Tell Me Your Secrets(3)

“Someone will need to carry you back to your room.”

“You heard the nurse, it’s not that bad. When she’s done I won’t be bleeding anymore, so I can walk.”

Dorian winked. “I’ll be making sure you arrive safely to your room, then.”

Jesenia rolled her eyes. “Whatever.” He gave her a toothy grin and she looked toward the floor. Irritating and charming. What a combination.

It didn’t take long for them to be on their way. She hobbled down the hallway, trying to ignore Dorian. He kept pace with her and stayed silent. When they stepped on the lift she spun to face him. She couldn’t let it go. “Why do you think I’m lying about the wolf?”

“Lass, there aren’t any wolves in Ireland. Each person you’ve come in contact with hasna believed it. Why are you so certain you seen one, when nary a soul ever has?”

She blinked as she looked up at him, trying to remember when she’d first run through the door and into his arms. A smile spread across her lips. “Why did you tense and look past my shoulder when I said a wolf chased me?”

He rolled his eyes. “I didn’t tense because of that. I merely braced to catch you.”

“Sure ya did.” She smirked as the bell chimed and the metal doors opened up to her floor. She limped past him and out the door.

He followed behind. “You’re trying to paint it the way you want to see it.”

Her room was only a few doors down. She stopped and turned around, leaning back against the wood frame. “You’re entitled to your opinion.”

He smiled. “You’re a spirited one.”

Jesenia’s muscles stiffened for a moment when his hand raised, brushing a lock of her hair behind her ear. His fingers trailed down the side of her face and neck before his hand fell back to his side. That small touch did things to her insides. Wicked things that made her want to invite him inside, which was totally inappropriate. She blamed it on adrenaline. She’d heard stories of people becoming really horny after a life-or-death situation. So yeah, she’d go with that.

“I shall hope to run into you again, Jesenia.”

He turned and walked back toward the lift. Damn if his beefy ass didn’t fill out those jeans to perfection. She spun away from the tempting sight before he caught her staring and she unlocked her door.

A soft glow bathed the interior. She’d left the desk lamp on when she’d gone downstairs earlier. The room itself definitely met up to the standards it had advertised. Yellow-and-gold wallpaper covered the walls. Blue-and-gold curtains framed the window that offered a beautiful view of the sea. Blue armchairs sat in a corner with a small table made for a tea tray. Her king-sized bed was comfortable and covered in a blue-and-gold bedspread.

The room was perfect for a fairytale setting, but still she’d not written a single word since her arrival. Her gaze moved back to the desk. Her laptop sat open on top of it. She had stared at the white screen for hours before going out to the cliffs. But now, as she crossed the room, she had a purpose. She knew what she’d seen. She sat down on the comfy chair, and a few keystrokes later she was ready to begin her search.

* * * * *

Dorian headed down the asphalt path leading into Bás Woods. Jesenia North. The stubborn, sexy brunette could be dangerous. He couldn’t believe Grady had attacked her. At least she hadn’t received any bites. The damage to her foot was from the ground. This was the first time the wolf had dared to come this close to the castle grounds. Last night Dorian had nearly caught him in the woods. Some unsuspecting female had decided to stay in an abandoned cottage. Well, not totally abandoned if you counted the male spirit that had been floating around. When Grady caught her scent, he’d gone mad, clawing against the door. Dorian had let loose an arrow from his crossbow and it sank into Grady’s hindquarter. Grady had released a series of yelps, and in his struggle broke off part of the arrow and ran into the woods. His injury was probably the only reason he didn’t catch Jesenia tonight.

But Jesenia, with her curves and full breasts, presented a real problem. Not only to his libido but to the existence of his race. He’d managed to keep his fellow wolves hidden for all these years, and that secret would still be safe if not for some fucking lab experimenting on dogs.

A week ago there had been a fire in the nearby village of Kilmorny. A laboratory housing dogs had gone up in flames. One of those dogs escaped and found its way to Dorian’s den, hidden deep in the woods near the cliffs that looked down onto the sea.

While the animal had been aggressive, his pack mates hadn’t been worried. Their kind was immune to the diseases that affected other canine populations. And this dog had definitely been rabid. Foam dripped from its maw. When Grady received a bite taking it down, they thought nothing of it, until changes came over him. His level of aggression rose, and more and more he gave over to his animal form.