Wolf Bitten Part 1

WolfBitten.

By EllaDrake.

Dedication.

Tomyownhero,always.

AndtotheladiesoftheMudpuddle.Icouldn'thavedoneitwithoutyou.

ChapterOne.

AmilebehindBrockWolfrik,smudgepotsspewedranksmokeintotheairwhileheranfromthelastthreeofhisthirty-sixyears.Dogkennelsweren'tgoodenoughfordogs,muchlessamanwhoneededtostandtallwithouthisfuronoccasion.Thethreewerewolveslopingbesidehimwouldagree.Overtheirpanting,heheardshotsechoingbehindthem.Allfourpickedupthepacewhiletheirheartsraced,thunderinginhisears.

Theirpawsscrambledoverarockyledgeastheysnuffledandsneezedtoridthemselvesofthepollution.

Hewasn'tentirelysure,buthejudgedtheirpositiontobeinthefoothillsoftheAppalachians,probablyNorthGeorgia.His.p.a.ck-PetrolAbolishedCommunity-couldn'tbefar.

TheAlphasofhis.p.a.ckwouldbeappalledtolearnofWolfsbane'sdog-fightingring.Hedidn'thavetimetoinformthemnow,though.HehadtofindAllie.First,hehadtogetoutofhere.

Thelittlewhitefemalewho'descapedwithhimfellbackabit.Weeksoflivingwithpetrolfumescoatingherlungshadtakenitstoll.Hedidn'tknowhername.Maleshadbeenkeptapartfromthefemales,buthewouldn'thavenoticedanyway.Hedidn'tknowanyoftheirnames.Fightingforhislifeeverytimehe'dbeenforcedfromhiscagedidn'tallowtimetogettoknowtheothercaptives.

Heflickedhisheadbacktotheothertwomales.Thesmallerlupine,hisfurblackwithsilverhighlights,chuffed.Nosebobbingtothegroundandup,hewavedBrockforward.Brockdidn'tneedanyotherincentive.Theonegoodthingaboutlivingwithgasfiressurroundinghimforyears,he'ddevelopedaresistancetothecorrosiveallergy.Heleaptintoadeadrun,leavingthetrailingwolvesbehind.Hedidn'tlookback.

Allhecaredaboutnowwasfindinghismateandtakingherhome.

*****AllieGreenerubbedatthegreasecakedonhercheekandgaveanoilchangereceipttohercustomer.Thewomansmiledandpulleddownhersungla.s.ses,frowningatthemotorcyclewitharumblingm.u.f.flerblaringintothegarageentrance.

Crossingthepavement,thes.h.i.+nychromeandredhogpulleduptoapump.Thewomanandherminivanpulledoutamidthewavesofheatrisingabovetheasphalt.Allietuggedtheblueuniformcanva.s.s.h.i.+rtdowntocoverhermidriffandrubbedherhandsonherkhakisbeforeshecouldcatchherselffromsoilingthem.

"d.a.m.n.I'llnevergettheseclean,"shehuffedandmovedtowardthegaspumps.

"Don'tmatternone,Allie,"repliedthestationowner,herbossandfriend,Alfonso,whosteppedupbesideherandstrokedhisbeard.

Shestoppedherselffromreplyingthathewasright,itdidn'tmatterbecausethesmellfromherclotheseffectivelycamouflagedher.He'dwonderifshe'dcrackedifshesaidsomethinglikethat.

Thesunreflectedoffthecycleandblurredthewritingontherider'sleatherjacket.

"I'vegotthisone,"Fonsosaid.Hehookedhisthumbsbehindhisoverallstrapsandstrolledtothecustomer,hisredneckgleamingbetweenhisbaseballcap-covereddarkhairandhiswhiteT-s.h.i.+rt.

Hegrinnedeartoearbeforehedrawled,"Heybrother.WhatcanIdoyoufor?"

Brother?Therewasnoresemblancebetweenthetwo.Thetallandmuscularcustomertoweredoverherfriend.

"Justfill'erup."Heshruggedoutofhisjackettorevealanarmcoveredintats.Whensheapproached,heturnedinprofileandexposedhispiercings;linesofringsaroundthetopofhisears,andanotherthroughoneofhisbrows.NotthetypicallookforDuluth,Georgia.Maybehe'dtakenawrongturnsomewhereinAtlantaandendedupouthereinthesuburbansprawlinsteadofLittleFivePoints.He'dfitinthateclecticneighborhood."I'monmywayoutpastToccoaFalls.Gotab.i.t.c.htosee."

