Alphas on the Prowl (40 page)

He started to blush, making her realize he’d turned suddenly shy. “Considering what we just did, there’s no need for the blush, Derek. Don’t think you imposed yourself. I started it the first time, remember?” As he nodded she became business like. “Now, let me wash you, and then we can go start on the pizza. We’ve worked up quite an appetite.” Focusing on the sponge, she tried to keep her voice calm. “If you’re up for it, we can talk while we make it, or it can wait until later. I don’t want to rush anything. I’m enjoying spending time with you – in and out of bed – too much to jeopardize what this might become by pushing you to talk about something you might not be ready to talk about.”

She cupped his face in her hands, once more taking on a dominant role as she pulled him down for another kiss. With his arms wrapped around her, she steered him around so he was under the showerhead, before she stood back to lather him with the puff sponge. His front soaped up, she made a twirling motion with her finger and he complied, allowing her to wash his back, ass and legs.

When she was satisfied that he was clean, she leaned around him to turn off the water. They both climbed out and toweled each other dry. As he looked around, clearly wondering what to do for clothing, she led him back to her bedroom and handed him her red satin robe. Chuckling at the look on his face, she responded, “Would you prefer to walk across the hall in just a towel? Just put this on. I can wash your clothes while we make the pizza. Trust me, this is not a building where you want to provide that kind of information. The rumor mill is vicious. This is a better option than naked.”

She giggled as he raised his eyebrow and wrapped the satin around his shoulders. It was a tight fit, and barely covered his ass, but she would enjoy the view. Slipping into a fluffy robe herself, she winked at him, grabbed his pants, shirt and socks, heading back into the bathroom to the washing machine to start the load, leaving him to catch up.

Chapter Seven

Krissy raised her eyebrow as Derek slowly shuffled into the kitchen. “I must have really caught you off guard with that wake up call. I haven’t totally scared you off, have I?” She was worried now that she’d been too forward. A chuckle from him made her breathe a sigh of relief.

“Sweetheart, remember who you’re talking to. I have an animal in me fighting to get out. You’re a vixen in bed, and you are a little scary, but that seems to calm the beast in me.” He gave her a wolfish grin. “At least, it calmed him the second time. I guess I’m still a bit shaky from the transformation.”

“Well then, you sit on the bar stool and I’ll bring out the ingredients for the pizza. Some food, wine and conversation might help you get back on steady ground.” Krissy bounced around the kitchen to get the pizza pan, knives and ingredients, humming happily. She felt like she was walking on air, a total contrast to her state of mind only a few hours earlier when James had momentarily barged back into her life.

She knew she hadn’t seen the last of him, but with Derek so close to her right now it didn’t bother her. Besides, what was he going to tell people? That he’d been assaulting his ex-girlfriend when a werewolf interrupted? The idea made her chortle. She could imagine James running around the country club, the front of his pants still dark, gibbering about a supernatural beast. The more she thought about it, the harder she giggled. Glancing up at Derek, who looked concerned she’d gone mad, she took a breath to compose herself and explained the source of her amusement.

As they shared the humor, she suddenly remembered James had his flunkies at the golf club. Steroid-ridden brick houses, they were guys who really didn’t understand much in life, but were lucky to be born into money so they didn’t have to worry about getting a job, just like James, only he had a mean, cunning streak hidden deep inside. It was that streak his flunkies were attracted to. They would have no qualms about coming back here to beat her and Derek into oblivion, and James could just stand back and watch.

Her face paled, the laughter dying in her throat as she clasped the edge of the breakfast counter. It was Derek’s turn to sit her down, fetching a glass of water before clutching her hands and sitting on the other stool in front of her. Krissy numbly looked at the concern on his handsome face. She never wanted to see that face marred by bruises or cuts, but she knew with complete certainty after standing up to James in her defense, she was bound to see exactly that, and within the next few days.

It took her a few moments to realize Derek had been speaking to her, asking if she was okay. Brushing some loose strands of hair out of his eyes, she cupped his face and pulled him up closer to her, throwing her arms around him for a tight embrace. They hadn’t known each other for more than thirty-six hours, and yet she knew she’d fallen hard for him. Even despite his wild beast inside. He had never threatened her, only protected her like an alpha male protects the matriarch of a wolf pack. Now, it was her turn to protect him.

