Harlequin Nocturne March 2014 Bundle: Shadowmaster\Running with Wolves (31 page)

“I can't.” She pushed it away as pain seared her insides. “I feel like I'm being ripped in two.”

“I know, I went through it, too. We all did. I just thought we'd have more time before you would. You need the protein. Eat it,” he demanded.

“No!” Her mouth was dry and filled with grit, there was no way she'd be able to swallow it. And even if she did, she wouldn't be able to keep it down.

“Sorry.” He pushed the meat into her mouth. The woodsy flavor exploded across her tongue. She barely had it chewed before she was swallowing and greedily reaching for more.

He placed another piece between her lips. “No more salads for you. Not for a while.”

“I love salads,” she said weakly then cried out again as another surge swept through her. Her body temperature spiked, and she hung weakly on to Jason's arm, riding the wave of torment.

“Your body is changing. You need to give it extra fuel. Only protein from now on.”

“Okay,” she whispered, knowing she'd promise anything if he could only make the pain stop.

He gave her another piece of jerky. She chewed it more slowly this time, the gamey flavor satisfying her in a way she'd never imagined. She wanted more. And she wanted it now. She chewed and chewed, trying to concentrate on the fulfilling taste even as the pain swept over her, stealing her thoughts. Tears coursed down her cheeks, but she didn't care. This pain was sharper than when she'd broken her arm and deeper than anything she'd ever felt.

She cried out again as another wave swept through her, doubling her over until she just wanted to die, to close her eyes and drop off the deep end of oblivion. She felt herself being moved, being gathered up and pulled into Jason's embrace. He was lying behind her, holding her nestled against him as he murmured in her ear and continued to put small pieces of the meat into her mouth.

She tried to concentrate on the feel of him behind her. With the strength of his arms wrapped around her, his infinite heat seemed to melt her limbs into mush. His smell, woodsy and earthy, of pine and forest, reached inside her and she breathed deep, breathed it so far into her that she wasn't sure where she stopped and he began.

She touched the crystals on his wrist, fingering the smooth stones and rough twine. Dragging her fingers down to his strong warrior hands, trying to focus on the feel of them, their strength and their gentleness.

“I can help you if you'll let me,” he whispered.

“Yes,” she cried, as another wave of intense heat stole over her, bringing with it the racking nausea.

He stood and slipped out of his jeans and pulled off his T-shirt. She wanted to protest, to demand to know what he was doing, but instead she curled up and closed her eyes as she willed the pain to stop. And then he was pulling off her pajama pants, pulling her shirt up over her head.

“No,” she protested, trying to cover her exposed breasts.

He slipped into the bed next to her and pulled her up against his hot skin. At first she tried to pull away from him. To put some distance between them, but then his hands began to move, soothing and caressing her skin. Moving up her body, and with each sure stroke, the pain and the tension began to ease. Warmth seeped into her clenched and strained muscles, appeasing the tension, until she began to relax and a new tension lit her nerve endings.

She felt each gentle touch so deeply it was almost as if she could feel the ridges of his fingerprints being imprinted on her skin. Nerve endings fired and tingled, leaving longing in their wake. His bare feet cupped hers, the backs of her legs pressed tight against the front of his, her backside nestled deeply in his center, his warmth melding with her as his hand moved up and around her hips.

His lips moved across the sensitive lobes and the outer shell of her ear as he murmured to her that everything would be all right. The pain wouldn't last. And he was right, it was finally ebbing. But a new kind of pain was starting, an exquisite burn of longing and need, and she pushed herself even closer to him as his fingers moved down her arms to her middle, caressing, loving. She moved her hand up behind her to his neck, drawing her fingers across his skin to cup his head and draw his lips down to hers.

And then she was pressing her mouth to his, her stomach tightening, her breasts drawing in, her nipples hardening. Her lips moved over his as his tongue filled her mouth. She took his hand and placed it over her breasts and he rubbed and tweaked and massaged until she thought she would burst with need. She shifted, turning until she was facing him, her hands cupping his face as his kiss sent her soaring.

He moved his hand behind her back, holding her close, and then finished the kiss. He pulled away from her and a small moan of protest left her lips. She tried to pull him back, but he moved farther and farther away, until he was off the bed and pulling the sheets up over her, covering her nakedness. “What is happening? Where are you going?” she asked.

