She wanted to ignore the reasons behind her visit, but her goal kept her creeping forward to the legendary werewolf. To her, going through her heat cycle now meant only one thing. A tool she could use in her fight to take back her brother, avenge her parents. After she mated with Ethan, she trusted that love would come like it always did to her kind.
And that he’d help her.
A twig snapped under her weight. She froze.
Ethan Tolene turned in her direction. She gasped and hurried to cover her mouth. It would be impossible to change her mind now. I can do this. I can do this…
Ethan seemed to grow in size. She blinked hard a few times. It wasn’t her imagination. The man stood at least six foot four with shoulders the width of the old cedar tree in her backyard.
His nostrils flared and he stepped forward.
He’d picked up her scent. Her core
constricted.
“M-may I speak with you?” She moved closer. “Please.”
He stared at her face, her breast, and below, to the apex of her thighs. The throbbing in her womb grew and spread throughout her lower stomach. A fresh surge of juice trickled down to her already damp panties.
He growled. Oh God, he can tell what he’s doing to me.
“Please.” She stuck her chin up higher. “I’ll make it worth your time.”
She continued to approach him. She lifted her hand and rubbed her nape to assure her that she still remained in possession of her head. The fact that she was still alive and talking was a good sign.
“Ethan—”
“How do you know my name?” He swung the shovel off his shoulder and speared it into the ground at her feet, stopping her in her tracks.
She flinched, but stayed back behind the line he’d obviously drawn in the dirt with the tool.
She rubbed her lips together and forced herself not to look at any part of his body, except his face. “I—I come from the Drover pack. I need your help.”
His eyes turned yellow. “How is it you are in heat, but no one has claimed you yet?”
“I’ve saved…” Lightheaded, she pursed her lips and blew out a thin stream of air. It was hard to concentrate being this close to him. “I’ve saved myself for you.”
“Leave. Now.” He turned toward the truck and stalked off.
She shook her head wildly. The muscles in her body tensed. He had to listen. He was her only hope.
“Stop! Please.” She ran after him and grabbed his arm.
He whipped around and broke away from her touch, backing away. “Don’t…touch…me. You should count yourself lucky that you are still alive, let alone still a virgin.”
She shivered under the vehemence of his gaze. Desire and fear warred, an alien, confusing situation. She rubbed her stomach. The urge to touch all the spots on her body that were frantic with new yearnings was too much. Scarcely aware of the line she was crossing, Dani edged forward and planted her palms on his chest. “I need you. I must mate. I need to… My brother…
It’s time. I’ve planned…oh God, I need your help.”
She was stumbling over her words like a fool, her prepared speech long forgotten. She sucked in a deep breath and hissed. “I must kill Greggoire Calhoun.”
* * *
Greggoire Calhoun.
The euphoria of pheromones in the air dissipated. Ethan had refused to speak his cousin’s name out loud for years, as though that act would give Greggoire more power.
He masked his shock over hearing this puppy…this beautiful young woman speak a name he’d rather forget, but Ethan’s skin crawled and his inner wolf snarled.
What did Greggoire do to this innocent to cause so much hatred?
Ethan approached her. Dainty eyebrows arched and her deep brown eyes widened. He stopped, allowing his gaze to roam over her body, memorizing every curve and valley.
Despite the savagery of his reaction to Greggoire’s name, his body tuned in to everything about her.
Petite and prettier than any woman he’d ever seen, she’d be stupid to think he’d make a good mate while ostracized from a pack. He locked his gaze on her lips, full and shaded a natural burgundy red. Her mouth opened, and he caught a peek of a pink, wet tongue. His balls drew up in his sac, painful along with his raging hard-on.
He told himself to walk away.
He stayed.
His lust to mate with her drove him even while he damned his inability to abandon a she-wolf in heat. He was stronger than most, but…
Her scent pierced him to his very soul. That hadn’t happened before.
An arm’s length away from her, he paused.
Should he take her, teach her a lesson, or walk away and hope she never came back?
A soft mew slipped out of her mouth, and his wolf pushed him forward. His cock throbbed, straining against the front of his jeans.