"I'llbetyoudo,"Fonsosaidaroundachuckle.

b.i.t.c.h?LetFonsotakecareofthea.s.shole.

Alliescowledandstartedtoturnbacktotheservicebaywhenthemanthrewhisjacketoverthebackofhisseat.Anemblemshe'ddreadedmostofherlifeblaredupather,andshefroze.Sweattrickleddownthesidesofherface,butshedidn'tmovetowipeit.

Wolfsbane.TheemblemoftwoswordscrossedovertheheadofahowlingwolfrepresentedthehunterswhopreyedonthePACk.Eventhoughshewascompletelyhuman,she'dbeenraisedinoneoftheirpeacefulcommunitiesandcouldn'tunderstandthemotivesofWolfsbane.She'drunfromhomesoshewouldn'thavetocouplewithoneofthem,b.u.t.theydidn'tcausetroubleforanyone.Theykepttothemselves.

Fonsoandthemanmurmuredtoeachother,theirvoicestoolowforhertohearabovethetrafficrus.h.i.+ngbyontheinterstate.Brockwouldwanttoknowaboutthis,butshedidn'tknowwherehewas,andshesuredidn'twanttoknow.Thelastshe'dseenhim,he'dbeenp.i.s.sedanddidn'tgiveherachancetoexplainherfears.Notthatshecouldtellhimthatshedidn'twanttomatewithahalf-man,half-animal.Hewouldn'ttakethatwell,probablyworsethanhe'dtakenherrefusalofmarriage.

"Hey,Allie."

Shestartedbeforesherecognizedherbestfriend'svoice.Maxgrippedherarmfrombehind."Whyareyoustandinginthemiddleofthedriveway?"

"Oh,justabouttoheadbackinsideforabreak.Fonso'sgot.i.tcoveredouthere,"shesaid.Bythetimeshepeekedbackoverhershoulder,thedark-hairedmanhadslippedhishelmetandjacketbackon.

Overtheracketofthem.u.f.fler,sheyelledatMax,"Comeon,let'sgetoutofthisheat."

Thebelljingledoverthedoorwhentheywentinsidetoacoldwaveofconditionedair.Inthesmallfrontoffice,Alliegrabbedtwobottlesofwaterfromthemini-fridgeandhandedonetothetallandganglyMax,whoworealocalbands.h.i.+rtandjeans,hisusualoutfitofchoice.

"How'boutwetakeaturnatyourplaceformovienight?"Max'svoiceremainedneutral,b.u.t.thepleadinginhiseyestwingedheralittle.Crowdedbyhisthreeroommates,heobviouslywantedtogotoherstudioapartmentbecausethey'dbealone.

"Idon'tthinkthat'sagoodidea.MyTVisaboutasbigasabreadbox,"shesaid,tryingtodiscouragehimwithoutanoutrightrejection.

"Comeon,wecanwatchsomethingoldsoitwon'tmatter."Maxflashedhismostcharminggrin,histeethwhiteinhistannedface,theonethatusuallyworkedwithothergirls.

"Okay,youbringthepopcorn,butIcan'tpromiseIwon'tfallasleephalfwaythrough."

"That'sokay,"hesaidandgrinned."Youca.n.u.semeasapillow."

"Uh-huh."Shebentovertheday'srepairscheduletopretendinterest.

Shedidn'tthinkBrockwouldlikehersleepingonMax.Notonebit.She'dbeentryingtoignoreMax'sattemptstomovefromfriends.h.i.+ptosomethingmore.Somethingshecouldn'tgive.d.a.m.nBrockforpreyingonhermindwhenshehadn'tseenhiminyears.Shedidn'twanthim.Really,shedidn't.WhynottakewhatMaxhadtooffer?

ThedoordingedagainwhenFonsoentered.

"Guessbreaktimeisover."Shedownedtherestofherwaterinonebiggulpandtriednottoletherworryshowwhensheasked,"Whowasyourfriend?"

Hisusualjocularityhiddenbehindamaskofindifference,Fonsoeyedherforamoment."Whatfriend?"

"Onthehog."Shetippedherheadtothesidetowardthefrontofthestation.

"Him?Notafriend.He'sjustpa.s.singthrough."

BeforeAlliecouldaskanythingmore,acarpulledup,andsheheadedoutside.

