WOLF (Wolf River Book 1) Read online

  I tried to lift my eyelids but felt them lower almost as soon as they gave me a view of the lit up trees before me. Yes … head wound. I wasn’t thinking straight and I was fading by the second. Even the piercing howl that chilled my blood couldn’t stop unconsciousness from taking me under.

  Chapter 2

  Alex

  Blood. Hers—mine. It perfumed the air, mixing with earth and pine to make the most mouthwatering fragrance I had ever smelled. My pulse thumped hard, in waves of impatience. Blistering heat poured from my skin and the call was so clear. My wolf wanted to come. To finish the meal that was so conveniently set out before me. The temptation caused me to pant before I could reign in the heavy breaths and slight whimper that left me.

  I couldn’t get closer. I couldn’t provide assistance, not even to save her life. If I did that right now, she’d die for sure. And I didn’t want that. No, I did, I just couldn’t afford any more attention. Suspicions and fear were already high and if I did what I wanted, people would know. And then they’d die, too, because I didn’t have plans on going anywhere.

  Uncontrollably, I took a step closer.

  The drumming of her pulse was like gravity, tempting the killer in me even more. She was waking. She was afraid. The fear left my bones vibrating in excitement. I could so easily shift into a wolf, regardless that the moon wasn’t forcing my change. And I wanted to. The fact that I was able to keep my human form after smelling her blood was sheer willpower. I could restrain myself. I had to.

  The wind picked up, the cold chill cutting into my nude frame. It had to be dropping to the mid-thirties by now, but I felt nothing but the appeal to move in. To hunt. I glanced toward the sky, seeing the glow of the moon cut through the tops of the trees. Nausea clutched my stomach and I side-stepped along the length of the mangled sedan. I couldn’t let her see me like this, or anyone else if they happened along the scene.

  “Go.” The word came out in a rush from my lips and I tore myself away. It was almost impossible to turn my back to the vehicle, but my legs were already carrying me further away, back to my home less than a quarter mile away. Trees blurred as I broke into a sprint and each push of my bare feet into the ground intensified how in tune I was tonight. It didn’t take me but a minute to burst through my door. I raced into my bedroom, pulling on a pair of jeans and shoving my arms through the sleeves of a flannel shirt. I didn’t bother to button it as I slipped into my boots.

  With as close as I lived, no one would question me hearing the crash. I’d call the sheriff and make sure the woman was okay, then slip back into my home as if this night didn’t hold such temptation or rage. The two emotions were polar opposites and yet best friends. They were always together. Always paired up beautifully in my chaotic, unstable mind. But that was all I had known for so long and there was no changing it. My life would forever be this way—beautifully chaotic. My wolf loved the hunt and the freedom. The man I once was hated it, even if I had accepted my path more now than I did when me and my friends were attacked a few years out of high school. With being the only one who survived, no one was here to know what I had become. Or what had truly killed Jack, Kevin, and Toby.

  My life and dreams plummeted that summer. From well-known and popular in our small community, I became an outcast. A hermit, of sorts. I avoided everyone, even my family. They had tried to get me back for years, but they’d given up. They knew what happened had destroyed me. Who wouldn’t grieve and blame themselves at being the only survivor of such a horrific tragedy? I loved my friends. We’d grown up together. And it was me who’d planned the hunting trip. Now I was exactly what had killed them and there was no changing it.

  Over the years, I had accepted who I was—what I was. It didn’t mean I always embraced what I felt I had to do. For the most part I had my wolf under control. Except times like this… Times when my wolf locked on a scent. This time was different though. Dangerously so. As much as I knew I needed to stay restrained in the house and call the cops, my wolf was already leading me out of the door. Running back to the injured woman in the light colored car. My heart was racing and my senses were positively peaked. Every little sound pinged in my ears. The small animals in the trees, the random leaves crunching beneath my boots. And it all drove me faster. Right back through the thick branches that tore into my skin. Blood. It blossomed again in a mouthwatering scent.

