Scent of a Wolf's Mate (3 page)

“Well, I called to make sure you were
alright. I will see you this afternoon at the meeting.”

Connor didn’t question why. She would want to
be there to know the results of his meeting with the elders.
Expelling anyone from the community was serious and not done
lightly. “Goodbye, Mother.”

After hanging up Connor went to the open
door, closed and locked it. A noise coming from his bedroom
prompted him to go there. Serena might be stirring. He knew she
would be frightened, and would probably have a lot of questions.
How is she going to take the news that she’s my mate?
Better
yet, what was her reaction going to be when she found out he was a
werewolf?

He halted in the doorway. The scent of her
sex hit him in the face like a slap. Serena had kicked away the
covers and lay writhing upon the bed, her naked body flushed and
glistening. As her hands moved over her curves, she moaned as
though in a high fever, only Connor knew it wasn’t that.

His blood grew hot, racing through his
aroused body to his loins as he realized what was happening. Serena
was in heat! A wolf’s heat. Her body was responding to his
nearness, drawing out her primitive urge to fuck. Connor knew the
only relief she could get was from his claiming her. Once his seed
was inside her it would calm the beast, at least for a little
while.

No wonder his body was charged for mating. He
should have guessed it earlier. His attraction to Serena went above
the normal. When a wolf’s mate went into heat, they fucked
incessantly until it ended. He clenched his teeth until his jaw
hurt.

His cock arched hungrily in his pajama
bottoms, looking for a soft pussy to sink into. Connor sucked in
his breath when her hand moved down her twisting body to the damp
curls between her legs.
Fuck!
His heart slammed in his chest
and he fought to keep the wolf at bay.

It was one battle he was going win, while
losing another.

Serena sighed and moved against the soft
blankets, confused by what was happening to her. She was alive, but
more than that, her body was consumed with a fierce need she
couldn’t will away, and she didn’t want to. The feeling coursing
through her was stronger than she’d ever known, a hunger that was
going to eat her up if she didn’t do something about it.

Was she still sleeping? She couldn’t seem to
open her eyes. Everything seemed intensified, her heartbeat, her
breathing, the erotic rush that followed the caress of her hands as
she touched herself.
Oh, God!
What’s happening to me?
Serena caressed her aching breasts and taut nipples before her hand
glided down to the pulsing flesh between her legs.

God, I’m hot!

She parted her thighs and touched her
tingling clit. It was hard as a rock and twice the normal size.
Rapture overwhelmed her, causing her to arch her hips off the bed.
Why am I so horny?
She tried to recall her dreams but
couldn’t concentrate on anything but finding some way of appeasing
the burning need of her aroused body.

“Please! Please!” She felt like she was going
to go up in flames. She had to find release. Everywhere she touched
her body little sparks ignited, turning her wilder.

All of a sudden, a gentle unknown force
removed her hand from her pussy and a sensual, moist heat spread
over her. Her soft sighs turned to moans when the heat became an
unbearable pressure against her labia and throbbing clit. Then
something long and wet covered with a texture that pleased her
immensely began lapping at her sex, delving deeply, caressing all
her intimate places.

Serena didn’t open her eyes, so sure was she
that she was still sleeping, dreaming of a phantom lover who was
making her whole, and giving her the sweetest pleasure. She felt
hair when she reached down, and she buried her fingers into it to
hold whatever it was close. Crying out softly as something, God, it
felt like a tongue, explored every inch of her sensitive pussy
while concentrating on her clit.

A powerful orgasm built. Serena’s hips began
to move faster against the strong pressure on her clit. Heavy
breathing drowned out all other sound. Her moans escalated with
every thrust until she ceased breathing, letting her body crash in
a kaleidoscope of blinding color. She screamed, convulsing
uncontrollably until the storm of emotions claimed her and she
passed out.

Sometime later Serena opened her eyes,
feeling slightly achy and yet satiated. She lay there, wondering
where she was and how she had come to be there. Lifting the covers,
she gasped upon finding herself naked. A thorough gaze around the
masculine room didn’t produce her clothes. Glancing out the curtain
less window revealed the mountains in the distance.

