“I would say it’s pretty obvious that she has no idea that she’s a werewolf. So obviously she’s been turned since the last full moon.”
They were saying thatshewas a werewolf. And if her fuzzy brain was comprehending properly, she would turn into an actual wolf on the next full moon?
“It can’t be a coincidence that she works for our company and was turned. We’ve got to find out what happened to her. You need to turn her over to the Elders for interrogation.”
Then she heard a snarl of rage. An actual snarl, like a dog’s. Or a wolf’s.
“Try it, Jerrold. Try to get past me. I want you to.”
Taylor sat up and looked around, her heart hammering against her rib cage with panic. She was in a huge, high-ceilinged room she’d never seen before. Dust motes danced in the golden light slanting in through the huge bay windows, and she squinted against the dazzle. The honeyed light glossed the highly-polished wood of a baby grand piano. The chaise longue where she’d woken up was upholstered in duck-egg blue patterned with gold, and somehow managed to be both elegant and the most comfortable piece of furniture she’d ever sat on. She scuffed her toes into the thick, plush carpet and peered around for the source of the voices.
“Cliff, stop thinking with your dick. This affects the safety of the entire pack.” Jerrold’s voice was self-righteous and indignant. “If anything makes it obvious that you’re not fit to be Alpha, this does. After all, she worked foryourcompany, and she somehow turned and risked exposing us all. That will never happen when I’m CEO.”
“She hasn’t risked exposing us in any way. And handing her over to be interrogated is the nuclear option. Obviously, Cliff will ask her what happened, I will compel truthful answers, and we’ll get to the bottom of it.” That was James; she recognized his voice.
“He thinks she’s his mate.” Jerrold’s voice again. “He’s too close to the situation, so he won’t be the one to question her. And James, you’d lie and say whatever he wanted. Actually, forget the Elders. As a neutral party with no connection to this woman, and someone with a vested interest in the future of this pack – which I will soon be Alpha of – I will interrogate her myself. Move aside.”
Taylor leaped to her feet. Hell no. Whoever that voice belonged to, she had a feeling it would be a very bad idea to let him interrogate her.
“Let me rip his throat out.” That was Truman’s voice now, in a low, threatening growl. “I’ll face the consequences. I don’t care.”
“I’ll do it myself if he doesn’t leave in the next thirty seconds.” Cliff’s voice.
“You see that, Phineas? He’s threatening me! Your future leader!” Jerrold’s voice had gone high, whiny, and self-righteous.
“He’s threatening my future mate. That’s a one-way ticket to a dirt nap.” Cliff again.
Seized with panic, Taylor leaped to her feet and ran to the doorway at the back of the room. It was unlocked. She yanked it open and ran straight out through a beautiful rose garden, winding through hedges and into a thickly wooded area.
She kept running until her lungs burned in her chest, then she slowed down to catch her breath, but kept moving at a trot.
She heard the crunching of footsteps on leaves, and looked around wildly. Which way should she run?
Suddenly, an enormous gray wolf burst through the underbrush and leaped in front of her, blocking her way. The wolf was too big to be real; it was the size of a pony, and its amber eyes gleamed with a fierce, human intelligence as it stared at her.
Amber eyes?
“Cliff?” she said
It shook itself and shifted. It stretched, arching its back, and its limbs lengthened, silvery fur fading away as its ears rounded and its paws tapered into human fingers. It unfolded gracefully to stand upright, its snout retreating into a full, familiar mouth set in a grim line. And then it was Cliff standing there. A tall, stark-naked Cliff, gleaming with sweat, panting from the run. Only the eyes were the same.
She took a step backwards, astonished. She wasn’t afraid anymore for some reason. She should be scared witless, but all she felt was a sense of wonder.
“Stop!” he barked at her. He moved so fast that he was on her before she’d realized he was running, and he grabbed her roughly and pressed her up against a tree. One hand tangled in her hair, tipping her head back up to look at him.
“Wait.” It came out in a growl.
His body was hot and hard against hers, and she could feel the rigid length of his erection against her hip. The awareness of it made things clench low in her body, and she knew that her breathing was shallow and her heartbeat too fast. Cliff’s pupils were dilated, huge with desire in those beautiful golden-brown eyes. Taylorachedfor him.
“Wait,” he said again. She could hear the low tremble in his voice as he fought for control, feel the tension in his body.
“Wait for what?” She was panting with arousal, her mind clouded with the frantic need to pull him to her, to feel him plunging deep inside her.
And then his mouth was on hers. It was fierce and hungry and unrestrained, and he gave a harsh groan as his hands slid down her spine and over her ass, yanking her hard against him so his heavy cock pressed against the soft curve of her belly. She snatched a breath and wrapped her arms around his strong neck, clinging to him helplessly as he devoured her with greedy kisses.
In the distance, she heard a howl. It sounded like a howl of anger.
Cliff jerked away from her suddenly. He stifled a groan. “Too rough…” he muttered.