Krissy heaved a huge sigh. “Derek, you know James will be back, right? He’s not the type to be punked. I know he’ll be rounding up his boys to come back and show me who’s boss.” Looking down at her hands in his, she continued. “I know you think you can protect me, but I’m not the one they’ll be after. I don’t want you to be around when they come back. James won’t let them touch me – only he’s allowed that privilege.” She shook her head and her voice quavered. “But I don’t want to see you get hurt for being the good guy.”

She felt his warm hands leave hers, only to cup her cheeks in turn. She allowed him to lift her face. His eyes were full of concern and sadness. “I won’t let him lay a hand on you again, Krissy. The beast in me has finally found a true sense of calm around you. I am not giving that up and leaving. Not even just until James goes away. You know that if you ask me to go, you will never be rid of him again. You deserve better than that.” He held his hand up as she opened her mouth to protest. “No, Krissy. I don’t care that we haven’t known each other that long. The wolf has chosen his mate. He is offering you his life, and all he wants in return is to be able to protect you. And it isn’t just him. I feel it too.”

Her eyes widened at his words, taking in everything he said, every facial expression, as if to burn this moment into her memory forever. Krissy wanted to protest further but she could see the steely determination behind his eyes. She could see the animal showing through, even felt a feral intelligence behind Derek’s own. Bowing her head, she submitted to his resolve and fought the tears welling up in her eyes. Never had anyone wanted to fight for her like this. Never had someone been willing to risk their life just to keep her a free woman.

Raising her head and her voice, she gave him a shock. “Where the hell have you been all these years?” She threw her arms around his neck again, almost strangling him and unwilling to let go. As he patted her back, stroking her hair, she melted into his body, never wanting this moment to end. Krissy could feel Derek grinning like an idiot as he relished both his victory and the fact that he was holding her so close.

Pulling away she gave him a teasing smile. “Well, Mr. Wolf, I believe it’s time to scavenge up some food.” Her jest made his grin grow even wider. He took charge as if he’d been moving around her kitchen for years, pre-heating the oven and chopping ingredients as she pressed the pizza crust onto the pan and started adding toppings. With a glance, she realized he was watching how much meat she put on. An arched eyebrow told her he didn’t think it was enough, so she piled more on. A satisfied smile let her know he was happy with all the meat now spread out on the dough.

Chuckling and shaking her head, Krissy sprinkled handfuls of mushrooms, olives, and for a sweet touch, crushed pineapple. With the oven heated, she finished it off with freshly grated mozzarella before handing the tray to Derek so he could slide it into the oven. That chore done, he strutted over to her, placing his hands on her hips and gently kissing the top of her head.

“We have some time before the pizza is ready, what do you say to another romp to pass the time?”

“You are incorrigible, Mr. Wolf.” She loved teasing him with that name now, and she knew that it made him feel more comfortable as he gently smiled at her with a glint in his eyes. He swept her off her feet, and headed to the bedroom yet again, while she laid her head on his shoulder. She could definitely get used to this.

Chapter Eight

After a relaxing, peaceful late lunch of pizza, Derek and Krissy settled on the couch to finally talk about his condition. He explained that he couldn’t really remember much about how it had happened. He just remembered going to a party one night during his senior year of high school and waking up in a field the next morning covered in what looked like dog hair and blood. Mortified, he'd searched around, expecting to find a dead body. He’d found one. It just wasn’t entirely human.

“The best I can guess,” he murmured, “is that someone had been experimenting with wolf and human DNA. There was a genetics lab a couple towns over, so I think whoever was doing the experiments decided to try it on people. Everyone knew our school’s seniors partied every Friday night, and all the teens would be drunk. It was the perfect opportunity for someone to slip in unnoticed and find an unsuspecting lab rat, so to speak.

“A few of my peers started acting weird over the span of about four months, but no one really paid much attention to it. Everyone put it down to finals pressure and hormones.

“The body I found that morning had been torn to shreds, but there was enough left intact to see a wolfish appearance to one of the kids I went to school with. Difficult to recognize but not impossible. I remember flashes of that night, kids dancing and laughing, a strange face talking to me, then screams and running feet, flashes of fur, claws and teeth threatening me…then nothing.” He shook his head, as though trying to clear cobwebs from his memories.

“I don’t think I was the only one used as a lab rat that night. Whoever did this clearly wanted to see what would happen when several teens were dosed at the same time, what different genes would mean. I remembered enough to figure out there was a fight resulting in that boy’s death. I was injured but alive.

“Come Monday, the kids at school gave me a wide berth, but no one was saying anything. No one was totally sure what happened. They just knew I was involved somehow. The cops couldn’t explain it, and it eventually became a cold case. The parties stopped after that, and no more kids seemed affected.”

