Amy glared at her friend Brian. If he didn't stop yelling, she was cutting him out of her non-existent will. She'd had it. He didn't even care that the drugs were barely out of her system. He didn't care that her face still hurt. Oh no, he was more interested in pounding her head with his words."Enough, Brian. If you don't stop, I swear, I'll have the hospital remove you.""Try! You are a stupid, idiotic, fluff-for-brains female." He scowled down at her. "Shit! I don't know why I even bother."As he stormed from the room, Amy knew he would be back and that she deserved the long lecture. He loved her like a sister, and as with any sibling, his anger would cool. It just wasn't going to happen while the evidence of the assault on her face stared back at him. Once she healed, she would apologize and invite his wife and him over for his favorite dinner.Amy's mind reviewed the events of the past twenty-four hours. Her head might be groggy, but she remembered bits and pieces. The one t
Marcus reached for the ringing phone and frowned at the caller ID. They always left a few members of the pack behind as protection. He had a bad feeling. "Yes.""Sir, a Miss Amy Cox showed up at the city estate and asked to see you. When I informed her, you were not in residence, she ordered me to relay a message." After a pause and no response from his boss, he went on, "Tell him Amy Cox from the alley was here.""Thank you, Conner." Marcus's fingers tightened on the phone. A crack echoed through the room. Having read her article, he knew what she left out and that she was aware of more than they thought. It tormented him that he should have killed her in the alley but didn't. Now because of acceding to Alba's wishes, they were all at risk.Alba trotted into the room on four legs. Marcus knew she felt his emotions and had to wonder at his anger. His gaze met her soulful one as she rested her head on his knee. She came to soothe him; she was always like this when she carried a baby.
When Amy decided to make the trip, she didn't expect to be welcomed with open arms. She definitely didn't imagine anyone would know who she was, let alone act as if they anticipated her arrival.That was her second surprise. The guard at the gate was her first. He was gorgeous. Were all the men working for Marcus Lincoln beyond drop-dead movie star gorgeous? Maybe Marcus was gay, if so, that would explain a few things.The man who opened her car door was no less striking. His hair was the same brown as her rescuer but that was where the resemblance ended. His eyes were green and he had a body built like a Mack truck. It took every bit of nerve not to flinch when she recognized him as the man with the hypodermic needle. Before she could react, the largest dog she ever saw pushed beneath her hand and dug its nose into her crotch.She had always been an animal lover, though the size of this dog made her nervous, they were her favorite pets. The man behaved as if it were a dog but she t
Lunch was brought to her room with a folded note on a silver tray. "Dress for dinner," whatever that meant. Amy wasn't sure if she was a prisoner or not, no matter what Hypo Man said. She decided to test the waters.With her K9 companion at her side, she made her way down the long hallway. Incredible western artwork was displayed on the walls. She wasn't familiar with the artists but she knew expensive art when she saw it. The staircase was beautiful and reminded her of Tara from Gone With the Wind, although she didn't feel like Scarlet. She didn't see anyone as she walked out the front door. The grounds were endless and she could see a path on the right side of the house. She walked through the pine trees, loving the smell. Pine needles softly crunched under her shoes. It was obvious the trail was well used. In the distance she heard a noise. Through the trees, about thirty feet away, she saw another hybrid wolf running even with her and Al. Piercing eyes followed and Amy could tell
Amy sat down hard in the chair behind her. She heard what Ivan said, but it didn't register. Her heart was beating like a hammer. Al raced into the room, looked at Marcus and growled. "It will be okay, Alba, pull your teeth in. Our guest is smarter than we realized and keeping secrets will only cause her to continue digging. We can't have that."Al bared her teeth, threatening Marcus.Marcus rose from his chair, pushing it back suddenly. It flew across the room and slammed into the wall. Amy jumped from her seat, thinking Marcus was going after the dog. She was staring at them both, not sure what to do. In the blink of an eye, the dog became a beautiful woman. The woman who cared for Amy the night she was attacked. She was not only gorgeous she was completely naked.Amy collapsed back into her chair. Spots were appearing before her eyes. She never believed people fainted over something they saw. She might be wrong."Alba, what are you doing? This is not good for you while you're pr
Despite having her world turned upside down, dinner arrived and it was delicious. The conversation flowed, though Amy never dreamed they could discuss this subject matter with no one ending up in a loony bin. She was a journalist, and her investigative mind set in. They answered every question she asked without hesitation and that surprised her more than anything."Does it hurt to change from wolf to human or back again? Are you allergic to silver? Do others exist?" The questions went on and on, at least about the wolves, vampires were another story. When Amy finished asking everything she could think of, she asked the one question in the back of her mind that would not leave.Looking at Marcus she said, "Do you drink blood?"He looked at her and simply said, "Yes.""Do you kill people when you do it?"Alba laughed this time and answered. "We take care of Marcus' needs. That is what the wolves do. We have cared for him for many years and will continue as long as he is alive."Alb
The arm holding Amy was firm but not tight. She could smell his body. It had a unique scent. She saw his nostrils flare and wondered if he smelled her too. He affected all her senses. She first noticed it when she saw him on the television screen. Having him this close was torture. She didn't know how to make him release her arm. It made her uncomfortable and she could feel the unexpected warmth of his hand. She thought vampires were cold. Her mind still had trouble processing what she saw and heard. She remembered reading a time travel novel many years ago. It was entirely too "way out there" for her, and she kept thinking while reading that the heroine too easily accepted the things that happened.Now, maybe she understood. How do you deny it when someone shoves it in your face? She had a lot to think about and wanted to get everything straight in her head. She did not want to be alone with Marcus.When they arrived outside her room, Amy hesitated. Marcus released her arm and opene
Marcus had an appointment to keep and he looked forward to it. Ivan would be waiting at the pit. It was the location of punishments, fights for position and fights to the death. He would not kill Ivan but he would make a statement. Occasionally it came to this with the wolf, he was the alpha of his pack and though he knew Marcus was stronger, it was in his blood to challenge. When they engaged in battle, it burned off steam and right now they both needed the release. He couldn't get Amy out of his mind. Her scent, her laugh and just her presence was more than he could take right now. Ivan also needed to know he was making his claim. Amy was off limits to all the wolves. She was his. He knew it as soon as he saw her again.Other wolves were already surrounding the pit. Word spread fast throughout the family when a fight or challenge occurred. The pit was about fifty feet in diameter and twenty feet deep. Its use to settle differences and establish the pecking order commenced more than