Single Wicked Wolf (9 page)

“It will do, she will be pleased that I am
equally
protected.” A throaty laugh in the background answered the affection in his tone. Giovanni didn’t disagree, Margo was not a female to be left at home and protected. She preferred to protect herself, though she conceded to the Centurions accompanying her when she traveled if Salvatore was unable to go. She also worked diligently getting to know all the packs in Italy.

After a moment, Salvatore said, “You do not sound like yourself. What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” he lied. Had Salvatore been standing right in front of him, he wouldn’t have bothered. “It has been a long day, and I have not slept much since arriving.” All true.

“Thank you, my friend, for enduring the flight to the U.S. ahead of us.” The gratitude was unnecessary and flattering in the same breath.

“It is my honor.” And it was, yet it was also so much more. “I escorted one of the Willow Bend wolves home, it seems to have earned me interest from their Alpha.” Circling the subject seemed the best approach.

“Murphy DeWitt?” Though his tone was unreadable, Salvatore remembered the brief mention.

“Yes.”

“Is there anything I should be concerned about?” The closest they would come to broaching a personal topic unless either desired the conversation. In many ways, Salvatore was as true a friend and brother as he was Alpha. They’d known each other far too long.

“Not at all, my Alpha.” Mason had wanted to know more about him, and the Russians. “Clayborne’s interest focused on the Russians, and their pack structure. I saw no harm in giving him that information.”

“Agreed. And if they are focused on another land grab, we will be watchful.” Always. Another protracted silence, but used to Salvatore’s moods he waited. Finally, his Alpha said, “My mother will want word of Luciana.”

“She is well, though her new pack has suffered some losses.” Recalling the message from Lorenzo, he translated it. “She survives, still leads and perhaps, is still learning. Clayborne did not mention her, but I have no indication their stance on her pack has changed from their initial decision to see what she does.”

“You should send someone to relieve Lorenzo. Perhaps Dante or Rodrigo would enjoy a sojourn.”

Of course his Alpha had known. Giovanni made no apology. “If you believe so, I will make it happen.”

“What I believe is you are a loyal wolf or I would have every reason to accept your behavior as a challenge to my authority.”

“I don’t want your authority,” he said, feeling the beginnings of his first smile. “Not to mention your mate is mean.”

“I heard that,” she growled and all three laughed.

“But I adore you, Margo,” Giovanni continued. “So much so that I would never deign to challenge your mate in anything except drinking.”

A fresh bark of laughter answered him. “Continue to try and sweet talk my mate, she does not bend easily if at all.”

“It is a good thing you are stubborn, for she also puts up with you.” The brief moment of relaxation, however, ended all too soon. “If you truly want me to pull Lorenzo and the observation, I will.”

“No,” Salvatore said after a long moment. “Replace him, so he can spend time with his family, but you made the right call. Mother will want to keep tabs on her and though my sister made poor choices…” He didn’t have to finish the sentiment. Luciana was still his sister. “Tell me about Murphy.”

“She is a lovely, turned wolf. Amusing with a spark of fire in her soul and a gift for languages.” He missed her. A sound echoed in the forest beyond, a howl in the distance, then another answering it. Was one her? Was she allowing herself the chance to shift and run? He should have made sure she could as soon as they deplaned, especially after she mention how long it had been.

No, he’d taken her to the hotel and marked her instead.

Marked her.

“Salvatore…if I steal his wolf, would it be of a great deal of trouble for you with Clayborne?”

“Steal his…?” The pause echoed loudly with all the things Salvatore did not say. “If she is the one Giovanni, take her and run. I will take care of the rest.”

The answer soothed his beast and fired his soul. “Thank you, my Alpha.”

It was why he would do anything for Salvatore. The Alpha would do anything for him.

“I look forward to meeting her.”

It was an introduction Giovanni couldn’t wait to make, but first…

Chapter Six

Two hours later, she’d found the perfect shoes, decided on a hairstyle, and bought Shiloh a drink so they could catch up. It didn’t take long for Matt to track them down at the Wheelhouse. When he scooped his mate into his arms and carried her out laughing, a wistfulness Murphy had never experienced before left her sighing.

