Changed: 2 (Wolf's Den) Page 4

  “I smell it,” she confessed. “I’ve never smelled anything like it.”

  Understandable. Changing werewolves carried a different scent. Rachel smelled human but beneath it there was a trace of something else. Until she shifted for the first time it would be easy for anyone—shifter or otherwise—to dismiss what was different about her if they didn’t pay close attention to her scent. That didn’t mean the wolf wouldn’t take hold, however. The nature of the beast would already start taking control, changing Rachel’s body and senses.

  “Call Jackson,” he ordered softly. “Be calm and don’t tell him what’s happened. If you do he’ll blow through town and might end up causing a scene. Just tell him he needs to get here as quickly as possible.”

  “He’ll want to know what’s going on. He won’t—”

  “Hang up on him.” It was a shitty thing to do but Jackson would react instead of asking questions that would waste time. “Tell him he needs to get here as soon as he can and end the call.”

  “But…”

  “No buts. Do it.”

  Chloe rushed away and he pivoted his body, staring at the wolf that had changed into a man. He didn’t recognize the werewolf, nor could he identify him by scent. It had to be a rogue. A wolf from another pack wouldn’t dare attack an Alpha’s mate. Ripping his focus from the male, he studied Rachel. She’d finally started breathing easier. The jagged marks he could see beneath her shirt had stopped bleeding.

  He’d wanted to change her, but he’d never wanted it to happen like this.

  Most wolves with human mates bit carefully, giving their other half enough saliva to force the change but causing as little pain as possible. When Rachel opened her eyes she’d sense the differences. Her hearing would improve and her vision would be stronger. With the full moon only days away she’d also feel the compulsion of the mating heat. She’d be drawn to him more than she’d ever been before. Even now his wolf sensed its mate’s beast and tried to call to it.

  Just Rachel was about to get a wake-up call.

  Chloe returned, her expression grim. She looked at him, her green eyes boring holes into his head. “Jackson’s on his way. I told him Rachel had been hurt and to hurry. He’s going to kill me for hanging up on him.” She hesitated and said, “She’s had a hard life. You have no idea what she’s been through. She doesn’t trust people at all. This is going to be hell on her.”

  “Then help me understand.” He caressed the back of his female’s face with his knuckles. “Tell me what to do.”

  The tears Chloe had held back finally fell, creating salty trails of pain down her face. “You have to show her you care for her. Prove that you mean everything you say. She had a horrible childhood. Her mother’s a drunk who stopped caring after Rachel’s father died. She’s been raised not to trust people but deep down she only wants to be loved.” With a sniff, she continued, “She’s terrified of werewolves. She doesn’t like anything supernatural. She scared to death of us. She’ll try to run when she finds out what’s happened.”

  “Could you run?” It was a cruel question but he had to make a point. “After you met Jackson, were you able to leave his side? Did you even want to?”

  After a moment, she replied, “No.”

  “You’re going to have to give us a bit of time to work things out.”

  He placed his arms under Rachel’s body and lifted her from the ground. Once he had a good hold, he rose to his feet. “Come with me,” he instructed and walked from the room. He needed to find a safe location to put the females until Jackson arrived. The wolf that attacked might not have done so alone.

  He decided to use the bathroom. Once they were safely inside, he motioned for Chloe to sit on the floor and handed Rachel over. He detested the way it felt when his mate was out of his arms but her safety was more important than his needs. As soon as he knew his mate and Lupa were settled he took a defensive position between the women and the entrance to the room. Crouching down, he watched the door. If anyone tried to get in they were toast.

  Jackson had better hurry the fuck up.

  He could only keep a handle on his anger for so long.

  Chapter Three

  Yellow eyes narrowed, enormous teeth coming right at her. She tried to scream but made no sound. Her arms were too heavy to lift, her feet stuck to the floor. Chloe stood behind the couch, her face changing into an animal’s. She tore her gaze from her friend, attuned to the wolf that snarled at her and bared its teeth. Her death was coming right at her and there was nothing she could do. Terror set in, her heart pounding so hard her chest ached with each throb. The enormous black beast charged. Its teeth were sharp and long, its claws like talons.