"I'llseeyoutonight,"Maxsaidwhenshedidn'tbothersayinggood-bye.Hetouchedherhandastheywalkedoutbeforehecrossedtohiscar.Thatbucketofboltsshould'vebeentooloudtosurpriseher,butsomehowhe'dparkeditwhileshe'dbeenstudyingtheWolfsbanesc.u.m.

Onceshe'dfilledthecustomer'stank,sheretreatedtotheoverhangoftheservicebay.Fonsowa.s.stillinside,makingcallstocustomerswithrepairupdates.Sheflippedopenhermobileandhitspeeddialforhermom,Sunnie,who'dpromisedtokeepsecretAllie'swhereabouts.SunnieknewwhereAlliehadsettled,toapoint.Sheknewwhatcity,butnotheraddressorwheresheworked.

"Hi,Mom."

"How'smybaby?"askedSunnie,allsweet,slowmola.s.ses.

"Good,Iguess.Listen,Idon'twanttoworryyou,'causeI'mnotinanydangeroranything,butaWolfsbanemanwashereatworkafewminutesago."

"Sweetheart,Ithinkyoushouldcomehome,"hermomsaid.Thoughshesaidthiseverytimetheytalked,shedidsoundworriedthistime.

"YouknowIcan't."

"Brock'sbeenintouch.Hewantstoknowwhereyouare."

Allie'smouthwentdry,andb.u.t.terfliestumbledthroughherstomach.Ifshewerehonestwithherself,shemightadmitthatthenews.e.xcitedheralittle.

"Evenmorereasonformetostayaway"shemanagedtosaywhilehertonguetriedtosticktotheroofofhermouth."ItoldyouIcouldn'tmarryhim."

"Don'tbesocrueltothepoorboy.Hebondedtoyou,andhewon'tbeabletohaveanother.He'sagoodman.Strong.Protective."

"Yeah,he'sstrong.That'spartoftheproblem.He'sdangerous."

"Sweetheart,youknowhe'dneverhurtyou,"hermomcajoled.SunniecontinuedthehabitualpleadingwhileAllietunedherout.Hermothermeantwell,butshewasn'tmarriedtoawerewolfeither,sohowcouldsheexpectherdaughtertomatewithabeast?

Brockwouldneverhurther?Allieknewnosuchthing.Whydidhermomalwaystakehisside?Whydidthewomanthinkherdaughterhadrunawayfromhome,anyway?Alwaysgivinghermomslack,AllieknewSunnieowedeverythingtothePACkthathadprotectedandshelteredthembothfromanabusivemarriage.Grat.i.tudecouldonlygosofar.Alliehaddancedaroundtheissuelongenough.Itwashot,andshewastiredandcranky.Nottomention,Brockhadalwaysbeenthebesthunter.

Thehaironthebackofherneckcrawled.

Sheturnedquicklytolookbehindher.Nothingthereb.u.t.theinsideofthegaragefilledwithtools,thehydrauliclift,andtheacridsmellofgas.Brockwouldn'tbeataservicestationanyway.ThePACkcouldn'tcometotownbecausetheeffectsofpetroleumweakenedthemandmadesomedeathlyill.Shewa.s.safehere,a.s.she'dplanned.Workingandlivinginthecitythrewoffherscent,butaddtoittheeffectsofpetrol,andBrockwouldneverfindher.

Forabriefmoment,theideaofseeingBrockagainpinchedherheart,butshestifledthatweakness.Ifhefoundher,he'dwanttomate.He'dwanttobiteher.Hernecktingledagain.

Hermomcontinuedpleadingoverthephone,butAlliehadn'tfollowedthechatter.

"Mom,I'vegottago.Iwon'tmarryamanthatyoupromisedmetowhenIwasborn,forgoodnesssake.Whatarewe,inthedarkagesorsomething?Besides,I'mnotgoingtodothedirtywithadog."

Hermom'ssharpintakeofbreathalmostmadeherapologize,butSunnieneededtofacethetruth.

"Allie,Brock'snotadog,"hermotherchastised."Butheisapowerfulhunter.He'llfindyou,andletmetellyou,there'snothingmorepersuasivethanawerewolfinlove."

Allierefrainedfromaskingwhyhermotherwouldknowthat.Shewastoocaughtupincalmingherleapingheart."Bye,Mom.I'llcallyoulater."

"Givehimachance.Webothloveyouandwantyouhome."

