Lup Teren (Wolf Land Series Book 1) Page 6

  “Why doesn’t he like you?” she continued, willing him to answer.

  “I am sorry about what happened to your friend, Miss Jacobs. Really. But it was necessary.”

  “Stop being so bloody cryptic,” she snapped through gritted teeth. “It’s annoying as hell.” He smirked, enjoying her agitation.

  From outside, a car door slammed and she turned back to the window in time to see Antonio exit the black Jeep. Excited to see him, she ran to the cabin door, flung it open, and jogged out to meet him. The sight of him like salve on a festering wound. Happily, she took a couple of filled, plastic grocery bags from his arms.

  “Miss me?” he playfully teased.

  “Always,” she said, leading them back to the cabin. “Don’t leave me alone again.”

  “Nicolae is here,” he reminded.

  “Nicolae is not you.” She nudged his elbow playfully. “Did you bring back some reading materials as I requested?”

  “I did,” he said with a smile. “A got a few magazines and…wait for it…” He pulled out a bag of Maltesers with an overly dramatic flourish.

  Dropping the bags of groceries on the cabin’s wrap-around wooden deck, she tip-toed, looped her arms around Antonio’s neck and placed a chaste kiss on his cheek. For some reason, he blushed.

  “You remembered,” she grinned childishly.

  “Of course, what kind of best friend would I be if I didn’t remember your favorite treat?” She tried to say something cheeky, but he cut her off saying, “It was a rhetorical question.” A mock pout appeared on her lips making him laugh.

  “Is it your turn to watch me yet?” She felt hope rising.

  Glancing at his watch, he shook his head and hope got thrown out the window into the path of a speeding semi-tractor trailer.

  “Another hour or so and it will be my turn. Can you hold off that long?” Shrugging her shoulders she bent, picked up the bags that had fallen when she hugged him, and brought up the rear.

  “Can you ask him if you can start your shift a bit early?”

  “Nicolae is a stickler for the rules,” the well-built, surfer-dude informed offhandedly. “Never breaks them. He always does things by the book.”

  “Bollocks,” she groaned.

  “C’mon, help me put away the groceries.” Antonio turned and entered the cabin giving her a view of his back and his…

  Without shame, she stared at his firm, delicious arse. The desire to take a nibble out of the tempting body part suddenly took over her cerebral cortex. Catching herself having impure thoughts over her friend’s obvious asset, embarrassment heated her entire face and she hoped her olive complexion was enough to conceal it.

  An hour later, as scheduled, Antonio took over guard duty while Nicolae went to patrol the cabin’s perimeter, leaving them alone in the cozy, romantic edifice.

  “That’s not a flush,” she chastised with a smile, when Antonio tried to collect the hand.

  “Yes, it is,” he said on an indignant snort that only made her smile wider.

  “Where did you learn to play poker, Mars?” she taunted.

  “You are so not funny,” he replied, stretching his long limbs above his head. The motion caused his t-shirt to ride up, giving her an impressive view of tanned, washboard abs that screamed to be touched. It took all of her willpower not to touch. Glancing at his watch, he asked, “Are you ready for bed?” Her mouth went drier than the Sahara.

  More than you’ll ever know, she thought to herself.

  “Huh?”

  Her mind strayed to all of those very naughty things she’d like to do to those incredible abs of his. Not to mention the other just as tasty parts of his anatomy. Stop that! She chastised herself. He’s your best friend, not some… Oh! Antonio’s bulging biceps caught her attention as they strained against the cotton material of his shirt. When did he get so yummy? What was she thinking? He had always been yummy, but as a best friend he was totally off limits.

  “It’s a little past ten,” he informed trying to suppress a yawn.

  “I’m not a senior citizen, thank you very much.” His laugh made her lower regions quiver in the good sort of way.

  “You’re right. Twenty-two is not senior discount age at the cinema.”

  “Exactly,” she beamed, trying her best not to look at his full, pouty lips. The plump mounds begging to be kissed. Get a grip, Raina! That’s such a monumentally bad idea.

