Lorie OClare - Lunewulf 4 - In Her Nature.jpg Page 3

  She relaxed her stance as well, offering him a smile that she didn’t wish to give. She felt like smacking him.

  “Fine then. I’ll just go down to Murphy’s and see how the town has held up in my absence.” That was the last thing she wanted to do, but held her ground, and hoped Johann couldn’t tell she was lying.

  “And what about Jere?” Johann grabbed her arm, ready to stop her from opening the door. “You would just leave her without a sitter?”

  She yanked her arm free and pulled the door open, the cold night air and rich scent of pine immediately surrounding them.

  “Of course not. I don’t have to worry about a sitter. She is with her daddy.” She hurried out the door before he could stop her, and pulled it shut behind her, inhaling the cold air in an attempt to slow her pounding heart.

  Chapter Three

  Johann stared at the front door, frustration surging through him, and the crisp night air still lingering around him. The phone rang, and he turned in time to see Samantha watching him before she turned and walked into the kitchen to answer it.

  “It’s for you,” she said, and he saw the worry in her eyes.

  He smiled, taking the phone, and knew somehow he needed to assure his mate that she had nothing to worry about when it came to Simone. If he had wanted her for a mate, he could have had her. Samantha needed to learn that she was his mate by his choice. Simone had his daughter, and therefore would learn to show a respectable image of herself, even if he had to beat the sense into the bitch.

  “This is Johann.” He reached for Samantha, when she would have walked out of the kitchen, and pulled her backside to him, smelling her damp hair, and feeling her soft rear press against him. Maybe fucking his sexy mate would wipe the worry from her.

  “Johann. I’m sorry to bother you at a late hour.” An older man spoke at the other end of the line. “My name is Roger Pembroke. We haven’t officially met yet.”

  He didn’t recognize the name, and knew he would need to focus on getting to know his pack members.

  “It’s good to meet you.” He hoped he sounded chivalrous. “What can I do for you?”

  “My concern could have waited until the next pack meeting, but I’ve been made aware of a few things and wondered if I couldn’t stop by briefly.”

  The last thing he wanted right now was company. Samantha felt real good in his arms, and his cock already ached to be inside her.

  But this was the life of a pack leader, and both of them would need to get accustomed to it.

  “Of course you can, if it’s important.” He thought he hid his disappointment, but saw it mirrored at him when Samantha turned in his arms and looked up at him. “Do you know where we live?”

  “Sure do. Not too far from me and the Mrs.,” Roger Pembroke told him. “I helped get your place ready for you and your family.”

  “Well you did a real good job.” He ran his fingers down Samantha’s cheek, and she smiled up at him, her soft brown eyes full of questions. He combed his fingers into her hair and pulled her head toward him, taking in her sweet smell. Her scent was like an aphrodisiac, changing daily with her pregnancy. He loved it. “When can we expect you?”

  Roger Pembroke told him he would be right over.

  “We’re going to have company,” he told her, holding her to him and placing the phone on the table behind her. “But I would much rather fuck you until you begged me to stop.”

  Samantha giggled into his chest, and he ran his hands down her back, then slid them underneath her T-shirt.

  “Johann?” Samantha had a hard time concentrating with his hands spreading her ass. The cool air that rushed up to her moist pussy did nothing to put out the fire that smoldered there.

  But she had to ask him. She had to know before anyone showed up at the house. It was hard saying how long he would have company, and she didn’t think she would be able to fall asleep wondering why he seemed so obsessed with Simone.

  He ran his hands under her shirt, his flesh hot against her skin. Her womb tightened under his touch, and he brushed his head against hers, until she looked up at him, then his mouth covered hers.

  “Yes?” he breathed into her, and then impaled her mouth with his tongue.

  God. She wanted him to fuck her. But was this his way of avoiding the questions he suspected she would ask?

  He moved one hand to her ass, pressing her to him, butterflies springing to life inside her, as his other hand grabbed her breast and squeezed. Instantly, she ached for him to suck her nipples, their sensitivity growing daily with her pregnancy.

