To Hunt a Wolf

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To Hunt a Wolf Copyright © 2009 Elizabeth L’Inconnu This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. OLUT BS E A

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Absolute XPress An imprint of Hades Publications Inc. P.O Box 1714, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 2L7, Canada Editing by Heather Gardener Interior Design by Justyn Perry Cover by Sable Grey All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without written permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions. Absolute XPress and Hades Publications, Inc. acknowledges the ongoing support of the Canada Council for the Arts and the

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Alberta Foundation for the Arts for our publishing programme.

Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication L’Inconnu, Elizabeth, To Hunt a Wolf / Elizabeth L’Inconnu — 1st Edition

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ISBN-10: 1-894817-60-5 ISBN-13: 978-1-894817-60-8 I. Title.

First Edition (e-20092005) Printed in the USA http://www.absolute-x-press.com

To: John May your star always shine bright. Sunshine & Ray Sisters in Mischief & Mayhem Many thanks for all the help and support. You’re diamonds, Mates!

You have purchased the pdf version of this novel. It is also available in a print version. Thanks to Erica Reay for answering my questions, also to Brian, Justyn, Denyse, Donna, Heather, Colleen, Roberta and Sable. To all at Ex Libris Infinitum and the Publik House Choc, Debb, Smitty, Agent P, Secret Agent 003, The Earl and the Good Captain, Tad, KK, Dreamer and all — too many to name here, ladies and gents — Blessings and Hankie Waves. Hugs all around!

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Blessings to Johnny’s Angels for all you do in honor of Johnny Depp. You really are Angels. Love you! Special thanks to my family for putting up with my wacky writing habits and even wackier sense of humor Big hugs & kisses Dennis, Martine, Shaun & Jess, Shanice, Mikie, Joshua and Jillian. Love you all! EL

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e lay curled up, shivering in the darkness of the cavern that was his prison, the taste of his own blood in his mouth from a boot to the jaw earlier. His master was in a foul mood and had made a special delivery of it. One of his sisters had refused the master’s suit again. By rights, he should hate his younger sisters, for they were often the cause of his beatings, and yet he knew it was not really their fault. Just once, he would like to be spared the vampire’s rage. Even though it was mostly dark in his prison, he could see too much thanks to his wolf eyes: the bones of victims, the rotting corpses that were always out of his reach, left fresh by the master to taunt his starving belly, and rarely ever removed. Smaller pests managed to find the decaying flesh and make use of it. If he was lucky, sometimes one of the small creatures came too close to him and he managed to take the edge off his own hunger, although such dubious treats were rare. The constant stench of death had long since immunized his sensitive nose to the stink. Beneath the rotting pile were the older bones of the dead, picked clean by the vermin, insects and microbes that shared his little slice of living hell.

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To Hunt a Wolf The pile had begun when he had been imprisoned. How long ago was that? He did not know. A long time ago—many years had passed, enough for him to know that rescue would never come for him and the girls. In the beginning he had hoped that even though he could no longer sense his familial connections, the family would know that they were still alive. Time had passed and rescue had not come. Now it never would. That hope had died. The only clue that he had that the girls still lived was when the master came to punish him, for then he could smell their scent upon the vampire. It was the only reassurance he had and it brought a strange comfort to him despite the pain delivered. It was all that helped him endure it. His sisters… Who were they now? What were their names? Delilah... Sassy and green eyed, and Deborah… the quiet one with the same dark eyes that he had, courtesy of their mother. He blinked and let out a heavy sigh. It was a struggle to even remember his own name and he sifted through old memories of happier times to find it. Play fighting with his brother and hunting, playing hide and seek as pups, playing tricks on the girls… Adam. That was his brother’s name. Adam. Adam had been really good at spy jumps, leaping up in place to get a peek at what was going on in the distance. He could jump several inches higher than everyone else. Adam had been smaller than most but he had been lighter too; he had teased Adam that he had springs in his legs. He almost smiled as in his mind he heard Adam call his name, “Adrian! Come on, let’s get ‘em.” That was his name. Adrian. The fond memory yielded to a darker one. Adam was dead. A low whine escaped him at the memory of that. Adrian had thought that Adam had been killed the same day they were captured. Somehow Adam must have escaped. He was dead now though. Adrian was certain of it. He had felt Adam’s death, a shock that had struck the three captive siblings all at the same moment. All three of them had howled, shaken by the pain and suffering of their brother after sensing nothing since their capture. That had invoked their master’s

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu fury and again Adrian had been the one who had paid the price. How long ago had that been? Months? A year? Adrian wasn’t sure. It had been the first thing that Adrian had sensed of his family since his capture—his brother’s pain, accompanied by the image of a beautiful woman as she leaned over Adam, frightened, trying to help him. She was the last thing Adam had seen. Who was she? Why did he sometimes dream of her? She was beautiful and always gentle in his dreams. He wondered what she was doing now that Adam was dead? Had she found another mate to replace Adam? What would his parents do now? Who would become the Alpha of the Pack when his father became too old or died? At one time it would have been a simple matter to reach out and know the answers to those things. No more. The lines of communication between himself and his family had been severed the instant Cedric had kidnapped them. Adrian knew it was the silver bullet that was lodged deep in his right hindquarter. He had a permanent bald spot high on his right hip where he had tried for the longest time to gnaw it out. The low caliber bullet had not shattered any bones, but it had imbedded itself deep in his flesh and from the moment that it had entered his body, he had lost all connection with his family. So it had shocked him when he had felt Adam’s death in that terrible manner and he had received that small glimpse of the beauty who had no doubt mourned Adam’s passing. She was like an angel of mercy, always soothing, reaching out to heal his wounds. Or perhaps it was not she and his dream woman was just a figment of his imagination after all, and she was who he saw in his dreams, because she was the only woman he had glimpsed since he had been incarcerated here, except for the corpses, of course. Those did not count. He could not think of those poor creatures as either men or women. It was too disturbing. He closed his eyes and slept until a frigid wind blew in his face from the tunnel, alerting him to trouble. The wind was never a good sign. It always heralded the arrival of the master, the vampire known only as Cedric. Other than his gaze locked on the tunnel in dreaded acceptance and his hackles rising along his neck and spine in fear, an involuntary

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To Hunt a Wolf response, he did not move. There was no point in standing for the occasion, for he would likely be beaten to the ground. He was restrained like a dog, a heavy metal collar around his neck, held by a chain that was anchored to the wall, so he could not escape his fate, even though the collar was not as tight as it once had been. Adrian remained still, his head on his paws, not even bothering to wonder what he would be punished for this time. The vampire would soon hiss in his face and likely tell him. It did not matter how well he watched that tunnel, he could never actually see the vampire coming. The wretched creature was always just suddenly there and this time Adrian did not even muster a growl, which was his usual greeting. “Have I beaten you yet today, dog?” Cedric demanded. When Adrian did not move or make a sound, the vampire roared with fury, “Answer me!” With a flinch, Adrian covered his eyes with a paw. “Playing dead, are we?” Cedric gave him a swift kick. “Fine. We’ll see how well your sisters endure my wrath!” Even knowing it for the bait that it was, Adrian sprang to his feet and flew at the vampire. He did not tolerate threats against his sisters. While the chain held him back, his teeth caught the edge of the vampire’s black cloak and it tore. Cedric whirled on him, kicked him in the teeth and beat him into retreat. Vicious claws raked along his right flank. Adrian yelped and yowled at the pain, tapering off into a low whine. Cedric delivered another hard kick and shook himself to straighten his clothing, pleased with the outcome. “At least you entertain my rage, dog.” Adrian whined in response. Just once he would love to be able to get his teeth into that bloodsucker. He’d never let go until he’d gnawed right through. Better his throat than his leg though. The vampire vanished in a blur, back the way he had come. “It’s time for me to feast on your little sister bitches.” His laughter echoed after his departure. Adrian tried to muster the strength to leap to his paws, furious. His legs and last reserves deserted him and he

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu slumped back to the cold rock, reduced to a quivering heap of fur-clad bones as blood streamed from the wounds along his side. Just the thought of that vile creature getting close to his sisters raised his hackles, but the knowledge that Cedric was consuming their blood on a regular basis turned his stomach and made him snarl out loud. It was all he had the strength for. While he still feared for Deborah and Delilah being in Cedric’s sadistic care, he did not think that Cedric would really kill them. Not now. They had been with him for many years, his little feeders. Cedric claimed they were his own personal favorite suck toys. Angry, Adrian licked the fresh blood from his lips, cleaning those wounds; Waste not, want not, as his Uncle Warrick used to say, for his stomach growled from the want of proper sustenance. He tried to lap up the blood from his torn side and clean those wounds as well, but it was too painful to twist and reach for them. Cedric’s boot had likely broken a rib again and what little strength he’d had, born of his anger and rage, was fast eluding him. Escape. He knew that he had to escape. Only how was he going to do that? He did not have the energy, even if he could get free. And he could not morph into his human form, not since the silver bullet had taken up residence in his ass. If he could morph, he could heal his wounds. Since he couldn’t he was stuck with the injuries and he needed time to heal. Sustenance would help too, that and rest, and for Cedric to leave him be for a while.

You have purchased the pdf version of this novel. It is also available in a print version. If you wish to have a printed version, please visit www.absolute-x-press.com or www.amazon.com to *** get your copy. Cedric swept into the main chamber where his two pretty little bitches were chained to his throne, watched over by his personal guards and a few vampire companions. Both were trapped in their human form by the same method that kept their brother enslaved as a wolf, a timely silver bullet, wedged in the flesh of the shoulder. Prettier to look at than their wolf counterpart, however, at full moon they became anxious and impossible to live with. He often just had them sedated through that one night, unless he was punishing them for some reason. It was frightful to watch as they struggled to 5

To Hunt a Wolf turn and could not. They tended to get hysterical and scream, howl and curse him, and tear at their hair like mad women. None of that tonight. Full moon was a week away and they would spend that one night wrapped safely in straightjackets and sedated in a well padded cell where they would not come to any harm. Both had the same luxurious sable hair as their mother, Meredith, and if not for their eyes, he would have had trouble telling them apart. Delilah had green eyes, while Deborah had the same dark brown eyes as their mother and their brothers. It was Deborah that he wanted, because she reminded him so much of Meredith. Ah, Meredith, he thought. Do you ever think of me? Do you remember the night I almost had you? If not for that meddling dog, Gentry, you would have been mine. He hissed himself at the memory of that night, when Ransom Gentry had shown up and reclaimed his woman from Cedric’s clutches. Not only had Gentry broken the vampire’s spell when he’d rescued his love, he’d sealed their fate that very night by mating her and getting her pregnant with their whelp. The very same whelp, that bastard’s get, he had chained in the lower caves: Adrian Gentry. It was one of the reasons why Cedric took such great pleasure in beating the hell out of him. Too bad the other whelp had gotten away that day. “What is wrong, my Master?” the short-haired blonde, Ida Mae, purred as she slithered up to him and ran a hand enticingly up his lapel to fiddle with the ends of his long fair hair. “Perhaps you need a little soothing? Let Ida Mae take care of you tonight.” She reached up on tiptoe and whispered in his ear. “Anything you want.” His smile was cold and terrible. “Yes,” he murmured. “I shall take great pleasure in severing your head from your neck with one bite.” Ida Mae’s smile faded and she gave him a pout. “I was only trying to please you, Master.” Cedric pushed her away and continued on towards his target, Deborah. If only she would accept him, perhaps he could let the others go. Or dispose of them. Her nostrils flared as he approached and she sniffed the air, her eyes narrowing dangerously. “You hurt him.”

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu “I will damn well kill him if you do not yield to me soon,” he threatened softly. “She cannot give you what you want,” Delilah told him. He raised a hand, intent on giving her the back of it. Delilah however did not flinch. She held his gaze with her own deadly force, damn her. “Yes, that will always endear you to her,” she murmured. “I should just put you down, bitch,” he muttered, letting his hand drop. Slumping into his throne between them, he noted Delilah’s little smile of triumph. Leaning toward her, he threatened softly, “Perhaps I have been chasing the wrong wolf’s tail? Perhaps you would care to be chained to my bed instead?” “I would take great pleasure in severing your penis from your scrotum with one bite. And yes, I do swallow.” “Delilah!” Deborah gasped in horror, while her face turned a deep red. Cedric threw back his head and laughed. It was the most amusement he’d had in weeks. Perhaps he had been chasing the wrong tail, at that? When he had first taken them over twenty years ago, they had still been children, and his intent had been different then. He was still angry and jealous of Gentry, and he wanted the bastard to suffer, Meredith too for choosing that dog over him. He had meant to keep their children a while and then turn them, both from werewolf to vampire as well as their minds against humanity when they were old enough, before unleashing them upon the world. Then, watching Deborah grow into the very image of her mother had changed his plans. When she looked at him, he saw Meredith all over again and he wanted her as he had wanted her mother. Deborah was more like her mother than she knew, for she too had rejected his romantic advances. While he could mesmerize her and take her, it stung his pride to resort to that. He wanted her to want him, to love him, like he wanted and loved her. He should just seduce them both, he thought. Take them both to his bed and end this utter misery. “Master!” cried a skinny youth as he hurried into the chamber, all nervous and out of breath. “The Templar comes.”

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To Hunt a Wolf His temporary good mood thwarted further, Cedric set aside his contemplation of his captives and ordered the youth, “Go feed that stinking dog, Owen.” “Yes, Master.” Owen hurried off to do as he was told. He did not like feeding the wolf, as Cedric well knew. Cedric watched him go as The Templar strode in, a sardonic smile upon his face. He did not look like a Templar. A long black leather coat hung open, revealing ripped jeans and a baggy white lawn shirt that was knotted at the waist. His long blond hair was a wild mass around his head and shoulders, and trinkets tinkled as he walked, talismans and lucky charms that hung from his neck and his belts. The Templar’s smile was not for Cedric, but the beauties beside him. Annoyed by that last, Cedric asked as The Templar gave a small bow, “To what do we owe the pleasure of your presence?” “Still frightening little children, Cedric?” The Templar asked, indicating the way Owen had fled. “I try. What do you want?” The Templar smiled and his gaze slid to Delilah. “Perhaps one of your pretty trophies?” “Not for sale, nor trade.” “Pity. I am sure they are worth a small fortune as a set. Alas, you will not part with them.” “Get to the point, Templar.” “I come bearing news.” “What?” “Someone is looking for you.” “Who?” “A dainty little female with blonde curly hair, a body riper than Aphrodite’s and the face of an angel,” The Templar smiled. “That only describes half of Los Angeles.” The Templar laughed. “Ah yes, but I think you know her. Goes by the name of Astarté.” Cedric’s jaw clenched and his eyes narrowed. “What does she want?” “You, apparently. What did you do to her, I wonder?” “That is none of your concern. What does she want with me?”

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu “Ah, the lady is not saying. Word on the street though is that she wants you bad, my friend. And I don’t mean in that most elemental of ways.” “What is it that you want? I doubt you came merely to gloat and bring such piffling news?” Again, The Templar’s gaze slid to Delilah and she smiled at him, damn her. Only a small smile but it was enough to grate on Cedric’s nerves. He murmured very softly, “I shall beat your brother again if you continue to provoke me, my sweet.” She turned her head and looked at him, and her green eyes sparkled with quiet rage. Then she smiled at him. There was no warmth in it, only ice. No words came from her mouth and yet he got the message loud and clear. And I will kill you. Reaching out he caught her chin in his hand and leaned close, warning, “Careful. You could replace your sister in my affections yet.” She jerked her head away and her gaze fell to the wide bracelets on her wrists, which rested on the arms of her chair. Although they were made of gold and set with fine jewels, the bracelets were still manacles that she, as a human, could not break. Cedric laughed, amused. During that little exchange, The Templar had been taking the opportunity to look more closely at Deborah. She shyly met his gaze and hastily looked down before Cedric caught her staring, but the glance was enough to intrigue him. Her dark eyes were soft, gentle, and very alluring. A man could get lost in their warm depths. He got the sense that Deborah was the more gentle-hearted of the two sisters, delicate, tender and caring. Delilah was the fighter, the high-spirited thoroughbred and spitfire. “Give me the most troublesome one,” The Templar demanded, eying Delilah once more. “Neither is on offer,” Cedric said, focusing once more on his visitor. “Then I guess you will owe me,” The Templar responded with a cunning smile.

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T If you wish to have a he scent of vampire singed his snout and he opened his eyes, although he did not move. It was one of Cedric’s minions, the youth named Owen, and he was bringing food, if Adrian’s nose and his suddenly watering mouth were not mistaken. Owen hesitated six feet away and gave Adrian a long wary look. “I brought food, dog. Aren’t you hungry?” Yes. He was starving, but he couldn’t afford to waste the energy for a growl or an attempt at biting the vampire youth like he usually tried to do. Accustomed to that particular snarling greeting, Owen wasn’t sure what to make of the lack of them this time. “You okay, dog?” he asked. Adrian answered with a low whine and remained where he was. With uncertain steps, Owen moved closer with the bowl of fresh cut meat. Usually he set it down and kicked it forward, making sure he kept out of reach of the vicious and starving animal he had been sent to feed. Realizing the wolf wasn’t up to trying to take a chunk out of him, he moved closer.

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu “You’re hurt again, huh, dog? Bad this time. I know it’s been a while since you last ate and I’m sorry about that, but the master won’t let me feed you unless he says so. If you let me come closer, I’ll clean up your wounds some.” Owen waited to see what the wolf would do, and when he made no move, Owen edged closer still, lifting a piece of meat from the bowl and warily offering it to him as he crouched down nearby. Slowly, so as not to startle Owen, Adrian turned his head and gently took the chunk of beef from the youth’s cold fingers, and lapped it into his mouth. He chewed it slowly and carefully, fearing his teeth might be coming loose. The malnutrition had been worse of late and it was starting to take a heavy toll on him. He swallowed his mouthful as Owen made himself more comfortable and offered a second piece. “There,” Owen said, daring to scratch gently around an ear while Adrian ate. It felt good, that gentle touch, but Adrian was not used to being petted and he shied away from it, giving a soft growl that made Owen draw back. “Sorry, boy. I just figured you could use a friend. I know I could. Hey, I got water for you too.” He reached for the empty water bowl and opened a bottle of water, pouring most of it into the container, and setting it beside the bowl of meat. The rest of the water he poured over the wounds along Adrian’s side. It stung and Adrian flinched, giving a little hiss and a low growl, although he resisted snapping at the boy. “Sorry, but they look nasty. I wish I could do more for you, boy.” They both knew he couldn’t. Adrian wanted to scoff down all of the food and water. He knew better than to do that; he would just throw it all up again if he did. He drank a little water then settled his head on his front paws, allowing his stomach time to digest the nourishment. If it stayed with him and his stomach did not rebel, he would eat some more in a little while. “I can’t stay too long,” Owen said quietly. “The master will get angry if I do.” He knew that and to loiter would get the boy in trouble. Cedric would punish them both. Adrian also knew that

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To Hunt a Wolf Cedric would be by to check on him after the feeding, just to be sure that his minion had not been up to any mischief. Too tired to stay awake, Adrian fell asleep before the vampire boy crept away and was awakened with a rude nudge from Cedric’s boot sometime later. “Are you sick, Dog?” Cedric asked in a bored tone. Adrian looked up at him and remained still. “You should eat up, Dog. Who knows when I will be benevolent enough to have you fed again?” Other than a deep sigh, Adrian gave no response. Cedric turned and walked away, muttering, “Try not to die, Dog. What the devil would I do for amusement?” A low growl of disgust slipped from Adrian’s throat, following Cedric out and he laughed. The vampire’s amusement echoed along the tunnel, sounding eerie. Adrian took another drink of water and ate the rest of the beef. Irritated, he scratched at his neck and grunted with pain as the movement tugged at the wound in his side and his sore ribs. His collar shifted too as the chain clinked, looser than it had ever been before and he paused, pondering that. What if he could slip free of it? How long would he have before Cedric realized that he was gone? A week? Maybe more if he was lucky. He ducked his head and tried to push his paws against the collar, trying to dislodge the band of metal that had held him prisoner for so long. Once he got a good hold of the collar, he tried to back out of it. For a few moments he struggled, fighting to pull his head free. It gave him up reluctantly. It rattled and jangled on the granite floor as it dropped and he froze, his gaze glued to the tunnel where the vampires came and went. Nothing stirred. Had they not heard that? Had it just seemed louder to him than it really had been? A minute passed and still nothing stirred to investigate the small sound. His gaze dropped to the collar and he drew back his teeth in a silent snarl of disgust and rage at it. Too bad he’d had to almost die of starvation before it came free. He probably did not have the energy to affect a true escape, but he was damn well going to try. He got to his paws and once more looked at the long tunnel where the master came and went. For a long minute,

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu he was torn. He did not want to leave without his sisters. However, he knew he could not fight for their freedom. What he had to do was get free himself, then he could get better, get strong again, find his Pack and return to rescue them. That was the smarter plan. Before he started out, he took another drink of the water, then he reluctantly limped his way to a much smaller tunnel in the rock that was hidden behind the pile of bodies. Fetid liquid ran along the bottom of the small tunnel, seeping deeper into the earth, while above the stench he smelled a hint of freedom. Sometimes he had to belly through the gore to squeeze through. Although he knew he was going deeper, there had to be another connecting chamber. The putrid flow was going somewhere. He followed it, until it spilled off a ledge into an underground pool in a large cavern. The only way to make it out of the tunnel was to leap into the water that pooled twenty feet below. Adrian wondered how badly tainted it was with the smelly flow that was trickling into it. It was either the contaminated water below or return to his prison and concede defeat. He wasn’t about to go back now. Leaping, he tried to get as much distance from the ledge as possible. The water embraced him with breath-taking coldness. It stunned him for a second as he bobbed to the surface and then swam painfully for the far edge, hoping to rinse the stink of death from his fur as best he could. He struggled out of the pool and with a wince, shook himself off. Shivering, he hunted for another way out and soon found another tunnel. There was a tiny hint of fresh air. Knowing he had to keep moving now, he followed it, numbing his mind to his pain and weariness, and the cold that caused him to shiver. The only way to keep warm was to move. And so he moved, limping along, dazed and determined not to stop until he was free. How long he traveled the tunnels he did not know, nor care. He only knew that by the time he stumbled out onto the mountainside that he was at the end of his energy and it was daylight. The light hurt his eyes and for a long time he stood in the small cave’s entrance, waiting for them to adjust as it stabbed needles into his orbs. It had been so long since he

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To Hunt a Wolf had last seen daylight. A long time. It was bright, so bright he could see nothing for a while. Slowly, he moved closer to the opening as he got used to it and peered out at the sunny day. It felt warmer out there as he took in the shrubbery and rocks on the mountainside. He smelled pine and early spring wildflowers and something acrid, exhaust. A car rumbled by on a road about fifty feet beneath him. Transportation, that was what he needed. Spying a collection of rocks to the left below, he made his weary way to them and jumped onto a rock that had another one balanced on top of it that he could hide behind. Adrian watched carefully to see what else traveled by from his vantage point about eight feet above the road. He needed a truck with a flatbed that he could hitch a ride in. He did not want to go back up that mountain, so was glad the closer side was traffic going down into the valley, and while he had no clue of where he was, he knew he could figure that out later. Right now, anywhere was better than here. At last a truck came by that suited his needs and he readied himself, leaping into the back when it passed, glad it had a wadded up tarp in the back. He landed on it, heard the driver mutter, “What the hell…” and quickly hunkered down so the man could not see him. Maybe he would think he’d just hit a pothole. Despite Adrian’s best intentions to stay awake and alert, he soon drifted off to sleep with the warmth of the sun on him and the sun-warmed tarp cradling him. He woke with a start when the truck jerked to a halt and the man got out, slamming the door. With caution, Adrian listened to the man’s footsteps as he walked away and entered a bar. He could hear the noise of TVs from within as well as men’s voices, and smell the stale beer and the pleasant aromas of food cooking. His stomach rumbled. He was hungry again. Lifting his head, he peered out from the back of the truck. It was a bar along the side of the road that led into a small busy town, if the sound of traffic going by were any indication. A wolf walking around would not exactly be inconspicuous. Maybe if he stayed where he was, people would just think

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu he was a dog. Did he dare remain or should he try and find another ride? Probably the latter. He decided to leave his cozy bed and go scouting around the back of the bar. Maybe he could find something to eat back there? Around back, at the end of the drive, he found a garage with a big truck parked in front and a raised patio deck surrounded by a wooden fence that was attached to the back of the bar. It over looked a little bit of undeveloped land. In the drive there was also a big dumpster but nothing in there smelled appealing. What did smell good was on the back patio. He crept up onto the decking and took a peek amid the tables and benches. Each table had a big colorful umbrella up, advertising different beers. A few people were there, taking in the warm afternoon. A man and woman together, snuggling close and sharing a meal of burgers and fries, two women gossiping about their nosey neighbors and what guys were hot, and a group of young men, drinking beer, laughing and gossiping as badly as the two women, only their topic of conversation was women and who put out. They had finished their meals and had set their used plates and baskets on the table and seats behind them. Easy pickings if he was careful. Adrian crept along beneath the tables and benches, then nosed at the discarded meals, finding remnants of a burger, a patty melt and some fries of interest. He stole a bit at a time and retreated under the table to eat it. The burger first; he’d forgotten how good they tasted. Just as soon as he was human again, he was going to have a whole one. Only one bite but it was delicious, then he went for the patty melt, presumably left because it was a little overdone. As he reached to snag some ketchup-covered fries, one of the men spotted him and gave a startled expletive. “What the f…! Get out of here, you damn mangy dog!” He threw an empty beer can at Adrian, who bolted. He leapt off the back of the patio and darted into the long grass, where he laid low, panting and hurting, waiting to see what would happen next. Pain radiated out from his left foreleg and he prayed he hadn’t broken it. Nothing else happened. The men went back to their beer and forgot about him. He waited a little bit longer before attempting to stand up. Testing his leg, he moved gingerly

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To Hunt a Wolf until he was certain it would hold. Maybe just a sprain, he thought, disgusted at how easily he had injured himself as he limped on his way, his stomach grumbling. The few bites of food had hardly taken the edge off of his hunger. It would have to do for now. He had to get out of this place. Another truck ride would be helpful. Maybe then he could find out where he was. Creeping back to the front of the bar, he noted that his ride was still there. Did he dare climb back in and go where ever it went, or should he find another truck? It did have that tarp where he could snuggle in and rest for a while. Using the vehicle parked next to the truck, he expended a great deal of energy jumping up into it. He pawed at the tarp and burrowed under the top edge, settling himself on the bulk of it and pulling the top piece over himself to hide. He rested and may have slept for a while, until the man came out and got in the truck. Then they were off. He was not sure how much time had passed but the sun seemed to be going down and by the way the man was driving he’d had quite a few beers when at the bar. It would soon be dark and he wondered if his absence had been noticed yet? He hoped not. The longer his escape went undetected the better.

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t was night when he woke up. The truck pulled into a dirt drive and the man belched loudly as he went into his home. From inside came the sound of raised voices as wife yelled at husband and husband yelled back, domestic bliss in the midst of the wilds. It troubled him. What if the man was an abusive drunk? What if he hit the woman? Adrian wasn’t in any condition to fight but he would have to do something if that happened. The yelling did not last long. Other noises replaced the angry voices, sounds that he knew were none of his business. Adrian heaved a sigh and his eyes closed as he drifted back to sleep for a while longer, too tired to do anything else. The hoots of an owl awakened him sometime later and he yawned. All was dark and quiet in the house now. It was time for him to move on. He still did not know where he was, but he was free. Strangely, he hurt more for the rest. Still weary, he slunk off into the woods, limping still, and found a cold stream to drink from. He was on another mountain. At least, he hoped it was a different one. His leg and his ribs hurt, and the wounds on his side, he feared, were infected, no doubt

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To Hunt a Wolf from bellying through the gore during his escape. He could still smell the scent of death on himself. At least he hoped it was from that and that it was not in fact his own death that he could smell. Catching a glimpse of the moon in a clearing, he noted it was at half phase and wondered if, come full moon, he would still be stuck in wolf form? He wondered too how old he really was. He had no way of knowing just how much time had passed since he had been captured. For a while he had tried to keep track of the full moons. He always knew when it was full moon. As time had passed however and the beating had rendered him unconscious time and again, or Cedric had shot him with a tranquillizer, he had stopped caring and had lost track. Finding it impossible to count anymore, he had ceased trying. He ambled on, having no idea where he was going or how he was going to find help. Sooner or later he would find out where he was then maybe he could find his Pack and seek help in rescuing his sisters? Hunger chewed on his belly and he sniffed around, hunting for food. A whiff of skunk made him change direction. He did not scent any other wolves nearby. There was a likely prospect, a rabbit, and a deer. No, that was too big. He was hungry but that would be wasteful. And he doubted he could bring down a deer anyway in his current condition. He would be lucky if he could take down a rabbit, he thought in disgust. Sniffing as he went, he detected fresh spore: mountain lion. Warily he continued on his way. He did not want to tangle with a mountain lion. As quickly as he could, he passed through its territory, and longed to find a place to rest. By the first inkling of dawn, he was breathing hard and knew he was getting very sick. He had a fever and his wounds were definitely infected. Thirsty, he paused at another stream to drink some of the cold water, hoping it would cool his fever as well as rehydrate him. He had hardly dipped his head to lap at the life-saving fluid when he was set upon by a coyote. The scent of his own condition was a calling card to such predators and they fought savagely, although Adrian tried not to bite his

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu attacker. Turning the coyote into a werewolf would be a very bad idea indeed. If he bit it, he would have to kill it. In the end, he had no choice. It was either kill or be killed. Adrian went for the animal’s throat and took him down. The coyote screamed and Adrian knew he had to finish it and clear the area, fast. He tore with the savage strength born of desperation. The coyote’s cry was silenced and the wolf did not crow his victory, but ran off as fast as he could with his fresh wounds. As dawn approached Adrian slowed his pace, breathing hard and running out of strength. The realization that escape had come too late haunted each painful step as he left a trail of blood that other predators would soon find of interest. The hunter would become the hunted. It seemed an ironic if apt end. His only regret was not being able to help his sisters. He stumbled more and more and finally collapsed under a huge pine. An owl hooted and looked down at him from above, then flew off home. As the sun rose a few other birds began to circle above; ravens, waiting for death to come.

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NIf you wish to have a

atalie Cash saw the ravens gathering from where she sat on her porch as she drank her morning coffee. Curious as to what it could be that had attracted them, she set aside her mug and went to look. It was probably a coyote kill, most likely a deer or other small mammal, but she needed to check just in case. It was a beautiful spring morning. The past week had been warmer than usual, and she did not need to take a coat, although she had on a cardigan and was dressed for work in smart black pants, black sneakers and a white blouse. It only took her a few minutes hiking to find the juicy morsel that the ravens were interested in. She was startled to see that it was a wolf lying there, bloodied and looking very much the worse for wear. In fact, she thought, he already appeared dead. Ravens ate carrion. They usually waited until the animal was dead so Natalie decided she should check, just in case the wolf was still alive. Hurrying to him, she knelt down beside him. He was too thin. His ribs were prominent and she did not need to put her hand on him to know it, although she did. Beneath her hand

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu she could feel that he was still alive, but his breathing was shallow and rapid. He had several injuries, she noted, and he looked like he had been in a recent fight with another animal. There was fresh blood on his coat from the new wounds courtesy of his unknown opponent. And he smelled a little rank. No wonder the ravens were interested. He would be an easy meal before too much longer. “Not if I can help it,” she murmured. Although he was an adult wolf, he was malnourished, wounded and sick. There was a bald spot on his rump, aft of the long festering wounds along his right flank. In the middle of the bald patch there was a suspicious scar. He had at some point been shot, but it was an old scar, long since healed. It must have given him some problems due to the lack of fur surrounding it. He’d clearly troubled it some for the fur not to grow back around the scar. Not only that, there was a disturbing ring around his neck that showed he had been collared and not too kindly either. The wolf had been a captive somewhere. Anger bit through her and she wondered if there were more wolves where this one had come from, held against their will. She knew she was taking a risk as she picked him up. If he woke up, he might attack her. As she lifted him, however, he did not even stir and she found him lighter than she had thought, a fact that bothered her as she carried him back down the slope to her home, not even sparing a thought for her clothes. Inside, she laid him gently in her bathtub and ran some water until it was warm, then she put in the plug and let the bath fill for several inches as she held his head up and gently bathed him clean, taking great care around his wounds so as not to hurt him further. The long gashes on his sides were nasty and she washed away what she could without making matters worse. She let out the foul fur-laden water and refilled the tub to rinse him off, then drained the tub again. With old towels, she rubbed him as dry as she could, again using care around his wounds and worrying about the amount of fur that he was losing. It made sense she supposed, since he had definitely been abused and starved, that he would suffer some fur loss. It tickled her nose and she almost sneezed as

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To Hunt a Wolf she left him lying there in the bath for a moment while she took a big fluffy towel and went to spread it on her kitchen table. After, she lifted him from the tub and carried him to the table, where she laid him on the towel. “Poor scrawny fellow,” she murmured, gently petting his head before she turned away, picked up her phone and made a call. “Hey, Jim? Yeah, it’s Natalie Cash. Listen, I need your help. I have a wounded animal here and he’s in a bad way. Can you please come out and treat him?” “What kind of animal?” “Canine,” she replied. She did not want to say outright that she had a wolf on her kitchen table. Jim would likely flip out and probably would once he saw the wolf. Inwardly she sighed at that probability but she didn’t have much choice. Jim was the local veterinarian and she needed his help. “I could probably treat him but he has some infected wounds. He’s going to need medications: antibiotics, painkillers, etc. He’s malnourished and been mistreated.” “And you want to adopt him?” Jim teased. “I don’t want to see him die. He’s pretty sick, Jim. Please.” “I don’t know. It’ll cost you. Friday night. Dinner.” Natalie sighed. Here we go. “Jim, that’s not very professional.” “Are you calling me in a professional capacity?” Hearing the slight edge in his voice she chose her words with care. “I was calling as a client with a sick animal, and as a friend, hoping you would see your way clear to coming up here and treating my pet. If you don’t want to treat him, then just say so. I’ll find someone else.” “Now don’t get all uppity. Of course I’ll treat your pet. Come on. It’s just dinner. I’m not that repulsive, am I?” “No. But…” “So come on. It’s just dinner. What’ll it hurt? I’ll even bring your little doggie a chew toy. I’ll be there in half an hour.” He hung up without getting his dinner date and Natalie sighed relief. Jim was a handsome enough man but she just was not interested in an affair with him. She had been turning him down for two years now and if it wasn’t for the fact that she was a waitress at a local restaurant and he was a regular

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu customer, they would not have much contact at all. As it was, their paths crossed often, and he had not given up on the possibility of a date and more. It might only be dinner but she knew he’d want other things, and she was not interested in giving what he wanted. Not with Jim. What the hell are you holding out for, a nasty little voice asked her? It’s not like you have all that many great prospects. “Shut up,” she muttered, annoyed with her inner critic from hell. “I have a wolf to patch up. And a call to work to make. Damn.” She’d better do that first. She would call in to work and tell them she needed the day off and likely the whole week. She had vacation time on the books and a whole lot of sick time too that she never used. It shouldn’t be a problem. Of course there would be the inevitable questions as to why and she could hardly say that she had a sick dog to take care of. When George answered her call, she croaked into the phone, “Hey George, I’m not going to be able to come in today. I think I have the flu,” she reported, coughing for effect and wincing inwardly at the lie. She hoped that the fact that she was helping a sick and wounded wolf would help balance that old karma wheel out. She didn’t like lying but knew if she breathed the word “wolf,” the authorities would dictate that he be put down, a fact she vehemently opposed, or be sent to a wolf sanctuary. She did not think he would survive the latter either. He would need constant care and close attention at the moment. In a sanctuary he would be well cared for, but there was the trip to be made and she did not think he would survive that. And once there, there were other wolves that needed care and attention too. Her wolf needed undivided care and attention, and Natalie intended that he should have it. Thankfully George told her not to worry and to rest up. “If you need anything, you call me, okay?” “Thank you, George. I will,” she snuffled into the phone before hanging up. “I’m going to hell,” she murmured before she turned her attention to the wolf’s needs. With the antiseptic and some cotton gauze pads, she began to clean the wolf’s wounds, starting with the new ones first.

