Ice Claimed (4 page)

“That’s all we need,” Carson said.

“It isn’t a good thing, that’s for sure,” Wachei added.
“Bringing mortals into this was the last thing we wanted.”

Durlach nodded. “I know. Ryder must be telling Edensaw about
it. If it weren’t for the shaman, I wouldn’t have found the body myself. He was
able to pick up the taint of dark magic, which he then followed to where we
made our grisly discovery.”

Carson sat up straighter. “Then Ryder is a bigger advantage
than we first thought. He not only can counter Andre’s spells, he should be
able to detect the dark wolf leader before we can sniff him out.”

“Maybe,” Durlach agreed. “Though to what extent I don’t
know. And I doubt Edensaw will want Ryder anywhere close to Andre as a mortal.
If Ryder had accepted to be turned it would be a different story.”

“I still don’t understand why Ryder refused.”

“He must have his reasons, Carson,” Wachei said. “Maybe down
the road we can convince him to change his mind, but for now, we have to
respect that. And we have to do everything in our power to keep Ryder out of
Andre’s hands.”

Durlach had to agree with everything Wachei had said. If
Andre found out about Ryder, and what he was capable of, the dark wolf leader
would try to end their new shaman’s life. Ryder had already thwarted one of
Andre’s attempts to bring one of the sentinels over to his side when he’d used
a potion on Kajakti. Only Ryder had been able to drain the dark magic out of
him. Their shaman was an advantage they needed to keep if they were to have a
better chance of one day wiping out all the dark wolves.

Chapter Four

The pottery bowl Andre had been using shattered against the
wall after being thrown in anger. Tanner watched the mortal blood that had been
inside it slowly run down the white surface. He didn’t say a word as his maker
threw back his head and let loose with a howl. While Andre was like this,
Tanner knew it was best not to draw too much attention to himself. Writhing
with pain while his maker took his frustration out on him wasn’t something he’d
volunteer for.

And it wasn’t hard to guess what had Andre in such a foul
mood. The last three mortals his maker had tried to turn had died before it
could be completed. That did not bode well for increasing their numbers. Not
that Tanner thought that was a bad thing. His way of thinking, mortals didn’t
deserve the gift Andre wished to give to them.

Andre swung around and looked at Tanner. “For some reason,
I’m no longer able to ‘see’ anything of the sentinels. No matter what spell I
try it remains out of reach.”

Tanner groaned inside. Their recent failure combined with
his maker’s inability to glean information about the wolf brothers would only
make Andre’s temper worse. He had to tread carefully.

“Something must be blocking you,” Tanner said.

“I know that, you idiot. I don’t understand why it’s happening.”

It was on the tip of Tanner’s tongue to say it might have
something to do with why Kajakti hadn’t been turned to the dark side after
being injected with Andre’s potion. Around that time Andre had also lost his
ability to see flitting images of the wolf brothers. To Tanner, it seemed as if
those two things were related to each other.

“I wish I could suggest something that would help, but I’m
not the master of dark magic here,” he said.

“No, you’re becoming more of a disappointment to me.”
Andre’s upper lip curled in a snarl. “I have big plans for you, Tanner, but now
I’m not so sure you’re suitable.”

Tanner bit his tongue. For the last few months his loyalty
to his maker had begun to weaken. Whereas before, when he’d first been turned
into a dark wolf, he’d have done anything for Andre, that was now not the case.
Tanner kept that to himself, though. He didn’t know what he wanted to do about
it, but the day was coming closer where he wasn’t going to put up with his
maker’s highhandedness. He needed to wait for an opportunity to fall into his
lap.

“What can I do to change that?” Tanner asked, playing his
role of sycophant perfectly.

“Find me stronger mortals to turn. Obviously, your other
choices have been mediocre at best.”

Tanner was sick and tired of being the errand boy. And the
last three mortals Andre had tried to turn had been his maker’s picks. Andre,
of course, wouldn’t own up to that. It would make it look as if he’d fucked up,
which would never do. His maker was all-powerful, after all.

“I’ll do my best to rectify that, and will get right on it,”
Tanner said.

He left Andre to his bad mood and walked out of the room.
Their pack no longer lived in the abandoned cabin. His maker had decided they
needed something bigger since they would be increasing their numbers quicker by
turning mortals. Now they’d “upgraded” to an empty warehouse-type building
close to the docks. Tanner didn’t like their location change. Being right in
the city would increase the chance of the sentinels finding them.

