Corrupt Cravings (10 page)

The muscles rippled as he put on a wife-beater. The arms that were exposed were covered in tribal tattoos. Down the length, between the thick lines, he bore every supernatural collecting symbol that she did.

“Donavon.” Her throat closed as she walked toward him.

A hiss sent chills down her body, and she was slammed into the closet door before she knew what was happening. “Who are you? How do you know my name?”

Looking around wildly, Marcella wasn’t sure what to say. Should she tell him the truth? No, it was way too soon for that. Lie, her mind screamed. “I’m gifted, you could say. I just know things.”

“Is this a habit with you? I can smell when you’re not being truthful. Now tell me how you know my real name. No one here does, so I know you didn’t eavesdrop on anyone’s conversation.”

“If you don’t believe I’m gifted, then let me tell you what I know.”

“Speak fast, or else I break your neck and save myself the trouble of having to share my room with you. A room
you
shouldn’t even be allowed to walk in. I was preparing this for someone, and now you’ve ruined it.”

The look in his eyes was so angry that she rushed the beginning of her words. “Your tattoos and drawings. You see them on a woman. Am I right?”

The air left Marcella’s lungs as she was slammed back into the door. “Keep talking.” The growl was so close she could feel his breath on her throat.

“The large symbol on your chest, it’s on a necklace that hangs from around her neck. It’s also on a sword you can see yourself holding.”

“How do you know this?”

Too soon!
Marcella’s mind scrambled for something to say. “I’m gifted, I tell you. Now put me down and apologize right this minute for hurting me.” He laughed and dropped her. Barely catching her weight, she stumbled away from him.

“I apologize to no one. Now gets some clothes on. I’m tired of seeing you practically nude. Don’t you have any respect for yourself?” he snapped.

“Don’t try to make me feel bad. You did this! I think it makes you more uncomfortable than it makes me.” Marcella moved her hair over her shoulders, exposing her breasts. “Why is that, Donavon? Why do I make you so uneasy?”

His hands shook as he turned from her and reached into his closet. “I said get dressed. Don’t make me tell you again. And don’t you dare say my name in front of anyone. Stick with Arizona.”

“Do I get to know the reason behind why they call you such a name?” Marcella mentally kicked herself.
Street lingo, damn it.

“What?”

“I said what’s up with your name. How’d you get it?”

“None of your fucking business. Are you dressed yet?”

Stripping off her pants, she had an idea. What the hell. What would it hurt? She turned collector long enough to place a few tattoos on her thighs and lower stomach, where the pants would have covered. She quickly let her change begin. It only took her a few seconds, but he must have noticed something was off. He spun around just as her transformation back into a shifter was complete. From where her low-cut panties rested, the tattoos were exposed perfectly.

“I thought you were letting me change in privacy? So, now you want to look?” Marcella placed her hand on her hip as she looked at him.

Donavon’s eyes raced over her form. At his parted mouth, she held in a smile. Making some of her collector symbols into tattoos was genius. Now the two of them somewhat matched.

Slowly, he walked forward, sinking to his knees. “How? Do you see her, too?”

“All the time.”

“I thought I was losing my mind,” he whispered.

“No, I promise you’re not. I know you see visions. Tell me what she looks like.”

He leaned his face closer to her white lace panties. Tightening erupted over her skin. The need to weave her fingers in his hair and pull his face into her pussy was almost uncontrollable.

“I never see past her neck. I’m always…Whatever. It doesn’t matter. I don’t know what she looks like. Just that she has symbols like these.”

“How do you know it’s not me?”

The finger that was about to touch the symbol on her upper thigh stopped in its advance. He snapped his gaze up to her, looking annoyed. “Because she’s not a shifter. She’s—” He got quiet as he leaned even closer to her, inhaling deeply. “I don’t know what she is.” The sound of his voice softened.

Hands reached out to hold onto her thighs, but he quickly stopped himself before he made contact. They just kept hovering. It was time for Marcella to take a step back. Things were going way too fast. Raising an eyebrow, Marcella turned and walked away from him. Reaching her bag, she pulled out a pair of boxers and a tank top.

“So, how do we hunt? Tell me what I need to do.”

Donavon stood. He looked torn and a bit upset that she’d dismissed him.

“Well, wear something you don’t mind destroying. Also, don’t go near anyone else. We’re very territorial when we hunt. You can have anything but humans. Oh, and try not to let anyone see you. I don’t know if you know this, but wolves don’t inhabit the area.” His sarcasm was so thick Marcella cringed. Damn, and to think they were actually getting somewhere.

“Thanks, Professor Asshole, for the lecture on how not to be stupid. I’ll try to make you proud.” She winked, rolled her eyes, and grabbed her brush. “Oh, and dearest, this is my first time shifting. How long will I have to be in wolf form?”

He snorted at her question. “During a full moon? You won’t be able to control it your first year. If ever. When it’s over, it’s over. I can’t even believe you would ask that.”

“It’s a perfectly logical question, but thank you. You’ve just been so helpful.”

“Woman, you have an attitude problem.” He stalked up to her, stopped, turned away, and headed for the door. “This is going to be hell. Hurry up.”

Barefoot, Marcella followed him down the stairs. A large group of men stared at her while she walked into the crowded living room. None of them looked too happy.

