Goddess of Love (5 page)

But they had to be careful. Living civilized among humans in the city of Dallas, Texas, was necessary. He was conducting multiple business transactions to secure the funds needed to maintain the multiple hidden labs. There were three around the state. One, right here in Dallas and under the noses of the government and law enforcement.

He took the extra precautions and so did his associates. With all the extra werewolves being inserted among the humans in various professions including the police departments, fire departments, hospitals, and businesses, it would be terrible to lose everything they had been working on for the past two decades.

38

Dixie Lynn Dwyer

It was time to pull a few rogue wolves into the city. They were being trained to blend in, and to not lose their cool and do anything stupid to alert the humans and the undercover Weres. But this latest situation and the surprise arrival of blood to the Venificus had set their leader on alert.

He wanted to stop any possible assistance from the Venificus.

Especially since his eyes were set on Ariella. She would be the first of three prizes for him. It was time to initiate the plan but they needed to pick an insider, a weak Were to do the job. As he thought about it, his phone rang.

Picking it up, he heard the voice and immediately tensed up.

“Yes, Gaurhoth?”

“I have someone in mind to complete the task of bringing Ariella to us. I will give you his location as soon as it’s confirmed. The griffon will go with you, to ensure that it is a success. Understood?”

“Yes, sir. Understood.”

Gaurhoth disconnected the call.

How did he do that? How did he know what I was thinking and
what was going through my mind?

“Because I own your soul, Paulof. I know your every thought, so
do not forget it. Take care of this. I must have Ariella as my mate. By
taking her, the Goddess of the circle cannot complete her Security
Ring. This is only the beginning. More will be taken. I will rule the
world and the Were will be destroyed forever.”

* * * *

“So, what do you think?”
Orion asked Palidor through their mind link.

“I think that the prospects around here have changed immensely
since before we left. Very beautiful women are at this ball.”

“I know. But is it me, or are you feeling drawn toward one
gorgeous woman in particular?”

Brothers of Were, Goddess of Love

39

Palidor didn’t have to scan the room to see where Ariella was. He spotted her the moment they arrived. The woman was doing everything she could to keep her distance. He sensed his wolf’s need to get closer to her. They were both drawn to her, but as soon as they were close, they felt almost a shock to their systems. It was as if something was blocking them from feeling the attraction.

“You are right on target with that. I feel it, too, Palidor. The
magic within me knows and recognizes the spell. It seems that
perhaps Ariella is purposely blocking us from getting close to her.”

“Maybe your comments pissed her off, back in the woods.”

Orion shot his brother a dirty look and then chuckled.

“Who was it that told her she couldn’t handle that rogue wolf?”

“He scratched at her hand and nearly bit it off. How would we
have explained that one?”

“I suppose it doesn’t matter. She is angry with us. I think we need
to make it up to her.”

“I think we should focus on any signs of why we’re supposed to
stick around this area. We do have work to do in Dallas. Our
positions in the Antiterrorist Task Force will be assigned to someone
else if we stay away any longer.”

Orion bumped into Palidor’s shoulder then gave him a nod toward the doorway. Ariella and two other women were sneaking out.

“Let’s go see what they’re up to,” Orion whispered.

* * * *

“I can’t believe we’re doing this. Are you sure about this, Ariella?

Your dads are going to flip out. They’ve planned this ball for months,” CC, Ariella’s friend, stated.

“Are you kidding me? Look at all the old-timers. This is a drag.

All these ancient customs are boring. It’s modern times and we are young and need fun and adventure. The club will be much more fun,”

Margarite added.

40

Dixie Lynn Dwyer

“I don’t know. I kind of saw a few wolves I wanted to play with.”

CC winked as she smiled wide and made a little halo of sparkling magic twinkle in the air above her head.

“Cut that out. No Fae stuff in public. We’re headed to the city.

The guys are already on their way,” Ariella said as they hopped into Margarite’s car.

“Let’s do this,” CC said.

“What about the clothes?” Margarite asked.

Ariella smiled and then so did CC and Margarite as they closed their eyes, imagined their outfits and then cast the spell. Immediately they were dressed for the night club and not a stuffy ball.

CC cheered aloud as Margarite sped out of the driveway and down the road.

Thirty minutes later the three of them were drinking some cocktails, chatting with their friends, and laughing about the ball.

“I don’t know. I think there were some potential prospects there,”

CC said as she took a sip from the thin red straw.

“Like who?” Margarite asked with an attitude.

“I don’t know, maybe Orion or Palidor. They are so freaking hot.”

Ariella had to hide her shock and submerge the instant feelings of jealousy. She was a woman. She had plans, ideas, and adventures to partake in. She was not going to settle down and be mated now.

“Excuse me. Can I buy you a drink?”

Ariella looked up to see a man, with three others next to him approach. She immediately sensed that they were wolves, but she wasn’t certain from what pack.

“Sure, honey. Come join us.” Margarite invited the four men to join them. The one who approached first, squeezed his body behind Ariella’s and ordered a beer. She was immediately attracted to him, but her instincts warned her to be careful. It was one of the positives to being of magic, both were Fae and other things she still wasn’t fully aware of. Because of those powers and abilities, her family tended to overprotect her and would so freak out right now if they
Brothers of Were, Goddess of Love

41

knew she’d disappeared. But being mischievous was part of her Fae ways. What fun would life be if she continuously followed the rules and never took any chances?

In no time at all she was laughing along with her friends and the four friendly wolves. They named a pack they were part of but Ariella had never heard of them. As the one wolf leaned closer, he whispered against her ear.

“You smell incredible, Ariella.”

At first she was a bit overtaken by his sex appeal. He was a big wolf. But then came the realization that she hadn’t told him her name.

In fact, they had made up names in an attempt to hide their identities.