Where am I?
The rustic walls revealed
that she was in a cabin. The décor indicated that it was a man’s
bedroom, and the only noise she could hear was that of birds
chirping outside. It seemed deathly quiet inside, yet she knew
someone was there. The smells reaching her indicated someone was
cooking.

She moved to get up, keeping the blanket in
front of her. Her gaze went to a door.
Is that a closet?
Serena quietly made her way there and opened the door. The first
thing her gaze fell on was a thick blue robe. She removed it from
the hanger, dropped the blanket, and slipped into it.

Serena left the bedroom quietly, unsure of
what she was going to find. Deciding to follow the aroma, she made
her way to a kitchen equipped with every modern appliance you could
imagine. Standing at the stove in low hanging pajama bottoms was a
man. He was flipping bacon.
Doesn’t he know it’s dangerous to
cook without a shirt on?

She stood in the entranceway, slightly afraid
and very confused. He was a big man. His dark hair was thick and
wild, stopping at the top of his shoulders, shoulders that were
wide and muscular. The muscles rippled in his back as he moved, and
she could see his well-developed biceps and forearms.

A breeze rushed in through the open window
over the sink. Serena watched the curtains dance wildly. She closed
her eyes and inhaled deeply when the cool mountain air reached
where she was standing. Wisps of hair moved about her face, and
something else carried on the wind, something that spiked her
awareness, flowing together with the scent of pines and wild
lavender, and him, an untamed and basic entity that reached into
her soul.

“I know you’re there,” he said without
turning around. “Don’t come any closer.”

Well, that’s not very friendly.
Serena
didn’t know what to do at that point. She clutched his robe tighter
against her. Without warning he turned, pinning his dark eyes on
her. His rugged face was set as though in anger.

“I hope you don’t mind that I borrowed your
robe. I couldn’t find my clothes.” She tried not to let her gaze
wander, but there was no way she could ignore his hard, defined
Pecs and six-pack abs. The man was powerfully built and sinfully
sexy.

His gaze moved over her. Serena took note of
the tic moving in his tense jaw, and she tried to imagine what
she’d done to upset him. What did he expect that she would walk out
there in her birthday suit?

“That’s okay,” he finally spoke.

“Where am I?”

“Do you remember anything about last
night?”

“Some of it. I was running and tripped on
something. The last thing I remember was a wolf pinning me down.
Did you kill it?”

“I took care of it.” His tone was short and
to the point.

“There was another wolf—”

“I took care of him, too.” He moved to the
sink, put the plug in, and turned on the water, then turned back to
face her.

“What?” She was confused. “But how? I, I…”
She didn’t know what to say. “I never saw you.” She hadn’t seen
anyone. “I guess I owe you my life, then.” Serena offered him a
smile, hoping to erase the unfriendly look on his face. “My name is
Serena.” She stepped further into the kitchen and held out her
hand.

He just stared at it for a long moment as if
it were a snake, and then finally said his name. “Connor.”

Serena lowered her hand when he ignored it.
Then she noticed his wounds. “You’re hurt!” She instinctively moved
toward him.

“No!” Connor barked, making a motion for her
to stay back. He turned back to the sink and turned off the water,
but not before Serena thought she saw his eyes shift from brown to
gold. “Look, why don’t you go sit in the living room until
breakfast is ready? Then we’ll talk.”

She frowned at his dismissal. “If you’ll just
give me my clothes I’ll be glad to get out of your way. I don’t
want to bother you.”

“After you eat.”

Serena could hear the finality in his tone.
Without a car, phone, or clothes she was at his mercy. As she was
making her way to the living room the front door burst open, and a
big man walked in as if he owned the place.

“Connor, you here man?” He stopped short when
his gaze fell on Serena. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know he had
company.”

The fact that he knew Connor’s name put her
at ease. She smiled. “Unexpected company I’m afraid. My name is
Serena.” She offered him her hand.

Unlike Connor, he took it into his much
larger one. Was it her imagination, or had his interest peaked when
she said her name?

