JoshDreams assaulted me in technicolor, the frantic images of past hunts, of running with my father from rangers and hunters, of hiding in caves and hollow trees. Always in movement,always running from something, my father's face always closed and sad.Beep-beep.Something shrill woke me from my dreams. I shook myself awake, looking around for the source of the noise. Pietra's cell phone. I tapped my muzzle in a vain attempt to shut him up. One of the downsides of being stuck in my wolf form… no opposable thumbs.“Urrrgh. Pietra rolled over, throwing one arm out and hanging up the phone without opening her eyes. I felt a flash of shame at myself. I fell asleep. I was supposed to be guarding Pietra, but I was so exhausted from the night before and all the running…but Pietra was fine. She was still alive. That was all that mattered. I swore never to let my guard down again.Pietra stroked my cheek.“Hey Josh.His voice sounded hoarse with sleep. The eyes fluttered open, the long lashe
Pietra“ Pietra—” Josh tapped on my car window. I knew he'd followed me back to the Mini, but I was too upset to turn around and look at him. Annoyed with him, yes, but also irritated with myself. I couldn't believe how I acted earlier, falling into Josh's arms as soon as he touched me. I shouldn't do this. I was supposed to yell at him until he understood that he couldn't treat me like his property. But one look into his green eyes and I melted like ice cream in the Brighton sun.Embarrassed, I looked down at my jeans and turned the key again.The damn car picked a good time not to start.“Pietra! Josh snarled. “Open this door so we can talk.- Not now. “I kept my head down. I didn't want him to see how red my face was. “Take Caleb back to camp."And just parade it around in front of everyone?" What do I say to Frances?“Tell her he's her long-lost werewolf cousin who tried to kill her last night and wants me to fuck him, even though I've never seen him. I don't know Josh. Do somethi
- No. I walked away, my head over my shoulder. I pulled hard on the steering wheel. Josh backed away as the Mini bounced across the rutted road, dangerously approaching the wide ditch. At the last second, he straightened and I stumbled towards Crookshollow, Josh's abandoned face haunting me in the rearview mirror.Fuck him with his caveman attitude . I couldn't believe the way they were acting, fighting over me like I was the last piece of steak on the barbecue. I thought the best way to solve their problem was to have them work together to protect the family legacy. Besides, it would be good to distance herself from Josh now that he was human again. My body still throbbed with desire for him. I wanted nothing more than to walk around the car and go back to him, begging him to take me hard over the hood. But then I was just telling him that acting this way was completely normal, and it wasn't.I was just starting to gain control of my life after Dad and Ben. I wouldn't let anyone take
Derek chuckled and went into the kitchen. I heard the kettle start to boil and the clink of wineglasses.I stretched out on the couch and kicked off my shoes, like I always did when visiting Derek's cramped apartment. Living with three other guys, no one would ever notice the smell of my thick wool socks.“I was just wondering if you could help me with some research."Absolutely," Derek replied. "Is it about the cave paintings?" - How do you know that?“They're all over the news. It's quite an exciting discovery. I bet Ruth must be thrilled.“Ruth?“You know, being the first person to discover the paintings. Derek cleared a space on the table and set down a steaming cup of tea and a brimming glass of wine. “I bet she gets her name in all kinds of archeology textbooks now."I'm the one who found them!" I yelled, banging my head on Derek's couch in frustration. Derek chuckled and pushed his wine glass towards me."I can see you need this more than you need the tea." Not that you're bitt
Article by Misty SharpePietra Sinclair, 22, the girlfriend of climber Ben Brownstone, who died horribly when he fell off a cliff in Crookshollow Forest five months ago, wasted no time in getting back into the carefree lifestyle. We interview Sinclair at a remote site in the same forest, where she is working with a crew on a dangerous cave treasure hunting expedition. When asked if the caves were dangerous, Sinclair exclaimed excitedly that there were slipping and falling hazards and lamented that a local park ranger was making them follow safety guidelines.Adrenaline junkie Sinclair took us to see the newly discovered cave paintings, despite neither this reporter nor her photographer wearing proper shoes. She dismissed our concerns about the safety of the caves, saying she wouldn't let something like her boyfriend's death stop her from living her life. She then asked us not to print that specific statement…No. My throat closed up. This can not be happening.I scanned the rest of th
“I mean the real thing. Derek gave me an intense look. "Take me to see the paintings."I stopped.— Oh. I don't know…"What is it, Pietra?" What harm can it do? I've visited you in places before. I will not fall into a pit of scorpions.Was it a good idea, with all the craziness around right now? Josh's face flashed through my mind. He had said something today about another wolf, a wolf he had killed. I knew Josh would be upset if I took Derek to the farm, knowing the black wolf was watching us. But Derek knew a lot more about this sort of thing than I did, and he could point out a few more features of the paintings that we hadn't noticed.It definitely wouldn't hurt to try.Josh will have to accept. He's not driving this. I am.I opened my phone and checked the schedules of the various news outlets that Frances had given me."Why don't you go tomorrow, around nine in the morning?" We have a film crew arriving around ten, so you'll have plenty of time to look at the paintings before t
Well, maybe life was too short for me to give up on Josh. I was lucky to love Ben, but he's gone now. And Josh… he's definitely not gone. He made my body feel like no one else did, and he made me want to be daring and excited and adventurous. I haven't felt like this in a long time.All of this was so complicated. I wish someone could tell me what to do . But that was the old Pietra talking, the one who accommodated everyone else's needs at the expense of herself. The one who didn't go to Cambridge and leave her country school in a Sicilian village for the wet and miserable forest of Crookshollow. I wasn't sure it was that girl anymore.I got out of the shower, wrapped myself in a towel, and walked down the hall to my room to find clean clothes. I was digging through my underwear drawer when I felt a strong finger slide down the side of my neck.“I love a girl who's wet for me,” a husky voice whispered in my ear.I leapt a mile into the air, my heart pounding against my chest. My towe
Also, my skin burned from his touch. I didn't want him to stop. In truth no.- I understood. Josh gripped my shoulder, his face suddenly serious. “I didn't mean to flirt. It's hard to resist when you're naked, wet and beautiful. I really came over to talk and make sure you were okay. I was worried about you. I didn't like the way we left things, especially when there are at least two dangerous wolves out there."So you thought about breaking into my house and scaring me?" How did you get in anyway?“You left the front door unlocked. I needed to check that you were safe."I'm fine Josh. Just a little irritated. I don't like being talked about as if I were some kind of commodity to be traded.“I understand, and I'm sorry. It's the wolf in me. He comes to the surface sometimes, especially right after a full moon. All that adrenaline and instinct still hasn't left my veins. We are very possessive, especially about our mates. It might seem a little primal if you're not used to it, but no o