Realm of the Wolf Book I: Wolf Dance (22 page)

the others present. "I have a search warrant here." Moss

waved a piece of paper in one hand.

Laura had no choice but to let him search. He was only

inside a few moments before returning with a plastic bag

containing a bloody knife.

"This matches the description of the murder weapon used

on the deputy. I'm afraid I'm going to have to take you in,

Laura. I found this hidden under your bed."

Laura was too staggered to say a word.

Jessup came to Laura's aid. "On what charges? I heard

about the condition of that body, and you and me both know

that a knife didn't kill that deputy."

"She will be charged with murder." The sheriff made no

attempt to explain the discrepancy between the deputy's

wounds, and the supposed murder weapon.

"That's the most absurd thing I have ever heard." Jessup

was flabbergasted.

The fingers of darkness were slowly closing in on them. In

the dusky light no one noticed the movement until it was too

late.

Sheriff Moss lay flat on his back, too stunned to move.

Justin towered above him, looking down into the Sheriff's

face. He said nothing to the sheriff—just silently shook his

head.

Moss painfully rose to his knees and then to his feet. His

eyes were full of fear and they never left Justin.

"Sheriff, if your plan was to use her as bait to flush me

out...." Justin spread his arms in a gesture of surrender.

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"Then here I am ... but if you harm one hair on this woman's

body, I promise you a very painful death."

Moss backed away slowly. "Maybe this needs further

investigation before making an arrest," he muttered but his

eyes promised Justin vengeance.

"How did that knife get under your bed?" Kenny asked.

Laura just shook her head, unable to come up with one

single reason why it would be under her bed.

"It was planted," Justin told them.

"He looks so normal. You'd never guess he is one of them,"

Jessup whispered to Busby.

Justin's sharp ears caught the words and he gave them all

a dark smile before turning his attention to Laura. "I'd like

you to walk with me for a few minutes."

"That isn't possible," Busby broke in. "My granddaughter

will go nowhere with you."

Justin's eyes sparked fire. "Sir ... I think that is her

decision."

"She needs to stay close to us now," Two-Bears spoke.

"And who are you?" Justin's cool manner was starting to

crack, his anger surfacing.

"I am Two-Bears of the Lakota, and I know what you are."

"Do you?" Justin smirked. "Then you must also know that

there is nothing you can do to stop me from taking Laura ... if

I choose to do so."

"That isn't true," Kenny spoke up for the first time. "Laura

means a great deal to us and we will not let you destroy her."

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"I am sure that is so ... especially for you." Justin

narrowed his eyes on Kenny, "but ... I have no intention of

harming her."

"Her feelings for you have already done enough damage."

In his anger, Kenny disregarded caution.

Justin stiffened. He turned to Laura. "Is this the way you

feel?"

Laura's eyes clouded. "No! What we have had—I wouldn't

change for the world."

She looked to her grandfather. "I'm sorry, but I have to go

with him. I'll be okay," she added.

Justin took her hand in his. The others started toward

them. Swinging around to face them, a yellow gleam had

entered Justin's eyes.

Baring his teeth, he snarled, "Back off!"

The men froze, having no choice but to let him lead her

into the trees. Before disappearing behind the tree line, Justin

turned back.

"And, sir ... I do love your granddaughter," he spoke to

Busby.

The couple disappeared into the darkness.

"Now what?" Kenny was paranoid.

"I don't think he'll hurt her, and I don't think he means to

keep her." Two-Bears tried to soothe their worry.

"We cannot be sure of that. Love is as powerful as hate,

and can be just as destructive." Busby's voice seemed to

betray a painful secret as he spoke.

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In the shelter of the trees, Justin took her into his arms,

burying his face in her hair. "I had to hold you in my arms ...

once more," he whispered.

"Why does it have to be this way?" she cried.

He stepped back and looked into her eyes. "Our worlds are

so different,
tehila
. If you were to stay with me, it would

destroy who you are and I could never live with that—I could

never survive in your world. You saw how your people reacted

to me." His smile was bitter.

Laura's eyes flashed with anger. "But I don't care if they

approve of us."

He took her face in his hands and gently kissed her lips.

"Maybe you don't right now ... but what about later? What

about when you see the beast in our children and you cannot

keep them from killing?" He pleaded with her to understand.

Laura shook her head violently, refusing to accept the

truth of his words. Justin pulled her close, claiming her mouth

with a passion unmatched. Moving his lips to her neck, he lit

a trail of fire on her skin while his fingers worked to remove

her clothing.

She caught her breath, but gave no resistance when he

laid her back. Closing her eyes, she relished the feeling of his

hands and lips on her breasts.

"I love you." Her words were softly spoken.

"And I love you," he whispered. "You will remember this

night forever."

With his tongue, he licked her tingling nipples, slowly he

moved down to her stomach, to her inner thighs, and to the

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moistness between her legs. Laura moaned, lifting her hips up

to meet his thrusting tongue.

Pulling back, he peeled his shirt off and slipped out of his

jeans.

She caught her breath at the sight of his straining

erection, reaching out, she tried to encircle his hot shaft, but

her hand was not big enough, She still relished the feeling of

having him in her hand.

