." And she didn't. Dane sighed and leaned in even closer, so his face hovered just in front of her crotch. A surge of moisture filled her panties and she wanted to die of mortification. If he said he smelled her earlier, surely he could smell her now.

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"Hmmm." His eyes slid closed again and he pressed his face against her pussy, his breath hot and moist against the barrier of her cotton panties. She clutched at his shoulders, held on to him as if an anchor. Surely if she let go she would slither to the floor into a pool of lust. His nose nuzzled at her, his teeth nibbling at the fabric and the tender skin beneath, and she jumped, startled. And incredibly aroused. "I want to taste you, Amanda. I want to lick your creamy cunt. I want to fuck you with my cock. I want you to suck my cock." His eyes opened yet again and he stared up at her, all serious intent and lustful want. "I don't normally fuck human women." She shivered. This man was a complete animal. Truly. She wanted him so badly she thought she might die from it. "I don't normally fuck animals," she said in reply, making him chuckle against her sex. Out of nowhere, his fingers tore at the fabric, leaving her panties in shreds on the ground, her most intimate place laid bare for him to see. To touch. To taste. "Beautiful," he whispered, his tongue sneaking out to lick. Her eyes closed at the sensation, her hands moving to clutch his hair. Ready to enjoy the first sex she'd experienced in two years.

Chapter 6 Ah, fuck her cunt was sweet. His tongue lapped and licked, gathered the tangy cream between her folds. Her fingers dove into his hair, clutching and pulling, making him wince, but nothing would stop his intent. Dane intended to feast on this woman. Lick her clean, make her orgasm again and again until she was so weak she was ready to pass out. And when he was done with that, he was going to fuck her, fill her with his hard cock, ram inside her tight pussy over and over until the both of them would come with a shout. Then he would hold her all night long and never let her go. Mark her with his scent, his touch, make her his. He sucked her clit into his mouth, heard her moan low in her throat, the sound so sexy it made him growl. This woman blew his mind, drove him nuts, made him want like no other woman before. "Oh, yes," she whispered, her hips undulating against his mouth. He continued his assault, his hand slipping between her legs to drive a single finger deep into her tight channel. She bucked against his mouth and another finger joined the first, pumping in and out of her much as his cock yearned to do. With a cry, she fell apart, her body shaking against his mouth, her inner walls contracting around his fingers. He watched her, enthralled with her beauty, amazed by her responsiveness. As a wolf, he always fucked his mates from behind, never seeing their reaction, never caring to really. One look at Amanda coming from his ministrations and he wanted to experience that sight again and again. Forget the original plan--he had to be inside hernow. With a growl, he stood and swept her into his arms, kicking the door wide open so they could enter her home. She squealed and wrapped her arms around his neck. He could feel her wet cunt against his belly and his cock jerked with eagerness.

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He couldn't wait to sink himself deep into her hot pussy. Even thinking about it made him want to climax, made his cum want to spurt inside her wet warmth. "Where are you taking me?" Her voice was breathless, her face flushed. Simply breathtaking. "Your room," he said with determination as he carried her down the hall. "Your bed." "I don't know if that's..." Dane didn't let her finish. He knew without asking she'd just thought of her dead husband. No offense against the man, he always respected the dead, but he was going to make her forget that man tonight. Tonight was about him and her. And nothing else. "We're going to fuck in your bed, Amanda." He strode into the room, deposited her on the big bed and then pounced on top of her, his entire body covering hers, surrounding her willowy form. She pressed her slim hands against his chest, her fingers seemingly unable to stop from touching him. Caressing him. "You're so...fierce." "Only because I need to possess you. I've been overcome with the urge since I first set eyes on you." A shadow passed across her face and he knew without a doubt that she felt the same. The attraction between them had been undeniable since the first moment they'd met. His body had responded to her immediately, his mind full of nothing but thoughts of her naked, pleasing him. Of him pleasing her, touching her, filling her with himself and his seed, marking her as his woman forever and the two of them become a united member of his pack. Amanda wouldn't want that, he realized dimly. No way would an independent woman want to live amongst a pack of snarling males. The females in his pack did it because they didn't know any better. It was the only life they had experienced. A worldly woman such as Amanda wouldn't tolerate it, wouldn't tolerate him. She would most likely tell him to go fuck himself and hope he left her alone forever. Dane couldn't think of that now. No, now that he had the woman willing and ready in her bed, he had to take advantage of the situation. He had to have her. With a grunt he lifted himself up, pressed his palms on either side of her head while he stared down at her. She trembled, her eyes glassy, her lips puffy and damp. Begging for his touch. "Take off your shirt." **** Amanda did so, whipping it off over her head and throwing it over the side of the bed. Now naked beneath him, she felt vulnerable, so open to him and his heated gaze. It drifted over her, lingered on her breasts, her stomach and then moved lower, to settle between her legs briefly before his eyes met hers. His thick cock brushed against her wet curls and she spread her legs wider, wanting him buried deep inside her. "You're beautiful, Amanda." He dipped his head and his lips took hers, his tongue delving inside, sweeping the confines of her mouth. She accepted him eagerly, her tongue meeting his thrust for thrust. She wrapped her arms around his broad, muscled back, her hands sliding up and down his sweat-dampened skin and he moaned, his cock probing at her eager pussy. "I want you inside me," she whispered against his mouth, her tongue then teasing his. "I want you so bad, but I don't want to hurt you..." "You could never hurt me." She laid her hand against his cheek, made him lift his head up. Their gazes met, held. "I'm not afraid of you, Dane. I trust you." He shook his head, his mouth brushing against the palm of her hand. "You shouldn't. I can only bring you unhappiness, Amanda. Another pack wants my blood. They're the ones who injured me." Oh, my!What in the world was this man involved in? And could all of her suspicions be true? He never denied them.

