First Moon (New Moon Wolves) BBW Werewolf Romance (3 page)

A soft whine answered her.

She squatted down and peeked under the tarp. The wolf stared steadily into her eyes, but she caught the tension in his eyebrows. The poor thing was stressed. “Don’t worry, big guy. I’ll take good care of you.”

Was it her imagination or did the wolf seem to nod?

Chapter Three

Audrey spent the next few hours poking around on the internet hoping to find more information about the unusual wolves she’d been running into lately. As she’d suspected, there weren’t any known wolves as large as the ones currently running amok in Northern Michigan. They didn’t exist. Unwilling to give up, she sent some emails to a few colleagues in the hopes that they might have some insight. With her wolf research at a dead end, she watched some
Friends
reruns and turned in early. A wolf with strawberry blonde fur ran through her dreams, baying at the moon in an eerie, high-pitched howl.

Just before dawn, a metallic clanging noise yanked her out of a dream where a wolf stalked a rabbit, intent on feeling the defenseless animal’s heartbeat on its tongue. Audrey gave an involuntary shudder as she blinked the sleep out of her eyes. She’d been a vegetarian since she was eleven. The idea of eating meat, let alone hunting down any animal, was repugnant.

There was more metal banging and then it abruptly stopped for a second. Audrey settled into her bed, intent on going back to sleep, but, just as she closed her eyes, the banging started up again. Soon, the screech of metal scraping over metal added to the cacophony.

“Oh for goodness sake. What the hell is going on?” Her nearest neighbors were a quarter mile away and even the garbage truck didn’t make this much noise, not even when they dropped the cans by accident. She pulled on some yoga pants and shoved her feet into slippers before stepping outside into the cool morning air. The gray predawn sky looked down on her glumly as she followed her ears to her truck.

Oh, shit. The wolf.

She started to run.

The cage bucked wildly up and down, side-to-side, the tarp fluttering in the air as it did so.

“Hey, what’s going on?” Audrey knew the wolf wouldn’t understand her, but she hoped hearing her voice would give him pause. Most animals went still when they heard humans, even apex predators like wolves.
If he didn’t calm down, she would have to consider shooting him before the animal slammed his way out of the cage. Bob hadn’t exactly invested in a cage that could withstand the strength of a large, powerful animal.

Concerned for her safety, she quickly ran back into the house and retrieved her gun. The whole time, the cage banged against her truck like a deranged drummer. She winced, thinking of the damage the wolf was doing to the truck bed.

Returning outside, this time armed, she advanced on the truck, her shoulders tense. “Calm down, big guy. I don’t want to have to hurt you.”

As she spoke, the tarp slithered off and Audrey shrieked at what she saw inside the cage.

It wasn’t a wolf, but a man. A
naked
man with well-defined muscles and flashing blue eyes offset by midnight black hair almost wavy enough to be called curly. A man strong enough to bend the metal holding him in. One side of the cage bulged as if he’d tried to throw himself through it. The remaining bars were bent as well, showing the strain of his strength.

“I seem to be stuck in here,” he said with a sheepish grin. His voice was low and rough with a rock singer’s rasp.

“I-I-I,” she stammered, almost dropping her gun in surprise. Not only was the guy buck naked, he was handsome enough to be a movie star and that voice…oh, that voice was doing wicked things to her despite her shock. “Y-y-you’re not a wolf.” Her voice squeaked and she covered her mouth, embarrassed by the sound.

“Not today,” the man said matter-of-factly. “Do you mind letting me out?” When she hesitated, he added, “I don’t bite.” He flashed a charming smile her way. If the circumstances hadn’t been so odd, her knees would’ve gone wobbly.

When she still hesitated, he said, “If you prefer, I can destroy the cage. I’m halfway there.” He pushed on the top, showing her how it had detached from the body of the cage at the corner. “But it’s still repairable now. Can’t say that’ll be the case when I’m done with it. Let me out, please?”

