The Lamb Who Cried Wolf (2 page)

12

Scarlet Hyacinth

“We’re going to teach you a lesson you’ll never forget,” Ray said fiercely.

Carson tried to escape, but he was surrounded. The hostility emanating from the much larger men around him roused the instinct of self-preservation ingrained in each living being. His panic morphed into anger, and he charged his brother, even if he knew he had no way of winning.

To his satisfaction, he managed to get in a few decent blows.

However, moments later, Ray pushed him off and Carson fell, his body colliding painfully with the cobblestone path. “What are you doing?” Ray sneered. “Get him.”

The other four rams obeyed the older Ray and jumped on Carson.

There was no place to hide from the blows, no way of dodging them.

Distantly, Carson realized that yes, shape-shifters had other feelings, but alas, in Ray’s case at least, they were all wicked and mean.

He would have been able to accept the blows as something passing if the touches hadn’t suddenly turned lascivious. For whatever reason, the rams began tearing Carson’s clothes off. Ray just stood there, laughing, watching them, encouraging them and spouting insults at Carson. “That’s right,” he said. “Carson can be your little ewe. What a great idea.”

A sob escaped Carson at the realization that he would be raped by his brother’s friends. He’d never shared his body with anyone. Ewes focused on strong rams, not underdeveloped ones like him, but Carson had never felt the need to couple with them anyway. He’d come to think himself as not only weak, but also asexual. Still, the thought of his virginity being stripped of him in such a vile manner made his entire being rebel.

“Ray,” he tried to beg, “help me. Please.”

But Ray didn’t help. Just as Carson thought all was lost, a wolf howl sounded somewhere to their right. It was close, so very close.

The rams froze and stopped their abuse of Carson. They got up, taking up a fighting stance.

The Lamb Who Cried Wolf

13

On all fours, Carson crawled away from them and looked toward the general area where he’d heard the wolf howl come from. He half expected the beast to lunge at them from the shadows. Instead, when it emerged, it walked slowly, as if it had all the time in the world and was just taking a stroll through the park.

Carson trembled as he watched the beast approach. It was huge, gray fur covering a massive body and pale green eyes studying them with interest. Carson didn’t doubt the beast could have easily taken a cougar on its own. It was precisely for this reason why their guards stuck together, to fend off such threats. Carson had assumed someone else had taken over the responsibility if Ray and his cronies abandoned their posts. But there were only so many rams, and it seemed Ray’s stupidity left a hole in the defenses. They hadn’t even brought their guns along. Fuck.

The wolf took a few more steps, and just like that, the courage seemed to drain out of Ray and his friends. With similar screams, they turned and ran, fleeing as fast as they could and disappearing into the night.

Carson would have very much liked to do the same, but his body hurt and he didn’t even think he could move. He stared at the wolf, frozen. Oddly, he felt thankful the predator had shown up. At least if he died, he would do so with dignity.

Another wolf appeared from behind the first one. For a brief second, it seemed as if the two were communicating, and then, the second one went chasing after Ray. Great, just great. Apparently, this huge animal wanted Carson for himself. At any rate, it didn’t matter anymore. As much as Carson would have liked to flee, he couldn’t make his body move. He was doomed.

* * * *

Brody watched the beautiful youth on the ground, conflicting emotions passing through him. On the one hand, his mouth watered at
14

Scarlet Hyacinth

the sight of the man naked and at Brody’s mercy. Clearly, the lamb didn’t intend to flee, too panicked to do anything but stare.

In spite of the desire, however, anger and confusion warred inside Brody—anger at what the stupid rams had almost done to the lamb and confusion because he even cared about it. After all, the lamb was prey. By rights, Brody should be eating him now. Instead, he found himself analyzing the young man in front of him like he would a bitch in the pack.

As he approached the gorgeous, succulent treat, his nostrils were invaded by an amazing scent. Brody’s instinct to feed was replaced by the one to copulate, to fuck, and to mate. He wanted to claim this little lamb as his own.

The impossibility of such a thing crossed his mind as a distinct notion. The wolf knew what it wanted and it didn’t care about limits.

It didn’t understand the concept of forbidden. He needed, and he would take.

