The Wolf Prince (18 page)

Her parents had problems with hunters sometimes. Some redneck would see a big buck and want to shoot it for sport. Her father usually made sure the no-trespassing signs were in place, but the hunters didn’t always pay attention. She swallowed past the lump in her throat as she pictured Surlock’s beautiful head mounted on someone’s wall.

“I’m going for a walk,” she said as she continued out the door.

“Darcy, wait for me,” Jennifer called down to her.

Darcy hesitated. She didn’t want to put Jennifer in danger, but right now she really needed her friend, even if Jennifer didn’t believe her.

They went to the guest house first. Darcy prayed the whole time that the maid had been wrong, or that maybe Surlock had only been out for an early morning stroll.

The guest house was empty, and worse, his bed looked as though it hadn’t been slept in. The maid had been right.

“Where do we look now?” Jennifer asked.

“Are you sure you want to go with me? I don’t want to risk your life.”

“I don’t believe in werewolves,” Jennifer reminded her. “I don’t know what you saw, but I’m pretty sure it wasn’t a wolf.”

“You might change your mind. Just remember I tried to warn you.”

They made their way past the bushes and trees. Darcy stopped and looked around.

“Why are we stopping here?”

“This is where I took off my nightgown.”

Jennifer raised her eyebrows. “You were running around outside naked? Was he naked, too?”

“Yes. It wasn’t a big deal.”

“Oh, I’m not judging you. I’m just surprised I never thought
of doing it. Of course, it would be a little more difficult to run around naked in the city. Maybe having a country home wouldn’t be so bad after all.”

Jennifer didn’t realize how serious the situation was. They walked down the trail that led through the park. Darcy scanned the area, but didn’t see or hear anything unusual.

“No werewolves,” Jennifer said. “Darn, and I was hoping Surlock might have a brother. Some big strapping … German shepherd.” She snickered, then bit her lip when Darcy cast accusing eyes her way.

Darcy should have known Jennifer was just playing along and didn’t really believe anything Darcy had told her. Not that she could blame her friend. When she thought about it, the whole story did sound crazy.

“I’m sorry,” Jennifer said. “I couldn’t help it, but you don’t really think Surlock is a werewolf, do you? If you do, then that means your fashion wardrobe this fall might include a strait-jacket. This is all a prank you and Peter set up, right?”

Darcy shook her head.

Jennifer drew in a sharp breath. “You’re telling the truth.”

Darcy nodded.

Her friend threw her arms around Darcy. “Don’t worry sweetie, we’ll find help for you. I won’t let them stick you in any cold institution.”

“I’m not crazy.”

Jennifer stepped back and looked Darcy square in the eyes. “There are no such things as werewolves.”

A low growl came from the woods, followed by rustling in the underbrush. Both girls froze in their tracks.

D
arcy took a step toward the dense woods.

“Are you crazy?” Jennifer grabbed her hand and tugged her along as she ran toward the house. “It could be a rabid dog or something.”

“No, it was Surlock.” But Darcy had to admit that she was a little afraid, too. She wasn’t sure if Surlock would recognize her. He might attack first, ask questions later.

Rather than go inside the house, Darcy pulled Jennifer toward the guest house so they would have a little more privacy.

“What are you doing?” Jennifer looked at her as if she’d lost her mind. “We have to tell someone there’s a mad dog on the loose.”

Darcy could feel the color drain from her face. “No, we can’t say anything. That wasn’t a mad dog. It was Surlock, and he is a werewolf.”

“There are no such thing as werewolves,” Jennifer said between gritted teeth.

Darcy had a feeling she would never be able to convince her friend, but she knew what had happened last night. Surlock had changed into something that wasn’t human.

“Think what you will, but you can’t tell a soul.” She couldn’t bear it if Surlock was hunted down and killed. “Swear it.” She gave Jennifer her steely-eyed look.

“Okay, I won’t say anything, but if anyone is hurt by a wild dog that’s running loose over the countryside, then it will be on your conscience, not mine.”

“I’ll take all the blame.” Now she only had to hope Surlock didn’t kill anyone, and if he did, that he got rid of the body.

She sat down with a thud on the sofa. What if he did hurt someone? Would she be able to live with her guilt for the rest of her life? She didn’t think so.

