Forbidden Nights with a Vampire(91)

 

"The hunting animals," Vanda murmured.

 

"Exactly. Why change into a mouse when you can be a lion? My direct ancestors preferred the wolf. Everything was fine until the Romans invaded. The Celtic tribes were falling in defeat. My ancestors realized they could escape Roman rule by living as wolves."

 

"Did others live as bears, wildcats, and hawks?" she asked.

 

"Yes." Phil assumed that was the beginning of Howard's family of were-bears. "While my ancestors were in wolf form, they mated. They discovered those children were bound permanently to the wolf. They could no longer choose which animal they wanted to turn into."

 

"And werewolves were born," Vanda whispered.

 

"Yes. Every now and then the Romans would kill a werewolf, and it turned back into human form. They were superstitious and fearful of some sort of supernatural retaliation if they didn't keep our secret. They called our tribe the Philupus for those who loved wolves. The name has been passed down in my family for centuries. It's my name, actually."

 

She gave him an incredulous look. "Philupus?"

 

"Now you know why I prefer Phil. After the Romans left, my ancestors thought it would be safe to go back to living in human form. But a few generations had passed and they found they couldn't stay human all the time. They changed on the first night of a full moon."

 

"So they were doomed to turn into wolves every month for eternity," she whispered.

 

He smiled. "I wouldn't call it 'doomed. I've never met a werewolf who didn't love that burst of freedom we get every month when we can toss all human rules and conventions out the window and act like…animals."

 

"You find it liberating."

 

"Yes." Phil sighed. "Or it should be. There are some among the Lycan World who think we should adhere to our own traditions. Supreme Pack Masters can be very powerful, and they try to force everyone to do as they say."

 

Vanda sat up. "You had trouble with someone like that?"

 

He nodded. "My father."

 

She winced. "I'm sorry."

 

"It's all right." He caressed her arm.

 

"He wouldn't approve of me. Your sister doesn't either." Vanda glanced at the trapdoor. "When is she getting back? That's an awfully long hike—Oh." She slapped her forehead. "Your sister's a werewolf."

 

"She was one of those wolves who scared you."

 

Vanda made a face. "She really doesn't like me."

 

"She doesn't know you yet. And don't worry about her. I'll have a good talk with her."

 

"Were all of those wolves werewolves?"

 

"Yes, but they won't bother you again. They know you're under my protection." Phil sat up. "So how come you're so afraid of werewolves?"

 

She flinched. "I–I told you. They were hunting me."

 

"You never said why."

 

She slipped her underwear on. "You know, you ruined my bra. I hope your sister has one I can borrow."

 

"She bought some clothes for us. Come on, Vanda. I told you my secrets. It's time you told yours."

 

"You'll hate me." She stood and walked away.

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER 20

 

 

 

 

Vanda levitated through the trapdoor, landing on the ground floor of the cabin. A cool breeze prickled her skin, and she rushed to close the window Phil had left open.

 

She heard a sound behind her and turned. Phil was standing by the trapdoor. "You can jump that high?"

 

He nodded.

 

So that was how he had managed to get upstairs at the warehouse in New Orleans. She glanced warily at the windows flanking the cabin's front door. No blinds. No curtains. Welcome to the Wyoming Peep Show. She crossed an arm over her breasts. "Someone could see us in here."

 

"A lucky squirrel maybe." Phil smiled. "The nearest neighbor is miles away."

 

"The werewolves are out there." She moved quickly to the kitchen area, which had no windows.

 

Phil followed her. "Lycans always strip before changing. Nudity is not a big deal for us."

 

Her gaze flitted down his naked body. "Easy for you to say when you look like that. But I would imagine some of the guys would be a little uneasy about displaying their…shortcomings."

 

He snorted. "Lycan men don't have shortcomings."

 

"Right. You're as big as your egos, which is fairly huge." She removed a kitchen towel from a drawer and grasped the pump handle.

 

"Here, allow me." He worked the pump, and water spewed from the spout onto her towel.