“I’m Max, Connor and I are cousins. Nice to
meet you.”

“Max.”

Serena turned on hearing Connor’s voice
behind her.

“Serena was about to have breakfast. While
she eats you and I can talk.” He placed a plate on the coffee
table, and then turned his gaze on her. “Excuse us please.”

Realizing he was dismissing her, Serena
nodded and the two men disappeared outside. She glanced down at her
breakfast, seeing eggs, bacon, and sliced oranges. She couldn’t
recall the last time someone had served her breakfast. Smiling, she
sank to the sofa and ate everything but the bacon.

****

“She’s in heat,” was the first thing out of
Max’s mouth as the two men sat down on the porch steps.

An abrupt laugh escaped Connor that had
little to do with humor. “So I noticed. It’s been hell.”

“You haven’t mated her yet?”

Connor shook his head. “She doesn’t know why
she’s here. I at least owe her that before I claim her.” He only
hoped he could hold out.

Max chuckled. “You think that’s going to make
a difference? Maybe if she’d grown up within the pack and knew our
ways, knew what to expect. She was raised differently, cousin. Her
kind doesn’t know about shifters.”

“Seeing is believing. Besides, it doesn’t
matter what she believes. She’s my mate, and she’ll have to comply
with our laws.”

It’s going around that you and Clive fought
over a woman last night. I’m assuming it was her.” Max frowned.
“I’m confused over your hostility toward her. You don’t want
her?”

Connor got to his feet. “I want her, cousin.
Her wolf’s heat nearly pushed me into taking her last night.” He
thought about the heady scent of her sex and the sweet nectar he’d
tasted tonguing her to orgasm to give her relief. Where he’d found
the strength to leave her after that he’d never know. “Her body
knows the secret it contains, but her wolf’s heat frightens and
confuses her.”

Max nodded. “Being around you has brought it
out.”

Connor couldn’t agree more. “I have a meeting
with the elders this afternoon. I want you to come back and stay
with Serena. You’re the only one I trust.”

Max grinned. “You think her scent doesn’t
bother me?”

“I know it bothers you, cousin. But you will
become stronger for ignoring it.” It was Connor’s turn to grin. Max
would never betray his own mate.

Serena was in heat and unmated. Her scent
would drive all the unattached males in the area crazy. Some would
be driven to seek her out. The fact she was his chosen mate
wouldn’t protect her from their advances or retribution. Max was as
big and as strong as Connor was, and he knew he could trust him
because he was madly in love with Rose.

Max was second in line after Connor, chosen
over Clive because Clive had proven he was unsuitable, and
preferred fighting over peace. Connor’s other two brothers weren’t
available either, they had their own packs in adjoining counties.
There were neighboring werewolf communities in the mountains, most
of which were governed by a truce. Their only enemy was the Bower
pack, thanks to Clive, and Connor was working diligently to change
that.

“I heard the pack running in the mountains
last night.”

“It was a good run. Will you be joining us
tonight? There’s almost another full moon.”

They both knew a full moon occurred every
twenty-nine and a half days, and only for one night. Most people
thought there was a full moon for three days, but if they were to
look at it through a telescope, they’d see that it was actually
missing a small part the day before and the day after.

Connor shook his head. “I think I will be
busy elsewhere.” Like with the little beauty inside his home.
Tonight he would claim Serena.

If I can wait that long.

Connor glanced up and froze.

How long had Serena been standing at the open
doorway?

Serena slammed the door shut and locked it.
Trapped, she was in the home of a man who thought he could change
into a wolf! She’d gone to the door to ask Connor if he minded if
she made another pot of coffee when she’d heard him say, “I want
her, cousin.” Though her name hadn’t been mentioned, instincts
warned her that they were talking about her. She couldn’t believe
what she’d heard following that.

She’d always been curious by nature, too
curious, her mother would scold when she was little. But nothing
could draw her away from the door at that point. She stepped back
into the shadows when Connor got up from the steps, only revealing
herself when she sensed that their conversation was ending.