  She didn’t realize she had said the words out loud until he questioned, “What’s a monumentally bad idea?” His head slightly tilted, the candlelight reflected in his dark, sultry eyes.

  “Nothing, just think’in about rubbish,” she mumbled. Thank goodness her lies had gotten better with age.

  “Okay,” he shrugged. “Help me with the dishes.”

  “Sure.”

  Awkwardly, she stood. Her foot tangled in the material of the oversized floor cushions and fell head-first toward the coffee table. Unable to regain her balance, she braced her hands over her face, closed her eyes, and waited for the feel of wood against her skin, but it never came. Slowly, she opened her eyes to see Antonio’s arms wrapped around her…again. A rather large grin on his devilishly, handsome face. Before she could right herself, his head descended and his mouth claimed hers.

  At first, she resisted. Determined to keep their friendship strictly platonic, but when his tongue pushed against the seam of her lips, demanding entrance, she couldn’t deny her own desire any longer. Allowing him into her mouth, his tongue sought out hers, teasing her with long, wet glides and quick mind-blowing flicks. Within seconds, she was a lump of silly putty in his hands, willing to be shaped into anything he wanted.

  “Mmm,” he growled low in his throat, but it wasn’t like the ones he usually did when he was upset. It was more like a growl wrapped in a breathy moan. The sound made her nether region dampen. Pulling away a few inches, he sniffed. “I can smell your arousal.” His confession made her gasp, but she was too turned on to care. “It smells like warm honey.”

  “Cheeky bastard,” she moaned, right before he fastened their lips together once again. She ignored his stubble chafing the delicate skin on her chin and cheek. It was so worth it. He was so worth it.

  She’d only been with two men before. Her boyfriend during her last year of secondary school and another bloke over a year ago. Neither man had ever affected her as much and as quickly as Antonio did. Every cell in her body wanted to tear off his clothes and devour him. Mine.

  As their appendages entwined, rough hands cupped her waist holding her securely against his hard chest. With their ten inch height disparity, the evidence of his arousal poked her right above the bellybutton. When did he grow that monstrosity? It felt like an overgrown cucumber was hidden beneath his trousers.

  “Raina, I’ve missed you so much,” his words whispered like a prayer.

  “I’ve missed you too,” she whispered back, unwilling to release him.

  Gently, he pulled away a few inches, his arms still holding her to him. “I love you.”

  The unmistakable sound of her heartbeat accelerating preceded the sound of her blurting, “What?”

  “I’ve loved you since we were teens,” he admitted without shame. “I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want to lose your friendship if you didn’t feel the same about me.”

  Heat and desire warmed her from the inside out. “Antonio, I…”

  “Don’t say anything,” he said grinning that endearing lop-sided grin of his. “It’s a surprise, I know. Now that I have a second chance to be with you, I’m not giving you up without a fight.”

  His declaration brought her back to terra firma just as a loud cough made them both turn in the direction of the front door. Nicolae stood in that all too familiar stance glaring at them as if they were on exhibit at Ripley’s Believe It or Not. His angry expression was hard not to miss.

  “It is your turn to patrol, wolf.” The word laced with contempt, for him or maybe for them both. “Miss Jacobs should tu
rn in for the night.”

  Instead of arguing, Antonio gave her a kiss on her lips, lingering a bit longer than he needed too, turned on his booted heels, and headed for the door, bumping Nicolae on the shoulder as he passed.

  She, on the other hand, could only stare at the retreating man she’d thought of as only a friend for almost her entire life with new eyes. Raina wanted to chase after him. Hold him. Kiss him. But instead, she held her ground. The knowledge he loved her weighed heavily on her heart as well as her mind, and sleep suddenly seemed like the best course of action. Although, after such a passionate kiss she doubted she’d get much rest.

  Chapter Nine

  “Raina,” Antonio gently shook her awake, “your father’s on the satellite phone. It’s time.”

  In a half-sleep-half-awake stupor, Raina made her way to the living room where Nicolae had set up a laptop and camera system on the dining table so they could see as well as speak to her father. The man who seemed to hold all the answers to her many questions.

