What a Werewolf Wants (San Francisco Wolf Pack) (12 page)

Cue horrific shock.

“I knew it’d be okay.” A grin curled the corner of Mitch’s lips. “I knew she’d love me anyway.”

Shudders scattered up Josie’s arms, and Ryder wrapped her up tighter. Enveloped her completely. Brushed his hands up and down her arms to soothe away her worry. It worked. She eased into his touch. Her breathing slowed. Her muscles loosened.

“I’m not saying I can get over this.” Hands keeping him at bay, Carrie backed away a few steps. “But I want to hear whatever it is you have to say. I don’t want to turn my back on you with questions or regrets.”

Okay, so she was kind of a smarty-pants.

“We’re fated to be together, Carrie. Can you feel the pull to me, deep in your gut?” As Mitch’s smile fell, he pressed a hand to his bare stomach. “From the moment we first touched, I knew you were the one for me. We’re destined. It’s you and me, babe. For the rest of our lives.”

Yeah, Wolf Boy was sweet, but whatever. Romance couldn’t erase the crazy in him.

As Ryder brushed his hands up her back, Josie warred with herself. One part of her wanted to pull Carrie out of the alley and back into the bar. Call the police. End the bachelorette party before someone got hurt. But the other part of her sensed Mitch wasn’t going to hurt Carrie. If that had been his true intention, he would’ve attacked while he was a hairy, snarling wolf.

Had that really happened? Could it be true? What would that even mean?

Werewolves are real?

What would be next? Vampires? Dragons? Fairies?

“Is he really telling the truth?” she asked, keeping an eye on Mitch.

“I told you he was.”

His body hardened against hers.

“How is this possible?” She could barely push out the words. “This doesn’t make any sense.”

“Doesn’t make it any less true,” Ryder said, his voice laced with something dark. “This situation right here had to happen. I wish he hadn’t dragged you into this, but he drank too much today and—”

“This was why you didn’t want them to get married,” she interrupted.

Using two fingers, he touched her chin and brought her face up so she could look at him. “I didn’t think Mitch should be hiding something like that from the woman he was going to marry,” he said. “He couldn’t keep this secret and blindside your sister that way.”

Honorable. Respectable.

“All of this is too strange and unbelievable, yet it feels”—how could she explain the jumble in her head, and heart?—“insanely
normal
.”

Josie watched the interaction between Mitch and Carrie closely. As Mitch whispered something to his fiancée, she shook her head. Buried her face in her hands. Pushed him away. Mitch dropped to his knees in front of her. Josie looked away, feeling as if she was spying on something private.

“She’s not going to be able to handle something like this.” Sorrow settled over Josie like a wet blanket. “It’s too much for anyone to accept.”

“My thoughts exactly,” he mumbled. “Her view of him will change forever.”

There was no way she would push Carrie into this. Not for a season’s worth of Martha Silverstone specials. Freaking out about his name was one thing, but marrying someone who was a—God, could she really say it?—a
werewolf
was something different.

“Some werewolves marry non-shifters,” Ryder said, keeping his voice low and flat. “I hear it happens in the pack from time to time, but it’s not for everyone.”

“The…pack?” Separating from the warmth of his body, Josie put space between him and folded her arms over her chest as she gave him her full attention. “There are other wolves?” She sucked in a clipped breath. “Wait, the park. I saw a large dog…”

“A wolf, actually,” Ryder corrected for her. “You were right with your first suspicion.” He tunneled his fingers through his hair, looking more agitated than he had a moment before. “But most of the werewolves in the city are just trying to live out their normal lives. They’re like you and me.” He stopped, averting his gaze to his friend. “Hey, Mitch, can we get out of here? Can’t you grovel over text message like the rest of us?”

Carrie scrubbed her hands over her face. “I just…can’t. It’s too weird.”

There were so many things that were going to fall apart if they called off the wedding now. Deposits would be forfeited. Guests disappointed. Gifts returned. Egos bruised. Hearts broken. And one television special would be canceled, never again to be reshot.