  “I warned you,” her mother taunted in her head, slurring her words. “But you didn’t listen, did you? You never do. It’s going to eat you alive, little girl. Then it’s going to gnaw on your bones.”

  Closing her eyes and whimpering in fear, she prayed her death would be quick. The beast reached her, throwing her to the floor. Her back hit the ground and the animal struck, sinking its lethal fangs into her skin. Fire radiated down her chest and shoulder. The pain was like nothing she’d ever experienced. As the wolf shook its head, tearing her flesh apart, she prayed. If she was going to go, she wanted a bit of mercy.

  Please God, let it be fast. Don’t make me suffer.

  “Shh, Rachel.” Chloe’s voice appeared, soothing her. “It’s okay.”

  The wolf vanished and the room she’d been standing in faded away. Her eyes fluttered open, her vision kicking into gear. How strange. There wasn’t a hint of blurriness, everything was vivid and bright. Chloe’s face hovered over hers, her green eyes seeming more vibrant, like perfectly cut emeralds. The golden curls around her face seemed different, containing a few strands of what appeared to be strawberry blonde.

  Rachel’s eyes burned, relief flowing through her.

  It had been a dream. It wasn’t real.

  She must have had too much vodka while she watched the movie and passed out. No wonder she’d had such a vivid nightmare. Sometimes after she and Chloe had partied a little too hard she had bad dreams. She figured it was her mind’s way of dealing with the obstacles in her life. Granted they hadn’t been as bad as the one she’d just experienced, but they always left an impression.

  I’m never touching alcohol again.

  “How do you feel?” Chloe brushed a strand of hair from Rachel’s temple.

  The first thing that came to mind was hungover but she realized she didn’t feel bad. In fact she felt pretty damn good. Her head didn’t hurt and her mouth wasn’t dry. She sat up and Chloe moved back. The mattress was softer than normal, the comforter thick and plush. Peering around, she gawked at her surroundings. The walls were pristine, not a single crack in the foundation or peeling of paint in sight. The furniture was made of dark wood, matching the enormous bed she’d been sleeping in.

  “What the hell?” she asked, staring at Chloe.

  Chloe started picking at her nails—a nervous habit she’d had since childhood. “Do you remember what happened last night?”

  “We watched a movie and had too much to drink?” Everything from the evening before seemed muddled and confusing. She studied the room again, awed by how nice everything was. She’d never visited Jackson’s home, worried she might run into the pack if she did. Patting the bedding, she asked, “Was I that drunk? Were you so worried you decided you shouldn’t leave me alone?”

  “There’s something I need to tell you.”

  Chloe kept talking but Rachel couldn’t hear her. Not with the delicious scent that rose from the bedding and drifted to her nose. How had she possibly missed it? It smelled so good. Unlike anything she’d ever come across. It was a masculine fragrance, better than any cologne in the world. Now that she was aware of it the scent cocooned her, snuggling around her body like a blanket. She inhaled raggedly, unexpectedly aroused. Her nipples tingled, her pussy clenching tight. She fisted the comforter, bunching the material
between her fingers.

  “Someone tried to have me killed,” Chloe rasped, regaining Rachel’s attention. “If you hadn’t been there, I could have died. But when you defended me you were bitten. The saliva took hold. I’m so sorry. You were infected, Rachel. You’re changing.”

  “Bitten?” she echoed and started to panic. “What do you mean I’m changing?”

  Then, like a mental barrier had been lifted, memories of what had taken place came rushing back. She remembered the enormous black wolf that had rushed into her home, recalled how she’d rushed to Chloe’s defense. She brought her hand to her shoulder, expecting to feel a bandage, holding her breath in case there was any pain. Her fingers breezed over a few indented scabs, the rest of her skin unmarred and smooth.

  “No,” she breathed, hands trembling. “You’re wrong.”

  “I’m so sorry.” The tears Chloe had fought to contain slid from her eyes, trickling down her cheeks. “I should have done something. I wasn’t able to shift fast enough to protect you.”

  “I am not becoming a werewolf.” Chloe had to be wrong.