Distantly, he acknowledged the fact that his mission was compromised, but whatever. He’d found out enough, and his Alpha would just have to deal with it. Right then and there, Brody couldn’t care less.

Without further hesitation, Brody pounced, shifting midleap. Now that his eyes could see color, he took in the true extent of the lamb’s beauty. He was gorgeous, white-blond hair reaching his slender shoulders and wide blue eyes analyzing Brody in obvious fright. The youth made a sound that seemed a cross between a “baah” and a scream, but didn’t move. Brody landed on top of his delicious prey, shocked at himself when he paid close attention so as to keep their bodies from colliding painfully.

“Well, hello there, little lamb,” he growled in the young man’s ear. “It seems I have you at my mercy.”

The lamb gulped. “A–Are you going to eat me?”

The Lamb Who Cried Wolf

15

Sinful images popped inside Brody’s mind, showing sweat-slick bodies moving together, his own and the lamb’s. “Oh, I’ll eat you all right, but you’ll enjoy it.”

The lamb looked confused, but Brody didn’t have time to explain.

He saw Liam heading back toward him in his shifted form. Brody gathered it was time to go. The rams must have finally gotten their act together, or alerted the rest of the guards inside the town. The damn sheep used guns with silver rounds, and Brody couldn’t risk getting hit by one.

He shot to his feet and grabbed the lamb, draping the young man’s unresisting body over his shoulder. Grinning to himself, he followed after Liam as his friend led him back the way they’d come.

The stupid sheep had left a hole the size of Europe in their defenses—possibly because of the same rams who’d attacked Brody’s lamb. Brody growled as he remembered the bastards. He wished he could have taken them out, shredded their flesh and tasted their blood, but his priorities lay with his mate.

His mate? Seriously? How could a lamb be his mate, and a male one at that? And yet, even as he thought this, Brody knew it was true.

He’d have a very difficult time convincing the young man of it, though. For the moment, his sweet prey remained paralyzed with fright, but Brody intended to make that change. Perhaps he could woo the little lamb by bringing him a piece of his attackers as offering.

Then again, perhaps not.

Brody and Liam escaped Ramston with relative ease. Once they were at a safe distance away, Liam shifted into his legged form.

Brody placed his mate down and turned to his fried, waiting for the explosion that was bound to occur. Indeed, moments later, Liam shouted, “What the fuck, Brody? What was that back there, and what in the world are you doing with the lamb?”

Brody realized his behavior would draw his friend’s attention.

Liam knew him well, and knew how much the pack meant to him. It was one of the reasons why they’d been selected for the scouting
16

Scarlet Hyacinth

mission in the sheep lands. Their Alpha—and Brody’s brother, Soren—wanted to know if the sheep truly meant to move into human territory. Brody could safely say the rumor was correct, judging by the motions in the town and the absence of the elder rams and ewes.

Still, he and Liam would have paid more attention and scouted more thoroughly, if not for running into the little lamb. Brody couldn’t bring himself to regret it.

He shrugged at Liam. “I have my reasons for bringing the lamb along.”

Liam stared at Brody’s mate speculatively. “Perhaps you’re right.

I’m sure the pack would love a lamb dinner tomorrow.”

Brody cursed at his friend’s words, knowing they would frighten his poor mate again. Indeed, the young man made that “baah” sound again and, before Brody’s shocked eyes, turned into his animal form.

Liam rubbed his hands together. “Oh, would you look at that?

He’s making it easier for us.”

Brody snarled and pushed his friend away from the lamb. “Don’t you even think about it. He’s off-limits.”

He knelt next to the terrified lamb, gently caressing the soft wool.

The lamb’s blue eyes fixed on him, as if asking him a silent question.

“Don’t worry, little lamb. No one is going to harm you.”

Liam gaped at him. “Okay, have you lost your mind or what?

He’s fucking prey.”

“He is also my mate,” Brody snarled. He had no intentions of denying the connection between him and the lamb. Sure, he’d have liked to explain things to the young man in private, but unfortunately, he could not do that, not in the circumstances. He had a feeling he would need Liam’s help.

“Your mate?” Liam repeated, looking dumbfounded. “But, Brody…”

Brody frowned, silently telling Liam this wasn’t up for discussion.