  A small cry had me slowing as I approached. I swallowed hard, heading toward the jammed door. Thoughts of how I wanted to breathe in her blood—her scent—again, bombarded me. Somehow I managed to block them out as I forced my pace to increase. My wolf growled at me in annoyance, instead turning his focus on every sound she made as I got closer. The pitch of her groan perked my ears and hunger tightened my stomach.

  I approached the pinned door, leaning into her broken window. I held my breath knowing I daren’t smell her this close. Not if she was going to survive.

  “Please.” The whisper was said just at my ear. I clenched my jaw at the hot air tickling my skin. My finger punched in the clasp holding the seat belt fastened and I pulled her out as fast as I could. Her face settled against my chest and I could feel her begin to shake as I carried her a few feet away. Cool air from the breeze rushed past and I rested her against the earth as I stood and sucked in a breath.

  “Don’t move. You’ve been in an accident.” My eyes scanned over her face, quickly, and I tried not to look at her. “My name is Alex and I’m going to get you some help.” I spun, cursing myself as I realized I had left my cell at home. “Do you have a phone I can use? I don’t live far away, but I don’t want to leave you out here by yourself.”

  “Console. It’s in my purse.” Another groan left her and I felt myself jerk down to crouch as she tried to sit.

  “No, no,” I said, lowly. “Lay back and try to relax. You’ve been in a really bad car accident.”

  Her eyes jerked up to mine, full of fear. I felt myself—my wolf—become rooted at the beauty the emotion carried for her. My lips separated and for the first time I took in every feature of her beautiful face. Wide, light colored eyes. Full lips. Small, straight nose. I couldn’t move as she struggled to her feet to loom over me. The quickness she displayed as she pulled a gun from under the black blazer she wore tore me from the spell.

  “There was something in the woods. Something … big. I saw it.” She spun, swaying a bit as she leveled it to the surrounding forest. Cautiously, I eased to stand, trying to ignore the way her pulse was pounding. With it came her increased scent. The sweetness hooked into me, reeling me closer.

  “Your head is bleeding. Are you sure you saw something?”

  The ponytail swung as she glanced over at me. “I…”

  Confusion flashed and I bit my lip, eying the gun. “Are you a cop?”

  “Detective. No, investigator, now. Who are you? I’m sorry… Did you say you lived around here?” Her hand went to her head and the gun lowered the smallest amount.

  “I do,” I said, calmly. “But I need to get you help. I’m going to grab your phone real quick and call the police. Are you going to be okay?”

  Full lips pursed, but she nodded. I didn’t waste time as I headed back to the driver’s side and peered through the window. It was dark, but my enhanced vision could see her purse on the passenger floorboard. I walked to the other side, closing my eyes at the huge dent that was embedded in the entire door. Son of bitch. I punched out the window, reaching down to collect the phone that was partly sticking out of the top.

  “Jesus. Be careful. Did you cut yourself doing that?” The woman was walking over and I shook my head, not wanting her to get closer. I could smell her blood as if I were bathed in it. The scent was so fucking strong. “Then did all of that come from me?”

  At the point of her finger, I looked down. The headlights had me lit up. Bright red was smeared across my chest. Some of it was from her, a tiny bit my own, from the dense and unforgiving foliage.

  “Your head is bleeding pretty good.” />
  “Shit,” she breathed out, blinking as she stared down at the red soaked along the drooping collar of her shirt. Her fingers rose, tapping over the wound. “It’s not bad. Not really that deep at all. Okay … good.” She was talking to herself and I couldn’t turn away. After a few seconds she seemed to notice. “Are you going to make the call?”

  “Right. Yeah.” I nodded, clicking the button on the phone. No Service was displayed at the top of the screen. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

  “What?”

  “You don’t have service. Fuck, I need to get you help so you can go to the hospital.” I glanced toward the direction of my house, not liking the energy I sensed in the woods behind me. It made the hair on my nape prickle and left my wolf desperate to come out. It also had me walking back to her. “Listen, we need to get to a phone. Let’s go to my place. There, I can take a look at your head wound.”

