Moonlight Kin: A Wolf's Tale (3 page)

A hand waving frantically back and forth caught her attention. Madie released a tense breath as relief flooded her. Sarah had scored places over by the windows, right in front of the model’s platform.

Madie smiled and gave a quick wave back. She ignored her classmates’ curious glances and hushed whispers as she threaded her way through the crowd. She should be used to the gossip about curses and werewolf hunters by now, but the chatter still hurt. When Madie made it to her seat, she opened her case and put her drawing pad onto the easel, then hugged Sarah, who’d jumped up to greet her.

Though close friends, they were as different as spam was to filet mignon. Sarah was the type of woman who grasped life with both hands, tasting and experiencing whatever her heart fancied.

She had dark luxurious hair, sun-kissed skin, and a bawdy personality, while Madie’s white blonde hair clashed with her dark, guarded demeanor. She was the first to admit that she had trust issues. When you grew up cloistered in the Valois family, it was mandatory.

Sarah may not realize it, but Madie lived vicariously through her, since her own personal experiences didn’t extend beyond the pages of a book—thanks to years of private tutors, personal bodyguards, and homeschooling.

To grasp life by the horns would require interacting with other people, trusting them. Madie had neither the social skills nor the inclination to do so. She was just happy that she’d managed to find one person to call friend. Madie glanced over at a couple of students who snickered at her, then turned away.

There were worse things in life than only having one good friend. Like having no friends at all.

Sarah held a green pouch in her palm. “Look what you forgot.”

Madie took the pouch. “Saved me again. What would I do without you?”

“Forget your head.” Sarah laughed and then plopped down on the stool next to her.

“No doubt. Speaking of losing my head, I nearly lost it last night after the movies. By the time I made it home, I’d managed to scare myself silly. Next time, we’re watching creature features in the afternoon.”

“Wimp.” Sarah chuckled.

Madie clucked like a chicken, which made Sarah laugh harder, then she untied the ends and rolled the pouch open to reveal the various pencils inside. Double-checking their sharpness with the pad of her index finger, Madie laid the pencils out in front of her blank canvas and absently arranged them in a straight row.

“The model should be here any minute,” Sarah blurted with barely restrained excitement in her voice.

“Sarah Ann, you act like you’ve never seen a naked man before.”

“I’ve seen plenty of naked men. You’re the one who hasn’t.” Sarah arched a brow in challenge, daring Madie to deny her claim.

Blood rushed to Madie’s cheeks. Blushing easily was an unfortunate trait she’d inherited from her mother. “I’ve seen a naked man before,” she muttered.

“Walking in on Jerrod, Tom, Steven, or Michael coming out of the shower doesn’t count. They’re my brothers.” Sarah gave a mock shudder. “Let me just say for the record, ‘Ew’. Just thinking about it might send me to therapy.”

“Did Steven say that I did it on purpose? It was an accident. I swear.” Madie pulled at the collar of her sweater, trying to cool her heated skin. It wasn’t her fault Sarah’s brothers made a habit out of leaving the bathroom door unlocked while they showered in the morning.

When it came to men, Madie knew she could talk a good game, but in the end that’s all it was—talk—she didn’t have any firsthand experience. And it wasn’t due to lack of trying on her part.

Between homeschooling and her family’s kooky reputation, Madie hadn’t experienced much of anything, which was just the way her father liked it. From as early as she could remember, he’d drilled it into her head that she had to remain pure of heart, mind, and body. Thanks to his overprotectiveness, she’d become a social pariah.

Sarah, on the other hand, was known to her friends as being a big flirt. Strangers preferred harsher terms like slut or whore. Her friend wasn’t a whore, but women can be cruel when it comes to judging other women, especially if those women are prettier than they are and catch the attention of their boyfriends. Sarah loved sex and refused to be ashamed by that fact.

Like Madie, Sarah had started college late and her reputation kept her from making a ton of girlfriends. In each other, they saw a chance to have what they’d desperately needed in their lives. That had been over two years ago and their friendship was still going strong.

Sarah had celebrated her twenty-fourth birthday the week before. Madie’s head still ached at the thought of
that
overindulgence. She refused to think about the fact that her own birthday was closing fast and would be upon her in two weeks. Once she hit twenty-five, her fate was sealed—or so her father claimed. Madie didn’t believe in curses or fate.