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To Hunt a Wolf Then she moved on to the infected ones. The flesh around the long cuts was swollen and the wounds had puss. She wet a clean hand towel with warm water and laid it over the animal’s wounded side. Those cuts were straight and widespread, wider even that a mountain lion’s claws. A bear, perhaps, she wondered? What else could have made such razor sharp parallel cuts? And yet the spread still seemed too wide and the cuts too clean-edged. Had someone pinned him down and made each cut individually? The thought made her shudder. Surely that could not be the case? The cuts were too much alike, as if that had been made by one hand at the same time, for they were all the same length and depth. “Poor baby,” she whispered. “Don’t you worry, Wolfie boy. I’m going to take good care of you.” She stroked tender fingers between his eyes and ran them up his forehead, around his ear, then down to his neck. He didn’t even stir. Her attention was drawn once more to the ring of naked flesh where a collar had been on his neck and she examined it more closely. It had abraded him badly to erase the circle of fur completely there. No dog liked to be chained, let alone a wolf. She suspected he had pulled against his bonds a lot. Moving on, her hand returned to the towel on his side and she gently pressed it against the festering wounds, then removed it, taking a layer of ooze with it. She rinsed it out with hot water thoroughly before reapplying it, taking care to let it cool a bit so she did not add to his injuries before pressing its warm wetness into the wounds once more. The wolf gave a low pine and she stopped, looking at his face. There was a little frown between his still closed eyes. Was he awake or was he in that much pain that it reached down deep enough to trouble him in his unconscious state? “Sshhh,” she spoke to him in a soothing tone. “It’s okay, boy. You’re safe now. I’m going to take care of you.” She tenderly rubbed around his ear and along his jaw again. His eyes rolled open, glazed and dazed. He looked at her as she leaned over him, but other than that, he made no effort to move, then his eyes slid shut against his will and his breath soughed out as if it were too much effort to breathe. “You’re going to hang in there, right, Wolfie boy? The vet is coming and he’ll have you fixed up in no time. And if I

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu ever find out what cruel master did this to you… I’ll see them incarcerated for a very long time, I promise.” He flinched at that and his lip lifted in an attempt at a snarl. A low sound rumbled in his throat, no less threatening for its soft pitch. Was it the mention of his master, Natalie wondered, that made him snarl or just the pain at her touch on his ribs and the awareness that a human hovered close? He would undoubtedly be twice as wary of all humans now that he had been so badly treated by one. Natalie did not blame him, although it might prove problematic to her caretaking of him. She hoped by the time he was strong enough to object to her, he would have become used to her and she could prove that she meant him no harm. “I won’t hurt you,” she promised him. “I’m Natalie and I’m going to take care of you, okay? You’ll be a good boy and let me do that, won’t you? I don’t want Jim getting any ideas that you need to go to a sanctuary. I want you to stay here with me and I promise you, we’ll get you well again. Now, let’s have another look at these nasty wounds on your side, shall we? This may hurt a bit, but you won’t bite me, right?” Gently she laid her hand on the towel and pressed cautiously and repeatedly along the length of the wounds, then lifted the towel off, taking more of the puss with it. The wolf made no protest, nor even a sound. Natalie rinsed the towel again and returned it, warm and clean to his side, pressing with tender caution. “There. We’re cleaning the puss out of there, baby. I only wish I had found you sooner.” The sound of a truck pulling into the drive and parking next to hers announced the arrival of Jim. A quick two-rap of his knuckles on the kitchen door, and then he was breezing in, medical bag in hand. In his late thirties and handsome in a beach-bum kind of way, Jim had sandy colored hair and blue eyes, and wore a self-assured grin, a man confident of his welcome. “Morning, Gorgeous,” he grinned, holding up a squeaky chew toy in the shape of a bone, then his gaze dropped to the little pet on the table and his smile crashed. “You said dog.” “I said canine.”

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To Hunt a Wolf He pointed to the animal on her table with the squeaky bone. “That’s a wolf.” “I know what he is. He’s badly hurt. Please, Jim, don’t be awkward about this.” He sighed and stepped in, closing the door behind him. “He should be sent to the nearest sanctuary.” “He’s hurt badly. He’ll never survive the trip.” “Then maybe I should just put him out of his misery?” “No. We fix him.” “Natalie…” “We try.” “It’s illegal to take a wolf out of the wild,” Jim pointed out. “No one will know but us. Jim, please. Help me out here. I’m not going to keep him against his will. Just get him well again and then he can go on his way.” Seeing she was adamant about it and that he was not going to change her mind, he set his bag on the table and asked, “What do we have?” “He’s got fresh wounds, looks like from a tangle with a coyote or another dog. And he’s got some older festering wounds, but I’m not sure from what,” she reported, lifting the moist towel to show Jim. “I’ve been trying to sop up the puss with warm presses.” “Okay, what else?” “He’s been chained and abused.” She showed him the bald ring around the wolf’s neck. “Malnourished as you can see. He’s nothing but bones. And I think he may have some rib damage. He seems tender here.” Natalie stroked her fingers over the area on the wolf’s ribcage where he had flinched earlier. “And at some point he has been shot. It’s healed but there’s a bald spot around it. Could be the bullet is still in there.” “Well, if it is healed and old, I am not messing with it at the moment. Let’s just get him patched up for the open wounds and treated for the current conditions, shall we? We’ll deal with anything else later, if he survives.” Jim gave her a direct look. “Are you sure you want to do this?” “Yes.” “You have to have a special permit to have a wolf.” “No time.”

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu “You could go to jail.” “Only if you tell on me,” she challenged back. “I’m not going to tell on you, but it will cost you dinner, damn it. No arguments.” “Fine.” “Easy. Only took two years and a wounded wolf,” he complained. “But not until he’s well enough to be left alone,” Natalie cautioned. “Oh, of course.” Jim pulled on some rubber gloves and began an extensive examination of the wolf, who flinched and gave the occasional half-hearted snarl at the vet’s probing, while Natalie gently held an arm around his neck and talked soothingly to him to entire time. “Okay,” Jim said, “I’m going to put him on an IV for starters, get some fluids into him, and I’m going to sedate him. After that, I’ll give him some anesthetic and I’ll clean his wounds and patch him up, bind his ribs—he has two broken ones. And I’ll start him on some antibiotics for the infection.” He dug in his bag and began to pull out the paraphernalia that he would need to set up the IV. He hung the pack from the sturdy wrought iron light fixture that was suspended over the table and then hunted for a good vein along the wolf’s forelegs. Not finding one suitable, he said, “I’m going in the jugular; he’s pretty dehydrated.” “You can do that?” “Of course I can do that. Isn’t this why you called me?” “I’m sorry. It’s just… that seems so extreme.” “He’s in a bad way, as you said. You realize there is a good chance that he might not make it?” “He’ll make it. He has to.” Natalie stroked the wolf on the head. “You hear me, boy. You’re going to make it, right?” The wolf didn’t answer and Jim went quickly to work, placing the IV and getting fluids running into the wounded animal, then he pushed the drugs to sedate the wolf though the drug port in the IV’s tubing. He also started the wolf on a course of intravenous antibiotics. Next was the anesthesia to knock the wolf out so that he would not move during the procedures that Jim would have to perform.

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To Hunt a Wolf The festering wounds were flushed and the decaying matter was snipped away. The nasty gashes were thoroughly cleaned out and irrigated before Jim sewed them closed. After he treated the rest of the wounds, he also started the wolf on a series of rabies shots, just in case. With the coyote bites, it was a possibility that needed to be addressed. Jim did not think the long parallel wounds along the wolf’s flank had been made by another animal but perhaps by some kind of tool. The wolf’s ribs were tended too and bound firmly. “I should neuter him while I’m at it,” Jim said. “Don’t you dare,” Natalie said, making fresh coffee as Jim finished up. “You might reconsider once he gets better and starts marking his territory.” “I’ll cross that bridge when it’s necessary. Aren’t you going to bandage those?” she asked of the long gashes and other cuts he’d sewn up as he brought the wolf out of the suppressed anesthetic state. “Better to leave them uncovered for now—if the infection doesn’t clear up and they fester again, you’ll know it sooner. Try to keep them dry. I’ll keep him sedated for now so he doesn’t mess with them, but I’ll leave you a cone for him when he’s up and about, so he doesn’t get to licking and biting them.” “He won’t like that.” “Like it or not, it’s better to put it on him than have him tear out his stitches.” “I know. How will you bill me for this?” she asked as he washed up at the sink. “Good question. How about I write lover boy here up as a German Shepherd/wolf dog mix? You can get away with that lie as long as he’s under a certain percentage of wolf, let’s say 75% to be safe. He’s a little bigger but probably weighs in less than that at the moment.” Jim wiped his hands dry on a clean towel and turned to smile at her. “Of course, I could keep it off the books altogether.” “How?” she asked, turning with two cups of coffee in hand. His look said it all as his gaze swept over her. If she allowed him certain liberties, he’d let other things slide. He did not have to say it.

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu Natalie swallowed hard. Sex. He wanted sex in return for keeping his silence on the wolf. Could she do that? “I don…” “Think about it,” he suggested slyly, cutting her off, taking his cup of coffee from her and sipping in appreciation. “I’ll drop by tonight and check on the patient here.” He set his coffee on the counter and stole hers, setting it beside his. A hand slid to her waist and he gently tipped her head up as he pressed her back against the counter and rubbed against her, letting her feel his desire for her. “We’ve been playing this game too long, Natalie. It’s time to up the stakes.” He kissed her with tender passion meant to inflame and demanded a response from her. And he got it. She kissed him back. Natalie was shocked at her lack of resistance. Worse, she felt her body respond in a needy fashion, reminding her of just how long it had gone without the loving touch of a man. But this wasn’t love. It was lust and desire. She did not love Jim. And she was sure it was not love for him either. He was just interested in her because she had resisted his charms for so long. As he cupped her bottom and pulled her harder against him, he pushed his need against her and latched his hand on her breast. Natalie knew it was time to stop him or they would end up in a heap on her kitchen floor and going at it like a pair of rabbits. She tore her mouth from his and pressed her hands against his shoulders. “Stop, Jim!” “Why? You want it as much as I do.” He tried to recapture her mouth but she resisted his attempt, so he latched onto her throat trying to give her a whopping love bite, at which she squealed and struggled. “Jim! Stop! Don’t make me kick you in the nads!” He pulled back and looked at her flushed and angry face. “Oh come on, babe. You’re hot for it.” “Not yet.” “What does that mean?” “I’ll think about it, but don’t try and force me.” “You’re hot for it,” he repeated. “Yes. So don’t push me. We both know it’s not love. Just sex. As soon as you’ve got what you want, you’ll be off and on to someone else.” He opened his mouth to protest.

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To Hunt a Wolf “Don’t lie, Jim. I’m not stupid. Sex. Fine. But on my terms. If it’s payment you want, it’s payment you’ll get. Bring protection.” She pushed him away then and went to check on the wolf. “Wow,” Jim said after a minute. “What if you’re wrong? What if I want more than sex?” “Oh please. Don’t kid yourself. You’re a horn dog. I’m just a bitch you haven’t had yet. One that’s not had it in a long time. So yes, I’m hot for it. But let’s make it clear. Payment for services rendered. Let’s just get it out of the way tonight and be done, shall we?” “Fine,” he said, grabbing her hips from behind. He rubbed his erection against her. “I’ll bring the protection. And be wearing this uniform. It turns me on. Your cute little tight ass in these tight pants; I just want to peel them down right now and do you doggie style against this table. The only thing that would be better than these is one of those little French Maid uniforms, you know? You got one of those?” “No. Let me go,” she said. “You push for it now, you’ll lose.” “You resist and I’ll turn you in,” he threatened back softly. They both stilled and waited. In the end, Jim stepped back and let her go. “Tonight, then. I’m bringing a whole box,” he told her as he collected his bag and headed for the door. Listening to his truck roar down the drive, Natalie sighed. “And that’s another fine mess you’ve gotten me into, Stanley,” she quoted with a sigh, standing up. She looked at the wolf on her table, now swathed in white bindings and dressings in strategic locations depending on the nature of the wounds he had. “How am I going to get out of this one, Wolfie, boy?” Wolfie boy did not have an answer.

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hroughout the day, Natalie kept a close eye on the wolf. He slept on in peace and she was glad of that. Whatever Jim had given him, it was doing its job, allowing the wolf to sleep without pain to trouble his healing process. Nevertheless, she talked to the animal in the hopes that he would become familiar with her voice and perhaps more accustomed to it. It was late afternoon when he finally rolled open an eye and looked at her. “Well, hello there, Wolfie boy,” she smiled at him. “Did you have a nice nap? I sure hope so. Now, I don’t want you to try and move. You just lay there and rest. Jim will be here soon and I am sure he will give you another dose of that great medicine that helps you sleep. He fixed you up and you’re doing good. It’s going to take a little while though for you to heal, so no trying to get up and no running around, okay?” Of course, he did not answer her, but blinked sleepily, still affected by the drugs. “Now, I don’t want you to worry about what you might hear tonight. Seems I have made a devil’s bargain and I don’t

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To Hunt a Wolf know how to get out of it, so no listening, okay? Who knows, maybe it will be good for me?” He frowned at her, as if trying to make sense of her words. “Don’t worry. It’ll be okay.” She stroked at his little frown and he soon drifted back to sleep. “I hope,” she added quietly. Nerves had had her stomach in knots all day. How could she hold Jim off? Maybe she could lie and plead her period? He’d never buy it. And what if he called her bluff? Oh damn, this was what she got for lying about the wolf and claiming she was sick in the first place. So much for balancing the karma wheel, she snorted. When she heard his truck creeping up the drive, she felt her knees go weak and her stomach double clutch. “Oh damn,” she grumbled. She did not feel in the mood for sex, despite her body’s sinful sudden craving for it. “Oh shut up,” she told her already melting for it body. “You just keep out of it. Yes, yes, I know he’s handsome and you haven’t had any in ages, but I do have some principles, you know. I want it to be with someone I care for. Someone special. Not any old hound dog who has the goods to blackmail me for it to keep his silence. What if I bop him on the head and tie him up in the cellar? Do you think anyone would miss him? “Of course they would, stupid. So what are you going to do? Play for time? Make him wait and beg for it? Yeah, that’s a plan.” She shut up as she heard his truck door close. “Here we go.” She took a steadying breath as she listened to his boots on the steps. He did not knock this time, just stepped in as if he owned the place and her already, his medical bag in one hand and a brown paper bag in the other. A whole box he had threatened. Natalie swallowed hard and tried to smile, although she was aware the best she achieved was a grimace. His own smile was brittle. “So,” he said. “Here we are.” “Yes. Here we are.” Dutifully she had remained in uniform as he had asked, although she had changed into a clean one that did not have wolf’s blood and clumps of fur all over it. Jim’s gaze slid all over her, mentally peeling it from her. “He woke up this afternoon,” she offered, trying to distract

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu him. “Just for a little while. He soon went back to sleep.” She stroked the wolf’s head. “I’ll check him later,” Jim said, settling his medical bag on the table. The paper bag he kept in his hand as he reached for her and pulled her closer. “I have other business with you first and I won’t be put off. I’m claiming right now and up front, that every visit the wolf gets from me, you get as well. Fair’s fair, after all.” “Um,” she said, trying to stall for time. While it might sound fair, she didn’t think it was. He was blackmailing her into having sex with him and what could she do to stop it? Nothing except allow the wolf to be taken away. She didn’t want that. Why? She wasn’t sure. So, she’d rather have sex with the vet than give up the wounded wolf? That was stupid. She did not want sex with Jim. Her body might, but her mind rebelled at the thought. Jim was already kissing her throat and licking at the partial love bite he’d given her earlier, rubbing his body against hers as he pressed her back against the table. “Not here, Jim,” she protested, squirming to try and get away from him. “Afraid the wolf will see and get jealous?” “No. Afraid we might hurt him accidentally.” Jim sighed heavily and stood back enough to give her a look. “Then let’s take it to the bedroom.” “And leave him unattended?” “Stop stalling for time. You’re not getting out of this. There’s always the couch there,” he said, pointing to the old lumpy couch across the room where she sometimes read while cooking dinner. “Don’t you want me to want you, just a little bit?” “You’ll want me by the time I’m finished with you,” he replied with a grin that promised she would want more. “Your body already does. Stop fighting it, Natalie.” “Can’t we wait until he’s better?” “No. Either you come make love with me now or I go report you. Those are your choices. What are you going to do?” “Wow, no dinner? Cut right to the chase.” “Yes. I’m desperate. And you’re the only thing on the menu I want.”

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To Hunt a Wolf Left with no choice, Natalie reluctantly led him to her bedroom and purposefully did not turn on the light even though the sun was going down and dappled shadows danced on the window and the sunflower curtains that framed it. He took out the box of condoms and a small bottle of lube and set them on the bedside table under the lamp, ready. He tossed the bag in the wicker basket and opened the box, spilling out a few condoms, suggesting he was likely to spend the night and maybe use a lot of those protective little rubbers. Natalie bit her lip and waited. He was in charge here so she waited for his next move. Jim looked at her standing there and sighed. “You’re not going to give in gracefully are you?” “I don’t see why I should. You’re forcing me and I don’t like it.” “It’s a trade off.” “It’s blackmail, Jim.” “Fuck!” he swore, and marched out of the room. Relief washed through Natalie. Maybe she had just gained some breathing room. Half afraid that he would return as fast as he’d walked out, she hurried to find him in the kitchen, looking at the wolf’s wounds. “How is he?” she asked when she dared to speak. “Fine.” “Jim.” “What?” “I’m sorry.” “Forget about it.” “So, how much do I owe you for the visit?” He gave her a glare and muttered, “Don’t say anything else.” “But…” “Shut up, Natalie.” She shut up and watched him as he went about checking the wolf’s wounds and changing the IV pack. Another shot of sedatives and more medicines were administered, the drip rate changed, slowed now that the poor animal had some decent fluids back in his system. “He should sleep through the night.” “Thanks.”

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu “Well, I’ll check back in the morning.” He took his bag and headed for the door, clearly angry. “Jim.” He stopped at the threshold, the door open and in hand, and glanced over his shoulder at her. “Thank you.” “Yeah,” he muttered, and left. Natalie pulled out a chair and sat down as he drove away. Relief made her weak in the knees. Unfortunately, while she felt relief, her body only felt frustration, having been aroused to the possibility of sex, it was humming for it and now the prospect had left. “Oh shut up, Ginny,” she muttered. After all, if men could name their penises, then she could name her vagina “Ginny,” couldn’t she? Sure, why not? Would Jim turn her in though, now that she had successfully turned him off? That would worry her all night. Her stomach rumbled and she fixed herself a sandwich as she thought about it. It was a valid worry but she didn’t think that he would despite his threat to do so. He would then have to explain why he hadn’t reported it sooner and had treated the animal no less. Hoping she was right about that much, she made herself a bed on the old couch that lined the wall between kitchen and living room. She wanted to be handy if the wolf woke up in the night. If she slept in her bed, she feared that she would not hear him if he needed her. Taking off her no nonsense work uniform, she pulled on a pair of wooly socks and an oversized t-shirt that had a teddy bear on the front and “Sleepy Time Snuggles” emblazoned on a ribbon of pink across her breasts. She checked on the wolf, decided to leave the light on under the hood of the range, and turned in early. At midnight, she woke up to an owl hooting outside in the pine tree off the kitchen porch and got up to check on the wolf, silently thanking the owl for the timely reminder. He was still sleeping peacefully so she crawled back into her makeshift bed and went back to sleep. When she woke up in the morning, Natalie knew she had had strange dreams. Something dark and dangerous had shifted through her subconscious and she could not place it.

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To Hunt a Wolf Was it the wolf’s master, she wondered, or Jim? Whatever it was, it had been ominous. “Just a dream,” she muttered to herself. Getting up, she checked on the wolf again then went and took a quick shower, dressing in jeans and a plain white tshirt. Since she did not plan on going anywhere, she pulled on her sneakers and went through to the kitchen to brew some coffee. Ordinarily, she would have taken her coffee outside. This morning she sat at the kitchen table and was there when the wolf opened his eyes. “Well, hello, sleepy head. How are you feeling this morning?” He just blinked those big brown eyes at her.

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drian stared at the woman for some time, unable to comprehend where he was or what was going on. Slowly, uncertainty crept in as to whether the woman was friend or foe. There was someone that he was afraid of, who would be looking for him. Worry brought focus and finally he became aware of other things. He was not in his prison. He had escaped that. The woman seemed to be a friend, but he could not afford to trust her yet. A variety of smells met his senses. There was the acrid stink of antiseptics overlaid with the aromatic scent of coffee that he recalled from his youth, and a light fresh scent that he could not place although he knew it belonged to the woman. Her long light brown hair was pulled back into a ponytail that swung from her crown when she moved her head. She had green eyes, reminding him of Delilah. He frowned, wondering if his sisters were all right, wondering if he had been missed yet. Cedric would be furious when he found out. The woman stroked her fingers lightly between his eyes and up over his forehead and he sighed his pleasure at her touch, especially when she lightly rubbed his ear. Such ten-

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To Hunt a Wolf derness lived only in his most distant memories. It surprised him. He was tired still. Why was he so tired? He tried to lift his head, to follow her fingers when she pulled her hand away, but he hurt when he tried to move and grumbled his annoyance that he felt so weak. “Rest easy, Wolfie boy,” the woman said, returning her hand to pet him some more. “You’ve been very sick and you’re hurt pretty bad.” Yes, that was true. He did hurt bad. A rumbling noise from outside grew louder. He belatedly recognized the sound as a vehicle, the memory driving in slowly from the past. A truck. It was a truck. Hadn’t he ridden in a truck during his escape? He flinched at the bang of the vehicle’s door. “Shhh, it’s just Jim. He’s a vet and he’s coming to check on you. And I hope, only you,” she added rather troublingly. Something disturbed him about that. She did not seem all that comfortable with the vet’s arrival. The man let himself in and glared at the woman for a moment, looking sullen and out of sorts. “He’s awake,” she said. “I can see that.” “Coffee?” she tried, trying not to sound as terse as he did, although Adrian felt the currents of hesitancy and anger between them. “Yeah,” Jim relented somewhat grudgingly to the offer. “How was he overnight?” he asked as he approached the table with his bag. The woman moved to the coffee pot and poured Jim a cup as she answered. “He slept through. I checked on him around midnight. He only came to a little while ago.” She handed Jim his cup of coffee. “Well, he seems more alert, which is a good sign. You’ll have to be careful around him, you know that, right?” “I know that. Even if he hadn’t been abused, I’d know that.” “Good. The last thing I need is for you to be hurt by this folly.” “I won’t be hurt,” she assured him. “We have an understanding, don’t we, Wolfie boy? I won’t bite him if he doesn’t bite me.”

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu Jim gave a mild snort and sipped at his coffee. “Right. Remember that when your arm is elbow deep in his jaws.” Adrian decided that he did not like the man named Jim very much, although he knew he needed the vet’s help right now. He bit back his initial dislike and mistrust, and lay still as the man checked his wounds, cleaning them up, and then checked his IV, which startled him. He had not realized that it was there until then. His gaze went up as he watched warily what the vet was doing. Then as if sensing his troubled thoughts, the woman distracted him by petting his head and he sighed, liking that too much, settling his aching head back to the table. His tail gave a solitary thump on the towelcovered wooden surface. The woman smiled at him, pleased that he wasn’t acting aggressive. “Good boy,” she murmured. “Okay, well he should be good on the IV until this evening. I’ll give him another dose of drugs, keep him sedated so you don’t have to worry about him moving around too much too soon. It’s probably best to keep him sedated for a few more days.” “What about feeding him and all that? If he’s sedated…?” “All the liquids he wants when he’s awake. I’m not going to give him anything too heavy medication-wise during the day. At night, I’ll give him a little extra, so you can sleep more easily. As for feeding, right now, we’d best wait another day. Just to make sure the fever is under control and that the infection is on its way out. Tomorrow we’ll ease up on the day time sedation and see how he fairs. Once we do that, we’ll have to move him to the floor and take out his IV.” “Of course. We don’t need him trying to leap down off the table.” “Once he’s eating again, I’ll give you some pills for him. He’ll probably resist them so you’ll have to hide them in his treats.” What did they think he was, a damn dog, Adrian huffed with disgust? Of course they did. “And he’ll have to wear this.” He produced a plastic cone and unfastened it, laying it on the table. “We don’t want him tearing out his stitches, do we?”

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To Hunt a Wolf “No. We don’t. He won’t like it but I’ll make sure he wears it.” “Now, have you reconsidered our deal?” the vet asked the woman. “Jim, I thought we settled this yesterday. I think you’d better bill me, don’t you?” “For your flu epidemic, you mean?” Her face flushed. “Oh, you know about that then?” “Word gets around, Natalie.” “You didn’t say anything, did you?” “Now why would I? You’re lying about your reasons for taking sick leave to nursemaid a wolf.” “And you didn’t say anything about the wolf?” “I was hoping to salvage something from this situation.” “Jim. If you did tell, wouldn’t you have to explain why you treated him and did not report it in the first place?” she dared to ask him. He gave her a glare in response, Adrian noted. The more he was hearing, the less he was liking. “I don’t want to see you in trouble with the law, Natalie.” “Thank you,” she sounded relieved. “But,” he added nastily, “my benevolence only extends so far.” “So does mine, Jim.” They glared at one another then and Adrian gave a whine to try and break the deadlock. He was not sure of the undercurrents but he knew he did not like them. The vet was trying to get something from Natalie that she obviously did not want to give. If only he could think straight, he might be able to figure out what it was. Jim softened then and reached out, caressing her face. “Let me have what I want and everything will be okay.” “No, it won’t, Jim. I won’t be used that way.” “You’re using me.” “Your services are for sale,” she snapped, pulling away. “Mine are not!” Adrian lifted his head and watched them both closely. The vet was very angry with Natalie, he could tell by the tension in the man’s body and the acrid smell that came off of him. Natalie was angry too and she was a little afraid of the vet,

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu Adrian noted, detecting it in her scent. This did nothing to improve his opinion of the man. When Jim took a step toward her, Adrian growled soft and low, a reminder that he was there and that he would not tolerate a move against Natalie, no matter how weak he was. They both looked at him with surprise. “Seems you have a champion,” Jim muttered. “I hope he doesn’t turn on you. I’ll be back this evening.” He took his bag and left. Natalie watched him go, then let out a heavy sigh of relief as she looked at Adrian. “Thank you, Wolfie boy. I’m going to have to come up with a name for you, aren’t I?” Yes, he supposed so, for he could not exactly tell her his name, could he? Hers was Natalie and the vet’s was Jim. He did not like Jim. The vet carried a posture of threat about him that Adrian recognized. While he was not sure exactly what Jim wanted from Natalie, it was clear that she did not want to give it. She wasn’t for sale. Just like his sisters were not for sale. It dawned on him that Jim was trying to coerce sex from her. Adrian was not well versed in the means and practices of sex, since he had been captured when still quite young, before he had even explored such particulars himself. That didn’t mean he did not know of it. Of course he did. He just had never experienced it himself, having been cautioned and warned about the dangers of casual sex and the exacting strictures of mating, he had been too well chaperoned to even experiment. No matter where he and his siblings went, security was there with them, until that fateful day when he, Deborah and Delilah had been kidnapped. It was a surprise when at fifteen, his accompanying escort had been viciously attacked, and he and his siblings had all been taken prisoner, except for thirteen year-old Adam, who had somehow escaped. Adam had died an even more ignoble death more recently. He had been poisoned. A mournful sound rumbled in Adrian’s throat at the reminder that his little brother was dead and he would never see him again. Adrian had no way of knowing just how much time had passed. He knew he was an adult male, but how old he was, he was not sure. He had been held captive a long time. Sex was something he had never really thought about since he’d

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To Hunt a Wolf been taken captive. Now it made him curious and with a little start of shock, he realized his own unwitting party to the deal. Jim wanted Natalie to give him sex in payment for his services, in other words, for treating Adrian. That was not right. Adrian might not be wise in the ways of the world, in the ways of men and women in particular, but he knew that was not right. Natalie, he realized, was watching him carefully and he lifted his sleepy gaze to meet hers. “Doing okay, big fella?” she asked, scratching him under his chin and giving him a smile. He flicked out his tongue and licked her wrist. She tasted unlike anyone he’d ever tasted before and a little ripple of excitement coursed through him. Her skin was soft and silky to the touch. He liked it too when she rubbed her fingers through his fur, especially when she scratched him lightly around the ear or under the chin. His hackles lifted slightly, not just on his scruff but along the length of his spine and his tail as well. Her hand stilled in his fur and she hesitated, asking him, “Are you mad at me, Wolfie? You don’t like that?” Yes, he liked that and he did not want her to stop. With a frustrated little grunt, he licked her wrist again and nudged his head deeper into her hand, indicating he wanted her to continue. “So that means you like it?” Adrian made an agreeable sound and let his tongue loll out as he closed his eyes with pleasure. “Oh, I am going to have to do some research on you, aren’t I?” He made another happy contented sound and laid his head on his paws, enjoying her continued attentions until he drifted back to sleep.

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hile the wolf slept, Natalie fired up her laptop computer and looked up wolves and their behavior. There was a surprising wealth of information that she had to wade through to find out what she needed to know. It was called piloerection. It meant the fur stood up. It could signify anything from excitement to aggression, even sexual arousal, she was surprised to discover, and did indeed rise from head to tail in varying degrees. The greater the extent of the piloerection, the more the animal was aroused, whether it was sexually or aggressively, and she discovered sometimes both at the same time. Wolves were quite dominant. She had already known that there were different castes within the wolf pack. There was the Alpha Male and the Alpha Female, as well as lower ranking members. All were submissive to the Alpha. It was more complex than she had thought. There was a definite pecking order. She wondered if her wolf was a Lone Wolf? She really had to give him a name, she decided. She couldn’t keep calling him Wolfie. Killer? No, that would not do. Duke? No. It didn’t seem to fit him. That was what you

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To Hunt a Wolf called a Golden Retriever. Buster. Nope, that was more for a Bulldog. Prince? Nah. Zeus? Maybe. She pondered that the rest of the afternoon as she read more about wolves, finding some of the ways they communicated with each other eerily similar to the ways humans communicated. If you stripped man of his civilized veneer, he would likely be on a par with the wolf, if not below it, she decided. Their communications were complex and varied. It was not just barks and growls. In fact, barks were not exactly their most common form of expression. They communicated a lot visually with body language, and piloerected fur was a part of that, signaling arousal in one form or another, usually an aggressive response to some threat or a warning to others, making the wolf appear larger. So was her wolf feeling aggressive when she rubbed him, or was he feeling sexually aroused? She did not think it was either of those. Maybe he was just happy for the kinder touch, for it was obvious that he had suffered greatly at the hands of his former master. Absorbed in her research, reading about their extraordinary mating habits, she did not realize that the wolf was awake, watching her as she worked on her laptop on the old couch. Nor did she hear Jim pull up outside. When he stalked in the door, she jumped with a startled gasp and almost dumped her laptop on the floor. “Oh my God, Jim, you scared me!” “Surfing for porn?” he grinned. “Don’t be disgusting.” She closed the laptop and set it aside as she got up. “Something had you engrossed.” “Research.” “Right.” “On wolf care.” She smiled at the wolf and leaned over him, giving him a scratch and a kiss on the head. “You should have told me you were awake,” she murmured. Jim pressed against her from behind, clamping his hands on her hips. She straightened with a gasp and tried to brush him off, but he only took it as encouragement, nuzzling her neck and licking her ear. “Mnn, and their mating habits no doubt? Turn you on, did it? The way the female locks her

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu mate in, so he can’t get free. I bet a lot of women wish they could do that. Lock it in tight.” He rubbed his erection against her. “Keep her mate to herself. Ensure fidelity. And multiple orgasms. You’d like that, I’m sure. I know I would.” “Stop it and let me go.” “I don’t want to let you go.” “Jim, we’ve been over this. I said no. Now let me go.” “No.” He bit her ear lightly. “I want you. Stop fighting it. You know you want it too.” “I don’t.” “Liar.” He spun her around and kissed her hard. Natalie struggled against him, trying to push him away and tear her mouth from his. She was startled when he released her mouth and loosened his grip with an oath that singed her ears. Behind her, the wolf snarled low and dangerously, and she felt his hot breath through her t-shirt at her back, where Jim’s arm was latched. “Let me go,” she repeated. Jim did so and she slid away from him, turning to see the wolf had a firm grip on Jim’s forearm. His face was puckered up, lips drawn back, teeth bared, the flesh over his nose rumpled in waves of aggression, and his scruff was piloerected, the fur standing on end extending partway down his back. There was ire in his dark eyes. The wolf was definitely pissed off. “Tell him to let go,” Jim ordered. “Only if you promise to never do that again.” He swore a filthy oath and the wolf gave another snarl deep in his throat along with a little tug, a warning perhaps to do as Natalie had asked. Jim hastily added, “All right. Let go!” “Zeus, let go.” Obediently the wolf let go and Jim inspected his forearm, glaring at them both. There were deep dents in his flesh from the wolf’s teeth, although the skin had not been broken. “Looks like it was only a warning,” Natalie said, patting the wolf’s back gently. “Good boy, Zeus.” “He does it again, and I’ll put him down.” “Fine. Get out. Don’t come back. Bill me for your services, you egotistical jerk.”