  “Cut,” she corrected, placing her gun back in the holster. “And I’m fine. It’s not that bad, I promise you. I’ve seen a lot of wounds. Had a few more myself, and I guarantee that I will be just fine with a few butterfly Band-Aids.” She paused as if to make herself clear. “That’s all its getting. No hospital, no doctors.” The finalization was deep in her tone and I wasn’t about to argue with the wounded woman. I went to lift her when she reared her head back and extended her arm. “I can walk just fine, thank you. And I mean that sincerely. Thank you for offering, but I’m okay. Really.”

  Damn stubborn woman. I was already regretting this. What was I doing? To have her in my house? To have her scent in my home! Could I be any stupider? She’d never leave. She’d be dead before she made it to the middle of the living room.

  “This way. If you start to feel—”

  One step and she was falling, already passing out. The sheer strength and determination she displayed had fooled me completely. I knew the wound was deep, but with how composed she was, I had believed her. And her body hadn’t been able to keep up with her mind. Jesus, who was this woman?

  Weight dropped into my arms as I managed to catch her collapsing frame. I didn’t have to pretend or disguise who I was after that. She was out. I took off in a run, holding her tucked into me as I wove through the trees. I tried my best not to take in her scent, but it was too late as the wind pushed her deeper into my lungs. I found myself leaning in closer, breathing her into me to stay. I knew in that moment—no matter where she was in this town, or how many layers of clothing she used to cover her curvy body from the cold, I’d have her forever memorized. Categorized by her essence and what made her, her. Smell was enough for my wolf to target her within miles. Taste… I looked down at her unconscious body in my arms. I could taste her. I could sample the best part of her right now if I just ran my tongue over her cheek to take in her blood. I wanted to. I wanted more.

  Temptation. It raged a war within me. I could tear her throat out right now if I wanted. There was nothing I couldn’t do to her helpless form. The fact that I wasn’t harming her as of yet was the only thing leading me forward. I could do this. I could get her help and win this never-ending battle that plagued me.

  Light haloed and within seconds I slowed, approaching my door. The woman was unresponsive and I shifted her in my arms as I threw the barrier open, lying her on my sofa as I spun for the house phone. I couldn’t risk the cell coverage, regardless that my supplier had decent service for the area. I had to hurry before these urges grew again. Before I acted on them.

  My hand clutched to the cordless and I stole one last glance of her before I ran outside, closing the door behind me. The crisp air had me breathing in deep to try to clear my head. Frantically, my fingers pushed in the number to the Sheriff’s Department as I began to pace. The greeting seemed to take forever as the words pushed against the back of my throat, ready to spill out. They had to get here fast. I wasn’t sure how much longer I could hold off my wolf. I could still smell her all over me. And I liked it. No … I fucking loved it.

  “This is Alex Villani. I live at 408 West Creek Drive. I have a woman here who was in a car accident. She was conscious when I began helping her to my home, but she passed out on our walk. I need an ambulance.”

  A pause had me running my fingers through my hair.

  “Was there anyone else involved?”

  I bit the insides of my cheeks, shaking my head. Flashes of the dent blinded me and there was no way I was sharing my suspicions. “No. It was just the woman. Her car is in the ravine, off the highway. I doubt officers will be able to see it from the road. Luckily I was awake and heard the crash from my home.”

  “Assistance is on its way, Mr. Villani.”

  The woman began to speak again, but I hung up, not wanting to answer any more questions. The less I was involved with the cops, the better. I already knew they were apprehensive of me. Especially since Detective Perkins questioned me multiple times about the last girl that ended up dead not far from my place. They ruled it an animal attack, but they weren’t stupid. No one in this town was.

  “Dammit.” I continuously squeezed the phone as I walked back and forth in the front yard. Minutes stretched out and with each one, my wolf locked to the woman’s heartbeat even more. Thump-thump. The rhythm wrapped itself around my beast like a collar and leash, pulling me in. Bringing me closer. I couldn’t stop prowling feet from the entrance of my door. My head was down but my stare was cut up. There was nothing I could do to stop the predatory response. I was gone, lost in the beautiful melody of life. Her life.