All of that heartache and pain-in-the-assness would be worth it, though. As long as Carrie wasn’t married to a man who could shift into a howling dog.

As for Ryder…he’d known what Mitch was. He’d tried to stop the wedding. He’d pushed for Mitch to tell Carrie. He’d tried to do the right thing, even though she’d raked him over the coals for it. Still, he’d kissed her and touched her, more than any guy had in a long damn time.

She’d been wrong to dismiss him.

He’d been the only one being
honest
with the situation. And he hadn’t wanted to say anything to Josie about it because of his
loyalty
to his friend. Honesty and loyalty had always been the two biggest things she looked for when searching for a mate.

Maybe her perfect match had been in front of her all along.

“I should take her home,” Josie said as her heart rate finally returned to normal. “But I also want to thank you.”

“Thank me?” His eyebrows arched high. “For what?”

“I may’ve misunderstood what you were trying to do before, but I get it now,” she said. “You were trying to protect my sister.”

“And Mitch.” Ryder’s blue eyes blazed like the tip of a flame. “I didn’t want him to get burned if your sister couldn’t accept him for who he was.”

She’d been totally wrong about him.

“Call me later?” she asked, making a wide circle around Mitch.

She grabbed her sister with one hand and opened the door to the bar with the other. When she glanced back at Ryder, he had that sexy gleam in his eye—the one that made her simmer inside.

Mitch dragged himself to his feet and smacked his hands together as if he were about to pray. “I’m the same guy I was before, Carrie. The same one who loves you and always will.”

He may’ve been gaggingly sweet, but still.
Werewolf.
Who knew what they were capable of?

“I’ll think about it.” Carrie stepped into the hall that led back to the bar and didn’t look back. “But I can’t promise anything.”

“It might not work after all. You were right.” Mitch’s voice was low and dejected. “They’ll never understand what we are, or where we come from.”

Whoa. Hold on.

Backing up, Josie turned. “What
we
are? You’re talking about you and…”

Ryder was a wolf? But he couldn’t be. She’d kissed him; she’d know if he was something other than a regular guy, wouldn’t she? It wasn’t like wolves had tongues that split into forks or something, but wouldn’t she have felt something different? This wasn’t possible. There was no way.

Ryder raised his chin. Clenched his jaw. “I don’t blame you for being pissed.”

She opened her mouth to cuss him out, but only jibbers came out. Stutters of sound that didn’t make a lick of sense. And then she slapped herself in the cheek as hard as she could. Starbursts of pain splintered through her cheekbone and into her temples, causing her head to throb.

Nope. Not a nightmare.

Definitely reality.

For a split second, she actually thought she and Ryder could’ve had a real chance.

“You
lied
to me. You let me take you in that closet and we almost…” She could’ve even finish the thought. “You should’ve said what you were from the start. You tricked me.”

“Josie, I—”

“Don’t. It’s too late.” She shied away as fear settled over her. “You’re not what I thought you were.”

He flinched as his gaze met hers. “You’re right.”

Vision swimming, she put up her hand, turned on her heel, and charged into the bar. Once she was safely in the hall with the door slammed closed behind her, Josie grabbed her sister by the hand and got the hell out of there.

Chapter Thirteen

Josie hadn’t slept so hard in all her life.

A vision of a raven-haired werewolf with piercing blue eyes had stayed with her for hours, from the moment she closed her eyes. She hadn’t been afraid. Not for one second, and the dream went on all night long.

In the dream, she stood outside Golden Gate Park, as she’d done when Ryder left her after following Mr. Boone. The wolf peeked its head out of the bushes. She’d startled at first. But this time, instead of running back to Ryder’s Charger, her feet led her into the park. Right up to the bushes where the wolf hid.

It stared. Waiting. Anticipating her arrival.