The rogue wolves from the woods in the beginning of the week entered her mind. So did the fact that her instincts kicked in, and she knew these wolves were bad. Curiosity had her staring into his eyes.

He held her gaze. The unauthentic smile didn’t reach his eyes. She exerted only a small amount of magic to see if she could read his mind, his intentions. The moment she did, she got the shock of her life.

She looked at CC and Margarite, who appeared to be getting swept off their feet by the other wolves. Flashes of the wolves’ true intentions entered her mind. But as she started to get up from the seat, she felt something stop her. It was odd. It was a very strong pulling.

She felt like a magnet, and the power of the force restraining her to the seat was almost too difficult to break free from. Her heart raced.

Her stomach quivered. She looked around them, and saw how the four wolves blocked them from the crowd of other people in the club.

Were they some kind of force field together as a unit? She couldn’t figure it out. Soon the fear turned to curiosity. What were they really?

She felt the finger under her chin, and locked gazes with the wolf again. When he looked at her, his eyes slightly glowed, but not the traditional yellow golden color. No, this was very different. There was green, red, and purple. She squinted, drawn to the color when she heard the voice in her head.

42

Dixie Lynn Dwyer

Get away from him. He is rogue. Run.

She wasn’t certain who the voice belonged to. All she knew was that she had to listen. It was someone she trusted. She turned away from him and adjusted her powers to step down from the stool.

“Can you excuse me a moment?” she stated, and his eyes darkened. The wolf tried to cover up his concerned expression as he caressed her arm.

“Where are you running off to now?” he asked, which made her immediately think that perhaps this wolf had been following her. The way he said “now,” bothered her.

She faked her smile and added a little magic as well.

“The ladies’ room. To freshen up.” She exerted a little sexual twinkle of magic. That had him releasing her arm and stepping to the side.

“Hurry back. The night is beautiful, and I’d love to talk alone with you outside.” He pulled her hand slowly toward his lips and kissed the top of it.

The second she looked up, she caught the two men standing in the corner of the room, watching her.

Orion and Palidor. When did you two arrive?

She tried to get Margarite and CC to come, too, but it was no use.

They basically told her to go by herself and then kept talking to the wolves. Frustrated, Ariella headed through the crowd and toward the ladies’ room.

Shit. What am I going to do? I can’t leave Margarite and CC

here. I can’t call out the situation. I won’t ask Palidor and Orion for
help. They already think that I’m a child who needs looking after.

Now this potential situation happens and shit, that is exactly what I
will look like.

I should try to alert them through their minds. That shouldn’t be
too hard to do. I know I’m
not
really supposed to do this, but it’s
necessary. Oh, Goddesses, help me.

Brothers of Were, Goddess of Love

43

She closed her eyes and tried to focus on CC and Margarite.

Instantly she saw blackness, and evil red eyes. She gasped, stepping back and hitting the wall behind her. Looking around her, she was alone in the hallway, yet felt something, some other force stopping her from using her magic to get through to her friends.

It angered her, but also scared the living daylights out of her.

Think, Ariella, think. I’m a modern-day Fae, a wolf of great
importance and power of good. How do I get in touch with my friends
and get the heck out of here?

Her hand was on her purse and she gasped as the thought instantly hit her.

“Duh.”

She pulled out her phone and texted both CC and Margarite.

Those two never ignored their phone messages.

Bad wolves. Get your asses to the ladies’ room now.

* * * *

“I’m not going to sit here and let that fucking wolf put his hands on her. You smelled her scent, too, Palidor. She’s our mate. She’s been using something to keep us at bay. But why?” Orion said with clenched teeth.

“She’s recalcitrant, a rule breaker, and unwilling to accept the fact that she needs protection. Now that we know what she is to us, we’re going to play this our way. That wolf is up to something, and so are his buddies.”

“I think so, too. I also think that Ariella knows it. She caught our eyes and then she headed to the ladies’ room.”

“Look. Her friends are leaving, too. Watch the wolves and I’ll go check on the women,” Palidor stated.

But just as he stood up two of the men headed toward the back while the other two headed outside the front door.

“Well?” Orion asked.

44

Dixie Lynn Dwyer

“The front door. This woman can’t seem to stay out of trouble.”

* * * *

“Are you out of your mind? They can’t be rogue. Oh please, they can’t be, Ariella,” CC stated as Ariella led them through the back exit door and around the back of the building.

“They are. Why are you finding this so difficult to believe?”

“Because they were too fucking hot. Too sexy and had all the right lines, the right questions and answers. They were…perfection,”

Margarite whispered as if realizing exactly at that moment that the wolves were rogue and magical.

Ariella widened her eyes. “Exactly. And I’ll tell you something else, they aren’t just any rogue wolves. There’s a power around them.

Around here, and it’s evil.” She stopped at the corner of the building when suddenly she heard the low growls.

All three women pressed their backs against the wall, as red eyes filled the darkness in front of them and then the four rogue wolves appeared.

“Going somewhere, Ariella?” one wolf asked, crossing his arms in front of his chest as he bared his long, sharp incisors and stared at her.

The pompous wolf. She really disliked men like this.

“Yeah, we’re late for another party. Sorry, fellas, but we’ll have to do this another time,” Margarite told them and stepped in front of Ariella to protect her, as she ushered her to keep walking.

Suddenly Margarite gasped. She cried out as she shoved back against the wall, wrenched over in pain, and fell to the ground covering her eyes and her head.

“Stop it. Stop it now. What do you want?” CC yelled out as she bent down and tried to comfort Margarite.

The wolf locked gazes with Ariella. She felt the immense sense of evil, that wall of black.

Brothers of Were, Goddess of Love

45

He reached out his hand, the retractable claws, sharp and long.

“Come with me, Ariella. He wants you. He has ordered you to come.