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To Hunt a Wolf “Whatever,” he muttered. “You need to bring him in for the rest of his rabies shots. Don’t forget. If he lives that long, that is.” Furious, Jim left, slamming the kitchen door behind him. “Looks like I fired your doctor, Zeus,” Natalie sighed as Jim gunned the engine of his truck and roared off down the drive, kicking up a cloud of dust. “I’m sorry. Looks like you’re down to me taking care of you and no more sedatives. But thank you, baby, for sticking up for me and protecting me. You’re a good boy.” She bent and kissed him on the head and he licked her face, making her smile. “I love you too. Let’s change your dressings. Then I’ll try and make you a protein shake or something, okay? You must be hungry.” She checked his wounds and cautioned him to stay still before she turned away to fix him something to eat. Lugging out the food processor, she blended some raw chopped stewing beef with a can of beef stock. She poured the resultant liquid into a bowl and set it before him on the table. “It’s not exactly 5-star cuisine, but it’s better than nothing, right?” Starving, he did not care what it tasted like. He lapped it up until it was gone, then he licked his lips and sighed. “Feel better?” Natalie asked with a smile. Yes, he did. Without his stomach gnawing a hole in his middle he felt content for a while and settled his head down on his paws once more as she went about making herself a sandwich for her dinner. After she had eaten, she returned to his side and turned the valve off on the IV. The bag was about empty. Gently she undid the dressings that secured the small tube in his neck and withdrew it, holding an alcohol dampened cotton ball over the small wound, applying pressure until she was sure it had stopped bleeding. Adrian licked her other hand. “Sshhh, it’s okay now. We don’t need that mean old vet anymore anyway, right, Zeus?” No. He did not like the way Jim treated Natalie at all. It was worse than disrespectful. It was abusive. And he had wanted to take a chunk out of the man’s flesh. While he had bitten Jim, he had taken extreme care not to cut him and infect him with his werewolf genes. It wouldn’t do to give such power to an unscrupulous man like that.

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu Natalie lifted the plastic cone and gently wrapped it around his neck. He shook his head and whined, twisting to escape it. “Easy there, Zeus. It’s okay. It’s just to stop you bothering your wounds now. Be a good boy and let me put it on you.” No, he couldn’t stand that. No way was he letting her put that thing on him. He struggled against her doing so and in the end, she gave up, afraid he would be hurt. “Okay. All right. It stays off for now, but no nibbling or licking your wounds.” She sighed and set the cone aside on the table. He looked at her. Okay, so he could do that, right? Leave his wounds alone? Sure he could. Natalie went to and opened the kitchen door, then returned to his side. “I’m going to take you outside for a little while, just in case. You probably have to pee, right?” She gently lifted him in her arms and although it hurt, he did not complain. He did, he realized, have to pee. How had she known? She set him down under the big pine tree not far from the steps and he looked up at her. “Go ahead, honey. Go pee.” Um, yeah. Okay. He felt embarrassment sweep through him. This was not very dignified. Having been alone for so long, he had never had company when taking care of such business since he was a pup. Captivity had deprived him of the community of his Pack. He was grateful when she turned her head to look worriedly down the drive, not for his privacy but out of fear that Jim might return. He did hear a vehicle in the distance, but it wasn’t Jim’s. While her attention was diverted, he peed, and when done, he started back to the kitchen, slowly, his legs feeling weak and uncertain beneath him, his left foreleg aching and quite painful. “Good boy,” Natalie said as she slowly walked beside him until he stopped, locking his quivering legs for fear they would give out. “Oh baby, you’re not ready for this, are you? Come here.” Squatting down, she lifted him into her arms and he felt embarrassed all over again at his own weakness. She should not have to carry him. Yet she did, and she did not stop in the kitchen at the table like he had expected her to do. She carried him through to her bedroom and gently laid him

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To Hunt a Wolf on the right side of the double bed there, on top of her pretty red rose-covered white comforter. “There, isn’t that better than that hard old table?” Indeed it was and he sighed as he snuggled his head on the pillow. He had forgotten such comforts “Now, no stealing the covers. You just rest easy. I’m going to lock up and then I think it’s an early night for both of us. I’ll probably read for a while. Oh, and no snoring, Mister.” She planted another kiss on his head before she went to the kitchen to lock the door. When she returned, she undressed, unconcerned that the wolf watched her with quiet interest. She set her clothes on the bedside chair. Clad in only a tiny pair of pale pink lacy panties, she bent over to reach in the bottom drawer of the white dresser for her nightclothes. Adrian stared at her delicious rump and felt his mouth water as his jaw sagged. His hackles went up and he could not stop them. Would she notice? And her breasts… perfect dusky pink-tipped bounty. He licked his lips as she unfurled the baggy white nightshirt. He felt keen disappointment when she pulled the garment over her head and covered that oh so interesting body. She went into her bathroom and closed the door, where he heard her clean her teeth and take care of her personal business. As he listened to the stroke of her brush through her hair, there was the small crackle of static. When she returned from her toilette, she slipped into the bed beside him, her long light brown hair a silky cape around her shoulders as she turned on the bedside lamp. She plumped her pillows behind her and leant back against the headboard, getting comfortable. “I hope you don’t mind, Zeus, but I’m going to read for a while,” she told him as she picked up a book off the bedside. Adrian didn’t mind a bit. He was in heaven just laying there on the soft comforter and the firm but cozy mattress beneath. He’d had no bedding in his prison. The bleak and forlorn memory of that place made him shudder. Not wanting those bad memories to intrude on his current bliss, he watched Natalie as she read her book until she reached over a hand and gently began to stroke his head with companionable affection. Adrian soon drifted off to sleep with a smile on his face.

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu He stirred once, tensing in the dark for a moment until the soft warmth of his bedding and the scent of the woman beside him reminded him that he was safe for now. At least, until Cedric found him… With determination he pushed that awful thought aside and allowed sleep to take him once more, comforted by the hand Natalie had resting on his shoulder. She slept on peacefully, unaware that he had stirred.

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atalie awoke as dawn crept into the room. The wolf was still asleep beside her. He did not look like he had moved at all in the night. She smiled, glad that he had rested well without the drugs. He had to be in pain but he was not complaining one bit. He was a beautiful wolf. His coat was mostly a very dark brown with hints of red and a lighter brown mixed in around his muzzle and throat. He had the most beautiful eyes she had ever seen, deep and dark and full of intelligence despite the pain, his weakened condition, and the medications he’d been on. He was losing some of his beautiful coat but she hoped that would stop soon. Once he was back on a healthy diet, it would return to its full glory. Perhaps if she brushed it too, it would help? Where did he come from? And who had treated him so badly? Would that despicable person come looking for him? Was Zeus a prized possession who had escaped his master’s cruel hand? The questions disturbed her and yet when he opened his eyes at last, she set them aside and smiled at him. “Good

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu morning, pretty boy. I hope you had a nice deep healing sleep.” She leaned over and rubbed her nose against his as she ruffled the fur lightly on his head. “Let me pull on some shoes and we’ll see if you need to go out.” Zeus gave a lazy yawn, like he was not bothered one way or the other, but as she rolled away, he lifted his head to watch her as she hunted for her sneakers. Unaware and totally unconcerned that she flashed her panties at him, Natalie did not notice the keen awareness in his eyes as he watched her shapely lacy pink-covered bottom disappear under her nightshirt when she straightened up, sneakers in hand. She sat on the bed and put the sneakers on her bare feet, tying the laces, then came around the bed to lift him. She carried him through to the kitchen and stopped at the door. “Oh.” She had not thought that out too well. She set him on top of the counter by the door. “Stay there a second, Zeus. I forgot to open the door.” He stood there and waited patiently, catching the scent of death before she even unlocked the door. He growled low and soft, looking down for the cause as she stared at him in surprise. “Zeus, what is it, boy?” She turned the lock while she looked at him. He was ready to pounce. Afraid that he would, she put her hand on him to prevent him. “Stay, Zeus. It’s all right. Let me open the door and I’ll lift you down.” Keeping one eye on him, she opened the door and he dipped low, growling. Natalie grabbed him so he did not jump. “Ssshhh, it’s okay. I’ve got you.” Then she looked to see what he was growling at, let out a yelp of disgusted horror and clamped a hand over her mouth. There on the pretty sunflower-covered welcome mat at the threshold lay a bludgeoned rabbit, its long ears tipped at odd angles to the bloody crushed cranium. When Zeus whined, Natalie became aware that she had buried her face in his fur and was squeezing him tight. “Oh Zeus,” she whispered, backing out enough that they could look at one another. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.” He looked at her sadly and then licked at her face, lapping up a spilled tear. “I guess I should have just let him have what he wanted,” she murmured, swallowing hard. The message was clear. She

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To Hunt a Wolf was a frightened little rabbit and rabbits were hunted down by bigger prey. Jim was more than angry with her for turning down his indecent proposition to leave such an ugly threat on her doorstep. “Come on, Zeus.” She gathered him up and carried him outside, stepping carefully around the poor rabbit and set the wolf down by the tree. “You do your business and I’ll just go clean up that mess. Don’t wander off.” Natalie did not think he would, but she hurried into the kitchen to get a plastic trash bag and looked over at him before she bent to her grisly task. Opening the bag, she picked up the mat and tipped it and the little bunny’s corpse inside. She would never be able to look at that mat again without seeing the dead rabbit and it turned her stomach to think about cleaning it and keeping it. So she threw it out with the body and went to fetch a shovel from the small shed where she kept her lawn mower and gardening tools. Shovel in hand, she cast a glance at the wolf. He had limped halfway back to the porch and sat down on the little concrete paved patio area in front of the wooden picnic table. He was watching her. Taking the bag of disturbing trash, she walked out to the far side of the drive, beyond the grass. At the edge of the trees, she dug a hole and buried the poor animal. After returning the shovel to the shed, she picked up the wolf and carried him back into the kitchen, kicking the door shut behind her before she set him on the floor. “There. That’s that. Let me wash my hands and then we’ll see about something for you to eat.” At the kitchen sink, she scrubbed her hands thoroughly, still feeling sick to her stomach. The thought of food only made that worse. Yet she had to fix something for the wolf. She did not have any pet food on hand. She rather doubted he would like that anyway. Since he had managed to keep down last night’s fare with no problem, she suspected that he might be ready to sink his teeth into something a little more substantial this morning. She took the rest of the pack of beef that she had opened for him the night before and tipped into his bowl. “I hope you like this,” she said as she set it before him. He looked up at her with a resigned look in his eyes and dipped his head to eat. After she threw the pack in the trash, she made herself some coffee and made sure he had fresh water. Unnerved by

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu Jim’s cruel message, she locked the kitchen door before she went to take her shower, telling the wolf, “I’ll be back in a few minutes. I’m just going to go take a shower. You rest right there on the mat until I get back, okay? And no nibbling or licking.” Adrian watched her go, then ate some more of the meat. It was not as fresh as the wolf in him liked, still it was better than nothing and he ate judiciously, not wanting to overburden his stomach. When he had had enough, he moved to his water bowl and drank some water, washing away the taste of the raw meat. When he was done, he limped his way back to the bedroom and busied himself with his own grooming as he listened to the water running in the bathroom, although he avoided his wounds. Satisfied with his efforts, he then climbed up onto the bed and settled himself on her side, facing the bathroom door, his head and paws resting on the edge as he heard her turn the water off and moments later the shower curtain drawn aside. She was toweling herself dry. What he wouldn’t give to be that towel, he thought, when Natalie stepped out of the bathroom wrapped in the big fluffy pink bath sheet. She smiled at him when she spotted him laying there. Not before he caught the naked look of anguish on her face though. The rabbit had upset her more than she was letting on. It had upset him too. The rabbit’s death was senseless and wasteful, and viciously cruel. Jim, the vet, was not responsible for it. As much as he wanted to bite Jim, he knew better than to break the man’s skin. If he did, Jim would become a werewolf come the full moon. That would make him even more dangerous than he already was, which was why Adrian had taken special care not to do so when he had latched onto Jim’s arm yesterday with only an inhibited bite. But Jim was not who had left that horrible message on her step. “Hey pretty boy,” Natalie greeted him affectionately, giving his ear a rub. “Did you eat all your breakfast already?” “Rowwwllfff,” he told her, grinning at her and giving his tail a little wag. No, he hadn’t, although he’d had enough and the view in here was going to be far superior than what the kitchen had to offer.

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To Hunt a Wolf “So what do you want to do today? Just rest, I’m betting. I need to do some work on my laptop but we can lounge around in the living room and watch TV. Sound good? Maybe we’ll even find a rerun of Lassie or something? Although I don’t suppose you’re a Lassie kind of wolf, are you? Bet you like action movies with lots of explosions and stuff, huh?” Adrian had no idea. He had not seen TV since he was a kid and even then he had not been allowed to watch too much of it. “Let me get dressed and then we’ll check your wounds.” Natalie moved to the dresser, dropping her towel as she went. Adrian watched with appreciation as she dug in the drawers for clean underwear then moved to the closet for a clean t-shirt and jeans, which she set beside him on the bed before she moved back to the dresser and applied deodorant, talc and lotion in strategic locations, all of which made her smell like a field of wildflowers, even though he liked her own personal scent unadorned. Of course, as with the rabbit, he couldn’t tell her that. She assumed it was Jim. It wasn’t. When she came back to the bed, she pulled on her little lacy panties. Today they were pale blue. Her bra matched the panties, a pretty lacy confection with a little blue bow in the middle. She sat next to him and reached over him for her socks, giving him a quick kiss on the head. His body responded, feeling excitement and a quickening that shot like a bolt of lightning through his core, confusing him to some degree. Although he had felt this sensation before in his youth, it had always been associated with his human side in response to girls. Not as a wolf in response to a human female. His fur stood up and his groin tightened, anticipation fluttering through him. Confused, he felt his mouth water as he looked at her. He could see the dusky shade of her nipples through the lace of her bra as she pulled on her socks and when she reached over him for her t-shirt, he wished he could morph into his human form and touch her lovely curves, especially the ones she had just brushed against him. When she covered that glorious view with a peach colored t-shirt, he almost whined his disappointment. Unaware of the havoc she was causing in her companion, Natalie tugged on her jeans and stood up, pulling them over

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu her scantily clad bottom and doing them up. She sat again to pull her sneakers back on, then turned to him and said, “Just let me do my hair and we’ll go get comfortable in the living room, okay.” She patted him affectionately before she went to brush out her hair. Today she left it loose. He had himself back under control by the time she returned to his side. “Okay, Zeus. Let’s go.” She reached for him, set him down on the floor, and slowly led him out of the bedroom, watching him move with caution and limp his way beside her. Halfway down the hall, she stopped and sighed. “Come here, pretty boy.” Squatting, she lifted him and carried him the rest of the way, which embarrassed him. He hated feeling so weak. She stood him on the kitchen table and he settled down on his left side so that she could examine him. She washed her hands and dried them, then carefully treated his wounds, cleaning them. After, she washed her hands again and picked him up once more, joking with him, “You know, once you get back to your normal weight, Zeus, I won’t be able to lift you and carry you around like this.” The fact that she could at all made him realize just how thin and scrawny he really was. Carrying him to the living room, Natalie set him on one end of a deep red couch and with a sigh he settled in and gave a single thump of his tail. “Better?” she asked. Adrian did not have to answer. He was comfortable. “I’ll just get my laptop.” She disappeared for a minute and came back with her laptop tucked under her arm and a cup of coffee in hand, which she set on the end table at the other end of the couch. After sitting and making herself comfortable, she reached for the remote control on the coffee table, turning on the TV as she set the laptop on her thighs. He was not exactly sure what a laptop was and he was not particularly interested in the television. Tired from his exertions, he watched Natalie as she flipped through movies and shows. He was half asleep when she set the remote down, took a sip of her coffee, and flipped up the lid of the shiny slim black box on her lap. When she pressed a button, he heard an odd series of noises, a very soft chattering sound that tickled a distant

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To Hunt a Wolf memory. Drowsily he noticed that the lid lit up and soon Natalie’s hands were flying over the box’s innards. He realized with a little bit of awe that it was a very small computer. The last computer he recalled seeing was a large box with a separate and hefty monitor. There were different colors on her screen. He recalled black screens with white or green characters. He and Adam had shared a Commodore computer and had mostly played games on it or used it for home work with a dot matrix printer. What year was it, he wondered? Watching Natalie type, he drifted off to sleep, and dreamed of when he had been a kid, and of Adam and the woman he had seen when Adam had died.

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loud shrill sound awakened him with a start and Adrian bolted up, fur on end and teeth bared, the flesh over his snout drawn up in a snarl, the sound of which rumbled loudly over the background noise of the television program. Positioned in a low crouch on spring-loaded legs, he was ready to attack. Natalie stared at him, phone in hand, shocked by his response. “Easy, Zeus,” she tried to sooth him. “It’s just the phone. Hush, there’s a good boy.” Phone? Its ring was different to the phones he remembered and the sound was strident and alarming. He stopped snarling and slowly lowered himself to the cushions, watching her warily as she pressed a button on the phone and said, “Hello?” Even from where he sat, Adrian heard the voice on the other end of the line. “How’s your pet?” Natalie froze. It was Jim. Adrian got to his paws and moved closer to Natalie, nosing his head under her arm. He rested his chin on her breast and looked up at her, contrite for scaring her and

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To Hunt a Wolf trying to offer comfort while the hated voice on the phone said, “You should be more careful. A pet like that could easily turn on its owner. Volatile. Wild. Who knows what might happen?” “Like the rabbit you left on my doorstep this morning, you mean?” Natalie said angrily in response, absently lifting a hand to Adrian’s head and stroking him, more to comfort herself he was sure than to pet him. There was silence for a long moment. “Not me,” Jim denied. “Must have been that savage beast you have there.” “Right, like he can wield a baseball bat? It was you and I know it.” “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” “You left a dead rabbit on my porch.” “I did not. I’m a vet for God’s sake.” “One who is trying to intimidate me.” “Natalie, it wasn’t me.” “Liar.” “Whatever. You have no proof.” “I have the rabbit. That’s proof enough.” He chuckled. “That proves nothing.” “I’ll report you to the police.” “Go ahead. Who will believe you? Certainly not the sheriff you led a merry chase three years ago.” He tsked softly with amusement. “You should never have had that affair with him.” “I didn’t know he was married.” “Right, and confronted his wife, no less?” That was not true. The wife had confronted her and it had been the first she’d known that Barry already had a wife. The engagement ring on her finger had been a big fraud, given to placate her, with no real intent behind it but to string her along for a while longer. There was no point in correcting Jim. He knew the truth. He was just being a jerk and trying to twist the knife. “Messy business that. Don’t forget to bring your dog by for his shots.” “He does not have rabies.” “You can’t know that. What if he is infected and you don’t bring him in for his shots? He’ll die. You want that on your conscience?”

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu “I hate you.” “It doesn’t have to be this way, Natalie. We could have a lot of fun together if you’d just relax and let me have what I want.” “You’re despicable.” “Absolutely wicked,” he chuckled but he did not really sound amused. “And I’ll make you come so hard you’ll never forget it. Wouldn’t you like that, baby? It’ll be hot between us. I desire you. I want you. What’s it going to take to make you see reason? No one else around here will touch you. They know the Sheriff’s still got a huge boner for you. I’m your only option.” Natalie gathered her breath for a scathing response and the dial tone sounded in her ear. Jim had hung up. She stared at the phone in her hand, growled and pressed a button. “I hate that man!” Adrian did not like him either. Jim was trying to force her into having sex with him, using Adrian’s medical care as a bargaining chip. He would treat her wolf if she would give up her body for his sexual gratification. A small stab of jealousy shot through Adrian—Jim was a man. He could have sex with her. Adrian was stuck as a wolf. He could not morph to his human form at the moment. If he could, he would beat Jim to a pulp for what he was doing to Natalie. He could feel her trembling with a combination of rage and fear, and there were tears shining in her eyes as she returned the phone to the end table, then she set aside the laptop and hugged him, burying her face in his neck. “Oh Zeus, what am I going to do? He’s not going to stop, is he?” No. Probably not, Adrian thought, wishing he could hold her in his arms. He had to get that damned silver bullet out of his ass. Then he could hold her and he would take care of that damn vet and whoever had left the dead rabbit at her door. “I should just let him have what he wants. Then maybe he’ll get bored and leave me alone.” Never! Adrian would do all he could to keep Jim away from her. It was even more important for him to get well. To recover from the years of malnutrition and abuse, to heal from his injuries, so that he could take care of the vet. It was

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To Hunt a Wolf imperative that he get the silver bullet out of his flesh. He wanted to turn around and take a bite out of his own ass to do it, but he knew the bullet was too deep. How could he get Natalie to help him remove it? Natalie shifted on the couch, snuggling down with him on top of her. Adrian settled his head between her breasts and lapped at her chin. She hugged him closer and stroked his fur while in the background the television murmured, and they both drifted off to sleep as they took comfort in one another’s embrace.

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atalie stirred to the warm wet lap of his tongue up her throat. It tickled and she giggled as she woke up and tried to shy away from him, but he had her pinned under him until he shifted to the side, towards the back of couch. He gave up her throat to burrow behind her. Playing some kind of a game, she thought, as she eased onto her side, putting her back to him and allowing him more room. He made a little “Roooowl” of sound and snuffled his nose under her ear, causing her to hunch her shoulders. “That tickles.” When he nuzzled in further and locked a leg around her chest, and his teeth clamped on the back of her neck, Natalie knew that he was not playing. He breathed heavily on the part of her anatomy in his mouth, so hard and deep he almost growled with it and fear made her freeze. His grip was tight and firm, not painful, yet, and Natalie did not want to make him angry. He shifted his head, turning her neck, and she had no choice but to move in the direction he wanted, turning her face-down on the couch. She tried to get her knees under her

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To Hunt a Wolf so that she could try to ease him off. His response was to slide on top of her, pinning her under him on her stomach. “Zeus, let me go,” she ordered. He pushed her face into the cushion to silence her. Was he just displaying male dominance, she wondered, or was he trying to hump her? Maybe he’d paid too much attention to Jim and decided he was the boss? Was he really trying to rub his groin against her bottom or was he just adjusting his footing? Trying not to panic, she ordered once more in a firm tone, “Zeus, stop it. Let me go now.” He gave a little huff, loosened his grip on her neck, and then licked her neck with a slow upward swipe of his tongue as if he were asking forgiveness, then he made a grumbling complaint as he levered himself upward. With his hind paws straddling her hips and his fore paws pressing on her shoulders, Natalie was still pinned down. Although the position was no longer sexually suggestive, she still felt a little intimidated as the wolf playfully rubbed his nose back and forth over her shoulders and neck, making little happy sounds now, playing, she hoped. “Zeus, that tickles! Let me up, you…” Teeth clamped on her neck again and he rumbled some sounds at her that vibrated through his chest and along her spine as he held her down once more. What was she going to do if he didn’t want to let her up? “Zeus, you’re scaring me,” she told him quietly. Instantly, he let her go and backed away with a little grumbling moan that let her know he was sorry. He moved to the other end of the couch and had a sad frown on his face when she eased herself up. Going to him, she ruffled his scruff and kissed his head. “Good boy,” she tried to make amends quietly. “You let go when I asked. I think that deserves a treat. Do you want to go outside for a little while, baby? She went to lift him down. He avoided her and ducked under her reach, slipping to the floor with a little stumble and a hop as he limped off to the kitchen. Natalie felt bad and followed him. It was clear that he had not meant to frighten her. The wolf had only been playing

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu she understood now, but for a second there, she had felt threatened in at least two different ways. It made her nervous. Perhaps he just had a little extra energy to run off. Of course, he couldn’t exactly do that at the moment. A few minutes outside in the fresh air might do them both good, and he could take care of any business he needed to do. “Wow, we slept for quite a while, Zeus. Can you believe it?” she asked him as he waited by the kitchen door. “It’s three-thirty already.” Unlocking the door, she hesitated before opening it, expecting another nasty gift. There was none. She sighed relief and followed him out onto the porch. He paused at the top of the steps and looked up at her. “You want me to lift you down?” He took a step down then and she noted that his legs were trembling a little. Maybe he’d worn himself out already? “Hold it, Mr. Stubborn.” She scooped him up and carried him over to the grass under the tree. “There. Now you can attend to matters.” She left him there and went to sit on the picnic table while he did what he had to do; he disappeared behind the tree to do it. That made her smile. Maybe he was shy? When he reappeared, he limped his way over to the table and settled down in the afternoon sun with as much dignity as he could muster, looking like some regal sphinx, his front legs stretched out in front of him and his head held high. His eyes half closed and he yawned mightily. “Exhausting work was it?” she teased him. He did not dignify her with a response. She would have to look up his odd behavior on the couch. That had disturbed her. Even though his bite had not been hard, she was sure it had to do with a little dominant male action. He had not bitten her hard enough to break the skin. Even when he had been really aggressive with Jim, he had not broken the skin. He had forced her onto her stomach though and he had pinned her there, applying his body weight to hold her down along with the firm grip of his teeth on her neck. While she had been alarmed, he had not hurt her. The sun was warm and the birds were singing prettily amongst the pines, which lent a fresh clean scent to the afternoon, although there was a slight chill on the air as the sun moved lower in the sky. Perhaps the weather was going

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To Hunt a Wolf to turn? It had been lovely and warm the past few days, more like the end of May than March. The sun disappeared behind the tree and a shiver scurried through her. “I think it’s time to go in, Zeus. It’s getting chilly out here. Do you want to go water the tree one more time before we go in?” He looked at her and heaved himself to his paws, then started towards the porch, apparently not ready to attend to the tree’s needs at the moment. Sliding off the table, Natalie followed him to the steps then helped him up them. His progress was slower now than it had been earlier, a sure sign that he had used up all the frisky energy he had awakened with. Opening the door, she watched him with concern as he limped inside and went to his food and water bowls. He sniffed and turned away from both. “Hey, not so fast, Mister. I pulled out some fresh this morning. Why don’t you wait a minute and I’ll get it for you?” She moved by him to the fridge and rummaged around in a lower drawer, pulling out a package of freshly thawed beef. Setting it on the counter, she dumped his bowls and washed them by hand, cleaning them and wiping them dry. Then she gave him fresh filtered water and turned to open the package of beef as he lapped at the drink. He’d need to go out again later, she knew. Considering how much he had eaten that morning, she put a little less in his bowl this time and set it down next to his water bowl. He looked up at her as if he needed permission to go eat, which threw her for a second. “It’s okay, boy. Eat up.” She turned to wash her hands then covered the beef with some cellophane and put it back in the fridge. While he ate, she made herself a bowl of soup and sat at the table. She ate quietly and noted that Zeus was done. He was lying on the rug at the sink near his bowls, asleep already. After she had cleaned her dishes, she checked his wounds where he lay on the rug. He opened an eye and heaved a sigh. Other than that he took little notice. After, Natalie gathered the trash and took it outside to the trash bin. It was almost dark and the temperature had dropped significantly during the time that they had been

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu inside. Shivering, she hurried back into the kitchen. “Brrr, it’s getting cold out there,” she told the wolf when she returned and he looked up at her. “Remind me later to pull on my coat.” Natalie made herself a cup of hot chocolate and took it through to the living room, where the TV was still flickering, in the dark now. She turned on a lamp and sat on the couch. Zeus joined her and curled up beside her, sleeping while she watched a show and drank her hot chocolate. When she had finished she reached for her laptop and looked up his odd behavior of earlier while he slept. Discovering that what he had done could have been either a sexual display of dominance or a playful one, did not really comfort her. Which one was it? So many of their behaviors could be interpreted as aggressive and sexual at the same time, it was confusing. She hoped that he had only been playing. If his little troubled frown after had been a true indication of his repentance, then he had likely been playing and realized too late that he had scared her. That made sense to her at least. The other possibility was just too wild to even think about, even though she knew male dogs often took to humping a human leg in their excitement. Some urges just couldn’t be helped, she supposed. Still, she preferred to think he had just been playing as if with another wolf. Otherwise she would not sleep very soundly beside him later. Next to her, Zeus whimpered in his sleep and his body twitched as if he was trying to outrun some wolf-demon only known in his dreams. She rested her hand on his back to try and sooth him and he did quiet, then he blinked and looked up at her, his gaze filled with a combination of such fear and sadness that she felt her heart break. “What is it, baby?” she asked softly. “Were you dreaming about that mean old master who hurt you? I ever find out who did this to you, I’ll punch him in the nose.” She bent down and kissed him on the head, then yawned herself as she closed her laptop and set it on the coffee table. Sitting on the edge of the couch, she stretched her arms up and arched her back. “Lord, what a lazy day. I’ll get fat if I spend too many more like this, Wolfie boy. It’s coming on eight. You want to go out for a pee?”

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To Hunt a Wolf He stood on the couch and stretched also, making a grumbling sound as he probably tweaked a sore spot. “Easy there. Don’t want to undo Jim’s handy dandy needlework, do we?” “Rowwwwllll,” said Zeus as if he was agreeing with her. Natalie stood up and lifted him to the floor. “Let me get my coat and we’ll go out.” From the hall closet, on her way to the kitchen, she grabbed her coat and pulled it on. Flashlight in hand, she turned both it and the outside lights on before she unlocked and opened the kitchen door. She ushered Zeus outside, lifted him down the steps, and they walked quietly over to the tree together, Natalie keeping a wary eye out for trouble as she lit the way where the porch lights did not reach. The wolf disappeared behind the tree. While she waited, Natalie cautioned him, “Don’t go too far, Zeus.” The distinct sound of the wolf watering the tree competed with the spooky hoot of an owl and the soft sough of the frigid breath of night in the trees across the yard. Natalie shivered, her own breath turning white in the night air. The moon was up, a beautiful waxing gibbous moon. It would soon be full. Zeus was returning from doing his business and passed her en route to the kitchen. She turned to follow him when he froze, head lifted, looking up at the moon and before Natalie realized what he intended, his voice rose in a loud and haunting howl. “No! Zeus, no! Stop it,” she snapped, running toward him, reaching for his muzzle to stop him. She was even more horrified at his reaction. While he stopped howling, he shied from her, dropping to the ground and rolling onto his back, putting his paws up in a defensive gesture. The howl had instantly cut off in a frightened whimper. Worse than that even, she knew he was expecting a harsh blow. “Oh Zeus, I’m so sorry, baby, but you can’t howl, okay. The sound will travel too far. I’m not going to hurt you.” When the expected attack never came, he peered up at her and even in the silvery light from the moon she could see the dulled glaze of past beatings there in his eyes, painful and stark. Even if he knew she would never harm him, his mind had thrown him back to the times when he had suffered a brutal kick or more from an angry master. And she knew that

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu he had suffered such, just by the injuries that she had found upon him. As she crouched down, she reached out to touch him and he rolled away from her, creeping off, head down, tail tucked between his legs. He slunk towards the porch, trying to make himself look as small and non-threatening as possible in the hopes that a cruel master would not notice him sneaking by. Biting her lip, Natalie followed and opened the kitchen door. He slithered in, low and stooped, turning quickly to the rug near the sink, where he curled up in a ball and hid his nose under his paws, trembling with aftershocks from his fright. Natalie closed and locked the kitchen door, and set aside the flash light on the counter. She took off her coat and hung it on the hook on the back of the door, trembling herself from both the cold and a slow burning rage that clawed at her own guts. All the trust and affection she had gained these past few days had just been totally destroyed in a second. In the birth of a howl, faith had died. “I’m sorry, Zeus. I didn’t mean to frighten you. It’s just that your howl would carry so very far and there are people who would come and take you away from me. They’ll take you and put you in a sanctuary. You wouldn’t like that. I don’t want to lose you, Zeus. We’re friends, aren’t we?” she asked him as she bent to pick up his water bowl. Rinsing it out, she gave him fresh filtered water to drink, then picked up his food bowl and rinsed it too before she went to the fridge to get the meat. Giving him a decent portion, she set the bowl close by on the rug, trying to make amends, but Zeus made no move toward it. “Eat up, baby. Then we’ll take care of your wounds.” Filling the kettle, she turned it on and tried to keep up a stream of soothing chatter while she prepared the first aid supplies, hoping that he would relax enough to come out of hiding. He still had not moved by the time she was ready. “Zeus, sweetie, I need to treat your wounds. Do you want to come up to the table or do you want me to come down there?” He did not respond. It was clear that she would have to go to him. She knelt on the rug with the supplies and went about the business of cleaning his wounds, while he remained

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To Hunt a Wolf huddled in as tight a ball as he could. When she was finished, she left him there in the hopes that he would eat his supper while she went to the living room and tidied up some magazines that she had looked at earlier. She set the stack on the coffee table, turned off the television and the lights and went to turn the lights on in her bedroom. When she returned to the kitchen to check on the wolf, she found he had not moved. With a sigh, Natalie called, “Zeus, are you coming to bed?” He remained still and ignored her. “Goodnight then.” Natalie turned off the kitchen light as she retreated into the hall. She had hardly taken two steps when a flying carpet of fur went racing by her and dived into her bedroom. Evidently he did not want to be left alone in the dark and she wondered if he had been shut in the dark on his own before as punishment? Highly likely, she thought as she stepped into the bedroom and saw that he was huddled up on the bottom corner of her bed, tucked as far away from where she would sleep as possible. She had a lot of ground to recover. Going to him, she knelt down on the floor and gently pried his paw away from his face. “Are you hiding from me now?” she asked. “I hope you didn’t hurt yourself leaping up here on your own.” He looked up at her briefly. His eyes were filled with mournful contrition but could not or would not sustain the gaze. It dropped back down to seek safety in his own nose hidden under his paws. “Oh,” Natalie said softly. “You can hide for a little bit while I get ready for bed, but I want my snuggle before I go to sleep.” She planted a kiss on his head and left him there, while she went to into the bathroom to clean her teeth, wash up and take care of her own needs. She was half undressed when she came out and hunted in a drawer for a long sleeved flannel nightgown because she was chilly and the temperature was dropping fast outside. A quick look at Zeus told her he was watching her every move even though he still appeared to be hiding in his paws. Stripped down to just her panties, she pulled on the white floral granny-style nightgown and a thick pair of bed socks, knowing that if her feet got cold she would be a block of ice

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu all night. The heater clicked on and yet she still felt the chill creeping in through the windows and walls as she peeled back the covers on her bed and slipped in. Holding the linens back for Zeus, she urged, “Come on, pretty boy. It’s going to be a cold night.” When he did not move, she patted the place beside her. “Come on, Zeus. I’m cold. Come and keep me warm, pretty please.” Zeus got up and slowly slunk towards her, head down, tail still tucked, his ears back and flattened. His gaze flicked at her once before he huddled beside her on his stomach and she gently drew the covers up over him. It would probably be too warm for him, although he could move later if he wanted to. For now, she wanted him close so that she could try and sooth over the hurt he felt. “There,” she said as she turned off the lamp and snuggled down to face him, and he settled his head on his pillow. “Isn’t that better?” She put her hand on his back between his shoulder blades and tenderly petted him as she snuggled closer. “You’re nice and warm. Are you going to forgive me sometime soon, Zeus? I feel really bad about scaring you, but we don’t want anyone coming after you, do we? If anyone hears you howl, we’ll be in trouble.” He yawned in the dark and sighed. “Okay. You’re right. Time to sleep. Good night, boy.” Natalie leaned over and kissed him goodnight before she settled down and finally drifted off to sleep. A strange sound awakened her and she looked at the clock on the bedside, frowning in the dark. There was a wet sound and then lapping as Zeus tended to cleaning himself. He had burrowed under the covers and was nibbling at himself she realized when she heard his teeth chattering together in rapid succession. Oh no, he was probably irritated by one of his wounds. She reached out and turned on the bedside light and then peered under the covers at him. Blood, she smelled blood. “Zeus, what are you doing?” she asked, not wanting to scare him like she had earlier. He looked at her. There was blood on his muzzle. She threw the covers back to expose him. “Oh my God,” she said with dismay. There was blood on her sheets. Quite a bit of it. “Zeus, baby, what are you doing?” she asked him.

