The Mating Rite (Big, Beautiful Werewolf) (Werewolves of Montana) Read online

  Immediately he backed off, his expression turning so tender, it reminded her of the old Darius. Pain wrenched her heart.

  “It’s okay, sweetheart. I pushed you too fast. There’s time enough later.”

  Not later. Not ever. “There won’t be a later, Darius. Because I don’t want you in my life, I don’t need you as my friend or my lover. Whatever feelings I had for you are gone. And they’re never coming back.”

  Chapter 6

  Samantha had never lied to him.

  Except now. She refused to meet his gaze. He cupped her chin and forced her head up. Distrust and a haunting pain flickered in her eyes. Inwardly he winced, knowing his past actions with women had put those emotions there.

  “Tell me again you don’t want me, Sam.” He dropped his hand and placed it over her rapidly beating heart. “Tell me what was between us is dead forever and I’ll leave you alone, right now.”

  Shaking her head, she slid out of his bed. “Where are my clothes? I need to go home and pack. Pack as in luggage. Not Lupine pack, because I hated that life and I’m never going back. It’s safer here in Skin.”

  Alarm prickled his spine. Safer?

  “What are you running from, Sam? Why is living in Skin safer?”

  “It’s nothing,” she muttered over her shoulder.

  He followed her to the dressing room, watching her slide open the closet door. Every instinct warned him that she was evading the truth, if not outright lying. And this deeply worried him because it meant she was in trouble, but chose not to share it with him.

  Sam reached for her dress and tugged it off the hanger.

  “Is someone after you? What about your former pack, the pack you lived with before joining my father’s?”

  The hateful black dress trembled slightly in her hands. “I never lived in a pack before joining yours.”

  This was news. Darius leaned a hip against the counter. He needed to glean as much information as possible.

  “You didn’t join our pack until you were twelve. Your mother said you came from a pack out west and you had just left because your father died.”

  “Mom said that because your father was traditional Lupine. Marcia and I had different fathers. Marcia’s died when she was a baby and Mom was so desperately lonely, she had an affair with another Lupine. When I was born, the bastard abandoned Mom. So she took us to live in the Skin world. I’ve never lived in a Lupine pack before yours.”

  His heart turned over at her hurt expression. Darius reached out to take her hand, but she pulled away.

  “Mom had settled in Seattle and found a great job working for Cornelius Darken.”

  Stunned, he ruminated over the revelation. “The reclusive billionaire?”

  “She was one of his assistants. He was wonderful to us.” Her expression softened. “Cornelius used to surprise Marcia and me with little treats like sweets and dolls. One year he sent Mom an entire ham for Christmas dinner. I never touched it. I hate ham.” A soft smile curved her lips. “Later, when he found out I don’t like ham, he gave Mom a gift certificate for an organic grocery store so she could buy something I liked.”

  Darius folded his arms across his chest. “If your life was comfortable in the Skin world, why did your mother join our pack? She said she was desperate.”

  Sam sighed. “A few months before we joined your pack, Mom and Marcia got sick in Seattle. It was some kind of bug that affected Lupines because it weakened their hearts and they couldn’t heal like they normally did.”

  “And you didn’t catch it?”

  “No. I cared for them. They kept getting worse. Cornelius wanted to help, but Mom couldn’t see a regular physician. Mom was terrified if something happened and she died, the Skin authorities would haul us away to foster homes. She said the safest place for us was with a pack with a strong alpha who could protect Marcia and me.”

  That made sense. He remembered the day Sam and her sister and mother arrived at the pack. Ellen Evers had been thin and haggard, looking little like a top assistant to a wealthy corporate scion. Marcia had also looked pale and wan. Samantha had been confident and assumed charge. Even at twelve, she carried heavy responsibilities on her shoulders.

  “Mom heard about your father’s pack from a friend, how Maxim had a reputation for taking in Lupines who had no place else to go.”

  Darius gave a humorless smile. “Dad did take in strays. He wanted to increase his numbers. The more Lupines in a pack, the more powerful an alpha becomes.”

