Moonlight Kin: A Wolf's Tale (12 page)

Madie screamed and started to struggle.

“Madie it’s me,” Damon said. “What’s wrong?”

She gulped in a ragged breath, then blurted, “Someone broke into Berta’s and tried to attack me. We have to call the police.”

Damon’s eyes shimmered until they looked molten gold in the low light. “Wait here. I’ll be right back.”

He started to walk away, but Madie grabbed him. “No, Damon. He’s huge and he has a knife.”

Damon inhaled. “Where was he?”

“In the alley. He chased me around the building,” she said as panic gave way to nausea.

“Let me at least make sure that he’s gone,” he said.

She clung to him. “Please, don’t leave me.” Madie knew she was begging, but she couldn’t help it. She was scared out of her mind and she didn’t want Damon to get hurt.

***

He hugged her close. “It’s okay. Everything will be okay.”

Damon stared into the darkness. He needed to get into the alley before the scent faded. From here, he couldn’t detect much beyond the garbage and odors of fried food. Madie’s fingers fisted his jacket. Her whole body trembled with fear and residual adrenalin.

He reached into his pocket for his cell and hit a button to summon the police. “Help is on the way,” he said, even though help was standing right in front of her. “Did you get a good look at him?”

Madie shook her head. “He wore a mask.”

“You said he had a knife?” Damon asked.

“He grabbed it from the kitchen,” she said. “I recognized it as one of Berta’s.”

“That’s a weapon of opportunity. Are you sure you didn’t disturb a robbery?” He hoped that was the case.

“Positive.” She sniffled.

Damon pulled her back until he could look at her face. “Why do you say that?”

Madie scrubbed at her watery eyes. “Because he didn’t even touch the cash register. He walked right by it.”

“Maybe he didn’t see it,” Damon said.

“I suppose it’s possible, but then why did he shut off the lights, when I called out to see who it was?”

Damon stiffened. If what Madie said was true, then the person who’d come here tonight had planned to kill her. Luc’s face flashed in his mind. Would his Beta be so stupid as to try again so soon after he’d failed? It was possible. Luc was determined to protect the pack at all costs. Why would he bother with a knife? His claws were built in weapons and far sharper than any steel blade. Was he trying to cover his tracks? Too many things didn’t make sense, but Damon couldn’t rule it out.

The police arrived within minutes. They took Madie’s and Damon’s statements, though he had little to contribute. Berta and Charles were contacted to go over inventory. Other than the knife, nothing appeared to be missing.

“Can I take her home?” Damon asked. “She’s pretty shaken up.”

The officer nodded. “I know how to get in touch if we need anything else.”

“Let’s get you out of here.” Damon led Madie to his car and opened the door for her. She slipped inside, but couldn’t buckle the seatbelt because her hands were trembling too bad. “I’ll get it.” He clicked the buckle into the slot and loosened the strap.

“Sorry I ruined our dinner plans.” She hugged herself.

Damon climbed into the driver’s seat. “You didn’t ruin anything. We’ll go out tomorrow, if you’re feeling up to it.”

“I’d like that,” she said, then stared out the window in silence.

Damon dropped her off, but not before checking her house from top to bottom. It was all for show. He already knew they were alone. He would’ve smelled any intruder the second they stepped over the threshold. But seeing him search put Madie at ease.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said, once he got her settled on the couch. “Lock the door behind me and don’t open it to any strangers.”

Madie laughed. “Does that include you?”

Damon grinned. “We aren’t strangers anymore. Not after tonight.” He stepped out onto her porch. “Try to get some sleep.”

“I will, but I’m not making any promises,” she said.

“Understandable.” He grasped her hand and kissed her palm, lingering over the fleshy part. His tongue darted out just long enough to taste her skin, then he pulled back. “Maybe that will give you something pleasant to dream about.”

Madie stared at her hand for a moment, then looked at him. “Thank you,” she said sincerely. “For everything.”

“See you tomorrow,” he said.

She nodded and shut the door.

Damon waited outside the door, listening for the locks to fall. “Madie, stop playing around.”

He heard a soft giggle, then the snick of locks falling into place. Good girl. As he stepped off her porch, Damon’s smile faded. Time to find Luc.