“Now listen up. This is our newest member.” Luis paused as he looked at her questioningly.

“Marcella.”

Donavon tripped over his own feet as he spun around to face her. A look of confusion passed over his face. Again, she suppressed her smile.

“Marcella was attacked almost two weeks ago. She carries the disease. No one is to touch her. We all know how rare it is for a female to become a shifter, so hands off. That is an order. If you disobey it, it’s your life.”

Silver eyes raked over her hungrily. The need to curl into herself or gag was up there with the most stupidest things to do. This man had plans for her, and she knew what they were. No doubt he needed a mate and saw her as a perfect match. Shit. Over her dead body, and that wasn’t happening. Ever.

“Now, the ones who can shift, go outside and start your hunt. Since we have some first timers, I’ll stay behind until they’ve completed the process.”

Just at the mention of shifting, Marcella’s body began to break out into a sweat. The moon was rising, and she could feel it in her blood. Ugh. She so wasn’t looking forward to having to go through the change. Donavon better appreciate this by the time they finished, or else she was sticking her foot up his ass!

Men poured out of the doorway, leaving just her and two other men with the alpha. They didn’t look any better off than she felt. Donavon walked to the couch, flopping down like he owned it. With him practically showing her he was washing his hands of her presence, Marcella headed for the door. She’d be damned if she was going to wait around so they could all stare at her like some freak show. Hell no, she’d take her chances fighting off the men outside.

“Where are you going?”

“Out. I don’t want to be within walls when I shift.”

The alpha let out a grunt and jerked her to him. “I don’t care what you want. You’ll stay where I order you to.”

“Or what? Won’t that mess up your plans?”

The grip tightened, but she didn’t flinch. Her eyes never left his. A laugh filled the room, and he let her go. “All right, everyone outside. The moon will probably bring the shift on faster, anyway. You better not make it habit to disobey me, Marcella.”

Looking at Donavon, she realized she’d never seen him stand. The rage behind his eyes made her heart pound harder.
Yes, that’s right, my knight. Protect me. You feel it. Follow your instincts.

They all walked to the front, and Marcella sat on the hood of her car. Donavon lowered himself to the porch and stared at her. Trying not to pay attention to him, she gave herself over to the moon. The brightness put heat behind her eyes, and she could feel her adrenaline start to rush through her veins.

“Arizona, do you see that?” the alpha whispered.

“Impossible. Her eyes shouldn’t illuminate.”

Their conversation carried on, but Marcella couldn’t focus on what they were saying. The moon felt as if it were sucking her in. Breaking her eyes from the glowing orb was impossible. It wasn’t five minutes later when pain crippled her. A scream broke through her throat, and she did the only thing she could think of. Her fist slammed into the car as she fell over to her side. With the sweat covering her body, she could feel herself sliding off the slick metal. Donavon and the alpha both caught her before she touched the ground. Everything was happening so quickly, and she knew it was because she wasn’t a true shifter.

“I knew she was alpha material. It was the tang in her scent. Goddamn it! She’s perfect, Arizona. Do you know how long I’ve waited for this? The glowing eyes, the strength, she’s going to make one hell of a mate. The signs she shows are already on a mature level. She’ll be no newborn. Look at the size of that dent she left behind.”

Another scream came from her as she clutched her stomach tighter. Marcella needed to move, to get away from everyone. The wolf inside of her wanted space. Pushing herself to her hands and knees, she began to crawl.

“Whoa. Where you going? You need to stay here.”

Marcella looked at the alpha. “What is your name?” Her voice was hoarse and deeper than normal.

“Luis.”

“Well, Luis, my wolf wants room. Do not make me stay by you all. Not unless you want blood to flow. And right now, you don’t know just how good that sounds.”

He laughed and gestured for her to continue crawling. Marcella didn’t wait, she continued toward the trees in the distance. Colors began to intensify, popping out at her as she neared objects. Blood. Meat. They were the only things driving her forward. The intensity with which she wanted to rip something apart made her fingers grip into the earth.

Cracking filled her ears while she felt herself lock into place. Not one single part of her was able to move. Every bone inside of Marcella seemed to twist. The agony was so extreme that she felt all four of her limbs almost collapse. Heat raced up her arms and legs while she felt them push out at odd angles. As quick as the change took place, she felt it melt away.

Looking down, she saw that black fur covered her legs and paws. The proximity she stood from the ground was a good four feet, which was surprising. She thought she’d be smaller. Marcella shook her head while her eyes focused in on every single twig and branch in the area Then, it happened. An internal radar shot off through her mind, and she knew only one thing. It was time to hunt.

Turning back toward the men, she glanced at Donavon and then took off at a dead sprint for the trees. She almost tripped over her feet as she tried to get them to coordinate, but it didn’t take long for her to catch on. All Marcella wanted was to sate her craving.

Yelling erupted in the distance, but she pushed herself faster. Trees blurred while her night vision made every single object projected. A smell, so strong, so delicious, brought her sliding to a stop. Sniffing the air, Marcella broke to the left. What was that? Some type of animal, but what? Slowing down and using her senses, she crept toward a thicker part of brush. A twig snapped and revealed what looked like a black pig of some type, but one with horns.