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He nodded. "They want me, they want to attack my pack and destroy us. I made a mistake, going outside earlier. They might be able to detect my scent, which puts you in danger." She lay there beneath him, frozen. She didn't know what to say, had a hard time wrapping her mind around it all. Was there really a pack ofwolves after this man? Could he really change into awolf ? Even though her mind screamed no, her heart told her yes. "I want to be inside of you so bad, Amanda, but I don't want to put you in danger. Once I claim you, I won't let you go so easily." His possessive words sent a thrill shooting down her spine. Funny, considering she thought that kind of talk only worked in romance books and nowhere else. "Let's not think about that now." "I fuck you, Amanda, and you become mine. I don't share myself with many others, especially full-blooded human women like you." His hips ground against her, his cock sliding between her swollen pussy lips, and she arched against him, wanting him sinking deep. "I can't wait much longer, Dane. Please." Her voice pleaded, her hands searched his hot smooth skin. She was desperate for him to take her, claim her, make love to her. She didn't care about the danger or his crazy talk. All she cared about was the two of them together. Her desperation must have shone through, and with one swift move he buried himself inside her, making her cry out. It had been far too long since she'd had a man inside her, making love to her, and she was tight. He eased up at her cry and stared down at her, shock shading his pale eyes. "I'm sorry, babe. I didn't mean to hurt you. I'll go slower." She nodded and smiled, touched by his concern. He moved with shallow strokes, his cock a delicious friction inside her, stretching her, and she spread her legs wider. Lifting them to wrap around his waist, she clung to him, rode him as his movements became faster. "You feel so good." He thrust with each word, his breathing harsh, his teeth gritted. She smoothed her hands over his shoulders, down his arms, lifting her head to lick at first one male nipple, then the other, making him groan. "Faster, Dane," she urged, grinding against him. He shook his head, his hair damp and clinging to his forehead. She smoothed a lock away, overwhelmed by the tender feelings flowing inside of her. "We need to take this slow, babe. It's been a long time for you." "I don't care." She circled her hips, clenched her inner walls tight around him, and smiled with satisfaction at the sound of his shuddering breath. "Take me, Dane. Fuck me like you really want to." Her words were the only urging he needed. His thrusts became deeper, faster, harder. She clung, allowing him to fuck her with all his might, reveling in his strength. He grunted as he rammed inside her, his cock swelling and growing even more, and she cried out with every thrust. Her body pushed higher and higher on the mattress with each movement until her head hit the headboard again and again. It hurt, but she didn't care. It all felt too damn good to stop now. The tingles started low in her belly, and she moved against him, ready for it, eager for her orgasm. Faster and faster he pumped, the sound of their joining loud in the quiet of the room, their harsh breathing mingled in the air. Fingers dipped low, teased her clit and she shattered, her orgasm taking her body over, sending her to new heights. Dane came seconds later with a shout, her name passing from his lips as his cum gushed deep within her, filling her. She lay there, breathless, a tiny smile on her face. He slumped on top of her, his big body wrapped around hers, their legs tangled, and she smoothed the back of his head with both hands. Too late now for regrets, she mused. They now were bonded, most likely forever...