  My ribs shifted and I stiffened as my body tried to betray my command. I knew I couldn’t do anything, especially now that the police were on their way. That only drove my need even more. It was the forbidden. The thrill drove me a step closer. A groan from inside of the house had my hand shooting out to the knob, and more, my bones shifted.

  Her weakness was my strength. It left my true self raging to finish her off.

  I stumbled, spinning and putting even more distance between me and the house. Faster, I paced. At some point I had dropped the phone. My fingers pulled at my hair through my need and my canines thickened in my mouth causing my teeth to ache. How long had it been since I’d tasted a human? Fuck, I couldn’t remember. I couldn’t think of anything but her.

  Howling in the distance had my head jerking up. My steps slowed and I listened to the call. They weren’t wolves like me. They wouldn’t turn into humans, nor had they ever been one, but we were the same in a sense that no one would understand. We thought alike. Our methods of hunting were somewhat the same. But their form allowed them freedom. I would never have that. I didn’t resemble them when I changed. No, I was worse than any monster depicted in folklore. More frightening than any illustrated picture drawn up by some artist’s gruesome imagination. To see me would be coming face to face with a traumatic nightmare one couldn’t escape. Not only because of my speed and strength, but my appearance was enough to have anyone lock up in horror. The mindfuck that shocked their bodies into statues was my advantage. They rarely were able to process what was happening before they were already being eaten alive.

  “Hello?”

  The weak voice was followed by footsteps. Staggering ones. I could hear the way her feet slid against my wooden floor. She was unsteady and the man in me wanted to go back and help her. To lay her down and tell her that everything was going to be okay, that the ambulance was on its way. The same man knew the price of closing the distance. It had my boots pushing even more into the dirt with my determined steps to stay back.

  “Hello?” The thud of her knocking into something was followed by a curse as she tried to right herself. I could hear it so well it was as if I could see what was happening.

  Fabric rustled and I barely cared how I must appear to her as I saw the curtain pull back. Sirens in the distance broke through my haze. It had me jerking to a stop, mid-stride, as I realized what I was doing. My lids blinked, repeatedly, and my eyes locked with a pair of narrowed ones. They held curiosity and confusion
for only a moment before I saw what I longed to. Fear. I didn’t think as I spun and pushed my legs to sprint. If I didn’t leave now, she was just as doomed as I. There was only one problem. One I couldn’t escape no matter how much I wanted… My wolf wouldn’t forget this missed opportunity. Ever.

  Chapter 3

  Erin

  Dizzy, nauseous—the side effects of my condition couldn’t overshadow the way I felt as I stared through the window at my savior. He had looked possessed as he stalked toward me. As if he was ready to harm me, just as much as he wanted to help me. Rarely did I ever get frightened by another person, but the look in that man’s stare brought me to a place I hadn’t felt since I was a child. No, I’d felt it again just before the accident. I feared him and that was enough to have me focused on him even more.

  When he ran off, relief was immediate. But now I was questioning why he left at all? I could hear the sirens getting closer. Why leave now?

  Hesitantly, I turned, scanning the small living room and open kitchen of the cabin. Everything was impeccably clean, minus the blood I left behind on his dark brown leather sofa. A few deer heads were mounted along the wall and it looked like any cabin I’d ever seen. Pictures drew me closer to the mantle of the fireplace and I studied the man’s smile as he posed with a few other guys. They were all in hunting clothes and he looked younger than the mid-thirties man I’d seen tonight. Maybe by ten years, maybe a little more. He was surprisingly good looking. In the pictures, he didn’t have a good week’s worth of growth on his face like he had now.

  Sirens grew louder and I turned, heading back to the door. I paused, squinting as I tried to peer down the dark hall that sat in the back. Knocking drowned out my curiosity and I went forward opening the door as a police officer scanned my face.