Lycan Lust

Chapter Eight

Brent’s fur ruffled in the slight breeze. He stood under the trees, staring up at the full moon. He’d always found it amusing that most humans thought lycans could only change during a full moon. They controlled when they shifted, not the moon. He’d needed to run after he’d told Rindy that she was his mate. When he’d told her he loved her, the look on her face had broken his heart. She didn’t love him. He believed her when she’d said she cared about him, but he wanted more.

What would it take to get through to her? Was it even possible? Or had she been too deeply scarred by past experiences to be able to see that he wasn’t the same as the bastards that had killed her mother and sister? He was so deep in thought he nearly missed the soft footsteps leading away from him. He sniffed the air. Rindy. She was trying to leave him.

He howled in denial and ran after her through the softly packed snow.

He could give her space and time, but he couldn’t let her go. He’d never forgive himself if something happened to her. She was his responsibility, and he’d never let anyone or anything hurt her ever again. When he got close, he caught another scent. He was not the only one chasing Rindy. He growled and increased his speed.

Just as he reached her, a gray wolf jumped on her back. She sprawled to the ground and cried out. He heard a loud pop and wondered if she’d broken a bone or merely sprained something. He hoped the latter. He leaped in the air and hit the gray wolf from the side. It let out a yelp as they tumbled several feet away, snow spraying in every direction. When Brent regained his footing, he glanced at Rindy. She was sitting up now, holding her knee.

He lowered his head, laid his ears back, and growled at the son of a bitch he was about to kill. The gray wolf arched his back, and the hairs stood straight up along its back. Brent leaped into the air, came down hard on the gray wolf’s back, and clamped his teeth on its neck. It struggled under him, but Brent knew the wolf had no chance. Just as he heard the snapping of neck bones, Rindy screamed. He tossed the wolf’s lifeless body aside and turned to see two more wolves circling his mate.

Get the hell away from my mate, you bastards! Brent knew his words would be laced with venom, even telepathically.

The biggest wolf of the two lifted one side of his mouth to release a low growl, showing off a huge fang. We’ve been after this bitch for too long to just let her go now. I wonder if her pretty little neck will snap as easily as her mother’s did.

Brent’s blood boiled with rage, but he refused to let his anger make him do anything rash that might get Rindy hurt. He had to get the wolves away from her, and unleashing the fury swirling deep in his chest that begged for release wasn’t the way to ensure Rindy’s safety.

Rindy watched in horror as two wolves surrounded her. She’d instinctively known the dark brown wolf was Brent, and although he’d killed the first wolf that had attacked her, she didn’t know if he’d be able to take on two more at the same time. Brent walked slowly toward the other two wolves, teeth bared, low growls emitting with each step.

Just as she thought she and Brent both would surely die, another wolf broke through the thick trees. It was black and huge. It stood beside Brent, and they both advanced on the two wolves circling her. The two wolves seemed to realize they were in for an ass-kicking, so they turned and fled as Brent and the black wolf closed in.

She clutched her throbbing knee as Brent and the black wolf stared at her. Brent shifted back into his human form, and she could barely keep her eyes from his magnificent nude body. He knelt beside her.

“Are you all right?”

She nodded. “Yeah, but I twisted my knee pretty bad.”

“Let’s get you back home so I can take a look at it.” He scooped her up and carried her toward the cabin.

She looked over his shoulder, and the black wolf was following them, now with a golden wolf bringing up the rear.

“They are friends,” Brent said, as if anticipating her question.

“I’m glad they were here. I was worried that you were going to get hurt.”

She sniffed. “And it would have been my fault. I’m sorry.”

“Hey, don’t worry. I would have been okay. I can take care of myself, although I can’t say I’m happy that you were trying to run away. Rindy, you should have known better than to take off by yourself in the woods after dark. It’s too dangerous.”

“I know. I wasn’t thinking straight. I really am sorry. Please don’t be angry with me.”

“I could never be angry with you. You might make me crazy over some of the things you do, but I can’t find it in me to be mad at you—although it did cross my mind that you might need a good spanking.”

“I have never been spanked in my life.”

“There’s always a first time for everything. Besides, you might like it.”

She sputtered. “I don’t think so. And if you try it, I’ll punch you in your nose again.”

He chuckled. “That’s my Rindy.” By the way, the black wolf is Anthony and the golden wolf is Karen, his mate. They live a few miles up the main road. Their property borders mine.”

“Oh. Are they coming to the cabin?” She glanced back again at the two wolves following them. They were pretty spectacular, but not as spectacular as Brent.

“Yes. Anthony and I are going to hunt down the other two wolves after I’m sure you are safe.”

“Why?” She didn’t like the thought of him being in danger.

“Those were the wolves that killed your family. I’m going to make sure they never hurt you or anyone else ever again.”

Her stomach clenched, and she felt as if she might throw up. “They are the ones that murdered my mother and sister? But why are they still after me?”

“Because they are sick and twisted, and they think they have a score to settle with you since you escaped them. Don’t worry. I’ll take care of it.”

“But I don’t want you to get hurt.” She held on to his neck tighter.