  Even though his sire was an outright bastard to his youngest son, and one to the innocents he’d lusted after, he’d been considerate to the weak and the sick. The paradox always bewildered Darius. How could Maxim be so cruel and insensitive to Darius, his own son, and treat total strangers as if they were family?

  Sorrow flashed in Sam’s eyes. “Cornelius was sweet. He gave Mom a huge severance check. Mom knew how sick she was. I think she knew…she would eventually die. After she passed, with Marcia gone, I went to Oregon to start over again.”

  She stared out the small window in the dressing room. “Darius, you were the only reason I liked living with wolves. But now, I have a new life.”

  She’d never truly embraced pack life, never had a reason to trust her own kind.

  But Sam had plenty of reasons to dislike and distrust them.

  He had to earn her trust, but damn, every instinct screamed to bond her to him with sex and then hustle her back to the ranch where he could invoke his claim through a mating rite. Then she’d be safe. No one would ever dare hurt her…

  Because she’d have not only him, but the protection of pack.

  “Come with me, Sam. I promise I’ll give you the best life I can. I’ll do everything…”

  Moisture shimmered in her violet eyes, but she blinked away the gathering tears. “It’s over between us, Darius. That part of my life is over, and I must move on. My life is here, my job…” She drew in a breath and her spine went rigid. “I have to leave. I’m not risking my job. If they find out I spent the night in your room…”

  “No one will know.”

  “And let’s make sure we keep it that way.” She shook out the dress, smoothing it with a trembling hand. “I’m to give you directions to the beach house, and you’re supposed to meet us there by six tonight.”

  Predatory male instinct surged. “You are not leaving here without me.”

  “You have no claim on me.”

  Gently he lifted her long hair and stroked the place where he’d marked her neck, relishing the soft sigh and shiver that assured him she enjoyed his touch. “I believe I do.”

  Sam removed his hand. “A claim that went unconsummated. Your mark is gone now, Darius. I’m living in Skin, and I don’t follow Lupine rules.”

  “I won’t let you go back to your apartment alone.”

  “Try to stop me. You’re not my mate.”

  Gritting his teeth, he fisted his hands. “I can change that very quickly.”

  “Try it and my claws would come out,” she taunted.

  He gave a dangerous smile. “See? I knew you couldn’t forget being Lupine.”

  Darius drew near, predatory male hunger seizing him at the rosy flush on her body. She was deeply aroused, and fighting it. “I can scent how much the thought excites you to draw your claws down my back. You know what will eventually happen. You can’t fight it, Sam. It’s in your nature, the burning drive to mate with me. You can run, you can hide, but you can’t escape the need. It will fill you, day and night, until you’re naked in my bed, me on top of you, driving deep inside, sealing our bond.”

  She stared, eyes huge in her flushed face, her pulse pounding. Oh yeah, he’d gotten her thermostat cranked up. Fisting his hands, he controlled his raging wolf. Sex wasn’t the real issue between them right now.

  “What’s frightening you, Sam?” He gentled his voice. “I sense it isn’t me, but someone else. Or something else. Please, let me help you.”

  Her mouth wobbled, as if s
he were about to confess. Then she shook her head. “It’s nothing. No big deal. Please, let me alone so I can dress.”

  Darius studied his mate, her skin flushed, her gaze refusing to meet his. “I’ll call you a cab to go back to your apartment. And I’ll pick you up at noon, and we’ll drive to the coast together. Since I’m a potential client, it will be seen as business.”

  A stubborn line formed between her brows. “No.”

  He gave her a beguiling look that had charmed many women into his bed. “You’re going to leave me alone and stranded? All by myself in this city, perhaps getting lost on my way to the house where your company is meeting?”

  Darius stuck out his lower lip, remembering in the past how she’d never been able to resist what she’d termed his lost-puppy look. “Please?”

  Sam smiled and a teasing light entered her eyes. “I can get you a GPS, since you can’t read a road map.”

  Stiffening with pride, he felt a long-forgotten prick of humiliation.

  Her smile slipped. “I’m sorry Darius. I forgot about you and reading. I didn’t mean it as an insult.”