“It will be okay,” Jennifer said, sitting beside her.

Darcy shook her head. “No, I don’t think it will. I don’t think anything will ever be the same.”

“Are you sure about what you saw?”

“Yes.” She closed her eyes and relived the scene last night. “We’d made love. He grabbed his head.” She looked at Jennifer. “He always gets this loud humming noise in his head after we make love. Like someone screaming.”

“But it always stops, right?”

“Yes, when I put eardrops in or he goes underwater.”

“Underwater?”

She shrugged. “We were in the pool, and we’d just made love. When he went underwater, it seemed to help.”

“I’ll never go swimming in your pool again.” She shook her head. “Never mind. Just go on with your story.”

“We didn’t have any eardrops or anything. I tried to help Surlock up so I could get him back to the house, but he told me to run. He said he couldn’t stop it this time.”

“So you ran,” Jennifer said. “Don’t you see, he didn’t change into a werewolf or anything else. He probably had a really bad headache.”

“No, he moved his hands away from his face and it was like I was staring at the wolf, and his face was hairy.”

“How bright was it outside?”

“Almost like daytime.”

“No shadows? The clouds didn’t drift in front of the moon and maybe made you think you saw something that wasn’t there?”

Darcy closed her eyes and tried to visualize it all again. His eyes had looked strange, and there had been hair on his face. But it
had
gotten darker when the clouds drifted in front of the moon. Could it have been a trick of the light?

There was a dog or a wolf roaming the countryside. Maybe when it howled, she had only connected the dots and thought werewolf. Maybe? But there was still one question left unanswered.

“Then where’s Surlock now?”

Jennifer’s expression turned thoughtful. “You said he had a horrible humming in his ears.”

“Yes.”

“It might have scared him. Maybe he thought something was happening to him and the pain was so bad he was afraid he might lash out and hurt you.”

Darcy thought about it for a moment. It could have happened like that. “But that still doesn’t explain where he is now.”

“Maybe by the time the pain stopped, people were up and about. You did say you were both running through the woods naked. He can’t very well walk up to the estate without any clothes on.”

A few days ago, Surlock might have done exactly that. But would he now since Ms. Abernathy had warned him to keep his clothes on? Darcy rubbed her forehead, wondering if she had only imagined everything.

“It could’ve happened like I said, Darcy,” Jennifer said quietly. “I mean, think about everything you told me. It doesn’t make sense. You’ve been watching too many horror flicks.” She raised her hand when Darcy would’ve protested. “What was the last movie you watched?”

Besides James Bond? Her shoulders slumped. Jennifer was right. “I was bored, and Dad has all the old
Friday the 13th
movies. It’s not my fault I’m addicted to them.” But Jennifer’s answers made more sense than Darcy’s werewolf theory.

Jennifer hugged her, then stood. “Come on, we’ll have some breakfast, and everything will look better on a full stomach. I’m
meeting with Peter later to go over the final details of the party.” She smiled. “Who would have thought I could be more than a socialite?” She winked. “I told you my clubbing days would pay off.”

Darcy tried for a smile, but wasn’t so sure she pulled it off. She was glad for Jennifer, but her mind was on other things. Was Surlock okay?

Once inside, they went to the dining room and fixed their plates. Darcy did little more than move her food around while she listened to Jennifer chatter about her ideas for the party.

“Okay, are you ready to go over to Peter’s?” Jennifer asked, interrupting Darcy’s thoughts.

Go to Peter’s house? When Surlock was stuck in the woods naked, or in pain? “I think I’ll pass this time. I have a bit of a headache.”

Jennifer studied her for a moment. “I think I’ll call Peter and cancel.”

That was the last thing Darcy wanted. “I’ll be fine. You’re probably right. Too many scary movies, I didn’t sleep well last night, and poor Surlock is probably running around the woods naked.”

Jennifer eyed her. “You’re not going to run out to the woods as soon as I leave, are you?”

“Of course not,” she scoffed. “I’m sure Surlock will be back by the time you return and we’ll laugh about all this. He’s probably sneaking up the back side of the estate as we speak.” Jennifer still didn’t look convinced. “Werewolves.” Darcy snorted. “No more spicy food for me at dinner.”