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To Hunt a Wolf He turned back to his task, biting himself, digging at the meat on his rump, not where his current wounds were as she had initially feared. The wolf was angrily chewing at the site of the old bullet wound. She reached for him to stop him, wrapping her arms around him and pulling him from his purpose. He gave a low snarl and struggled to return to his biting. “No! Stop it! You’re hurting yourself. Zeus, please don’t.” When he stilled in her arms, she asked him sadly, “What are you doing, Wolfie boy?” He did not answer her, just squirmed to be let go. As soon as she let him go, he went right back to diligently trying to get out whatever was in there. Natalie got up and shivered as looked at the clock on the bedside. It was one thirty. She had to do something to stop Zeus from hurting himself but what? The phone was in her hand before she could think about it and the phone was ringing on the other end. Sleepily, a voice grumbled, “What? What is it? What time…?” “Jim, I hate to call you but I don’t know what else to do.” “Um… Natalie?” “Yes. Can you come?” “What’s wrong?” “He’s biting himself and he won’t stop.” “Probably fleas,” Jim sighed. “No, Jim. He’s biting a hole in his hide.” “What?” “Something is bothering him and he won’t stop biting.” “Bring him in in the morning.” “There’s blood everywhere, Jim.” “Blood?” “Yes, blood. He’s gnawing on himself!” “All right, all right. I’ll be there in a little bit. Try muzzling his jaws with a cloth or something.” Jim hung up and Natalie did the same, looking quickly in her drawers for a scarf. Finding a pretty yellow one, she took it to Zeus, dragged him from his gnawing and tied his jaws together. He fought her and was not happy about it, but she got the scarf on him and then cradled him in her arms, talking softly too him. He calmed but she knew as soon as she let him

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu go, he would be right back at it. He would have the scarf off in a blink. The wound he had made was bloody and raw. “Oh Zeus, I wish you could talk to me. The bullet’s still in there, isn’t it, boy? We’ll have Jim take it out, okay? I promise.” Half an hour later when she heard Jim’s truck pulling up outside, she let Zeus go and told him to stay there while she went and let the vet in. Frigid air swirled in the door when she opened it and Jim hurried inside, bundled in his coat. “It’s freezing out there,” he complained. “Wind’s starting up too. There’s some weather blowing in from the northwest.” Natalie didn’t care about the weather just then and quickly lead him back to her bedroom. Just as she feared, Zeus had taken the scarf off and was lapping at his newest wound. Jim stood there and stared at wolf for a moment, taking note of the blood on the wolf’s rump and muzzle, and all over Natalie and her sheets. “Do something,” Natalie implored him. Jim set his bag on the bed and took off his coat. “Okay. You hold him and I’ll patch him up.” “No, Jim. You have to get out whatever’s in there, whatever it is that’s bothering him.” She went to Zeus and the wolf complained vocally when she pulled him away from the wound again, although he did not fight her this time. It was as though he understood that Jim was there to help. Jim opened his bag and knelt on the bed to take a look. “Well, I can’t cut whatever it is out here. That will require surgery. You’ll have to bring him in for that.” “Can’t you just dig it out here?” “No, Natalie. I can’t.” “Please. You know if I bring him in, people will talk and then some fool will cause trouble. He’s a good boy. He won’t hurt anyone. Please do it here.” “What if it’s deep?” “Then it probably wouldn’t be bothering him like this.” “I’m going to sedate him and clean it up first. Then we’ll see. If I think I can do it here, I will. If not, bring him in early.” It was the best she was going to get and she nodded, then Jim pulled out a syringe and she snuggled Zeus close, talking

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To Hunt a Wolf to him softly while Jim administered the medication. Zeus soon relaxed in her arms and dozed off while Jim cleaned up the messy wound and gently probed around in it. He found nothing. “Natalie, I can’t find it. He’s going to need an x-ray to see what it is, if anything.” Well that was that then, wasn’t it? She would have to take him in. “How early shall I bring him in?” Jim looked at his watch. It was almost three am. “I might as well just take him back when I go. Let me patch this up for now.” “I’ll come with you.” She was not letting Zeus out of her sight. Jim patched the wound then packed up his bag and looked at her. His gaze slid to the box of condoms that still stood on the other bedside table, exactly where he’d left them, then came back to hers. “You changed your mind by any chance?” “No.” “Too bad. I could do with a little recreation right now. Get warmed up. He’s out for the count, so he won’t be bothering us.” Natalie released Zeus and scampered off the bed. “I’ll get dressed.” She grabbed her clothes and disappeared into the bathroom, locking the door behind her. When she emerged, she found a sweater and pulled on her shoes. Jim tugged on his coat and picked up Zeus while Natalie grabbed his bag. In the kitchen she pulled on her coat before opening the door for Jim and they hurried out to his truck. Natalie climbed into the passenger seat and Jim passed over the wolf, then closed her door. It was getting windy and it was a bitter wind. There would no doubt be snow later, she thought, watching the dark clouds scud across the sky, obscuring the moon as it made its way toward the horizon. Jim slid behind the wheel and they started the drive to the clinic. “You know, we should just get married,” he suggested. “Your vet bill’s going to be ridiculous.” “I know. But he’s worth it.” “And I’m not?”

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu “I didn’t say that.” “No, but you are not interested, are you?” “No. I’m not. I’ve been burned before.” “I’m not already married,” he reminded her. “I want love, Jim. Not just sex.” “Love is overrated. The sex would be great. Don’t you get just a little bit horny sometimes?” “Not really.” “You should.” “I try not to think about it.” “Natalie, we could have the best of both worlds. Great sex and no strings. At least think about it.” “Okay,” she said, just to get him to stop on about it. “I’ll think about it.” Jim wisely let the subject drop for the time being. When they arrived at the clinic, Jim carried Zeus in and laid him on an examination table. It smelled of antiseptic and animals overlaid with a hint of air freshener. They hung their coats and he ushered her out of the room while he took an x-ray of the wolf’s hindquarters, only letting her back in once he had the film up on the lighted display. “This here,” he said, pointing it out to her. “It’s pretty deep. Looks like a bullet.” “Can you remove it?” “Yeah, but I could not have done it at your place. I’ll get set up and as soon as my staff gets here, we’ll operate.” “Can they be trusted to keep quiet about it?” “Oh you mean will they violate the patient’s trust and privacy?” “Don’t be a smart ass. You know what I mean.” “Yes. They can be trusted to keep quiet. Would you like some coffee? It’s going to be a long morning.” “Yes, please. Coffee would be good.” Jim left her alone with Zeus while he went to put on the coffee pot and call his assistant in early. Within half an hour, his assistant, Sarah, was blowing in the back door. “It’s snowing like the devil out there,” she said as she came into the operating room where Zeus lay, all prepped for surgery. “Bad?” Jim asked.

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To Hunt a Wolf “Bad enough.” Sarah moved to the table and looked at the patient. “It’s a…?” “It’s a really big dog mix that uncannily looks a lot like a wolf. Sarah, you remember Natalie, don’t you?” “Yeah. Sure.” The greeting was a little frosty and Natalie bit her lip to keep from smiling. So, Sarah knew of Jim’s little infatuation with her and she did not like it. Jim didn’t even seem to notice the other woman’s jealousy. Later, she would have to clue him in. “You should wait in the waiting room,” Sarah told her. “I’m staying.” “Natalie, go wait out front. Have another cup of coffee. It won’t take long once we start.” Jim turned her towards the door and gave her a little shove. “Go.” Reluctantly, Natalie went.

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OIf you wish to have a

utside the wind howled in the darkness, driving snow ahead of it. It swirled under the street lights and had already started to blanket the street and the pavement outside. With a shiver, Natalie helped herself to another cup of coffee and paced the waiting room, impatient for news. She had not turned on the lights out here. There was enough light spilling from the back to allow her to see where she paced and why draw the unwanted attention from the Sheriff’s office across the street? The last thing she needed was another faceoff with Barry—she had managed to avoid him for months now and he had stopped coming to the restaurant where she worked, thank God. She wasn’t ready to get involved with another man yet, either, even though her body was complaining that she was. Had she made a mistake in turning down Jim’s indecent proposal? No. She had done the right thing. Just because the idea of sex made her crave it, didn’t mean it was the smart thing to do. Why couldn’t she find a nice guy that was ready to settle down and share a decent life together? It didn’t seem much to ask, a little love and faithfulness, and a lot of sex. But no, she

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To Hunt a Wolf got a liar and a cheat who was committed elsewhere, and now a man who just wanted sex but no commitment. Strike two. She set her empty mug on the receptionist’s counter and paced some more, forcing her mind from sex and inappropriate men. How was her wolf doing? How much longer would it take to get the bullet out? It had been horrifying to wake up and find him eating away at himself like that. Natalie prayed that once the bullet was out, he would settle down and they could get back on the road to his recovery, not to mention renew his trust in her. It was clear to her that their little upset last night had sparked his self-destructive behavior. Would she be able to regain his trust? She hoped so. It was six-thirty when Jim appeared in the doorway. “How is he?” she asked. “He’s fine. Resting comfortably.” “Could you get it out?” “Yes. Here it is.” He held up the offending object and showed it to her in the dim light. “I think you have a werewolf on your hands.” “What?” “Well, somebody must have thought so.” “What are you talking about?” “Come here.” He took her arm and took her back towards the light. “Look, it’s a silver bullet.” He put it in her palm and she stared at it. It was indeed silver. “Oh my poor puppy…” “Puppy? I hate to shatter your illusions, sweetheart, but he is no puppy. He’s an adult male wolf.” Natalie ignored that. “When can I take him home?” “Once he wakes up and everything is okay, I’ll take you back, providing the weather isn’t too bad.” “I know, it’s sounding pretty wicked out there.” “You could always stay at my place,” he offered. “That’s very kind of you, Jim, but no. I need to take my boy home so he can rest and heal. And while I am at it, I think there’s someone pretty close to you who could help you out with your little problem.” “Huh?” he said, giving her a frown. “Sarah,” she whispered, slipping the silver bullet in her pocket. “Don’t tell me you have never thought about doing Sarah?”

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu “Of course I haven’t. I work with her.” “Well, maybe you should think about it. She wants you.” “Sarah?” he repeated, looking startled. “Yes. Why don’t you go kiss her right now? I’m going to go sit with Zeus.” Jim watched her go with a confused frown on his face. “Sarah…?” Natalie found Sarah finishing dressing the wolf’s newest wound. “There,” she said. “All done. He’ll sleep for a while longer, but I bet he’ll be glad the bullet is out.” “Yes. It was bothering him something fierce. Thank you for your help, Sarah.” “Don’t mention it.” “Listen, I couldn’t help but notice that you have a thing for Jim.” Sarah looked up, her glance frosty enough to make Natalie hesitate. “That’s none of your business.” “I know, but, I think he went to his office. Maybe you should tell him how you feel?” “He wants you.” “He can’t have me, Sarah. I’m not interested. But if you are, you should let him know right now, before he takes me home. I don’t know how much longer I can hold him off. If you blindside him now, you’ll get what you want.” “Now?” “Yes. Now. Go get him. I’ll stay with Zeus.” Sarah practically ran from the room, leaving Natalie to sit by her companion and await his awakening.

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I

n the dark, a silver blade slashed at him. Blood gushed hot and wet over his hide as the stink of antiseptic invaded his nose and bright lights blinded him, while beneath him the cold of a stainless steel table seeped into his flesh. Adam awoke with a start, sitting up with a gasp. Beside him, Victoria stirred, reaching for him, sliding her arm around his waist as the age old memory floated up to the surface of his mind to taunt him: a cold dank chamber, siblings chained in a vampire’s lair and brutally sucked dry. No, not a memory, an old nightmare, something that had tormented him in his youth, born from the guilt he had felt. What the hell had he been dreaming, then? Why would he dream of Adrian now, like that? It had seemed so real. “Ssshhhh,” Victoria murmured. “It’s all right.” He settled down again and turned to her, pulling her against him and kissing her brow. She smiled and cupped his ass, pulling him closer, trying to take his mind from the disturbing mix of confusing images. “Go back to sleep,” he whispered. “Mnn, no. What time is it?”

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu “Time to try and get another hour.” “What were you dreaming about?” “I don’t know. It was weird.” He frowned and pushed the remnants of the dream away, nuzzling his wife’s throat instead. “Mmmnnnn, I love you.” “You do that and expect me to go back to sleep?” He grinned, cupping her breast and licking her just under her ear, knowing that she was already turned on. “Yes, just go back to sleep. You need your rest. The twins will be awake soon. Forget about me and what I’m doing.” “Me?” she asked. “If you insist.” “I do. “ She found his mouth and kissed him as she curled her leg over his hip and tugged him closer. He slid into her and forgot all about the dream that had awakened him as he made love to his beautiful wife.

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T If you wish to have a he storm howled outside and Natalie was relieved to be home. Jim had carried Zeus in for her and held him while she had changed her bed, then he had laid the wolf where she directed him to, and headed back down to town with a happy grin on his face. Before he left, Natalie had handed him the condoms back along with the lubricant. “You might need these,” she’d said. He had grinned and kissed her cheek, then thanked her for pointing him in the right direction. Apparently Sarah had confessed her feelings and given him a run for his money right there in his office, if his delighted smile was anything to judge by. He had called her once he was safely back at his office in town and told her the roads had gotten considerably worse. “If you need anything, you call me,” he said. “I will. Thanks, Jim.” “You’re welcome. And Natalie? It really wasn’t me, okay?” “What?” “The rabbit. That wasn’t me.” “If not you, then…” She trailed off and they were both silent a moment.

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu “Barry?” he suggested warily. Of course. “But why?” “Judging by the glares he’s been giving me lately, I’d say he was warning me off.” “Really?” “He still thinks you’re his. Be careful, all right?” “Thanks, Jim. You too.” She hung up, even more troubled by the news that Barry still felt possessive of her. She was going to have to talk to him again, the sooner the better, although it would have to wait until after the storm and she really wasn’t looking forward to it. Exhausted, Natalie turned the thermostat up a couple of more degrees and changed into another nightgown, since the one she had worn the night before was crusted with dried blood. It was nearly eleven, the middle of the day, but the snow storm outside made it seem later and since she had been up most of the night, she crawled into bed with Zeus and snuggled against him, soon falling asleep with an arm tucked around him so that she would know if he awakened. It was dark when she woke up to find Zeus stirring uneasily in her arms. He groaned and shifted, and she heard a bone or two pop. “Sshhh, easy, boy. It’s okay now. We’re home and you’re safe, and Jim got that nasty old silver bullet out.” He made another series of odd little noises and squirmed against her hold for a minute, then he seemed to settle once more. Natalie drifted off to sleep again, his head tucked under her jaw, while she lay on her back. He shivered a short while later and the heat emanating from him disturbed them both, he whimpered and fidgeted, she stirred and turned away, too hot, not waking enough to realize that something was amiss. It wasn’t until a hot wet tongue lathed up her neck that she woke up enough to giggle, “Zeus… stop that. Tickles. Go to sleep.” The wolf was snuggled against her back and she felt hot where he touched. Slowly she came to realize there was something weird about it. The foreleg wrapped around her was bigger and heavier than normal. He nuzzled her neck and licked her again, making her squirm and snicker, despite the little alarm in her head that was shrieking that there was something odd about this.

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To Hunt a Wolf It wasn’t until he moved though that the shock slammed into her. The leg was not a leg. It was an arm. A man’s arm. And his hand was on her naked breast, squeezing, gently but firmly. She was dreaming. Had to be. It did not feel like a dream. She put her hand on the arm to push it away but froze instead. Fur. It was covered with fur. Then he pressed his body against hers and she felt his erection, big and hard, at her back. Two contradictory reactions shot through her: fear and lust. The fur told her it was Zeus. The size and weight of the body behind her told her it was a man. A really big one. “Zeus,” she whispered. “You need to stop that, boy.” He didn’t stop, but continued to nuzzle her neck and fondle her breast with a fascination that bordered on desperate as he pressed himself against her. “Jim?” she tried, getting scared now. Had he changed his mind? Come back and broken in? He was rubbing himself against her. Jim was not that hairy, was he? Barry? Oh God, no! Where was Zeus? “Let me go.” The man stilled. Did he realize that he was scaring her? “Please,” she whispered. She was not giggling any more. He rolled away and leapt from the bed, running for the hallway. She heard paws on the floor as he fled. “Damn it!” Natalie ran after him, slapping on the lights as she went. It was bright, blinding her for a moment, as she chased him into the kitchen. She heard a thump, then the scratching of paws at the door and a yowling whimper. “Zeus?!” From by the door, he looked up at her, huddled against the shadows, the light from the hallway spilling on his face. Natalie stared at him, afraid to put on the light in the kitchen. What she saw huddled by the door was not entirely a wolf. It was a wolf, but it wasn’t. As she watched, he shuddered and whimpered, and changed, his body morphing further. “What the hell are you?” she whispered, frightened yet transfixed, as he slowly stood up on his hind legs, huddling

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu still against the door, wanting only to escape now; he could not master the lock and the door handle just yet to execute his exit. Big, that’s what he was. Really big. Even though he stood hunched over, she knew if he stood to his full height, he would dwarf her. She reached for the light switch on the wall and turned it on, and he shied from the light, trying to cover himself, for he was naked. While he still had some fur, there were a great many areas now that showed smooth human flesh. Flesh that rippled and shifted while Natalie watched in silent horror, her mouth agape. Half wolf, half man, that’s what he was. And he was still changing. “Zeus?” she whispered, hoping for an acknowledgement that he at least recognized her enough not to hurt her physically should he grow violent. He tried to speak, the words difficult to get out. Only sounds emerged that were still too wolf-like for real speech. Frustrated by the door and his inability to escape, perhaps even frightened by what was happening to him, he turned toward her and took a step in her direction. Natalie backed up a step in hasty response, wary and afraid of the beast in her kitchen. “Stay back!” The combination of hurt and sadness that shone out of his eyes at her retreat, almost made her gasp. His gaze dropped to her body and she became aware that her nightgown was wide open, the buttons undone, exposing her fully to his view. Not sure which one of them had done that, she shot a glance back at him. Oh hell, he was still aroused. There was no hiding his erection. Her knees went weak and she knew she would never be able to outrun him if he wanted to pursue sex. Nor fight him. He was a lot bigger than she was. “No,” she said, telling him she did not want sex with him, even though the response of her body called her a liar. She was not about to have sex with some half man wolf thing. Maybe if she made it to the bedroom, she could lock the door? Taking another step back into the hallway, she suddenly spun and ran.

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To Hunt a Wolf The creature was on her in two steps and they crashed to the floor. He took the brunt of the impact then rolled her under him. While she struggled to fight him off, he was still, pinning her on her stomach with his weight. At her back, she could feel his erection again, threatening enough by itself, and yet he made no further move to molest her. She stilled and he remained still also. “Get off me, Zeus,” she ordered quietly after a few moments. “Name…” His voice trembled in her ear, soft and uncertain, as if it had not been used in a long time. “Not Zeus.” He took the liberty of licking her neck as he had done in bed earlier and she shivered from it, confused. It was the kiss of a lover’s tongue, languorous and sensual, and she squeezed her eyes closed, trying to resist it. In her ear, he murmured, “Adrian. My name… is Adrian.” “Adrian,” she repeated. “Yes.” “Let me up.” “Want.” He pressed his erection against her and groaned. “Need.” “No,” she said. “Stop it now.” He levered himself up enough to let her turn over and she did so, looking up at him with still frightened eyes for the beast, but it was no beast who loomed above her now, but a man, a very handsome man with long dark hair and dark brown eyes that were filled with such sadness, Natalie found herself wanting to hug him close. “I’m dreaming, aren’t I?” she asked. It was the only explanation. “No.” “This can’t be happening. You can’t be real.” “I’m real.” She shook her head. “Has to be a dream.” He was too beautiful to be real, with those dark sinful eyes and high cheekbones. She touched his smooth face, caressing the strong, square jaw that provided a complimentary angle to the high plains of his cheeks. Taking in the straight nose and full lips, and his blunt chin, she found no whiskers or stubble abraded her skin as he turned his mouth into her palm and planted a kiss there. Then he met her gaze, his dark and filled

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu with desire for her, hers still filled with both wonder and fear. “I’m real,” he insisted, as if he were still trying to believe it himself. Leaning down over her, he slowly inhaled the scent of her along her throat, then down her chest, between her breasts. Moving back up he leaned down, setting his lips upon hers as he had seen Jim do, kissing her, and feeling the hard pebbling of her nipples against his chest. She squirmed and pushed at him, saying, “No.” Disappointed, he pushed back to kneel between her thighs and sadly met her gaze. Although she made no move to try and escape now, she still was not going to welcome him, he understood, as his gaze traveled slowly down her body, longingly, and he swallowed hard. “I want you,” he told her. “No.” “Yes. I do.” “It’s not possible. You’re a wolf.” “I am a man.” “You can’t be. This has to be a dream. Are you married?” “No. This is no dream. I’m real, Natalie.” When she made no further comment or denial, and made no more effort to escape her fate, he reached for her hips and she drew her knees upward, lifting her hips upward. Slowly he peeled her panties off and dropped them on the floor, then he looked at the treasure he had uncovered, and he hurt with wanting her. He could smell her desire. She wanted him as much as he wanted her. He bent his head down and kissed her knee, then trailed his tongue lazily along her inner thigh. She moaned softly and opened wider for him. Intoxicated by her taste and her scent, he laid his hand gently over her furry little mound. She sighed and pressed up against his palm. “I think I like this dream,” she whispered. Maybe he was the one who was dreaming, he thought, moving his hand downward, trailing a finger along the length of her moist slit and he slowly slid his finger inside her. She was hot and wet and silky in there and he felt himself quickening. She quivered around his finger and squeezed, tightening inside, and he felt his erection becoming more intense in response as he inhaled the scent of her desire. He wanted to be inside her there and he wanted to taste her. He

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To Hunt a Wolf lowered his mouth to her and dipped his tongue through her folds, lapping at the spicy tang of juices he found there and he moaned. A little cry of pleasure whimpered out of her and she squirmed, wanting more. As much as he wanted to stay there and devour her with his mouth, he needed to get inside her more. Moving over her, he guided himself to her opening and pushed in, gasping as her slick heat engulfed him, and he moved purely on instinct. Aware that his movements were clumsy and awkward, he wanted to savor it and make it last, and yet he could not stop. It was too much, she was too much, and by the third stroke, the swelling wave of pleasure broke over him and he spilled inside her with a muffled cry as he buried his face in her shoulder. Shame burned him and he sensed her disappointment as he lay there, breathing hard, trying to think of the right thing to say. Nothing seemed appropriate. When she said nothing, the silence expanded and condemned, and he felt its sharp sting. He rolled away and lay there beside her, staring up at the ceiling, disappointed too. “I’m sorry,” he offered quietly. “Me too. You’d think in dreams it would be better.” “My dreams aren’t even that good.” “Well, we’ll have to work on them. It’s been a while for me and seems like it must have been for you too.” “My first,” he mumbled and rolled away, curling up on his side, his back to her. He sucked at it, he knew. She didn’t have to say it. As good as it had felt for him, he knew he had disappointed her. For a long moment there was nothing but the sound of the wind howling outside and the feel of the cold creeping into their skin and his heart. It squeezed there and those icy fingers snaked deeper. Natalie rolled on her side, propping her head on her hand as she snuggled against his back, kissing his shoulder. “Are you serious?” He said nothing. “That was really your first time?” “As if you couldn’t tell,” he mumbled. “How can that be? You’re beautiful, Adrian. All the girls would have been after you, unless you’re…”

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu “What?” he asked when she trailed off. “Um. Why haven’t you done it before?” “Does it matter?” “It might.” He did not reply immediately and Natalie shivered, snuggling closer. There was a draft along the floor. Outside the wind howled eerily around the eaves and the trees, rattling things. Something out on the porch clattered and fell over with a thump. Goosebumps crept along her skin as she shivered again. He wasn’t going to answer her. “We should go back to bed before we catch cold,” she said, getting up. “Come on.” Adrian just wanted to stay there as he felt his embarrassment deepening. “Adrian, please come to bed. It’s cold out here.” It was cold out here on the hallway floor, even though the heater kept cycling on. Awkwardly, he got to his feet, finding it very strange to be upright after having spent so long on all fours. Natalie took his hand, leading him back to her bed without further comment thank God. He would die if she called him a good boy. She crawled under the covers, tugging him into the bed beside her. Shivering, she snuggled against him, settling her head on his shoulder. Although he held her in his arms, he stared up at the ceiling, saying nothing, uncertain and confused. “Adrian?” she said after a minute. “What?” “If this isn’t a dream, what are you?” “A werewolf.” “There’s no such thing,” she disputed gently. She did not want to think about that. He couldn’t be. She did not believe in werewolves, even with what she had seen with her very own eyes, his transformation from werewolf to man, she still could not believe it. “Then maybe I’m still chained in my prison just dreaming you up,” he murmured. “I hope the next dream will be better because so far I suck at sex.” “You don’t suck.” “Satisfied, then, were you?”

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To Hunt a Wolf “Like everything, it takes practice to get good at it. But you did wake the slumbering princess, I’m afraid, and now she’s hot for more,” she teased softly, reaching down and wrapping her fingers around his penis. His response was instant, swelling in her hand to full hardness as she nuzzled his ear and teased him with her tongue. “Want to practice some more?” She moved her hand on him, up and down, and he groaned, afraid he’d embarrass himself and come. He reached down and covered her hand, trying to stop her, whispering, “Stop or I’ll shoot.” Kissing his shoulder, she giggled, “Loaded with silver bullets, is it?” “Not for long if you do that.” “Adrian?” “What?” “Let me make love to you.” “Are you sure you want to? What if I don’t…” “Sshhh. Don’t. Just relax and let me lead,” she said. “And don’t go all furry on me.” “I’ll try not to.” Natalie kissed him tenderly on the lips as she slowly moved over him and then she pulled her mouth away as she sat up. Smiling at him, she instructed, “Relax. This won’t hurt a bit.” She took him in hand and guided him inside her and he watched as she did it. He moaned softly as she swallowed him in her hot slick body and he felt the storm of lust rise inside him in response.

You have purchased the pdf version of this novel. It is also available in a print version. If you wish to have a printed version, please visit www.absolute-x-press.com *** or www.amazon.com to get your copy. A more urgent need awoke Adam from the arousing dreams he’d been having. He found his body acting upon the lust, discovering that he had already pulled Victoria under him, thrust himself inside her and was grinding himself into her deeply. Her initial surprise worn off fast and her grumble turned to a sound of pleasure, thank heaven, because he didn’t think he could stop now. After, when they lay together all sweat slicked and still breathing hard from their exertions, Victoria asked, “Adam, what was that?” “What, I can’t take my wife and mate in the middle of the night like a man madly in love?” 88

Elizabeth L’Inconnu She giggled at his playful and indignant tone. “Mmnn yes, of course. And it was mighty nice too. You can do that more often.” “Oh I will, believe me.” “The twins will have new siblings before they know it.” “You ready for more then?” he asked softly, nuzzling up her throat and under her ear. “Oh yes,” she murmured, kissing him tenderly. “But you had best take it up with my agent and renegotiate my contract with the studio.” “They’ll be so thrilled they’ll bend over backwards to keep you in.” “Not if it throws filming off, my sweet.” “They’ll work it. Come here and let me make love to you again. I need you tonight.” “Whatever did I put in your evening tea?” she wondered. “I’ll have to use it every night.” “It’s called Eau du Victoria,” he whispered, inhaling her scent, his nose buried in her neck as he covered her and made love to her again for a long time.

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* * to * have a If you wish printed version, please visit www.absolute-x-press.com or www.amazon.com to get your copy. “Sshh, easy. Let me. Just lay still and let me do it.” Easy for her to say. Adrian wanted to grab her and pound himself inside her until he shot his load. And that would not take long, he knew. Once he was fully inside her, she sat still and took his hands in hers. After kissing each one, she set them on her thighs. “If you feel like you’re going to come, squeeze me tight, and I’ll try to stop,” she instructed gently. He squeezed her thighs. She smiled and squeezed him inside her, making him groan. “I’ll try,” she repeated. “But know I want you in me and I do want to feel you come, Adrian. And I want to come on you. Again and again.” “Oh God…” She was going to get her wish sooner than either of them wanted if she kept that up. “You feel so good inside me. Oh. Yeah.” She bit her lip and slowly rotated her hips around him, stirring him around deep inside her. “Mmnnn. Do you like that?” 89

To Hunt a Wolf “Yes.” And he couldn’t help it, he pushed up inside her. “Oh, Adrian,” she whispered. “We may need to practice a lot.” “Yeah,” he agreed, pulling her down on top of him and rolling her onto her back, where he thrust into her with sharp deep strokes until he erupted inside her with a cry. He felt her muscles clamping down on him, squeezing him tight, and although it did not last long, it was better than the first time, and he at least felt like he had brought her some pleasure. After, they lay facing each other, kissing tenderly and sharing exploratory caresses, getting to know each other and what they liked. “Was it better?” he asked after a while. “Mnnn, yes,” she smiled. “You’re a fast learner. Want to do it again?” “Yes.” Kissing her, he turned her onto her stomach and then moved his kisses to her shoulders and back, whispering in her ear, “I want you on your knees. I want to watch you take all of me inside of you.” “Mmnnn,” she agreed, getting to her knees for him and parting her thighs ready. Adrian guided himself to her eager welcome and pushed himself into her. It excited him, seeing himself slide into her, disappearing into her depths. She moaned and then pulled away from him, and he watched as he reappeared, slickly coated with their comingled juices. Inside, she quivered, surrounding him with liquid heat and temptation. And then she rocked back on him, taking him deep inside with a hard thrust that caused their bodies to slap together noisily. Oh damn, he was going to… He grabbed onto her hips and tried to hold back as their bodies slammed together, his reaching deeper inside her with every thrust. She cried out sharply into her pillow and clutched at him inside, her orgasm loud and satisfying as she pulsed all around him and he couldn’t hold it back any longer. He drove deep, holding her fiercely to him, his own cry loud in the room. His body was on fire and he knew he couldn’t stop it. He felt it creep through him even as he was still thrusting himself in and out of her, even before he’d finished coming. Did she feel it too?

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu “Don’t stop,” she whimpered. “Please.” Adrian did not want to stop but his body was changing and he couldn’t stop that either. Nor could he stay inside her. He was afraid of what it would do to her, of what he would do to her. He pulled out and rolled away from her, leaving the bed entirely. She cried out at the loss, until she realized what was happening to him. She stared at him in fascinated horror as he huddled on the floor and his body warped and morphed into the beast, then at last the wolf. It was not an easy transition, for he had tried to fight it and his body was not used to changing any more. It left him shaking and weak, and totally mortified; what would she think of him now? He looked at her from where he huddled on the floor. There were tears on her cheeks as she sat up and hesitantly patted the mattress beside her, calling him back to her side. He shouldn’t go anywhere near her right now. “Please,” she said simply. How could he deny her? Warily, he went, and he licked the tears from her face. She turned off the light and hugged him close, and then lay down with him, tugging the covers up. “When will I see you again, Adrian? When will you come back to me? Or did I dream you after all?” Perhaps he should let her believe that? It would be easier for her that way. It was probably the right thing to do, although his heart rebelled at the thought, his body, too. How had he lived without her all these years? Adrian couldn’t imagine never sharing her body again. The thought made him whine. He wanted her. He wanted to finish what they had been doing before the change had stolen over him. It had robbed them both of their pleasure. And he found he really liked doing that to her, making love to her. “Shhh, my beautiful boy. I’ll be here waiting for you, when you want to come back to me.” Oh how he wanted to go right now. He had not turned by choice. Full moon was coming and the power it held over him was fiercer for having been denied for so long. The controls he had learned as a child were ineffective, broken by the forced imprisonment of his wolf side. His human form had become subverted, undermined by the prolonged control of the wolf

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To Hunt a Wolf due to the well-timed silver bullet that had held him enslaved in his animal body for so long. “You will tell me why, won’t you, Adrian? When you come back to me, you’ll tell me why you changed and what this is all about, why you were so badly hurt?” She pressed her forehead to his and sighed. “I miss you already.” Adrian wrapped a foreleg around her and held her close, nuzzling his face in her neck. His greatest fear was never being able to change back to his human form again. Whatever would he do now that he had found Natalie? He loved her. He could not stand to be with her as a wolf and never be able to make love to her again. It would destroy him, tear him apart. You could always bite her, a little voice whispered. Then she would be a werewolf too. Then at least he could still have her for a little while. No! Never would he condemn her to this, living chained up and beaten by a cruel master. Never! For he knew that eventually his master would come hunting for him and when he did, Adrian would die before going back to that hell. “Adrian?” she whispered, stroking her hand slowly down his side. “What do we do if you get stuck as a wolf? How will we ever live like this?” Damn. He pulled back to look at her in the dim light that spilled in from the hall. “How will I ever be able to make love with you again?” she whispered. Adrian swallowed hard on the howl of despair that wanted to roar from his throat. Had she read his mind? They could never be together like this, a human and a wolf. To do so would be wrong, so wrong. “I want you, Adrian. Come back to me.” He tried then, hard, to return to his human form, fought for it like never before. The moon’s call was too strong and the best he managed was the beast in between. To be stuck in that between-state would drive him mad, and yet she held him fiercely close as he struggled. Part man was better than none. She whispered it temptingly. It could not be trusted, he knew. That beast would take her whether she wanted it or not. And he wanted. He wanted very much.

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu Afraid he would get stuck as the beast and that he would hurt her, he lapsed back to the wolf, exhausted by his efforts. “Oh Adrian, I’m so sorry. You’re not strong enough yet, are you, to fight it. It was wrong of me to ask you that.” She squeezed him tight. “It’s okay. We’ll get through this. You must rest now. Rest and get well. Then together we’ll find a way, I promise.” He promised her the same back, giving her a tiny lick at the corner of her mouth before he settled once more and sleep took him on a sigh.