  Sitting on one of the hard dining chairs, she gazed at the monitor where Richard Jacob’s face took up almost the entire screen. Warm, hazel eyes peered back, and a small smile played at his lips when he saw her.

  “Hello, sweetheart,” his endearment softened the anger she felt building inside.

  “Dad,” she replied in a clipped tone.

  His handsome, tension-filled face hardened as he asked, “How are you?”

  “How do you think I am?” She nodded to the men who stood nearby. “I’m stuck in this damn place with Cheech and Chong watching my every move. No offense.” Giving them a smirk before adding, “I’m going out of mind. I have a job that I’ve had to call out sick. Who knows if I’ll have a job to go back to when this is all over.” She stood, and then sat again, wanting to run past her bodyguards to freedom.

  “You had to resign from that position,” her father informed sternly as he glanced away.

  Defensively, her arms folded across her chest and eyes narrowed. “I never resigned.”

  “I made the decision for you.” Richard’s body became rigid as they glared at each other. “I had Gretchen send your editor your letter of resignation.”

  “Bugger!” she snapped. “You had no right to do that.” The vein near her right eye suddenly started to jump like it was another pulse. “I love that job. I’ve dreamt of being a journalist since I was a teenager.”

  “I’m sorry, sweetheart, but you’re no longer safe there.”

  Suddenly, her temples began to hurt. A damn migraine was setting in. Great!

  Antonio saw her discomfort and headed for the small, galley-style kitchen. “I’ll get your tea.”

  “No,” her father ordered. “She won’t believe me if she takes it.”

  What the hell was he talking about?

  “What’s going on, Dad? The truth, please.”

  “I had hoped never to have this conversation with you, but I guess fate doesn’t care about that.”

  “I don’t understand,” she whined, the pain in her head strengthening. “Fate? What fate?”

  There was a long, pregnant pause before he stated, “I am pack.” His words escaped in a rushed jumble.

  “Pardon…say again,” she requested, clearly not hearing what was spoken.

  Richard Jacobs leaned a little closer to the monitor, mustered his courage, and explained, “I am the Supreme Alpha to the British Clan and you, my dear daughter…are my heir.”

  Shock slammed into her, hard. “Pack?” she repeated feeling the acid in her stomach begin to boil. “As in…Werewolf pack?” Her esophagus felt as if it had been sewn closed, and the migraine that was coming…came.

  He shook his head. The throbbing in her temples felt as if a tiny entity was inside her skull stabbing her with hot pokers. She winced unable to control the pain. Antonio came to stand behind her, putting a comforting hand on her shaking shoulders, but she pushed it away.

  “You’re lying,” she hissed. “This is all some colossal joke. Ha! Ha! You’ve got me.” She stood again and began a methodical pacing of the living area, fingertips pressed against her temples to ease the growing pressure.

  “Calm down, Miss Jacobs.” Nicolae took a cautious step forward. His hand resting on an intricately carved, silver-handled dagger she hadn’t seen before. Carved on the hilt, a picture of a man and a wolf entwined together. “Take a deep breath and lower your blood pressure.”

  “Yeah,” Antonio chimed-in, in a more soothing manner, “pull it together.”

  “Tell me the rest.” She stopped her pacing long enough to stare at her father, who looked even more worried. “I know there’s more, so just spit it out. There’s no turning back now.”

  “Your mother, Elaina, was Romani.”

  Stopping in her tracks, she asked, “Like Nicolae?”

  Richard nodded. “She was the sole heir to the Southeastern European Romani Assembly,” his voice became raspy like he was holding back tears. “You are her only child and therefore…”

  “Bugger.” Raina’s knees buckled, causing her to settle on the cold, wooden floor in a rumpled heap.

  Completely focused, he ignored her outburst. “…the leader of her clan.”

  “You’ve got to be fuck’in kidding me,” she mumbled, staring at the wooden planks below her hands and wishing the ground would open and swallow her whole. Realization dawned. “If I’m her heir…and yours…then I’m part werewolf and part hunters…that makes me…”

  “It makes you something…else,” he finished her sentence with the equivalent of a neutron bomb.