“I knew you would come to your senses.” Jennifer hugged her, then said, “I’ll see you later. If you get bored, come over to Peter’s.” She frowned. “No, call me on my cell. I’m not sure where we’ll be.”

“I will.”

“I hope you start to feel better.”

“I’ll take some aspirin.”

Jennifer left the room. A few minutes later, Darcy heard the
front door close, and Jennifer’s car start. She let out a sigh of relief. Now to find Surlock. She pushed away from the table and stood. Before she could make good her escape, Ms. Abernathy came into the room.

“Yes?” Darcy asked.

“Do you think Surlock is okay?” she asked, her forehead wrinkled in worry.

“I don’t know.”

“I could have Ralph and a couple of the men look for him.”

“I’m sure he’s fine. He likes to be alone sometimes. I bet Surlock made up his bed, then went for a walk. If he’s not back by this afternoon, then we’ll worry.”

Ms. Abernathy visibly relaxed. “You’re right. Men aren’t the best about telling women when they’re going off somewhere.”

Darcy breathed a sigh of relief. “Exactly. In fact, I think I’ll take a walk, too. I ate way too much of your wonderful breakfast. It’s no wonder I always gain ten pounds every time I’m here.”

Ms. Abernathy beamed. “You can stand to gain a little weight.”

Darcy smiled and left the room. As soon as she was clear, she hurried to the back door, but at the last minute remembered her father had a dog whistle in his desk drawer. She turned and went back the other way.

She went inside his office, closing the door behind her, and rushed over to the cherry wood desk. She found the whistle at the bottom of the second drawer, and breathed a sigh of relief. Darcy wasn’t sure exactly what she would accomplish, but, right now, anything was worth a try. She slipped the chain over her head so the whistle dangled between her breasts, a cold reminder of what she might be up against.

She went outside, stopping at the guest house to grab some clothes just in case she did find Surlock. Maybe he was just hiding in the woods. She smiled. He would probably be mad as hell that he was having to stay hidden because he was naked. Not that she thought he was afraid of Ms. Abernathy, but he had
promised not to run around in the buff when there might be staff about.

She started down the path, her gaze scanning the edge of the woods. Her bravery had all but deserted her. She bent and picked up a hefty stick. It might not be much protection, but it wouldn’t hurt to have something to defend herself with, just in case.

“Surlock,” she called. “It’s me, Darcy. If you’re out here, make some kind of noise.” She didn’t add, “But if you’re a werewolf, don’t show your face.”

Nothing. No rustle of branches or anything. Had it been a ruse? Maybe this was his idea of one big joke. Bed them, make them think you’re a werewolf, then move on to the next easy mark.

She shook her head. That was ridiculous, of course. There had been a bond between them. And no matter how much Jennifer wanted her to believe otherwise, Darcy had seen something happening to Surlock that hadn’t been normal. But whatever he’d changed into, she would stand beside her man.

Her feet faltered when she realized she might not have much choice. She could be a werewolf, too. What kind of married life could she have with anyone else? She really doubted a normal husband would feel the same way about her if he rolled over in bed and she’d changed into something horrible. Even worse if she ever lost her temper and ate him. What would she tell their children? Sorry kids, your father pissed me off so I gobbled him up.

She stopped and scanned the area. It looked like nothing more than a quiet, peaceful day. She’d been walking about ten minutes and still hadn’t seen hide nor hair of Surlock. She grimaced. Not a good choice of words.

Time to bring out the big guns. She brought the whistle to her lips and blew.

Nothing happened.

She frowned and blew again. Still nothing. Damn, why hadn’t her father just tossed it if it was broken? She shook it a few times, then blew again.

Not even a little peep.

Her father used it to call stray dogs, the same ones people decided they no longer wanted and would dump on the side of a country road. Then the dogs would go wild. Starving, they’d attack just about anything. Her father tried to call them before that happened. He and Ralph would go out and search for the strays. If they found any, they would take them to the nearby shelter, where they at least had a chance to find a good home.

But the stupid whistle didn’t work. She blew and blew until she was sure she was blue in the face. She had just gotten to the point of giving up when she heard a noise, like rustling, then a deep guttural growl.

She held her ground. Not that it mattered. She didn’t think her feet would budge. Had this really been a good idea, trying to find Surlock? Right now, she wasn’t so sure.