  His mouth left hers and trailed kisses to her ear. He nibbled at her lobe and sent shivers racing through her. Suddenly it was difficult to focus on her questions, and she knew that was what he wanted.

  “Why did you tell Simone to stay away from that werewolf?” she asked, before all rational thought left her.

  “All he wants is a piece of tail,” he whispered into her ear, and then bit her neck.

  Her insides spasmed, an explosion of molten heat and liquid fire racing through her. She grabbed his shirt, a moan escaping her instead of a response to his statement. Her pussy swelled, demanding his attention.

  “Maybe that is what she wants too,” she managed to gasp, and then cried out when he pinched her sensitive nipple.

  “Do you really want to talk about Simone?” He moved his face so that it was mere inches from hers, looking down at her.

  She struggled to focus as desire rippled through her, racking her senses, filling the air around them with the rich smell of her cum.

  “I want…” She wanted to know that he didn’t want to keep Simone for himself. A knock on the door caused her to pause.

  Johann kissed her quickly. “To be continued,” he said, and then pushed her to arm’s length. “Get yourself to bed, unless you want to get some clothes on and entertain our company with me.”

  “I’ll stay up with you.” She forced strength back into her wobbly legs so that she could stand without leaning against him.

  Johann smiled, then turned her around and slapped her rear. “Good. Go get dressed.”

  He took a moment to compose himself, ordering his cock to put current matters at hand. Taking his time, he strolled to the front door.

  “We’re sorry to intrude on your family time.” Roger Pembroke stood in the middle of the living room with two other men behind him.

  He took a minute to introduce the two, Aaron Steppling and Jordan Rousseau, a distant relative, although Johann wasn’t sure of the lineage offhand.

  “We’ve come to talk to you about the Cariboo lunewulf,” Jordan cut in.

  “Now, now.” Roger held his hand out, silencing Jordan Rousseau, who looked a bit disgruntled by the action. Roger ignored the man’s irritation. “Johann, we understand that you grew up here, but have been away for a few years. All of us agree that our pack should be more open-minded, and not frown upon strangers.”

  Roger paused, and gave Jordan a cutting look. Johann watched the three men as they apparently struggled with whatever it was they had to say. Samantha returned to the living room, still in his T-shirt, but now with sweatpants on as well. Her cheeks were flushed a flattering rose color, making her brown eyes brighter. She was stunning.

  But he guessed she had overheard the comment about the pack being more open-minded, and he knew she was sensitive about not being pure lunewulf.

  He stepped around the men, and held his hand out to her. Her timid smile about undid him, and she placed her hand in his.

  “Gentlemen, allow me to introduce my mate, Samantha Rousseau.”

  “I’ll get some coffee going.” Samantha gestured to the upright brown couch housed along the wall. “Please have a seat.”

  A minute later, two of the men sat on the couch, Jordan Rousseau paced in front of them, and Johann leaned in the doorway to the kitchen, the rich smell of coffee slowly penetrating the room as Samantha made herself busy behind him.

  “So tell me your concerns about
the Cariboo lunewulf,” he prompted them. “Surely they all haven’t done something wrong.”

  Roger Pembroke sat on the couch. He pulled his ball cap, which advertised a local woodshop, off his head and began wringing it in his hands.

  “No. No. It’s nothing like that. They’re hard-working people,” Roger began.

  “Just like the rest of us,” Aaron Steppling added and sat at the other end of the couch while watching Jordan pace.

  “We came over here to tell you about Rock Toubec.” Jordan Rousseau stopped pacing. “You know that was his land we were on today.” Jordan was tall and thin, with small eyes that narrowed in on whoever he spoke to. He seemed to be harboring a few emotions that Johann couldn’t quite sniff out.

  “What land?” Johann asked.

  “The Rousseau graveyard,” Jordan told him, and the two men on the couch both shuffled a bit, as if suddenly uncomfortable.

