FMR (3 page)

took off like that, but I was feeling a bit edgy. I desperately needed a

run in the woods."

Derek grinned, scooping up the pile and handed them to her. "It's

okay. I understand. I just can't get over seeing you like that, Meg.

You're a beautiful creature."

"Gee, thanks!" Megan, now in her human form, rounded the corner,

returning his grin. "Maybe I should pose for the cover of
National

Geographic
, huh?" She winked.

He reached out, encircling his arm around her waist and drew her to

him. "You're a beautiful
sithech
and woman, too."

In the glow of the moonlight, he saw her cheeks darken with color.

She looked so lovely, so tempting – even if she had twigs stuck in her

hair.

"Derek, you shouldn't say such things." There was a quiver in her

voice as she attempted to pull from his grasp.

"Now, hold on, Meg," he coaxed. "What's wrong with me finding

you attractive?"

"It's just the moon having its effect on you. You're not thinking

clearly," she protested.

"Well, I must confess, Ms. McShaw, I found you attractive even

before the moon was near full. Does that make you feel any better?"

Derek chuckled and leaned closer, catching a whiff of her dark musky

scent.

Megan gazed up at him, speechless. He brought a hand up and

tenderly brushed away a smug of dirt on her warm cheek with the pad

of his thumb. A shiver went through his body like a ghost passing

through a wall.

She drew a ragged breath. "Derek, now is not – "

Before she could finish her protest, he kissed her. Her lips were

like warm honey, sweet and yielding against his hungry mouth. A

low moan escaped from deep in her throat, but she didn't pull away.

Instead, she leaned in closer, her arms wrapping around his shoulders,

drawing their bodies together.

Every muscle in his body tightened, burning with an inner fire. His

cock, buried in the crotch of the borrowed sweatpants, also responded,

humming to life.

Involuntarily, his hips pushed forward, rubbing against her, seeking

out her heat between the layers of clothing. His tongue darted over

the warm seam of her lips, parting them gently and capturing her in a

fuller, deeper kiss.

The sounds of the forest around them melted away. All of his

senses were focused on Megan – sweet, delicious Megan. Sliding a

hand beneath the hem of her shirt, he glided a hand over her hot,

sweaty skin. Gliding upward, his hands grazed the cups of her bra,

feeling the firm imprints of her nipples against the satiny material.

Oh, sweet Jesus!
He loved the way she was responding to his touch,

confirming that she wanted him as much as he wanted her. His heart

thundered in his chest, his hips pressing against her body.

He peeled his lips from hers, planting soft kisses down her neck.

The warm, musky scent was spurring him on, making him desperate,

hungry and –

"No!" Megan's voice broke the spell. "No, Derek, we can't!" She

pulled away from his grasp.

Dazed with desire, he blinked, confused. But he held his stance

under the heavy gravity of her stare.

"Megan, don't do this," he softly pled. "I want you. Honestly, I

do."

"Now's not the right time," she protested. "Let's wait until after the

Samhain moon passes, then we'll see if whatever we're feeling is the

real deal."

"B-but, Meg, I'm real horny!" he stammered in frustration.

"I can tell." She flashed him a smirk, her gaze dropping to the

tented crotch of his sweatpants.

Derek felt his face warm with embarrassment as she turned,

heading back to the cabin.

"I suggest you take another shower ... a cold one," she called over

her shoulder. "I need to head to bed. I'm going into town tomorrow

to meet with the pack. While I'm there, I'll gather a few more supplies

... including some more suitable clothes for you."

Still stunned, and with his body aching with longing, Derek

followed behind her, close on her heels. But deep down, he could

understand a bit of her reluctance.

He paused a moment, gazing up at the full moon. He exhaled a

heavy sigh of disappointment and followed her into the cabin. She'd

already flopped down on her side of the mattress, still fully clothed

and sweaty from her run. Derek could tell by the expression on her

face she was exhausted.

Megan let out a weary sigh and closed her eyes. "Right now, I just

need some rest. You try to do the same, all right?"

Derek gazed down at her for a moment, hands on his hips. "Oh,

alright," he grumbled, heading for an icy shower. "I'll wake you in the

morning, Meg, okay? Okay?"

But he was only answered by a soft, deep snore.

Jewel's Family Diner was a great place for the pack to meet.

Megan took their designated table in the back of the diner, ordering

the breakfast special while she waited. Derek had brewed a strong pot

of coffee earlier that morning. She'd grabbed a granola bar and drank

a quick cup before she'd left the cabin, but she was still hungry.

Stopping off at her house for a hot shower and a fresh change of

clothes, she felt more alert. However, she was also a bit anxious

about the meeting. Despite traditional pack structure, their pack was

lead by several
sithech
alphas with a couple of betas to keep the

balance evened out.

Eating her breakfast, she kept to herself, as the other pack members

slowly trickled in, taking their seats and talking among themselves.

She overheard the others either grumbling over the price of gas or

discussing the latest episode of
American
Idol
.

"Hey, sis!" A familiar voice broke her train of thought. She half-

turned in her chair, her mood brightening a bit at the sight of her

brother, Ray.

"Hey, you." She grinned as he leaned in and placed a kiss on her

cheek.

Ray McShaw pulled out a chair and sat down beside her, his hand

resting lightly on her shoulder. "So, how's our wolf-boy doing this

morning? Does he remember anything about what happened last

night?"

