Lup Teren (Wolf Land Series Book 1) Read online

  What! The! Hell!

  *****

  “Stay where you are,” Antonio ordered Nicolae, his eyes darkening to almost black, his wolf pushing against the confines of his skin. Taking a deep breath, he turned back to Raina. “Sweetheart, I know you’re scared and upset and you have every right to be.”

  Another eardrum-shattering bark echoed throughout the room as the large, beautiful, ebony-colored wolf with hypnotic hazel eyes speckled with burnished gold flecks arched her back, fangs showing in warning.

  “Get her under control.” Nicolae’s hand went for his knife again, but Antonio shook his head no.

  “I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Antonio warned flatly. “She’s already agitated and seeing that won’t help…at all.” Nicolae paused, and then slowly released the handle. Turning back to Raina, he implored, “Try to calm down enough for me to talk you through this.” Her furry head tilted as she listened. Her snarl disappeared and her eyes focused on him. “That’s a good girl,” he added soothingly. He knew he’d pay for that remark later.

  Nervously, she stepped forward, sniffed his crotch, which surprised the life out of him. Nicolae and Richard gave him a disparaging stare. Finding it more than a little humorous, he chuckled at their apparent irritation. He, on the other hand, didn’t mind. That’s what canines did. To them it was similar to shaking hands.

  “Are you sure you know what you are doing?” Nicolae didn’t try hiding his doubt.

  “Sweetheart,” he said ignoring Nicolae as he knelt. Slowly, lowering his head, eyes locked on the floor, knowing the submissive position would make her feel less defensive. “Come here…that’s right,” his voice composed and comforting. Playfully, he scratched behind her ears when she was close enough to touch. A soft whimper escaped her throat, followed by a wet, flick of her tongue across his cheek. “Hey,” he chastised without heat, “not in front of company.”

  “Antonio,” a warning growl came from the direction of the monitor.

  “Sorry, Mr. Jacobs.” Raina nudged him with her snout, her wet nose tickled him making him chuckle. “C’mon, you’re gonna get me in trouble with the boss.”

  “You have had your fun, wolf.” Nicolae took a step forward…and it was the worst mistake he could have made.

  Instinct surfaced and without warning Raina leaped forward, tackled the gypsy to the floor and sank long, white teeth into his left wrist. Snarling and shaking her head, she pinned him in place. The smell of blood causing Antonio’s own wolf instincts to manifest, eyes darkened and the need to shed his human skin clawed at him. Somehow he fought it.

  With all of his strength, he grabbed Raina around her chest and pulled her off of Nicolae, who had managed to force her mouth from his wrist. It took both of them to pry her off the rest of the way, and drag her to the bedroom where they threw her inside and slammed the door, locking her inside the room.

  Just as they moved away from the door, the sound of cracking and splintering could be heard as Raina threw her powerful body against the wooden barrier. It bowed from the force, but didn’t break. A few seconds later, she did it again. After the third unsuccessful attempt to break through, silence came.

  “She must have tired herself out,” Nicolae whispered, tying a kitchen towel around his hemorrhaging wrist, the bleeding under control for the moment.

  Antonio cocked his head and listened with his amplified hearing. Uncertainty poked at him with an annoying finger. It was too quiet.

  “Raina has never given up. Ever,” he informed.

  A minute later the sound of shattering glass came from behind the tattered door.

  “Mierda, the window!” he yelled at no one in particular, rage battering down upon him. “I’m gonna have to track her.” Nicolae reluctantly shook his head in agreement, but a nervous look played on his features. “Don’t worry,” he smirked, “I had a big dinner and I’m sure you’d taste terrible.”

  “Shut up and find her, Antonio,” Mr. Jacob’s voice startled him, and he realized the man had seen and heard everything.

  “Yes, Sir.”

  Quickly, he stripped out of his clothes then got down on all fours. Clearing his mind, he imagined his body turning into his wolf. He had done this hundreds of times during the last few years and thankfully with every change the process became easier and less painful. In less than a minute, the transformation was complete and he looked up to see Nicolae starting at him, knife clutched tightly in his uninjured hand.