“You are changing. But don't worry, the worst of it is over.”

If it was over, then what was he doing over there and not back in the bed with her? “I am not a demon,” she insisted.

“I know,” he said, his words breaking over her, the deep timbre of his voice skittering across already frayed nerves.

“Nor will I ever be,” she clarified, in case that was the reason he was pulling away from her. Because there had to be a reason. Didn't there?

“I know,” he repeated.

“But you said—” she cried out as another twinge grasped hold and twisted, ripping and pulling her insides.
Not again!

“The demon dimension was where we came from originally, but that's not why the
Gauliacho
are after us and that's not what we are now.”

He gave her another piece of jerky. She ate that, too, and then another until at last she felt the wrenching pain subside. She pushed herself up against the headboard. “But what does that mean? And why don't you come back to bed?” she asked when at last she caught her breath. Her body temperature dropped and her breathing returned to normal.

“It means you are changing, leaving your humanity behind and becoming like us.”

“Like you? What are you?” She looked up at him with blurred vision. “What am I changing into?” She had to know, all this pain, this suffering—if she wasn't dying, then it had to be for something.

He brushed the hair back from her face, and for a second she wondered if he would climb back into bed with her. His pale eyes locked onto hers. Eyes that looked so familiar, that almost looked like...

“A wolf.”

Chapter 5

A
wolf?
She took several deep breaths, trying to still the panic in her mind. “How can you possibly expect me to believe that?”

“Because you already know it's true. The buzzing you've been hearing, the colors you've been seeing. You dream of the forest, of running free. You know it deep inside. It's who you are. Who you've always been.”

“It's not possible,” she whispered, even as his words resonated deep within her.

“It is. You've already gone through the first modification. Things are going to be different for you now. Your sight, your hearing, your senses. After this last adaptation, you will be stronger. And when you're in wolf form, you'll heal quicker.”

“Wolf form? Like a werewolf?” She thought of the horror movies she used to watch as a teen where the actors' faces stretched into grotesque misshapen monsters, their jaws and noses elongating into a wickedly sharp tooth-filled snout. And they sprouted hair.
Everywhere.

She shivered.

Buddy whined, placing his head on the side of the bed. Jason smiled and patted Buddy, comforting him. “No, not a werewolf. More like a shape-shifter. We can change form at will, anytime. We are not ruled by the light of a full moon and we do not crave human flesh.”

“Great. That's the best news I've heard all day.”
Not.
“This is really too much to believe.” She tried to sit up and pull away from him, but a wave of dizziness broke over her.

She fell back into the pillow and willed sleep to return. She didn't want to hear any more, didn't want to think or feel.

He touched her head again, brushing his fingers across her hair in a soothing caress. “I would love to let you sleep the day away, but I can't. After this latest change, your wolf scent is even stronger. The sun is almost up. We have to keep moving.”

“Why?” she asked, her voice treacherously close to a whine.

“The demons. Or have you forgotten them?”

No. She hadn't. She just didn't want to believe him. No matter what he said. No matter what kind of wicked food poisoning she'd had. The next thing she knew, his arms were under her and he was picking her up, lifting her up off the bed.

“Hey,” she cried in protest as he carried her into the bathroom and set her down on the toilet then turned on the water in the shower. She drew her knees to her, covering herself the best she could.

“Get in and take a hot shower. You'll feel better. Don't take too long, though. Here are my keys.” He pulled his key ring out of his pocket and laid it on the counter. “When you're done, put Buddy and your stuff back in the truck. I'm going to take a quick shower myself, then head over to the diner to order us breakfast. We have a long day ahead of us.”

“How do you know I won't take your truck and drive myself back home?”

He stopped on his way out the door and turned back to her. “Because I trust you. And deep down, you know you can trust me. You know I'm right.”

“Fine,” she grumbled as steam began to fill the room. “But don't be surprised if I don't eat. My stomach is still topsy-turvy.”

“I'm not worried.” His smile was annoyingly confident as he turned and walked out.

“Whatever,” she grumbled as she heard the adjoining door close.

Apparently no more kisses for her. Or anything else. She sighed and stripped out of her underwear then stepped under the hot spray, and melted as the pulsating water massaged her muscles. A wolf. Ridiculous. All she needed was a hot shower and she'd be fine. Obviously, something she ate hadn't agreed with her, that's all.

