What This Wolf Wants (22 page)

“Figured. Keep your eyes open and your head down. If you so much as get a scratch, not only will Zan have my hide, you’re grandfather will kick my ass ten ways to Sunday.”

“And you have a pup that’s going to need his father. Don’t do anything stupid.”

Muscles jerked in his jaw and he gave one last look back to where Marion waited behind a locked room. “I know.” He scanned the exterior once more. “Time to go.” Jackie followed Russell out, mimicking his stance, keeping low and moving quick. They parted ways on the patio, he went left, she went right. Warm rain dampened her hair and clothes as she raced for the tree line, arrowing toward Zan with purpose, acutely conscience of the danger awaiting her. She expected a gunshot at any moment as she crossed the too open grassy expanse, but she made it to the cover of the trees without incident. Once there, she pressed her back to one of the oaks and scanned her surroundings. The leaves blocked most of the rain but they also screened out the majority of the moonlight seeping through the clouds.

Dancing shadows twisted in the remaining glow. It was dark and creepy.

And very quiet.

Her eyesight might be no better than a human’s, but her sense of smell was much stronger. Breathing deep, head tilted up, she analyzed every scent she could. The metallic scent of blood was at the forefront, and even as her heart galloped in her chest, she reasoned with herself. Zan had dispatched one of the hunters just before he’d gone down, so the blood might be from the unknown individual.

Lips pursed, she peeked around the tree trunk, and caught a whiff of spice and energy. Zan.

She knew he was alive because the energy coming from him was pure anger. It made the hair on her arms stand on end and she didn’t know if she’d ever been more relieved in her life. He couldn’t be angry if he was dead.

To her right she spied a still form laying on the ground. Too slight to be Zan, but her professionalism kicked in and she scampered over to crouch by the body. Though she knew immediately this unknown man was dead, his head twisted at an impossible angle, she laid two fingers at the pulse of his neck.

Yep. Dead.

She rose, and was spun around. One large hand snatched the gun from hers, the other clutched her nape in a vise-like grip.

“What the hell are you doing out here?” Zan shoved his face into hers until they were nose to nose.

Her back went ramrod straight and she went from worried to pissed in seconds flat. “We thought you’d been shot.” Thunderstruck, Zan’s jaw dropped. “And what? You came out to see if I was dead so you wouldn’t have to make any hard choices?” It was Jackie’s turn to gape at him. She yanked free and tore off the backpack. Then she swung it with all her might and clocked Zan in the chest. “You ass. I came out to save you.”

Zan only shook his head. “As you can see, the bullet only grazed me. Which you would have seen had you stayed in the room.” He growled out between clenched teeth.

Jackie looked at his shoulder, saw the small tear in the fabric.

“Would have if the generator hadn’t gone out.”

“Shit.” He rubbed a hand over his head. “Russell went to the backup and you came to me.” He paused, green and amber eyes almost glowing as he processed that information. “Who are you now, Jackie? Doctor or mate?”

“I’m both, Zan.” She conceded. She watched as pleasure and savage possession filled his gaze. “But that doesn’t mean…” her words ended on a gasp as a shadow moved behind Zan. He twisted at the same instant, his claws ripping out of his fingers and tearing into the man who’d been sneaking up behind them as they argued.

Startled, Jackie took several steps back as Zan fought with the assailant, only to stop when she hit a hard wall. An arm banded around her waist and a knife was thrust to her throat. She went absolutely still.

Zan turned back to her, so slowly that she knew he’d scented the man holding her. Too late. The one he’d killed was the distraction, and maybe if they hadn’t been arguing, Zan would have sensed the ambush. Or she should have. The one holding her stank of human sweat and body odor.

She would have gagged if a large, sharp knife wasn’t currently pressing into her vulnerable flesh.

Claws out, Zan widened his stance, moving into attack position.

“Here I am, Shider. All alone. Quit hiding behind a female and come and get me like a man.”

“You’re no man, Sutton. You’re an animal. And I kill animals.

Especially those that destroy my life.” Shider was so angry that spit flew from his mouth, landing in Jackie’s hair and on her cheek. This time she did gag. And the knife pricked her skin.