Stop being so melodramatic. Try to enjoy the time that you have left.

Curse or no curse, Madie was stuck with going through with Papa’s silly initiation. He was determined to bring her into the
fold
. The only reason he’d allowed her to go to college was because he’d promised her mother before she’d died that Madie could have two years of freedom.

That freedom had cost Madie her inheritance. Gaston had put a freeze on her account that wouldn’t be lifted until after her birthday, and even then, it wouldn’t happen unless she returned.

“Are you still planning to go home the week after graduation?” Sarah asked.

Madie nodded.

“Are you really going to let your father put you through that silly woo woo stuff?” Sarah voiced Madie’s unspoken concerns.

“I don’t have a choice. I promised,” Madie said. Not that she needed a reminder. It was the only thing on her mind next to graduating. “We need that money to open up the art gallery, remember?”

“I remember,” Sarah said. “But everyone has a choice.”

If she had any other choice, she would’ve already made it. “Not me.”

None of this would have occurred if her mother were still around. Papa hadn’t been the same since her death. Instead of grieving, Gaston had turned his attention on her. Madie couldn’t seem to do anything right.

Gaston had always been gruff, but lately he’d become domineering. He wanted to know where she was and who she was hanging out with at all times. He questioned her appearance, especially her hair color. Like it was her fault that she’d been born with blonde hair, not red.

He’d even gone so far as to hire a man to follow her and keep tabs on her movements. When one brave guy got the courage up to ask her out, Gaston paid him to go away, then suggested an arranged marriage instead. Fatherly devotion was quickly becoming obsession.

For the first time in her life, Madie
feared
her father and what he might do.

But she’d vowed to her mother that she’d follow her dreams no matter what. If that meant pacifying Gaston and going through with some ridiculous initiation, then so be it. She’d look after the old musty books and pretend to be the next great white hunter. He’d just have to get over the fact that she wasn’t going to kill anything on her watch.

“What about a loan?” Sarah asked.

“You know I can’t get one without my father co-signing.”

“You’re almost twenty-five years old.”

“I’m aware of that. I am also painfully aware that I have no real credit. Banks frown on that sort of thing.” She grinned. “Besides, Gaston has mom’s fortune my inheritance spread out in all the banks in the area. No banker in his right mind would risk losing the Valois’ business to appease a broke college student.”

“What about out of the area?” Sarah asked.

“I barely make enough to cover rent and expenses. I wouldn’t even qualify for a cheap car loan,” Madie said.

Sarah’s expression grew serious. “So where does that leave you?”

“Up a creek, paddling with a teaspoon.” She shrugged. “I’ll have to go through the motions. Pretend to become ‘Madie the Mad Slayer’, then the money will be mine.”

Sarah laughed and rolled her eyes. “Sounds easy.”

“Yeah, easy,” Madie murmured, hoping against hope it would turn out to be.

Her final year of school was almost up and things hadn’t worked out the way that she’d planned. Graduation was next Saturday and she was no closer to realizing her dream of owning an art gallery. Before she could get too depressed about it, the door flew open and banged against the wall.

Everyone jumped. All eyes turned, riveted on the man who’d walked into the room.

Madie’s breath seized in her lungs.

“Whoa! Talk about making an entrance. I’m in lust. I think I just met my future ex-boyfriend.” Sarah kept her voice low, so only Madie could hear her.

She glanced at Sarah. “You’re so bad.”

“You love me and you know it.” She winked. “I better double check my supplies, because I’m not about to miss an inch of him.” Sarah’s gaze scrolled down the length of the man before reversing direction.

Madie’s eyes were drawn to the statuesque man lounging just inside the doorway. He wore a white towel around his trim waist and from the looks of it, nothing more.

Sable-colored hair flowed wildly from his head as if someone had been running their fingers through it all night. Maybe some lucky woman had. Madie tackled her thoughts before they went any farther.

Sinewy muscles rippled beneath tanned skin to form his exquisite chest. Dark hair arrowed south down the hard slab of his abdomen, ending in a perfect ‘V’ at the white towel snugged around his waist.