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t was morning when he woke up and he found that he was alone, not just in the bed, but in the house. He did not sense Natalie nearby at all and there were no sounds to indicate that she was just in the kitchen, drinking coffee. Troubled, he rolled from the bed and discovered that he was human for a while longer. Relief flashed through him and he was halfway down the hallway before two more insights hit him. One, he was naked and he had no clothes. Two, he had been on his way to go outside and take a leak up that big old pine tree. He did not need to do that this morning. He was human—he could use the toilet. Heading back to the bathroom to relieve himself, he took extreme and somewhat juvenile pleasure in aiming his stream into the bowl. That taken care of, he decided that he wanted a nice warm shower, but Natalie’s absence troubled him. Knowing he would not enjoy the shower until he knew where she was, he padded through to the kitchen to see if she was out back. He stepped out onto the porch naked and shivered as he stared at the swirling snow. He did not see her and he yelled out her

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu name, knowing he could not stay out in the cold like he could if he were the wolf. “Natalie!” he tried again when he got no response. Had she left him here? Run away? Starting to panic, he headed for the porch steps, determined to find her, when a white bundle came hurtling out of nowhere at him. “What are you doing out here!?” she cried. “In!” Like a naughty boy, she turned him and sent him on his way with a slap to his bare rump. Her gloved hand was cold and he hurried into the kitchen with her chasing him. “Are you crazy?” she demanded, wide-eyed and laughing. “You’ll freeze some of my favorite parts of you off!” “I was worried about you,” he said, a little defensively, but he was starting to laugh too. “You smacked my ass.” “Yes. And I’ll do it again if you wag that tail outside of this door naked, you sexy beast. Back to bed with you. You have no clothes. Not that I object to you lounging around naked, but I don’t want you catching cold.” “Only if you’ll join me,” he tried to bargain. “Oh, Temptation, your name is Adrian. I will, when I’m done outside.” “What are you doing out there?” “Trying to shovel the drive before it gets too darn deep.” “It’s coming down faster than you can shovel it,” he pointed out as she took off her gloves. Her hands were red from the cold. “I know, but if I don’t do it now, it’ll be twice as hard later. And what if we needed to get down the mountain? What if we had an emergency? We wouldn’t be able to get out.” “But you couldn’t get beyond the end of the drive anyway until they cleared the roads.” “True but I won’t have to shovel that part and I would rather shovel a foot of snow now than three feet later.” “I’ll help you then.” “Like that? I don’t think so. You’ll freeze your weenie off.” “Maybe I could wear something of yours?” “Oh yes, I’d like to see you in my little black cocktail dress,” she teased with a grin. “You’d look really hot in fishnet stockings.”

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To Hunt a Wolf The look he shot her was aghast, he knew, and it only made her giggle harder as he took a step backward and said, “Er, no thanks. That’s quite okay.” Advancing on him, she chuckled evilly. “Then I get to keep you in my bed, young man. All to myself!” She lunged at him, trying to put her icy hands on his naked flesh. He darted away and she chased him playfully to the bedroom, where he ducked into the bathroom and played at slamming the door. He let her push it open and caught her as she fell in the door. Laughing, he kissed her cold nose and warned, “Touch me with those cold hands and there’ll be trouble.” “Yeah?” “Yeah.” She slapped them on his bare ass and squeezed. “Argh!” He picked her up and pressed her back against the wall, then kissed her soundly. She melted under the heat of his mouth and pulled him closer with her icy hands still on his butt. “You’re my favorite icicle,” he grinned at her, rubbing his nose affectionately against her still icy one. “I think you need a hot shower with me to get warmed up again.” “Tempting,” she said. “Bad boy.” “Want me to show you how bad?” “Mmnnn, yes please.” Adrian kissed her again, more deeply this time, his intent serious now as he peeled off her hat and her coat, then a big woolen cardigan, followed by a sweater. When he found a t-shirt under that, he teased, “How many layers are we talking about here? This is like unwrapping a present. Makes up for all the Christmases I’ve missed.” “Does it?” she asked, searching his eyes. He smiled, “Oh yeah,” and popped the button on her jeans undone. “How many Christmases have you missed, Adrian?” she asked softly, concerned by that now. “It doesn’t matter. I was only joking.” “I don’t think you were, not about that. How many, Adrian?” “Not now. I want you too much. I want you while I’m still human.” “Oh damn,” she whispered and caught his intensity. The kiss was fierce and hungry, all consuming, and Adrian didn’t

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu take much care with her clothes after that. He just wanted them gone. As soon as he had her naked, he pinned her to the wall and thrust into her, devouring her with his mouth as he took what he needed and gave what he wanted to give, and Natalie gave it back to him in a warm throbbing welcome that pulled at him and demanded satisfaction. And he wanted to give her that. Satisfaction. He wanted to pleasure her like she had never been pleasured before, even though he knew she had been. That didn’t matter to him. What mattered to him was now, this moment between them. She wrapped her arms and legs around him and held on, devouring him every bit as much as he devoured her. “Don’t ever leave me,” she gasped. “Never. I’d die without you.” “Don’t say that!” “I love you, Natalie. I love you.” Whatever she said in response was lost in the kiss he laid on her then as he drove harder and deeper to the very core of her being. She cried out her pleasure and he ravished her mouth with greedy delight, following her, filling her with the hot gushing essence that would be forever hers and hers alone. For a long time after he kissed her and caressed her, savoring her feel and her taste, and her smell, imprinting her on his senses, both human and wolf. “Adrian,” she asked at last. “What happened last night?” Burying his face in her shoulder, he said quietly, “The moon.” “But it isn’t full yet.” Adrian drew back enough to look her in the eyes. “It’s close. I can feel it. Promise me something.” “What?” “On the night of the full moon, you’ll lock me out.” “No!” “I don’t want to hurt you, Natalie.” “You won’t.” “I don’t know what I’ll do. It’s been too long. You can’t trust me. Not that night.” “You would never hurt me, Adrian. I know that.” “You can’t know that. You haven’t seen the beast I can become.”

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To Hunt a Wolf “Yes I have.” “No. On the full moon, even I fear what I will become.” “Just a beautiful wolf,” she assured him. “You don’t understand, Natalie.” “Then tell me. What happened to you? Who hurt you so very badly?” He was silent so long, looking deeply into her eyes, that she did not think he would ever answer her. When he finally did, it was with a quiet whisper that she had to strain to hear. “My master.” “Who, Adrian. Who is he?” “A terrible foul creature,” he said. “His name is Cedric.” “Another werewolf?” “No, a vampire.” She took it calmly, considering. After all, if there really were werewolves, why not vampires as well? “Your master is a vampire? “Yes. Do we have to talk about this now?” “Yes. We do. Who knows when you’ll turn again and then I’ll have to wait who knows how long for answers.” “I’d rather make love to you.” “Answer my questions first.” Adrian sighed defeat. “What do you want to know?” “How did you escape?” “My collar became loose.” “And he did not notice?” He shrugged. “It was dark where he kept me, but he could see. Maybe he thought I was too weak to leave.” “You were, weren’t you? You were badly hurt when I found you. I was afraid you wouldn’t live. You’d fought with another animal too.” “A coyote. I did not want to fight.” “You didn’t really have a choice, did you?” “Not if I wanted to live.” “Damn, we need to get you the rest of your rabies shots too.” “He didn’t have rabies.” “How do you know?” “I would have smelled it on him.” “Really? Like some dogs can smell cancer?”

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu “We can detect a lot of things,” he assured her, nuzzling her ear, trying to distract her. “Mnnn… are you giving me a cancer screening?” “Mnnn, a full out inspection is required of course.” He licked her throat and lightly nibbled her ear. “Oh, yes, of course.” “None here.” “Adrian, tell me more first. Your master, the vampire, did you see him often?” Adrian sighed. He did not want to talk about Cedric. He wanted to make love again. “Let me love you first.” “You just loved me. Tell me. Did you see the vampire often?” “Often enough, but he might go days or even weeks before he needed to kick something. I was glad enough to be left alone. At least when I was alone, I did not suffer his rages.” “That’s terrible. How long has he been your master?” “I don’t know,” he shrugged. “I tried to keep track of the time in the beginning, but it was hard to do when I missed days. Sometimes he beat me to oblivion, other times he would tranquilize me, because I fought hard against my captivity then and howled a lot. I had no idea how long I had been out during those times and it made tracking the moon difficult. The full moon was my only hope of telling the passage of time. And then…” “And then what?” “I had hoped that our family would come and find us, but… that hope died as more and more time passed.” “Us?” “He still has my sisters.” She gasped softly, horrified. “Your sisters?” “Deborah and Delilah. I didn’t want to leave them, but I had to. I wanted to find help and rescue them.” “Of course you did. That makes perfect sense.” “Natalie, he will come after me.” “He won’t find you here,” she assured him. “You’re safe here with me, Adrian. I promise.” “Only in the day time,” he said. “He might not even have noticed that you’re gone yet.” “We can hope. I need to contact my family.”

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To Hunt a Wolf “Of course. They won’t take you away from me, will they?” “No. I won’t let them.” And not for the first time a little rage at his family slithered through his gut. Why had they not come to rescue him and his sisters? Was it because Adam had survived the kidnapping after all? Had Adam stepped into his role as the next Alpha in line within their Pack? The thought did trouble him. But now that Adam was dead, what would happen to his Pack if there was no heir to assume the role? Or had his parents replenished their linage since then? Just how many years had passed? “Adrian?” Although he looked at her, it took him a while to focus and come back from those troubling thoughts. “Everything is going to be all right,” Natalie assured him, caressing his jaw tenderly. “We’ll call your family and let them know that you’re alive and well, and tell them about your sisters. Then we can make love as much as we want to.” “First, I want a shower.” He kissed her and picked her up, stepped into the shower and turned on the water. Natalie squealed and gasped, laughing as the cold water hit them, and struggling to get away. Adrian wouldn’t let her go, giving her something else to think about while the water warmed. She stopped fighting as soon as he was inside her and greedily wrapped herself around him, enjoying his heat against the cold water that seemed to be taking too long to heat. Maybe it was just their own heat that made the water seem chilly, although by the time they were finished it was lovely and warm. They took pleasure in washing each other after and Adrian was ready to make love to her again by then. “Insatiable,” Natalie smirked. They dried off with big fluffy towels then Adrian carried Natalie to the bed, where he threw her down and pounced on top of her. She shrieked with laughter as he playfully rolled around with her, taking little licks and playful nips of her flesh, and when she tried to return the affections he settled down, chiding her softly, “Play time is over, Mistress. It’s time for your screening now.” “Ha ha, I was only joking.”

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu “Too bad. I wasn’t. On your stomach, woman.” He turned her onto her stomach with no effort at all and she giggled into the pillows as he stretched out over her and dipped his nose into the back of her neck. He inhaled long and deep and sighed with such pleasure, she wondered what he smelled there other than soap and shampoo. He sniffed her scent in on long slow breaths, inspecting and tasting as well as he moved slowly all over her, first around her right shoulder then down her arm to her fingertips and back. Then the other shoulder and arm, and back to her spine, which he followed down her length in a meandering path, passing over her ribs and her sides, which made her giggle and squirm with amusement and delight. When he reached her bottom, he licked at her tail bone and cupped her cheeks with his hands, investigating each one and giving it a kiss of approval before spreading her legs further apart. His tongue wended its way lazily down a thigh and his hands followed down both, his thumbs trailing along the inside of her legs, finding sensitive places en route. He kissed the sole of her foot and nipped at her toes before making his way back up and then down the other leg. “Turn over,” he ordered her softly and she obeyed, quivering with sensation and desire now. She held out her arms to him in invitation but he shook his head and smiled. He was not finished yet. Opening her legs, he started at her left ankle and made his way up both legs slowly in increments, one side then the other, until he reached mid-thigh, then he lifted his head and looked at her. “Oh God,” she whimpered. He gave her that wolfish smile that said he was going to delight in devouring her as his hands slid the rest of the way up her thighs and he slowly peeled her open with his thumbs. His gaze dropped to the pretty pink treasure he had exposed and for a long time he just admired her there, watching as she squirmed and her muscles in there quivered with need, contracting and dilating, undulating, trying to draw him in. It was almost hypnotic watching her response to the feel of his breath over her moist and sensitive core. He could smell her arousal and it was delicious. She whispered his name in desperation, needing him now, and he could not wait any more himself. He lunged forward

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To Hunt a Wolf and claimed her with his mouth, feasting on the taste of her, burying his tongue in her and teasing her to orgasm, making her shriek out her pleasure. He loved it when she lost all control and he did not stop there. The scent of her and the taste of her only increased his hunger for more. He brought her to orgasm several more times before he hastily completed his examination and moved up to take her mouth as he buried his own need inside her. In response to his fierce passion, Natalie devoured him in return, greedily pulling him deeply inside her body. She tangled her tongue with his wicked one, tasting her own juices in his mouth, and she moaned at his intensity as he drove into her with fierce strokes. She dug her heels into the mattress and thrust the cradle of her hips upward to give him a better and deeper penetration. Adrian growled low in his throat in response and pounded in even harder and faster. With his weight centered behind each thrust, he arched his spine and threw his head back as he chased after the promise of heaven. Her orgasm was deep and pulsing when it coursed through her, and he exploded in her fierce grip, almost howling out his release. He curtailed it to a shout that echoed about the room and they both knew how close he had been to the wolf’s call in that moment. After, he collapsed on top of her, breathing hard, he claimed her mouth once more in a searing kiss before he buried his face in her throat and slowly lapped at her flesh. She cradled him there, her hold tight, even after their breathing had returned to normal. Adrian found himself licking her pulse, savoring it, wanting to nip her lightly. She smelled so good to him, tasted so right on his tongue. He loved the smell and the taste of her, all of her, especially when her passions were aroused. Just one little nick and he would not have to worry so much about her come full moon. He would not have to worry about hurting her. Just one small nick and she would turn like him and he could make her his forever. “What are you thinking so hard about?” she asked softly as her fingers played through his long dark hair. He liked that, a lot, her fingers in his hair. It felt wonderful, gentle and loving.

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu He did not want to answer her question so honestly, that he had been thinking of biting her. She would probably withdraw from him if he told her that. It would scare her. “I was thinking about how much I want you,” he said. It was no lie. He wanted her forever. She smiled and bussed his brow. “Good. I want you to want me.” “No problem there. I want to devour you.” “I think you already did,” she sighed, stretching under him and running a hand down his spine to cup his smooth butt and squeeze. “Am I squashing you?” “I like it. Squash me all you want.” He propped himself up on his elbows and looked down at her. “I want to do more than squash you, lady.” “We’ve covered pretty much everything, I think. What else do you want to do to me?” “I want to make you mine.” “I already am,” she assured him, giving him a playful kiss under his chin. “Mine, always and forever.” When she saw the deep dark look in his eyes, she hesitated. “What is it, my darling? What are you so worried about?” “I’m a werewolf, Natalie.” “And I love you even knowing that.” “But will you still love me after full moon?” “Oh Adrian, of course I will. What do you want me to do? Chain you up in the basement for the duration? You wouldn’t like that and neither would I. It would make me feel too guilty, especially knowing how badly you’ve been treated before. Really, I would just rather lay here and hold you through it all.” Adrian swallowed hard. That would be too dangerous for her. “No, don’t trust me, no matter how passive I appear to be. Chaining me up in the basement sounds like a good plan.” “I was joking.” “I’m not. If I should howl, it would muffle the sound.” “Howl?” “You know that I will. I won’t be able to stop it.” “Adrian…”

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To Hunt a Wolf “For my peace of mind, if not yours, please, Natalie, before I start to turn.” “All right, I’ll think of something. Before you start to turn but not until you do, all right? I think Barry left a pair of handcuffs here. If I can find them, I’ll cuff you to the bed here. Will that make you happy?” “Who’s Barry?” he asked, for even though he had overheard her conversation with Jim about her affair with a married man, he hoped she would tell him about it herself. “The Sheriff,” she replied. “Will that work for you?” The disappointment he felt when she did not elaborate made him ask, “Why did he leave his cuffs here?” “I don’t know. I was stupid. That’s all we need to discuss about that. I’ll go find them.” She left the bed to do so, a little upset with him for probing, he knew. Troubled by what she had not said, he got up to follow her, but he paused by her dresser to stare at himself in the mirror. He was no longer the gangly youth he had been. His looks had changed too, but how old was he? He didn’t know. Looking deeply into the dark brown eyes that he had inherited from his mother, he looked for a clue that would tell him his age. The features were familiar, similar to his father’s, possessing his handsome high cheekbones, square jaw and the strong chin that some had called stubborn. His body was thin. Too thin. His ribs and hip bones were prominent, his waist too narrow. While he had grown broader in the shoulders and chest than he remembered and a little taller too, his muscles were lean and there was no fat on him at all. In a fight, he would likely not fare well. “Okay, I found them,” Natalie said, returning with said cuffs dangling from her fingers. She shot him a saucy grin. “How about I cuff you now and have my wicked way with you?” “Oh,” he said, taking them from her as he tugged her into an embrace. “So that’s why he left them here?” “No,” she lied, laughing. “I think so. Maybe I should cuff you and have my wicked way with you?” “I’ll let you cuff me, if you let me cuff you?” she teased him, wrapping a hand around his penis, which responded with a healthy rush of blood, making it hard once more.

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu “Ladies first. You got the keys?” “I do. On the bed, Mister, and spread ‘em.” She dangled the keys enticingly. He kissed her, stole them, then unlocked the cuffs. No way was he letting her cuff him first. “Let’s just see who spreads what,” he murmured, picking her up and carrying her back to the bed. While he kissed her senseless and rolled her under him on the bed, he snapped a cuff on her wrist and passed the other cuff behind one of the bars on the headboard. She made a little sound of protest as he took her other wrist to the cuff and lovingly embraced it with the cold ring of metal. With a grin, he sat back to admire his handy work. “No fair,” she said, giving the cuffs a tug. Admiring the effect that little tug had on her breasts, he grinned. “I think I like it. I can do anything I want to you now.” “You could anyway. You didn’t have to cuff me,” she pouted playfully. “No, but I think it’s only fair I have my fun before you cuff me up and take shameless advantage of me.” “Can I?” “When the cuffs are on, baby, you can do whatever you want.” “So, you big bad werewolf, just what are you going to do to me now?” she asked with a wicked and suggestive smile. “What do you want me to do to you?” “Whatever you want to do. It’s your choice, remember?” “On your knees.” He wanted to do it that way again. She rolled over and got to her elbows and knees, casting him a look over her shoulder that said to come and get it. Wanting to make her beg for it, he slid his fingers along her juicy slit and pushed two into her. Tormenting her, he held them still so that she was forced to rock back and forth, trying to get more. He watched as she took them inside her and pulled forward until they almost came free. And she did beg for it. Her hunger made him burn to take their place but he held off until she shuddered with another orgasm. Then he mounted her and ordered softly, “Ride it.” “Yes,” she agreed, forcefully rocking back and forth on him, driving herself into a frenzy while he watched and

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To Hunt a Wolf tried to hold back, and then when he could not remain still another second, he gripped her shoulders fiercely as he thrust forward, pushing her face into the pillows so she could not get away even if she wanted to. That little bit of unspoken dominance drove her over the edge and she shouted into the pillows, words that ordinarily would have shocked them both, for they gave him power over her. He was the master now, the dominant Alpha, and his bitch wanted more. Fueled with that lust, he gave her what they both wanted until they collapsed in a sweaty panting heap, exhausted. “Oh my God,” she whispered. “Okay?” he managed to gasp, belatedly concerned that he might have gone too far. “Mmnnn, yeah.” A satisfied grin replaced his momentary worry and he cuddled her against him. Together they slid into sleep while outside the storm continued and the snow added more blankets to their safe little world.

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IIf you wish to have a

t was starting to get dark when Natalie woke up to the discovery of a very pleasant sensation. Not only was she was still throbbing from their last round of sex, Adrian was tenderly kissing and licking her shoulder. Her shy wolf had learned fast and was making up for lost time. He was good, really good, and the memory of what they had done earlier made her burn for more. She was still cuffed to the bed, however. “Hey, I think it’s your turn in the cuffs,” she said. “Besides, I need to go fix us some dinner.” “Nope. I think I’ve decided to keep you chained right here, so I can make love to you whenever I want.” “You don’t have to chain me for that, remember,” she chuckled. “You only have to give me a wink and I’m right ready to fall into bed with you.” “Well, this way you don’t have far to fall.” “Ha ha. Come on, let me go get us something to eat. I’m hungry. Aren’t you hungry?” “Yes, little girl. For you. Only for you.” “You don’t want to take a nice long hot bath with me and play for a while?”

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To Hunt a Wolf Adrian sighed and reached for the keys on the bedside. Undoing the cuffs he let her go as his stomach rumbled loudly. “Aw, is my big bad wolf hungry after all that sex play?” “Starving,” he agreed. “Maybe I should just eat you, my pretty?” “Mmnnn, how about dinner and a bath first? Then we’ll see who eats whom.” “You’re a wicked tease. How am I supposed to walk with this thing all up and ready to do you again?” he complained lightly. Natalie giggled. “Why don’t you just lay here and rest, and save it up for later? Because you will need it.” She slipped from the bed and pulled on a red plaid robe, then padded out to the kitchen. Adrian followed her, wrapping a towel from earlier around his waist. Maybe he could help? She was standing at the kitchen window, looking out at the howling weather. He padded quietly up behind her and slipped his arms around her, making her jump slightly. “What is it?” he asked, kissing her shoulder. “It’s getting worse out there.” “We’re safe and warm. We’ll be okay.” “As long as we don’t lose power.” “Mmnnn. If we do, we’ll just have to snuggle closer.” He tightened his hold on her, pulling her back against him, pressing a kiss to her temple, trying to reassure her. She felt tense in his embrace. “Maybe we should find some candles or a flashlight,” he added. “Just in case.” “There are some candles in the living room. Why don’t you go and light a couple? I’ll grab the emergency supplies out of the closet.” When he didn’t release her, she looked up at him over her shoulder. “Everything okay?” “Sure,” he smiled, dragging his gaze away from the frozen world outside the window. “Does it usually get this bad?” “Not usually, no. But we are in the mountains and sometimes we do get really bad storms. That means power outages and we’ll get really cold. We should get dressed, but you don’t have any clothes. I don’t think any of mine will fit you. There may be a sweater or something. I’ll look but I think

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu we should eat something good and hearty first, while we still do have power. I think I have some stew I can thaw in the microwave… Adrian, are you listening to me?” Sort of. He was listening but not really paying attention. He was licking at her neck, running his tongue over her pulse there and wanting things he wasn’t sure he fully understood. He grazed his teeth lightly over the spot, making her wriggle and giggle. “You’ve got a one track mind,” she smirked. He grinned. Yes, he did. “Just a little bite,” he whispered in her ear, “and you’ll be just like me.” Feeling the slight graze of his teeth against her flesh again, she pulled away and escaped his embrace. “No. Not a good idea. I think it’s time, don’t you?” He lost his smile. She was right. It was time. Only now that it was, he was not so sure he wanted to submit to being cuffed to the bed. Deliberately misunderstanding her, he agreed, “Yeah,” and tried to pull her back into his arms; he wanted her. Natalie kept her distance and smiled at him, holding up a warning finger. “I didn’t mean for that.” “I did.” “I noticed. How long do we have until the moon is up?” He hesitated. “It’s on the rise.” “Then we’d better cuff you to the bed.” “Candles, emergency kit, what can we do to prepare?” Maybe if he had something to do, it would take his mind off of other things? Like making love to her. Like avoiding the cuff dictate he’d given earlier. “What about cuffing you to the bed?” “Let me help first. What can I do?” “Close all blinds and drapes, help to keep the heat in. It’s getting dark anyway. Draft…” She cleared her throat and thought better of calling them dogs. “Draft excluders in front of the doors.” She dug in a kitchen drawer, producing a box of matches. “Light some candles in the living room and put on the TV. We’ll see what the news is saying.” She handed him the matches and urged him on his way. “Hurry, okay?” “Okay.” He went to do what she’d told him to do, leaving her to do what she had to do in the kitchen. In the living room

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To Hunt a Wolf he turned on the lights and lit some candles that she had dotted about the room, pretty colored and scented pillars of wax in thick clear glass jars. A red cinnamon one, an orange one that smelled like pumpkin pie that reminded him he was hungry, a cream colored one that smelled like vanilla. He lit three and turned on the television, then went around the house, closing all of the blinds and the drapes everywhere except for the kitchen, which he would do last, and making sure the draft excluders were snug along the bottoms of the doors. His feet were cold. He could smell the beef stew before he returned to the kitchen and found Natalie stirring the pot on top of the stove. She had a pot of coffee on the brew too. For a long moment he was totally mesmerized by the slow sway of her bottom as she stirred the stew. The rise of the moon was not all that was rising in his world. He wanted Natalie with a deep and desperate need that physically hurt and he knew he should leave. He did not dare stay, and yet the thought of turning out into the blizzard did not thrill him and Natalie would only worry if he ventured out there. While he knew he should retreat to the bedroom and cuff himself to the bars of the headboard, he waited, while outside the storm howled on. She’d set a large bag on the table, the emergency kit he assumed, fat with supplies, and she had lit a couple of candles too. One was a white taper that she had stuck to the center of a blue saucer with its own melted wax. The other was a pillar candle although it lacked a jar and sat on a second saucer on the counter. She would look delicious naked and bathed in candlelight, he thought as he moved silently toward her, stalking his prey. Settling his hands on her hips, he brushed himself against her and bent his head to nuzzle her neck. She sighed and reached up a hand to ruffle his long locks. “You’re getting cold,” she observed. “You should probably go curl up in bed.” “It’s lonely and cold without you.” “The couch in the living room then, there’s a soft snuggly blanket on the back. You can watch the news and see if they mention anything. I’ll bring this through when it’s ready.”

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu “I’m ready now. So are you. I can smell you.” “No you can’t. You’re just saying that to impress me.” “I can too. You want it as much as I do.” Her sigh was admission enough. “We have to eat first,” she insisted. “We can eat first, if you insist,” he murmured, though both of them knew he was not referring to eating food. “Stew first,” she amended. “Go get comfy on the couch. I won’t be long, I promise.” “All right.” Reluctantly, he released her and went to the living room. The television was on but the screen had gone black. “No signal” it said on a blue banner across the bottom of the screen. Frowning Adrian picked up the remote control as he sat on the couch and put his feet up, covering himself with the soft fleecy blanket from the back of the couch. Using the remote, he turned the television off for a moment, then turned it back on. Still nothing. Maybe he wasn’t doing it right? He decided to wait until Natalie joined him, then she could give it a try. He went to set the remote on the coffee table, where a stack of magazines sat piled a few inches deep. The cover of the top one caught his eyes. Her. It was her. The woman he had seen in his dreams so many times now. She was wearing a red sparkly halter top dress that had a high waistline. She was smiling happily and waving at the camera. He picked up the magazine and sat back, staring at her. She was beautiful. “Victoria Steals the Show,” the headline read. She had won an award. An Oscar. His gaze strayed to the man who stood quietly and proudly at her side, his arm around her. Adam Gentry’s eyes were only for his beautiful wife, Adrian thought as the recognition slammed through him. He was looking at his brother. Adam was still alive! He was married and the beautiful woman was his wife. Adrian’s gaze went to the date on the magazine and his mind went numb. It couldn’t be right! “Here we are,” Natalie said merrily as she hurried into the room and set her tray on the coffee table. There were two bowls of stew on it, along with some hot buttered rolls and two cups of coffee. She perched her bottom on the couch

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To Hunt a Wolf beside him and turned to look at him, sensing something not right. “What is it? Adrian, what’s wrong?” “It’s a new millennium.” “Yes, it is,” she agreed with caution. “It’s a shock to you, but you’ll soon catch up, I promise. I’ll help you.” Adrian looked at her, confused and bewildered. Yes, there was that too. It was not what was on his mind, however. “He’s alive.” To his shame, he did not know how he felt about that. Relief and yet a deep hurt and a distant anger crept in too. “Who?” Holding up the magazine, he showed her the picture. “My brother.” “Your… Adam Gentry is your brother?!” She snatched the magazine from him and took a closer look. “Oh my God, you look so much alike.” She grinned at him then. “This is fantastic! You’ve found your brother. And your family. Oh Adrian, that’s wonderful.” So why wasn’t he smiling? Belatedly realizing that he was not as overjoyed as she was, she looked at him. “Adrian, what’s wrong? It’s a good thing, right?” “Is it?” he asked. “Yes. Of course it is. You thought he was dead, but he’s not. That’s wonderful news.” “He might not be so happy to see me.” “What? Don’t be silly. He’ll be relieved to know that you are alive. Why would you even think that he wouldn’t be?” “As long as I am dead, he’s next in line to lead the Pack when our father steps down.” That startled her. “You mean that it should be you? That you’re the firstborn?” “It should have been me, yes.” “I’m sure you’ll get your status back once they know you are alive,” she tried to reassure him. He shook his head. “You don’t understand. The Pack is all important. Every member has his or her place. Everyone has duties that must be observed. Mine were to train to run the Pack some day. I have missed everything, Natalie. I’ve grown up and gotten old without the necessary train…” He trailed off.

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu “Adrian, you’re not that old.” “I’m forty,” he whispered, mortified. “I’ve spent over half my life living on scraps in a dark cave. What do I know about leading a Pack?” Natalie wrapped her arms around him and tried to comfort him, “It doesn’t matter to me if you lead your Pack or not. I love you the way that you are. If you run off to take charge of your Pack, I’ll lose you, won’t I?” “No,” he promised. “I just want to be free, Natalie. I want to be with you.” “Well then,” she said, kissing his cheek. “Let’s just forget about your Pack duties for now. First things first. We eat. Then we brace for the worst.” “The TV’s not working right. I don’t know how to fix that either. I don’t know much about anything.” “That’s not true. You know how to please me.” She brushed her lips against his and was rewarded with a small smile and a faint blush, which made her smile in return. “And I hope you’ll please me some more after we eat our food. As for the television, you can’t fix it. It’s the storm. It’s messing up the satellite signal.” “Satellite?” “Yes, it’s beamed down from a satellite in space, but sometimes the weather messes up the signal.” She picked up the remote and turned it off, then picked up a bowl of the hot stew and handed it to him with a spoon. “Here, chow down.” “Aren’t you going to snuggle under here with me?” he asked. “Yeah, but I have cold feet.” “I’ll warm them up for you.” “As well as other places,” she agreed. Putting the spoon in his bowl, he held his meal out of the way and lifted the blanket for her to join him. He was naked under there and she slipped in before she could change her mind, settling herself between his thighs and reaching for her own bowl of stew. She snuggled back against his warm chest and they ate companionably in the quiet room with only the sound of the wind howling outside and the occasional sputter of a candle.

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To Hunt a Wolf “Mmmnnn,” Adrian murmured as he ate. “This is really good.” “You’re only saying that because it’s the first real homecooked meal you’ve had in a quarter of a century.” “Am not. It’s delicious.” She smiled and wiggled her bottom, a move which was instantly rewarded with the hot hard press of his arousal at her back. “Tease,” he murmured close to her ear. “Me? I think it’s you.” “Behave or I’ll impale you on it.” “Promises.” “Hold my stew and I’ll fulfill that promise in a heartbeat.” “No way,” she snickered. “Eat up. Then we can go play.” “Okay, but stop teasing me. You forget you’re toying with a sex-starved animal.” “You’re not an animal.” “At the moment, anyway.” It wouldn’t be long though before he was. He quickly finished his stew, and then leant over to set his bowl aside. “That was fast.” “I was hungry.” “Roll?” “Yeah.” She leaned forward to reach for one and he grabbed her to steady her, wrapping an arm around her. When she moved to sit back, he lifted her upward and guided himself to her moist entrance. “Adrian…” “Ssshh. Let me. Eat your stew.” He pushed up inside her with a sigh and held her fiercely to him. She tried to eat her stew but the slow gentle movements he made were too wonderful to ignore. She soon went to set her bowl aside. “Nuh ah,” he breathed in her ear, holding her tightly to him. “Finish it.” “Tease,” she whispered, taking another spoonful. Then she tried to set it aside again. “I’ll choke if you don’t let me put it down. Or drop it.” “Well then, you’d better put it down.”

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu She reached over to put it on the coffee table and groaned at the sensation her movement caused. “Devil,” she whispered as he pushed in deeper. “You’ll pay for that.” “I know.” “Oh.” “What?” Natalie ground herself down on him a little harder. “I have to…” “That’s nice.” “Only nice?” “No, it’s fantastic. Natalie?” “What?” “Take me deeper.” “Oh… Adrian…” She gasped softly as her body moved with deep and deliberate strokes, taking him deeper as she leant forward, bracing herself on his knees, riding him faster and faster. Behind her, she heard him make a soft low sound. Was that a growl? No, not yet! The last time that had happened, he’d pulled out and escaped and she couldn’t let him up just yet. Not now. Not now! She’d die. Please don’t let him change yet. Adrian moved then with a suddenness that made her cry out in surprise as he lifted her upward and turned her to face the couch, bracing one hand on the back while he clasped her body to him tightly, he thrust upward into her with sharp violent thrusts that made her shout out aloud as she came hard. Moments later he pumped into her, growling deep in his throat. Breathing hard, as soon as he could, he pushed away from the couch and carried her, still impaled on him, to the bedroom. Natalie was afraid to look at him. Scared that she might not see Adrian, she refused to look. Just before they reached the bed, he murmured gently in her ear, “I think it’s time you cuffed me to the bed.” “Um… You’re still…?” “Not for much longer. Do it now.” He released her and set her on her feet. There was a loud bang and they both froze as cold wind cut through the house. The power fluctuated wildly and the lights dimmed.

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To Hunt a Wolf “Stay here,” Adrian ordered before he ran down the hall to the kitchen. The kitchen door stood open, icy wind was driving snow ahead of it into the house. Adrian paused to see if he could find the cause. Sniffing the air, he was uncertain. The door had been locked. Hadn’t it? Seeing no one and praying it was just the wild weather, he went to close the door. It could not have been locked, he noted. The mechanism was intact. He closed and bolted it, then turned to find Natalie standing there naked and shivering. “I told you to wait in the bedroom.” “I’m fine. It was just the wind, right?” “Right.” Although he did not sound too sure, he had not detected the scent of Cedric. “Just the wind.” “It’s cold,” she shivered, chaffing her arms. Adrian went to her and pulled her close, kissing her tenderly on the forehead. “It’s okay. We’ll go get warm in bed now. You can cuff me up and we’ll both be safe.” “Can’t you stay human?” she asked, giving him a naughty smile. “We could have more fun that way.” “I’ll try my best.” His lips found hers and he kissed her tenderly, wrapping her up in his arms and the warmth of his love. And then he smelled it, the stink of death, of vampire. A scream of rage exploded in the room from the wretched invader. Adrian spun toward Cedric, shoving Natalie aside, already responding to the attack. Even though he was fast, Cedric was faster and the first blow struck Adrian hard, sending him thrashing to the floor in mid transformation. Half wolf, half man, he lunged back despite the pain, trying to take a bite out of the vampire. His jaws snapped shut on empty air as a booted foot crashed into his ribs. Pain exploded through him and Adrian knew his ribs were broken once more. He tried to roll away but Cedric was enraged and in full attack mode, moving faster than the eye could track. Natalie was screaming and he felt terror grip him when she launched herself at him in an attempt to find Cedric. She was swatted away as if she were no more than a petty annoyance, as a fruit fly after a glass of wine. Cedric was more concerned with his escaped pet. This was no punishment for having the audacity to escape. The attack was a whirlwind of viciousness and Cedric meant to beat him

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu to the brink of death if not beyond it. Adrian could not repel the attack. The vampire was too fast and although he heard the loud clang of the stew pot as Natalie swung it at Cedric, then heard it clatter away, he did not see it and in the darkness that blinded his vision his worst fears were realized. Cedric turned on her. Bloody, broken and bruised, Adrian heard her scream as he launched himself once more after Cedric. The vampire repelled him with ease and Adrian crumpled in a heap, a dazed and beaten wolf. His vision cleared enough to see Cedric bent over Natalie, holding her now limp form close, while he feasted at her throat, consuming her blood. Inside, Adrian howled with the grief of a wolf losing his mate. Cedric lifted his head and looked at him, laughing, exposing his greedy maw where Natalie’s blood dripped freely from his devouring of her. He resumed his feast and supped to the last drop, then in a flash of cruelty, he tore open his own wrist and forced his blood into her dying mouth. A low growl of rage came from the bloody wolf that was broken on the floor. It merely amused Cedric and he got a sexual thrill from the way the woman’s mouth finally latched onto the sustenance and she sucked at the life saving fluid he offered her. “I’d fuck her myself if not for the dog spunk that has sullied her cunt. But I’ll wager that you’ll never come in her again, will you, dog? Now that vampire blood runs in her veins. How bitter sweet it will be for you, to love her and hate her at the same time? Perhaps when she has been cleansed of the dog spunk that fills her, I might fuck her then.” Adrian gathered himself and flew at Cedric, only to be tossed aside like a ragdoll once more. He hit the wall hard and he tried to morph back to human, a last ditch attempt to save his own life, for he knew he had internal injuries from the impact. “None of that now, bad dog,” Cedric smirked, pulling the gun from his pocket. Adrian struggled to complete the transformation but the moon was against him now and his own strength was waning too fast. The partial turn would help with the internal injuries but he knew what was in that gun. Cedric fired and the bullet

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To Hunt a Wolf tore through his shoulder, the silver working its trickery in an instant, robbing him of his last reserves and sealing his fate, his vision fading, taking with it any last hopes of a future with Natalie. As the darkness took him, the last sounds he heard were Cedric’s laughter and the greedy slurp of his latest pet’s hunger as she fed.

