Black Wolfe's Mate (Paranormal Shifter Romance) (12 page)

A warm, comfortable feeling settled around her like an embrace.
Forever
. Forever with a man she was desperately in love with, a man who would always be there for her. That was the last thought that crossed her mind before she curled up on the chair and fell asleep.

An hour later, Angelica awoke refreshed and in better spirits. A brief look out the window told her full darkness had descended. A pleasant breeze drifted in through the window, bringing with it the scent of sand and sea.

She touched upon Derrick’s thoughts, felt him running with pure abandon, and smiled. Yes, this was exactly what he needed. A little male bonding. Based on the positive buzz of feedback, the rest of the pack was enjoying this time, too. Whenever she had gone with them, they’d had to slow down for her because she didn’t know the island as well as they did. Tonight was their time to fly.

She nibbled at the dinner that had been left for her. Lightly breaded chicken, peaches, brown rice. Antoine had prepared it especially for her, his way of letting her know he was not upset. Normally, he would not create such a mundane meal, but she had confided in him that it was one of her favorites from childhood — something she and her mother used to make together a lifetime ago, when she was just learning how to cook.

Afterward, she roamed the suite, feeling rather restless. Unsettled. She looked out the window, wishing she could go for a run, too. It had been almost a week since she’d shifted and the beast in her wanted to come out and play.

Angelica bit her lip. The rest of the pack was out running and they probably wouldn’t be back for a while. Dare she try?

She closed her eyes and focused on her wolf, pleased when she felt the shift coming on. It was like a glorious stretch for tired, aching muscles.

She felt Derrick’s awareness in her mind.
Angelica? Why have you shifted?

She cursed softly to herself. She’d forgotten Derrick could sense her so keenly.
I’m practicing
, she answered.
And I needed a good stretch
.

A wave of concern filled her mind.
Where are you?

In our suite
, she answered.

She felt him relax.
I will be home soon, love
.

Take your time, I’m fine. But I think I’m going to stay wolf for a little while, if that’s okay?

She felt his answering smile in her mind.
Of course, love
. He sent her a few images, suggesting maybe he’d stay wolf for a while tonight as well before shifting his focus elsewhere.

Some of the exhilaration he felt echoed in her mind and the urge to run grew stronger. She padded back and forth across the suite, but it wasn’t enough. She thought about how nice it would be to go outside. To feel the sand give way beneath her paws and the wind in her fur.

Derrick wouldn’t like it
, her human part warned. She should wait until he returned. Then he or one of the others would take her out for a bit.

But her wolf was in control now, and didn’t like that idea. Besides, it wasn’t like she was going to go far, it rationalized. Just a quick romp to ease the compelling need. And she’d only be gone a few minutes. The rest of the pack was on the far side of the island. They wouldn’t be back for a while and she didn’t want to wait that long.

Gathering courage, Angelica slipped down the back stairs and into the tunnels that would place her near the series of cliffs on the eastern side of the island. By using them, she was limiting her possible exposure. She’d emerge only a hundred yards or so from a particularly rocky section of the shoreline, a section strictly off-limits to guests at all times.

Angelica’s anticipation grew with every step. When she reached the hidden opening, she poked her snout out and sniffed. The tangy aroma of salt and sea filled her nostrils and she closed her eyes at the beauty of it. How she had missed sitting out on the breakers for hours at a time, watching the waves, clouds, and sky as she lost track of time.

She wouldn’t do that now, though. She didn’t want to take the chance that the others would return before her and find her gone. Oh, she could just imagine how they would fuss! They would not be pleased in the slightest with her solitary jaunt. The thought made her smile and feel just the slightest bit naughty. She couldn’t remember the last time she had done something so impetuous.

A slight pang of guilt assaulted her. Yes, they went a bit overboard sometimes with the protection, but only because they worried about her. She shook her head, already feeling the compulsion to return.