Getting to her knees, she licked the tip of his throbbing

flesh and was rewarded by the guttural moan that came from

deep within him. Gently she ran her tongue around the

bulbous head, and then up and down his cock. Finally, she

wrapped her lips around him and took him into her mouth,

though he was much too large to take into her throat. Her

head bobbed on him while at the same time, he pumped her

waiting mouth.

"Laura ... I'll come in your mouth," he warned, with his

voice deep and shaking with his pent up need.

She didn't answer, but continued to gobble up his fiery,

bulging staff.

Softly, he brought his hands to her head to stop her. "It is

meant for you," he told her as he was laying her back.

Laura said nothing, bringing her knees up—she spread her

legs to welcome him. His fingers found her wet, and ready to

accept him. This time he entered her slowly, letting her have

only an inch at a time. When she tried to lift up and force him

in further, he backed off.

"I want to remember every moment of this," he told her

breathlessly.

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After an agonizingly slow penetration, he had finally

embedded his searing flesh into her yearning body.

The feeling of being filled with him was so overpowering

that she could not help but let out a squeal of delight. Justin

began to move, grinding his body into hers until they were

heaving against each other, both wanting more of the other.

This time his animal lust was held in check, and his

movements were tender and rhythmic. She felt her flesh

tighten around his swollen member and she shuddered

uncontrollably as her body found such ecstatic release that

life itself, paled in comparison.

When she climaxed, it pushed him over the edge, his hard

body shook violently as he erupted with a cry of satisfaction.

Laura wrapped her legs around his hips, keeping him

within her. There was one thing she knew for sure, Justin had

made love to her with a tenderness she was sure no beast

could know. There were no thoughts of tomorrow, only the

feel of his hard body next to hers and the ecstasy of his

touch.

Still as one ... they slept. Awaking some time later, when

the moon was high. She caught her breath when she saw that

he was staring at her.

He reached out to stroke her cheek with his fingers. "You

must go back now," he told her.

She tried to protest, but he silenced her with a kiss.

"Laura, I can no longer protect you and your friends. You

must leave."

"Why would the
Sungmanitu
want to hurt us?"

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He moved away from her, "It's not the
Sungmanitu
. There

are others. We do not know where they came from but they

are deadly."

"Others!"

"I do not know what they want, but they are the ones that

have been killing ... not us," he paused. "Except for Mitchell, I

killed him," he admitted.

Laura gasped.

"He murdered my father after forging his signature on that

contract. In our culture, that offense is punishable by death.

He got what he deserved."

"But wasn't your father
Sungmanitu
? How could he have

managed to kill him?"

Justin hid his pain behind a smiling mask. "My father was

old, and unlike legend suggests ... we are not indestructible.

We can die the same as you, and it doesn't take silver

bullets."

Laura could think of nothing to say that would ease the

pain of his loss. Suddenly, she voiced something that was

troubling her.

"How did you happen to show up just when they were

going to arrest me?"

This time his smile was natural and she felt her spirits lift,

if only a little.

"I have been having you watched to assure your safety,

and I have an inside informant with law enforcement," he

explained.

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"So that is how you were at the mine, just when I needed

you?" Laura found that the thought of him looking out for

her—left her feeling giddy inside.

"Yes, but I need you to leave." He encircled her in his

arms. "I cannot do my duty and protect my people from these

others, if I'm looking after you."

"Will you come for me later?" she asked.

He avoided her eyes when he answered. "I don't know, but

if you truly love me Laura... do this for me. I could not bear

to see you hurt."

Laura's throat tightened. He had made it clear—the only

way to love him was to leave him.

* * * *

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Laura tossed the last of her clothing into the suitcase and

then took one last look around the bedroom to be sure she

was not forgetting anything. The empty feeling in the pit of

her stomach grew. She just could not accept that she may

never see Justin again. The very thought was too painful to

contemplate.

In defeat, Laura closed the suitcase and took it to the

living room, setting it next to the rest of the luggage.

Grandpa Busby stood next to her and gave her arm a

squeeze. "All will turn out well" he tried to reassure her.

She gave him a weak smile and turned away.

When Jessup drove up, Kenny was loading the car with

their belongings.

"The sheriff wants me and Laura to go to Beaver Creek. He

said the entire crew is dead." Jessup was still in a state of

disbelief.

"You two cannot go up there alone." Two-Bears had crept

up on them, unnoticed.

"We will all follow you in Laura's truck."

Bile boiled up into her throat as she looked onto the grisly

scene.

"You cannot possibly think that Laura is responsible for

this?" Jessup was astounded.

"Not alone, but we do think she's conspiring with the

Beaver Creek people." The sheriff frowned, but his eyes

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danced with amusement. He seemed to find their distress

entertaining.

"I do have to take you in now Laura. If you don't fight ... I

will not have to handcuff you."

Her eyes narrowed to slits. "Sheriff, you know I didn't do

this and I think you know full well that the
Sungmanitu
didn't

do this. How long have you been working with the others?"

she asked.

The sheriff looked at her in surprise.