Feral Seduction (Feral Protectors 2) (11 page)

“Did she ever contact you?”

“No. I looked for her, but she didn’t want to be found. The selfish bitch never contacted me. Not once!” She drew back, shocked at her outburst.

Stryde’s eyes rounded. “I didn’t mean to bring up anything painful. We don’t have to talk about it.”

Brandy sighed. “I don’t mind talking about her. It’s a good reminder for me.”

“Reminder?”

“A reminder that anyone can leave at any time. She left me when I was eight. She left me with my father, the town drunk, so that she could go live a life of freedom.”

“I can’t imagine what you went through.”

She whipped her head up. “Don’t feel sorry for me. You barely know me.”

“I know that you didn’t deserve to be abandoned by her.” He scooted closer and held out his arms.

She sniffed and tried to resist the allure of his gesture. But she remembered how good it felt to be held by him, so she gave up on resisting. She crawled toward him. He pulled her into his lap and held her tight against him. She rested her head on his chest. His steady heartbeat soothed her.

He lowered his voice. “Did you ever ask her why?”

“I tried to locate her for years, but couldn’t find her. Eventually I gave up. She didn’t care enough to even call us, so I figured she wouldn’t care if I found her.”

“I’m sorry that happened to you.”

“Thanks.”

She cuddled into his arms. She hadn’t been held like this in a long time. The heat from his body and the gentle way he cradled her against him melted some of the anger lurking in her heart. She knew that holding on to the bitterness was pointless, but she couldn’t seem to let it go.

Chapter 11

Stryde leaned against the entrance to the cave. He loved watching the sun rise over the valley. Even though he spent most of his days sleeping, he made a point of greeting the morning. Maybe he’d been holding on to hope all these months that his heart would heal.

He glanced behind him to where Brandy slept. She’d spent so many years holding on to the pain and anger of being abandoned by her mother. She’d been so alone and closed off. He understood her desire to withdraw from other people. But at some point, she’d have to move on. She couldn’t spend the rest of her life trapped by anger.

He brushed his hand across his face. Of course, it was easier said than done. He couldn’t fault her for being trapped in a whirlwind of anger. The first two weeks after Leah’s death, he’d raged at everyone in his pack. After screaming at one of the young pups over a tiny mistake, he’d decided to leave the den. He hadn’t been any good to his pack.

Even now, the fuse of anger could be lit by the slightest inconvenience. He wasn’t ready to return to the pack. Even Gwen’s heartfelt pleas hadn’t changed his mind. He wouldn’t go back until he was sure he could be a good leader.

Right now he had enough to deal with. Brandy would be in heat for three more nights. He’d have to figure out a way to resist her dangerously sexy curves. He’d followed her lead when she hadn’t brought up the sex from the night before, but he couldn’t get it out of his mind.

Her soft thighs wrapped around his waist, the way she’d kissed him until he thought his heart would burst out of his chest. Everything about her drove him wild with desire. He’d have to chain himself to a tree to keep his hands off her.

At least she hadn’t been angry. She’d let him hold her for hours and eventually fallen asleep in his arms. As much as he hated to admit it, he loved the feel of her. Her head fit perfectly under his chin. Her body molded to his in every way that counted.

He kicked a rock over the ledge. He had to stop thinking about her. In three days, he’d take her to Ryker’s den and leave her. It was the best thing to do. Every minute he spent with her brought him closer to danger. He’d have to guard his heart, but he could do it. Only three more days.

Brandy stirred on the bed. As she sat up, the blanket slid down from her full breasts. He gulped. Three more days of being trapped in a cave with a goddess might be more challenging than he wanted to admit.

“Good morning.” She smiled.

He couldn’t help but smile back. The warmth in her eyes chipped away at the ice around his heart. “Are you ready to go out into the forest today?”

She slid to the edge of the bed. “I can’t wait.”

Her enthusiasm was contagious. “Great. First, we’ll grab breakfast in the berry patch.”

“Do I need to bring anything with me? A gourd or bag?”

“No. We don’t collect more than we need to eat in a day. That keeps the plants healthy and productive. There’s no need to store any food when the forest is so abundant.”

She padded across the room. “Should we shift?”

He liked that she’d asked as if it was the most natural thing in the world. He’d expected her to take weeks to adjust, but maybe her rough upbringing helped her adjust to new circumstances quickly.