  Disregarding him, he rammed the already semi-broken door and ran inside when it fell open. Swiftly, he dashed toward the shattered window, leapt forward, careful not to touch the jagged glass that hung in the narrow opening.

  Outside the air was crisp and cold. Perfect weather for a hunt. Sniffing the air, discerning prey from predator, he caught scent of her. Lilacs, honey, and her unique wolfy-scent. It was sexy just like her.

  Taking off at top speed, he followed her through low-hanging branches covered with moss. Over toppled tree trunks decorated with wild fungus clinging to their bark. Into a cold, crystal-clear stream that made him shiver.

  Pausing briefly, Antonio sniffed the air again followed by the pine needle littered ground and then took off heading west. Several minutes later, he found her hiding inside a hollowed-out log near the same clearing he had tracked her to the previous night.

  She whimpered when she saw him. The smell of blood in the air and the smear of it on her jet-black fur caused his hackles to rise once more. Cautiously, he got down on his belly. With head lowered, he crawled to her, his ears pinned back submissively. A soft whimper escaped her as he approached, the sound making his chest tighten. Her safety was his ultimate concern. The hell with Richard Jacobs, the Romani and the Covenant.

  “Raina, sweetheart,” he spoke with her through canine growls, whimpers, and barks. “I’m not going hurt you. I’m not going let anyone hurt you.” She barked her understanding. “Listen to me carefully. I’m going talk you through shifting back.”

  Thankfully, she let him get within inches of her before she growled low, showing her teeth again. Even in her pissed-off state she was beautiful. When he was close enough, he licked her ear, nuzzling her with his head until she relaxed. He whimpered too, telling her in their language what to do to change back.

  Ten minutes later, the captivating woman he loved was staring back at him…hazel eyes to brown. Thank heavens.

  Chapter Eleven

  Raina had never been so embarrassed in her whole life. Not even the one Halloween she’d worn a low-cut Elvira costume and one of her breasts popped out of her push-up bra in front of the entire boys’ varsity football team could top how she felt right now.

  “I can’t face him,” she said, eyes closed refusing to look at her friend. “I’m a monster.”

  “Look at me, sweetheart. You’re not a monster.” Antonio watched her, an unknown emotion on his face as he said, “Nicolae will understand. As a wolf, our emotions are heightened, anger turns to rage, and when fear kicks in. Well, you know what happens. All hell breaks loose.”

  “I can still taste his blood on my tongue,” she grimaced, still looking down.

  “Does it taste as sweet as I do?” Nicolae’s accented voice came from a few yards away.

  Refusing to look at him, she said, “I’m so sorry. I didn’t…I’m truly sorry.”

  “It is alright. I would appreciate it if you do not let it happen again. I will not be nearly as understanding the next time.” He smiled to ease his comment.

  “Believe me, it won’t happen again.”

  “Here,” Nicolae said in a hushed tone, handing her one of his own large, black tshirts and Antonio the jeans he wore earlier. “Put these on. This is not a nudist colony,” he jibbed with a playful wink.

  “Thank you.” She felt a little better, until she realized she was still naked…in the woods…with two freakishly gorgeous men staring at her. Please…someone shoot me now.

  A loud gunshot rang through the eerily quiet night making
them all jump.

  “I was only joking about the shooting me now bit,” she mumbled as Antonio pulled her out of the log and to her feet, maneuvered the t-shirt over her head and helped her get her arms into the sleeves. She’d be embarrassed later, when she was hopefully still in one piece.

  “Get her back to the cabin,” Nicolae requested. His words boomed over the second shot. The deadly object whizzed past his head, missing him by a couple of inches before lodging in a nearby tree trunk. “Hurry!”

  Those were the last words she heard as Antonio grabbed her hand and started running back the way they came. Angry shouts and colorful curses could be heard several feet behind them, but when she glanced over her shoulder, no one was there. It was a task keeping up with Antonio, who ran much faster than her, but she was still able to keep up. That knowledge made her feel better.