  “Of course not.”

  “You’ve done well for yourself. I always knew you’d come out ahead of the pack. Wolf or Skin. You’re too smart.”

  She touched his hand and the softness of her fingers felt like silk. He wanted to take her hand, kiss it. Take her hand and lead her back to the rumpled bed, undress her and show her his other talent, the one that made women beg and plead for more.

  With every ounce of willpower, he drew away. “Get dressed, and I’ll call that cab.”

  “It’s not far. I can walk. Besides, I’m on a tight budget.”

  “It’s necessary, and I’ll pay for it.” Darius turned away and went into the bedroom to make a phone call. If he had his way, he’d always remain at her side, for life.

  But how the hell could he convince her to mate with him, when she disliked everything Lupine, everything that mattered in his world?

  Chapter 7

  Three hours later, his suitcase in the trunk of a sleek gray rental, Darius parked before Sam’s apartment. He’d ditched the silk suits in favor of faded jeans, a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up and his favorite, worn Western boots.

  He whipped out his cell phone and had started to dial her number when she emerged from the complex, suitcase in the hands of…

  James. The software engineer who had touched Sam’s hand.

  White showed on his knuckles as he tightened his hands on the leather steering wheel. Darius depressed the passenger side window button as Sam approached his car.

  “Hi. I know you wanted me to go with you, but James insisted on driving. You can follow us in your car. Besides, you need your own car to drive to the airport.”

  Howling need surged through him to jump out, throw her over one shoulder, toss her in the seat and speed off. Everything Lupine and male in him approved of the idea.

  But going possessive wolf would drive Sam away. He had to tread lightly, if he wanted to woo her to his side.

  Sam had lived in the Skin world and craved a relationship. His wolf howled for sex first, then the relationship. Darius breathed through his clenched teeth, then forced his expression to soften.

  “Fine. But I’ll be following close behind so he won’t lose me.”

  “He wouldn’t want you to get lost. You’re the client.”

  I’d love to tell him to get lost. His instincts warned the male was trouble.

  “I’m the client,” he repeated.

  “Thank you, Darius. Thanks for understanding.”

  Her sweet, soft smile made him feel weak with longing. He remembered the old days when Sam had always smiled at him like this. Darius gave a gruff nod to hide his feelings and watched her slide into James’ car.

  You drew more female Lupines to you with soft words and understanding than prickly arrogance. But Sam hadn’t seen his fierce side. Yet.

  The part that would throw her over his shoulder if he sensed she was endangered.

  Claws emerged from his fingers. Frustrated at being denied the pleasure of her company during the long drive, Darius raked a hand over the passenger seat as he watched James pull away from the curb. The leather ripped.

  He glanced down at the wide gouges in the leather seat. His wolf shrugged. It’s a rental.

  Snapping on the radio and cranking it up, he followed them. Tall, majestic pines flanked route 26 as he drove west, his emotions barely checked. Fog shrouded the mountains. The pewter sky turned sullen and spit out bursts of rain, wetting the road. Darius tried not to think of James alone with Sam.

  He turned south on 101 and followed the sedan. Around noon, James stopped at a beachside restaurant. Darius climbed out and clutched the keys as Sam emerged from the other car. She gave a long stretch. The move lifted her generous breasts. He watched. So did James.

  Darius shot him a vicious look.

  James ran a finger around his white, starched collar. “The café serves a terrific lunch. They have the most amazing cupcake bar. Cream cheese and carrot cake.”

  Darius leaned forward and caught a definite whiff of OtherWorlder. James was Other, just like Brian the snake shifter in the nightclub. Darius ruminated over the possibilities. Snake? Or something other than a shifter? Perhaps a troll?

  No, trolls were short. Maybe an ogre. James was not tall enough. But the man was something. Maybe another shifter.

  “Do you like dessert, Mr. Bryant?” James smiled at him.

  Never taking his gaze from Sam, he murmured, “Please call me Darius. Yes, love dessert. I enjoy sweet things. Icing spread thickly. I like taking my time and licking if off very slowly.”

