Devlin Dynasty 2: Fall Fury (22 page)

Search his heart? He already knew what he wanted. He wanted Shannon. Heloved her, needed her, and wanted her for his mate, by his side forever. But goingto her and telling her that wouldn’t convince her.

There was something else he had to do, and he knew what it was. It went againsteverything he stood for, his very genetic makeup. But if that’s what he had to doto get her back, then he’d have to swallow his pride.

It was either that or lose her, and the concept was unfathomable.

He’d do it. It would kill him to make that sacrifice, but he’d do it for Shannon. Hehad to.

Tonight.

* * * * *

Shannon sat on the picnic table in the backyard of her parents’ home. She drewher knees to her chest and rested her chin on them. Closing her eyes, she breathedin the crisp fall air, the slight breeze tinged with the sharp scent of earth’schanging grounds.

Full-fledged change of season had finally come, cooling things off and leavingher with a melancholy feeling she hadn’t been able to shake for days. Althoughshe knew, at least partly, what caused her mood.

Max. She missed him. Desperately. Craved the sight of him, his touch, the huskytone of his voice and the smell of him, so like the cool, crisp earth she inhaledright now.

She’d argued with herself for days now, refusing to lend credence to what herheart was telling her. She couldn’t go to him, couldn’t become one with him. Notif it meant giving up her independence. She’d never be able to tolerate beingdominated, being told what to do and when.

If they couldn’t be equals, then they couldn’t be together. And knowing what shedid now about alpha wolves, she knew that Max would require control onehundred percent of the time. He would dominate her, make all the decisions, andshe would have to follow along blindly. That she could not do.

“You gonna sit here all day and mope, or are you going to help serve?”

She looked up at the sound of Kaitlyn’s voice, then slipped off the table and wentinside.

Friday night dinner with the family. She hadn’t wanted to come, but her mothertold her in no uncertain terms she was expected to be there. She slipped into thekitchen and grabbed the salad and plates, making a quick turn and hoping she’dbe able to sneak into the dining room before she was spotted.

“Shannon, wait.”

No such luck. She halted and cringed at the sound of her mother’s voice, knowingwhat was coming. Turning, she offered a carefree smile. “Yeah? Is theresomething else you’d like me to take in there?”

“No. Put those down and come sit with me.”

With a forceful sigh, she handed off the bowl to Kaitlyn, who winked and headedinto the dining room. Shannon followed her mother into the sitting room by thefront window.

“Come sit beside me,” her mother commanded, patting the sofa cushion.

Shannon sat and turned to face her mother, resolving to sit through the lecture andinevitable questions without offering any detail.

“What happened between you and Max?”

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“That’s what Kaitlyn tells me. You have to talk to someone about this,
 
ma belle
.”

“No, I don’t. There’s nothing to say, Mom. It didn’t work out.”

“Did he hurt you?”

She had to smile at her mother’s narrowed eyes, and she suddenly felt very lovedand protected. “No, he didn’t hurt me.”

But she’d hurt him. Badly. He’d easily accepted her powers, the fact that shewasn’t entirely human, without blinking an eye. Had she done the same for him?

No.

He’d risked his life to save hers, had taken on six wolves in a battle that couldhave easily killed him.

Had she thanked him for that?

No.

Then, he’d told her what he was, no doubt expecting the same acceptance of hisunusual genetic makeup as he’d done for her. Had she accepted him?

“He’s different, Mom,” she said, pushing the guilt deep inside herself, praying

that some day she might be able to forgive herself for hurting him.

“I know what he is,
 
petite
,” she said, smoothing her hand over Shannon’s hair.

She couldn’t hide her wide-eyed stare. “You do?” When her mother nodded,

Shannon shook her head. “You can’t know. No one knows but me.”

Her mother laughed. “I’ve known for a long time. Almost since he first arrivedhere.”

“You know that he’s a—” She stopped mid-sentence and looked around to be

sure no one was within earshot, then finished in a whisper. “A werewolf?”

“Yes. I know that.”

Shannon sat back on the sofa, unable to believe that her mother knew. “Does Dadknow, too?”

“Everyone does, now. I told them the other day, after Kaitlyn said she had to

come and get you. She sensed you were hurting. She also sensed your guilt.”

Shannon didn’t doubt that. It was difficult to mask remorse the size of the entirestate. She turned her head to regard her mother. “So you all know.”

“Yes.”

“And you’re okay with it.”

Her mother shrugged. “It doesn’t matter whether we’re okay with it or not. Noneof us are in love with Max. You are.”

She blew out a sigh and stared up at the ceiling, feeling more confused than ever. Sure, her family was fine with Max being a werewolf. Clearly they didn’tunderstand what that entailed. For that matter, she didn’t understand all of it. Other than the fact she’d have to give up control.

“You don’t have to dominate every aspect of your life, Shannon,” her mother said as if in answer to her thoughts. “Sometimes it’s good to share, to give up a little control to the one you love. Not only does it take the burden off you, but it makes a relationship a true partnership.”

“We could never have a true partnership. He’d want to be in control all the time.

He’d want to dominate me all the time.”

“Are you certain of this?”

“Yes.”

Her mother took Shannon’s hands and rubbed her fingers. “Don’t be so certainyou know. I have felt Max’s heart. He has a deep love for you.”

“Funny, he never told me that.” She turned her head and looked at her mother.

“Did he tell you?”

“No. He didn’t have to. I’m not sure he even realized it at the time.”

“He doesn’t love me.”