As always, Liam understood him. “Fine. I won’t question you, or
The Lamb Who Cried Wolf

17

touch your…mate. But you have to realize, my friend, that the pack won’t like this.”

Brody knew his friend was right, just like he knew that, at this stage in his life, he needed to make a choice. It was really a no-brainer. He couldn’t take his mate to the pack, and he didn’t intend to leave the lamb to fend for himself. Therefore, it followed as natural that Brody would have to leave the pack. Sure, his family wouldn’t be happy about it. In fact, Brody would bet money his father would be furious. Hopefully, his brother would help him.

For the moment, he picked up his mate in his arms, all the while continuing with his caresses. In the end, the lamb began to relax a bit, as if finally acknowledging the fact that Brody didn’t intend to hurt him.

Brody began to walk back to their car. Liam followed behind him in silence, seemingly musing over the situation. Once they reached their vehicle. Brody opened the back seat and gently placed his mate there. The lamb didn’t protest, as if dazed. Brody could feel his mate’s exhaustion irradiating from him like a cloud, both physical and emotional. The urge to shield him from everyone was so strong that Brody almost keeled over. He did his best to temporarily leash it and pulled his clothes on. The sheep in the back seat would be strange enough. It wouldn’t do for humans to see two naked men with it.

He and Liam dressed and entered the car. Usually, Brody would drive or take shotgun, but now he sat next to his mate. “Drive,” he told his friend.

Liam took the driver’s position and closed his door. As Brody secured himself and his mate in the back seat, Liam started the car and drove off. The sound of the engine startled Brody’s lamb, and the young man shifted back into his human form. The transformation made it so that Brody ended up with a lapful of naked mate. On instinct, he wrapped his arms around the lamb’s waist, pulling him closer.

18

Scarlet Hyacinth

The young man tensed and started to fidget. “W–What’s going on?” he stammered. “Where are you taking me?”

“Be still, little lamb,” Brody said. His mate’s motions seemed designed to drive him out of his mind. The youth’s pert bottom rubbed against Brody’s cock, making hot lust course through him. His control hung by a thread, and it was only the knowledge of what the lamb had gone through that kept him from losing it. Squeezing his mate to his chest, he did his best to ignore his arousal. “You’re safe with me.”

The lamb didn’t seem very reassured, not that Brody blamed him.

“I’m Brody Wade, and that’s my friend Liam Denning. What’s your name?”

“C–Carson,” the lamb answered. “Carson Williams.”

“That’s a gorgeous name, for a gorgeous man.”

Liam cleared his throat. “I hate to interrupt, but I’d like to know where we’re going as well.”

“As you realize, I don’t expect him to be safe with the others, so I won’t go back. So drop us at the outskirts of L.A. In the meantime, I need you to do something for me. Go to Soren. Tell him I’ve found my mate and to meet me in front of the Griffith Observatory, two days from now, at noon. “

An awkward silence fell over the truck. Liam seemed tense, and so did Carson. Brody held Carson tighter. As much as he cared about his friend, he couldn’t wait until they reached their destination. After all, Liam was a wolf, and didn’t have the same connection with Carson Brody did. He would be inclined to hurt Carson.

Finally, Liam spoke. “I’ll help you, my friend. Just be careful.”

Even with Liam’s reassurance, the trip seemed to take ages. At one point, Brody busied himself with providing Carson something to wear. They’d brought along small packs, but, unfortunately, Brody’s clothing proved to be unsuitable for the much smaller Carson. They ended up borrowing a shirt and a pair of jeans from Liam, who didn’t
The Lamb Who Cried Wolf

19

have the same bulk. Even so, Carson looked like a child who’d raided his parents’ closet—or rather, like a sheep in wolf’s clothing.

Brody almost laughed at the thought, but the situation pissed him off. Liam’s scent was all over Carson now, and Brody ached to rub against his mate, to take the offensive clothes away and mark the lamb as his own. However, that would have to wait until they were safe and in private.

At last, at early dawn, Liam dropped them off in the city. The first thing Brody did was to take out every cent he had on his debit card and look into plane and bus departures for the following days. He couldn’t access all of his accounts without alarming his father, and he needed to avoid having the man find out about Carson, at least until Brody spoke to his brother. He hoped they wouldn’t have to leave the area, but if the need appeared, he’d have to be ready.