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dam blinked, as stunned by the loss of the connection as he had been by its sudden invasion in his mind. Adrian. And this time it was definitely no dream. He looked about the clearing, met Warrick’s shocked gaze first, then his mother’s grief-stricken one. They were all here celebrating the first formal introduction of his children to the rest of their Pack, who all stood in their wolf forms, watching over the playful pair as they tumbled, nipping and yipping at one another during their first outing into the forest as wolves. Beside him, Victoria turned to him and rubbed her head against his shoulder and jaw, offering comfort in the moment of dark realization that had invaded the joyful celebration. Even the twins stopped their play and looked to their parents, worried. They fussed for a moment, until Victoria went to them and tenderly calmed them. Adam lifted his head and let out a loud mournful howl and moments later was joined by the rest of the Pack, even the two newest members as they tried their first real howls. The mournful song went on for long minutes, carrying across the mountain and down into the valley below.

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To Hunt a Wolf Any who heard it would have felt a frisson of fear skitter down their spine and a tear prick at their eyes, for it carried the tone of grief in its beautiful haunting melody as well as the promise of a dreadful revenge. There was nothing they could do to help Adrian at the moment. He was not nearby. The night was cold and clear here. Where Adrian was, there was a winter storm. He was further north. And, Adam prayed, still alive. His strange dreams of late were not all dreams, he admitted now. Adrian was alive and this was their first real proof that he was. When the last note died, all the wolves were subdued, for they had all felt Adrian’s plight to some extent. Adam and his mother had felt it most strongly, along with Warrick and Adam was aware that his father, Ransom Gentry, had suffered the brutal blast too. He was in Paris on business and Adam knew that his mother was pained to be alone at this time once again. It seemed her mate was always half a world away when something bad happened. Even though there was the hope now that Adrian lived, they knew he was not living happily and comfortably, but in pain and misery, and that he was suffering torture at the hands of an evil vampire. Adam looked at his mate and wondered if she knew of this one? No, she said in his mind. Astarté may. I will ask her as soon as we return. Moving to his mother’s side, he tried to offer her comfort, nuzzling his head to hers, licking a tear from her face. She returned the nuzzle, then she turned away and loped off to be alone with her grief, not wanting it to overshadow what should have been a joyful occasion any further than it already had. Silently, Adam looked at Warrick, who gave a nod in return and loped off at a discrete distance after her. A shadow guardian.

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ain assailed him the moment he stirred from the darkness and he knew where he was before he even opened his eyes. Home. He was home, back in his dark and dreary cave with the smell of death surrounding him and the reek of vampire beside him. He lifted his head and growled in its direction, belatedly aware that it was not Cedric he smelled. Chained beside him, sat Natalie. She was wearing strange clothes, no doubt that Cedric had picked for her. A dark velvet gown that hugged her breasts in such a daring grip that they threatened to spill out the top. Matching slippers cradled her feet. He was uncertain of the color but could guess at a dark bloody red. His shoulder throbbed when he sat up and he realized that he was the werewolf, imprisoned in the mid-state, neither fully man, nor fully wolf, but a bizarre and ugly combination of the two. His sigh sounded like a low growl and Natalie looked at him nervously. “Hi,” she tried.

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To Hunt a Wolf “Bite,” he snarled softly, his voice deeper and rougher in this state. “What will happen if you do bite me? Won’t I be a werewolf then?” He didn’t know. That was not what he had meant. It must have sounded like a threat. “He bite,” he amended. “Yes.” “Drank,” he growled angrily. “I couldn’t help it. I didn’t want to, Adrian, but I couldn’t help it.” He grunted as he fidgeted unhappily, “His now.” “No. Never.” “Master. His now.” “I will never bow to him.” Adrian did not believe her. She did not realize just yet how terrible her master could be. Cedric had not chained her here with him out of kindness or consideration for their feelings for one another. Cedric was just curious how long it would take them to try and kill each other. Knowing that was a sore topic, she changed it. “How is your shoulder?” “Hurt.” “I know. I’m sorry. Are you stuck like this?” “Yes.” “Silver bullet?” “Yes.” He was weary and just wanted to go to sleep. He eased down and curled up. “What would happen if I bit you?” she asked. “Die,” he grumbled. “You would not.” He did not bother to argue. There was no point. He did not know the answer to that question. Just the thought of being turned into a vampire made his skin crawl and his hackles rose along his furry back. “Adrian, please, you have to help me out here. I don’t know any of this stuff. What happens if you bite me? Will I become a werewolf, will you become a vampire? What? I have to know.” “Not know,” he sighed, irritated. It wasn’t fair. He wanted to make love to her and she was a stinking vampire now, and

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu he was a damned werewolf. He wanted to prove to Cedric that it didn’t matter. Unfortunately, it did. His hatred of vampires was ingrained and double deep due to Cedric’s vicious hospitality. And yet, he loved her. Confusion made him irritable. “Me sleep.” “Not yet. Talk to me some more. Please. You’ve been unconscious for days.” So what, he thought? “I saw your sisters,” she tried. His head shot up so fast he made himself dizzy. “They are very beautiful, Adrian,” she added, knowing she had his attention now. “They are well and look fine. Cedric keeps them close, chained to his throne.” “Like dogs,” he hissed. “Not exactly. Like captive princesses. They are in human form. They are worried about you.” “I love,” he said. “Of course you do. I’ll tell them if I see them again.” “Thank you.” “Don’t hate me because of what I am, Adrian. I didn’t ask for this.” He knew that. And yet she was anathema to him and his kind. He loved Natalie the woman. Despite his abhorrence, just looking at her made him hard, courtesy of the mix of human genes in his body. If he were the wolf, he would not respond in such a telling way. “Vampires can shape shift, can’t they?” she asked. “How… you know?” “I saw Cedric do it. He had to, to get us both back here. He turned into a huge dragon-like creature and clutched us both in his claws. It was terrifying.” “Showoff. So?” “So, if I can shape shift, can’t I become like you?” He looked at her in stunned silence for a full minute. “Why want?” he asked at last. “I love you, Adrian. If I’m like you, maybe you can still love me?” “Do love,” he admitted softly. “Just hate the vampire in me?” “Yes.”

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To Hunt a Wolf “Can’t we get beyond that, Adrian?” “Don’t know,” he told her honestly, although he thought about it for a while. “Tired,” he said at last. “Sleep now.” He settled down again, but her words intrigued him and he couldn’t sleep no matter how hard he tried. The more he thought about it, the more he thought it might work. It would annoy the hell out of Cedric, he knew. That thought made him grin. Opening his eyes, he looked over at Natalie and said, “You turn.” “What?” “You turn. Show shift.” “I don’t know how to do it.” “Think it. Shift.” Natalie thought about it. She thought about it real hard. Nothing happened. After several tries, she sighed her frustration. “It isn’t working.” “Too hard. Think wolf.” She tried and tried but nothing happened and in the end she gave up with a sniffle. “I can’t do it. Well, that sucks.” Adrian couldn’t help himself. Her tears got to him and he shuffled as close to her as he could, settling his head on her thigh and looking up at her. “Sleep,” he said. “Yes. Sleep.” She snuggled down beside him and wrapped her arms around him, and he resettled his head on her shoulder. It felt nicer, snuggling together. It wasn’t her fault she was a vampire. Maybe, if they worked together, they could figure a way out of their current predicament? And maybe, if she could learn to shift, when she learned to shift, just maybe they could make love once again and find a way to be together? They slept for a while, then Natalie woke up and tried the shifting thing again, over and over. Nothing seemed to work and all she did was exhaust herself into oblivion. Later, Adrian woke up and felt the comfort of soft fur in his arms. He smiled for a moment. She had succeeded. Natalie was a wolf, a beautiful white wolf. Staring at her, he gave a start. Well a wolf was a big improvement. Unfortunately he couldn’t make love to a wolf. While the beastly animal part of him didn’t care, the human part of him could not allow that. If she wanted sex, she had to make herself exactly like him:

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu part wolf, part human. Maybe he should bite her? He would think on that some more, meanwhile, he gently caressed her side and nuzzled her under her ear, realizing that she had wriggled out of the velvet dress and it was now lying beneath them, offering a softer bed than pure cold hard rock. She stirred and rolled toward him, onto her back, licking his jaw, enticing him. “Want,” he murmured. “No good. Pure wolf.” She gave a low pine. “Half human. Need half. Want.” She shifted then, back to her human form, rolling onto her side to face him. She slipped her thigh over his hip and whispered temptingly, “Take me as I am, Adrian. I love you, no matter what form you’re stuck in.” Damn, he wanted to. No, he couldn’t. Swallowing hard, he confessed, “No. Might hurt.” Natalie smiled at him and caressed his beloved face, no matter how weird he looked right now as half man, half wolf, she still thought he was beautiful. “I love you, wolf man. For you, I’ll try, but please know I don’t think you’ll hurt me even if you did lose control.” Determined, she pushed him onto his back and sat up, straddling him, then she took a deep breath and thought herself into the same mid state that he was stuck in, though she let him know that she was not going to take no for an answer either way. It wasn’t so hard for her this time. She held the image of herself in her mind as part human, part wolf, and her body followed willingly enough, becoming what he needed her to be. Before he could think up any other excuses why they should not join together, she mounted him with one deep swift stroke, making them both catch their breath. “Me take,” she growled softly. He let her, even though he wanted to roll her onto her back and drive himself madly into her, he let her take what she wanted. And she slowly drove him mad with lust, taking him to the edge again and again, only to still and deny them both the final release. His shoulder began to bleed and they both smelled it. She licked her lips and wanted to taste him. While the thought repelled them both, she hungered for his blood, tempted, feel-

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To Hunt a Wolf ing the lust burn more intensely, and she resisted, knowing he would hate her for it if she drank of him. Adrian sensed her struggle and knew she could not help that desire. The fresh blood was an appetizer, a call to feast, and he knew it. She hungered. He could provide. Gently he pulled her down to him and looked into her passion-glazed eyes. Her fangs were elongated and sharp, he noted. He reached up and tested one with the tip of his finger. She drew back, trying not to nick him. He followed, pressing his finger against her sharp fang so that it sliced his skin. She moaned deeply, licking and tasting at the blood, and then she suckled on his fingertip. He tugged his finger away and slid his hand into her hair, guiding her mouth to his wounded shoulder. “Take what needs,” he told her softly. She gave a little whimper and then with a shudder of pleasure, she licked at the fresh blood there, once, twice, then she hungrily sank her fangs into him and suckled. The rush of added pleasure took Adrian by surprise and sent Natalie flying off the edge. The hungry clutch of her mouth and her body, drove him on. He rolled her under him and ground into her like a beast, coming hard and howling it out, not caring if Cedric heard him in that moment. And he had the crazy urge to bite Natalie in return. Only his own already thundering release prevented him from doing so. After, he collapsed on top of her, spent and breathing heavily. She stretched beneath him and moaned softly, still coming as she lapped her tongue once more over his bullet wound. “Your turn,” she said, meeting his gaze at last. “Bite me.” Adrian shook his head and yet his mouth dipped to her throat and he licked her there, tasting her flesh, tempted. He wanted to. Just a little bite. Just enough to mark her as his own, to take back that which the vampire had stolen from them both, although he supposed, as he laid there still buried inside her, he should thank Cedric for biting her and turning her, for he would never have made love to her if she had still been human. A little bite of his own now would mark her and although he did not know what else it would do to her, or to him for that matter, he did not seem able to resist the temptation. Finding the place where he had come close to

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu biting her once before, he sank in his fangs and felt the hot delicious rush of her blood into his mouth. He gulped at it greedily and felt himself stir inside her with renewed vigor. She arched under him, feeling it too. His orgasm was even more shattering than the first and so was hers, he thought, when he could think again. She had screamed long and loud, and he really was surprised that Cedric had not come yet to slay them both. As if his thoughts had conjured the vampire, he felt the cold breeze announcing Cedric’s furious arrival. Adrian lifted his head and licked his lips. Other than that, he did not move. Natalie was still whimpering under him, squirming greedily for more. “What is this?!” Cedric snarled. Natalie chose that moment to roll Adrian under her, taking him by surprise with what he understood was a protective measure. She sat up and smiled at Cedric. “Me fuck big bad wolf.” “Dog’s whore!” Cedric spat. “Big cock,” she grinned. “Me like.” Adrian hastily shoved his finger back in her mouth, trying to forestall more such words. She bit it and sucked and moaned, while Cedric threw back his head and laughed at her confession. “Who is the master now?” he wondered, amused. “Me master,” Natalie assured him. “Me keep, me tame.” Adrian kept silent. Let Cedric believe what he wanted to. He understood what Natalie was doing. Let the vampire think she had taken him as a feeder and sex toy. That was strangely just fine with him just then, and if it held Cedric off from beating him into a bloody pulp, so much the better. It probably would not work for long. Cedric was amused at Natalie’s boldness and cunning at the moment. And the fact that she had morphed herself in a werewolf in order to fuck the werewolf beast was strangely compelling. She loved his pet werewolf. Turning her into a vampire had done them both a favor instead of turning them against one another, which had been Cedric’s intent. Perhaps love really did conquer all, he thought. “Well, when you’re done shagging the dog, let me know. I want to talk to you.”

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To Hunt a Wolf Cedric left them to it. Adrian couldn’t believe it. He had been expecting the beating of his life. Natalie bent over him and licked at the corner of his mouth. “Me love,” she whispered. Adrian smiled at that. “Love too.” “Hard talk,” she murmured, nipping at his lip. “Me hard…” Natalie cut off the rest of what he was going to say with a kiss, muffling it between them and smirking, then she reluctantly slid off of him and transitioned back to her human form. “Bad wolf,” she grinned. “I know you’re always hard. You have the stamina of a man half your age.” When he said nothing, she looked at him and realized he was mulling things over too deeply. “Adrian, it’s just easier for me to talk to you this way. It’s too hard to talk in that form. I need to ask you some things. I’ll try and make the questions easy to answer, simple yes and no answers, okay?” He gave a grunt that she took for a yes. “If we ever get out of this, Adrian, will we have a life together?” He looked up at her from where he lay and she saw the sadness in his eyes retreat some as he smiled, slow and warm, an affirmative to her question. For good measure he added a tender, “Yes.” “What about your family? Do you think they will accept me?” His smile faded. He didn’t know. “No care,” he said. “Still want.” “I don’t want to come between you and them.” “You, me. Others, no matter.” “That’s very sweet. I don’t want you to regret anything though.” “No regret,” he promised, reaching over to stroke her thigh. “Me want.” “You’re insatiable,” she smirked. “Here long time,” he said simply. “Needs.” “I understand. I have needs too. We have to think of a way to get out of here though. This place is wretched. It stinks.”

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu “Death.” “I don’t want to think about that. How did you get out last time?” He sat up and pointed to the heap of decaying bodies that Natalie had been attempting to ignore. “Tunnel.” “There?” “Behind.” “So how do I get out of these?” she wondered, rattling her chains. “Change.” “To what?” “Bat.” “Oh, duh! All this sex with you has addled my brains. I guess I should try that then and go see what old fang face wants.” “Cedric.” “I prefer fang face.” Adrian smiled at that. He looked troubled though. “What?” she asked, sensing he had something to say regarding old fang face. “Escape,” he said. “Get help.” “I don’t want to leave you.” “Can’t go. No fit. Too big.” Knowing perfectly well what he meant, she tried to lighten the troubled mood he was in by leaning toward him and kissing him. “You fit me just fine.” He smiled at that. “Bad bat. Me meant…” “It’s okay. I know what you meant. So you want me to go, find your family, convince them to come here and rescue you?” “Yes.” “How do I convince them that you’re even still alive?” “Smell me, on you.” “I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that.” Adrian looked at her with a frown, troubled. Natalie couldn’t keep a straight face. “I like it.” He leaned closer and took a deliberate sniff of her. “No bad. For vampire.” “Hey.” He grinned. “Me like.” “I’m afraid to leave you,” she admitted, sobering. “If he

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To Hunt a Wolf comes back…” “Be fine,” he assured her. “You’d better be. Where do I look for your family?” “Adam,” he said. “Los Angeles. Find Adam.” “Finding him is one thing. Getting to talk to him quite another. Actors, especially famous ones like your brother, have layers of security to get through.” Adrian exhaled heavily. It made sense. He knew that Natalie would try her best. The outcome was not assured. And what if Adam didn’t want him found now after all of this time? What then? “Do you think I should go see what he wants first? It might hold him off for a while. Give me more time to get away and find Adam.” “Yes… but no want.” “I’ll be careful.” “Better.” That made her smile. “Well, you’d better make sure your scent is really on me, you big wolf.” She snuggled up against him and although she already carried his scent in more places than was decently mentionable in public, he took the opportunity to be sure that his signature scent was on her skin. Maybe it would help ward off old fang face, he hoped, as he nuzzled her, rubbing his scent glands on her neck and jaw, then his nose affectionately against hers. “Hurry,” he whispered. “Me miss.” “I’m only going to see old fang face first. I’ll be back here to see you before I leave, I promise.” Natalie kissed his cheek before she sat back and shifted into a bat, her chains clinking onto the soft velvet dress as they fell away. She flew off following the tunnel the vampire had taken, leaving him to snuggle into the warm patch of velvet she had left behind.

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If you wish to have a printed version, please visit www.absolute-x-press.com or www.amazon.com to get your copy. atalie flew into the main chamber and flitted about for a moment, taking in the scene. The master had a visitor. He was a vampire too and he stood before Cedric’s throne, clad in a black leather coat, torn jeans and baggy white shirt. They were discussing Adrian’s sisters as if they were not present, she noted before she landed on her master’s hand, finding herself clinging to a finger and hanging upside down. She stretched her wings, gave Cedric a look and made a little squeaky clicking sound. Cedric chuckled at her antics, lifting her closer. “Very cute, little one, but beware. I could bite your head clean off.” Natalie darted away and shifted to her human form, tumbling onto the ground at the stranger’s feet. Naked, she stood up and complained, “Not funny. I might have left a little guano on your lap.” The newcomer chuckled at that, and one of the sisters stifled a giggle, the other looked worried, as if fearing Cedric would take retribution. “Natalie, meet The Templar. Perhaps you could entertain 131

To Hunt a Wolf him for a while?” It sounded like an order and Natalie was about to tell him to go stuff himself when The Templar nixed the idea himself. “Smells like she has entertained enough for one night; I will not play second fiddle to a dog.” “You would not get to play first fiddle either,” she informed him with a little glare, dignified despite her nakedness. She wasn’t sure where this newfound boldness came from, though she was glad of it in light of the fact that she was unintentionally flaunting everything she had. Both men laughed at her brave statement. The worried sister shot her a look of dismay while the amused sister tried not to laugh out loud. “It’s good that you amuse me, Natalie,” Cedric said after a moment. “Else I would have to stake you and leave you out for the sun’s first kiss. It wouldn’t be pretty, I’m afraid.” “Has anyone told you that you’re not a very nice man?” “No one would dare,” Deborah said, not looking happy. “Except me,” Delilah added. “Don’t encourage her. She will suffer where you do not,” Deborah chided her sister softly. “Did you need me to take her off your hands, Cedric? I could, if it is your desire,” The Templar offered, giving Natalie an all too interested look over. “I am going nowhere. He has my mate chained up downstairs.” “Your mate?” At Cedric’s stern tone, she smiled and shot him a look, “Yes, my mate, my plaything, my chew toy, whatever you want to call him. He is mine. I thought we’d already had this conversation?” “Just because you bit him and fucked him…” “You bit Adrian?!” Deborah was so outraged that she had leapt to her feet, her outburst cutting off Cedric in an uncharacteristic display of boldness. Normally she was the meeker of the sisters. “How could you?! Why, why would you bite him?” “To save his life,” Natalie told her, furious herself at the accusation in Deborah’s tone. “You have made him an outcast!” “He’s not exactly accepted company as it is, is he?” Natalie

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu shot back. “Ladies, please,” The Templar inserted smoothly. Into the tense silence that followed, it was Delilah who said, “He was not the only one bitten, was he?” Natalie met her pretty green gaze and replied, “No. He was not.” “Congratulations, Cedric. You now have two… what the devil would you call them? Vampwolves?” Cedric glared at the amused Templar. “Maybe I should just stake them both?” “No!” Deborah said, turning to him hastily. “Please. Kill her if you must, but not Adrian.” “You would have me deprive your brother of his mate?” Cedric was surprised at that. “She is no true mate.” “Bitten and bound,” Delilah disagreed. “And thoroughly mated. If you killed her, he would suffer terribly.” Looking at Deborah, she frowned, “What has gotten into you, Deborah, that you would cause your own brother such pain?” “She is still not a properly appointed mate.” “Selected or not, approved or not, Adrian has chosen her.” “Only because he has been deprived and is desperate.” “Oh that makes me feel so much better. Thank you,” snapped Natalie before glaring at Cedric. “And what the hell did you want anyway? I want to get back to shagging my chew toy.” “Me thinks your lair is about to become a shrew’s den,” The Templar commiserated with Cedric. “I did not see that coming. Are you sure you would not like me to take one of your pretty little throne trinkets off of your hands?” “Neither is in the offing.” “That’s too bad. Things could get very ugly around here when they are all suffering their monthly courses.” “PMS R Us,” Natalie smirked. “Oh yeah, we could make it hell all right. Especially me.” “I think I like her.” Cedric shot Delilah a glare. “You would.” “Nothing like a little blood lust, right? I can get a PMS rage on like none other,” Natalie assured them all. “And I am very pissed off with one man in particular at this moment in

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To Hunt a Wolf time.” While laughter erupted from The Templar, Cedric was not so amused. “You will learn your place, bitch.” “I already know my place, Master. By my mate’s side. If you are done with me, I would like to attend to his shoulder.” “What’s wrong with his shoulder?” Deborah demanded before Cedric could answer. “Master shot him. Again. Poor darling is stuck in his werewolf state.” Deborah gasped, horrified. “And you… slept with him thus?” “I can shift into whatever form is necessary for us to be together.” “You love him.” Natalie met Delilah’s smiling acceptance and replied, “Yes. I love him. No matter what form he’s stuck in.” “Then I have your word that you will not try to help him escape again?” Cedric asked of Natalie. “There’s a couple of conditions first.” “You are in no position to bargain.” “Oh well, then I cannot give you my word.” Cedric sighed with much forbearance. “It depends upon the nature of the conditions that you request.” “One: either we are relocated to a proper chamber, or that stinking pile of rotting corpses down there gets cleaned up.” “I’ll consider it. Two?” “Two: the bullet is removed from his shoulder.” “No.” “Yes, even if it is only long enough to allow him to change his form back to human.” “I shall contemplate it along with my navel. Do I hear a third?” “Proper nourishment and hygiene.” “You can feed off of love and each other. Next?” Natalie stood there and glared at him. “Didn’t your mother ever teach you that you catch more flies with honey than vinegar?” He favored her with a bored look. “Oh that’s right. You probably never had one. No wonder you are so ill-mannered and nasty.” She shot a look at Delilah.

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu “Do you have any messages for your brother?” “We love him and miss him.” Natalie’s gaze softened. “He loves and misses you both as well.” “Then why did he runaway?” Deborah asked. “Because he had the opportunity. He had hoped to find help and return to rescue you.” Deborah gave her a look that found her wanting. “But all he found was you?” “Actually, I found him. He was dying. I got him medical treatment and nursed him back to health.” “And seduced a young boy for your trouble?” “I think you’ll find that he is no longer a boy and is quite capable of carrying out his own seductions. He did not need any instructions from me, anyway, on what goes where and how to use it.” The Templar and Cedric both laughed at her claim, as men were wont to do over such things, which only irritated Deborah further. “This is not funny!” she cried. “He may not be a boy any more but he has not had any educational development or social interaction since he was fifteen! He is still a boy inside, even though he may not look it. Complex adult situations and relationships are not something he is used to.” “I think you do your brother a grave disservice. He’s a mature adult male and he knows his own mind,” Natalie defended both him and herself, and yet even as she did it, she wondered. Was he still a teenage boy trapped in a man’s body? She really did not think so and yet, the question disturbed her. She would let Cedric have his way with her however before she would admit as much to Deborah. And since she would never let him touch her it was a safe bet her sudden second guessing would never see the light of day. As far as Adrian still being a teenager inside, she would watch for any signs of that. There had not been anything obvious except the occasional playfulness and hesitation, both of which could simply be parts of his personality or the aftereffects of his prolonged captivity. And exposure to new experiences. Sex was a new experience for him. He’d told her that himself. Oh god, was he really still a boy? Had she seduced him? Now was not the time to think about that. A little carefully

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To Hunt a Wolf couched talk was in order though and she’d best figure it out before she left him alone here while she tried to go for help. “He’s not a child and he won’t appreciate you treating him like one.” Her gaze shot to Cedric. “I think he learned a lot more about social interaction than anyone should ever have a need to know or be exposed to.” Into the silence that followed her little accusation, The Templar murmured, “Touché.” Whether he was directing it at her for the inherent truth in her statement, at Deborah as a mild chastisement or even at Cedric for his brutal treatment of Adrian over the years, Natalie was not sure. She was however well aware of the fury that lit Cedric’s eyes. Where would it land, she wondered? Tension strung her muscles and her nerves tight as she waited for the vampire to explode. Please don’t let it be Adrian, she thought. “You,” Cedric said, “will treat the dog’s injuries but the silver bullet remains in him. Do I make myself clear?” “Perfectly,” Natalie replied even though she had no intention of leaving Adrian trapped as he was. “Why do I not believe you?” he growled at her, his eyes dangerously narrowed. “Because you’re a distrustful old vampire?” She did not wait for his reply. Turning on her heel she morphed to the bat and flew back to Adrian.

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If you wish to have a printed version, please visit www.absolute-x-press.com or www.amazon.com to get your copy. e need to talk,” Natalie said as soon as she had transformed to her human appearance, her landing this time rather more dignified. Adrian frowned, sensing he wasn’t going to like what she had to say. “What do you know about the other vampire?” “Which?” “The big blond one that dares to taunt Cedric.” Adrian shook his head. He knew who she meant though he had never seen the vampire and knew nothing of him. “The Templar,” he assumed with a shrug. “Not know.” “Lost his way to the Crusades, did he?” Adrian smiled at her sarcasm. “Wrong turn.” “Ah. Well, I think he has a thing for your sister, Delilah.” His smile vanished. “No.” “Don’t worry. Cedric is not letting him have her.” She sat down on the velvet dress and tried not to shiver. It was damn cold. “I need to know some things though. Do vampires really sleep all day?” “Not sure.”

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To Hunt a Wolf “How will that affect us if they do?” Adrian shrugged. “We see.” “Some help you are. Okay, what about the sun thing? Can we go out in the daylight or not?” He did not know that either. Not for sure. “Not know.” “So I could singe my little batty wings off? Great.” “No go.” “I have to go. I am the only one who can.” “Want stay.” “Why? What’s changed?” she yawned. “You wanted me to go before.” Adrian wrapped his furry arms around her and pulled her closer. “Me want here.” He snuggled her between his legs and held her back to his chest, offering to share his warmth. Feeling her shudder with the cold as she drew her knees up and curled her arms around her legs, he hugged her tightly to him and rested his head upon hers. “Make warm.” He nestled her feet between his. “Mmmn, thank you. You’re so cuddly.” At that he gave a little snort. “Me monster. No cuddly.” “You’re not a monster, Adrian. And I love cuddling with you, so there.” “Sleep now,” he ordered quietly, changing the subject. “You’re getting bossy.” “You tired. You sleep.” She was tired, she couldn’t argue that. “We still need to talk.” “Sleep first.” With a sigh, she allowed herself to relax into his warmth and murmured, “Just for a little while. We have to make a plan.” Moments later, she added sleepily, “I love you.” “Me love you.” Adrian was glad that she slept for a while and he woke her just before dawn with reluctance. She stretched in his arms and he felt his own body stir with interest. He wanted her, but she pulled away from him quickly, springing up as if an invisible hand had goosed her on the ass. “It’s dawn,” she said briskly. “Soon.” “I must go, if I’m going. Need to beat the sun.” She looked about as if hunting for clothes and belatedly recalled that she

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu didn’t have anything but the dress that Cedric had given her. Adrian was detecting a sense of something he did not like. Perhaps he should not have reminded her that he was a monster? Her little rejection stung although he tried to put it out of his mind. “Damn,” she said. “Well, I’ll see you later.” With that, she turned into a bat and flew off behind the pile of decaying bodies. Stung further, Adrian sat there for a long time, trying to work out what that meant. She said she loved him, and yet this morning she fled his embrace as if he had the plague? What had changed? What had played on her mind while she had slept? Her abrupt departure after the claim of needing to talk earlier, spoke loudly to his insecurities. How could she love a beast like him? While he studied his doubts, Natalie was busy castigating herself. She knew she had hurt him, but she couldn’t risk a lengthy morning sex-fest with him for several reasons. One, time was of the essence, if she was going to escape. Two, she couldn’t in good conscience have sex with him until she knew the answer to the question of whether he was a boy or a man in his thinking. There was not time to determine that this morning. It was still dark when she flew out of the mountain and she knew there was not enough time to fly to Los Angeles before dawn. The sky was beginning to lighten in the east. Besides, she had no clothes. Instead, she flew home, reverted to human and quickly dressed in jeans and a sweater. The sound of a vehicle and the crunch of tires on snow, made her hesitate. The truck’s door slammed followed by boots in the snow, coming up to the house. Hurrying through to the kitchen, she found the large form of the sheriff filling the doorway. “What do you want?” she snapped. “Heard Jim was sniffing around up here,” Barry said, a sneer on his face. “Bought a box of condoms.” “What business is that of yours?” “You fucking him?” “Not that that is any of your business, but no, I’m not, so leave him alone. He bought the condoms for his girlfriend.”

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To Hunt a Wolf “He doesn’t have a girlfriend.” “Sure he does. Sarah, who works with him.” “Bullshit. So what was he doing up here then?” “Treating my pet.” “Oh yeah, a big mix dog. Heard it’s really a wolf.” “Don’t be ridiculous. Do you see a wolf?” “You must be hiding him. It’s illegal, you know? I might have to arrest you.” “I don’t have time for this, Barry. Cut to the chase. What do you want?” “You know what I want. And I hope you have not been giving it to that damn vet.” “I already told you that I am not giving it to the vet. Nor will I be giving it to you. And the next time you leave a dead rabbit at my door, I will report you.” He went to grab her and missed, looking surprised that she had out maneuvered him so fast. “Touch me and so help me, Barry, I will kick your ass from here to hell and back.” “Brave words, Darlin’, but I know you better than that.” He grabbed for her again and this time she let him catch her. When he went to kiss her, he drew up short as she hissed at him, letting him see her wild vampire eyes and fangs. “Bother me again and I will rip your throat out,” she told him quietly. Barry started at her, horrified and yet mesmerized. “Release me,” Natalie added and he obeyed without question. “Go back to town and forget about me. Be good to your wife. Do not cheat on her again. And leave Jim alone,” she added for good measure. Without another word, Barry turned and left. Only time would tell if he actually obeyed her. With a sigh of relief, Natalie put her vampire face away and bundled up in her coat, before she ventured to the kitchen door and stuck a hand out into the weak morning light. Nothing bad happened. Of course, the sun still wasn’t up. Did she dare wait or should she just leave and pray for the best? If she fried, she wouldn’t do Adrian and his sisters any good at all. On the other hand, nothing ventured, no one rescued. She couldn’t wait. The sun would be up soon

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu enough, a little voice argued. Coffee. She needed coffee. She could make one to take with her or she could stop at the gas station three miles down the road and buy one. By then, she should know if she could tolerate the sun or not, and she would, maybe have time to at least get back here and hide in the dark until the sun went down again if things didn’t look so good. That option did not appeal because she knew that Cedric would most like be hot on her tail by then. Grabbing her keys, she hurried out to her vehicle and drove to the gas station, where she filled her gas tank and bought a hot cup of coffee for the road. She climbed back into her truck and debated what to do, her gaze on the brightening sky. Shouldn’t she fear it if it would harm her? A headache was beginning to make itself known behind her eyes as the sun cleared the earth, although its rays did not yet reach her. She was shielded for the moment by the surrounding trees and the mountain itself. Taking that as a good sign, she started down the mountain, although she did pull on her shades to shield her eyes from the brightness. It would take her several hours to drive to Los Angeles. It would likely be mid-afternoon before she got there, and then she would have to try and find Adam Gentry. Not sure how the hell she was going to do that, she drove as fast as she could in the icy conditions. At least the snow ploughs had cleared the roads. Adrian was never far from her thoughts as she finally cleared the mountains and discovered that the headache was the worst of her sun-exposure symptoms. She didn’t burn up and she didn’t start smoking like she might. That allowed her to relax a little bit at least. An hour out of Los Angeles and she stopped at a gas station to fill up again, grabbed a cheeseburger and a coke, tossed down some pills for the headache and then got back on the I-5 and headed south to the City of Angels, hoping she could track down a movie star. The burger tasted like crap. She ate it anyway. Hollywood was a good place to start. Maybe she could get one of those maps of the stars homes or get lucky enough to run into somebody who’d know where he lived, or check out one those trendy bars where the rich and famous hung out when they wanted to be seen? Trolling the main streets of Hollywood and the surround-

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To Hunt a Wolf ing trendy places, she kept a sharp eye out as she drove, stopping only to buy one of those maps and talk to the guy who was full of information on the stars homes, and suggested tours to take. “What about Adam Gentry?” she asked him. “The Chameleon?” he grinned, teasing her, “Oh, ma’am, he’s done married. You’re gonna have to set your sights on someone not quite so hot. Maybe one of them older stars who’s a looking for a pretty young thing like you.” “Yeah, but it is Adam I need to talk to.” “Got a hot script you want to sell?” “No. Got a lost wolf I need to return to him.” “Oh, you been listening to those rumors about him being a werewolf, huh?” “No, silly,” she laughed with him. “I really have a wolf that belongs to him. I don’t suppose you’d have his number handy, huh?” “No. And his home’s not on our map, but I might know where it’s at.” “Might you?” Natalie suppressed her wince as she lowered her shades enough to peep at him over the top. “How about you tell me?” she commanded softly. “Then you can forget we had this little conversation.” “Oh sure,” he agreed, and told her, even put a mark on her map for her. He blinked and grinned at her as she pushed her shades back up her nose and thanked him. “You’re welcome, sugar-pie. You sure you don’t want a tour?” “No thanks. I gotta go see a man about a dog.” She got back in the truck and followed the directions, only to find a huge security gate with an intercom and cameras. Pulling in, she hit the intercom out the window and a proper British voice emitted from the speaker. “Good afternoon. How may I help you?” “I’m here to see Adam Gentry. Is he home?” Natalie winced inwardly, hoping she did not sound like a besotted fan. “I’m afraid Mr. Gentry is not home at this time. Did you have an appointment?” Crap. Should she lie? “No, but it’s imperative that I speak to him immediately.”

