Enemy Red (4 page)

“Yet you’re still here.”

“Far away from my relatives. Living among the clan has given me some relief from the Pavtek Curse. The Wolf in the
Forest
is very protective of its kind.”

“Yes, it is,” Fenris muttered, not pleased at thoughts of danger to the female he considered his. His for the moment, he reminded himself and cleared his throat. “You seem to be a man with power. You can’t break this thing or at least kill your cousin to end it?”

“I wish. It doesn’t work that way. The curse follows the blood. Those Pavteks with sorcery in their veins are at risk. Which is why my earlier relationships were with humans. Rena was an accident. I fell in love with her at first sight.” He smiled.

“If she’s as pretty as your daughter, I can see why,” Fenris said, dwelling on Rudra. He couldn’t read the look Rurik sent him but cautioned his idiot inner voice to shut the hell up and think before speaking.

“Mm-hmm. So you see why your arrival is so important to me. I need a drop of werewolf’s blood, collected under the peak of the full moon, to complete a spell that will nullify the curse.”

Fenris frowned. “But the full moon’s not for another three and a half weeks.”

“I know. I’m sorry, son. But I need you to stay until I can collect it. You don’t understand. I’ve lost two wives and four sons because of this curse. I’m afraid if I don’t find something to take it away, it’ll infect Rudra.”

Alarmed at his sudden need to protect the surly female, Fenris forced himself to remain calm. “I don’t understand.”

“When my brother Petr was alive, he’d been protecting an urn that contained the curse. He tried to warn Mikhail to beware his actions, but Mikhail was like a man possessed.”

“A victim of the curse?”

“Perhaps.” Rurik motioned for him to turn onto a path between two giant firs, away from the village. “I never did like Mikhail. A bit of a hothead, really. When he killed Petr, it seemed par for the course he, too, would suffer a similar fate. I’ve done my best to remain distant, trying to keep the curse at bay so it wouldn’t affect my family.

“My first wife was a sorceress, as were my children. I had hoped the curse would not affect them and kept us away from Mikhail and the other Pavteks. But they all died violently. Tragically,” he murmured, as if caught in the past. “When I remarried many years later, I sought a human bride, one without magic. We lived far from my relatives, but Mikhail found us and destroyed our peace. For years I travelled, trying to destroy Mikhail, to destroy the curse. And then I found Rena. I hadn’t thought to marry a wolf, because wolves and sorcerers don’t mix. But Rena is special. And my daughter is the best of both our worlds. Not someone to be shunned,” he reprimanded, reminding Fenris of the way he’d acted towards Rudra a few hours ago.

Fenris flushed. “It’s just that we don’t have a fond history with humans. Your kind--”

“I’m sorcerer, not human. There’s a fine but distinct difference, but it’s there all the same. Humans don’t live for hundreds of years.”

“
My point
is that there hasn’t been a lot of trust between wolves and humans. Forgive me if I sounded biased, but there’s a reason we don’t interbreed.” Except in Red he couldn’t find fault. She was beautiful, arrogant and sexy as hell. If he hadn’t known Rurik was her father, he would have thought her the perfect alpha. Unlike his uncle, she seemed to care more about her clan and their needs than making herself look important.

“Whatever your history with humans, you must understand why I need you, Fenris. It’s only a matter of time before Mikhail learns I have a daughter. As it is, he thinks Rudra is Rena, since they’re both tall redheads. Today was the first time he’s breached my home. And I’m afraid he’ll soon start killing members of the pack. You can’t allow that to happen. Regardless of what you think of me and my kind, would you really allow a sorcerer to harm innocent wolves?”

“Or course not.”

“I didn’t think so. You have a pure heart. It’s said most werewolves do, which is probably why you’ve been gifted with that precious mark.” Rurik nodded at his forearm. “I’m in your debt, Fenris. But I can’t allow you to leave.”

Leave and risk ruining a spell that would protect Red?
Protect kindred wolves
, he hastily corrected himself. No way in hell. “I won’t.”

“Won’t what?”