Crouching in front of the shrubs, a sense of calm washed over her. Her breathing was slow and relaxed, her heartbeat steady and even.

Not a single ounce of fear flickered through her.

“Hey, boy,” she said, reaching out for him. “I’m not going to hurt you.”

Moving eerily slow, the wolf backed into the shrubs, until only his head peeked out. Even cloaked in shadow, she could see his tall, stiff-legged stance. His thick tail curled up over his back, and his ears perked high over his head. Everything from the wolf’s posture to his penetrating gaze screamed dominance. This wolf was an Alpha, make no mistake about it.

She should’ve been afraid, yet he was the one hiding, barely peeking his head out to watch her.

“It’s okay,” she said, holding still. “Can I pet you?”

The wolf flinched, eyed her skeptically, and then sniffed at her hand. The canine was huge. Much bigger than she’d realized at first. Rain drizzled over its fur, making the dark strands around its face stick out.

Those stunning blue eyes held her captive. She couldn’t look away.

As gently as she could, she brushed her hand over his head. It was a shadow of a touch over his fur. Something deep in her heart tugged when his thick wolfy lashes fluttered closed and he lowered his head into her hand.

“Aww, see?” she purred, stroking his silky soft fur. “There’s nothing to be afraid of. You can come out.”

As he emerged, she rubbed rain out of her eyes. In that split second, the wolf disappeared. Ryder stood in his place, dressed in nothing but a pair of dark-washed jeans that hung low on his waist. As he outstretched his arms for her to fill them, streams of moonlight shone off his abs.

“It’s only me, baby.”

“I don’t know you,” she heard herself say. “How can I trust you?”

Thickly corded muscle twitched and flexed as he stepped closer. “You have to trust the connection between us. I know you can feel it.” His gravelly voice rumbled the air between them like thunder. She shivered down to the core. “If you don’t let me hold you for the rest of your life, I’ll die the loneliest man anyone ever knew.”

With an ache in her heart, she slid into his embrace and wrapped her arms around him. His skin was soft against her cheek. Beneath that though, he was rugged. Hard as steel.

“I’m strong enough to be the man you need,” he said. “And I swear I won’t ever hurt you.”

“I know you won’t.” The words tumbled out of her, but to her surprise, she meant them.

“We’re fated to be together.” He held her tightly, her head cradled against his chest. His heartbeat thumped against her ear, soothing away any traces of anxiety or fear that might’ve been harbored there. “You don’t need to look any further. You’re mine. I’ll spend the rest of my life making you happy.”

Her heart fluttered with happiness. “I’m yours.”

And she meant it. She’d said it when they were about to make love in the closet. Even now, after she knew about his lies, his secret abilities, she was no less certain. Her heart beat true for him.

“I’m yours,” she repeated, relishing the warm glow that radiated through her. “Eternally.”

She was still saying the final word when her cell phone went off on the bedside table. Shielding her eyes from the rays of cornea-piercing sunlight, Josie reached over and fumbled for her phone. Without glancing at the number, she answered.

“Hello?” She sounded hoarse. Did she eat gravel for dinner last night?

“Josie?” the voice on the other end said. “This is Liza, from the Channel 10 news crew.”

“Liza?” She couldn’t shake the dream. That wolf.
Ryder.
“What time is it?” She hadn’t meant to ask it aloud.

“Nearly four in the afternoon.”

“Not possible.” Scrubbing her hands over her eyes, Josie checked the clock. She fell back onto her pillow, her arm draping over her forehead. “Damn it. I’m sorry I didn’t call you to cancel. You must be furious.”

“Cancel?” Liza’s voice was much too chipper. “Cancel what, exactly?”

“This weekend. The rehearsal dinner. The wedding.” Josie sighed heavily as if the carpet that had held all of her dreams was ripped right from beneath her. “Someone should’ve called you. I’m sorry. Carrie and Mitch are postponing the wedding.” Or canceling. Who knew what would happen in time? “I’m afraid there won’t be a reason to host a special on my company.”

