Werewulf Journals 3: Hungry Pleasures (22 page)

They grinned at each other and Pavel found himself marveling at how comfortable he

felt around the great Hunter McCallum. He was nothing like his formidable hype -- well, he probably was -- but he went out of his way to let Pavel know he wasn’t pulling rank. Not that he could. In fact, as Alpha Prime of his pack, Pavel actually outranked Hunter.

“Your Melody is a regal black beauty.”

The American Alpha nodded, and sighed happily. “She’s a handful…two, but I

wouldn’t have her any other way. Your…Kaila, was it…?” He continued at Pavel’s nod.

“She’s almost as beautiful as my sweet bitch -- seems like a gracious, kind female, which makes me wonder about your reasons for not claiming her. A blind wulf could see the

passion between you. Your scent is all over her, telling me you’ve fucked her, yet I saw no mark. She’s unbound, up for grabs.”

Pavel cleared his throat. “There’s more to the situation. It is…delicate.”

Hunter placed a hand over his mouth, which did nothing to disguise his bark of

laughter. “I’ll say. You’ve got an unclaimed, sexually activated breed surrounded by an island full of randy wulves. It doesn’t get more delicate than that. Frankly, I’m impressed the headlines aren’t screaming: ‘Coverage of the Bloodshed at eleven!’”

Pavel stiffened. “Are you implying doubt of my ability to exercise complete control

over my wulves?”

Hunter leaned back in his chair. “Hell, no, I wouldn’t insult you like that…not on your turf, anyway, unless I planned to challenge.” He slanted a knowing look at Pavel. “You’re antsy and I feel for you. Not too long ago I was in your shoes so I have plenty sympathy for you.”

His statement made Pavel sit up and come alert. “I beg your pardon?”

“There’s no mistaking the mating scent the two of you are giving off. It permeates your entire den.”

“I had no idea,” Pavel stuttered. “I apologize if your stay has been…”

Hunter held up a hand. “Don’t get your tail in a twist. The smell doesn’t affect me because Melody and I share a true-bond. I’m well protected and immune to the lust

pheromones thrown off by other bitches.” His mouth turned down in a distasteful moue.

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“I’ve been where you are now and I’m well aware of your beast’s frustration. Living with a mate, forced to hold off insuring her total commitment can be hell. I didn’t complete the binding with Melody until just before our mating ceremony. As a result, my own cousin tried to jump my claim.”

The shocking information, and the matter-of-fact way Hunter proffered it, startled

Pavel so much he choked, sputtering in his wine. No inkling of such a scandalous turn of events had traveled along the gossip highway and he knew the cousins had worked to keep it hush-hush.

A huge hand good-naturedly pounded him on the back until he gasped, “Enough!”

Carefully setting his glass back on the table, he asked, “Are we talking about Chase

McCallum? The other American Alpha Prime-in-Waiting?”

Hunter grinned. “That’s the one.”

“And he’s still breathing?”

“Very much so, and true-bonded to my nephew’s step-daughter for a while, now.”

Hunter’s laughter boomed out, hazel eyes sparkled with amusement. “You have no idea how much that tickles me. See, she’s a breed, but still a human teen. He’s got another two years to go before she’s legal by human law.” He gave a contented sigh.

Pavel eyed him warily. “You sound like that pleases you.”

“Oh, it does, Pavel, it does. You see, Chase is too high profile among humans to take what to them would be an under-aged mate. Believe me, Andrea isn’t the type of bitch

who’d allow him to hide her away. And she won’t tolerate him easing his itch with anyone but her.”

“You’re a cruel wulf, Hunter McCallum, to take humor in another’s misfortune.”

Another laugh rumbled up out of the other male’s deep chest and Pavel marveled at

how huge the wulf was. Hunter was solid muscle -- over six and a half feet and almost three hundred pounds of condensed power and drive.

Thank the Moon McCallum was content to become an ally, because Pavel knew this

wulf could take him in a fight and never work up a sweat. He’d make sure that never happened. Being Alpha wasn’t about being stupid. If he ever had to face Hunter straight on, he’d make sure to load the deck in his favor. He hoped the day would never come.