"He's all right, Ray." She patted her brother's hand for reassurance.

"But he doesn't recall too much about the whole bar incident. I've

come to the conclusion he's under a 'bad moon'. He's never

experienced anything like it, he says."

"Oh?" Ray raised an eyebrow, but his expression was solemn and

serious.

A shiver passed over Megan as she gazed into her brother's face.

He resembled their father more with each passing day. It made her

heart squeeze with momentary grief. "Yes." She nodded. "And I

honestly believe he's telling the truth too, Ray. He's genuinely naïve

to the whole phenomenon."

"Naïve my ass!" boomed Jerry MacDonald as he took a seat across

from the McShaw siblings and glanced around the table at the other

pack leaders.

Ah shit!
Megan's gut recoiled with anger as she drew a breath to

calm herself. MacDonald was the biggest, burliest member of the

pack, but he was also very outspoken for a second-rank, beta
sithech
.

Ray held up a hand to quiet the heated murmurs rumbling around

the table. "That's why I've called this emergency meeting today.

There are two sides to every story. MacDonald, you'll have a chance

to speak in just a moment. I want to hear Megan's side first, 'cause

she's been with Derek Lee since he fled down Main Street."

"Where's Ritchie?" Megan glanced around the table, not seeing

Ray's twin among the familiar faces of the pack members.

"He's out of town on business, but he sent me a text message this

morning that however the pack decides to handle this matter, he'll

approve," Ray replied with a tight smile. "Now, sis, why don't you

tell us what you've learned about our rogue wolf-boy?"

"I wish you wouldn't call him that," Megan muttered under her

breath, angling her head to stare her brother in the eyes. She really

wanted Ray to like Derek. Without the approval of the entire pack,

Derek wouldn't stand a snowball's chance in Hell of becoming a

member of it. Unless, he mated into the pack. The thought sent a

heated streak of arousal down her spine.

Taking a sip of coffee to clear her throat and steer her mind away

from sex, Megan proceeded to fill in the group with what she'd

learned about Derek. Minus the fact he was attracted to her, of

course. She knew that alone would send her protective older brother

over the edge ... and that was something she'd rather not have happen.

* * * *

onto the pouch, he took a deep breath, inhaling the aroma of the

wooded area around him. The rich colors of the leaves glistened in

the sunlight, creating a cornucopia of hues that only Mother Nature

could create.

Despite his uneasiness, he wished he could have returned to town

with Megan. He recalled Megan shaking her head, her voice level and

rational as he walked her to the car.

"You'll have to stay here a few nights until the moon loses its hold

on you, Derek. You don't want to run the risk of 'going wolf' again in

public. The pack frowns on it. Fortunately, we have a connection at

the town council. He'll deal with Officer Murray and straighten things

out with the council members and the local newspaper."

"I didn't realize how tightly connected your pack is with the town,

Meg. I've traveled around, but I've never witnessed anything like this

before." He chuckled.

"Our
sithech
heritage is welcome here in Heather Grove. When our

ancestors fled from Scotland in the eighteenth century, the town

greeted us with open arms. We're an important, yet secret, part of its

history. And we do our best to make sure the general public is not

alarmed or threatened by our presence in any way."

Megan smiled, gazing up at him with those enchanting emerald

eyes. Derek felt his heart flutter in his chest. Gently, he placed his

hands on her shoulders. She didn't pull away, but, instead, ran the tip

of her tongue over her lips. Before he realized it, he'd leaned in,

placing a feather-light kiss on her mouth.

"You'd better get going," he whispered. He'd felt his blood warm

with desire, but reluctantly, he pulled away.

"I'll be back tonight." Her face brightened, her cheeks glowing with

color. "And I'll bring more supplies, too. Now, promise me you'll

stay out of trouble while I'm gone."

"Trouble? In the middle of nowhere?" He grinned, spreading his

arms in an expansive gesture.

"Derek?" Megan's tone was serious, although he could tell she was

trying to stifle a smile.

"Oh, all right. Cross my heart, no trouble." He sighed, tracing a

little
x
over his chest with his fingertip.

As he'd watched her leave, the warmth of her promise lingered in

his heart. For once in his life, he felt wanted ... and loved. Now,

standing on the porch, the wolf once again stirred under his skin.

"It's a lovely day," he mused out loud. "It'd be a shame to waste it."

He slid out of the tight t-shirt, borrowed jogging pants and sandals.

Leaving his clothes bunched in a pile on the porch, he strolled naked

through the autumn leaves, the sunlight warming his skin.

Derek felt an inkling of tranquility, an at-oneness with the natural

beauty that surrounded him. Casting a cautious glance back at the

small cabin, he knew he was alone. With a smirk of satisfaction, he

headed for the grove with a quick sprint. Reaching the first line of

trees, Derek effortlessly transformed and the wolf bounded off into

the woods.

* * * *

effects of the moon even though the afternoon sun was shining

through the windshield. It was a strong moon, and a dangerous one,

but she had to remain in control ... for her sake and Derek's. She

gripped the steering wheel tighter as she recalled what had happened

earlier at the diner.

MacDonald was telling his side of the incident. Megan eyed him

across the table, listening, but not quite believing him. Not that

MacDonald was lying. She just felt he wasn't telling the whole truth.

"Yeah, I had a few beers and may have said some things out of