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Chapter 7 A rustling from outside woke Dane from a dead sleep and he sat straight up, his senses telling him something wasn't right. The moon shone brightly through the sliding glass door, but no normal night sounds called to him. No bugs chirping, no owl hooting, no nothing, not even a breeze. The air was too still, the night too quiet, and the hair on the back of Dane's neck stood straight up. Something was out there, he knew it. And he had a sneaking suspicion he knew exactly who it was. He gazed down at the woman peacefully sleeping next to him, a contented expression on her face. His chest swelled with masculine pride, knowing he was the one who'd put that look there. After hours of relentless lovemaking she'd finally passed out, as had he. He'd never felt so strongly for a woman before, never enjoyed making love like he did with Amanda. Hell, he never thought of it as making love. She had changed him, altered his world forever. Shifted his focus, for she was all he could think about now. It scared him and thrilled him all at the same time. The sound came again, a rustling in a tree or bush, and he crawled out of bed reluctantly, sad to leave the naked woman lying so vulnerable and open to his gaze. He watched her for a moment, admiring her pale creamy skin, her full breasts with the pale pink nipples alert and standing at attention. Begging for his touch, his mouth. Dane shook his head and crept out of the room, pissed. He never let a female distract him, make him think of anything else but the task at hand. And the task was for him to find out who was stalking him and his woman. He was sure it was a member--ormembers --of the rogue pack. Standing close to the back French door, he stared out the window into the night, the quiet making his skin crawl with gooseflesh. A movement passed to the left in the back yard and his ears tilted, his skin prickled even more. He needed to shift, needed to go outside and sniff out those who lurked in the darkness. His injury bedamned. With a soft click he unlocked the door, swung it open and then got down on all fours. Within seconds he was in his wolf form and he went out into the night, standing tall and proud, his fur bristled to make him appear larger. He was already a big wolf, a leader in his pack, but he wanted to intimidate as much as possible tonight. He not only had to protect himself but his woman now, too. A growl sounded in the distance and he stopped, his ears cocked in the direction of the noise. They appeared quietly and out of nowhere, one, two, five, ten wolves creating a half circle that faced him. All of them had their teeth bared, shiny in the moonlight, their eyes bright and hungry. Hungry for him and his blood. Most likely hungry for his woman's blood, too. His heart shriveled. No way could they get to Amanda, he wouldn't let them. He was no match for the pack, but he had no choice. He'd rather die than allow them to win and get to her, destroy her. Now that he'd marked her as his, they would be after anything that belonged to him, and he couldn't let it happen. There was too much on the line. Like his future. Dane growled and snarled, gnashing his teeth in a gesture of pure dominance. The lead wolf of the rogue pack stepped forward and did the same thing, his teeth long and glittering in the moonlight, a large drop of saliva falling from his canines. Dane didn't allow himself to back down, stood as tall as he could, wanting to send the message that he wasn't scared. Despite the pounding in his chest and the throbbing of his wound, he really wasn't frightened. No, the adrenaline pumped through him, giving him strength. The growling match went on for what seemed like an eternity and the rogue pack started to pace, all of them looking