His guest flashed fang, careful that no one else caught a glimpse. “You have no idea the lengths I’ll go for vengeance, although this is really only payback.” Hunter leaned closer and lowered his voice. “You might not have heard, but my Melody gifted me with a cub at our mating. My boy’s name is Blair. He’s still got his milk teeth but he’s a scrapper.”

Pavel smiled, taking note of the proud look on Hunter’s face. Wulves treasured their

young. “Congratulations.”

“Thanks. Man, fatherhood is great! I’m teaching him how to growl. Anyway, Blair stays with Andrea’s dam a lot and I bribe him to filch his cousin Andi’s undies from the dirty 122

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clothes. I mail ’em to Chase about once a month. Course, he can smell them through the wrapping so he knows what they are, knows countless people including the mailman have handled them…” The big wulf giggled. “…drives that fucker crazy!”

Pavel blanched. “You mean you actually send panties drenched with her scent to a

wulf bound in celibacy for three years?”

“Yeah, but like I said, it’s just a bit of payback. If it were vengeance, I’d be sending pieces of her. By the way --” Hunter pinned him with a mock frown. “-- if you tell my bitch what I just shared, I’ll use your guts for shoestrings.” His grin faded as his face fell into grim lines. “Mel’s finally gotten over her mad and wants me to lay off him, but it’s not that easy for me. I keep seeing the look on her face when I busted down the door of my own den to find he’d cornered her…”

Pavel met Hunter’s burning gaze. “Like I said…I’m surprised he’s still alive.” He

lightened the moment by drawing a metaphysical zipper along his lips. “But since you’re so scared of your bitch, you have my word…I’m mum.”

Hunter’s big body relaxed against the back of his chair. “Thanks, Alpha. I love my

cousin and we’re slowly getting past the damage to our relationship. His motivations were pure and that convinced me to withhold crying wulfshead against him. The other reason he’s still living is one of the things I need to talk with you about. I appreciate this private time you’ve allowed me. The ladies being here would have been unfortunate.”

“For the record, I suspected your mate’s pre-dinner attack of morning sickness was a

ruse. I knew it for certain when she requested Kaila keep her company in a strange place.”

Pavel cocked a single brow in skeptical comment. “I have this problem about seeing your bitch in the role of a woman needing coddling. It’s just not believable.”

His guest didn’t try to deny it. “Forgive the subterfuge. You’ll soon understand why I really don’t want to talk about this around Melody -- or anyone else, for that matter.”

Pavel propped his elbow on the table and leaned his chin on his palm. “I’m all ears.”

“Have you heard the rumors emerging about the Werewulf Journals surfacing?”

“You’re talking about the supposed writings of the first Alpha Prime, the wulf who

volunteered to be bioengineered for the original breeding program?”

Hunter nodded. “The same, though the human-wulf program was actually the second

attempt to create viable mates for our people. The first program involved the indigenous wolf population. There was minimal success there, as there was minimal intelligence on the wolves’ part. The majority felt the connection was bestial. Resistance among the rank and file grew until the head scientists and lead Primes decided to abandon it.”

Pavel frowned. “That story is an old legend, a fairytale for cubs. Are you telling me you believe our breeds today come from the lone male sent out to infect and impregnate

scattered groups of human females?”

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“Actually, there were two journeyers -- not just the one, but yes, I do. I know it to be true.”

“Two…?”

“If you think about it, it makes perfect sense. Our people were highly advanced. We’ve lost a lot of ground through the eons, so the scientists back then had to be more meticulous, almost anal in their determination to assure the survival of our species. Scientists today would never consider an experiment without controls, so it stands to reason the ones

assigned to make sure this solution worked would also have provided a blind control. They loosed one wulf with, the other without the biological modifications.”

“That would mean…”A chill gathered in Pavel’s belly, quickly spreading to the rest of his body. “But a biological blending between wulf and humankind is impossible without gene manipulation. Besides, we are forbidden to mate with humans and a wulf is only fertile while in fur form.”

Hunter’s narrowed eyes met his, the expression in them implacable. “The stricture

against taking humans in fur form came from the dawn of our history here, and as a people, we were conditioned to obeying those in authority over us. The two variables had no such constraints placed upon them. They were set up in opposition to each other, both given the mandate to feed and fuck at will. Rumor has it both were successful.”