The bar attached to the steakhouse was a popular watering hole for most of the singles in town, but many of the wolves around her had paired off and a couple of Hunters who came in gave her a polite nod and smile before moving to the far end of the bar. Oddly, other than a handful of waves and a polite greeting or two, few of the wolves came anywhere near her. Though she was home, she felt like a stranger in a strange land.

When had that happened?

“Cheer up, sugar,” Joanie said as she wiped down the bar next to her. “Shiloh’s happy and the pack’s forgiven her for her part in Three Rivers. Her mama’s forgiven her for taking the bite and I’d say her mate’s forgiven her for being out all day.” The bartender was a fixture at the Wheelhouse. Her mate owned the steakhouse next door and they’d shared the business for as long as Murphy could remember. Hell, Joanie had served her the very first beer she’d ever drunk at 12:01 a.m. on her birthday.

“I’m really happy for them.” Yet, even she heard the unspoken but on the end of her sentence. Joanie raised her brows, but Murphy shook her head slowly and ran a hand over her face. “You know, just ignore me. I think I’m tired.” She’d only gotten about three hours of sleep before they’d had to get on the road.

Joanie chuckled. “Want a refill?” She motioned to the half-drunk beer in front of her.

“No, I think I want to go run.” The moment the idea occurred to her, restlessness invaded her blood. It had been months since her last shift. Her wolf rebounded at the idea and she vacated her stool.

“You want me to make one of the boys go with you?” She motioned to the Hunters at the other end of the bar. Her wolf stilled. No, they didn’t want the other males.

Shaking her head slightly, Murphy kept her expression neutral. “I’m good. I just want to get the kinks out.” She doubted anyone would understand the length of time she’d remained human. Her hosts in Belgium had taken her to some great spots for running and she’d managed it once in Germany, but too many weeks in Russia, Armenia then down to the Baltics had kept her cooped up inside.

“It’s good to see you, sugar. Don’t be a stranger.” Then the woman was off. Decided, Murphy strode for the door. Outside, the evening air kissed her skin with autumn chill. The wash of clean, fresh air with little in the way of pollutants and far more in the way of pine and home filled her nostrils. Yet the sense of belonging, the one she’d been looking forward to as the days of her assignment drew to a close didn’t seem to be there.

Her wolf pawed at her and she rubbed a hand against her chest. Yes, she needed to shift and to run. It had been far too long. Shiloh’s car was gone from the lot, and Murphy chuckled. How long would it take her friend to realize she’d forgotten about being Murphy’s lift? Not worried, she strode away from the Wheelhouse. It was located at the end of a lake road, the water on the other side lapped at the shore. Night birds called to each other and in the distance, she could hear a wolf’s howl. The song aroused the inexplicable wistfulness and longing she’d experienced in the bar.

Jogging off the road, she cut into the woods. If she recalled correctly one of the cache boxes where they stored loose clothes would be—ah there it was. She checked her pockets, she had her phone and wallet with her, but she’d left her purse at the house. Stripping, she danced from foot to foot as the cold surrounded her. Crisp nights were great with fur or clothes, not for naked. Dropping her extras and shoes into the cache, she wrapped her phone and wallet into her shirt and tied it off. Carrying it wouldn’t be fun, but better than running all the way home to drop off her stuff.

A sliver of new moon illuminated the night and the stars sprawled across the patches of sky visible above the trees. Closing her eyes, she reached for her wolf and the animal surged through her. The bliss and agony of the shift twined through her as her body pulled itself apart and reassembled. It took her several minutes, then she stood on four legs. The fur encasing her warmed away the chill and she shook once. The shift hit her system like a ton of bricks and left her giddier than the beer. Stretching, she bounded a couple of steps and hit a pile of leaves beneath a tired oak. Tongue lolling, she tasted the air and then pounced the leaves again before flinging herself down and rolling. The crunch of them crackling filled her with amusement.

On her feet once more, she trotted in a slow circle. Getting the feel of her legs beneath her while stretching unused muscles improved her mood. The wistfulness remained, however, so she snagged the pouch she’d made of her turtleneck and raced through the trees.