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desperate to circle them. He moved with their every move, danced with their every dance, not wanting to give them the upper hand and allow them to completely surround him. He couldn't let that happen. Once it did, he would be a dead wolf. It would give them the chance to come in for the kill. He heard the door fling open in the distance. Grimacing, he threw back his head and howled into the night. Damn it! He didn't need to turn around to know that Amanda stood out on her back porch watching them.Fuck. "Dane! Please come back inside." He shook his head and howled again, couldn't even bring himself to turn around and look at her. Knew that it would hurt his heart too much to see her standing there, beautiful and helpless, worried about him. The other wolves seemed to chuckle in glee, instantly understanding his weak spot. He closed his eyes briefly and stepped back, growling with warning. He wanted to let them know they couldn't hurt his woman, but he also knew his warning would go unheeded. They didn't care what he wanted. They only wanted him. "Dane!" Amanda's voice was a desperate shriek in the still night, the concern clearly shining through her tone. He turned his head briefly, shot her a glance that he knew she could see in the bright light of the moon and then turned back around, ready to face his enemies. Ready to attack and kill. With a roar, he reared toward them, lunging at the smaller ones. They yelped, backing away. The leader came toward him, his eyes dark and menacing, his stance taut with tension. Dane stared right back, his eyes never wavering from the leader, the two of them wanting to prove to the other who was strongest. Dane had no doubt at that moment he would win. A loud crash came from behind him, startling him, and he jumped. The rogue leader took his opportunity and attacked, going right for his neck. Dane howled, his movements lightning fast as he tried to get away. Suddenly he was surrounded by members of his own pack, all of them going for the opposing group. At least twenty of his fellow wolves came toward the rogue pack with a rush, a wall of fierce muscle and fight ready to take them down. It happened in minutes, but it felt like forever. The rogue pack left quickly, abandoning one of their own, dying on the ground. He and his entire pack lifted their heads and howled long into the night, their titled heads outlined by the large silver dollar of the moon and pride filled him. He'd thwarted the enemy once again, thanks to his pack. He didn't know what he'd do without them. He remembered Amanda still stood on the back porch and turned to find her. She stood frozen, her arms wrapped around herself, clad in only an oversized T-shirt, that damn loyal cat of hers sitting at her feet. The sight of her long sexy legs made his cock hard and he trotted toward her, hoping she would understand what had just occurred. Her eyes never left his as he approached. She stood stock-still, releasing a shuddering breath. He stared up at her, wanting her to accept his wolf form, wanting her to accept all of him. Knowing it would shatter him forever if she didn't. The cat hissed and ran away. "Dane," she whispered from trembling lips, her eyes filled with trepidation. He nodded once and nuzzled his head against her bare leg, lust surging inside of him. He could never get enough of this woman. He wondered if he would still feel the same fifty years from now. He had a feeling the answer would be a resounding yes. A tentative hand came out, brushed over his head, petting him. He nuzzled against her again, pleasure humming through his veins at her touch. He couldn't wait to shift into his human form and hold her close. Tell her how much he wanted her. "Are we safe now?" With a nod, his nose brushed against the outside of her thigh and she squealed. "Is it really you?"

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He stared at her, hoping she would understand him. She nibbled on her lower lip. "Change for me. Prove to me it's really you." He turned around, moved away from her to give himself space. His heart rate increased triple time as he concentrated, willing himself to his human form. He howled, his brothers howling back at him in answer and then he shifted, slumped onto the concrete a naked, tired man. "Oh, my God," she breathed, crouching down beside him, her hands roaming all over his body. Dane opened his eyes, smiled weakly at her. "My leg is killing me." "What just happened?" She looked confused and so beautiful, her hands smoothing over him, making his cock twitch in reply. "Those are my brothers, part of my pack. They defended me against the rogue pack. You're safe, we're both safe." Amanda wrapped herself around him; her soft body so close to his doing crazy things to his insides. He held her, stroked his hands up and down her back and she buried her face in the crook of his neck. "I've never been more scared in my life." "It's over, babe. We're going to be fine." "You're really a wolf." He chuckled. "I really am, though I spend most of my time as a man." "I can't believe this." He had to strain to hear her voice. "I know it's so much for you to take, to understand, but I know that you're the one, Amanda. The woman for me, my mate. Your scent drives me crazy, your body makes mine experience so much pleasure it's almost painful. We were meant to be." She lifted her head, her eyes meeting his. They shone with emotion, tears welling up, and he lost his breath. He didn't want to make this woman cry over him. "I don't want to lose you, Dane." "You won't, babe. Come with me, come be my mate." "I don't want to leave my house. I love it here. I have a career, I never told you. I write romances, sexy ones. My latest one is about a wolf--a shifter." He laughed, held her tight. "Sounds like we were definitely meant to meet." "I don't know if I can do this." "You can, and we will. We'll work it out." He pressed a tender kiss to her forehead, overwhelmed at the emotions that flowed inside of him for this woman. "I'll make sure of it." And he meant every word.

Karen Erickson After leaving the working world to become a stay-at-home mom, Karen Erickson realized she needed to get serious and pursue her lifelong dream of being a published writer. A busy mother of three, she fits her precious writing time in between chasing her children, taking care of her wonderful husband and pretending she has a maid. She lives in California.

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To learn more about Karen, you can visit her web site: www.karenwritesromance.com **** Don't miss Covet, by Karen Erickson, an Amber Heat Wave Contest Winner! Available at AmberHeat.com!

Jenny is used to getting what she wants, but the one thing she covets the most is the handsome, elusive, and seemingly unattainable Tyrone Holt....naked...and in her bed! At a jazz club, a chance meeting between them leads to several sizzling encounters they can't forget. But neither of them "do" relationships. Will Jenny and Tyrone make an exception to their own rule?

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