“Sweet mother Moon!” Pavel blinked slowly, feeling dazed as all the ramifications of

Hunter’s information sank in. “If what you say is true, our early leaders and our own scientists have perpetrated a heinous crime against not only our people, but the humans, too.”

Hunter bowed his head, spoke without meeting Pavel’s shocked gaze. “I have under my

protection the living proof that such unions are viable.”

Blanching, Pavel couldn’t control his gasp of horror. Lurching back in his chair, he

stabbed the other Alpha with an accusing glare. “Who else knows of this abomination? Who chases after you even now to erase the threat of this knowledge becoming widespread? How dare you bring danger to this island without first offering full disclosure to me?”

Hunter glared at him, body bulking beneath the trappings of silk and broadcloth. A

low, menacing growl trickled from between his drawn back lips. “I brought with me my

mate, the dam heavy with my pup. Ask again, Alpha, if I bring you danger, but know I’ll take the asking as insult.”

His reasoning made Pavel pause and think. He didn’t really know Hunter. All he had to go on was what traveled through media or the mouths of other wulves. But those stories spoke of an honorable wulf, a self-appointed protector, not only to wulves but to any being in need. They also told how the mighty wulf -- a rogue who’d left pack lands in defiance of his Alpha -- had fallen under the spell of a beautiful black earth goddess.

With a sigh, Pavel relaxed. Hunter would no more put his Melody in danger than he

would eat his stepson for dinner. The anger drained away, leaving a leaden sense of dread.

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“Forgiveness, Alpha.” His words low, he gave his head a shake, grabbing at control in an attempt at clear thinking. “This news…” He raised burning eyes to Hunter’s, hoping he’d see laughter, a light of teasing -- anything but the deadly serious gaze that stared back at him. He spread his hands. “I am at a loss, here. Shadows and darkness, McCallum, but your words cause my heart to pound in dread and fear. My mind balks each time my thoughts approach this matter…”

The look in the expressive hazel eyes softened and a sigh wafted from the other wulf as he visibly went from attack mode to something approximating calm. “Your concern for those under your care does you credit. Be at ease. Other than the ones actually protecting the cub, you are the only person to whom I have revealed this information. I took a chance telling you this. I’m glad I wasn’t wrong in thinking you’d see through to the true magnitude of this problem, Alpha of Drestovia.”

Pavel raked fingers tipped in claws through his hair, had difficulty holding his

transformation to that small outlet. “See it…? My goddess, Hunter, I can see nothing else! If the Separatists get wind of this…”

“Unfortunately, while the Separatists can cause a lot of turmoil, I am not really worried about them. They are not the ones presenting the greatest threat.”

“No,” Pavel murmured, “they wouldn’t be. Damn it, I need a drink.”

“Won’t do you any good, our metabolism is too fast for us to get drunk.” Hunter slanted a commiserating smile at Pavel. “If it’s any consolation, I felt the same way when Chase brought me up to speed.”

Pavel propped his elbows on the table and dropped his head in his hands. “Please,

Hunter, tell me you’ve made this up.”

“No such luck, I’m afraid. There’s proof.”

“All right, then.” Pavel swept a covert glance about the room, ensuring their

conversation went unnoticed. “Get up, Hunter -- casual and slow. We’re simply going for a stroll to continue our after-dinner talk.” Under his breath he added, “We’re taking this back to my suite. Talk like this can overturn governments, let alone kill two Alphas foolish enough to spout such controversial fare in public.”

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Chocolate Moon Pie

Three days later, Pavel and Kaila drove Hunter and his mate back to the airstrip. The American Alpha carried away with him a letter of introduction, granting him free run of Drestovia’s pack lands. Before Hunter finished his tour of Europe under the guise of taking a leisurely honeymoon, he wanted to visit all the other heads of packs on behalf of his cousin.

Chase had been forbidden by Rann to reveal his knowledge to the other Alphas. Only to Hunter -- who had the right to claim overlordship because of Chase’s failed coup -- could he divulge what he had discovered.

Pavel didn’t envy Hunter his search for Chase’s Holy Grail: the Werewulf Journals of