***

It took several hours, but Damon finally found his Beta sniffing around Sarah’s house. He didn’t know why he was surprised, given the young pup’s reaction to the dark-haired beauty last night. But that wasn’t why he was here.

Damon needed to know what had happened tonight. He wouldn’t let Luc go until he found out the truth.

“I tried to call you earlier,” Damon said, his voice calmer than he’d expected it to be.

Luc glanced at him. “I’ve been busy.”

“I can see that. How long have you been here?” Damon asked.

“Why do you ask?”

Damon’s jaw tensed. “Just answer the question.”

Luc turned from the spot he’d been occupying in the shadows. “I’ve been here a few hours. You want to tell me what’s going on?”

Damon inhaled, allowing his wolf senses to tell him what his human senses might miss. “You’re not lying.”

“I know,” Luc said. “Now what are you doing here?”

Damon arched a brow. “I could ask you the same thing. You nearly scared that girl out of her mind last night.”

Luc’s cheeks flushed. “That wasn’t my intention.”

“Regardless, it was the outcome,” Damon said.

“Why are you here, Alpha? If it’s to bust my chops, consider them busted.” Luc held his head high and stared at Damon’s chin, a sure sign that despite their earlier disagreements that he still respected Damon’s position in the pack.

“Someone broke into Berta’s Diner tonight and tried to attack Madie with a knife.” Damon watched Luc’s reaction closely.

“What? When?” Luc asked.

“An hour and a half ago,” he said.

“Who was it?” Luc stepped closer to Damon. It was a natural reaction when a wolf was concerned about their safety.

Damon shook his head. “I don’t know. She was so shaken up that I didn’t get a chance to sniff the alley.”

Luc’s expression sobered. “I didn’t do it.”

Damon looked at him. “I know you didn’t, but I had to be sure.”

“What if I had?” Luc whispered. “What would you have done?”

Claws sprang from Damon’s fingertips. “Fortunately, those are questions I’ll never have to answer. Now get out of here before Sarah sees you.”

Luc grinned, his gray eyes shimmering in the darkness. “She won’t know I’m here unless I want her to.”

“Take some advice, my friend.”

“What’s that?” Luc asked.

“Hunt other prey. This one will be more trouble than she is worth,” Damon said.

Luc laughed. “You know me. I never could follow good advice.”

Chapter Thirteen

Butterflies invaded Madie’s belly as she searched for something to wear. The sun was sinking low in the sky, giving her about an hour and a half before Damon arrived. Despite her reservations about this evening, she decided to enjoy herself and try to look extra special. No hiding under baggy clothes tonight.

She bathed, luxuriating in her tub. Warm water caressed every pore, washing over her sensitized skin. Madie closed her eyes and allowed herself to relax. She should wear something practical, something she’d be comfortable in. Her mind flashed to the black lace lingerie she’d purchased months ago, but never wore. Definitely not practical, but perfect for tonight
.
She grinned.

Madie grabbed a nearby towel and got out of the tub. She dried herself, puckering her nipples in the process. Her near-death experience last night had made the world brighter and her senses somehow sharper. Madie paused as she moved the towel lower to the damp curls at the apex of her thighs. Her flesh throbbed for an instant as she brushed over her sensitive nub.

For a moment, Madie closed her eyes and imagined Damon touching her there. She trembled, her body electrified by the thought.

Madie expelled a ragged breath and dropped the towel, then walking into her bedroom. She gazed into the full-length mirror on the back of her closet door and bit her lip.

For years, she’d tried to hide her full figure. No amount of dieting would produce the skinny look so popular with glamour magazines. She dreamed of the day that the hourglass came back into fashion.

“A man should like you for who you are,” she told her reflection
.
No other option was acceptable.

Would tonight be
the
night? Not likely. She cursed Sarah for planting the thought in her mind. Or maybe they were
her
thoughts, which meant her friend was finally rubbing off on her.

Madie shimmied into the lingerie and dressed quickly, giving herself no time to chicken out.