But he wasn’t the leader of their pack, so didn’t have any
say in the matter. Tanner left the building, more than happy to get away from
Andre. He’d find a mortal for his maker, but not until closer to the time he’d
return. It could wait. For now, he had to start getting a plan together. There
was no telling when Andre would decide Tanner was no longer useful and try to
pull the gift of his dark magic from him. He had his immortality and he had no
intention of allowing anyone to take it from him.

* * * * *

Durlach decided to walk to Meadow’s place, even though
Cassidy had offered to drive him the short distance since he had to carry the
grocery bags filled with the ingredients needed to cook the meal. It wasn’t as
though they were too heavy or the distance too great.

He walked through the trees to the trail that would take him
right to Meadow’s house. Durlach had thought about his newfound mate a lot
during the hours he’d had to wait to see her again. He also looked forward to
getting Meadow into his arms, to taste her lips, have her body pressed close to
his. His cock, already semi-hard, gave a little jerk in response to his musing.

He reached the yard and headed toward the house. At the
stable, Durlach saw Taylor stood outside the building, staring in his
direction. The other man walked over and stopped in front of him to bring him
to a halt.

“Meadow told me she had a date with you this evening,”
Taylor said. “I thought I’d have a little chat with you before you go to her.”

Durlach had to resist the urge to bare his teeth and snap
them at Taylor. With his mating urge riding him, Durlach didn’t like the idea
of another man trying to warn him off. And he was pretty sure that was exactly
what Taylor was going to do.

Even though he had met Taylor while in his dire wolf form,
Durlach had to act as if he didn’t know who the other man was. “I’m Durlach,
and who would you be?”

Taylor chuckled with no humor. “You can drop the act. We
already met, wolf boy.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Yes, you do. I know all about your kind.”

“And what would that be?”

Taylor took a step closer so he was almost up in Durlach’s
face. The same height as he, that wasn’t too hard for Taylor to do. “Werewolf.”

That single word had Durlach stiffening. “What makes you
think that?”

“As I said, I’m very well-acquainted with your kind. So you
can stop acting as if I’m talking crazy. You might have fooled Meadow into
thinking you’re a wolf hybrid, but I know differently. You don’t look like a
typical werewolf in wolf form, though. I mean to find out why. Just let me say
this, I don’t trust werewolves, and I have my reasons. I also won’t let you
harm Meadow in any way or I’ll make you pay for it.”

Durlach decided there really wasn’t any point in acting as
if he didn’t understand what Taylor was talking about. He also took exception
to the other man suggesting there was a chance Durlach would hurt Meadow.

“All right, I’ll stop the act,” he said. “I’m a werewolf,
and I’m not like an ordinary one. I’m a sentinel, same as all my wolf brothers.
We are the very first of our kind. I’m not going to get into the story of my
life with you right now. Maybe another time. As for me ever hurting Meadow,
that will never happen. I would sooner rip my own heart out of my chest. She’s
my mate.”

Taylor scowled. “How can you be one of the first werewolves?
Your kind only live to a maximum of three thousand years. And how is it
possible Meadow is your mate? I have never heard of any werewolf having what
they call a mortal as one.”

“Well, she is and all my mated wolf brothers have taken
mortals as mates. I consider this conversation over.”

“I don’t,” Taylor said, not backing down an inch. “I have
more questions, ones I want answered before I let you see Meadow.”

Durlach growled low in the back of his throat. “Back off.
And if you want to throw around questions, how about this one? Why is your
scent different from a mortal’s? It smells like one but there is something that
doesn’t match.”

Taylor took a few steps back. “You shouldn’t have been able
to detect that.”

“Well, I did. The only reason why I haven’t tried to get you
away from Meadow is because she seems to trust you and you want to protect her.
But that will change if you want to come between us.”

“Durlach, you’re here,” Meadow said as she approached them.
“I saw you from the house. Let me take one of the bags.” She gave Taylor a
meaningful look. “I’m sure Taylor has other things to do rather than holding
you up.”

The other man set his gaze on Durlach one last time before
he nodded. “I guess I’ll leave you two alone, but I’ll be in my apartment if
you have need of me, Meadow.” Taylor turned on his heel and headed toward the
stable.

Once Taylor disappeared into the building, Meadow turned her
attention onto Durlach. “Sorry about that. Taylor has become overprotective of
me all of a sudden. He’s worked and lived on the property for three years and
not once has he gone out of his way to stick his nose into my dating life until
now.”

“Don’t worry. I haven’t let him get to me. In a way, it’s
nice to know you have someone here to go to if you ever needed help.”

“Enough about Taylor. Let’s go inside. I can still take a
bag if you want.”

He shook his head. “That’s not necessary. I can manage them
both, no problem. Just point me in the direction of your kitchen and I’ll start
cooking.”

