Lydia Dare - Wolf Next Door

He'd growled and snapped and snarled at everyone who came near him, ever since he'd returned from his trip with the unfortunate news about Brimsworth's disappearance. As the moon rose in the sky, it got even worse. Lily and Elspeth had retired to their rooms, and he'd growled almost continually. The only one who seemed to calm him was Alice. When Alice came into the room, the major hovered over her like a hummingbird over a blooming flower.

Alice did nothing more than touch the side of the man's face, and Prisca could almost see the tension leave his body. But the hungry look never left his eyes. He looked at Alice like she was the counter-measure to every ounce of pent-up energy within him. And she responded with coy looks over her shoulder that made the man growl. Evidently, passion didn't fade with age.

Finally, the major had pulled Alice down into his lap, and Prisca had fled the sitting room. She'd wandered the halls until the light of the full moon caught her attention and she'd sought sanctuary in the garden.

For years, Will had come to her on the night of the full moon. She longed to sink her fingers into his shaggy brown hair and look into his eyes, which would certainly appear as dark as sapphires under the light of the night.

Prisca glanced up at the full moon and absently fingered the locket she wore around her neck. Of course, now she knew Will and her wolf were one in the same. She loved them equally. But she wasn't sure if Will was aware she'd put the pieces of the puzzle together. Would he stop coming to her in wolf form now? Her heart squeezed painfully in her chest at the thought of never seeing her wolf again. Would Will try to put her off with every full moon?

Prisca stood and shook out her skirts, already damp from the dew of the night. She glanced once toward the window where the major had stood. But he was gone. A small smile tipped her lips as she imagined him stalking Alice.

It was her turn to stalk Will. Prisca stepped into the woods. It was time to seduce her husband.

***

Will lurked in the woods that surrounded Westfield Hall. Unlike his brothers, he'd chosen to stay close to The Hall in case Brimsworth somehow evaded them all.

He heard a howl in the distance, which he instantly recognized as Simon. Then, from a greater distance, Ben answered. They'd all picked up vague scents of the beast, each trailing off in a different direction. It was as though the wild Lycan had sent them out on a merry chase. Only none of them were feeling very jovial. Simon had nearly taken the major's head off when he'd returned with the news that Brimsworth was nowhere to be found. Until the old man raised his hackles and stared Simon down. Evidently, even the pack leader paid respect to his elder.

Will put his nose to the ground, looking for a trail that might indicate the golden wolf stalked the occupants of Westfield Hall. Or, more specifically, one occupant of Westfield Hall. His brothers could take care of themselves. And their wives had already been claimed. Brimsworth would have no desire to take them. Not finding any sign of the earl, Will turned to sweep the grounds again. He ran, enjoying the freedom that came with being in his Lycan form.

He stopped in his tracks, his claws digging into the soft earth as he stood up straight and tall. Brimsworth's scent. There it was, dark and dangerous. He'd been here recently, within the last few moments, actually.

Will searched the ground for tracks, but little could be seen in the mossy earth of the forest floor. He turned, putting his nose back to the ground to follow the scent.

***

"Don't hurt me," Prisca whispered to the golden wolf that blocked her path, her words choked by the fear in her chest. Before she could take two steps, the hulking beast knocked her to the ground where he loomed over her.

Prisca covered her face with her arm, certain the beast who'd knocked her down would take a piece of it at any second. Limned by the light of the full moon, the Earl of Brimsworth was a snarling shadow above her. His lips were raised to show his sharp teeth, and a drop of thick saliva dripped from his mouth onto the bodice of her gown.

Prisca extended her arms behind her and used her arms and legs to walk backward on her hands, slowly trying to slide from below the feral beast.

The growl intensified. She stopped moving. Her gaze searched the forest floor, looking for a weapon. A large rock would do. A stick might help. But she had nothing close enough to touch. The only thing within her reach was this golden-haired wild dog who looked ready to devour her. Very little of Brimsworth, or what she knew to be Brimsworth, was present in the wolf. He was completely unlike Will, who carried his human traits into his Lycan body.

The beast placed his paws upon her body and growled sharply in her ear as he snapped his teeth so forcefully she could feel the breeze the action stirred. He pushed her back, but she refused to lie beneath the creature. He could kill her, but she would die fighting. She lifted a hand to grab a hunk of the animal's hair.

But from her right, she heard a menacing growl and her glance swung at the same time as the beast caught the sound as well. Joy flooded her heart while fear encompassed her.

William!

Her gaze swung from beast to beast. They were a study of contradictions. The one atop her was light and feral. The other dark and concentrated.

She wanted to tell her own wolf to be careful. But he was already advancing upon them. His steps were steady and sure, his actions clear and calculated. She thought she saw worry cloud the gaze of the creature atop her.

"You should let me up, so he won't try to kill you," she told the golden wolf.

Will's growl became louder and even more menacing as he came within feet of them. He bared his teeth. He was honestly the most frightening creature she'd ever seen. Yet she felt no fear of him.

The beast atop her lowered his mouth to where it hovered just over the place where her neck met her shoulder. His teeth scraped her skin. His drool soaked her neck and shoulder. She squeezed her eyes shut tightly. But in that moment, her wolf jumped, catching the terrifying creature unaware.

His black body slammed into the evil one's, knocking him from atop her. Prisca immediately scrambled to her feet and stepped back. This would be the perfect time to flee. But she couldn't leave. She searched the area for a weapon, but all she found were twigs and small rocks.

With very little apparent thought to his own safety, her one true love and her biggest fear at that moment circled one another, as though taking one another's measure, deciding who would win before the fight even began.

The golden wolf sprang first. Prisca gasped and covered her mouth as the black one dodged the lunge and clamped his teeth into the animal's neck. It was a movement intended to kill, Prisca was sure. She wanted to run forward and save her wolf from the burden of dealing with her threat. He shouldn't bear the brunt of her folly.

The feral one jerked and spun, kicking and biting wildly. Her wolf didn't even cry out as the other nipped his skin in places with his sharp teeth. He simply clung to the animal's neck and held tightly, as though waiting to see how long it would take before the beast submitted. When he didn't, Will opened his jaws and clamped down again, digging in even deeper. Blood ran from the wounds at the golden wolf's neck.

"Don't kill him," she whispered. Prisca's stomach churned at the site. If this continued, there would be nothing left of Brimsworth, and under the light of day Will would hate himself for ripping the earl from this life. But then, as though called from the darkness of the forest, three other wolves approached slowly and silently, each from a different direction. She recognized Blackmoor, Benjamin, and the major right away. One was larger, his fur black with a streak of white over his ear. The other was brown with shaggy hair and hazel eyes. The third was grey and white and had a wizened look about his face.