As she stood under the hot water, her stomach growled as she thought of a thick slab of ham covered with over-medium eggs, and topped with a side of bacon and sausages. The little link kind. It had been years since she'd had sausages. How could she be thinking of food now, after all she'd been through? But she was. As impossible as it was for her to believe, she was starving.

In no time at all, she was out of the shower, dried off and combing her long dark hair when she noticed her arms did look different. She held them out and stared at them. They were suddenly well-defined. Muscular.

You will be stronger.

She looked away, brushed her teeth then put on a quick dab of lip-gloss and mascara. She wasn't changing. She just didn't feel good. She walked out of the bathroom, staying clear of the mirror as she dressed and repacked her duffel, then she and Buddy left the room for the parking lot.

“Here you go, Buddy,” she said after he did his business. She poured some of his dog food into his bowl, put some water in a stray coffee cup rolling around in the back and placed it on the floor. “Everything is going to be just fine,” she lied as she locked him in the truck and walked toward the restaurant.

The sky was beginning to show the first reddish-gold streaks of dawn across the horizon when she walked into the diner. She was surprised to find it already half-full with other patrons. She glanced through the long row of windows into the parking lot and saw several large diesel trucks. That made sense, especially if the diner's breakfasts were as good as their burgers.

The smell of coffee was strong and inviting as she dropped into the booth across from Jason.

“You're looking much better,” he said with a wide boyish smile. She couldn't help remembering his arms wrapped tight around her, as he'd helped her through an agonizing night. The way his hands felt on her skin, heating her blood and everything else. Annoyance surged through her at the thought.

“I assumed you were hungry, so I ordered you the special.”

She couldn't take her eyes off the soft red hue surrounding the man sitting directly behind him. The colors around all the patrons were much more muted than they had been yesterday, but even better than the muted colors was the fact that she didn't have to put in her earbuds. The buzzing sounds coming from them were so soft she barely noticed them. She could still feel the person's intentions, but the sound wasn't nearly as annoying or debilitating.

In fact, she almost felt normal.

She certainly felt better than she had in... Well, she didn't know how long.

“Good morning, hun.” A rotund waitress with shockingly bright red hair placed a large steaming plate of food in front of her. “Coffee?”

“Yes, please.” Shay's eyes widened as she took in the mound of food on the plate. “There is no way I'm ever going to be able to eat all this.”

“Thanks, Marge,” Jason said, offering her a smile as she filled Shay's coffee cup then refilled his.

She paused for a moment, basking in his attention, a pleased smile stretching her painted lips. “Anytime, hun,” she said, then took her coffeepot to the next table.

Shay would have to remember that smile of his and make sure she didn't swoon over it. Irritated, she shoved a piece of ham into her mouth.

“Are you feeling better?” Jason asked.

“Yes, thank you,” Shay said politely over the mouth-watering ham. When had ham ever tasted this good? Much better than the spinach-and-cream-cheese omelets she usually ate. And sausages. There were sausages, too, buried under the thick slab of ham, and strips of bacon. She smiled. Heaven. She was in heaven.

“I don't know why I'm so hungry,” she said as she scooped scrambled eggs into her mouth. “I can't believe I can even eat after everything I went through last night.”

“Your body needs the protein.”

As she ate, she glanced out the window, surprised by how much clearer her vision was, especially in the dim light of dawn. She was seeing color slightly differently. Yet, somehow, she was able to see better, farther. And she could hear and smell really well, too. The rich scent of sizzling pork was making her ravenous.

She dug into her food, not stopping until the waitress was back refilling her mug with coffee.

“My goodness. Well, he did say you were hungry.”

Shay glanced down at her plate and felt the heat of embarrassment rise in her cheeks. Her plate was half-empty. How had she eaten all that food, that quickly? “Please give my compliments to the chef,” she said. The cook behind the counter turned and waved.

“Joe says thanks,” Marge said, and laughed.

Shay took a sip of coffee and looked up at Jason, her eyes meeting his over the rim of her cup. Was it really possible? Could she really be changing? Transforming?
Into a wolf?

“Okay, tell me more,” she said, suddenly wanting to hear it all, even if she didn't believe. Even if she refused to believe.

“What do you want to know?” he asked, hesitation strong in his voice.

“Tell me about my dad. Did you really know him?”

“Yes. He was a good friend of mine.”