“Um, sure. Okay. I guess.” She felt silly for not responding faster. Of course she wouldn’t keep a grown man locked up in a cage. It wasn’t right. She set the gun down in the truck bed and putting a foot on the bumper, she heaved herself over the tailgate. As she
clambered up into the truck, she became aware of the way her large breasts bounced in her t-shirt. If she’d known she’d be facing down a hot, hunky guy, she would’ve strapped the girls in. He’d noticed them too, watching with open appreciation as her breasts jiggled under the thin cotton fabric.

Audrey pretended the stranger wasn’t looking and admonished herself to not be ashamed. The guy was naked and locked up in a cage, not exactly in a position to be judgmental. Suddenly she went still, struck by a thought. If
he
was in the cage then…

“Where’s the wolf?” She retrieved her gun, feeling the need for protection.

He thumped his chest, the action making a hollow sound. “In here.”

“Excuse me?” Her grip on the gun tightened. Perhaps she should leave him locked up and call the police.

“Let me out and I’ll explain everything.” He nodded toward her arm. “That bite of yours is tingling, isn’t it?”

“What if it is?” Her voice was calm, but her heart pounded in her chest. The bite seemed to know they were talking about it and practically vibrated in her arm.
She resisted the urge to put a hand over the wound and press it into stillness.

“I know the wolf who bit you.”

She raised an eyebrow.
Oh he does, does he?
“And?”

“He’s coming back.”

“What for?” She gave in and laid a protective hand over the bandage covering her wound. It seemed to beat against her palm, as if it had its own heart.

The easy charm left his expression, replaced by a grim look. “You.”

***

Tao held the beach towel the woman had given him around his waist and paced her living room. Her small house contained minimal furniture. What the ranch lacked in furnishings, it made up for in cages. Rows of them. The absolute silence that greeted him upon entering the house told him that any animals present had picked up his scent and were trying to hide.

Unfortunately, the air was filled with their smells. His nose automatically cataloged them one by one. The birds. The squirrels followed by the rabbits, which were his favorite snack while in wolf form. His stomach growled with hunger as their musk filled his nose. The old man who’d trapped Tao hadn’t fed him, and the cat food Audrey gave him the night before had reeked of chemicals. Thank the moon, his wound had finally healed enough so he could shift and get his own damned food.

After the menagerie in the house, there was the issue of the woman’s scent. It hung heavy in the air, coating his skin and the inside of his lungs, making him hungry for other, more carnal pleasures. He couldn’t stop drinking it in. If he could’ve rolled in it, he would’ve dropped to the floor and done so.

God, she smelled good. Someone should make a perfume of her scent.

“Are you okay?” She stood by the front door, as if wanting to stay close to an exit. She crossed her arms and watched him closely.

Tao sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “Yeah, I just don’t know how to start.” She’d asked him where the wolf was and now he had to explain
he
was the wolf. He really did not want to have that particular conversation this way. The towel wasn’t just pink, it had mermaids. On him, it looked ridiculous and he needed her to take him seriously. He took a deep breath.
Here goes nothing.

“My name is Tao.”

“Audrey,” she said with a small, regal incline of her head. She had a glorious case of bed head framing her face and her hazel eyes, almost caramel in the morning light, regarded him calmly.

She’s wonderfully delectable
, Tao thought. Rounded curves and soft flesh a man could really sink himself into. His cock began to harden at the thought and Tao started to panic.

Not the time. Not the place. Get it together, furball.

He shook his head and then massaged the back of his neck. Nervous. Inexplicably horny. Lost.

Taking a deep breath, he dove in and went for it. No sense in playing coy with the truth. Plus, anticipating her negative reaction effectively numbed his libido. “I’m a werewolf. Werewolves are real.” He paused, waiting to see how she would react.

Audrey’s scent changed from that of sweet strawberries on a hot summer day to the sharp tang of adrenaline and fear. She took a step back, ready to run. Tao had seen deer do the same thing a hundred times. He was going to lose her.