The black outfit she chose was businesslike, but also sexy. It struck just enough of a balance to make her feel secure, confident. The skirt hugged her curves, showing them to her best advantage. She added a tight black V-neck sweater that displayed her generous cleavage. A quick dab of perfume behind her ears and she was ready.

For the life of her, Madie didn’t know why she was worried. This was just dinner.

Her mind flashed to his naked form.

Who was she trying to fool? Madie knew she was hoping for far more than food…eventually.

The bell buzzed at seven-thirty on the dot. Madie peeked out the peephole. Damon stood outside her door dressed in a deep brown suit. In his hand was a bouquet of blood red roses.

Madie took a deep breath, pasted a smile on her face, and opened the door. The intoxicating floral scent engulfed her as she stared at Damon.

His face had been freshly shaven, accentuating his chiseled jawline. The ends of his whiskey-colored hair were damp, curling enticingly over his collar. The expensive suit made his shoulders look impossibly wide, and those hazel eyes. . .

He was a walking, talking Molotov cocktail of sexuality. A truly lethal combination destined to make her heart explode and her underwear melt away.

Damon smiled and handed over the blooms.

“Thank you.” Madie grasped the roses tight, holding them to her chest.

Desire flared in Damon’s eyes as his gaze traveled over her body, carefully taking in all the curves. After his leisurely perusal, he shifted his attention back to her face, lingering on her mouth. The air heated around them, making her painfully aware that they were alone.

“You look utterly delectable.” Damon smiled, his appreciation genuine.

Madie blushed, but remembered to invited him in.

She smoothed her hand down her outfit, over her not too subtle curves. The lace on her thong tickled across her belly and backside. Madie desperately needed to pull the creeping material out, but that wouldn’t be very sexy.

“Please, take a seat.” She managed, hoping her nervousness wasn’t as obvious as it seemed. “Would you like something to drink?”

“What do you have?” Damon sat on the couch.

“Not much. Just tea, OJ, and water. I don’t really have people over,” she admitted.

***

He looked around, since in his rush to eliminate the threat last night he hadn’t gotten the chance. “OJ would be great.”

Damon knew that she didn’t have people over. He’d already scented her place. For some reason, it made him unduly pleased that Madie didn’t have men around.

Not that he cared one way or the other. It was just nice not to have any interruptions.

As Madie disappeared into the kitchen, his eyes followed her swaying bottom until she was out of sight. He glanced around the small living room. It had few homey touches, mainly art pieces from her classes.

A number of photos sat on a curio shelf. Damon walked over and picked up a photo, lightly caressing the frame with his fingertips. It showed Madie’s smiling face, when she was a child. She was seated next to a blonde-haired woman with similar features, obviously her mother, the resemblance astonishing.

Beauty ran in the family.

In the other photo, her smile had been replaced with a frown. She looked tiny and overwhelmed, surrounded by men with bright red hair and grim expressions.

Damon bristled.

He knew those men by reputation, without knowing their names. The oldest man’s eyes were cold, almost dead. He looked as if his soul had long since departed his body, leaving behind an iron-hard shell of a man.

Gaston…

Madie returned, teetering in her high-heeled boots, carrying two glasses of OJ. Her smile radiated from within and Damon found himself responding despite his resolve to keep a part of himself distant.

“Thank you.” He took a glass from her unsteady hand. “How did you sleep?”

She smiled. “Not bad all things considering.”

“Have you heard anymore from the police?”

Her smile dropped. “Yes, they phoned this morning. They didn’t go into any details, but they did mention that there have been several robberies in the area. I think they think last night was a robbery gone bad.”

“What do you think?” Damon asked. “Now that you’ve had some time to sleep on it.”

“Honestly, I don’t know what to think.” She glanced at the picture in his hand. “That’s my father’s side of the family. I look like a cotton ball in that picture.”

“You definitely stand out,” he said.

“I don’t look like I belong to any of them, except Mom.” Madie pointed to the picture next to it. “They’re a grim bunch when they are around, but I suppose since they’re family that you’ve got to love them.” She laughed.

Damon flinched. “They’re not around anymore?”

“No, that was our last family reunion. It’s probably been fifteen years ago. Some have passed on, since that photo was taken. My other uncles and cousins live all over the planet. It’s hard to keep up with them,” she said.