S. Yule - Lycan Lover

The young lycan was going to die. Anthony had planned to let him go after a good beating, but that was before he’d actually touched Karen. Rage like he had never felt pumped through his veins and his vision blazed red. The pup twisted free from Anthony’s hands and ran toward the end of the alley. Anthony’s adrenaline bestowed him with even more power and speed, and the young lycan didn’t stand a chance. Anthony leaped and came down hard on the pup’s back. He grasped his head between his hands and snapped his neck with a loud crack as if it were a twig. Anthony let the body fall to the ground and, knowing the other lycans would come back for it, left it where it crumpled.

“Anthony.”

Karen’s cry of pain doused his anger, and he sprinted back to her. He was thankful a huge dumpster sat between her and the pup, blocking her from witnessing what he’d just done.

He crouched beside her. She was holding her arm and tears were streaming down her cheeks. He pushed the hair back off her face and she looked up at him with wide, pleading eyes. He wanted to kill the damn pup all over again for causing her such pain.

“Oh, baby. I’m so sorry. I never meant for this to happen this way.”

“Wh-what do you mean you didn’t want this to happen this way?”

He scooped her up and began walking. “Look, let me get you some place safe. After that, we can talk.”

“I only live a couple blocks that way.” She pointed the opposite way he was walking.

“I know where you live, but that’s not where we’re going. You need to be out in the open.” In a couple days, she would need a lot of space to run. His place would be perfect.

“Why am I not surprised you know where I live?” Her brows turned down. “I don’t understand why you think I need to be out in the open. What does that even mean anyway?” He nearly grinned when she yawned. “I need to go home.” She laid her head against his chest. “I’m so tired.”

“Look, Karen, I won’t hurt you, and as hard as it may be, you have to trust me, okay?”

She whispered, “I know you won’t hurt me, Anthony. But, what are you? I mean, I know it’s almost Halloween and all, but it still doesn’t explain what I saw.”

“Shh. Don’t worry about it right now. We’ll talk about it later.” So she had seen the claws and the fangs, and probably his glowing eyes, too. He was relieved she didn’t ask any further questions at that particular moment. He carried her to his black Hummer parked on the side of the road a few blocks away and carefully placed her on the seat. She immediately slumped into a deep sleep.

Anthony found Karen’s keys in her purse’s contents scattered all over the alley. He shoved everything back in the bag and was amazed that so much stuff could fit in such a tiny space. He grabbed her shoes and made a note to keep them in a safe place because he wanted to see her in them again—and only them. Well, maybe those sexy fishnet stockings and garters, too. His cock twitched in excitement, and he blew out a long breath. He drove to her apartment and packed some clothes for her. He hoped she’d be more thankful at having them when she woke up later than angry at the fact he’d gone into her apartment and through her things.

He’d been driving for over eight hours when he made the final turn of the journey. The tires of the SUV bumped along the drive that led to his secluded cabin nestled on eleven thousand snow-covered acres thick with trees. No one would ever happen upon his place by accident. The rolling forest gave him more than enough running room when he had the urge to run in wolf form.

Karen moaned in her sleep. He watched the mid-morning sun’s light glisten on her smooth skin and sighed. She’d slept the whole ride and he knew the changes from the bite were already taking place. In about two days, Karen Samson would be sharing her body with another beast, another beast besides him.

Nothing on the face of the earth could stop him from being with her when the first change took place. He’d make sure she stayed safe. The first few times that a new lycan changed could be very confusing for them as they tried to adjust to all their newly enhanced senses. He’d dreamed of the day he’d find his mate and change her. Lycans’ life spans were thousands of years longer than humans, and he’d never be able to watch his mate grow old, die, and leave him. That honor had been taken from him. One bite was all it ever took, and that bastard in the alley had stolen the most sacred thing Anthony could ever share with his mate. Had he been the one to bite her, she would have been spared the pain she was now forced to endure. When a werewolf bit his mate to change them, there was never any pain, but if one bit someone who was not his mate, the pain was excruciating.

He parked the Hummer, got out, and walked around to pull Karen from the passenger seat. She felt as if she weighed nothing. She shifted in her sleep and, curling closer to his chest, snuggled her face deep against his shirt. He pulled his keys from his pocket when he reached the wraparound redwood deck, and unlocked the front door. After closing it, he was careful to relock it and set the alarm. Even though the chances were slim of someone happening upon him in his secluded home, he wouldn’t chance anything where Karen was concerned.

He carried her to his bedroom and sat down on the side of the bed. Her curvy ass was snuggled against his groin, and the leather skirt rode dangerously high up her shapely legs. His heart thundered and his cock hardened instantly, strangling a groan from his throat.

He shook her gently. “Karen, wake up.” When she didn’t move, he kissed her on the lips and patted her cheek with his hand. “Karen, wake up.”

Karen’s eyes flew wide, and she began flailing her arms at Anthony. He grabbed her wrists and held her easily without hurting her. After she changed, she wouldn’t be so easy to subdue. She’d be stronger, quicker. She stared blankly, not even registering that he was present, and he knew she was reliving the scene in the alley. “No!”

“Karen! Look at me. It’s me, Anthony. You’re okay, you’re safe.”

She struggled for a few more seconds before her eyes focused on him. She looked confused as she scanned the room. He watched as she took in the cathedral ceilings and walls made of hand-carved logs and the muted colors of gold and brown that decorated the room. He barely contained a grin when she stiffened, no doubt in realization that she was sitting on his lap. Her eyes snapped to his. “Where are we?”

“My house.”

“This is your house?”

“Yes.” He wanted her to like his home since this is where he hoped they would live together.

“Where exactly is your house, Anthony?”

“About eight hours west of your apartment. We aren’t in the city anymore, Karen. In fact, this is about as far from city life as you can get.”

“What?” She rubbed her temples. “Are you saying I just slept for eight hours?”

“Yep. You were out about two seconds after I sat you in the car.”

“Oh.” She glanced at the room again. “It’s beautiful.” She flinched and grabbed her arm. “Ouch!”

Anthony moved her hand away to look at the wound. The bite was already healing, and he knew it would disappear completely and the pain would cease after she changed for the first time. Werewolves healed very quickly. “Come on. Let’s shower and get your arm cleaned up.”

He picked her up and walked toward the door that led into a huge bathroom. “Uh, wait a minute. I’m not showering with you.”

“Why not? Don’t tell me you’re going to go all shy on my after what happened in the alley.”