The metallic scent of her blood filled the air. Zan zeroed in on the spot, his jaw working furiously, amber almost obliterating the green of his irises. If he turned, if the wolf attacked without the conscious planning of the man, Shider would slice her throat. “Let. Her. Go.” Shider only gripped her tighter. “I don’t think so. She’s a pretty thing, isn’t she, Sutton? No wonder you took a liking to her. Tell me dear,” he sniffed her hair. Gross. “Do you really understand what he is?” The last was whispered in her ear.

She couldn’t hide a cringe as his breath fanned over her face.

Beyond the unwashed stink was the subtle scent of decay. There was something seriously wrong with the man holding her at knife-point. Not just in his head, but in his body.

At her silence he squeezed her tighter. “Do you see his claws?

He’s a werewolf.”

From his attitude Jackie was going to hazard a guess. Shider thought she was human. An uniformed one at that. Unless he was playing her. Otherwise, why have a knife to her throat? Had he heard her and Zan’s argument? Did he know she was his mate? Was Shider just screwing with her mind? Giving her a false sense of security by saying this crap? Or did he really have no clue at who and what Jackie was?

For now she’d go with the dumb female angle. “Impossible.”

“Not impossible. I’ve been tracking this one for years. After he slaughtered my family right in front of my face.” Was he talking about his father who’d been the leader of an international drug ring and who no doubt had killed more people through violence and overdose than Zan ever would? She’d heard about that raid.

Not only from Zan, but from her grandfather this morning at breakfast.

He’d wanted her to have as much information as possible, such as that Shider Jr. was considered quite unstable, having dipped into the family business one too many times.

Which might account for the scent of decay wafting from him.

Jackie brought up one hand to lightly touch the wrist holding the knife, watching the muscles shift and tense under Zan’s black suit. He wouldn’t be able to hold the beast back much longer. Between the intense pull of the full moon, the sight of his mate in danger, and the scent of her blood to add to the sadistic mix, his wolf should have overpowered the man by now. That Zan still remained in human form was a testament to his strength of will.

“Dear God,” she responded to Shider’s comment with near female hysteria, silently accepting an Oscar for her
fabu
performance. Her other hand was on her chest and she flashed Zan in her rusty military sign language what she was about to do. Though far from pleased—

unmistakable in his snapping teeth—he told her he understood by growling low and ducking his head slightly, his movements now more animalistic than human.

“See what I mean. An animal. Especially on the full moon. It must be the cloud cover that’s keeping him from turning. But no matter. Dead is dead.” A brush of leaves behind Zan followed by an earthy scent. Wolf.

Jackie didn’t know if it was Joe, Scott, or Russell, but one thing she was sure of; Shider thought it was someone else.

“Stupid beasts only understand fucking and feeding. He won’t know what hit him.”

Once again she wished for claws, if only to rake them across Shider’s face for insulting Zan, and the whole wolf species in general. But she’d make due with what she knew. The male side of her family made sure she could.

“Neither will you,” she whispered under her breath just as she went limp in his arms, her weight exaggerated by the vest she wore. Either Shider hadn’t realized what she had on, or hadn’t cared. Either way, her move threw him off balance. With all her enhanced strength, thank you shifter DNA, she shot her elbow into the soft tissue of his liver, pushing his hand and ducking under the knife at the same time.

Once she was free and clear, Zan let out a roar of fury so loud her ears rang long after the sound subsided. She stepped hastily to the side and stumbled over the discarded backpack, landing hard on her butt. Two wolves shot from the trees to circle her, protecting her as Zan made short work of Shider. One powerful and lethal swipe of his hand and Shider flew back several feet, falling lifeless to the ground. Zan prowled to the still form and sniffed. Then his face shot to hers.

“I suggest you move calmly and slowly to the house.” Russell’s voice came from her right. She didn’t even look his way, pinned in place as she was by Zan’s fierce stare. She understood Russell’s comment. No sudden movements and definitely no running. Otherwise she might find herself pinned by Zan, not just by his look, but by his body as he claimed her in front of God, beasts and human alike. While the thought sent a dark thrill through her—perverse creature that she was—she had no intention of being taken among dead bodies.

Under his unwavering stare, Jackie stood cautiously and, as if only taking a midnight stroll, sidled up to Zan. She laid a hand on his hard chest, instinctively knowing he needed her touch. “I’m fine, Zan. I’m going back to the house while you finish what you need to here.” Her calm demeanor seemed to ease the tenseness of his muscles. Reaching up with his own hand, careful of his claws, he moved hers to the side of his face, breathing in and then nuzzling her palm.