The landscape, the scents—they were all familiar. She knew how to get home, even how long it would take her if she meandered versus running full tilt. Indulging in a little bit of both, she reacquainted herself with the area. Increasing her speed, she dashed through the trees. Following her nose, she made her way across town to the houses of her block.

Porch lights were on, but many of the houses were dark. It was late, but not that late. She’d forgotten how early some went to bed. On her porch, she dropped her pouch onto the swing. With no desire to go in and sleep, she trotted back into the darkness. Her meandering path took her farther and farther afield until a Hunter stepped into her path.

He had to have been downwind or she’d have caught his scent. Sidling, she glanced at his face. It took her a moment to put a name to his face.

“You’re getting close to the guest house, sweetheart.” Collin took a knee and grinned. “And you’re looking a little rough there, Murph. Get lost?”

A shake of her head to answer the question, she kept her distance. Guest house? What guest house? She tested the air, but didn’t learn anything from the breeze. Taking a step, she considered dashing forward to see what the new place looked like, but Collin stopped her with a hand on her neck.

“Sorry, sweetheart. You can’t go that way.” The apology didn’t quite reach his tone, however. “Go on and head back to town or I can get someone to give you a ride if you need it.”

A whine escaped her. She wanted to see whatever they were hiding, and challenging a Hunter wasn’t her usual choice.

“Damn, what have you been rolling in?” Collin chuckled, and gave her an affectionate rub. She shied away from his hand though, being with pack meant hugging or touching. It was normal, but she didn’t want Collin’s hands on her. “Hey, no need to take offense. You have leaves stuck in your fur. That’s going to itch if you don’t get rid of them.”

A crunch on the path jerked her attention and the warm scent of Alpha wrapped around her. Mason. “I’ll get her home, Collin.” He said by way of greeting. “Return to your circuits.”

“Sure thing,” the Hunter grinned as he spoke, then rose. He vanished into the darkness as suddenly as he arrived.

Turning, she faced her Alpha. She hadn’t seen Mason Clayborne in two years, but like her mother, she felt the weight of being near him again. Rubbing against his leg once, she sighed at the weight seeming to lift off her. Though the inexplicable longing remained, the restlessness seemed to melt away. When Mason knelt and wrapped his arms around her, she settled into the embrace with another long, exhale.

“Welcome home, my wandering wolf.” Belonging in a pack began with the Alpha. Though they leaned on each other, they were all tied to the single person who drove all their decisions. She’d mourned Toman’s passing. By turning her, the former Alpha and his mate had become a second set of parents to her. Missing Toman had not made her despise Mason, though. Solid, he’d taken on the weight of the whole pack and held them together even as he kept his mate alive while pregnant with his child. “I went to the bar looking for you but Joanie mentioned you needed a run.”

When he released her, she backed off a pace and nodded to him. Cocking her head, she kept her ears focused on him.

“So you ran all the way to where Giovanni is staying, hmm?”

He was here?
The longing to go and see him flooded her all over again. Dipping her head, she lowered her gaze in apology. If she shifted she could ask Mason if she could go see him.

“I know you two have been dating, but for now I need the two of you to keep your distance. Salvatore will be here tomorrow and that always makes things a little tense.” He didn’t owe her any explanations. Orders were orders. The desire to see Giovanni warred with her Alpha’s wishes. “If it makes you feel any better, he
will
be at the wedding. I had a job offer I wanted to discuss with you, if you’re up to it.”

Excitement threaded with confusion punched through her. The wedding was more than twenty four hours away, almost a day and a half. She wanted to sidle and wander in the direction Collin vanished. Maybe it was the guest house. If she accidentally tripped over Giovanni…

“Murphy.” Command halted her in place and she sat, tail tucked. The Alpha’s strength rolled over her and flattened her ears. A low growl rumbled in his throat, and Mason looked away from her toward the night sky. “Another one, dammit.” She had no idea what he was talking about, but decided it was probably for the best. “Damn Italians.” But the last words carried no heat, just exasperation so she flicked her ears forward.

He studied her and she kept her gaze away from anything resembling challenge. She’d already irked him.

“You haven’t really run in a while, have you?” he asked.