  “This isn’t possible.” She struggled to stand, but couldn’t.

  “It was written in the ancient scrolls,” Nicolae interjected, his hand now firmly holding the hilt of the dagger.

  “Maybe this is enough information for one day.” Antonio, the only one who seemed to be concerned about her mental health, crouched beside her on the floor. Strong hands massaged her aching back.

  “What’s my role in all of this shite?” She didn’t care if her speech offended her father or not. He was miles away and shielded from her fury. “I assume it’s something important if I’m being kidnapped and made to leave my life behind. Go on Dad, finish this.”

  Taking a cleansing breath, he finally responded. “You will unite the warring factions. Werewolves and Romani brought together to fight an even more powerful and more deadly enemy. It is your destiny.”

  “Who said it is my so called destiny?”

  “The ancient scrolls predicted your arrival,” Nicolae repeated, finally removing his hand from his weapon.

  She laughed. The sound hollow and contrite, scaring the men in the room as well as herself. “And how do I do that? Unite the two sides, I mean. What’s so special about me?”

  Her father continued, “You are what the ancient scrolls prophesied over two thousand years ago, the blending of werewolf and hunter. You, my dear, are the Hybrid and you must fulfill the Covenant.”

  Chapter Ten

  All the air in the room felt as if it were sucked out by an invisible vortex, leaving Raina’s body feeling like it was hovering weightlessly in space as a rush of heat and pain surged through her tremulous limbs.

  “Shite!” she gasped for breath, looking up into Antonio’s face, sadness and concern in his features. “What’s happening to me?”

  “You’re about to experience your first change,” Antonio grimaced trying unsuccessfully to hide his apprehension.

  “Breathe through it, damn it!” Nicolae bellowed in the background, making her temperature raise another couple of degrees.

  “Cabron!” Antonio shouted back. “She can’t control it. You’re making it worse.”

  From some abyss inside of her, a mind-numbing pain began to grow. It started in her abdomen, spreading into her limbs, coursing along her veins and finally settling in her cranium. The unseen ax that hacked at her skull was more bearable than the feel of her bones snapping and breaking and then reforming, making
her body convulse and spasm. Even her stomach revolted, lurching all of its contents onto the floor where she lay doubled over in agonizing pain.

  “Give her the tea.” Nicolae’s face reddened, as his accent grew thicker and harder to understand.

  “No,” her father commanded, his expression masked.

  “I can’t feel my hands,” she screeched as long rivulets of tears began to cascade down her cheeks, staring down at her fingers she understood why.

  Long, sharp, black claws replaced fingernails, tiny droplets of blood glistened where they attached to the skin. Holding up her hands, she blinked several times trying to get her eyes to focus. The amount of pain now reached past the point of being manageable. In her current state, death would be a welcome visitor.

  “Make it stop!” she whimpered. “Please…make it stop!”

  Through the pain, she realized Antonio was still beside her. Where Nicolae was she had no idea. Nor did she care.

  “Sweetheart, you can’t stop the change. You’re too far gone.” He took her chin in his palm and calmly ordered, “Let go of your control, Raina. Let your beast take you.”

  With those words he stood, moved back until he was standing in front of Nicolae, who was behind the sofa, a protective stance of his own became noticeable.

  “Antonio,” she gasped, the sound pained, harsh and much deeper than normal.

  Her best friend smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “It’s alright, sweetheart. Give in to it. Feel as it courses through your veins, burning through muscles, bone, and cartilage. Feel as it transforms who you are into who you will be. Just let go my love,” he coaxed. “Let go.”

  And she did.

  Closing her eyes, she endured the searing pain as bone crunched and blood boiled. Lungs filled then sharply deflated. Hair grew and thickened. Teeth elongated and fangs appeared. She felt as her limbs twisted and transformed into something else. Something stronger and wilder and more dangerous than anything she had ever felt.

  And when it was done she looked up into the faces of her two bodyguards and…barked?