Hungry Like the Wolf Read online

  “Claire,” Nigel took her hand, holding tight when she would have pulled away. “It won’t be like that. Not for us.”

  “I wish I could believe you.” Her voice had grown steady as her emotions had gone numb.

  “Then believe me, Luv. I want the woman you are, not some shifter version of a Stepford Wife.”

  “How can I believe you when you just pledged to put the Pack before yourself.

  Again.”

  “You are Pack, Claire, I…” she cut him off unceremoniously.

  “I am not! I will never again be ruled by your Pack, by your Law.” She jerked again at her hand, but Nigel had her in an iron grip.

  “Now, dear,” Thomas interrupted again. She loved the man, really she did, but if he continued to speak to her in that gentle, condescending voice, she might just have to karate chop him in the throat. “Clearly you’re upset. Distraught, even. Just listen to Nigel, dear. He’ll take care of everything.”

  That was the last straw.

  “Just listen to Nigel?” Years associated with the Rhodes men, two of them in close contact had allowed Claire to perfect her upper-crust British accent. “He’ll take care of everything? Goddess of us all, haven’t either of you listened to a word I’ve said? I don’t want him to take care of everything. Hell, I don’t want him to take care of anything.” She finally managed to jerk her hand free, and wasted no time heading for the door.

  “Enjoy your new role as head of the family, Nigel,” the ice was thawing and rage was taking its place. Rage, and hurt. “I hope the Pack will make you very happy.” She stepped out into the insultingly beautiful sunlight but Nigel’s voice, a dark rumble momentarily stopped her.

  “You know better than to run from a wolf, Claire. It’s an invitation to us to chase, capture and keep our prey.”

  Claire turned her head, “Fuck you Nigel.” And made her escape.

  ———

  Nigel didn’t follow right away; he gave Claire a ten-minute head start before jumping into his truck and going after her. He took his time going to her home, his grin wide as he imagined the row they were about to have.

  God he loved when she was pissed, the way her face lit up and her hazel eyes went dark. She was a fitting mate for him, the Enforcer turned Second to the Alpha. He sobered for a moment when he remembered the real hurt in her eyes when she’d realized he was going to step in as his father’s heir after all. He had quite a battle on his hands, he knew, but Claire was worth it.

  As he climbed out of his truck he heard a loud crash from inside the house.

  “Oh, Hell.” Suddenly certain she was hurt, Nigel ran from his vehicle and burst through the front door. “Shit!” He barely ducked in time to avoid the porcelain vase aimed square at his head.

  “Bloody Hell, woman!” he yelled as another glass projectile flew at his head.

  “Would ya stop it? You’re gonna hurt somebody!”

  Claire paused, her arm cocked back, a ceramic pitcher poised for launch. “Good! I hope I knock the hell out of you. How could you do this, Nigel? You promised me, you bastard!”

  “Claire if you would leave off the hysterics for a moment, we could talk about this.”

  Nigel was trying like Hell to be reasonable, trying not to give into his basic need to take her to the floor and mount her. The wolf was howling, insisting that if he just take her down and fuck her unconscious, he could mark her until she couldn’t even think of arguing.

  “Hysterics? You arrogant prick! First you tie my heart in knots and then leave me. Then you pop back into my life just expecting me to roll over and show you my belly like some submissive… puppy! Then, even knowing how I feel about it, after you promised me, you agreed to become your father’s Second.” She threw the pitcher at his feet.

  Nigel felt the growl boiling out of his chest. Submissive puppy? Fuck no. If anything she was his fucking bitch. His mate. He pounced on her before she had the chance to grab another breakable object and wrapped his arms around her, trapping her arms at her sides.

  She thrashed wildly and tried to kick him in the shin. Nigel swept her feet out from under her and they both tumbled to the floor.

  —

  Claire landed on her back, the breath knocked out of her as Nigel landed on top of her. She couldn’t believe he took her to the floor like that. The rat bastard. While she was momentarily dazed from the impact with the floor, Nigel grabbed both of her wrists and pinned them above her head. His breath was hot against her cheek, sending chills down her spine.

  “Quit being so stubborn, Luv, and listen to me.” Dammit, the little growl in his voice when he was all worked up gave her the shivers. Claire fought to keep hold of her anger in the face of the fierce arousal that burned through her at his touch.

  “There’s nothing to say, Nigel. You’re taking over for your father. The Goddess-bedamned Pack and its archaic Law will always come first with you. You abandoned me two years ago, and when you take your place as head of the family you’ll be gone again.”

  She hissed.

  “I left because I had to, Claire. And it’s not like you came running up north to find me.” Was that hurt she detected in his voice?

  “Maybe not, but I did go to your father the next day.” His eyes clouded over at her words. “That’s right, Nigel. I went to tell Thomas I couldn’t participate in the Run when I was in love with you. But before I could open my mouth, he told me you’d left.” His stunned expression just added fuel to the fire of her rage. “You ran away, Nigel, like I was nothing more than a quick pop-off against a wall. What was I supposed to do, beg you to love me back?”