“Sure. Come on.”

Durlach stayed at Meadow’s side as they walked to the house.
Her scent wrapped around him with every step they took. He breathed it in deep.
It would be forever imprinted on his mind, and he’d be able to pick it out of a
mix of scents in an instant.

Once they were inside, Meadow led him to the back of her
home to the kitchen. It wasn’t a very large one but it had everything he
needed. Durlach placed the shopping bags on the small table and took out the
items they held one by one.

Meadow came to stand beside him. “It looks as if you brought
all your ingredients. You can find the pots and pans over there.” She pointed
to a lower cupboard.

He took out what he needed and placed them on the various
burners of the stove. “I hope you like beef tenderloin steaks because that is
what I’m going to make.”

She pulled out one of the table chairs and took a seat. “I’m
not a picky eater so that sounds delicious. I’ll sit here and keep out of your
way.”

“Don’t feel as if you have to.” Durlach smiled. “I wouldn’t
complain if you did.”

“I’ll stay here for now and watch.” Meadow winked. “Enjoy
the view.”

Durlach smiled. “All right. While I prep the food, why don’t
you pour us each a glass of wine?”

“I can do that.”

He found a cutting board and knife before he set to work on
the fresh vegetables. Meadow went to a cupboard and took out two wineglasses.
She next grabbed a corkscrew from one of the drawers. Durlach kept half an eye
on her as he sliced and diced. He couldn’t stop wanting to look at his mate.
She’d be the only woman for him for the rest of his immortal life, and he
couldn’t wait to make her his.

That would of course be after he told her what he was, if
Taylor didn’t beat him to it. There was no mistaking the other man’s dislike
when it came to werewolves. Durlach hoped Taylor wouldn’t interfere with
Meadow, but there could be a good chance he would.

“Damn thing,” Meadow grumbled.

He turned to find her struggling to pull the cork out of the
wine bottle. “Here, let me help.” He crossed over to the table.

“No, I can get it.”

Meadow struggled some more. Durlach stepped closer, then
reached to take the bottle from her. At that moment, the cork came free with a
pop
and she lost her grip on the smooth glass. He quickly grabbed it to save it
from hitting the floor but some of the wine shot out and splashed the front of
his light-gray t-shirt and jeans.

Meadow gasped. “I’m so sorry.”

Durlach shook his head and chuckled. “It’s okay.”

“No, it’s not. It’s going to stain your clothes. Quick, take
them off and I’ll put them in the washer. Let me get some paper towels to mop
you up a bit.”

As Meadow walked over to the sink, Durlach did as she told
him to do.

She quickly yanked two sheets of paper towel off the roll,
then turned back to Durlach. What she saw had her coming to a standstill and
her brain ceasing to function on all cylinders. He stood where she’d left him,
but now he was almost as good as naked. His shirt and jeans lay in a pile by
his feet. The only thing that kept him covered was the pair of black boxer-briefs
he wore. Everything else was bare.

Meadow’s mouth fell open as she ran her gaze over Durlach’s
well-muscled and ripped body. He was perfect. That was the best way she could
describe what she looked at. His chest had a thick padding of muscle and his abs
were a sculpted six-pack. She briefly glanced at his strong legs before her
gaze became snagged on what was between them. Only in underwear, there was no
mistaking the large hard-on that tented the front of them. A throbbing ache
built inside her pussy the longer she stared in that area of what was attached
to the best male body she’d seen in real life.

She pried her gaze off Durlach’s crotch and tried to speak
but only managed to make a croaking sound. Meadow swallowed, pretty sure there
had to be drool running down her chin. While she’d been eating him up with her
eyes she must have closed most of the space between them because Durlach was
now within touching distance. She had to concentrate really hard not to stroke
all the interesting bits of him, especially what he had hidden in his
boxer-briefs.

“Are you okay, Meadow? You did tell me to hurry and take my
clothes off.”

That she had, but she hadn’t expected him to do it right
there in the kitchen. She figured she’d try to dab some of the wine out of the
material before she sent him to the bathroom to undress. She was even going to
give him a towel to wrap around his waist since nothing of hers would have come
close to fitting him.

Meadow nodded. “Ah…er…” She cleared her throat. “Yes,” she
managed, even though it still sounded like a croak. “You’re so…big.” Her gaze
landed on his crotch once more.

“You only have yourself to blame for that,” Durlach said
with a laugh.

Heat rushed to Meadow’s cheeks as she pried her gaze upward,
realizing she’d been caught staring at a spot she shouldn’t have been. And it
didn’t help that wetness had pooled between her legs as well.