But it was so perfect! There was just enough room for a quick sprint to the water and back. It would take all of ten seconds, and it would be such a shame to come so far for nothing...

A quick check confirmed Derrick’s mind was still fully wolf, joyously chasing prey with his brethren for the sheer sport of it. The logical part of her brain made one last ditch effort to remind her this was probably not a good idea. And if she really did insist on doing this, she should, at the very least, reach out to Derrick along their special bond and tell him where she was and what she was doing.

But the not so logical parts, the ones that couldn’t bear to sense even one more disappointment, kept her from doing so.
Don’t disturb his run,
they said.
Don’t do anything else to make him question his choice of mate
. Derrick would not approve. Both the logical and the not-so-logical parts were in agreement on that, and the thought of displeasing Derrick was not a welcome one.

A sea breeze reached in with invisible fingers and ruffled her fur, tempting and teasing as she struggled with her doubts. A slight break in the cloud cover placed a pool of silvery moonlight just beyond her paws, beckoning. Angelica’s wolf felt the pull of it acutely. She needed to do this. She would make it quick, an instant gratification her fledgling wolf could not deny herself. Then, later, when they were both back, safe and sound in his chambers, she would think about the consequences, which may or may not involve a lot of licking and groveling on her part.

As a matter of fact
, she thought wickedly,
there was something she’d been wanting to try with her wolf’s tongue that he might enjoy
. She would definitely work on that later tonight when they were both loose and relaxed from their runs.

Angelica grinned as only a she-wolf could and ran headlong out among the rocks just as the clouds parted further and the moon transformed the sea mist into a silvery glow. She went out to the very edge, lifting her snout into the breeze and closing her eyes...

* * *

C
arrow’s eyes widened as he rose from the surf with three others. Completely bedecked in night-camouflage thermal skin suits, they didn’t make a sound. From their boat, anchored far enough away from the shore to avoid detection, they swam into the hidden cove surrounded by the jagged rocks. He’d expected to spend the night doing reconnaissance, searching for the adolescent son of the captured shifter. The doc was willing to pay double for a young one.  

If they could manage to take one alive, the pay-off would be substantial. Well worth the risk.

But he’d never in a million years expected to have one walk right up to him.

It was not the one they were looking for, of that he was certain. This one was much smaller than any he’d ever seen. And
golden
. He’d never seen a golden wolf before.

He could hardly believe his luck. He signaled for his men to stay back in the shadows. Wolves never traveled alone; this one must be too young to know better. It had probably strayed away from the rest of the pack. Surely, they would notice it missing anytime now.

Carrow tensed, as did the rest of his men, waiting for the others to appear. Wolves were notoriously protective of their young. But as the seconds ticked by and no others came, Carrow began to consider the impossible: the pup’s absence hadn’t yet been discovered. If they acted quickly, they might just make it off this island before they even realized the whelp was missing.

* * *

A
ngelica hesitated a moment too long before turning back. She thought she’d seen something out in the water, the blink of a glowing light, but it only lasted a split second before disappearing. Cold terror suddenly gripped her heart as she turned and picked up the unfamiliar scent. She’d only taken a step when she felt the first sting in the scruff of her neck. A second later, she felt a second bite in her hindquarters.

Suddenly, her joyful little jaunt turned into a nightmare. It was like a bad dream — knowing she was being chased and trying to run away but her limbs would only move in slow motion.

Angelica!
Derrick’s desperate shout reached her mind. No doubt, he’d felt her spike of terror. Immediately, she felt the push of the whole pack as they tried to invade her mind and determine her location.

Another step and she felt her back legs give out. She used her front paws to crawl, but they, too, were getting harder to move. She vaguely felt the sharp rocks poking into her side. It took her another full breath to realize she was no longer upright.

Derrick
, she whimpered as the fast-moving shadows overtook her mind.
I’m so sorry...I didn’t mean to...