“We can’t talk when we shift… and picking berries is easier with fingers,” he quickly added.

“Sounds good. I’m starving.”

His stomach grumbled in solidarity. Scorching hot sex made him ravenous both for food, and for her. Unfortunately, he could only indulge one desire.

“The berry patch is halfway between Ryker’s and Kyran’s dens.”

“Who’s Kyran?”

“He’s alpha of the Phantom Lake Pack.”

“I’m guessing they live by the lake.” She stepped into the sunlight. A halo of fiery red highlights shimmered in her hair.

She was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. Leah had been beautiful too in her own way. But the women were as different as night and day. Where Leah had been fit and firm, Brandy was soft and round. Leah had been bold and outspoken, but Brandy held back her emotions.

A twinge of guilt flashed through his heart. He shouldn’t be comparing the two women. It wasn’t fair to either of them. Besides, Leah was gone. He’d failed to protect her, and he couldn’t make the same mistake with Brandy. He had no business thinking of her as anything other than his responsibility for the next few days.

They descended the mountain and strolled through the woods. Every few feet, Brandy would bend to point out a wildflower or stop to gaze at scampering squirrels.

The look of wonder in her eyes made him really see the forest for the first time in years. The beauty he took for granted was exposed in a new way. Morning light drifted through the trees to cast spectacular patterns of shadow and light across the forest floor. The wildflowers he usually trampled without a second thought became beautiful works of art worth enjoying.

As they moved from tree to flower, he pointed out the edible plants and warned her away from the poisonous ones. He showed her how to suck morning dew from honeysuckle flowers and pointed out their poisonous berries.

When a rabbit bounced through a meadow, she chased after it. Her delighted laughter rang through the forest and melted another sliver of ice from his heart. He chased after her. When he caught her, they tumbled to the ground and rolled around in the soft grass.

They lay side by side for a few minutes, simply staring up at the sky. Fluffy white clouds billowed across the blue expanse.

She rolled onto her side to face him. “I could get used to it here.”

He tempered the staccato beat of his heart, warning himself not to get too caught up in the moment. “You’ll make a lot of friends at Ryker’s den.”

A cloud passed over the sun, casting a shadow across her face. “We’ll stay friends, right?”

He sat up and wrapped his arms around his knees. “We might see each other from time to time at council meetings.”

She laid her hand on his shoulder. “Stryde…”

“What?” he asked, his voice harsher than he intended.

She pulled her hand away. “Never mind.”

He stood and held a hand out to help her up. “The berry patch isn’t too far from here.”

They walked in silence until they reached a thicket of wild blackberries. Even the sweetest fruit soured in his mouth.

He risked a glance in her direction. She quickly looked away and shoved a handful of berries in her mouth.

He sighed. He didn’t want to encourage her. He couldn’t give her anything more than friendship. But the pain in her eyes made his gut clench.

He stepped beside her. “I know things got intense last night, but that was my fault. I should have—”

“I get it. I was in heat and you’re a man. It wasn’t anyone’s fault. It just happened. We don’t have to talk about it. Let’s just enjoy the time we have together. Tonight, I’ll do everything I can to stay out of the moonlight.”

He plucked an overripe berry. It disintegrated between his fingers and bled its juices down his hand. “I never wanted to hurt you.”

***

Brandy forced the biggest smile she could manage. “I’m a big girl. It was a mindless fling, I get it.”

But inside, her heart shattered. She drifted away from him toward a thicker blackberry bush. She couldn’t stand being so close to him without touching. Obviously he didn’t feel the same way about her.

She shook her head. Dropping her guard, even for a second, was stupid. He had no intention of giving her anything more than basic wolf knowledge. He’d been caught up in the moment last night and she needed to make sure she stayed away from him tonight.

His furtive glances confused her, but she had to stop overthinking a relationship that didn’t even exist. “Tell me about Kyran’s den.”

Stryde let out a breath as if relieved by the change of subject. “He has the largest of the three packs. One hundred wolves live in the den.”

“Wow, didn’t you say Ryker’s den was about forty wolves?”

“Yes, Kyran’s is over double the size.”

“What made you decide to leave me at Ryker’s den instead of Kyran’s? Wouldn’t it make more sense to leave me with the bigger pack?”