  “Do you think you can turn into your wolf?” His brown eyes were full of concern, concern for her.

  “I don’t think so,” she admitted. “I’m not sure how it happened before.”

  “No worries,” he responded without looking back at her. “Just keep up as best as you can.”

  A little out of breath, she was able to wheeze out, “What about Nicolae?” The image of the Romani with an injured wrist and an unknown number of opponents concerned her.

  “He’ll be fine. He’s Romani.”

  “One day someone will have to explain to me what that means exactly,” she replied with a confused expression.

  “I promise if we get out of this in one piece I’ll tell you everything I know.”

  “I’m holding you to that,” she stated breathlessly.

  They ran for more than fifteen minutes. Somehow the journey seemed much shorter when she was a wolf. Finally, the lights of the cabin shone in front of them. Relief washed over her, that is, until she caught sight of the two large men on the front porch. Two large men with two large shotguns. Her mouth went dry and her palms began to sweat.

  Trying to get her attention, Antonio grabbed her hand as they crouched behind a wide hobblebush.

  “Stay here. Don’t move until I tell you to. Understand?” She shook her head and watched as he quickly tore off his pants, shifted and disappeared into the surrounding bushes.

  The air stilled again. The sounds of once chirping crickets ceased and Raina cocked her head to the side to listen for Antonio. Fear for his safety overwhelmed her. Stooping low, she parted the bush to get a better view.

  Just several yards in front of her, the men still stood in their previous spots. The low-hanging moon revealing the barrels of their shotguns. As she continued to watch, dread and despair threatened to consume her. Where the hell was Antonio?

  As Raina examined the scene, a shadow appeared at the corner of the cabin moving swiftly. If she blinked, she’d miss him. On padded paws, Antonio’s wolf crept toward them, head low. When he leapt, he landed on top of the nearest man’s chest. A deafening pop came from the shotgun, missing him as her best friend caught the man by the neck and ripped out his voice box. Blood splattered everywhere. Raina fought the urge to vomit.

  The next man, turned swiftly, aimed and fired. An anguished yelp escaped from Antonio and she froze, knowing that the bullet had hit its mark. Distress hitting her like a ten ton weight.

  “Antonio!” she yelled as she stood, revealing her position.

  Surprised by her outburst, the other man turned and pointed the gun at her. Without thought, she leapt forward, throwing her body against him with all of the power she could muster. Temporarily off balance, he flew backwards hitting the unyielding deck, his breath momentarily knocked from him.

  “You bitch!” the guy snarled, face suddenly beginning to change. Hair sprouting from his pores. Nose extending into something that resembled a snout. His eyes turning from light brown to a darker shade, but before he could finish the transformation, Antonio was on him, scratching and biting and ripping limbs away as if they were made of paper.

  “Oh, shite!” she groaned, clapping her hand over her mouth to keep from screaming.

  He didn’t stop until there was nothing left except a mangled heap that resembled a man.

  Antonio’s beast sat there looking at what he did then suddenly let out the most pained howl she had ever heard. The guilt-filled sound made her shiver.

  “Are you okay?” she questioned, holding back tears, but unable to suppress the quiver in her voice. Her eyes immediately locked onto the small trickle of copper-scented, garnet liquid that matted his thick fur. Cautiously, she extended her hand to him, happy when he gave her a quick reassuring lick, then turned and disappeared into the woods.

  Several minutes later, he returned with Nicolae following closely behind. The muscular Romani had a few more cuts and scrapes, but looked no worse for wear and the kitchen towel was no longer wrapped around his injured wrist.

  “I got the other two,” Nicolae relayed in a detached tone. “I do not know if I should be relieved or insulted that they only sent four,” he sneered.

  Antonio, on the other hand, bolted past, ignoring her completely and went into the bathroom still in his wolf.

  “Is he okay?” she asked the on looking hunter.

  “He will be fine.” Nicolae’s face softened into a slight frown. “This was his first kill.”

  The full meaning of what he had done for her was devastating. Antonio was a pacifist. He had always been. He’d never killed anything, not even insects. He’d catch and release them when he thought no one was watching. She was certain he would hate her forever.