  “Toubec paid the back taxes on it and pulled it right out from under the Rousseau name,” Aaron said.

  Jordan stopped pacing and crossed his arms over his narrow chest, staring at Johann as if waiting for his reaction.

  “When did this happen?” Johann had so much to learn in order to be a good pack leader. He had no idea the Rousseau land wasn’t owned by a Rousseau anymore. The last he heard, the Rousseaus owned a good twelve hundred acres, forty parcels about, of good land north of Prince George. “And who is Rock Toubec?”

  “Toubec is that Neanderthal who was sniffing around your…” Jordan Rousseau paused when Samantha entered the living room with two mugs of coffee in her hands.

  “Around his what?” Samantha handed one of the mugs to Jordan Rousseau, and then turned and gave the other one to him.

  Johann could smell her anger.

  She turned and walked past him into the kitchen and returned with two more mugs. Aaron and Roger accepted the cups, and then she stood in the middle of the room, crossing her arms over her protruding belly.

  “Go on, Mr. Rousseau. You were saying?” She turned her bright brown eyes on to the thin gentleman, and Johann hid a smile at the man’s obvious nervousness. His bitch would be one to reckon with; he liked that.

  Roger Pembroke cleared his throat, then slapped his legs and stood up. The other two men in the room gave him their attention, and a sense of hesitation settled on everyone. He turned his attention to Johann, and looked serious.

  “You haven’t been home in a while and we want to bring you up-to-date on some facts,” Roger said, and the other two men nodded their agreement.

  “Go ahead.” He pulled Samantha against him.

  She hesitated at first, then allowed herself to stand with his arm around her waist. The three men in the room watched the interaction.

  “Rock Toubec bought the Rousseau Ranch a little over a year ago. After that, a handful of Cariboo lunewulf moved to town. He was the first to approach Grandmother Rousseau about joining the pack, and since he was a major landowner…” Roger explained.

  “And started contributing to all of her favorite charities,” Aaron added.

  Roger nodded. “She allowed him to join the pack. And made it a statement that we approved of all purebred lunewulf.”

  Samantha snorted, and the three men shifted uneasily.

  “Sorry, miss.” Roger began wringing his hat again. “But there is something you need to know about Toubec. We feel it’s our duty to tell you.”

  “Your, umm, friend could be in trouble,” Aaron said.

  Roger held up his hand to silence the man, and Jordan began pacing behind Johann and Samantha.

  “There are some rumors about Rock Toubec, and they merit your attention.” Roger paused, and when he realized he had everyone’s attention, he continued. “The wolf has two cubs, and rumor has it that his mate died a nasty death at the hands of some American mutt werewolves.”

  Samantha stiffened in Johann’s grip, and he tightened his arm around her. It would take time to get the pack accustomed to her mixed heritage, but now wasn’t the time to press it.

  “Rumor has it that she was pulled out of a run one night when she was out with some other bitches, raped, beaten and left for dead by these Americans,” Roger continued. “Now this happened back when Toubec still lived in the mountains, and they say the pain of it made him leave his home pack and find a new life.”

  “That’s when he came here and took Rousseau land.” Jordan cut in.

  “That’s a terrible thing to have happen to the wolf,” he said quietly. “But you say these are just rumors?”

  “We’re pretty sure of their accuracy,” Roger told him. “I guess no one has called for a report from his old pack on it.”

  “Never had reason to,” Aaron added, and sipped at his coffee.

  “But here is where the rumor turns nasty.” Roger focused on Samantha, and his expression softened. “I beg your pardon for discussing matters like this in front of you, ma’am.”

  “You said you were concerned about Simone,” Samantha prompted. “Is she in trouble?”

  He knew she fought to sound calm in front of these men, but liked the aggressive side she could show if need be.

  “How does it turn nasty?”