Alliewasn'tgoinghome.AfterBrockhadproposedtoherwhenshe'dturnedeighteen,she'dconsideredit,b.u.t.thenshe'dstumbledonawolfcouplematinginthewoods.Theferalgrowlsandnearlyviolentconsummationhadturnedherstomach.She'drunandneverlookedback.

CouldBrockloveher,truly?Evenaftershe'dlefthim?

Itdidn'tmatter.He'dneverfindher.

ChapterTwo.

AwakenedbytheweightofMax'sarmacrossherwaist,Allie'sheartplummeted.Herbedsidelampglaredinhereyesdespitethelightpeekingthroughthewindowblinds."Whathavewedone?"

"Done?Wehaven'tdonenuthin',"Maxmumbled.

Shescamperedoutofbedandknockedintothesmallendtable.Herengagementringpingedtothefloor.Scoopingitbackup,sheslippeditonhertoewheresheusuallyworeit,outofsight.Inallthetimeoftheirfriends.h.i.+p,Maxhadneveraskedabout.i.tuntillastnightwhenshe'dlethimholdit.Hertoehadbeenemptywithouttheplainband,butshe'dstubbornlyignoredit,thoughitcalledtoherallnight.

"You'vegottagetoutofhere.Ineedtocleanyourscentfrommybed,"shesaidaftershe'dcalmedfromhernearpanicattack.

"Myscent?"

"s.h.i.+t!Imean,gohome.I'mlateforwork."Maxwouldbetoosleepytorememberherslip,orhewouldthinkshe'dhadawackdream.

"Whydoyouworkatthatdumpanyway?"hemutteredandputhisarmoverhiseyes.Hehadn'tbudged.

"Ilikeworkingoncars.Now,go."Shepulledathimwithmoreforcethanshe'dintended.Hehitthefloorhard.

"Ow,dammit,"heyelped.

"Go,"sheansweredwithnosympathy.Shehelpedhimupandguidedhimtothedoor.Herubbedhiseyesashetoedonhisshoesandleftthelacesuntied.

ThankfulMaxdidn'tnormallywearcologne,shecountedonthesmellofthegaragetodisguiseherscentfromthePACk,butifanyofthemcouldfindherinthisasphaltjungle,Brockcould.

Unconcerned,Maxsaunteredintothebathroom.Shegrittedherteeth.He'dbeoutsoon.Hewasintheonlyotherroominthesmallloft,asterileone-roomunitinalow-incomehighrise.Anotherdecisionmadetoconfuseherscentwithothers.TohideMax'spresence,sheranthroughthestepstocleanseherroom.

Shecourtedbadluck.Thiswasthefirsttimeshe'dhadanothermaninherroom-evenifshehadn'tallowedhimtoputhisd.i.c.kinsideher.CruelFatewouldhaveBrockshowupatherdooranymomentandsmellMaxonhersheetsa.s.soonasheenteredtheroom.He'dbep.i.s.sed.Anddeadly.

AllieshovedMaxoutthedoor,promisedtocalllater,andrippedthecoversoffthebed.Shehadanhourbeforeshehadtoleave.Enoughtimefordamagecontrol.Shestrippedeverybitoflinen:sheets,towels,curtains.Withnochoiceb.u.t.todropthematthecleaners,anotherexpensetohershrinkingsavings,shethrewthelaundryintoabagandput.i.toutsideherdoor.Alliegrabbedabottleofcleaner,scrubbedherapartment,andthoughtaboutBrock,herusualpast-time.

Brockhadleftthecommunityandbravedtheworldasalonewolf.AmovethatwentagainstPACknature.Whenhe'dmadethesacrificesoAlliecouldgrowupwithouthisshadow,withouthiss.e.xualhungerfocusedonher,evenasajuvenile,she'dmissedthegentlemanshe'dknownherwholelife.He'dtrustedhisfamilytokeephersafe.Onhereighteenthbirthday,he'dreturned,andshe'drejectedhimoutright.They'dbothleftthePACkthesameday,andshehadn'theardfromhimsince.

WhatwasIthinking?I'veheldMaxoffforthreeyears,onlytolosemymindwhileBrockisonthehunt.Idiot!

Shehadtofaceit.Neverasaffectedasotherlupinesbypetrolproductslikegas,plastics,andasphalt,Brockwouldfindher.Itwasamatterofwhen.

Throughouttheday,AllieconsideredtheproblemofBrockandMax.IfBrockwastruetoPACkbehavior,hewouldn'twantahumanmaletotouchher.Shehadtoendherfriends.h.i.+pwithMax.