He held up a hand. “I know it sounds crazy, but that’s not even the insane part.”

“There’s more?” Her voice came out unsteady.

Tao wished he could make things easier. He’d known what he was all his life, there’d been no surprises, but Audrey had to take it all in at once. She must be terrified. “Why don’t you sit down?” He gestured to the blue sofa in her living room.

She hesitated, pink tongue darting out to lick her full lips. “It’s that bad?”

Tao gave her a kind smile, doing his best to show Audrey he was on her side. “Not really, but it will seem like it the first time you hear it.”

She sat on the edge of the couch, hands anxiously clutched in her lap. “Okay, let me have it.”

Tao noted the way she sat a little straighter and squared her shoulders as she spoke. When the choice to fall apart or hang tough presented itself, she’d opted for the latter. Audrey had fortitude, something that would serve her well because, as much as she might think him being a werewolf was bad news, she hadn’t even heard the worst of it. He still had to explain about what would happen to her come the full moon. And once she’d absorbed that, he would have to tell her about Nick.

“Okay, so let’s review. I’m a werewolf. Werewolves are real and,” he paused briefly, wary of her reaction to the next part, “you’re going to be a werewolf come the next full moon.”

Audrey laughed, covering her mouth with one hand. “Oh my God. This is some kind of joke isn’t it?”

Tao shook his head. “No, I’m sorry, it’s not. The wolf who bit you was my brother.” He winced when he spoke of Nick, feeling the bonds of family tug at his heart. Bonds that didn’t mean what they used to.

“Your brother?” Her mouth opened and closed several times as she started to say something else, only to fall silent as words failed her. Finally, she just sighed. “Well, shit.”

“You can feel your wolf coming, can’t you?” She’d given in without too much protest, which meant, on some level, she already realized something was happening. Good. It would make things easier.

She nodded. “I’ve had strange dreams and I feel things. Strange things.” She bowed her head, cradling it in her hands. “Oh my God. I’m really a werewolf?” Audrey looked up at him, her hazel eyes wide. “This is real, right? It’s not a dream?”

He gave her a sympathetic smile. “It’s real.”

She shook her head. “No, I can’t believe it. I won’t believe it. Werewolves don’t exist.”

Tao kneeled down by where she sat. “Hey, look at this.” He pointed to his chest, showing her the scar of his wound. “Didn’t the wolf--”

“Have a wound in the same spot?” she finished for him. Audrey touched his scar, her fingers cool and tentative. “It’s almost healed,” she said, her voice full of wonder.

“Werewolves heal faster than humans.” Tao repressed a shudder of pleasure as she lightly ran her fingers over the pink line that was all that remained of his injury. The feel of her skin on his was as intoxicating as her scent.

Audrey pulled her hand away abruptly, as if sensing his reaction. “Um, okay,” she said, sounding not at all convinced.

“It’s true,” Tao said with all the sincerity he could muster.

She gave him a skeptical look.“If you say so. I wouldn’t know would I?” She sat back, increasing the distance between them and crossed her arms. “So now what?”

Tao shrugged as he stood, not wanting to crowd her. “You change.”
And
, he added to himself,
I make sure my brother never touches you.

Chapter Four

“Excuse me,” Audrey said to Tao, her mind reeling faster than a tilt-a-whirl ride from everything the big man had just told her. “I want to check something.” She ran into the kitchen to get her phone. She had to look at a calendar. Had to know how much time she had before the next full moon.

Her mind raced as she went.
Werewolves? No way.
It was crazy, but Tao knew things about her that she couldn’t deny. She grabbed her phone out of its charging station on the kitchen counter and paged through the calendar app she used, looking for the moon phases.

Thumbing through her calendar, she returned to the living room where Tao stood, tall and as wide as a wall, a patient expression on his face. Even with her eyes on the phone, Audrey couldn’t help but be aware of his presence.