Pleasured By The Dark & Damaged (6 page)

Lobo stood outside, flanked by two snarling man-wolves. The gleam in his eye was triumphant. I growled at him and bared my teeth.

Barret rose to his hind legs and roared. He stepped in front of me.

Lobo motioned to the two at his sides. They rushed forward.

One leapt upon my werebear, knocking him to the ground. They rolled over into the snow.

I met the attack of the other. Before he could sink his teeth into me, I caught his throat between my jaws. Flesh tore under my sharp teeth and he fell, disabled on the ground. I spit his blood into the snow.

Lobo stood a few feet from me. He gazed at me with admiration and spoke to me in his hoarse and unnatural voice.

“It would be a shame to let someone like you die, Ula. We need wolves like you. Better I turn you against your will, than lose you.”

He moved fast, faster than I had thought possible for one of their kind. I couldn’t get out of the way.

And then, the shot rang out.

Lobo suddenly fell to his knees before me. Black blood dripped down his forehead and his eyes rolled back in their sockets. I turned away to see from where the shot had come.

A Montana Highway Patrolman stood before me, his body posed in a shooting stance. He didn’t have a shotgun this time. In his hand he held a 9mm pistol.

It was Rankin, one of the werebears from the roadblock. He was not alone. His colleague, still armed with a shotgun, came to Barret’s aid.

Barret and I reverted to our true forms and watched as the werebears dispatched the rest of the werewolves. The leader approached us when they were through.

Barret rubbed his shoulder. “Good thing you came along when you did.”

“How did you find us?” I asked.

“We knew you two were bounty hunters the second we laid eyes on you, so we put a little tracking device on the truck. We figured you’d lead us to the prize.” His eyes narrowed. “We’re not going to have to fight over this are we?”

Barret slipped an arm around my naked shoulders. “He’s only worth $5,000 to us now, Toots. Mickey wanted him alive.”

Lobo had returned to his human form. He looked peaceful lying there in the snow.

“Take him,” I said to the Patrolman. “He’s past caring now.”

Rankin nodded to us and stooped to carry the body away. I watched him go, and a tear slid down my cheek.

When Barret spoke, his tone was gentle. “We have to get out of here, Toots. A lot of questions are going to be asked about this, and I don’t want to give any answers.”

I nodded and followed him to the truck.

We had been on the road for an hour before Barret spoke. His tone was cautious.

“You know, Toots. We make a pretty good team. You can’t smell or hear as well as me, and I can’t see as well as you. It’s like we…we…”

“Complete each other?” I didn’t look at him.

“Yeah, we complete each other. I think we should keep things the way they are.”

“You want to be my partner?”

“Yes. We still need to capture Loco.”

“It’s on a temporary basis then?”

He turned away from the road for a minute and caught my eye. “Toots, you’re the hottest thing I’ve ever seen coming down the trail. I was thinking of a more permanent partnership.”

I smiled at him. “The hottest thing coming down the trail?”

“That’s right, hotter than any woman ever.”

I rolled my eyes. “Don’t overdo it, Loverboy.”

“I only speak the truth. And when I get back, I’ll have Mickey fire Coral myself.”

The truck drifted into the other lane. I grabbed the wheel and pulled it back.

“Ok, Loverboy, you’ve got a new partner. I have to warn you though, wolves mate for life.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way, Toots. Or, should I call you Ula now?”

I shook my head. “You know, Barret, I actually prefer Toots.”

He grinned. “Toots it is.”

Paranormal Romance

The Alpha called for me again. It was the third time in the last week. He must have had another horrible offender I needed to find. I was getting damn tired of being his bona fide lap dog, but all I had to do was think about Levi to grit my teeth and do as I was told. He was a bastard, and any infraction called for hunting down other shifters as if they were common criminals. The only crimes they committed were showing their disdain for Julius.

I stomped into his ‘chambers’ and bowed, as per instructions. He got a kick out of making others miserable, and if he didn’t hold something more important to me over my head I’d slit his fucking throat and save all of us from his rule.

“Yes,” I said and smiled sweetly. I couldn’t hide the fiery hate that grew on a daily basis. He didn’t care as long as I kept my mouth shut and followed orders.

“I have someone you need to find and bring back to me. Make sure he can speak,” he said and chuckled.