No stranger to the gym or a hard day’s work, his well-developed arms were lined with veins and flexed with the littlest of movements. The muscles in his long legs rippled with silent power as he shifted his weight. Yet the man wasn’t bulky. He looked built for speed, agility, and most of all,
sex
.

Lots and lots of sex.

His relaxed stance screamed confidence. It was the kind of confidence that made his nakedness seem as natural to him as breathing. The kind of confidence that Madie would
never
have in this lifetime. Yet her palms itched to touch him.

His hazel eyes assessed the room slowly, before coming to rest upon her. First
contact
felt like a visceral punch to the gut. Madie stared unblinking—captured by his gaze as he studied her with a curious intensity.

Voices faded. The room seemed to shrink around her, closing in until only the two of them existed. Madie fell into those deep gold-flecked pools, trapped by the liquid honey promises she saw there.

The heat of attraction crackled in the air, sending shivering sparks over her skin. Her heart thundered. Torn between the need to flee and the urge to jump into his arms, Madie clutched her easel.

His unwavering gaze continued to bore holes through her, probing, searching, and studying. But that wasn’t what freaked Madie out. It was the hunger she saw, lurking just below the surface. She’d never seen anything like it, nor had that kind of hunger ever been directed toward her.

She attempted to steady herself, her mind a mixture of fear and desire. . .yet still he held her, refusing to let go.

Dr. Montgomery cleared her throat.

Blinking, the model broke eye contact. Madie felt her energy drain and she dropped back onto her stool, unaware until that moment that she’d even risen. Her nerves tingled like a thousand tiny needles prickling her skin. She took a shuddering breath and slowly released the easel, pretending to smooth the blank paper.

What in the world just happened
, she wondered. Her body ached from the loss of contact.

Yet he hadn’t
physically
touched her.

“Are you okay?” Sarah’s question penetrated her dizzying thoughts.

Madie’s lids shot open. “I-I’m fine, why?” She swallowed hard and squared her shoulders, forcing herself to sit up straight.

“It seemed like you were about to run across the room and jump his bones. Not that I blame you, but that’s more my style, not yours.” Sarah’s green eyes narrowed as she searched Madie’s face. “Are you sure you’re feeling okay?”

She took a deep breath and slowly released it. “Y-Yeah, why wouldn’t I be?” Madie gave Sarah a reassuring smile, even though she was shaken from the incident. “I had a head rush, probably from not eating.”

“Head rush?” Sarah laughed. “Is that what they’re calling lust these days?”

“Sarah!” Madie gasped.

“Oh please, you know it’s true. He’s yummy.” Sarah glanced at the man once more. “Do you know him?”

“No!” Madie said with a little too much force, as she gazed at the model. It took effort, but she finally drew her eyes away from his perfect form. “No,” she repeated calmly, sure beyond a doubt that she’d never met him before. Madie ignored the little voice in the back of her mind that said she’d like to. “Why do you ask?”

Sarah snorted. “Because he sure looks like he knows you. Or wants to.”

“Don’t be silly.” Madie’s voice cracked, coming out in a high-pitched squeak. “He was probably looking at something out the window.”

“I doubt he finds the parking lot fascinating.” Sarah grinned. “I’m telling you, Madie, he looked at you like a starving man looks at a turkey sandwich with a side of gravy fries.”

Madie glanced back at the model. “Well, he’s not looking at me now,” she said, unable to hide her disappointment. She’d spent her whole life dreaming of storybook moments and not once had they happened…until now.

The model spoke softly to their professor in a deep rumbling baritone. His bronzed shoulders blocked much of the conversation from the class. Whatever he was saying must’ve been good because Dr. Montgomery practically purred in response. She’d obviously forgotten she was married.

Madie curled her fingers in to fists. The Professor’s not so innocent reaction tore at her insides and it only got worse when the woman leaned into the man’s bulk, lightly placing her fingertips on his thick bicep. He flexed under her touch, and then flashed the instructor a devilish smile that showcased his dimples.

Could he get any hotter?

Madie wanted to scream at her professor to get away from him. She wanted that smile for herself. Strike that—she needed it. The possessive feelings frightened her because they were so utterly foreign. The truth hit Madie a second later—she was
jealous.