“How is that possible? You were a kid.”

“Because once you go through the change, you age differently.”

“How do you mean?”

He leaned toward her, dropping his voice. “You age very slowly.”

She stared at him, amazed by the implication of his words. “How slowly?” she whispered. “How old are you?”

“Eighty-five.”

“Get out.” She stared at him, at the plumpness of youth beneath his cheeks and eyes, the even tones and smooth skin. “Eighty-five? No way.”

“It's true. Our life expectancy is somewhere around four hundred.”

“Seriously?” She downed another sausage as she tried to absorb what he'd told her.
Four hundred.

“I'm not sure I would want to live that long,” she said honestly. She was only twenty-three and life had already been...hard.

“Shay, you're not alone,” he said, seemingly reading her mind. “You have family waiting for you back at The Colony.”

She looked up at him, her eyes widening, her heart afraid to beat. No, she was alone. She'd lost everyone, one after another until there was no one left. Just her and Buddy, in their little house in the woods.

“Your family is anxious to meet you. Grandparents. A cousin.”

Shay shook her head, her breakfast forgotten, her mouth dry. “My dad said he didn't have anyone.” The words came out a hoarse whisper.

“I suppose to him he didn't. He had to leave them behind and never look back. But they are still there, waiting for you. You even have a house—your dad's old house. It's a great place right on the lake. Your dad loved to sit in an old chair out on the end of his dock and fish. You and Buddy will love it there.”

Tears watered Shay's eyes. She blinked. “I...I thought I—” A lump caught in her throat.

“I know I've given you a lot to absorb, but if you believe nothing else, please believe that you have family anxious to meet you, and they've been waiting to do so for a very long time. Will you come with me to The Colony?”

“Are you actually asking?” She couldn't help the smile lifting the corners of her mouth.

He nodded and leaned back in the booth, amusement dancing in his eyes and suddenly he looked as handsome to her as he had that first moment she'd laid eyes on him. “I'm asking.”

She thought of her father's parents and knew she had to meet them. She had to see for herself. “Yes, I'd like to come. I'd like to see this place where my dad once lived, I'd like to meet my family. But I'm not promising I'll stay.”

“Sounds like a deal to me.”

She turned her attention back to her plate, but no longer felt the need to devour what was left. Instead she picked at her food while discreetly watching him. She didn't know if it was because of the way he'd held her through her pain, or the way he just seemed to know what she needed, but she was beginning to see him differently than she had before. More as a friend than someone who was dismantling her life.

Who was she kidding? Last night she'd wanted him to be much more than a friend. His sure touch, his warm hands had stroked away her pain and made her want so much more than just comfort. He looked up from his breakfast, his bluish-gray eyes locking on to hers and holding steady. Heat suffused her cheeks and she dropped her gaze back to her plate.

“Are you ready to go?” he asked with a strange hitch to his voice. She looked up at him and couldn't help wondering if he knew what she'd been thinking. “There's a whole community waiting for your arrival.”

She nodded, not trusting her voice to speak. She finished the last of her coffee as he rose to pay the bill. A pickup truck had pulled into the parking lot and parked next to Jason's. Buddy was standing up in the front seat, barking at the two men who hopped out of the cab and were walking toward them. She didn't need to see the cloud of darkness swirling around them to know they weren't here for the food.

They were here for her.

She could sense it from the energy flowing from their minds, see it in the dark auras swirling around their heads. She looked at Jason standing in line at the cash register and then at Buddy going crazy, barking madly in the front seat of the truck.

She hurried toward Jason but just as she reached him, just as she turned to point out the window, another truck pulled into the lot with another two men, the same thought patterns issuing from inside them.

“Jason!” she hissed under her breath, and grabbed his arm.

He followed her gaze out the window, taking in the situation, then threw the check and a twenty on the counter. “Keep the change, Marge.”

He turned her away from the front door, from the door closest to the truck, and with a hand on her back quickly led her toward the rear of the diner, toward the open-air walkway that led back to the motel. Away from the parking lot. Away from the truck.

“What are we going to do?”

“Make a run for it.” He grabbed her hand, hurrying her forward toward the outside door. They reached it just as all four men walked into the diner.

“Now!” Jason said, and they bolted outside, running toward the truck. And they almost made it, would have made it, if one of the men in the diner hadn't chosen that moment to glance back out the window.