* * *

D
errick felt her presence leave him. It was as if a light had suddenly gone out. He went totally feral, racing toward the cliffs he’d briefly glimpsed in Angelica’s thoughts. The pack moved as one, but they had nearly half the island to traverse.

They arrived at the cliffs, but nothing remained except the fast-fading scent of his mate and the foul stench of humans.

Lifting his head, Derrick gave a blood-curdling howl.

His mate was gone.

“T
he scent is the same.” Derrick barely heard Silas’ words through the haze. Angelica was gone. Only hours before, he’d held her in his arms while she made sweet, passionate love to him, and now...

He never should have left her alone. Not when he’d seen the sadness in her eyes, felt her disquiet. He should have known she’d seek out the water. That was where she found her peace when she believed she had nowhere else to turn.

But he’d been a fool. He’d thought his distraction had worked. He’d thought a few words and well-placed kisses would be enough to allay her fears.

At least I can do this
...

Her words haunted him until he wanted to claw them out of his own head. Didn’t she understand that she was so much more to him? To them?

No, of course she didn’t. Because she was
hormonal
. She wasn’t thinking clearly.

As if her life hadn’t changed enough in the last few weeks! Christophe had said a she-wolf’s first heat cycle could be overwhelming as her body struggled with the changes. As a human female, her cycle had been monthly and relatively mild, but a she-wolf’s heat only came twice a year and packed a much more significant punch. He’d said it would explain the mood swings, as well as an increased desire for acceptance and comfort, and her insatiable needs.

And what had he done? He, a six-hundred plus year old Alpha, had panicked. He’d fucked her and run to the security of his pack. After mouthing off a bunch of assurances, he did the one thing guaranteed to negate them.  He’d left her behind.

He’d left her behind so she had no choice but to venture out alone for what she needed. Without him. Without protection.

And now she was gone.

Another blood-curdling howl rent through the night.

“
Derrick!
” Silas’ voice was pure steel, but nothing less would have cut through his feral mind. The Alpha turned to his second in command, to the others who had gathered around him. They were a sober bunch, each one shouldering a heavy sense of the blame for failing to keep Angelica safe.

“The ones who took her, Dieter says the scent is the same as those who attacked Markus’ pack.”

Derrick’s heart fell further.

* * *

T
he boat sliced its way north in the relatively calm sea. He would have to return to finish the job, but that was all right. He had something even better: an unexpected opportunity he couldn’t help but take advantage of.

Carrow felt almost giddy as he leisurely stroked the wolf’s fine coat, confident he was in no danger. It was something he’d never allowed himself to do before, but he couldn’t help himself. This one was so small, so soft. Definitely very young. Its size coupled with the fact that it had allowed itself to get separated from the others and hadn’t scented danger until it was too late told him so.

The plan had been to locate those who had managed to escape from the Northern raid, but this was so much better. This one was different. Unique. Worth a dozen of the others for the coat alone, but he would not skin this one. The doc would pay his weight in gold for a pup like this.

Beneath his hand, he felt it starting to change. His eyes widened and he held his breath. The silky gold fur became hair — long, glorious golden hair. The shape morphed smoothly into that of a beautiful young woman. She murmured softly, an anguished moan, but she was still under the effects of the potent tranquilizer.

Jesus Christ,
Carrow breathed. They’d caught a
female
.

* * *

T
hey went over every inch of the beach where Angelica had been taken. Other than a few non-descript footprints in the loose sand, they had little in the way of clues.

They knew Angelica had been drugged and Christophe was in his office trying to identify exactly what they had used. Niko had been the one to find the spent tranquilizer dart amongst the rocks, where it must have dislodged when she fell.

Steffen had been examining security footage for the last several hours, but it provided nothing useful. The bastards who had taken Angelica appeared as nothing more than occasional dark smudges against the shoreline. The abduction had been quick, less than a minute from the emergence of the first smudge to the empty spot where Angelica had stood.