FMR (23 page)

a jacket around Jac's shoulders. "It should put Mary Lynn out like a

light."

The full moon fever raced through Ray's veins. The alpha
sithech

wanted blood ... the she-wolf's blood, but his human-side held him at

bay. If he purposely harmed her, the pack would question his actions.

And, being a pack guardian, they would hold him accountable for the

consequences.

The she-wolf still was rabid and fighting hard. The moon fever had

her under its grip, and in a bad way. Yet, he'd managed to wear her

down. From the other side of the clearing, he sensed Megan's

approach.

Step back, bro,
she mentally conveyed.
I need a clear shot.

Ray eased back, hoping Megan's aim was on the mark. If not, the

she-wolf might turn on her and he wasn't about to let that happen. He

certainly would kill the bitch if she attacked his sister –consequences

be damned.

Shots rang out. The she-wolf staggered back. She was hit. Two

small darts marked her tawny fur. Combined with weariness, the

potent tranquilizers took effect. The wolf wobbled on all-fours then

sank to the ground. However, it wasn't until the she-wolf closed her

eyes that he exhaled a sigh of relief.

He turned to where Jac and the others stood. She leapt to her feet

and ran toward him. "Oh Ray, thank goodness you're okay." The

genuine concern in her voice made his heart soar.

Smiling, she dropped to her knees beside him. "I wouldn't want

anything to happen to you ... not to my mate." Moonlight glimmered

in her dark eyes as she threw her arms around his neck, burying her

face in his fur. "I love you too, Ray," she confessed in a soft whisper.

Jac was accepting him as her mate. Ray was overcome with

emotion. He was one damn lucky
sithech
.

In an expression of pure joy, he tilted back his head and howled at

the moon.

* * * *

Returning to the house, Ray hopped in the shower, while Jac fixed a

pot of coffee for several pack members who'd come to help transport

Mary Lynn to safety.

Jac grinned as Ray strolled into the room in nothing but a towel.

"Do you need a hand with that?" Ray inclined his head to the

thermos and cups beside the coffeemaker.

"No, I've got it." She winked. "But you'd better get on some

clothes." Jac wagged a finger at him and smirked.

"All right, but I'll meet you down there," he called over his shoulder

as she grabbed thermos and cups, heading out the door. She made her

way to the shady glade, recalling the nightmare from the night before.

Yet, she'd survived ... thanks to Ray and Megan.

Dawn was breaking over the horizon. Jac was relieved, happy to

see the daylight again.

She stopped just short of the commotion as Derek and several pack

members unloaded a metal cage from the back of a pickup truck. Jac

cringed as a twinge of sympathy rippled through her.

"Is Mary Lynn going to be all right?" Jac asked, handing Megan the

thermos and cups.

"Yes, she'll be fine." Megan gave her a reassuring smile. "Bruce

and the boys will make sure she recovers and then the pack will

decide how to handle her transgressions."

"I can't believe she was trying to kill me ... and all because of Ray."

Jac frowned, shaking her head as she recalled the deadly she-wolf

chasing her through the woods.

"It's okay, Jac. Everything's fine now." Ray came up behind her,

placing his warm hands on her shoulders. Calming her with his touch,

he continued, "The moon fever affects each of us
sithech
differently.

The moon acts as a mirror, magnifying our reactions. Mary Lynn

must've lost control and her jealousy was intensified many-fold for

her to attack you."

"Well said, bro." Megan grinned, raising a cup in mock-salute.

"For a moment there, I didn't know if you could control your emotions

either."

"Believe me, it was difficult." Ray gave a weary sigh.

In unison, the three looked back to Mary Lynn, still in
sithech
-

form, unconscious on the ground. Bruce was kneeling beside her. He

stroked her fur, whispering to her in a low, soothing tone.

"He likes her, doesn't he?" Jac asked, her throat knotting with

emotion.

"They went out on a date the other night," Megan replied in a low

tone. "Yeah, he likes her, but my intuition tells me he's upset with

himself for not suspecting she was the rogue."

"Ah man, it's not his fault." Ray shook his head. "Hell, if it wasn't

for you and Ernie, we all would have been in the dark."

"Maybe you can take Bruce out for a beer later on." Jac smiled up

at Ray, patting his hand. "I'm sure he could use a good friend about

now."

"That's one of the things I love about you, Jac. You have a good

heart," he whispered into her ear, making her feel all warm and fuzzy

from head to toe.

Megan had slipped away, giving them privacy. Jac turned in his

arms, inhaling his familiar scent, the scent of wolf and man. "And my

heart belongs to you, my mate." She smiled into his handsome face.

"But, what about your career at
The Inside-View
?" he asked,

pressing his forehead to hers. "You'll be leaving town soon and – "

"No, I want to be here with you," she confessed. "I've thought

about moving to Heather Grove." Jac glanced up and smiled with

amusement at Ray's stunned expression. "Cameron White is looking

for a reporter over at the
Gazette
. I could take a job there or I could

start writing my 'Great American Novel'. What do you think?"

"That's my pixie!" He chuckled. "You know, a woman with

confidence is a real turn-on."

"Oh, really?"

"Yeah." His breathless tone stirred something deep inside her. The

dawn's early light twinkled in his eyes while he leaned close,

capturing her lips in a sweet, sensual kiss. Jac's senses reeled, her

heart filling with love ... love for her
sithech
mate.

Without a doubt, both of their lives were changing and it was all for

the better.