  A furious flush ignited Sam’s delicate cheekbones. Darius smiled and gestured to the door. “Shall we?”

  The smell of chocolate, baked brie, clam chowder and assorted food slammed into his senses as he entered the restaurant, but most overpowering was Sam’s delicate fragrance. Hunger clawed at him, demanding he complete their bond. With an effort, he controlled himself and followed them to a table near the side door. The café was charming, with bistro tables set up near the windows to provide a more intimate dining experience. A vase filled with daisies sat on each table.

  Another fragrance, darker and threatening, lingered. He’d have missed it if not for his heightened senses. Darius took a deep breath, sorting out the various smells. Sam’s fragrance, James’ muted scent of paper, ink, dampness and wood smoke.

  The sinister odor threaded through the other smells. Not entirely unpleasant, it held traces of woodlands, autumn leaves and burning grass, laced with a darkness that made his eyes water. Whoever it belonged to was far more powerful than anything he’d encountered. What the hell was that? Every instinct growled at the unseen threat. Hair rose on the back of his back. His claws began to emerge. Hastily he forced himself to calm down and retract them.

  “Darius? You okay?” Sam looked concerned.

  He forced a smile. “I’m fine.”

  The waitress handed them menus and asked for their drink orders.

  Giving the waitress a charming smile, he asked for water and studied the menu with a sigh. No hamburgers. No beef. Lots of organic crap and sprouts. Gods, he hated sprouts.

  “This is a wonderful café. James and I come here a lot when we visit the coast.”

  Every hair on his nape saluted the air. He glanced at James. “Really? On…overnight trips?”

  “Oh no, just trips to the beach,” James said.

  “James loves the ocean. And this café has the most amazing salads.” Sam beamed as she scanned the menu.

  Salads? Sweet hellfire. She needed meat. Darius looked at her with growing dismay. No wonder she looked so pale. She was Lupine, but denied her wolf’s primitive, wild side. Both sex and food. He longed to demonstrate exactly how primitive and wild a Lupine could turn.

  “Why salad?” he asked.

  A flush covered her face. “I’m dieting.”

  �
�Why?” He gave her body an admiring glance. “You don’t need to lose weight.”

  “Actually, if Samantha wishes to compete against other account executives in the business world, she could stand to lose a few pounds. Salads are best for that. I tell her that as a friend, of course. I only want her to succeed at the firm,” James put in.

  Sam studied the table, but her flush deepened. Incredulous, Darius looked at James, barely resisting the urge to smash the smile off his thin face.

  The waitress returned with water for Darius and glasses of iced tea for James and Sam. Sam ordered a salad. James ordered a sandwich with sprouts and vegetables.

  What a wuss.

  Darius flicked his gaze to the Other. “No meat?” Like crickets or live mice? Snake shifters enjoy those. You look like a snake.

  James smiled. “I’m a vegan.”

  “I like vegan food, too,” Sam told him.

  Darius turned to the waitress. “You have only goat cheese?” He arched a brow, pointing to the menu. “Happen to still have the goat hanging around? I don’t mind goat.”

  The server wrinkled her nose. “We have a delicious free-range chicken sandwich with goat cheese.”

  “Since I’ve been in Oregon, I’ve eaten enough poultry to grow feathers. I’ll take the roast beef sandwich. Put it on sourdough bread and leave everything else off.”

  As the waitress walked off, James folded and unfolded his napkin. “How do you like our fair city, Darius?”

  “I’ve always enjoyed visiting Portland. The women here are quite lovely. One in particular.”

  Sam shot him a scathing look, but he only smiled.

  “Oh? You’ve met someone?” James asked.

  “I plan to take her back with me when I return to Montana.”

  Fire crackled in Sam’s violet eyes. Good luck with that, her look clearly stated.

  “Back to the ranch? The city has culture, theater, music and everything one could wish for. You should stay a while and take in everything Portland has to offer,” James told him.

  “He’s right, Darius. There’s a lot in the city to do. I adore living the urban life.” Samantha smiled at her co-worker.