  Yet even as she denied it, she knew her best friend—the one person she trusted more than anyone else in the world—was telling her the truth. Her body felt different, almost energized. Taking a deep breath, she realized she could smell things she shouldn’t have—the floral fragrance of Chloe’s shampoo, the aroma of pine from what she assumed was a freshly mopped floor. And in the distance she heard voices. Some she recognized, some she didn’t. Her ears homed on the sound of one in particular.

  Declan.

  A fresh flood of arousal wet her panties, her nipples hardening to points. Her stomach cramped, a flash of heat winding from her abdomen to her pussy. She shoved her fists into her belly, hoping to ease the ache. Right then she wanted him beside her, to see his face, touch his skin. She wanted to feel his mouth traveling over her flesh, his hands roaming over the curves of her body.

  Stop it! Get hold of yourself. What’s wrong with you?

  She tried not to hyperventilate, inhaling through her nose and exhaling through her mouth. If she wanted to deal with things she needed time. The best way to maintain control was to stop thinking about what had happened to her and center her attention on Chloe. Someone had tried to hurt her friend. Tried to fucking kill her. For all Rachel knew the wolf that had attacked might have made it out of her house. It could still be around, waiting for another opportunity to strike.

  “You said someone tried to have you killed.” Thankfully the sexual urges eased, letting her think clearly. She focused on her thoughts, tuning out her body. “Was it the thing that came to my house? Did it get away?”

  “The wolf that attacked us is dead.” Chloe shook her head, as though the confession pained her. “Jackson believes there’s more to it. He thinks a couple of women from another pack are responsible but he doesn’t have proof.”

  “Proof?” Her ears had to be deceiving her. “A freaking wolf attacked us last night. How much more proof does he need?”

  “The wolf was rogue.” Chloe’s voice hardened. The strange glow Rachel had glimpsed the night before returned to her irises. “He didn’t have identification and no one in the pack recognized him or his scent. There’s no way to know who sent him. They’re loners by nature. That’s why packs hire them to do their dirty work. Even if Jackson confronted the Alpha of the pack the women belong to, he’d need to have evidence to support his theory.”

  “Who are these bitches?” Talking about other things kept Rachel from thinking about the changes in her vision and sense of smell. It wasn’t easy though. Someone had started cooking. Her mouth watered when she recognized the delectable aroma of frying bacon. “Why do they have a problem with you?”

  “One of them—Simone—wants Jackson. She tried to force him into an arranged mating.” Chloe’s lips thinned, her eyes narrowing. “The other one’s name is Desiree. She was my father’s mate before he denounced her in front of his pack. She knows that everything he possesses will be given to me if anything happens to him.”

  Damn. No wonder the women hated Chloe. “What are you going to do?”

  “Me? I’m not going to do anything,” she muttered, visibly annoyed. “Jackson’s thinking about arranging a meeting with the packs. Until then I’ll be watched everywhere I go. I won’t be able to do anything unless someone is with me.”

  Wasn’t serendipity a bitch? Chloe needed to be protected around the clock. Now bitten by a werewolf—she swallowed thickly, fear rising up—Rachel had nowhere to go. “Guess it’s a good thing I got nipped,” she said under her breath. Despite talking softly she heard the words clearly and when she lifted her eyes she saw Chloe had heard her as well.

  “I truly am sorry.” Her friend’s green eyes swam with tears. “If I’d stayed away from you this wouldn’t have happened.”

  Stayed away from you.

  It wasn’t unheard of for supernatural creatures and humans to maintain friendships but it certainly was rare. From time to time news stations had special reports about strange bonds between mortals and their superior counterparts. But there was a reason humans resided in one area and werewolves, vampires and other things lived in another. Black County consisted of mere humans, the area a safe place to call home. On the flip side, Atrum Hill was primarily a city where all things kooky preferred to dwell. She knew the wooded areas belonged to werewolves, the city streets were a haven for vampires and—if rumors were true—witches.

  “I never wanted that.”