I smirked too. He made me hunt these big ass shifters down. Most of them said something I didn’t like, so I showed them why I was the tough-ass bounty hunter they had heard about through the grapevine. Most of them tried to run. They knew why I was sent for them, and even if I didn’t agree with why, I had no problem subduing them. Levi was more important than anyone I came across, so their fate wasn’t my business. I didn’t care as long as I was able to keep him safe.

“Who?”

“Maybe you should be saying what, this time. He might make things…difficult for you.”

I rolled my eyes. “Why’s that?”

Julius shrugged and smiled evilly. I swear the man had no reason to still be alive. “He’s one of those pesky White Dragons.”

I gasped. Shit. Dragons did not like to be messed with, and white ones were rare. “What did he do?” Normally, I refrained from asking. I didn’t want to know anything more than I needed to, but this was different. Dragons were notorious for being loners. They didn’t like other shifters, especially not wolves. They felt they were the superior shifter species. Not only did they shift into magnificent beasts, but they could also wield magic.

“It wasn’t him, really. His family, but they're dead now, and he's the only one left. I want him here under my care.”

I shuddered. No, he wanted to try to control the dragon. I wanted to laugh. No one controlled a dragon. He was out of his fucking mind. I wasn’t too interested in tangling with a dragon, especially a pissed off one, and if he was dealing with Julius than I could imagine he wasn’t happy.

“I see.”

“It shouldn’t be hard to find him. He isn’t even trying to hide. He’s just that confident I won’t send anyone strong enough to him, but he doesn’t realize how strong you are. You’re my secret weapon.”

“Not much of a secret anymore,” I muttered.

He raised a brow, and I knew he heard me.

“Well, regardless of your status, you’re still the strongest wolf.”

“So I go get him and bring him back; then what?”

“You and Levi are free to go.”

I froze, and my mouth fell open. He must really want the dragon if he was going to give Levi and I our freedom. “Are you shitting me?” I didn’t even bother to cover up how I spoke.

He rolled his eyes. “No, I’m fairly certain I’m not “shitting you,” he said. “Please Rae, you’re a lady—”

“That kicks shifter ass better than any of the males you know,” I finished for him. He couldn’t deny that.

“True, but yes, if you successfully bring me the last remaining White Dragon, you and your brother are free. I don’t care where you go, and I won’t stop you from trying to join another pack if that is your desire. I imagine you’ll go rouge.”

I gulped. I hadn’t gotten to see Levi much in the past few years, and it was getting close to his transformation. I wanted to be there for him, to help him through the first shift. He was the only family I had left.

“One White Dragon coming right up.”

“Don’t incapacitate him.”

“I’ll do my best. I won’t maim him, but I won’t take his shit either. He’ll be breathing when you get him.”

“Very well,” Julius replied, and I heard his weary tone.

I couldn't help but smile. He’d done this to me. I was a mean sonofabitch that only took shit from one person, and that was only because I had no choice.

“Where do I find him?”

“He’s been hiding out in the old warehouse.”

I was taken back. I wasn’t sure why he was sending me. Anyone of his other wolves could get the dragon. He was close. It wouldn’t even be a challenge. “Okay then. I’ll be back.”

He didn’t respond, and I spun and walked out of his chambers. I wasn’t sure, but this seemed too easy. There was something I was missing, and I was certain I’d figure it out as soon as I met Mr. Dragon. He wouldn’t come easy. Hell, I could end up fried. Normally I didn’t worry about a job, but this one set me and my wolf on edge. She whined at me, and I knew there was nothing I could do to soothe her. We had a job to do, and it was the last job keeping me from my baby brother.

I loaded up with weapons, but I had to make sure I didn’t do any permanent damage to the dragon. Apparently Julius wanted him for something pretty specific.

Leather was my best friend. I don’t know how many injuries I’d avoided because leather was best when fighting supernatural beings. It could get a little rough and messy. There were bound to be falls, skids, and broken bones. This way my clothes stayed whole and protected my skin. I tied the halter around my neck and sighed. I so didn’t want to do this. Not today, with the moon so full. I wasn’t tied to it like one might think, but it certainly set my wolf on edge. She always wanted to come out and play. I was edgy, and I couldn’t quite figure out why.

I went outside and put my helmet on before straddling my motorcycle. In the back of my mind my wolf was urging me forward. It was confusing, because she should have been trying to get me to stay. Instead, she yapped in my mind. I didn’t know what was going on, but this was a hunt she was excited about.