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu “I’m sorry, Miss…” “It’s urgent I talk him. Where can I reach him?” “I am not at liberty to say, Miss.” She swore under her breath and knew that the man was just doing his job, protecting Adam from unwanted visitors. “Look, can you at least call him and tell him that I need to talk to him right away? I’ll give you my number and he can call me back.” “What is it regarding, Miss?” “Adrian,” she said. Silence. Natalie waited and a full minute passed. Just as she started to think the stuffy old butler or whatever he was had hung up on her, a woman’s voice came through, demanding, “What about Adrian?” “I know where he is.” “Adrian’s dead.” “No. No he isn’t. I know where he is.” Again there was silence for several tense and long seconds. Then the gate before her began to slide open. “Come up to the house.” Natalie did not argue and drove up the winding driveway that was lined with trees for privacy. The drive opened up into a parking area in the rear of the house. There must have been another entrance; she had found the backside of the property. As she started to get out of the truck, a woman strode out to meet her. Victoria Gentry, Adam’s wife. She was even more beautiful than her pictures portrayed. “If this is some kind of a joke,” she warned. “It’s not. I assure you, it’s not. You might not know what he smells like, but you will recognize the scent of male wolf.” Natalie held out a hand. A man hurried out and grabbed Victoria as she was about to approach closer. “No,” he commanded. “Stay back.” He approached Natalie instead. “What do you want?” he demanded quietly, taking her arm in readiness to shove her up against the truck and frisk her. “Stand down, Rogers,” Victoria ordered. “It’s all right.” To Natalie, she said, “Why don’t you come inside and tell us what you think you know?”

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To Hunt a Wolf Taking her arm back from the over-zealous bodyguard, Natalie stepped forward. “Thank you. I appreciate you seeing me. My name is Natalie Cash.” Victoria got a whiff of her then and the various scents she was carrying. Very quietly she said, “Yes, I smell werewolf on you. And vampire, and…” Natalie blushed. Victoria did not have to say it. She smelled sex. “It’s a long story.” Victoria looked at Rogers and although she did not need to tell him to do it, she did anyway, trying to divert his attention and give him something to do, “Call Adam. He’s needed here immediately.” She had already given Adam the message telepathically and knew he was already on the move. Rogers did not look too happy but he turned away and made the call while Natalie followed Victoria inside. They moved through the entryway and into a well appointed kitchen where a woman was busy preparing food. Natalie detected the smell of garlic, lemon and onions, and raw beef. “Coffee or something stronger?” Victoria asked. “Better make it coffee,” Natalie said, although she was tempted to take a stiff drink. “Watson, please bring some coffee to the study.” “Right away, Madam,” Watson, he of the stiff British accent, replied. He was an older gentleman with gray hair, a slight paunch and eyes like an elderly blood hound, the skin hanging beneath like little wrinkled hammocks, sagging under the weight of his eyes. Natalie followed Victoria to the study, located deeper in the house, although still on the ground floor. It was elegantly appointed with antique furniture from the Victorian Era. The dark polished woods were set off with draperies and upholstery of rich dark red in velvets and brocades. Books lined the walls so much so that one might be tempted to call it a library instead of a study. “Please, have a seat,” Victoria told her, waving her to an armchair on one side of the big desk. There were two, although Victoria put the desk between them and sat down in the swivel chair there. Taking the offered armchair, Natalie sighed and pushed her shades up on top of her head. She kneaded at her forehead

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu and eyes for a moment, before meeting Victoria’s worried amber gaze. “I’ll try and make this brief,” she said, giving her a little smile. “I found a wounded wolf, who turned out to be a werewolf. I discovered this after he was on the mend and I’d had a bullet removed from his rump. It was silver. I am sure you are aware of the significance.” Victoria frowned at that. “Yes. If you had him, then where is he now?” “His captor found us. His name is Cedric; he’s a vampire. I escaped this morning but he still has Adrian and his sisters.” “They are not dead?” “No. All three have the silver bullet embedded in their flesh and they cannot transform. They are stuck in whatever form they were in when they were shot. Adrian is currently in mid transition as a werewolf and that’s difficult for him, as you can imagine.” Victoria raised an eyebrow. She could smell sex as well as werewolf, vampire and death upon her visitor. She was not sure she wanted to know what that meant. Almost too casually, she asked, “And you? What are you now?” “I am…” Natalie cleared her throat and took a breath. How could you say it and not have people laugh at you, she thought. But then she was talking to a werewolf. “Um, the vampire bit me.” “Vampire, then.” “Well, not just a vampire; Adrian bit me too.” “He what?” “It wasn’t like it sounds,” Natalie defended her mate’s actions. “Cedric had already bitten me by then. I asked Adrian to bite me.” “Why?” “Because I want to be with him and I didn’t want the vampire thing to come between us.” “A dangerous choice. It might have killed you. No one knows what such a combination of bites might do to a human.” “That did not matter much at the time. What did was Adrian not hating me.” She did not dare to mention that she had bitten him in return, that he had offered up his blood for her to feast upon. Instead she stuck to her new abilities.

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To Hunt a Wolf “The plus is that I can morph into both forms. And I can walk in the daylight, in the full sun, with nothing more than a blinding headache, but maybe that is because I am newly turned? I don’t know. Or maybe the werewolf thing makes a difference?” “It’s possible. It must. Or maybe as you say it’s because you are newly turned and you have not feasted yet as a true vampire.” Oh but she had. Again, deferring to her better judgment, she did not mention that. “Anyway, it became obvious pretty quickly that I had the best chance to escape and try to find Adam. Adrian is too big to fit through the passages he had used before as the wolf. Look, time is not on our side. We have to start working out a plan to rescue Adrian and his sisters.” “I agree, but we must wait for Adam to get here and we must call in some other players. Going up against a powerful vampire will require other allies. Vampire allies.” “Vampire allies? But I thought you both hated each other?” “We do, ordinarily. However, we can set aside our natural inclinations when it is of benefit to us both.” “I find that a little hard to believe.” “My stepmother, Astarté, is a vampire.” Natalie was rather surprised to hear that. “Your stepmother?” “It didn’t go over too well with my mate either when he first found out, but they’ve worked out their differences. I will have her join us as soon as she rises from her sleep. This is just unbelievable. Everyone thought Adrian, Deborah and Delilah were killed when they were taken.” “No. Not killed.” A knock preceded Watson. He stepped in smartly and delivered a tray with a silver coffee pot and china cups and saucers, along with a silver sugar bowl and matching milk jug. A plate of delicate imported biscuits adorned the tray, some dipped in chocolate, to accompany the aromatic beverage. “Thank you, Watson.” Victoria smiled. “You are most welcome, Madam. Will there be anything else?” “Not at this time, Watson. Unless the twins awaken.”

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu “I am sure Madam will know that long before I,” he teased her with a little smile. “You might warn an old family retainer before he gets nipped in the ankles.” Victoria laughed softly at that. “Very well, Watson. I shall sound the alarm before they decide to play tag the butler.” “Thank you, Madam. These old bones would appreciate it.” He discreetly withdrew and Victoria poured them both a coffee, handing one to Natalie. “Thank you. Smells delicious. That’s quite the comedian you have there. Does he do stand up?” “Oh, please don’t give him any ideas. The twins adore him. You were saying about Adrian and the girls?” “They were not killed, just shot with silver bullets. Adrian thought Adam had been killed too that day. He said he couldn’t sense him anymore after he had been shot. He couldn’t sense the girls either, but he knew they were still alive. Cedric often punished him for something they had done or said.” “And he doesn’t hate them?” “Of course he doesn’t hate them. It was his only way of knowing they still lived. He could smell them on Cedric when he came to punish him. Cedric has kept him chained all of this time as a wolf, all alone in a cave amongst decaying bodies.” “The death I smell on you.” “Yes.” Natalie shuddered. “Would you like to take a shower? I think we’re about the same size. My clothes should fit you.” “I’d love a shower, thank you. If there’s time?” “You want to go back so soon?” “I want Adrian out of that place. When Cedric finds out I’m gone, there’s no telling what he will do. He’ll take it out on Adrian. He always does.” “I see. Well, I am afraid we will not be able to mobilize all of our resources before nightfall, but we will do the best we can. I know that Adam will want to follow up on this as soon as possible. Once you’ve finished your coffee, I’ll show you to a guest room. You can shower and rest for a while.” “Thank you.” They were both silent for a moment, then Victoria gave voice to a suspicion. “Something else is bothering you. What is it?”

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To Hunt a Wolf Natalie met her curious amber gaze with worry. “Will Adam really want to rescue Adrian?” “Of course. They are brothers. They were very close when they were young, before the attack and apparent abduction. Why would you think he wouldn’t want to?” “Isn’t Adam the heir apparent of the Pack now?” “Ah. I see what you mean. I am sure that will not be the first thing across Adam’s mind.” “What about the rest of the Pack?” “Natalie, let us not borrow trouble. Let’s rescue them first. We will worry about protocol and position within the Pack later.” “But Adam has been trained and Adrian has been… cut off for so long.” “And you are understandably worried about how he will fit in.” “That and… well, because he’s been cut off and essentially left in solitary…” “Yes?” “Deborah is worried that he has not developed in some areas as he should have.” There, she’d brought it up, the one burden that weighed most heavily on her mind. “Meaning?” “She thinks he might still be a teenage boy mentally.” Victoria looked troubled by that too now that Natalie had brought it up. “What do you think?” she asked. “I’m not sure now. I never thought about it until Deborah brought it up.” “You consider him a man.” “I did. Now I am not so sure. Outwardly he is. But what about inside? What if he really is in some ways still a boy?” “That is a possibility I suppose. We shall have to determine that as soon as possible. However, you are already mated to him, aren’t you?” “Um. I don’t know.” “I can smell the sex on you, Natalie. And the fact that he has marked you as his mate. That is the act of an adult male. Of course it does not speak for his mental or psychological age, but his physical maturity. What form were you in when you had sex with him?”

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu “Human and werewolf.” Startled, Victoria blurted, “He took you in werewolf form?” “No, no, you misunderstand. We became lovers first in human form. When he became stuck as the werewolf, he didn’t think it would be proper or even possible for us to, you know. That’s why I asked him to bite me, so we could still be together in that way.” “Well,” Victoria said with some relief. “I don’t think a teenage boy would even consider those probabilities. He would be more likely to try it, more likely to follow the natural instinct to procreate than contemplate right from wrong or the impracticality of it. If that helps any? Either way, we will soon determine that issue.” “Thank you. That does seem more an adult response than a boy’s.” Natalie felt an easing of her worry over that issue. “I hurt him when I left him this morning, I know I did. I was so afraid that Deborah might have a valid point that I brushed him off and left him in a rush. Of course he might just think it was because dawn was approaching and I was in a hurry to escape before the sun came up. Damn it. I hope he’ll forgive me for the way I left him.” “I’m sure he’ll understand. Come along. Let’s get you to that shower so that you can freshen up and then rest for a little while. You’ll need all your wits about you tonight.” Natalie set her empty coffee cup back on the tray as she stood up. “Thank you. I appreciate your hospitality and understanding in this.” It wasn’t until Natalie was in the shower that another troubling thought crossed her mind. If she really were Adrian’s mate, wouldn’t that pit her against Victoria if there were some challenge between Adam and Adrian? And if she were Adrian’s mate, how would his Pack take that now that she was part werewolf and part vampire? Would they accept her or reject them both? Any rest she might have gotten was ruined after those disturbing thoughts.

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AIf you wish to have a dam arrived in a state of mixed emotions: elation warred with worry and fear, along with a good dose of rage. Urgency had gripped him and nothing short of direct action would pacify him. He needed to be moving and rescuing his siblings. He hadn’t stopped since he’d first heard the news and had even fled the set still in costume and makeup. He was playing a Victorian vampire, which was kind of weird, considering. Astarté had laughed her ass off when she’d first heard that he’d accepted the role and he’d had some good natured ribbing from his family too on account of it. And so he whirled into the house in full regalia, dark cloak and fangs included, although those were actually his own. So far he had called his father and his uncle, and mobilized the Pack, assembling resources and getting as much of a jump on it as possible. He needed to see the woman immediately and get every bit of information from her that she possessed. To that end he hardly stopped to even greet his wife as he took the stairs two and three at a time, a wolf on the scent despite his costume-clad human form. He burst into Natalie’s room to find her pacing and he was on her before she could

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu even say a peep. Grabbing her by the arms, he demanded, “I need to know everything. Where they are, defenses, how many guards?” “Adam!” snapped Victoria as she flew in after him. “Let her go!” He could smell the woman’s sudden fear as well as the scent of his brother upon her, and vampire mixed with werewolf, which confused him and angered him, raising his hackles. “Tell me! Where’s my brother?” “Don’t hurt him,” she snarled back in a low and dangerous tone. Her first thought was for Adrian’s safety? That startled Adam enough to realize he was being an arrogant jerk. And Victoria was snapping at him internally as well. She was pissed at his gung ho approach. Taking a breath to calm himself and loosening his tight hold on the woman’s arms, he added, “Please. Tell me all that you can. We don’t have much time before nightfall.” “My fear as well,” Natalie said. “Once Cedric realizes I am gone, and I have no doubt he will know it upon awakening, I fear what he will do to Adrian.” “You fear he will kill him.” “He’s come close several times in his rage.” “Then we have no time to waste.” “Why don’t we continue this in the study?” Victoria suggested gently. “Warrick will be here shortly. I have a map already laid out and you have the scouting party already en route to the area. Let us get as prepared as we possibly can.” With a nod, Adam released Natalie and turned to his mate, giving Victoria a fierce hug. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I just…” “Ssshhh, everything’s going to be all right. We’ll get them,” Victoria assured him. Releasing each other, Victoria turned for the door, leaving Adam to apologize to Natalie. He gave her a troubled look. “I’m sorry if I frightened or hurt you.” “I’m fine,” Natalie said. “Let’s go.” She started after Victoria and Adam followed hot on her heels. “What exactly are you?” he asked as they hurried down the stairs. “A combination of the two.”

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To Hunt a Wolf “How?” “Does it matter?” “It might.” “I was bitten twice.” “My brother bit you.” “Yes.” “Before or after the vampire?” “After. Look. That doesn’t matter. What matters is rescuing all three of them.” “I’m not arguing with you, Natalie. I’m just wondering if you are aware of all that being his mate entails.” “No. I’m not. I can’t worry about that right now,” she said as they hurried into the study to find Warrick and their chief security people already huddled over the map. Warrick looked at Adam. “How do you want us to proceed?” “With deadly expedience. I want them out of there now.” “We won’t all be in position before the sun goes down,” Gavin, Adam’s personal bodyguard, said. “I know. We’ll coordinate as best we can and pray the scouting party finds us a better way in.” He pulled Natalie close, looking at the map. “Where did you emerge?” Natalie studied the map for a few tense moments, trying to orientate herself to it. It was not a typical map. It was more a geological map of the mountain that housed Cedric’s lair than a road map. “Here,” she said pointing. “It exits above the road, but it’s narrow in several places. A small wolf could squeeze through.” “Adrian’s small?” Warrick said, raising a brow. “Yes. Adrian is often starved. He was badly malnourished when I found him. At his normal size, I don’t think he would have fit through there at all.” “Then that ingress is not much of an option,” Adam frowned. “I can go in that way,” Natalie said. Warrick was a little surprised at that. “You’d go back in?” “Yes. Regardless of what you all think of me, I love him.” Adam put his arm around her shoulders, giving her a brief supportive hug. “I think we got that part.” “Looks like we have to find the front door and go in that way. It won’t be pretty,” Gavin said. “It will likely be well

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu guarded by his minions. Do you have any idea of the number of—I hesitate to say people, but—that he has?” “I’m afraid not. Most of my time was spent locked up with Adrian in the lower caverns. I only saw the main chamber twice. That is where Delilah and Deborah are held when Cedric is up. He keeps them chained to his throne.” “Has he turned them?” Adam asked, trying his best to keep the rage he felt at bay. “No. No, he has not. I don’t know why, but they are still wholly werewolf, just stuck in their human form. The silver bullets prevent them from changing. It must be torturous for them during the full moon, being unable to transform.” “And Adrian?” Warrick asked. “He was stuck in wolf form. I had the silver bullet removed and he was getting used to his human form again. He has a new one now and is stuck in his werewolf state. Adrian said he stopped sensing everyone as soon as he’d been shot. I’m guessing there is more to that that I don’t know about yet. Would you care to clue me in?” “Close family members and mates often exhibit some degree of telepathy,” Adam told her. “The stronger the bond, the deeper the telepathic link is.” “And Cedric would not have wanted them in any kind of communication with any of you,” Natalie realized. “I misinterpreted the silence,” Adam said quietly, his troubled thoughts going back to that fateful day when he’d thought it meant his brother and sisters had been killed. “You were not alone in that interpretation.” Adam looked up and met Meredith’s pained gaze across the room. “Mother?” “Did you think I would stay quietly at home and let you assume the responsibility?” “I wanted to make sure we had good news to bring you.” “Meredith,” Warrick began. “Warrick, shut up. Pray, do continue with your strategy session. Time is getting short.” Meredith’s gaze raked over Natalie, deep, dark and penetrating, sizing her up and likely finding her lacking. Natalie lowered her gaze back to the map on the table. Victoria leaned close and whispered, “Her bark is worse than her bite.”

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To Hunt a Wolf “I heard that, Victoria,” Meredith warned. “Now where are my little darlings? A grandmother should be put to some use in this event. I shall guard them and keep their tender minds off of the proceedings.” “Thank you, Mother,” Victoria smiled at her, going to her and taking her hand, leading her from the room. “They’ll be so excited that you came to play with them.” Adam watched them leave the room, a tender smile on his face, before his attention returned to the business at hand. Absently he added to Natalie, “Victoria’s right. Her bark is…” “I heard that, Adam,” drifted in from Meredith as she went upstairs with Victoria. “Ears in the back of her head,” Adam grinned. “Bet you didn’t get away with much,” whispered Natalie, afraid his mother would hear still. “Only the stuff she let me; right, where were we?” “Okay, looks like this is probably the main entrance—it leads to a complex of caverns and old mining shafts,” Gavin said, tapping the location on the map. “We’ll be at one hell of a disadvantage in there because we don’t know the layout.” “Can you pull some strings and get us an updated map?” Adam asked, giving him a frank look. “I’ll see what I can download from source. I’ll send to all hands. While it may help with that, we still won’t know the exact location of the targets.” “Targets?” Natalie said, her ears perking up at that word’s usage. Her gaze darted from Gavin to Adam, a little alarmed. “Targets, our objectives,” Adam assured her gently. “It’s just a standard term for what we are seeking, in this case, Adrian, Deborah and Delilah.” Gavin was already on the computer at the desk, his brow creased with concentration as he hunted for a better map of the layout inside the mountain. Just where he was going to get that, Natalie was not sure. Adam seemed to have complete faith that he could do so, though. “Not knowing what kind of numbers we are dealing with will be a problem also,” Warrick said quietly. “I know. Maybe Astarté will have a better idea?”

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu Warrick smiled at the mention of the vampire’s name, Natalie observed. It was the kind of smile a man gave when he was having wicked thoughts. That intrigued her. Adam must have noticed it too, for he added, “We don’t have time for that, Warrick.” “Too bad. It’s been a while since I’ve had a little run in with Astarté. For a vampire she’s rather hot.” “Maybe she will be more amenable after?” “Yes,” Warrick grinned. “There’s nothing like a good fight to get the juices flowing, eh?” “Careful she doesn’t bite you.” “We have an understanding. She does not bite me and I will not bite her. And I always make sure her fangs are aimed the other way. Works out.” “Horn dog.” Warrick just grinned. Natalie tried not to giggle and put her hand up to try and cover her amusement. It was none of her business if Adam’s uncle had a thing for a vampire. And who was she to talk? She had a thing for a werewolf. Her amusement was swallowed in the next instant by a wave of dread and a sense of being swallowed by blackness as terror fingered her spine. The voices in the room and her surroundings all went distant. It was as if a fist of rage slammed into her head and she felt stunned, unable to scream or move. “You dare to betray me?!” Cedric’s voice echoed loudly inside her head. She must have made some sound, for suddenly Adam grabbed her and she heard him from a distance, demanding, “What is it? What’s…?” “Him,” Warrick informed him. “Her master has awakened.” “We’re compromised?” This from Gavin as Adam eased her to the floor and held her in his arms. “Assume it.” Then there was another presence at her side and in her head. “Out!” the new arrival commanded. “Release her! This one is now mine.” “I will kill him!”

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To Hunt a Wolf The dark invasion vanished with a shriek of rage, leaving Natalie gasping for breath. “Rest easy a moment,” Astarté instructed her. “Re-gather your wits.” “Thank you,” Natalie said, feeling weak as a kitten and still cold from her master’s invasion. “So, he knows we’re coming,” Adam murmured, worried. Astarté caressed Adam’s face with a fond hand. “Yes, I’m afraid so.” “Adrian,” Natalie whispered. Astarté must have heard it because she took her hand and squeezed, asking, “Are you ready, Little One?”

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AIf you wish to have a

drian did not need any psychic connections to know the instant that Cedric had awakened. The roar of rage that echoed through the caverns and tunnels caused fear to creep down his spine and his hackles rose in response. What would the vampire do? Adrian knew he would find out soon enough. He only hoped that in his rage, Cedric would forget all about him. A forlorn hope that lived all too briefly, for he felt the evil wind stir, heralding the arrival of his enraged master and he would not cower this time. He stood to face his fate. The blur that was his master was too fast to be truly seen, and yet Adrian saw the enraged face as the vampire’s boot exploded against his chest, expelling his breath forcibly. His body flew backward from the impact, pain ripping through his chest, his momentum suddenly halted by his shackles. He hit the ground hard, choking and gasping for air as Cedric continued to beat, kick and slash at him. Adrian tried to fight back and was hampered not only by his own pain, but by his restraints as well. The vampire’s speed, rage and strength,

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To Hunt a Wolf rendered Adrian a bloody heap in no time at all and a last vicious kick to his head sent him spiraling off toward the edge darkness. Struggling to breathe, choking on his own blood, Adrian fought to move, to crawl and climb back to his feet. Cedric regarded the bloody heap with loathing. It still writhed, trying to get up. Breathing hard himself, his wrath sounded deep in his throat with every breath as he spat, “You will suffer for this, dog!” He planted his boot in the werewolf’s back and pushed him down. “I will drain your bitch and make you watch as I turn both your sisters!” “No…” “They will know no mercy.” A final boot to the head and the werewolf lay still at last, unconscious. How dare he pass out? “Damn dog!” There was no fun in that. Then Cedric was gone, a dark phantom that vanished into the night, his roar of fury echoing through the caverns. Cedric had not been gone long when another blur entered the cavern and resolved into Astarté and Natalie, who gasped at the condition of her lover as she dropped to his side. “Adrian,” she called to him softly as she tried to gather his bloody and broken form into her arms. Astarté drew a knife from her belt as she knelt on his other side and stabbed it into his shoulder, making Adrian gasp, the pain spearing down through his unconsciousness, briefly making him surface. “What are you doing?!” cried Natalie, alarmed. “Removing that which weakens him; he is badly wounded and does not have the strength to morph. This must come out.” His eyes were glazed, distant, the light in them fading. They closed again as the vampire dug with the tip of her knife until the silver bullet came free. She sighed as she held it up then tossed it away. “He is dying.” “No.” “You know it as well as I.” “Then I’ll give him my blood.” “And he will drain you dry in his need. You have not the strength to stop him, nor the taste to replenish yourself.” With that, Astarté laid open her own arm, not at the artery so it spurted but higher along the forearm, letting the blood pour

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu steadily into Adrian’s slack mouth until the wound sealed. Adrian swallowed, more reflex than conscious effort, and he moaned a denial, not wanting to drink the potent blood of the ancient and yet finding some strength from the partaking of it. Again Astarté cut her arm and let the blood flow. After the wound had healed a second time, she looked at Natalie. “Now you may feed him, but do not let him take too much; he will need you to protect him for a while.” With an angry tug, Astarté used her vampire strength and pulled Adrian’s collar apart, freeing him. She did the same for the shackles on his wrists. “Where are you going?” Natalie asked as Astarté stood and turned away. The ancient vampire looked back at her and smiled nastily. “Why, to feed, my dear, and find out where the sisters are.” She was gone in a blur and Adrian stirred in Natalie’s arms, gaining her attention. “Rest easy, Adrian. You’re badly hurt.” “No. Go. You go…” he whispered, trying to escape her embrace. “Go.” “I’m not going anywhere. Astarté has removed the silver bullet. You can change when you are strong enough. Rest now and let me feed you.” She put her wrist to his mouth but he turned from it. “No.” “Please, Adrian. I need you strong and whole again.” “No. Not feed.” “Listen to me. I found your family. Adam is on his way. Help is coming. I need you well enough to move, now drink for me. Please…” He shook his head. “Adrian, you provided for me. Let me provide for you now. Please.” Adrian squirmed in her arms and transformed to his human form, although it cost him and left him almost as weak as he had been before Astarté had fed him. At least his wounds had healed enough to prevent further blood loss. When Natalie offered her wrist again, he took it and held it close to his mouth as he met her gaze. “Are you sure?” he whispered.

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To Hunt a Wolf “Yes. Please, Adrian. You must. You need. Let me provide this time.” Gently he bit into her wrist, drinking her blood, consuming only enough to take the edge off of his hunger and weakness. He needed to sleep. Turning to her, he told her, “You should go.” “No.” “If he returns, he will kill us both.” “I’m not leaving without you. Sleep now.” “I love you. Please. For me, go. I’ll join you as soon as I am able,” he promised. “I’m not leaving you. Rest, sleep, heal.” She kissed his brow and held him close, draping him with the dark red velvet dress to help warm him. Unable to resist the pull of exhaustion, Adrian drifted to sleep in her arms. Sounds of fighting came from above and yet Natalie knew it was too soon. Adam and his Pack could not have gotten here that fast. Astarté must really be having a feast, she thought.

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***

If you wish to have a printed version, please visit www.absolute-x-press.com or www.amazon.com to get your copy. In the main chamber above, Astarté had already replenished her strength before arriving and was somewhat surprised to find The Templar present and freeing the young women chained to Cedric’s throne. Several vampire corpses littered the room and no doubt more would before the night was out. “What is this, Sir Faulkner?” she asked, amused. “What does it look like? Is this not what everyone wants?” The Templar replied, freeing Delilah. Deborah already stood free, trembling and uncertain what to do. She watched Astarté warily. Astarté smiled at her and told The Templar, “All except Cedric. Help is on the way.” “No time. No telling where he went and when he will be back.” “Agreed. Get them out of here. I will catch up once Adam arrives.” “Planning a little feast, pet?” he grinned as the sound of a horde of vampires rushing toward them came from the tunnels. 160

Elizabeth L’Inconnu “I do feel in need of a midnight snack. Go.” “Very well.” The Templar took the two women in his arms and was gone. Astarté turned to face the new horde of vampires that spilled into the chamber just seconds after his departure. “Come then, my sweets. Let us play, shall we?” “You will die!” Ida Mae claimed, rushing her. “By all means, you first,” she replied, deftly avoiding the attack and binding the rash vampire in her deadly embrace. “I insist.” She tore into Ida Mae’s throat and plunged a silver stake into her heart so that Ida Mae could not regenerate it. When she released her attacker, Ida Mae slid to the floor, dead before she got there. The others stared at Astarté in horror, not just because she had so easily subdued one of them. They were awed at the speed with which she had executed her moves and knew they were no match for her. “Ah,” she smiled. “Now you begin to see what you have angered. Poor little children, did your master not teach you better? That you should never mess with an ancient? I suggest you run.” The majority of them did. Only a half dozen who thought they could best her remained and they were soon decimated. The last one took flight and escaped, badly wounded, only because she let him go. “Fledglings,” she spat, trying to rid herself of the taste of new vampire. Blood was like wine and she was a connoisseur. Only the fresh fruit of the human vein or the aged-wisely vampire stock was best. The vintages that Cedric kept sucked. She smiled at her own little joke and turned for Cedric’s throne. “Oh do come out,” she said to the cowering youth who was hiding there. “I won’t hurt you, child.” “You promise?” Owen asked nervously as he stood up but remained behind the throne as if it would protect him. “I suppose so. I suspect your master treated you badly?” “Not as badly as the dog.” “Ah, well, that’s true enough. So what do you want to do, boy? Stay or be freed from Cedric’s cruel fist?” “Can you free me?” he asked, licking nervously at his lip, awed at the idea.

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To Hunt a Wolf “I can make you mine. I will not mistreat you. You can learn a fair trade with me. Would you like that?” “Yes please,” he whispered, afraid his master might hear. “Then come, sit. Let us await the outcome of this night. I’ll see no harm comes to you.” She waved him to Delilah’s empty seat and he took it quickly as she made herself comfortable on Cedric’s throne, sending an alert to Victoria that The Templar had the sisters and that Adrian was recovering below. Where Cedric was… well, that was the question, wasn’t it? She would be here waiting for his return. Meanwhile, she took Owen’s hand in hers. “Do you perhaps see where he is?” “The master?” he asked, frightened. “He does not let me see.” “Would you loan me your eyes, little one?” “I am blocked.” “Let me see.” Owen stared into her eyes, mesmerized, and let her see. Astarté moved gently through the youth’s mind, looking for a link to his master. It should be there. If it was, she would find it, before she claimed him as her own.

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M If you wish to have a

eredith looked up from where she sat playing on the nursery room floor with the twins. A silent seething menace, he stood there, handsome and yet cruel, she knew. “You,” she said, taking care to shield the trouble from Adam and Victoria, as well as the twins who lay on the play mat in their human form, playing with several toys and babbling happily. A counting song sounded from one, engaging both young minds with its flashing colored lights and musical effects. “Yes. Me. You will pay for your sins, Meredith.” “You are deluded. I did nothing wrong except follow my heart.” “I wanted you.” “That was not my fault. You knew I was in love with Ransom. If there were sins, they were all yours.” “You will still pay.” “I did pay, the day you took my children.” “Not nearly enough. I will make you watch as I turn your daughters and make them my whores. I will make you watch

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To Hunt a Wolf as I tear your mate and your sons limb from limb. I will make you watch as I devour your grandchildren for breakfast.” “You’ll not touch them,” she vowed, silently ordering the babies to go play wolf, to run and hide under their mother and father’s bed. Cyrena and Chase changed into their wolf forms and playfully scampered off, out the door and into their parent’s room. They often played this little game and loved it because their wolf side was much more mobile than their human form. “They won’t be hard to find,” Cedric chuckled. “No. But you have to go through me to get to them,” Meredith warned him, rising gracefully to her feet. “We can either draw blood or negotiate. What is it that you want?” “You. I wanted you.” “No longer, it seems. What do you want now?” “Deborah,” he said. “You already have her.” “Not in the way that I want her, the way I wanted you.” “Flowers and chocolates work better than threats and bullying.” Cedric scowled. “Enough games. This ends tonight.” “Yes. I think it will.” Under the bed in the other room, Chase yipped at his sister and hit the hidden pressure plate under the carpet. In the wall a small door slid open and he nudged Cyrena through before it could close again. They padded along the small tunnel in the wall to the slide, and took the chute down into the protected room where toys and treats always awaited them. It wasn’t until Grandma Meredith told them to be quiet and sleep that they realized it was no longer a game. When Cyrena gave a little whine, Chase pounced on her and began grooming her to take her mind off of it, although he was trying to pay attention to what was going on with Grandma Meredith. Cyrena wasn’t fooled by the tactic. She lay quietly and tried to find out what was going on, not just with Grandma, but with Mommy and Daddy as well, and the hurt one they were going to find. And what was Grandma Astarté doing? Cyrena, Chase, block now. The directive came from their grandmother and they knew they were supposed to practice blocking the connections.

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu They would be in trouble if they did not. With impatient little sighs, they put up the blocks that they had been taught and Chase decided they deserved a treat for that, so he went to where the yummy bacon chunks were waiting on a small plate. They were changed fresh twice a day, just in case of such an emergency as this. Chase took two, delivering one to Cyrena before settling down to chew his own treat. Cyrena nosed at hers for a moment, as if she wasn’t sure she wanted it, then she lapped it up and chewed thoughtfully. We could have bitten his ankles, Chase thought. Cyrena giggled at that. I don’t think he would have tasted very nice, though. I hope Grandma Meredith’s all right. If he hurts her, I’ll bite more than his ankles. In the nursery above, Meredith was trying to negotiate. “If I come with you, will you leave the rest of my family alone? Release my children and let them be?” “What makes you think I still want you?” “You are here, are you not? Why else would you have come?” Cedric glowered at her for a long minute. “You would join with me, become my consort?” “Yes,” she lied. No! Ransom’s denial cut through her like a blade and almost took her to her knees. Although he was en route, he would never arrive in time to come to her aid if she went with Cedric. Never fear, Beloved. I will not, she tried to assure her mate. I will eat his heart for a midmorning snack! Meredith had no cause to doubt him. Cedric was silent too long. His eyes blazed and for one terrifying moment Meredith feared that he would tear her throat out, then he cursed, “Bitch!” and was gone. Finding herself alone, Meredith reached for and sank into the rocking chair, trembling, not quite daring to believe that he was gone. Go to the safe room now, Ransom commanded. The babies are... Safe, she assured him. You are not. Please, Meredith. Go and entertain them, just in case. A bat could still find his way into that room.