“I’m not sure I understand,” Liza said, pausing. “Carrie and Mitch are here.”

Confusion stabbed needles through Josie’s brain. “Here where?”

“At Pier 3. We’re getting ready to board the Hornblower yacht.”

“What?”

Liza cleared her throat. “You said we were supposed to meet at Pier 3 at four o’clock, correct? To film the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner? Everyone is here except for you.”

“Everyone?” Josie’s mind went blank. “Mitch and Carrie are there, ready to board, too?”

Was it possible the whole thing had been a terrible dream? Could she have imagined all the werewolf drama at Jolly Roger’s?

Someone must have slipped something in my drink
.

“Liza, I need to ask you something.” Josie tripped getting out of bed and stumbled to her closet. “And I need you to answer honestly.”

“Well, I am a journalist,” Liza crooned. “I report the truth as it’s relayed to me.”

As she tossed a simple black strapless dress out of her closet, she said, “Do Carrie and Mitch look happy?”

If it wasn’t a dream, and Mitch really had revealed himself as a werewolf, there would be no way they’d be waiting to dock the Hornblower.

“They look blissful to me.” Liza mumbled something to the cameraman. “If you want me to really scrutinize them, they do seem a little tired. When they first arrived, Mitch had dark rings under his eyes. And Carrie’s hair didn’t appear to be freshly washed, or styled. I called a stylist over to work on them, and now they look fresh enough to pose for a magazine shoot. Other than that, they’re great. Any reason to believe they wouldn’t be?”

Yeah, the fact that last night, Carrie had said she’d wanted time to think things over, to wrap her mind around what Mitch had said. When the cab had dropped her off at her apartment in the Mission, Carrie had said she was going to put her cell on silent and curl up in bed.

Had everything really been a figment of her imagination?

The memories of the dream were extremely detailed, though, which was abnormal. She could recall nearly every word, every surge of anger as Ryder unveiled the truth about his nature.

“No,” Josie fired, tossing her pajamas to the floor and stepping into the dress. “If they’re at the dock, waiting for the yacht to leave, I suspect they’re happy…as they always are. Everything’s going to be all right.”

As she yanked the dress down over her hips, Josie ran into the bathroom, put the phone on speaker, and wrestled her hair into a loose ponytail.

“If everything’s on track then,” Liza said, “I’ll tell Carrie you’re on your way.”

“Wait—is Ryder there?”

“He showed up late, but he’s here.”

Her throat dried as images of the wolf from her dreams came to her. “How does he look?”

Liza gasped as the yacht blasted its horn. “Frustrated. And he’s been asking for you for an hour.”

Her stomach sank. She didn’t want to see Ryder. If the werewolf thing wasn’t a dream—if he and his friend really were werewolves—he’d hid the truth from her and put them in danger. He should’ve said what he was before he made out with her. Twice.

“Tell Carrie not to leave without me,” Josie said, and hung up the call.

…

After Liza announced that Josie would be there shortly—and not to leave without her—Ryder’s stomach had been in knots. She’d tortured him all night. Plagued his dreams. It was the craziest thing, but he’d dreamed they were back in Golden Gate Park. Only instead of leaving, she came closer. Called him out of the bushes. And she’d been completely at ease with him being a wolf.

She’d seen him for what he was and
accepted
him.

He’d radiated warmth as he held her in his arms. And when he confessed that he wanted to hold her forever, he’d never felt happier. Everything he’d ever wanted had been within reach. If only he’d take the leap and go for it. When he’d proclaimed his love for Josie, her reaction had hollowed him. His heart had clenched and then eased, relaxing into a rhythm that lulled him into a trance. It made him want to give Josie more. All of him. Every last breath in his lungs if it meant he could make her happy.

As he paced the lot a hundredth time, a taxi pulled into the lot and circled around. It came to stop in front of the docked yacht, and without waiting a beat, Josie exited. She’d pulled her hair back so that it emphasized the angelic features of her face, and wore a tight black dress that hugged her curves.

