FMR (7 page)

MacDonald as a smirk formed on his contorted face.

A flash of foolish bravado flickered through Derek. "What's a

matter, MacDonald? Are you jealous?" he taunted back with a wicked

grin.

"Why you – " MacDonald's clawed hands reached out.

Derek gave a sharp inhale. A loud
pop
resounded over the

wolfman's shoulder, followed by a
zing
that sliced the air. He gave a

startled yelp and spun around.

Derek saw the dart lodged between the big man's shoulder blades as

MacDonald rushed angrily toward the cabin. Derek's gaze flickered

to the porch. Megan stood there, brave in her stance, the tranquilizer

pistol in her hands. She was lining up another shot when MacDonald

barreled onto the porch.

"Watch out, Megan!" Derek shouted, but it was too late. Before

she could squeeze off another shot, MacDonald lashed out, knocking

the pistol from her hands. Derek helplessly watched as he took

another swing. The wolfman hit Megan hard. She staggered back

against the door with a loud crash, her limp body sliding down onto

the porch.

Frustration swelled inside him. Rage blurred Derek's vision as he

felt the full moon's burning heat pumping through his veins. He

tossed back his head, a raw howl escaping from his throat. The 'moon

fever' swiftly overtook him, ripping the clothes from his body as the

beast emerged.

In
sithech
-form, Derek charged MacDonald. With a snarl, he leapt

up, forcing the wolfman to the ground with a harsh thud. Hot waves

of anger radiated in the air as the two bodies clashed, then tumbled

over the leafy ground.

MacDonald growled, clothes shredding, as he transformed fully

into wolf form. He was a larger, black wolf, but the smaller, tawny

animal was more aggressive. Finally, he pushed Derek off, sending

him to the ground. The tawny wolf rolled onto all fours and shook

leaves from his fur. He glanced over at Megan, still slumped on the

pouch.

She gave a low moan, opening her eyes and sat up, holding her

head.
I'm okay, Derek,
she reassured him.

Derek turned, adrenaline pumping through him, and narrowed his

gaze at MacDonald.
Attacking me's one thing, MacDonald. Attacking

Megan, that's another.
He conveyed with a harsh growl.
I'm gonna

sink my teeth into your –

You gotta catch me first, mutt!
The big, black wolf spun around,

dashing off into the woods.

No, Derek, don't!
Megan desperately conveyed, but the 'moon

fever' had overridden him. The tawny wolf snarled and raced off after

MacDonald.

He sped after the black wolf, his paws kicking up leaves in his

wake. Anger coursed like liquid fire through his veins. Derek

followed MacDonald's foul scent on the night breeze, barreling into

the moonlit forest after him, hot on his trail.

* * * *

Bruce were on their way.
But how soon would they arrive?
She ran

down the steps. In the distance, she heard the rustling sounds of

MacDonald and Derek running through the woods, going deeper and

deeper into the foliage.

Clutching her pistol, she dashed off into the woods, following the

distant echoes of the fighting wolves.
If I 'turn wolf' now, I won't be

able to use my pistol.
Her heart raced in her chest. Hoping no one

would get killed, she bravely ran deeper into the wooded glade after

the two moonstruck wolves.

As wolves, Derek and MacDonald were snapping and growling at

each other. The whiteness of their jagged fangs glistened in the

moonlight. Their furry bodies clashed together, rolling on the leaf-

covered ground.

Megan stopped, taking a stance and aimed her pistol. Frustration

rippled through her as she attempted to distinguish which wolf was

which in the tumbling mass of fur and teeth.

"Derek!" she cried out. But it was futile. She sensed white-hot

anger in the air as the two wolves continued to fight. Her gut

clenched as she realized they might battle to the death.

Even in the dim light of the moon, she recognized the pit, the

gapping crater among the leaves.
Derek, be careful!
He didn't

respond. Snarling, jaws snapping wildly, the wolves were teetering

closer to its edge.

The black wolf's pace was slowing. A sense of triumph flickered

through her. She sighed with relief as the wolf pulled away from the

fighting and retreated a few paces. He shook his head. The

tranquilizer was working, but MacDonald's eyes glowed with evil

intent.

Megan aimed again, squeezing the trigger. Nothing. The gun was

jammed. "Damn it!" she cursed, tossing the useless weapon aside.

MacDonald was eyeing Derek. The tawny wolf held his ground. A

deathly odor hung heavy in the air. The black wolf made his move.

With a fierce growl, he leapt for the tawny wolf with his jaws opening

wide.

"Look out!" Megan shrieked in alarm. Derek jumped aside. The

other wolf landed on the bed of leaves. Attempting to stop, he

skidded, unable to get solid footing. MacDonald let out a yelp of

surprise and toppled over the edge of the pit.

Megan raced forward as the tawny wolf transformed back to Derek.

He was heavily panting, his naked body drenched with sweat and

blood. Together, they looked over the edge of the earthen crater.

MacDonald's unconscious, naked body was sprawled out at the

bottom on a cushion of leaves. Megan exhaled a sigh of relief. "I

think he's okay. I don't sense anything broken." She turned away from

the pit in disgust. "It serves him right. He was trying to kill you!"

"I was worried he'd kill both of us. Between the dart and the fall,

I'd say he's out cold for now." Derek shook his head. Moonlight

twinkled in his amber eyes as he reached out, drawing her close. "So,

are you okay, Meg? How's your head?"

"I'm okay." She shrugged. "I grew up with two big brothers. I'm

fairly tough."