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To Hunt a Wolf He was right. I’m on my way. She was already running down the stairs to the secret room, shouting to alert the household that there had been a breach in security. Watson appeared in his dressing gown from the kitchen, looking alarmed, while Rogers came running from the front parlor, gun drawn. “Where?” he demanded. “Gone,” she told him. “Put that thing away. It’s a vampire. Won’t do any good.” Rogers put the gun away with a frown. “Need better ammo,” he muttered. “Are you all right, Madam?” Watson asked, clearly concerned. “I’m fine. I’m going to the safe room with the children.” She looked at Rogers. “Secure the house. He came in through a window somewhere; he was in the nursery.” Meredith hurried to the study, Watson on her heels. “Is there anything I can bring you, Madam?” “No, thank you, Watson, we’ll be fine. Get some rest.” Meredith moved to the bookcase that the safe room was hidden behind. Triggering the mechanism that moved the bookcase aside, she entered the code to gain access to the room. The heavy metal door slid aside and she found both pups sitting alert, ears pricked. “There are my little darlings,” she smiled at them. They both wagged their tails and gave excited little yips when they saw her. She slipped into the room and hit the controls to seal it once more, hearing the bookcase move back into position once the door had closed. “Well now, my darlings,” she smiled as she took a seat on the floor, placing her back firmly against the entry chute the pups had entered through earlier, just in case. “Let’s have a cuddle and a bedtime story, shall we?” Both pups leapt into her lap and received lots of playful petting. On the other side of the bookcase, Watson poured himself a little whisky to steady his nerves and parked himself in an armchair in front of the bookcase. “No bloody old vampire is going to get by me,” he muttered to himself.

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ot only had that bitch Astarté invaded his lair and removed the silver bullet from the dog, she was trying to use Owen against him, and he had just been betrayed by The Templar. The knight had stolen his pets, Deborah and Delilah. Cedric became aware as he raced to find them that Delilah had insisted The Templar remove the silver bullets from their bodies so that they could change, and The Templar had already succeeded in removing Deborah’s. He was in the process of removing the one from Delilah’s shoulder as well. They were no longer in Cedric’s lair but out in the open, in the forest, trying to hook up with the invading force of werewolves that was gathering. The dogs would be too late, Cedric vowed as he found them and swooped in, his attack on The Templar vicious, and meant to kill on the first blow, almost severing the knight’s head from his shoulders as he roared his rage at their betrayal. Deborah screamed and ran off while Delilah morphed into her werewolf form and tried to bite Cedric. She missed and he savagely kicked her away. He could have finished her

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To Hunt a Wolf off. Instead, he flew after Deborah, leaving The Templar mortally wounded, for he had left the silver blade embedded in the knight’s throat. His blood was everywhere as Delilah returned to her human state and tried to pull the blade out while the knight lay there gasping and choking, dying. “Don’t die!” she cried. “Please don’t die.” The blade came free with a sickening sound as from off in the forest, Deborah’s screams filled the night. Cedric caught her and while Deborah fought and kicked hard, she was no match for the vampire. He sank his fangs into her throat and her screams ceased as he drank his fill, driven by fury and lust. At the last second, he stopped himself from killing her. He might have lost the dog and the other bitch, but he still had the one that resembled Meredith. Deborah hung limp, a rag doll in his arms, no longer conscious. No, he would not kill her, he would make her his in every way possible, despite her protests. He fled into the night with his prize. The Templar lay dying and there was nothing Delilah could do to stop it, save offer her own blood, and even then she was not sure it would be enough. The wound was not healing and maybe it couldn’t, but she wasn’t going to let him die without trying to save him first. She offered her wrist to him. Out of nowhere a wolf shoved her aside and morphed to human. It was Adam and she knew it, and she watched, amazed as he gave his own blood to save the knight. The Templar drank greedily from his arm and Delilah feared he would drain Adam in his need. She was about to tell them to stop when another vampire arrived, separating them, taking Adam’s place. Beside her stood Owen, who was worrying the dark sky above, fearing Cedric’s return, while the female vampire told Adam, “Victoria would kill me if I let anything happen to you, Wolf Boy.” “Adrian?” he demanded of her, only sparing the youth a glance. He clearly did not think of Owen as a threat, and he was right about that, Delilah knew. Owen was submissive. “He’ll be fine. Natalie is with him.” Adam looked at Delilah then for the first time. “Deborah?” he asked, even though he knew already that Cedric had taken her.

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu Delilah shook her head and did not have to be in tune with him to know that he was weakened from trying to save The Templar. She could see that he was and yet before she could reach out to him, Adam pulled her to him in a fierce embrace. “I thought you were all dead. We all did,” he confessed. He would have said more but she cut him off with a tremulous, “Shush.” Hugging him fiercely in return, she added, “We thought you were too. We only knew Adrian was still alive because we could smell his scent on Cedric after he’d beaten him. Oh Adam, he’s suffered so much.” Adam tightened his hold. “I’m so sorry…” Delilah pressed her fingers to his lips and her cheek to his. It felt good to be held so fiercely. Safe. And yet she felt his weakness. “He’ll be all right now.” “What of Deborah? Will he hurt her?” he asked, worried, pulling back to look at her. “Sit,” she told him, feeling him sway on his feet. Easing him to the ground, she sat beside him as he slumped heavily and grumbled under his breath about his sapped strength. “I don’t think so. He wants her to love him.” “Love cannot be forced nor bargained for.” “No. It cannot. Nor reasoned with.” Her gaze went to the fallen knight and she felt Adam give a start. He stared at her, comprehension in his dark eyes. “You love him.” “I love him. And I think, I hope, that he may love me too.” “You don’t know?” “How could I? We have never been alone.” Adam looked like he wanted to say something but he bit it back and sighed, “Adrian. He’s hurt badly.” “I know. Natalie loves him, you know?” “Yes. She does. That’s a good thing, I think. He’s going to need someone he can trust.” “The Templar was going to go back for him, but Cedric…” The horror and fear in her eyes made Adam temper his own fury and he gently pulled her head to his shoulder. “Shh, he’ll be all right,” he assured her, looking over to where Astarté tended to The Templar.

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AIf you wish to have a drian heard the arrival of several of his brethren and opened his eyes as the first transitioned to human, her gaze locked on his, though her question was directed at Natalie. “How bad is he?” “You?” he said, recognizing her although he had never met her before. Something in her gaze changed and she smiled at him. “Adrian, how is it you know me?” “Dreams,” he murmured. “I’ve seen you in dreams.” “Perhaps they were not dreams?” “No.” Her gaze lifted to meet Natalie’s. “We need to move him.” “Yes,” Natalie agreed. Reluctant to release him, she nevertheless did when Rolf stepped forward to lift him. Rolf picked him up and carried Adrian as if he was a child, and Natalie quickly followed them out. They were soon boarding a private helicopter and flying back to Los Angeles.

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu Once at Adam’s home, Adrian was settled into a bed in a guestroom to rest after a brief reunion with his mother. It was, sadly, somewhat awkward. Adrian wasn’t sure what to feel about these people who had once been his family. Confused and lost, he let himself be ushered along to bed and he welcomed the sleep when it came.

** You have *purchased the pdf version of this novel. It is also available in a print version. The rest of Adrian’s immediate family gathered in the study to discuss their options on finding Cedric and Deborah, and Ransom Gentry had arrived home at last. He had secluded himself with Meredith for quite some time after his arrival, assuring himself that she was fine. Adam suspected that his father had not just been assuring himself of his mate’s well-being. He hid a smile at that, happy to know that his parents were as in love today as they had been when they’d first mated and married. Now they were trying to figure out where Cedric had taken Deborah. “He’ll go to ground,” Astarté said. “Rebuild his lair somewhere else. Eventually word will come down on his new whereabouts. It will take time, but it will come.” “Not soon enough,” Ransom growled. “We want our daughter back.” “I have people looking for him, Ransom. You’ll know as soon as I do.” “But it’s not hopeful, is it?” “Not immediately, no. Cedric knows that we will be looking for him. He’ll be especially careful now. But we will be waiting when he does resurface again.” It was not a very satisfying answer and yet there was nothing anyone else could do. “Well,” Adam said, trying to break the tension in the room. “Two out of three ain’t bad.” Ransom shot him a look and mellowed. “You’re right, of course. At least we got two of them back. And we will get Deborah too.” “Of course we will,” agreed Warrick as he refilled his drink at the bar. “I will work closely with Astarté here.” He gave her a smile. “And we’ll find him as soon as he pokes his head up.”

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To Hunt a Wolf Warrick slid his arm around Astarté and smiled down at her as he caressed her bottom. “Won’t we, my dear?” “Perve,” Adam murmured with a little grin, certain his uncle was not in fact discussing Cedric’s head. “Yes,” Astarté agreed, smiling, showing her fangs. “We will. And he is.” Warrick grinned and raised his drink. Meredith sighed. “And completely shameless.” “What are we going to do about Adrian?” Ransom asked, trying to get the conversation back on track and ignore Warrick’s mischief. “What do you mean?” Adam asked with a frown. “He’s been through a particularly bad experience over a prolonged period of time. He will need more intensive counseling, retraining, and…” “He just needs a little time.” “You have not considered that he is first born.” “So? What’s that got…” Adam trailed off. Of course he knew what his father was driving at. “I’ll stand down. It’s rightfully his place.” “He’s not capable at this point to be…” “He will be fine.” “Adrian might not wish to lead the Pack,” Victoria pointed out. “We should let him decide what he wants to do, once he’s recovered. For now, we should continue as if nothing has changed, let him adjust and recuperate.” “I agree,” Adam said. “What about the girl?” Ransom wanted to know. “Again, time will tell,” Adam replied. “He is in love with her,” Delilah told them. Ransom wasn’t so sure. “Is he or is it just an infatuation? Does he know the difference?” “Of course he does,” she replied. “How do you know that, Delilah? You said yourself that you had no contact with him and that he’s been cut off all of this time, kept chained and in solitude. Essentially, he’s still the same boy he was when he was taken from us.” “No, he’s not the same boy he was then. I think he got an adult education. Just because it was different, doesn’t make it any less valid.”

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu “For what it’s worth, I don’t think he’s a boy either,” Adam added. “And I think Natalie is going to be a very important part of his life.”

***

Upstairs, Natalie sat on the bed, Adrian’s head in her lap. Lying on his stomach with his arms wrapped around her hips and his cheek resting on her thigh, his face was turned toward her. He was sleeping and she was tenderly running her fingers through his long dark hair. Her fingers strayed to the curve of his ear, following it down to the strong angle of his jaw, which was knotted. His body was tense as his eyes moved under their lids while he dreamed, and it did not look like he was having sweet ones. As her hand settled against his jaw to sooth him, his body jerked and his eyes snapped open, his fingers curled fiercely into her clothing, gripping tight, as a choked cry caught low in his throat. “Easy,” she whispered and he gave a shudder. Forcing himself to relax, he buried his face in her for a moment, holding on to her tightly, while she assured him, “We’re safe now.” “You must think I’m such a wiener,” he despaired, his words muffled by her tummy. “As in hot dog?” she teased lightly, ruffling his hair. “Yeah I think you’re really hot for a dog, baby.” He groaned. “I’m pathetic.” “You are not. You’re entitled to a few nightmares after all that you’ve been through. Don’t be so hard on yourself.” She leaned down and kissed him on the head, nuzzling his hair, then his ear, whispering softly, “You want to talk about it?” “Mmmnnn… what?” “Your nightmare. You want to talk about it?” “No.” He lifted his head and caught her lips in a kiss, meant as playful at first. It soon deepened to more serious intent. Pulling her down and under him, he lifted his mouth from hers only long enough to complain, “You have too many clothes on.” His words reminded her that she did for a reason. Gently she pushed at his shoulders and broke the kiss. “Wait. Not so fast, Mister. We have things to talk about.”

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To Hunt a Wolf Adrian stared at her for a long moment. “Oh,” he murmured, getting the message that she did not want to make love with him. So he had not been wrong earlier then? “I see.” “Do you?” “You…” “We need to talk, Adrian.” “Talk?” “Yes, you know, discuss things?” “Like what?” he asked, feeling dreadful talons squeeze fiercely around his heart, shredding it. This was home? Nothing here was familiar at all, not even the woman whom he had fallen in love with. An almost desperate need to escape overwhelmed him now that he understood that she, the one person who was known to him, did not seem to want him anymore. “You. Me. Us...” she said. He couldn’t think. The pain he felt was stunning and he had to get away for a while to figure it out. “I have to pee,” he said, letting her go as he rolled away. “Adrian,” she called after him. He mumbled something in response and wasn’t even sure what, as he closed the bathroom door. Freedom. He just needed freedom. Maybe then he could think and figure things out? Natalie swore and went to the door, knocking lightly, “Hey, I need to talk to you. Could you come out here, please?” Nothing. Silence. “Adrian?” She gave him a minute, hesitating, every second an age as she waited. “Adrian, please. Come on…” Worried, she tried the door. It wasn’t locked. She pushed the door and knew before it had fully swung open that he was gone. The window above the toilet gaped wide, the drapes framing it wafting softly in the night breeze. Natalie swore. Annoyed that he had bolted, she leapt for the window, transitioning to bat as she went, already on the hunt for him. It didn’t take her long to find the scrawny wolf, high-tailing it through the extensive garden towards a big wall and the street beyond, which was still quite busy for the time of the night.

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu Swooping down on his fleeing form, she bit him on the ass, making him yelp, before flitting about his head and shrieking at him. He ducked his head and rolled away, trying to escape what he perceived as an attack. The second his back touched turf, she was on him, her fangs in his throat, her body morphing to pin him. He fought, struggling to throw her off without hurting her now human form, changing himself so he could use hands instead of paws, claws and teeth. She drank deep, making him cry out, sapping his already weakened state. A wave of euphoria sluiced through him and he hesitated, his hands gripping her waist, his intent to shove her away slipping from his grasp. When he stopped fighting her and let her take what she wanted, she released his throat and lifted her head to look down at him, even though he no longer cared if she drained him to the last drop. “Don’t you ever run away from me again,” she warned him in a soft low tone that promised retribution if he did. Too weak to do so now, he just lay there and let the strange sensations slither through him. Slowly, the irony dawned upon him that all he had done was trade one master for another. Did it matter? Perhaps she would not beat him like Cedric had? Perhaps she would only use him for sex? No, she did not seem to want him for that any more either. So was he then to be relegated to the role of her own personal suck toy, a slave to her hunger? So what? Realizing that she had weakened him too much, she pressed her wrist to his lips. “Drink,” she ordered. He turned his head away, not wanting to. “Adrian, you need it.” “No.” “Fine.” She raised her wrist to her mouth and bit, then held the wound to his mouth, and while he tried to resist, the scent of her blood was a potent lure and he licked at it before he could stop himself. Licked and suckled until it healed, then he turned his head and lapped at her breast, suckled her nipple into his mouth, distressed that he remained flaccid while her moist warmth was spread over his groin and her nipple hardened in his mouth. Blood, he didn’t have enough. She had taken it and he wanted it back. He sank his fangs into her breast and drank greedily, feeling her body respond.

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To Hunt a Wolf When he felt himself get hard, he stopped drinking, just as she tugged at his hair and said, “Enough.” Adrian reached between them, intent on guiding himself inside her. “No.” He stilled. “Why not?” “Look at you,” she said, sitting up on him, her heat still snug against his erection. “You don’t even have any whiskers.” Startled, he murmured, “What?” “You’ve never shaved in your life.” “That’s what this is all about? You want whiskers?” “No. That’s not what I mean.” “You want me to shave?” “No. I mean… Adrian, I have to be sure.” “About what?” “How old you really are.” “You know how old I am.” “Physically, yes. What about in here?” She stroked a fingertip against his brow. “Are you a man here or a boy in a man’s body, Adrian? Until I know the answer to that question, there’ll be no more sex between us.” She flew up into the air, a bat once more, and disappeared into the night, leaving him lying there. Stunned, Adrian laid there for a long time, thinking about that, until Adam found him. “You should come back inside,” his little brother said. “Why?” “You need to rest. Where’s Natalie?” “She’s gone.” “Why?” His tone full of disgust, Adrian muttered, “She thinks I’m a child.” “Are you?” “Not in my mind.” “Everyone wants to know what will happen now,” Adam said after a long silence. “Like what?” “Your birthright as Alpha... I don’t know what…” “Don’t worry. I won’t fight you for it, Adam.”

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu “You won’t have to. I’ll step down.” “No. That’s not necessary.” Adrian sat up and drew his knees up, rubbing absently at the place on his throat where Natalie had bitten him; it felt tender still, even though it had already healed. “Everyone will second guess every decision I ever make. I will be perceived as a weak leader, whether I am or not. That will make the Pack seem weak to others.” “You’ll prove you’re not weak.” “No. I won’t even have the question of it. There’s no way I can lead the Pack like that. It’s your place now. You’re better trained for it than I. Everyone still thinks I’m a child in my mind, apparently.” “I don’t.” Adrian gave him a small smile. “Thank you for that. You’re the only one.” “Not the only. Delilah believes in you too.” “That’s hardly a majority.” “Count Victoria amongst us; the rest will come around, given time.” “Father doubts.” That hurt too. “He’s worried about you. That’s all. We all are.” “I’ll be fine.” “Please come inside now.” “I can’t. I have to go after her, Adam.” “Just give her a little time.” “What if Cedric goes after her?” “He’s too busy hiding.” Adrian shook his head. “I can’t give her time. I love her, Adam. How do I convince her that I’m not a boy?” “Drive, don’t fly. Or at least, if you’re going to fly, take a chopper. Wine her, dine her, take her flowers and chocolates.” “Is that how you won Victoria?” “No.” Adam laughed softly. “No, um, it was instant attraction for both of us. We both fought against mating, but I wanted her bad. So bad I couldn’t think of anything else.” “I felt you dying,” Adrian said quietly. “Until then, I thought you were dead already. We all felt you. What happened?” “Gloriana,” Adam sighed. “She thought that if she could get rid of Victoria, I would take her as my lover. She used a

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To Hunt a Wolf poisoned blow dart. If I hadn’t gone with my instincts and moved…” “Protecting your mate?” “Yes. I was madly in love with her. I had already marked Victoria as my mate, just like you’ve marked Natalie. It was the most terrifying experience of my life next to losing you, Delilah and Deborah. I couldn’t move, I couldn’t even morph; I thought that if I could at least transform to the wolf, I would be able to negate the effects of the poison, but I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t even scream and the pain was excruciating. I thought for sure I would stop breathing.” “I know. That’s why we thought you were dead.” “I’m sorry you felt that.” “No, it was a revelation. Without it, I probably would not have become so determined to escape. I thought about it many times, but something always held me back. I was afraid to leave Delilah and Deborah behind. I was terrified of what Cedric would do to them. After feeling you so close to death, I knew then that I had to do it; that no one knew we were still alive. If I wanted to save them, I had to escape and get help.” “You did the right thing.” “But Deborah...” “We got two of you back, Adrian. We’ll get Deb back too. I promise you that. Our people are looking already and Astarté has contacts that she is enlisting too.” “She’s an Ancient.” “Yes. I think she even turned The Templar. You realize that Delilah is in love with him?” “When has she had time to…?” Adrian trailed off. How long had it taken him to fall in love with Natalie? Not long at all. And Adam with Victoria—love at first sight if he was to be believed. Why shouldn’t Delilah fall in love? What did it matter if the man was a vampire and had been since the Crusades? If she loved him, and he loved her, then that was all that mattered, which brought him back to Natalie and his own predicament. “That was a stupid thing to say. Look at us. We’re all hopeless and in love, some of us with the wrong people, but the differences aren’t important, are they? All that matters is that we love each other. That’s why I have to go after Natalie. I love her and I’m afraid for her. Whether she

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu loves me or not, I am responsible for her being in this mess. If not for me, Cedric would never have turned her.” “You don’t know that.” “I know he did it to spite me, Adam. I need to be with her. Flowers, chocolates and choppers, be damned, I cannot wait for any of those. I need to be with her, now.” “I understand. What do you want me to tell Mother? She will be crushed to lose you again so soon.” “She’s not losing me. I am not a child anymore. It’s not my Mommy I want and need right now, but my lover.” With that he flew up into the air, morphing into a bat, and was gone. “Damn,” Adam sighed. He wasn’t looking forward to explaining it.

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T If you wish to have a he door was not locked. Only one thing could frighten her now and that was Cedric, and the lock to keep him out if he really wanted in had not been made yet. Garlic, Holy Water and silver did not strike either of them as effective, even though silver had a bad effect on both werewolves and vampires. Natalie did not expect Cedric to come after her, nor Adrian himself. Closing the door he listened for a moment, hearing movement quietly from the bedroom. He went to join her. She stood by the dresser, waiting for him, armored in her warm red plaid robe. “You shouldn’t be here,” she said. “What do I have to do to convince you that I am not a child?” he asked, not stopping until there was only a foot between them. “It’s not a game, Adrian.” “Damn right it’s not.” “I want you to leave.” “So you’re not going to give me a chance to prove it to you?”

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu “I won’t have your family accusing me of seducing a minor.” “And I won’t have everyone thinking that I am a minor. I’m not. I haven’t been since the day I was taken. I’m sick of everyone assuming that I am.” “It’s a valid concern.” “But you have no problem using me as a suck toy, is that it?” “That’s not fair. You ran from me.” “You rejected me, Natalie. What was I supposed to do? Pretend it didn’t happen? You think you can just tear out my heart and it won’t have an effect?” “You ran away like a little boy!” she snapped. The hurt in his dark eyes turned cold. “So that’s it? Just like that, it’s all over? Did you ever really feel anything for me at all or was I just a convenient screw?” “You know that’s not true.” “No. I don’t. I thought you loved me. Maybe you’re right. I’m just a stupid kid.” He turned away and started for the door. “Just so you know, I’m not running away like a hurt little boy. I’m just leaving. You can go screw your vet friend now with a clear conscience.” “I never wanted Jim,” she yelled, chasing after him. “I won’t trouble you again. Your reputation is safe.” He was already out of the door. “Adrian! Get back here!” He paused on the porch steps and looked back at her. “I’m not your pet. If that was all you wanted, you should have left the silver bullet in my ass.” “If you don’t stop being ridiculous, I’ll put it back gladly!” Adrian smiled at that although the humor was dark and sarcastic. “At least I could get away with humping your leg.” “What?” “You can tell Adam when he comes sniffing around that I’ve gone after Deborah.” “You can’t do that!” “I can and I am.” “Cedric will kill you.” “Alas, poor Adrian, you knew him… Well, you can mourn for me then. He’s already taken everything that ever meant anything to me, including you.”

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To Hunt a Wolf “Adrian, you don’t honestly believe that.” “You’re going to tell me what I believe now too? Amazing.” “It’s cold out here. Come back inside.” “What for?” “So you don’t freeze your ass off. So we can talk. There are a dozen or more reasons. Just please come back inside.” “No. We have nothing else to talk about. You don’t want me. You’ve made that clear. It’s finally sunk in. I have to go now.” “Your Pack needs you to lead it.” “No. They have Adam.” “But it’s your…” “No one would take the Pack seriously if I were in charge. There’s that whole kid thing again. Isn’t that just too funny?” Natalie didn’t know what to say. “So… what will you do?” “Stay away.” “Your family needs you.” “Right. I’m a liability to them if anything. It would have been better if I’d never escaped.” “Don’t say that.” “It’s the truth. All I have done is throw the Pack into disarray. Everyone doubts my abilities to lead and do what’s right for the Pack, not to mention question my allegiance. It will be better for Adam if I just stay away. Go inside now. It’s cold out here.” He turned and went down the steps, transitioning to a wolf as he went, intent on trotting off, never to be seen again. Natalie knew she had to do something. As a wolf, she threw herself after him, tangling with him, taking him down in the snow, pinning him on his back. He looked startled and went human on her. “What are you doing?” She growled at him, her teeth bared, her muzzle puckered. “You want another pound of flesh? Go ahead and take it.” She snapped at him, her teeth barely an inch from his nose. He did not flinch, simply looked at her in challenge. He would not back down this time. In the end she leapt up and left him there, flying off as the bat.

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu Adrian just lay there naked in the snow, staring up at the cold brittle sparkles in the night sky. Beautiful, majestic, cold and heartless, the stars observed all dispassionately. Although he knew he should move, Adrian couldn’t find the energy to do so. He just wanted to go to sleep, even though he knew he should shift back to his wolf form. Instead, his eyes slid shut and he ignored the warnings sounding in his head. The painful bite on his thigh was harder to ignore and it made him angry that she would assault him so. Why couldn’t she just leave him the hell alone? A second bite had him giving chase; he darted after her. They were a pair of bats flitting back and forth amid the trees, around her house, inside it, around the kitchen, the bedroom, the living room, and back to the kitchen again. He finally tackled her and pinned her to the table, bat on bat, his fangs in her shoulder. She gave a little shudder and squeaked, thumped her wings on the table, her body rubbing suggestively against his. As tempted as he was to nail her, he didn’t. He let her go, reverting to human as he backed away and released her. She did the same, rolling onto her back and propping herself up on her elbows on the table. “If you’re through playing bite tag?” he muttered. “I’m not sure yet,” she replied, breathing hard, her breasts heaving. “Why don’t you close the door and come here?” “Because if I come there, I won’t come alone,” he warned. Nevertheless, he kicked the door shut, cutting off the frigid seep of cold air into the house. He was cold, inside and out. “Maybe you should show me just how manly you really are?” she suggested. “I thought you didn’t want to be accused of seducing a minor?” “Am I?” “What?” “Seducing you?” “Not yet. Try harder.” “A hard sell, is that it?” She ran her foot up his thigh and curved her leg behind his ass, pulling him closer. “I’m not selling anything. Are you?” The way he said it was meant to provoke her ire.

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To Hunt a Wolf She smiled instead. “So you’d buy if I was?” “I don’t have any money to buy you. Last I checked, my allowance didn’t cover sexual favors.” “Then I guess it will have to be for love.” “Too bad I’m not old enough for you, isn’t it?” “Playing hard to get, Adrian?” “No, I’m just curious as to the change in your attitude.” Not to mention suspicious. “You make me forget,” she grumbled, dropping her restraining leg. “You’re right. We should wait.” She sat up, planting a hand in his chest to push him back a bit. Adrian did not back away. He grabbed her hips and pulled her snug against him. “I want to mate with you. Is that adult enough for you?” He was more than ready to follow through. “Mate?” “You heard me. You know what I mean.” “I thought we already were, sort of.” “Not completely. I’ve only marked you as intended. I want us fully mated.” “You mean for life?” “For life, mine, til death parts our ways, the mother of my children, regardless of my standing within the Pack, that’s what I want with you. Is that adult enough for you?” “Adrian,” she murmured, surprised by his words and the inherent possession within them. Such talk made her quiver inside, a combination of nerves and desire, and she knew that he could smell her, and knew how much she wanted him. “I …” “Human, wolf or bat, that’s all that matters. As the bat, I could have nailed you right here. I wanted to. As the wolf, I want to tie into you and never be set free again. You can do that, you know. Did you know that? Lock me inside of you?” He rubbed himself against her. “Might be a bit awkward,” she murmured, although the idea made her hotter and wetter, and the press of his hard flesh against her made her weaken. “And the human?” she asked, trying to hold out, even though it was killing her. “The human in me wants to screw you from morning ‘til night and then some.”

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu She cleared her throat. “Those are very adult thoughts.” “I think so.” “They are also every adolescent male’s wet dream,” she pointed out, to which he scowled and she smiled, perversely enjoying his annoyance at the reminder. He ran his hand up her back to her neck, clasping it tightly, pulling her closer and bumping his nose against hers. “Adolescent or not, you’ll always be my wet dream. I want to lose myself inside of you. I can never stay long enough or get deep enough.” He kissed her tenderly, teasing, tempting, and pulling back when she would have kissed him fully. “Mmnnnn,” she murmured, intrigued. “You’re making me forget something very important.” “Nothing is as important as being inside of you.” “Yes, it is. You’re very important to me, Adrian. I want to make sure this is right, for both our sakes. “ “It is right. I love you. You love me. I know that you do. Why are you hunting for problems to keep us apart?” “I’m not, really I’m not. I just want to be sure. I’ve screwed up before. I don’t want to screw up this time.” “You’re not. I love you. And big bonus here, I am not already mated to anyone else.” “No, but there’s your family, Adrian, and because of what you are, there are hidden complications.” “No there’s not. I love my family and they will always be a part of my life, but I am not going to allow them to run my life now. I have been alone too long. I love them but I don’t know them anymore.” “Even so, you were supposed to be the Alpha of the Pack.” “I have no business leading my Pack. I have been too far removed from it to be an effective leader.” “Adrian, I don’t believe that.” “ Is that what you want, then? An Alpha Male?” “No. Don’t mistake me. Don’t put words in my mouth that are not there, Adrian. That is not what I meant. I meant if that is what you wanted to pursue, I would probably be a detriment to that goal.” “I am a detriment to that goal,” he said. “Not you. Next stupid excuse and please don’t say my mental age. We’ve resolved that one.”

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To Hunt a Wolf “You might have. I’m not so sure I, or your family, have.” He took a long slow breath and said, “You’re not going to ever let that go are you?” “How can I?” “So you’re going to pat me on the head and send me on my way, like a good boy, is that it?” “No. I just hope to God you’re being totally honest with me. That there’s not a teenage boy still locked deep inside of you, crying for his mother and his family to come and rescue him from the nasty old vampire.” His eyes darkened with his mood. “Do I look like I am crying for my mother?” he asked very quietly. “That would be pretty sick, considering the huge boner I have on right now. You want honesty? Here it is. This is for you and I want to play stake the vampire to the table or the wall with you—probably both and probably more than once. There’s nothing adolescent about what I want to do with you. I want to do things to you that will make you scream and lose control. I want to fuck you so hard and so deep that you will feel empty when I am not inside you. I want you to tremble when I come near you, because you know how hard I am going to make you come and you will quiver with the anticipation of it. I want you wondering if I am going to eat you first or just fuck your brains out. How is that for honesty?” Before she could answer, his mouth was on hers, hard and determined, and he made her wonder a lot of things, most notably when he was going to follow through on his wicked threats. She moaned her agreement when he pressed the tip of his erection against her moist sensitive flesh and yet he held back when all she wanted was for him to thrust deeply inside her. Breaking the kiss, he added, “I should make you beg for it.” “I am,” she whispered. “I’m trembling in anticipation, I’m wondering how you’re going to make me pay for it, if you’re going to toy with me or mate me? Oh God, Adrian, hurry up and mate with me. Let’s do it.” She arched her hips forward, trying to take him deeper, as the scent of her desire surrounded them and made them both moan. Kissing him, she wrapped her arms and legs around him, urging him to take her. “Please. Adrian. Now.”

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Elizabeth L’Inconnu “Not yet.” “I’m begging.” “Not yet,” he smiled. “But you will.” “I am. Please. Anything you want, just hurry.” “Anything?” he asked softly. “Yes, yes. Just hurry.” He pushed all the way inside her and she sighed in relief, trying to hold him closer. Then he pulled all the way out and she whimpered at the loss as he freed himself from her hungry grasp. She protested until he grabbed her, turned her around and bent her over the table. Eagerly she awaited his thrust. “Anything?” he repeated wickedly. “Yes. Please…” He gave it to her slowly, sliding in and out several times, almost losing himself in the lush pull of her slick body. Not yet. Not yet. He pulled out again and she gave a little cry of frustration as he dropped to his knees behind her. “Adrian…” Then he was licking her, making her cry out and beg for more as he had promised to make her do. He teased her with his tongue and his fingers until she came, and then he dragged her to the floor. Panting, she tried to reach for him, but he kept her on her knees and whispered softly, “Turn. I want your wolf.” “No. I want you like this.” “I need your wolf, Natalie.” “After. Please.” “No. It has to be now. You said anything. This is what I need, Natalie. Do it. Now.” He turned himself, changing into the wolf, ready to mount her. He gave her an encouraging growl and leaned over her, his front paws on her hips, pulling her back against him. She changed to the wolf just as he clamped his teeth on the back of her neck and he thrust inside her until she locked him in. She shuddered and came, sounding out a long low note as he pumped inside her and growled softly, biting her, marking her as his and mating her fully this time. There would be no disputing it. His entire Pack would know it. He shielded nothing now. Everyone would know. After, they remained locked together and he rolled onto his back, while she turned and crawled on top of him. They

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To Hunt a Wolf both continued to come over the course of the next hour, until her body finally released him. Reluctantly, he withdrew and turned back to his human form. Natalie did the same and they lay there next to one another on the floor, looking into each other’s eyes. Adrian was smiling. “Wow,” Natalie murmured. “That was interesting.” “Only interesting?” “Great, fantastic, and exciting, but I’m not done with you yet, Mister.” “Good.” “I’m just getting started,” she warned him as she crawled on top of him again and impaled herself on his renewed erection with a deep moan. “Yeah? Good. Me too. You’re mine now and everyone knows it.” “Everyone?” “Everyone.” “Good. I don’t want any other bitches getting any ideas about you, Adrian Gentry. You’re mine now. Let’s get back to the business at hand.” She began to ride him. “Mnn… I’m not sure, but I think I am supposed to be staking someone…” he said. “Yes, Mister, you are. Now get to it.” He pulled her down on top of him, rolled her onto her back and staked her to the floor for a long time.

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AIf you wish to have a

s dawn broke, Deborah lay still, trying to fight the deep dark pull of sleep that was creeping over her. Cedric lay on his side, facing her, with his arms possessively around her and one leg draped over her, pinning her to him. She was his now and no longer just his pet. She was his consort. She had discovered that with her new vampire state, she craved the carnal passions he had fully introduced her to. Why had she resisted him so long, she wondered? Even now, she wanted more, and yet the darkness of sleep was claiming her. She was a vampire now. Never could she go home again. This place would become home in time or where ever Cedric chose as his next lair. For now they had found temporary shelter here in the basement of an abandoned building, in a large border town. Tonight they would feast well in Mexico. Pushing back against him, she tried to arouse Cedric once more. He smirked and told her, “Sleep now, Meredith.” “That is not my name,” she pouted. “It is now, my sweet.” He gently bit into her throat and sucked, making her moan, making her forget that her name was Deborah as he gave her what she wanted until the dark sleep claimed them both.

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You have purchased the Biography pdf version of this novel. It is also available in a print version. Elizabeth L’Inconnu is a writer of varied interests whose fiction is often witty and charming. Whether her tales center on a love-struck lone werewolf or the lonely heart of a vampire, they are sure to entertain. Prior to embarking on a writing career, Elizabeth worked in a variety of jobs from fruit picker to library technician, including juggling household engineering and being the mother of two wonderful children. Elizabeth also functioned as a web page designer for a few years and as a newsletter editor/publisher for several organizations. Having always had an interest in writing fiction, Elizabeth finally decided it was time to take out the silver bullet and aim for the stars. She loves to read and write paranormal, sciencefiction, fantasy, action and suspense, and of course romance, and has been happily married to her romantically charming Gemini firefighter, Dennis, for twenty-seven years after a whirlwind, love at first sight, romance, and a Valentine’s Day proposal just two weeks after they met.

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You have purchased the Other Romances by pdf Absolute version ofXPress this novel. It is also available in a print version. The Chosen One by Kelly Wallace

Cozumel Karma by Lainey Bancroft

To Catch a Wolf by Elizabeth L’Inconnu Heart of Stone by Denysé Bridger

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Love Not Forgotten by Ellen Ashe

Whom Gods Have Favored by Denysé Bridger The Phantom Lover by Kelly Wallace Mountain Man by Ellen Ashe

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Collision With Paradise by Nina Munteanu

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