With each heartbeat she relaxed a fraction, her ease triggering an answering one in Zan. The mating bond in full force.

Zan drew in a heavy sigh and dropped his hands, stepping away from her at the same time. His eyes were nearly back to normal. “Go back to the house. I have work to finish here and then I’ll be in.” He turned her words into a demand, and a promise. She knew what would happen once he returned to the house. And though the woman part of her wanted to snap a response at his attitude, her wolf knew now was not the time. So she kept her mouth shut and picked her way through the trees, and into the house.

Chapter Twenty-One

Hours later, Jackie lay in the middle of her bed, fretting about Zan, and wondering just where the hell he was. He should have been in her room by now. They would have had sex, argued—she already knew what she was going to say—and she would have kicked him out, stalked to the internet, and booked passage on the next plane to Denver.

Only he wasn’t there, hadn’t followed the script in her head. Which threw her off kilter. Granted, she could still get up and book a ticket on the next plane out, but she didn’t. Couldn’t. Not yet. Once she did that, then it really would be over. And she just wasn’t ready to say good-bye to the man she loved.

The storm had passed and she now stared out the window, the drawn curtain revealing the full moon. Though seemingly not as intense as from home, the glow brightened the bedroom, throwing shadows to the far corners.

A familiar scent, the unmistakable sound of footsteps. As Zan could move as stealthy as the beast he carried, this was on purpose. He wanted Jackie to hear him coming for her. Anticipation flared from the determined sound.

When the door opened on silent hinges she caught a glimpse of bare feet, low-slung jeans, and a bare chest before raising her gaze higher.

One look at his face and that anticipation turned to alarm. She hopped out on the far side of the bed, holding out her hands in defense. “Now wait a minute.”

“I’ve been waiting, Jackie.” He closed the door and the soft snick of the lock engaged. “I’ve forced myself to stay away from you. Try to calm down. But I’m not getting any calmer.” His voice rose loud and she winced. And went on the attack.

“That’s hardly my fault. You’re the one who wanted to go out and fight. Don’t expect me to believe anything else. The shear hunger for it was pouring off you in such thick waves of energy it was suffocating me!” The muscles in his jaw twitched, molars grinding. Obviously barely leashing his temper. He pointed one finger at her. “You.” His voice thick, the single word the only one he could get out.

She braced her hands on her hips, defiant. “Me what? I didn’t ask you to go out in the pouring rain and subdue an intruder. You did that all on your own.”

“I did it so we would be safe. So we could move on with our lives.”

“You did it because you enjoy it!”

“I sure as hell didn’t enjoy seeing that asshole shoving a knife to your throat. Why don’t you tell me what that was all about?” Her hands locked into fists and she shook them at him. “I already told you. The generator blew. We couldn’t see you, we couldn’t tell where Shider was, we didn’t know what was happening, and I sure as hell didn’t want you to die!”

Her declaration was all the more startling as it bounced off the walls in the thick silence. Zan lifted his gaze to the ceiling and took several deep breaths. “So you went out there, blind, where people had guns, and were ready to use them at the slightest provocation to try and save me?” Why were they rehashing this? “Yeah.”

His head tilted down until green eyes locked on hers. “Do you have any idea what I went through at that moment? When I smelled your blood, saw that knife at your throat? Knew I’d never reach you in time before that asshole sliced you ear to ear. Do you have any idea how crazed that made me?”

She had an idea. “Probably as crazed as it made me stuck in that stupid little room with Russell and Marion where I could only watch helplessly as you dropped to the ground.”

The look of sorrow that crossed his features nearly undid her, but she couldn’t give in. At one time she’d thought of a possible way for them to be together. Only running out in that rain, praying for Zan’s safety while terrified for her own, she knew she just couldn’t do it. “I can’t live like this, Zan. I don’t know what would be worse, the imagining what you were going through during a mission or the reality of being there.” His head cocked in confusion. “God,” Jackie said, squeezing her eyes closed. “I can’t believe I’m telling you this.” A deep breath. “I briefly thought about going with you on your assignments.” She peeked at him.