“Won’t leave until you’ve collected what you need from me.” Fenris shook his head, confused, annoyed and worried. The sexual attraction to Red he understood. But the growing affection? The need to protect her from all harm? The urge to plant young within her belly, to watch her grow round and love her until they both joined the Wolf in the afterlife?

Holy shit, he felt warped inside. Unlike himself, apart from
her
. Fenris rubbed his chest, half wishing he’d stayed in the damn woods at home. At least there Fenris had some control over his emotions. He hated the thought of mating with a silver wolf, but at least he knew what to expect. With Red, he felt in constant limbo.

They stepped onto a wide porch, and the object of his desire opened the door.

She scowled at him. “Well? Are you coming in or not?”

His heart pounded, twisted and fell at her feet.

I am so screwed.

Chapter Three

Rudra couldn’t put her finger on it, but Fenris seemed bothered. The blond giant regarded her with caution in between verbal sallies with her mother, who couldn’t seem to stop talking all through dinner.

“I hope you don’t mind me saying so, Fenris, but your colouring is very attractive. It’s been years since I’ve seen a golden wolf. Where have you been keeping yourself?”

He shot Rudra another one of those shuttered gazes and answered her mother. “I’m a Silver Wolf, Rena. From what I understand, there hasn’t been a Golden Clan in ages. I’m one of your daughter’s dread enemies.”

Rena waved a hand, dismissing his words. “Bah. Rudra wouldn’t know a good wolf if he up and bit her.”

“
Mom.
” Rudra wished she hadn’t agreed to this stupid dinner. Then again, she hadn’t. Wouldn’t a true alpha do what she wanted, regardless of her parents’ wishes?
Maybe a true alpha would, but you’re a not a real wolf.
Her conscience never gave her a break.

“I don’t know. I think Red might recognize a good wolf if he bit her. ‘Course, it would depend on where he bit her, wouldn’t it?”Fenris asked with a sly grin.

Even as he said it, the bite on the slope of her neck tingled. Since their joining earlier, she couldn’t stop thinking about what he’d felt like inside her. For years she’d gone without sex. Hell, her last time had been so uninteresting she could barely remember it. Roddy MacDugal two years ago? Or was it three? Yet a few times with Fenris and she wanted to shove him down on the table and have her way with him.

I wonder if he’d go for that. Taking orders from me…
He’d been nothing but polite during their dinner, and he hadn’t once tried to take over the conversation or the lead when her father served. Most alphas demanded their food first, to be waited on hand and foot by the others. She never acted with such arrogance, but then, her human side had a distinct effect on the way she led.

 
Her mother’s nose twitched, and Rudra lowered her attention to her plate. But she saw the half-hidden smile. So smug, so pleased. A glance at Fenris showed him focussed on his food as well, and he seemed to be trying very hard not to look at her.
Shit. I hope I’m not broadcasting my arousal at the freakin’ dinner table. Talk about embarrassing.

She hadn’t been so out of control since her last heat almost, well, since MacDugal. For a while she’d thought something was wrong with her, but her father had explained that so much magic in her system just made her different, not wrong. Unlike the other Shifters that went into heat every month, she was simply more selective. Or so she told herself.

“You cook a mean steak, Rena,” Fenris said after a short silence.

Her mother beamed. “Thank you. I try to make an effort now and then, since not all of us can hunt for our dinner.”

Rurik chuckled, and Rudra realized she hadn’t seen her parents this happy in a long, long time.

“Funny wolf. I can hunt just fine.” He held up a hand. Blue sparks arced between his fingers. “But my kills tend to be well-done, not raw.”

Fenris grunted. “Sorcery must have its upside. Just a short while ago, your daughter held me against the wall by my throat. All that power at her disposal. Probably makes her an outstanding alpha. Well, that and her natural aggression.”

Rudra blinked, not sure she’d heard him correctly. “Did you just compliment me for being human?”

“No, for being a sorcerer. Your father tells me there’s a fine line between the two.”

Rurik glowed. “Bright boy. So wise despite your seeming youth. How old are you, Fenris? Three hundred? Four?”

Fenris seemed discomfited by the question.

Rudra took note. “Yeah, Goldie, how old
are
you?”

