Dani Harper - First Bite

Neva and Baker hid the SUV, pulling it off the road and stacking branches and leaves on it. With luck, no one would see it. They’d compared notes about their respective escapes, and their consensus was that the guards usually stayed clear of the forest area. Strange to have such a natural playground for wolves but not let anyone use it. Maybe Meredith was concerned that the raw appeal of the wilderness might lure her wolves to desert her. The patrols seemed to be reserved for the walled perimeter of the mansion itself, with its vast manicured lawns, flagstone patios, and a pair of lake-like blue swimming pools.

Baker stripped off his clothes—noting he’d missed a price tag on the jeans—and stuffed them into a garbage bag. The package fit into a scraped-out hollow between the forks of one of the more normal-size trees he’d seen since this morning, some kind of oak. He scattered a thick layer of dead leaves and forest-floor debris over the black plastic to hide it and stepped back. The camouflage gave away no secrets. If only he could disguise himself that well…Naked, he stood for a moment, calming himself, then signaled his wolf.

The transformation was almost instantaneous. And painless, too—he never failed to be grateful that it wasn’t like the first fucking time. He shook himself all over like a wet dog, as if settling the wolf hide into place. Senses were in high gear now: eyesight, hearing, and most of all, scent. The intense smells of the primeval forest called to something wild in him, and he nearly strangled trying to keep himself from howling.

Behind a clump of ferns tall enough to hide her completely from sight, Baker knew that Neva had shed her clothes as well. She was pretty, and he’d love to catch a glimpse—fair was fair, and she’d seen him , right? But he was having enough trouble keeping his shit together just from the effects of the scenery. Fortunately Neva was putting more clothes on, an outfit that her fucking royal richness, the bitch queen, would actually be caught dead wearing. Baker had no doubt that Neva could pull off this part of their plan—it was scary how closely she could resemble her sister when she put her mind to it. It wasn’t just the dramatic change in her hair—it was the attitude, the condescending tone of voice, the body language that screamed, Look at me, look at me, look at me . Neva could mimic Meredith to a fucking T.

Still, when she stepped out from behind the ferns, he lost his breath. Her newly blonde hair had been loosed into long golden waves. A satiny white blouse showed off the roundness of her breasts, and a black stone pendant nestled between them. Her black leather leggings looked painted on, and continued into tall equestrian boots with tiny silver spurs. “Meredith favors stilettos,” Neva explained. “But I can’t walk in the damn things, and I’d never make it through the woods to the mansion. I’ve seen her wear boots like these once in a while, though, so I hope I can get away with them.”

They look fine, said Baker. At least he thought that was what he said, but he was no longer looking at the boots. His eyes had already traveled back up to more interesting places—until he noticed she had something in her hands. Hey, what the hell? I’m not wearing a fucking dog collar!

“It’s not just any collar.” Neva took a step toward him with the wide, coal-black loop, and the scent of rich leather assailed his nostrils. “It’s designer,” she said, as if that explained everything. “Do you have any idea how expensive this was?”

I don’t care if it’s got diamonds the size of peanuts.

She rolled her eyes. “There are no diamonds. Didn’t you notice that some of her wolves wear something like this?” She waved the collar at him. “It’s some kind of badge of office. I figured maybe you’d be less likely to be stopped or questioned if we get separated.”

Okay, so he’d seen a few collars on members of the pack, but hadn’t known what they were for. He eyed the leather suspiciously. What happens if I turn back to human while I have that on?

“Nothing. It’ll disappear into the twilight zone, just like your clothes do. Besides, look at it, Baker. In order to go around your big, fat wolf neck, it’s nearly the size of a belt. You’re not going to choke or anything.”

In the end, he allowed her to buckle it on. Loosely. Appearing to be somebody important might be useful—and he couldn’t afford to pass up the slightest advantage.

Don’t like.

He nodded as he recognized his inner wolf’s voice in his head. You and me both, bud. As he led the way for Neva, checking for the easiest route, he wondered at the bizarreness of talking to his alter ego. If his inner wolf was on the outside right now, then his human mind was on the inside . So did that mean he was hearing the wolf’s voice in the wolf’s mind or in his own? Puzzling over that existential dilemma, he failed to sense a threat until it was upon them.

A pair of white wolves erupted from a tall stand of rhododendron trees. Fortunately, Neva’s alter ego was paying attention and she dove to one side, shifting form as she rolled—

And came up biting and snapping.

The scene was confused and surreal, a mad scramble of dark and light pelts, as Baker and Neva battled their attackers. A flurry of magenta blossoms filled the air as if someone had viciously shaken a water globe, and tufts of fur began to join them. Neva had never fought as a wolf before, but she didn’t have to figure out what to do. Instinct was in charge here. Her wolf spun and dodged, bit deeply, and leaped away. Her small size was an advantage, and she was fast. Baker was duking it out with the biggest wolf, but she couldn’t spare him a look. She could only feint and strike, slash and retreat out of reach.

Her vision reddened, and gradually she backed her opponent up against a fallen redwood. Snake-fast, she ducked under its guard and caught it solidly by the throat, just under the jaw. Neva sprang straight up, which threw the larger wolf off balance, and brought it crashing to the ground with her on top. Her jaws were still clenched around the vital spot, her teeth already breaking the skin beneath the thick snowy ruff. Every impulse was screaming at her to deliver the final bite, to kill her enemy and—

No.

Her wolf strained to fulfill its instincts, and Neva could barely hold it back. I said no ! I’m not a murderer, and I’m not going to start just because I’m a werewolf.

No kill? Her alter ego was clearly puzzled.

Travis said Changelings don’t do that. No kill, just hold on, okay?

It complied. Relieved that she’d won the battle with her own wolf—at least for the moment—Neva turned her attention to the owner of the furry throat that was oh so vulnerable between her teeth. Scent informed her of several things right away. One, the white wolf was terrified, and two, it was older than she was. Three, it was female. And four—

You’re okay? Baker’s mental voice sounded breathless, which was strange. That’s when she realized there was only panting and gasping behind her—the other combatants had broken off their struggle to watch what she was going to do next.

Fine. You?

My dancing partner’s really worried about his pal.

I want to know what’s going on. Why was I attacked? She was directing her mindspeak to the wolf beneath her, but it was Baker who answered first.

Well, duh! You look like the bitch queen herself.

And thanks a lot for blowing my cover. Neva made a silent mental note to smack him in the back of the head later, and to get him to practice focusing his thoughts more. You don’t get it. Nobody attacks Meredith; nobody would dare. At least not anybody in their right mind. She redirected her attention to the creature whose life she held between her teeth. Who the hell are you guys?