  “Oh, God, Claire I didn’t know.” Claire closed her eyes. She couldn’t bear to look into his handsome face. It hurt too much.

  “Claire, we can make this work.” She shook her head; she wasn’t about to become a shadow of herself again, even for the man she loved.

  “Listen to me, please.” It was the please that had Claire opening her eyes and looking at him.

  “Claire, Luv, I agreed to my father’s proposal so that I could change things. Really change things.” Clair gave an unladylike snort and Nigel hurried on.

  “The Pack can’t go on as it is. I see that now. That ‘archaic law’ ruined Taylor’s life, and James’ and very nearly ruined ours as well. As Alpha, I can make it so that never happens again. And that starts with my mate. I don’t expect my mate to be a Stepford Wife. You can have your own life, the café. I love the woman you are too much to try to change you. As long as you don’t put yourself in danger, Luv, you’re free to live your life. Just as long as you live that life with me.”

  Claire’s eyes widened. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She wanted to, but Nigel and Taylor had quoted the Law to her so often that she didn’t think it was possible to change things, even if Nigel really wanted to.

  “I’ve talked to my father about it, and he agrees. It’s time to bring the Pack into the twenty-first century. But I can’t do this without you, Claire. I need my mate to stand beside me. I don’t ever want another wolf to be forced to be something they’re not in the name of the Law. No one should ever be denied the love that Taylor was. That we almost were.”

  Warm tears gathered in Claire’s eyes. She was finally beginning to believe Nigel really did want to change things. He didn’t expect her to give up her café. He didn’t expect her to give up her life to be his mate. He wanted a partner, not a possession. Her heart swelled with love as the dam burst. Her tears overflowed “Is that a yes, Luv?” Nigel asked, a flame of hope flaring in his eyes. Claire couldn’t find any words. All she could manage to do was nod. His smile bloomed like sunrise and he fell upon her, his mouth crushing down on hers while his hands found the button on her jeans and yanked it off. It hit the floor with a clatter, and Claire went wild.

  —

  She shoved her hands under his shirt, clawing his chest and he dropped his head, snarling into the soft skin below her jaw.

  “Careful, Luv,” he whi
spered before his mouth moved down to her neck. He nipped her, and she dug her nails into his shoulders, feral in her passion. Growling, he grabbed the front of her t-shirt and ripped it in two. He would replace her clothes later, right now he need to feel her naked skin on his. Her jeans were next. He jerked open the zip and wasted no time shoving them over her hips and toward her feet.

  Propping himself on his forearm, his hand wrapped tight around both her wrists, he raised up enough to view the prize he’d uncovered. She was so fucking gorgeous he groaned. All cream and pink perfection. His lips slid down to capture one dusky nipple.

  He sucked lightly and she moaned, arching into his mouth.

  “Goddess, yes, Nigel,” she moaned, her harsh breaths ruffling his hair. “More. Please, I need more of you.”

  Nigel slipped his free hand between their bodies, diving into her panties. This time he moaned as he encountered her slick flesh. Pushing two impatient fingers along her slit he teased her, sliding from her clit to rim her quivering entrance. She thrashed in his hold, trying to deepen the contact, and he sucked her other nipple into his mouth, swirling his tongue around the tender morsel, giving it the same treatment as the first one. The more she bucked up, the softer the caresses became until she was begging him for more.

  “Dammit, Nigel,” she gritted from between clenched teeth. She was adorably ferocious in her hunger. If he hadn’t been on the brink of madness himself, he might have laughed. “Fuck me already! I can’t wait any longer.” Her scent rose in the air and Nigel inhaled deeply, letting it fill his lungs with apples and cinnamon.

  He drew his fingers free from her pussy. The tiny, strong muscles clamped down as if reluctant to let him go. Releasing her wrists, he ripped his jeans open. As he yanked the zipper down, Claire’s hands were there, guiding his cock free of his boxer briefs and jeans.

  Moving quickly he worked her jeans further down so she could wriggle her right leg free. Jeans hanging around her left ankle, she wrapped her free leg around his hip, lifting up so the angle was perfect for him to plunge straight into her molten heat.

  “Yesss,” she purred as he sank balls-deep. “Deeper,” she moaned. “I need more.”

  Her greedy little hands crawled up the back of his shirt, sliding around until her nails dragged down his chest in a frenzy as he thrust into her.

  “You are my mate, Claire. Now and forever.” Each word was punctuated with a thrust, each deeper, harder than the last. “Tell me, Luv. Tell me that you are mine forever.” He ground his hips against hers and lifted his torso so he could gaze down into her lovely face.

  “I am your mate, Nigel. Forever.” She arched into him, hips surging against his. Her nails dug into his back. “I’m yours, Nigel. As long as you don’t get all macho on me.”

  He threw back his head and laughed because even in the middle of fucking she was still defiant. And Nigel wouldn’t have it any other way.

  “Ahhh, Luv,” he rasped against her neck. “I will try not to be such a macho man.”

