Microsoft Word - The_Howling_Heart_AB_forPDF (39 page)

address. I tore the paper carefully until it revealed a severely worn, brown leather handbag. It

took two seconds for me to recognize it as the purse I left at my cabin.

I gasped, and quickly unzipped it. Inside lay my wallet and plane ticket. I whipped my

head up, I tried to seek anyone who may be watching me or anticipating my reaction.
Who sent

this to me
? No one around my office looked suspicious. My hope deflated because I wished

Riley had sent my purse. I wanted to look up and see him standing with a beaming smile on his

face.

He wasn't there, and my old purse no longer held my interest. I resumed checking my

emails, but booted my laptop to read them on a bigger screen. I had over two hundred emails, so

I decided it would be logical to start from the bottom at the oldest, and work my way up to the

more recent ones.

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My eyes widened and my heart raced when I saw the first unread email at the bottom. It

was from my father on the day of my promotion, but after I had left the office. I looked at the

time stamp on the email and remembered the time my mother called me about his death. He sent

the email a few hours before he died. I swallowed against the lump in my throat as I read my

father's last words to me.

Hi Paige,

I've been so busy with work and traveling, I just remembered I needed to talk to

you about a real estate opportunity. I've been working in real estate and public relations

for over 30 years, and finally have an opportunity for my own daughter. You're a young

professional woman, so I thought it might be time for you to consider investing in

property.

First, let me tell you that a month ago, after I returned home from Colorado, I

received an email from Xavier Black. I don't know if you remember him, but he was the

sheriff of Black River. I hope you remember our family vacation when you were ten years

old. Xavier helped your mother and me look for you when you disappeared. I had lost

contact with him over the years and the job he offered me fell through. The job was a

public relations effort, but he didn't divulge all the details before we lost contact.

When I traveled to Colorado, I went back to our cabin. I spoke to the new sheriff

in Black River and asked him about Xavier's whereabouts. The sheriff told me Xavier left

town, but didn't elaborate and was vague when answering my questions.

In Xavier's email, he said he's now living in Europe and decided to postpone the

project. He heard I was in Black River cleaning the cabin, and asked if I was cleaning it

in preparation for sale. I don't know how he knew that's exactly what I was doing there.

The cabin suffered from years of my neglect and I thought it would be best. He was

disappointed I might be selling it, and hoped I would consider an alternative…giving the

cabin to you. He remembered I had a daughter.

I think it's a wonderful idea and I hope you agree. I know I told you and your

mother I sold the cabin years ago, but the truth is I couldn't decide what to do with it.

After I read Xavier's email, I had my will revised and left the cabin to you in case

something happens to me before we have a chance to talk.

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Can you meet me tomorrow so we can discuss this in person? How about lunch at

our favorite Saju Bistro? I always enjoy spending time with you. Give me a call or reply

to this message.

Love,

Dad

I stared at the screen, relieved to know why my father left me the cabin, but confused by

his words about Xavier. I thought Xavier was dead, so how did he send my father an email?

Unfortunately, there was no one I could ask.

My thoughts turned to Riley again and I switched on my screen saver. When my dreams

were not enough, I thought the picture would soothe my lonely heart. The wolf looked back at

me, and soon the memory of my love blurred my vision with tears. My lips quivered and tears

leaked from my eyes. Within seconds, my mascara stung my eyes. I grabbed some tissues to

wipe the makeup and blow my nose. Then I leaned down to throw them in the trash bin.

When I looked up, I saw Riley through the front window of my office.
o way, that can't

be him
. I blinked rapidly and shook my head to help focus my vision, but he didn't disappear.

He walked toward my office wearing a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up, loose

khakis, and his favorite black Chuck Taylors. Stunned, I couldn't take my eyes off him. His tall,

ridiculously sexy form entered my office and stopped in front of my desk. I gazed at him

mesmerized. His untamed hair brushed his collar and curled around his ears. He left three

buttons undone on his shirt, exposing his bare chest underneath. His eyes sparkled as he looked

down at me with a wide smile.

My eyes nearly bulged and my voice squeaked. "Riley?"

He gave a short laugh.
Oh, how I missed the sound of his laugh
. "Yes," he said slowly.

"Don't worry, love. I'm not a figment of your imagination. I'm really here."

I rose slowly from my chair and walked around my desk to meet him. His gaze followed

me, an amused grin on his lips. For a moment, I thought the Norse gods were showing me an

illusion of Riley to play with my heart because they were angry I had abandoned my pack. I

reached out timidly and poked his chest.
He's definitely real
.

I gaped in wonder and he chuckled low in his throat. "Come here." Then he pulled me

into his arms, lifting me off my feet.

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I couldn't believe he was in my office, but laughed in joy and held him tightly. He put me

on my feet and didn't waste any time capturing my mouth. A moan escaped me, and I placed my

hands on either side of his head to deepen the kiss. I relished being in his arms again and his soft

lips pressed against mine. I breathed his familiar earthy scent and my heart sang. I heard a soft

rumble in Riley's chest and knew the feeling was mutual.

When he released me, I was breathless with amazement. "What are you doing here?"

He shrugged. "I left."

I gaped again. "Does your father know?"