“Don’t be so quick to decide how he feels. It’s not your place to control his

feelings. Maybe you need to step back a bit and give him another chance. You’ve always been quick to judge people, Shannon. Typically, your instincts are better than your outward logic. Let your heart decide on this.”

Could her mother be right? Had she jumped to conclusions and just assumed Maxwould want to dominate her? Oh, she didn’t know what to think anymore! Frankly, she was tired of thinking about it at all.

After dinner, she drove home alone. Kaitlyn was spending the night at the houseso she and their mother could get an early start on shopping the next day.

Thankful to have the place to herself, Shannon took a shower and read for awhile,but couldn’t concentrate. She tried to do some paperwork, but her mind keptdrifting to Max.

She didn’t want to think about Max. She didn’t want to feel the guilt, theuncertainty, the intense longing that threatened to double her over.

Giving up, she slipped between the sheets of her bed and tried to sleep, but foundshe could only drift in and out, her dreams filled with a gray wolf with eyes ofgolden green. A wolf that stayed by her side, protected her, revered her, andtransformed into a man who took her very breath away with his beauty.

She dreamed of Max crawling over her, whispering that he loved her, that he’dalways take care of her. She felt the soft caress of his fingers over her bare skin. Her breath hitched as he slid his palms over her nipples, following the trail withhis fiery hot tongue until she was writhing, begging him to—

She heard the growl on the fringes of her consciousness and sat up in bed,blinking her eyes, trying to adjust them to the darkness. Surely it had been part ofher dream.

Then she heard it again, coming from the corner of her room. She looked overand saw the window was open, the sheer curtains billowing out in the cool breeze.

Shannon shivered and pulled the covers up to her chin, scooting away until herback hit the headboard. The growl grew closer. Yellow eyes glowed in thedarkness as he approached the foot of her bed.

She shrieked in surprise when the wolf leaped onto the foot of her bed. He stared

at her, not advancing, his watchful eyes waiting.

Waiting for what? For her to say something?

“Max?” she whispered, knowing full well it was him. Could he even answer her

when he was in wolf form?

Obviously not. He didn’t speak, didn’t growl, just slowly crept up the bed towardher. When he reached her feet, he began to claw at the sheet, pulling it away fromher until she was exposed. He sniffed at her feet, licking her toes. She fought backa giggle, still wary of his intentions.

She was more curious than afraid, knowing that he’d never hurt her.

“Your being here doesn’t solve anything,” she admonished, feeling stupid for

talking to him. But surely he understood her.

He cocked his head to the side and looked at her as if he were intently listening.

She supposed he was giving her the opportunity to talk to him, without his beingable to respond. She drew her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms aroundthem.

“Why are you here, Max? And why in wolf form? I’ve seen you like this before, so it’s not a shock to me. Besides, you showing up here like this doesn’t change anything between us.”

He stood on all fours watching her, not moving.

This was her chance to tell him what was in her heart.

“I’m sorry I hurt you the other day. You don’t disgust me at all. I fully accept

what you are.”

He leaned forward and licked her legs, rubbing his snout against her calf.

Tears filled her eyes at what might have been between them. Tentatively, shereached out and touched his head, loving the feel of his fur under her hands. Shestroked his ears and he leaned against her, his long tongue licking at her palm.

She shuddered, wanting him naked here with her. In human form, their bodiesentwined and making love. But that could never be. Not after what she’d done tohim.

She hitched a breath and continued. “I can’t be what you want me to be, Max. Ican’t be docile and let you control my entire life. It’s not in my nature to give upcontrol like that. Not all the time. Not the way you’d expect me to.”

Then he did something that stunned her. He moved next to her and laid down,then rolled over, exposing his belly to her. Even the novice she was knew thatwas a sign of submission.

The alpha wolf of a pack would never show his belly to anyone.

But Max had just given her a sign. He gave up some of his control to her. Hewasn’t here to take, he was here to offer. And while she knew he’d never take asubmissive role with her, she knew this to mean that he was willing to shareequally with her.

Tears of joy streamed down her face. What it must have cost him to do this wasincredible. She reached out and wrapped her arms around him, letting the tearsfall freely onto his fur.

He stood and moved to the end of the bed. She watched in awe as his back legselongated, his snout shrinking, his fur disappearing as he changed into a humanagain. The transformation took only a minute and yet was the most amazing thingshe’d ever seen.

He smiled at her, a wary, tentative smile.

She opened her arms to him and he moved forward, dragging her against him andholding her tight to his chest. His lips met hers with the same fervor she felt. Shepoured out the pent-up anxiety and emotion she’d been holding in, wanting toshow him how much he meant to her, needing to communicate her love for him. It was important that he knew, that he understood.

But before she could say the words, he dragged his mouth from hers and pulledback, his intense gaze searching her face. He caressed her cheek with the back ofhis hand and whispered, “I love you, Shannon. With my whole heart, my entiresoul and every fiber of my being. I would be honored if you chose to spend your

life with me. Become my wife, my partner, and stay by my side forever.”

Her eyes filled with new tears and she nodded. “I love you, too, Max. I will gladlyshare all that I am with you.”

Once again he took her mouth, slipping his tongue between her lips and coaxing awhimpered response as her body flamed to life. She felt the flow of her juicesbetween her thighs as he caressed her neck, his fingers trailing lightly over herswollen breasts and belly until he palmed her sex.

“Open for me,” he commanded.

She reveled in his dominance over her. This is where she would gladly let himtake over. In this she would submit to him, the very act of doing so exciting herlike never before. Spreading her legs, she allowed him access to her center, thepart of her that pulsed and wept with need for him.