Derek continued, reciting the events like they were nothing more than a horrible nightmare, and in a way, that’s what they were.

Krissy gave him her undivided attention, her legs crossed as she sat sideways on the couch watching his face as he spoke, looking down at his hands.

He resumed his sorry tale. He couldn’t remember much about the times he became the wolf, but he knew that it was only after particularly bad days at school. As senior year drew to a close, he found that his only remaining friend was Sondra. She didn’t understand what was going on. She hadn’t been at the party that night because she was grounded at the time. All she knew was her boyfriend was being ostracized, which only brought them closer.

By the time they graduated and had decided on moving to England together, Derek had gotten a firm hold on the wolf, regaining some form of normalcy. Previously, he’d wanted to study law, with the big dream of becoming a top-notch lawyer for a big firm, but with the number of animals he had injured and killed over the last months of school, he’d decided he would become a veterinarian as a sort of penance.

“I ended up loving my work, being able to help animals. It gave me such a thrill to help life after taking so much. Dan was the only human I’d ever attacked, and it was in self-defense. Don’t get me wrong, to this day I still feel bad about what I think happened that night. I just didn’t feel it was enough to outweigh the injuries I inflicted on the local animal life.”

They sat in silence for a few minutes as Krissy absorbed everything he’d just told her. Her heart cried out for what he had gone through – what the town had gone through.

“Did it ever occur to you to try and track this person down?”

“Of course, but I had no idea of how to go about it at the time, and I doubt the person would be traceable now – not after so long.”

They sighed in unison. The weight of his story permeated the room. Krissy shook her head clear of all the gloomy feelings and stood up, grabbing Derek’s hands. The eager look on his face had her giggling. “Not that, silly. We need some fresh air. There’s a beautiful park nearby with a cute little pond. I suggest we get out, go for a relaxing walk, and shake off the past.”

He looked pointedly at the short, red robe he was wearing, bringing out another giggle. “Oh, right. How about I get dressed then open your door and you dash across when I give the all clear? It’s only a narrow hallway, you should be alright.”

“Sounds like a plan to me.” He flashed another of his bright, wolfish grins and her heart skipped a beat. She doubted she would ever take his smile for granted.

Once they were both dressed, they headed out, waving to Mike at the front desk, who cast an envious look at the charming man beside the strong beauty that was Krissy.

“I don’t think Mike is too impressed you’re showing such interest in me considering you just moved in yesterday and he’s been working here for a few weeks.”

Still in view of the front desk, Krissy giggled when she felt Derek’s hand slide down to grab her ass. She glanced up at his face, lit by an incredibly mischievous grin. Walking down the sidewalk to the park, they giggled like fellow conspirators in a master plan.

It was a beautiful afternoon for a walk. The warm sun, complemented with a gentle cool breeze, resulted in the park being a popular space for the local retirees. As Krissy and Derek walked around the pond hand in hand, they passed many a smiling couple, seemingly approving of the lovers. Within a few minutes they were both giddy with delighted embarrassment, and decided to sit on the next bench, grateful it was empty so they could have some peace and quiet. The best thing about the bench was the shrubbery growing around the sides, giving them some privacy, yet, leaving enough of a view to watch the ducks on the pond gobbling up bread thrown to them by an elderly couple.

The couple lost track of time as they sat watching the ducks being fed, swapping idle chitchat as the sun dipped behind the tall buildings. After a while they got up to head back. They were almost the last ones at the park, since most of the other people had already left for home. They completed a lap of the small pond and had started to stroll toward the street when they heard shouts coming from a large SUV that had just passed them by. Dread filled Krissy’s chest as they heard tires spin, the driver having kicked the large car into reverse gear.

“Oh crap!” she muttered, recognizing the license plates as belonging to one of James’ brutish buddies. “I didn’t think he’d come in this soon. He must have composed himself quicker than I expected. I guess you really pissed him off.”

She felt Derek stiffen beside her and she wondered if he was considering letting the wolf out. She waved him down. Krissy didn’t want things to start off as a confrontation. If possible, she would rather try the path of peace.

James stepped out of the rear door of the SUV, clearly trying to look intimidating in his black suit and white tie. To her eyes, he looked like a scared little bully trying to regain his reputation.