  He slowed his thrusts down to the point he was barely moving stirring in her. “It will be hard, though.”

  Her brows furrowed “Nigel, Goddess, don’t stop. What are you doing?”

  “I’m being ‘not macho’. My macho instincts are to fuck you into oblivion, but I’m practicing restraint. Why,” he made a small circle with his hips. “Is something wrong?”

  “Okay,” she thrust her hips toward his, trying for a harder contact. “Maybe we need to re-think the macho thing.” She was close to whining.

  “Is this too macho for you?” he asked and slammed into her hard, drawing a scream from her.

  “No,” she panted. “Not too macho.” Her breath was a ragged sob.

  “How about this, Luv? Still think I’m too macho a man?” He pounded into her three more times, hips jack-hammering. Her sheath clamped down on his cock as he began to withdraw achingly slowly. She gave a strangled scream and banged her fists against his back.

  “Okay, okay, I get it Nigel. I want you to be very macho when you’re inside of me, dammit.” She hitched her leg higher up on his back.

  The motion squeezed him even tighter inside her, and all at once Nigel was through teasing. Pulling back, he grasped her hips firmly and slammed home. He pounded into her body and she begged for more.

  Her soft skin cushioned his every movement. She was made to fit him, inside and out. Each thrust took them higher. Each swivel of his hips wound the spring tighter until finally she exploded, her pussy tightening and convulsing around his dick.

  “I love you, Claire,” he whispered. Her sheath rippled the length of his dick, and she screamed her pleasure.

  “Nigel, I love you!” Her words, coupled with the feel of her gripping his cock, flung him over the edge and into oblivion.

  Nigel threw back his head and howled, feeling his seed blaze from his balls, up the length of his cock to flood her willing, clasping pussy.

  “I love you, mate,” he rasped, filling her with his love and his seed and his hope for the future. “Love you,” he whispered as he fell to the floor beside her, gathering her close to his heart.

  She turned into his body and wrapped her arms around his neck, cuddling his head into the crook of her neck.

  “Love you, too, mate.” His heart soared as she called him her mate for the first time.

  Epilogue

  Nigel crouched before Taylor’s grave, talking to his brother. It had been too long since his last visit, but life had become so full it was hard to find the time. He placed the framed picture he held on the grave, propping it against the head stone. The picture showed a happy family: himself, his mate, and their beautiful baby daughter. Swallowing the lump in his throat, he continued speaking to his brother.

  “I’m doing it, Tays. I am changing things, changing the Pack for the better. Because of Claire, and because of you.” He chuckled aloud. “Of course some of the Elders threw fits for awhile.” He shook his head ruefully. “Okay, maybe for more than a while. But our Claire took care of that neatly enough. By the time she was done bribing them with apple muffins and sweet talk, they were too fat and happy to protest much more.” Nigel smiled, thinking of the conversation he’d had with his father just that morning.

  “There’s still a long way for us to go, brother, but we’ll get there.”

  From behind him the sweet sound of his daughter’s cooing “wake up” noises caused his smile to bloom.

  “I’m sorry, Tays. Sorry for being blind to your needs, sorry for running of like the coward I was and leaving you to look after my woman. But I promise you, I will spend my life making sure no one ever has to go through what you did. Not as long as I am Alpha.” Nigel stepped back from Taylor’s grave, his heart full and his head clear.

  He turned and walked over to Claire, who was holding their daughter. He leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to his baby girl’s wispy hair, then moved higher to kiss his mate.

  She leaned into him, looking up at him with concern in her eyes.

  “Are you okay?”

  He smiled and wrapped his arms around her. In moments like this, holding Claire and their daughter, Nigel knew he held the world. He leaned down and kissed her again.

  “Yeah, Luv. I’m very okay.”

  The End

  About the Author

  Violet Summers is a married mother of three beautiful children, including one set of twins, one rambunctious puppy, and one husband, except when she’s a single mom of one spoiled teenaged God-child and three spoiled kitties. Both of Violet’s personalities are very busy!

  No, Violet has not suffered a psychotic break yet (though she may after dealing with creating web pages and MySpace accounts). Violet is actually the writing team of Sierra Summers and Violet Johnson.

  Both women read voraciously, and in a multitude of genres. Sierra classifies them as “readers, as opposed to readers of romance. This means when we write, we’re as concerned with the story as we are with the sex.” That said, Sierra ha
s been known to boycott books where the characters haven’t “done the deed,” by page 125.

  Sierra and VeeJay live in Southeast Michigan, and the spice of the Metro-Detroit area often flavors their work. “Why look for a more glamorous setting,” VeeJay asks, “when we’ve got the beautiful, re-vitalized Downtown area to draw from?”

  Violet Summers writes in a variety of genres, from contemporary to paranormal; from soft BDSM to fantasy. The two things all her stories have in common is their deep emotional and their scorching erotic love scenes.

  Sierra and VeeJay love to hear from their readers. You can contact them at [email protected]

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