  Upon learning of Chloe’s lineage, Rachel had been determined to maintain their close relationship. Perhaps she should have been resentful, placing the blame for her predicament on Chloe’s shoulders. But she couldn’t, especially now. She kept forcing aside her fears. A part of her didn’t want to believe it. There was no way she was going to change into a crazed animal. It wasn’t possible.

  Things couldn’t get any worse.

  “It’s normal to be in denial.” Chloe might as well have been reading her thoughts. The young woman studied her, a knowing light in her eyes. “I was too at first. After Jackson told me what I was I didn’t believe him. I felt so many things but I kept telling myself it couldn’t be true. It’s not a death sentence, Rach. You’ll be amazed at how wonderful it feels to change. You’ll be able to see and do things you’ve never imagined.”

  “I’m not ready to deal with this.” The mere thought of changing—of her body doing the things Chloe’s had—terrified her. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

  “I’m afraid you have to.” Glancing at the door, Chloe whispered, “I have to tell you something else. There’s a reason Declan’s been visiting you. I didn’t know about it. I swear. Jackson didn’t tell me. I tore into his ass when I found out he’d been keeping it from me.”

  A lead weight settled in Rachel’s gut. “Tell you what?”

  “You have to feel it.” Chloe’s eyes swept over her face, searching for something. “When Declan’s near you, do you feel drawn to him? Is there something about him you can’t resist?”

  “He’s a nice-looking guy.” There didn’t seem to be a right answer to the question, so she fibbed. “With all those muscles and tattoos, he’s a woman’s wet dream. Who wouldn’t be attracted to him?”

  “It’s more than that and you know it. Far, far more.”

  Her haphazardly constructed façade crumbled. What Declan had told her at the garage was true. She’d never been a good liar. Chloe saw right through her. They knew each other too well. It was time to go for broke, no more evading the issue.

  “What are you telling me? Come out and say it.”

  “You belong with him.” Meeting Rachel’s gaze, Chloe said, “You’re his mate.”

  Damn it. Wrong again.

  Things could get worse.

  * * * * *

  “You’re burning the bacon,” Jackson said, pointing at the skillet. “I’m not sure how Rachel feels about crispy pork but Chloe isn’t a fan.”

  W
ith a growl, Declan flipped the frying meat over. The minute he’d heard Rachel’s voice he’d wanted to run from the kitchen into his bedroom. If it hadn’t been for Jackson he would have done just that. The Alpha had insisted Chloe needed to talk to Rachel and calm her before Declan waltzed in. Perhaps Jackson had been right but the instinct remained, urging him to go to Rachel and care for her.

  Shane—the temporary pack Beta until Declan reassumed the position—strode into the dining area. He shook his shoulders, cracking his neck. The white T-shirt he’d worn was covered in dirt stains, his jeans crusted with mud.

  Jackson stepped away from the stove. “All finished?”

  “Yep,” Shane answered and plopped down on a stool.

  Declan kept his mouth shut, attempting to keep his temper in check. He’d wanted to dispose of the wolf that’d attacked his female—making sure to rip the motherfucker limb from limb before he tossed him in an unmarked grave—but Jackson had forbidden that as well. The Alpha had sent Shane to do the deed, telling Declan to stay put.

  It was for the best. Rachel needs you. He clenched his teeth, impatient and uneasy. I need to be in there with her. Chloe had better hurry the hell up.

  “Declan,” Shane said softly, breaking him out of his stupor. “You need to chill out, man. Your female is going to be edgy enough without you adding to her anxiety.”

  “Is that so?” Glancing at Shane, Declan arched a brow. “What would you know about it?”

  Shane was a mystery. He’d arrived in Atrum Hill as a rogue. For weeks they’d seen him around. The male had taken odd jobs and rented a room above Gleason’s Laundromat. One day—to the shock of the pack—Shane had approached Jackson to see if they had space for him in their group. Rogues didn’t like being around other wolves, which made Shane’s interest bizarre and suspicious. Even stranger? Jackson had talked to the male, decided he was trustworthy and introduced him to the pack in order to get their blessing.

  Shane had shown everyone he was worthy of their trust over time but Declan still had his doubts. The man was strong enough to be a Beta—hell, perhaps even an Alpha—so why had he come here?