Krissy watched as James straightened his suit, allowing time for a couple of larger men in plain shirts, jeans and sunglasses to step out of the car and stand to either side of him, arms crossed. She had to bite back a snort of derision. He was being so cliché it was almost hard to remain worried. Feeling Derek at her side, bristling in his struggle to hold the wolf at bay, sobered her mood and served as a reminder James meant business.

“What do you want, James? Can’t you just take no for an answer and make all our lives easier?” Krissy stepped forward with her hands open in the hopes of keeping everyone cool enough to discuss events. She made the mistake of stepping within James’ reach as he slapped her hands away with one hand and hit her face once again with his other open palm.

This time Krissy managed to stay on her feet. Knowing Derek was so close gave her a strength James had not anticipated. She straightened up with a small smile on her face and stared him down, lips drawn tight as he backed away, eyes wide. Feeling Derek step in close, she pressed her back against his chest to show he was her choice. He drove the point home by resting his left hand on her shoulder, and the warmth of his palm gave her even more strength.

Neither Krissy nor Derek noticed James give the other two men a signal, but suddenly they were advancing. She felt Derek gently pull her around to stand behind him so she was out of harm’s way. Reluctantly letting him move in front of her, Krissy watched his form subtly change and felt fear grip her heart. She did not know what was about to happen but she knew it would not be good.

The two meatheads suddenly rushed Derek and the three men crashed to the ground. Krissy barely made it out of the way in time. As James’ bullies started laying their fists into Derek’s stomach, all she could do was cover her mouth in horror and hope he would land a few blows of his own.

Reaching into her bag for her cell, Krissy felt a hand around her wrist, squeezing it painfully. Looking up she saw James standing next to her with a grin of pure malice twisting his normally handsome face into an ugly mask.

“No calling the cops now, you bitch. This dog is getting what is coming to him and you are coming back to me whether you like it or not. Now watch!” he spat in her face. He jerked her arm around so she faced the fight and refused to let her go. Gritting her teeth in pain, she tried to pry his fingers away but to no avail.

James’ grip suddenly tightened, causing Krissy to gasp as fresh pain hit her wrist. She glanced at his face to see a frustrated and unbelieving frown on his face. Daring to hope, she looked up to where Derek had climbed out from under the two men and was now looking distinctly wolfish.

“What are you waiting for you morons? There are two of you and one of him! Brad! Karl! Jump him!” James screamed.

Krissy glanced around in the hopes of seeing someone on the street, someone who could call the cops since her left arm was immobilized and she dared not risk James’ wrath by moving her right arm. Her stomach filled with dread as all she saw was an empty street – highly unusual for this time of day.

It was then she saw the black SUVs parked under the lights at either end of the street, blocking entering traffic. They were far enough away the honking horns were muted and no one could see what was transpiring at the edge of the park. Her heart sank as she realized no one was coming to help them.

With tears in her eyes she looked at Derek. It was the beast, not the man, staring out of those brown eyes. The wolf’s steady knowing gaze matched her look of devastation. Krissy stared at him where he stood with his back against the SUV as Brad and Karl charged him again. The speed of the wolf as its instincts controlled Derek’s body astounded her. He ducked to use a coat-hanger movement that took out the legs of both brutes. She flinched as their faces crashed into the pavement with sickening crunches.

The wolf stood up and slowly approached James as he stood frozen, his hand still painfully gripping her wrist. Wolf-Derek reached out with his furry hand to take hold of James’ wrist. Krissy heard bones crack and her tormentor whimper as Derek tightened his grip like a vice. At the same time, she felt the pressure on her own wrist lessen and she soon had her hand back.

Daring to glance away from the scene, she dove into her bag to fish out her phone. Hearing what she thought was thunder she glanced up in confusion only to see Derek trampled under Brad and Karl. Clutching his wrist, James reached into his pocket and pulled out a needle, stabbing Derek in the neck. Krissy was motionless from shocked horror at what she was witnessing.

“What are you doing?” She finally managed to scream as she ran to his side, the three men now just standing over Derek’s limp form. His eyes slowly getting heavy, she watched him fight whatever drug was now pumping in his veins. He reached up and held her cheek in his hand. Covering his hand with both of hers, she sent as much love through her gaze as she could. A tug at his lips told her he understood.

“Don’t worry, Krissy, your rabid pet is just having a nap.” She heard James’ now raspy voice behind her as he struggled to keep his voice steady from the pain in his wrist. Feeling him close in, she refused to acknowledge him. As she felt a prick in her own neck she realized her mistake too late. “Now, it’s your turn.”

The world faded as the pavement rose up to meet her head on.