  “In the year that Toubec has been here, a few bitches have strayed out his way from our pack. He has bruised up a few of them, and sent them running. Rumor has it that he has a vengeance to settle, and that he might take it out on someone with American associations.” Roger paused again, and looked at his hat that he had twisted in his hand. “I’m not going to beat around the bush here. I don’t know what your personal relationship is with Simone Rousseau, but we all know she has your cub. And it’s common knowledge you got her staying here with you. Now you bring home an American mate, and we all saw Toubec sniffing around Simone earlier. The possibility exists that she might be in danger.”

  “Do you think Toubec would attack Simone because I’ve got American werewolf blood in me?” Samantha sounded like the thought was preposterous.

  “Ma’am, you don’t know these mountain werewolves. They have a different mindset.” Roger sounded like he was apologizing.

  “Johann,” Jordan said. “She’s a Rousseau. She isn’t claimed. And she runs a bit too wild. Toubec may take the initiative to take some pent-up anger out on her if she gets too close. We all keep our bitches clear of the man. It’s common knowledge we don’t have enough of them to let them stray.”

  The thick pungent scent of fear filled the room. Samantha pulled away from Johann and crossed her arms over the bulge in her tummy. She turned and looked up at him, and he saw that her brown eyes had turned moist.

  “Go make sure she is okay,” she told him quietly, and that was all he needed to hear.

  *

  Simone didn’t really feel like checking out any of the local bars. No one in the pack had caught her eye, other than her big sex god, and he had cubs.

  More than likely he is at home, she thought, and resigned herself to the fact that she would just get a good run in, and enjoy the open spaces.

  She took off around the back side of the small ranch house, and headed north, enjoying the thick scent of pine, and allowing it to help clear her head of the unpleasant conversation she had with Johann.

  The wolf wouldn’t bully her around now just because he had some rank. She would make that quite clear to him. The change rippled through her, and she fell to all fours, then started off at a slow trot until she had cleared the dense pines behind the house.

  Open fields appeared before her. The rich scent of dirt, and fresh smell of prairie grass filled her nostrils. Blood pumped through her with the eagerness of her breed, bred to run, and claim the wild that surrounded her.

  Would she enjoy a fresh kill this evening? That might be what she needed. A wonderful cock to take the edge off would be nice, but she doubted at this point that she would find any tonight. And not just any werewolf would suit her this evening. She had a taste for a large Cariboo lunewulf, but she had no idea where to find him
.

  Northern geese flew over her, their honking filling the night air as they called out to each other. She let out a howling bark, silencing them so that only their flapping wings could be heard as they hurried from the deadly predator warning she had issued. I command the night tonight.

  Several foxes darted away from her off to the side of the field, not wishing to be the focus of her entertainment for the evening. She laughed into the cold night air, relishing her superiority over the wild, and decided to stretch her muscles a bit before deciding what would be her kill.

  Her night vision excelled in wolf form, and the black outline of a barbed wired fence grabbed her attention. She cleared it, soaring through the air as her muscles tightened and flexed under her skin, and felt earth tear under her claws as she landed in the meadow on the other side.

  Her gallop turned to a sprint, and the open area allowed her to give speed to her run, shredding the ground beneath her with the pounding of her paws, and lapping at the crisp air as it slapped her face.

  This was rancher’s land. The change in the scents around her let her know cattle were nearby or had been recently. Although fresh beef was a prime kill, she respected other’s property, and pack law. Killing owned animals was forbidden.

  The smell of fresh water tickled her nose, and she slowed her gait, then veered toward the source. A large pond, rippling silently against the night breeze, appeared before her, and Simone walked through the tall grass fencing it in, and then drank the cold water. Fish swam through the depths. Her ears perked at the sound of them, muffled as their fins moved through the dark abyss before her.

  Everything around her remained silent. Too silent it dawned on her. She straightened, her muzzle wet from the water, and glanced around at the quiet meadow. No birds sang. No animals scurried through the underbrush. Nothing moved. The breeze even seemed to have stilled.

  Her hackles went up as she backed away from the water, realizing too late that she wasn’t alone in the meadow.