He smiled. “I won’t get hurt, at least not too bad. I promise. I have to do this. For you, and for my sanity.”

“Aren’t you cold?” She shivered, her damp jeans biting into her backside.

“No.”

“But it’s freezing out here, and you are naked.” She shivered again.

“I’m not cold. Lycans have a higher body temperature than humans.”

“Oh.” She snuggled against him. He was pretty warm now that he’d mentioned it. How convenient.

He carried her up the stairs, into the cabin, and across the living room, where he deposited her gently on the couch. “I’ll be right back.”

When he returned several minutes later, he was wearing a pair of sweatpants. Damn. He looked good in everything. He eased her shoe and sock off and rolled her jeans up.

He pressed around on her knee and made her bend for him while she winced in pain. “Sorry. I had to check it over.”

“It’s okay. I’ll live,” she said through clenched teeth, thankful that he was done with his examination.

“You twisted it pretty bad, but it’s not broken. Just bruised and swollen.

If you stay off it for a couple days and keep ice on it, you should be as good as new.”

He went to the kitchen and returned with an ice pack and gently laid it on her knee. He pulled a throw from the back of the couch and draped it over her. The warmth seeped into her. A tall man with coal black hair and a red-headed woman walked in behind him. They were both wearing jeans and T-shirts but were barefooted.

“Rindy, this is Anthony and Karen.”

“Hi,” Rindy said. Anthony nodded. Rindy thought Anthony was an impressive man, and Karen was pretty and tall.

“Karen is going to stay with you while Anthony and I go after the other wolves.” Brent gave Rindy a quick hug.

Rindy grabbed his arm before he stood and pulled him toward her. She hugged him and placed a light kiss on his lips. “Be careful.”

He gave her a deeper kiss. “I will.”

Karen hugged Anthony. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her tenderly, and she framed his face with her hands. “Be careful. If you get hurt, I’m going to kick your butt.”

He smiled and kissed Karen on top of the head. “You ready?” Anthony asked Brent.

“Yeah. Let’s go.” Brent followed Anthony to the door, and they both disappeared.

“They’ll be okay.” Karen patted Rindy’s hand.

“I hope so.”

“So, are you Brent’s mate?”

“That’s what he tells me.” Rindy sighed.

“Hmm. Doesn’t sound like you are overly thrilled with the idea. Don’t worry. I wasn’t either, but I grew to accept it pretty quickly. Especially when I realized I would get to spend the rest of my life with Anthony.” Karen watched Rindy with clear blue eyes.

“I don’t want to be a werewolf.”

Karen snorted. “What, and I did? I didn’t have a choice in the matter, though. I was bitten by a rogue pup. Anthony would have never forced me to turn had it not happened. But I know now that I would have wanted him too anyways, eventually.”

“But don’t you find the whole fated thing hard to swallow?” Rindy asked.

“How so?” Karen tilted her head to the side.

“I mean, just because two people are fated to be together, doesn’t mean they have to love one another. That is sad. Who wants to be in a relationship without love?”

“Are you saying you don’t love Brent? If so, don’t worry; it will come.

You know, I think fate kind of knows what She’s doing. I don’t think She’s going to throw two souls together that are not compatible or meant for one another. I think mates already love one another. They just have to figure it out. But I believe in soul mates—or at least I do now.” She chuckled.

Rindy frowned. Karen had a point and sounded as if she shared Brent’s take on the whole fated thing. Surely fate wouldn’t condemn two incompatible souls to an eternity together. Was she letting the past tarnish her feelings for Brent? She didn’t deny she cared for him, so why would it be so hard to love him? And then she thought about everything since they’d met. He’d been kind to her, gentle with her. He’d never pushed her into anything, and, yes, he’d omitted the whole truth from her, but he hadn’t done it to be conniving. She would have run a thousand miles away from him at the time had he told her she was fated to be with the one thing she’d spent so many years despising.

He took care of her. He protected her. He hadn’t forced the change on her. And now her early doubts were doused in certainty. Certainty that he would never force her to turn if she chose not to do so. If such self-sacrifice wasn’t love, then she didn’t know what was. He did love her. And . . . she loved him.

She smiled. She couldn’t wait to tell him, but could she become what he was? She still wasn’t certain about that, but maybe they could be happy for the time being until she could accept such a thing.

“Do you think you could help me to my room? I’d like to take a bath, get out of these damp jeans, and lie down for a bit.” Rindy sat up, and placed the ice pack on the coffee table.

Karen helped Rindy to her room. She knew she wouldn’t sleep. She was too worried about Brent, but she needed time to herself. Time to think about the choice she was now faced with. She tried to put herself in Brent’s shoes.

How would she feel if she were faced with years and years of loneliness, finally found the one person she was supposed to spend her life with, and he eventually died, leaving her to face even more years of loneliness?

Loneliness was a hard pill to swallow on its own, but to have been loved and to have loved, only to lose it? She still ached for her sister’s laugh and her mother’s arms to hold her. If she didn’t choose to let Brent change her, she would one day subject him to the same pain when she died. Could she willingly put him through that?