The warehouse was huge, a piece of shit on a secluded dirt road. A lot of bad stuff had happened in that warehouse. I shuddered and parked outside of the fence that had so many cuts in the wire it was useless. People used the old, run down building for all their seedy operations. Anything bad that went down in town usually took place here.

The dragon was a smart dude, but I was smarter. I’d lost count of how many of my bounties had been living somewhere inside of the building, or how many of them used it as their stomping ground. I knew the layout of this building backwards and forwards.

I kicked my foot against the metal kickstand of my motorcycle and made sure my bike was standing before swinging my leg over. The sun beat down on my bare shoulders and I tipped my head back, taking in the warmth. I could almost taste my freedom, but I wouldn’t get my hopes up. Julius usually didn’t lie, but if there was a loophole, he always found it, and I was absolutely certain he would try to find it in his agreement with me. I opened my side bag and took out my favorite blade. I couldn’t maim the dragon, but I could be threatening. He’d probably laugh in my face. A knife came in handy for more than one reason, though. I slid the blade into the sheath around my thigh. I didn’t hide it; there was no need to. I brought it more because of the comfort I felt with it strapped around my body. I didn’t need it.

As soon as I stepped inside of the fence I felt the dragon’s magic, and sucked in a breath. He was fucking powerful as shit. The magic knocked me right on my ass, and I growled, cursing as I picked myself up off the ground. “You better back the hell off, or I’ll have to hurt you.”

Again, I felt his magic. Only this time it was different. It wrapped around me and coated my skin as if it were feeling me up and trying to get to know me. I rolled my eyes. “Stop feeling me up, you prick.”

His laughter echoed through the broken windows, and I froze in place. I couldn’t move or breathe. My wolf bounced in my mind yipping excitedly. “Oh hell no,” I whispered.

His laughter died, and all was silent as his magic was yanked from me. As soon as it unwrapped from my body I felt cold, and my wolf whimpered at the loss.

I grew cold inside as I felt real fear for the first time. There was no way in hell, it wasn’t possible! I felt parts of my body tighten and groaned. Stomping towards the entrance I shook that fucking feeling off, chastising my wolf.

‘Down girl.’

In return she snorted at me and started pacing and whining. Shit.

This put a damper on my plans. There was no way my beast was going to allow me to attack. Not now. I was screwed as I pleaded with her. We needed to save Levi.

“No, we need to get the dragon to help save Levi. Be smart, sneaky.”

I smiled and nodded. When my wolf was satisfied I had listened, she lay down and let me go to work. It was hard to concentrate when you had an animal inside your head yelling at you.

I yanked the door open and right off its damned hinges. There was no need for quiet or stealth. He knew I was here, and the closer I got the more anxious I became. I shivered, and goosebumps covered my exposed skin. In the distance I heard the drip, drip, drip of a leaky water pipe. The pipes creaked and groaned throughout the whole building. It grated on my damn nerves, but I was getting close to the room. The main room all shifters liked for some reason. There were no windows, and it was naturally cold and small.

The brick walls were painted a bright yellow, and one might think it was cheery, but weird shit happened in the room, almost as if it were alive. Apparently the dragon was attracted to it as well.

“Here wolfie, wolfie.” He made that sound, the one a human makes when they call their dog, and I growled.

“I’m not a fucking lap dog,” I said, and my voice echoed through the building.

His chuckle did nothing to calm my unease. When the dragon stepped out from behind a corner, I froze. He was only a few inches taller than me, but the amount of power wafting off of him was enough to take out an entire army of the strongest wolves. His pale white hair was held back and his steel gray eyes narrowed on me. He was thin and had sharp, angry features. His mouth curled up into a smirk, but I knew he wasn’t really happy to see me.

He chuckled, and his voice caressed my skin. My body jerked of its own accord. My wolf went nuts trying to break free, but I held on tight to my control.

Even though his eyes showed surprise, his tone was the absolute control. “You’re the big bad hunter everyone whispers in fear about?”

I growled, thoroughly offended, but smiled, showing the shine from my canines. Sure, let him underestimate me. Most did, and each and every one paid for pissing me the hell off. I got joy out of every shifter who thought he could get away from me. Playing chase was my wolf’s favorite game, and it was one she didn’t lose. Already she pranced in my head, wanting to play. Only the game she wanted to play this time wasn’t on the menu. When she growled at me I was shocked. Never before had we had a defiance issue. We worked as one and respected each other. That’s the way it was supposed to be with the beast. He or she was an extension of the human’s body, mind, and soul.