“Kyran is older and less approachable, and I don’t know him very well. Ryker and I have been friends since we were pups. I know you’ll fit in well there.” He stepped closer. “I wouldn’t ever leave you with someone I didn’t trust completely.”

But he was still leaving her.

“Thank you,” she managed.

He swallowed before looking away. “The packs have boundaries. As a member of Ryker’s pack, you can travel anywhere in the forest alongside the river. My pack is on the mountain, so you won’t be able to travel there.”

“Even to visit?”

“We don’t visit each other unless it’s for a special occasion or council meeting.”

She rubbed the tight muscles in her neck. “So we really won’t see each other much.”

“No,” he said softly.

She dropped her gaze to the dirt.

He said, “I’ll show you the boundary to Kyran’s territory.”

She followed him through a dense patch of ancient oak trees. The meandering trail was confusing and she doubted she’d ever wander this far into the forest alone. But it would be good to know the outer edge of the pack’s territory.

A huge white oak that had been split by lightning crossed the trail. She sniffed the air and scrunched her nose. “What is that smell?”

“The pack gathers together every few months to mark the edge of the territory. The scent is concentrated and unmistakable.”

“I’d say so.”

His lips twitched into a half-smile. “At least it’s clear.”

Unlike the nature of their relationship.

She silently chided herself. Of course it was clear. He couldn’t make it any clearer. She just needed to accept it.

***

Hours later, Brandy lounged on the dais in the cave. She eyed the setting sun warily. She’d already committed to staying out of the moonlight no matter how entrancing it might be.

Stryde paced around the cave. His nervous energy made her own trepidation escalate. She wished he’d sit down and stop moving.

“Sun’s almost down.”

She jumped at the gruffness in his voice. “Yep.”

“Whatever happens tonight, I promise you’ll be safe.” He paused for a moment to look at her with a haunted expression.

She shivered. “Maybe you should tie me up or something…”

He arched a brow.

“…to keep me out of the moonlight,” she quickly added.

“That won’t work. You’d just shift and break the bonds. Don’t worry; I plan on guarding the trail. I won’t come back here, even if your scent drives me crazy.”

She suppressed a smile. So he did want her. Well, only when she was in heat. And apparently any wolf would want her if he scented her. Not exactly a ringing endorsement of her sexual prowess. Not that she cared.

She slid off the dais. After adding another log to the fire, she sat close enough to let the heat relax her knotted muscles.

As the last sliver of sunlight faded, she tensed. It was only a matter of time before the moon’s enchantment would tempt her. Could she resist it tonight?

“I’m heading down the trail. I won’t be too far.” An unmistakable hunger flashed in his eyes.

She bit the edge of her lip and tried to ignore his carnal gaze. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For protecting me.”

His fists clenched at his sides. “Stay out of the moonlight.”

“I’ll try,” she said, and she meant it.

As soon as Stryde disappeared into the night, she stared into the flames and refused to look toward the mouth of the cave. The dancing fire lulled her into a state of calm which lasted an hour. But with each passing minute, the innate desire to mate quickened her breath and dampened her sex.

She glanced toward the shaft of moonlight bisecting the cave floor. It stretched toward her like a vengeful wraith. She’d never imagined she’d be so terrified of moonlight, but it exerted unimaginable power.

She dropped her gaze to the fire and focused on the snapping, hissing flames. She could resist. She had to. She couldn’t let herself lose control. If she could make it through tonight, she could make it through the next two nights.

Hours passed. A thin trickle of sweat slithered between her shoulder blades. The subtle caress hardened her nipples. She longed to unleash the beast inside.

As the battle raged on, her resolve slipped. Maybe she could control herself if she shifted. Maybe in wolf form, she’d be able to resist the tide of longing that surged through her veins.

She laughed bitterly. Who was she kidding? The second she shifted, she’d morph into a wild animal. Her lust for Stryde would explode and send her barreling down the mountain to find him.

She sat on her hands as if that would prevent her from shifting. She longed to talk to another female wolf. A female mentor would know what to do. She’d been missing a mentor her whole life. Without a mother, she’d had to figure out how to be a woman alone. The advice she’d gleaned from magazines and TV shows seemed contradictory to her actual experiences. Maybe when she moved into Ryker’s den, she’d make a female friend who could help her with the carnal desires raging in her blood.