"You sure are." Derek grinned, his mood lightened a bit. "So what

are we going to do with Sleeping Beauty there?" he inquired, glancing

over at the pit.

"I called Rhonda. Bruce and Ray should be here soon to take care

of MacDonald," Megan sighed. "But I suggest we get back to the

cabin and clean up before they arrive."

"Sure. Besides, I don't think running around the woods in my

birthday suit will impress your brother much." Derek winked.

"No, it won't," she agreed. "But I think he'll be more interested in

dragging MacDonald out of that hole."

"So, what's he going to do about MacDonald? I mean, doesn't

attacking another pack member go against your pack rules?" Derek's

brows knitted together with genuine concern.

"That's pack
law
and, yes, even though the 'moon fever' did have

something to do with his 'turning wolf', that doesn't excuse his

actions." A chill passed over her skin as Megan remembered. "But

what happened tonight was so ... so bizarre. I've never seen any

sithech
turn into a werewolf before. That was downright scary!"

Megan returned her gaze back to Derek. "But why did you go after

him? He was literally a lunatic! MacDonald could have ... could have

... " Her voice trailed off as tears threatened in the corners of her eyes.

"Sweetheart, I can take care of myself," Derek assured her as they

walked slowly back toward the cabin. "Besides, nobody, especially

an asshole like MacDonald, is going to attack my mate and get away

with it. Nobody."

"Mate? Did you say
mate
?" Megan's eyes widened with surprise.

She could hardly believe her ears.

"Well, yeah, I did." A slow grin spread over his face. "I was going

to wait and ask you in the morning, after sunrise."

"Ask me? Ask me what, Derek?" Megan voice quivered with

emotion. Just a few yards from the cabin they stopped, gazing into

each other's eyes in the moonlight.

Although he was still naked and dirty, Derek went down on one

knee in front of her and smiled up at her. Tenderly, he took her hand.

"Megan, I'm tired of living alone, without a pack. But most of all, I've

been searching for someone to love me ... and my beast."

"But you're not a beast, Derek, you're
sithech
. The blood of the

wolf runs strong in you. I've sensed it from the moment we first met,"

Megan assured him.

"Have you also sensed that I'm in love with you?" he asked, his

eyes glistening in the moonlight. "You're the one I've been searching

for, Megan."

Her heart skipped a beat. "Derek, do you really mean it?"

He nodded, giving her fingers a gentle squeeze. "Sweetheart,

would you please be my
sithech
-mate?"

A feeling swelled up inside her, washing over her senses,

enveloping her heart. Her instincts were right. Derek Lee was her

mate, only she'd been too worried the 'bad moon' had distorted her

true feelings for him. Instead, the Samhain moon was revealing their

true love for each other.

Megan tugged at his hand, drawing him from his knees. She

encircled her arms around his shoulders and drew him close.

"Yes." She smiled up at him. True happiness reflected in his eyes.

Derek leaned in, his lips brushing hers. However, she made the move

first, capturing his mouth in a hot, spellbinding kiss.

"Damn it!" Jacqueline Hamilton snapped off the radio in

frustration. She flexed her hands on the steering wheel of her

Volkswagen Beetle, then cast a glance up to the early evening sky.

Gray, puffy clouds loomed overhead and the moon was hiding. "Fine

time for a wintry mix warning," she grumbled, depressing the

accelerator. She had to reach Heather Grove for her assignment and

avoid getting stuck in the oncoming weather.

It was all her editor's fault, she concluded. "I swear, he's sending

me out here on a wild goose chase!" But she'd wanted it bad. So bad,

she could taste it. This was her big chance to prove herself as a

competent, full-time columnist for
The Inside-View
magazine.

"Jac, you have a good news-sense. You really know how to go

after a story, no matter how strange it may seem." Frank Collins, her

editor had grinned at her over his chaotic-looking desk.

"Thanks." She'd blushed, recalling her most recent story about a

'haunted' pirate ship. She hadn't found anything 'ghostly' about the

ship. No phantoms – just a few squeaky boards and cold air that

leaked in through the narrow wooden planks. But, being a creative

writer, she'd managed to squeeze out a story on the ship based on its

infamous history.

"That's why I want you to take this story in Heather Grove. Our

contact has claimed it's a town with a dark, supernatural secret. I

think it would be right up your alley."

"Up my alley, huh?" Jac raised an eyebrow in his direction. "I

guess you're right. I have enjoyed writing articles with the

supernatural slant, so a haunted town might be interesting."

"Oh, it's not haunted," Frank corrected. "Our contact says the

town's run by a pack of werewolves."

"Werewolves? Ah shit, Frank, what the hell do you mean

werewolves?" Jac rolled her eyes. "This is the twenty-first century!

What kind of moron told you that bullshit?"

Frank chuckled. "That moron has forwarded some information to

my email that is quite interesting. So, I figured I'd send you out there

to investigate and come back with a dynamite story for
The Inside-

View
. Besides, this could be your shot at getting a full time position

here, Jac."

Jac eyed the man with a thin smile, but her mind was spinning. A

full time position at the magazine? The offer was tempting.
The

Inside-View
's reputation as a premier magazine in the South East was

growing. For the last few months, Jac had been putting in the extra

hours, writing stories and editing copies with the hopes of a

permanent position with the magazine.

Jac's gut clutched. She'd had enough of journalism and its harsh

lifestyle. Lifestyle? Working for a 24/7 metropolitan newspaper

meant having no life. She knew that for a fact. She was ready for