My wayward thoughts fled my mind when he stalked toward me, and I held my head up high, my body tensed and ready to kick his ass if he so much as laid a finger on me.

The dragon circled me, and with each step the laughter died in his eyes as he took in my scent, and the scent of my arousal. It couldn’t be ignored or covered up. Wolves had the best noses, and Dragon’s welded magic, but dragons were also a very superior species. Their scenting abilities came very close.

When he closed his eyes and buried his nose in the crook of my neck I gritted my teeth and refrained from ripping his head off—or his clothes. Either way, this dragon was trouble and I knew when I felt the tip of his tongue behind my ear where my scent was the strongest, that I had met my match.

I shuddered and tried to growl, but instead I whimpered. Dammit. “Get off of me.” It was a warning he didn’t heed. Instead, he crowded closer to me. His magic wrapped around me like a warm blanket, and all the tension left my body.

He licked my neck, tasting me, and groaned. “No. I think I like where I am very much at the moment, but why did your Alpha send such a delectable wolf to bring me in? Am I being rewarded?”

The words that came from his mouth made me want to punch the shit out of him, but there was something about his tone. It was as if he struggled to keep his defiant badass persona. I smiled.

“If you want to keep your tongue you’ll refrain from putting it on my body again,” I said sweetly.

When I turned my head his face was so close I could feel his breath on my cheek. The scent of him was driving my wolf insane. She basked in joy when he nuzzled my cheek, and for a second I lost myself, nuzzling him back before I realized what I was doing. Pissed that I had let my guard down, I flipped the dragon and slammed him to the ground, the move so quick even he couldn’t have seen it coming. His back landed against the cold cement with a thud, and my boot was at his throat.

He looked at me with a mix of surprise and desire, and groaned when I dug the round tip of my boot into his throat. Somehow I had a feeling that that had only made things worse—for me. Then his lip curled up into a grin and his eyes dilated. Shit. He liked it rough. My shoulders dropped, and I moved my boot from his throat. He stayed down and stared at me as if I was the best grade of meat. He wasn’t going to let this go.

Everything I’d learned about dragons came from the rumor mill. They were snotty creatures, but when they mated it was the all-encompassing, possessive, protective, fall on your ass kind of love. The kind everyone dreams of having, but they know it’s unattainable. Well, not so much with the magical species. They had that kind of love. They were the most loyal, and would lose their temper in an instant, and if their mate was threatened, well—all hell broke loose, and the person who fucked up better hope the dragon made it as quick as possible, because there was nowhere to hide once they had your scent.

I sighed. There was nowhere for me to hide now that he had my scent. “Well get off the dirty ass floor. Really, you’re smarter than that.”

He chuckled and levitated from the ground right to his feet. It was eerie, and I stepped back.

“What? A little magic scares the big bad wolf?”

Rolling my eyes, I held on to the anger. Anger was good. It kept me grounded. It also kept me from tackling his ass to the ground and having my way with him. I was a sexual beast by nature. Add in a bit of delicious smelling dragon and things were about to get heated. I needed to control my bitch, but I wasn’t sure I could. When his eyes flared and he stepped closer, my body vibrated. I held up my hand. “Stay back,” I warned.

He took the step and smiled. “Or what?” he asked in a whisper.

I closed my eyes and rolled my shoulders. I needed to be mad, but everything in me rejected the anger. He was mine, and I couldn’t be mad at him. I needed him. The feel of his fingers, as they wrapped around my wrist, shook me to the core. My eyes shot open and he was there. His thumb rubbed along the inside of my wrist in a slow move that was more seductive than I imagined. “I’m going to hurt you,” I said, but there was no heat in my tone.

“Uh-huh, you get right on that.” He tugged me roughly, and I was crushed against his body. Fire lit my veins and the touch was too much. My eyes widened and then my vision faded in and out. I tried to fight the pull of his magic, of his beast, but they were stronger than me. The pull of the ‘call of the mate’ was irresistible, and I found myself floating in the darkness. There was no escape. I was as good as his, and there wasn’t a damn thing I would do about it.