He scowled at her. “A century, give or take.”

She laughed. No way a wolf with his power had lived anything less than three hundred years. The older a wolf, the more power and standing he had. “Right. Come on, how old are you?”

“Twenty-five,” he muttered and rammed another piece of red meat into his mouth.

She stared in shock. “A hundred and twenty-five?”

“No, twenty-five years, period.”

Rena gaped. “But you vibrate with power. You’re obviously going to be an alpha if you aren’t one already. You must have lived several centuries to accumulate so much energy.”

“My line is a bit different from other wolves.” Fenris glanced at Rudra.

She swore she saw a hint of vulnerability there. Perhaps his life in the Silver Clan hadn’t been as rosy as she’d imagined.

“The Mark of Lycos gives us an edge over others,” he went on.

Rudra studied the muted star on his forearm, once again taken with the sense of magic there. “Can I touch it?”

He shrugged and held out his arm. She saw his obvious strength in the defined muscle of the man and sensed the wildness of his wolf. But the mark intrigued her to sense that something she couldn’t quite name.

The moment her fingers made contact with it, desire arced through her body.
 
A connection snapped between them. She felt a need to take him deep, to work hard to procreate his heritage. A faint growl rumbled through her, a warning to anyone near to back off, that this male belonged to her.

“Goodness, Rudra. I hadn’t realized you two had formally mated already.” Her mother stared, surprised but pleased. “Perhaps we could still have a small ceremony, anyway.”

Fenris captured her hand under his, gently pushing her palm away from his arm. “Oh no, Rena. We’re not mated. Just some intense chemistry, that’s all.”

“Oh.” Her mother looked disappointed, but the glance she shared with Rudra’s father said otherwise. She didn’t believe Fenris’ denial.

“Rena, about that dessert you mentioned?” Fenris hinted, and Rudra could have kissed him for changing the subject. “Apple pie is my absolute favourite.”

“Rudra’s too. I’ll get it.”

Her father spoke as her mother left the room. “Rudra, we need to talk about Fenris.”

Please don’t let him lecture me on safe sex—which I
so
didn’t have earlier.
The thought she might even now be carrying Fenris’ young stunned and pleased her, which was confusing in itself.

“You’re going to have to keep him safe for the next month.”

Fenris grinned and sat back. He locked his hands behind his head and whistled. “I like this. No arguments from me. Alpha’s father has spoken. Protect me, Red.”

“What?”

Rurik explained. “He’s vital to the spell that will solve our safety issues. No more attacks, no more magic wars, no more Mikhail. Then I can concentrate on the pack and your mother.”

“Dad, I protect everyone in the clan. He’s no different.”

“Hey,” Fenris argued. “I’m golden, I’m a werewolf, and I’m one hot lov--” he broke off and took a long drink of water. “One hot catch,” he added lamely.

Her mother chose that moment to reappear. “That’s what I’ve been telling Rudra. You’re handsome and virile. Time she stared thinking about settling down.”

Her parents nodded. Her mother handed out slices of pie, but Rudra had lost her appetite. Her gaze caught Fenris’, and the heat in his green eyes took her breath away.

He nodded. “Yes. She’s old enough to start thinking about a mate. Now, I’m just a babe compared to Red, but even I can tell she’s got plenty to offer some male.”

Rudra stiffened at his age reference. “Oh? And what would that be?”

“You’re a take charge kind of woman. You’re more mature and look great for your age.”

“
Great for my age?
” Her voice rose.

Fenris shrugged. “Of course, I could be wrong. I’m just barely a member of my pack, recently reached my majority. But most of the older females I’ve seen aren’t nearly as attractive as you are. Hell, look at your mother. You’ve got good genes, I’ll give you that.”

She caught the smirk he tried to hide. The wolf thought to rile her temper, and he’d almost succeeded. ‘
I’m just a babe’, my ass.
Twenty-five or not, Fenris commanded attention. And though she didn’t want to admit it aloud, she wanted to see him in that other form again. The werewolf wasn’t the beast she’d expected. Or maybe that was because it came from Fenris, a golden Adonis in wolf’s clothing.