He grinned, and I noticed some of my lip-gloss had rubbed off on his lips. "Yes. He's the

one who drove me to the airport." I didn't think my eyes could get any bigger. "He couldn't stand listening to me howl for another second," he said lightly. "I howled for days. He tried to put a muzzle on me and I bit him...
hard
." He chuckled in amusement. "He changed the law too, so now anyone can leave the pack whenever they want. I arrived in New York a couple hours ago

and took a taxi here. I remembered you said you worked at
Elle
. The receptionist told me where to find you. She was going to ring you first, but I asked her not to because I wanted to surprise

you." He gave me a roguish smile.

I shook my head in disbelief, my eyes roaming the length of his body. This felt like a

dream. If it was, I never wanted to wake up.

After his words about the pack, I thought about his sister and my friend. I feared the

worse when I asked about her. "Is Quinn all right?"

Riley nodded, and I released a breath. "She's fine. She fully recovered. The bullet entered

her shoulder, but missed any major arteries."

"Can she still shift?" I asked, biting my fingernails nervously.
I hope I didn't ruin her life
too
.

He nodded again, and I shouted happily inside my head. "You think she would've learned

by what happened to me, not to shift when you're badly injured in wolf form. She was lucky. I

asked her why she did it when she knew the consequences, and she said because she wanted to

warn us."

"What about the rest of the pack?"

Riley's face fell. "We lost a few wolves, but our secret is still safe. We've become experts

in eluding human authorities."

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My expression matched his. "I feel so bad. Everything was my fault. I left because I

thought it would be best. The police came for me, so I thought they would leave everyone else

alone." Ashamed, I cast my gaze down and leaned against my desk.

Riley stepped closer and lifted my chin. When our eyes met, his voice lowered. "It's not

your fault. Do you think that was the first time humans invaded our territory and brought guns?"

"All I've ever brought was trouble to Black River since the first day I came when I was a

little girl," I said, my voice quiet and broken.

"We've had trouble in Black River before you came. It's not always peaceful in wolf

packs." He cupped my face and deepened his gaze. "I want you to listen to me, Paige. I'm glad you came. I've loved every day we spent together...from the first day we met to this moment now.

I'm happiest when I'm with you. I don't want you to have any regrets...because I don't."

I considered his words and sighed softly. "I don't regret meeting you. If I had never met

you, I never would've fallen in love. I just wish we could've met under better circumstances."

His hands dropped to my waist, and he rocked me gently in his arms. "I understand."

"Now I want you to listen to
me
. I'm glad to see you, but you don't belong here." He frowned, and my voice softened as I tried to make him understand. "There's nowhere for you to

run free and hunt, or just be a wolf. I want to be with you, but I want to protect you more.

Humans fear what we don't understand, and I'm worried about someone discovering your true

nature. I don't want you to stay in the city and grow to resent me for taking away your freedom.

You didn't have to hide among your pack, but in the city, you'll always have to hide." I sighed

heavily because once again, I had to put his safety before my happiness. "Riley, you should be

with your family."

He embraced me and spoke tenderly. "I
need
to be here, darling. Wherever you are, that's

where I want to be. You're my mate and I'll never leave you. I love you, Paige." He caressed my

cheek. "Do you love me?"

"Yes," I answered softly.

"Say the words," he whispered, his thumb brushing across my bottom lip.

"I love you, Riley."

He pressed his lips to mine again. When he pulled back, his voice lightened. "Can you get

me a job?"

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A laugh burst from my mouth, and at the same moment, Kristian barged into my office.

He was one of the
Burberry
designers I had met earlier during one of my meetings. With his

brows furrowed and face pinched, I could tell he was pissed off. Everyone in the office knows he

has a temper, so I braced myself for one of his rants.

Riley stepped away from me, and Kristian moved quickly to occupy his space. He sighed

heavily and spoke in a clipped English accent. "Paige, I don't want Isabel modeling for me

because she complains about everything. The last time I worked with her on a shoot, she---"

Suddenly, he whipped his head to the side and looked at Riley with wide eyes. Then he

inhaled sharply and swallowed hard. "Oh my God," he said breathlessly.

Riley leaned away and eyed him warily. Kristian stared at him with his head turned, but

his body faced me. When he finally turned his body toward Riley, he gave him the once-over.

"Who is this striking young man? Never in my life have I seen---" He whipped his head

back toward me, his voice serious. "I want him." He shook his head quickly. "I mean...I want him for
Burberry
. We
have
to have him." He set his gaze on Riley again and gaped openly. "He is so gorgeous that I can't even finish my sentences. Of all the models I've seen---men and

women..." He pointed a firm finger at Riley. "
He
is the most stunning."

I covered my mouth to stifle a laugh when I saw Riley's confused expression. Kristian

walked a leisurely circle around him, but Riley's gaze followed him.

"Oh yes, this is male perfection. Some Greek god carved this young man from his own

image."

I chuckled lowly and thought,
I think it was a orse god
.

Kristian stepped back to appraise him from a distance. He couldn't tear his eyes away

from Riley when he spoke to me. "Who is he contracted with?"

Riley looked at me, his expression still puzzled. "What's he talking about?"