  *****

  By morning, they’d left the cabin and drove south, to where…she had no idea. Antonio hadn’t said anything all morning. Which made her feel worse. Every fiber of her being wanted to crawl over the front passenger’s seat into the back where he pouted and hold him. But she didn’t.

  “How’s the wound?” Raina finally mustered the courage to ask her other brooding companion.

  “He is fine,” Nicolae scoffed, answering for him, nodding toward the silent Spanish Lycan, “it’s only a flesh wound.”

  Raina relaxed at his admission, but still turned toward the rear of the vehicle.

  “Antonio, do you need some pain meds?” He shook his head no and continued to stare out of the Jeep’s side window. Turning back to Nicolae, she asked the same question knowing his wrist must still be in bad shape.

  “I do not need any medicine, Miss Jacobs,” he glowered thrusting his arm toward her.

  Examining the area, she noticed immediately that the wound had already begun to improve. The puncture marks almost entirely closed leaving only shallow indents that could be seen in his otherwise flawless Mediterranean complexion. Totally taken aback, she held his hand, examining the once jagged bite mark she’d left.

  “How’s this possible?” she mumbled to herself as she continued to run her fingers over his skin. “This can’t be possible. How can you recover so quickly? I thought you were human.”

  “I am,” he smirked. “Romani are blessed with the ability to heal rapidly. Not as fast as a wolf, but much faster than a regular person.” He added a shrug of his shoulders to emphasize his point. “In a few days, I will be back to normal.”

  “Oh,” Raina blurted as she pondered his statement. “What else makes Romani unique?”

  Nicolae contemplated her words for a moment before saying, “We live longer than regular humans.”

  Her eyes grew as wide as saucers. “How much longer?”

  Nicolae’s sudden and unexpected smile almost stole her ability to remain logical. And for some reason, she had to suppress the desire to unbuckle her seatbelt and climb into the man’s beckoning lap. So instead, she scooted away from him toward the locked door.

  Sensing her growing apprehension, he tried to lighten the mood by informing, “My great-grandfather just celebrated his one hundred and fiftieth birthday.” He nodded in the affirmative. “The oldest Romani on record lived to the ripe old age of two hundred fifty-two.”

/>   “Really?” she gasped unable to keep her mouth from gaping.

  Eagerly, he continued. “We are also much stronger than normal humans. Again…not as powerful as Pack, but we can definitely hold our own. Our senses are heightened as well.”

  “What else about my kind is unique, besides being able to change form?”

  “A Lycan, regardless if it is in skin or fur, is extremely strong, fast, cunning and agile. All of their senses are increased to the point they can detect a drop of blood in an entire swimming pool just like a shark. They can see in the dark without assistance. Their sense of hearing is better than any listening device created. Sounds from over a mile away they hear as though it was next to them. Their taste buds are also highly developed and their digestive system can handle just about anything except…”

  “Except what?” Her reporter’s curiosity took hold.

  “Wolfsbane,” he answered in a hushed tone like he was revealing a secret.

  Automatically, her brow hitched to almost her hairline. “What’s wolfsbane?”

  “It is a plant that grows mainly in the mountainous parts of the northern hemisphere,” he educated with a knowledgeable and confident air. “Another name for it is aconite.”

  Naturally, her interest increased. “And what does it do to a werewolf…I mean Lycan…shifter…damn it…you know what I mean.”

  It didn’t surprise her when he smirked. “It is the only poison known to weaken a werewolf. Too much of it can kill it. It also diminishes their power and temporarily sedates them.”

  “I see.” She glanced back at Antonio, who remained in his former position looking out the window at the passing scenery.

  The rolling hills and proudly standing mountains, the sweet smell of dew covered grass combined with crisp, fresh mountain air all called to her on a spiritual level. What she wouldn’t do to shed her skin and go for a run in her fur. The idea made her blush.

  “Silver can also kill a wolf. That part the movies and television shows got correct. But if the dose is small the chance for survival is better.”