“Hey,” he’d tried to say, but couldn’t catch is breath. She was stunning. Effortlessly so. “Josie.”

Either she didn’t hear him, or didn’t care to see him. Charging up the ramp, she ran ahead.

Don’t let her get away.

He strode behind her, right as the pier workers readied to close the rail gate.

“Josie,” he called out, following her down the yacht’s deck.

She finally stopped, moments before going inside to join the rest of the party. “Hey, Ryder.”

He could almost read the indecision on her face. She must not have known what else to say.

“I had a dream about you last night,” he blurted. “In the park.”

Her honey-brown eyes studied his face. “What?”

“I had a dream about us. It felt like the stakeout when we followed Mr. Boone. You saw me…in wolf form.”

“What happened?” Swallowing hard, she dropped her gaze to the wood-planked deck. “What did I say?”

“You said you’d be mine…for all eternity.”

What she’d said last night resonated deep within him—her voice still sang through his ears.

“That’s not possible.” She spoke the words quietly, as if she had to fight for the air to speak them. As she looked up at him, her cheeks paled, and her mouth dropped open in disbelief. “I had that dream. The same one.”

“Really?” Shock pummeled his system, chilling him instantly. He’d heard of Luminaries sharing thoughts and dreams, but hadn’t fully realized that their connection would never go away. “Josie, can we go somewhere to talk, away from the cameras? I wouldn’t want anyone to hear about…what I am.”

Her gaze searched the room beyond the glass, where half a dozen cameras had been set up to film the rehearsal.

“You mean you really are a—you know?” Her lips went white as she sucked the bottom one into her mouth. Even when she was confused and afraid, she was still irresistible. “I didn’t think…I mean, I thought maybe it might’ve been part of the dream. That can’t be real.”

“Oh, it is.” Using his heightened senses, he picked up surges of fright. He took a few steps back to give her space. “Your sister was able to come around, so I’m sure with time, you’ll be able to do the same and accept Mitch as your brother-in-law.”

“Wait—what?” She pinched her eyes closed and shook her head. When she opened them again, confusion burned in their depths. “Carrie
knows
? As in, she
knows-knows
? She didn’t think it was a stupid dream like I did?”

“No, she’s ready to give her life to Mitch—the werewolf part of him and all.” Sweat trickled down his temple. “If you would give me a few seconds to explain, I could clarify a few things that might put you more at ease.”

“Now’s not the time, Ryder.”

“It’s never the time.” He took her hand and brushed his thumb over the back of her knuckles. “Listen, you can hate me all you want, but your sister loves Mitch, and he truly is a great guy. The sooner you can understand that, the better it’ll be for them.”

How’d things flip so easily? Suddenly she was the one desperate to break them up, and he was the one fighting to keep them together?

“Wait here,” she said, slowly pulling her hand from his. “I’m going inside to make sure my sister is all right. We might be able to sneak in a few minutes after that, but I don’t think it’s going to change anything.”

As she spun on her heel and disappeared inside the dining hall, Ryder blew out a rattled breath.

But everything had already changed.

Their dreams had made sure of that.

They were destined by fate. No matter how much he tried to stay away from her, she’d still be a part of him. Forever linked to his soul. He’d never be free from her. She was his.
Eternally.
She’d said it herself, and his heart hadn’t forgotten, not even when he awoke from the dream.

Even so, he couldn’t bring himself to talk about his wolf form. How could she possibly view him the same way, in the harsh light of day? If he took the chance and shifted, and she screamed or fled, it’d break him.

But as he thought about pushing her away, his stomach turned. She’d find someone else eventually. It was inevitable, and he couldn’t deal with that reality, either.

He couldn’t promise her a future, yet he couldn’t live without her.

Talk about issues.

The next few minutes he spent with Josie Cole were going to be the most important in his life.