Shadow Wolf: A Shifter Romance (Arctic Brotherhood, Book 2) Page 4

  What wasn’t she telling him? Samson watched Valetta as she returned from bathing in the river. She wore shorts and a tank top and his eyes lingered on the enticing curves of her body, enjoying the way her puckered nipples pushed against the thin material, roaming over the curve of her buttocks as she stooped to tie the laces of her sneakers.

  This is Hendrik’s daughter, for God’s sake. What the hell do you think you’re doing looking at her that way?

  Resisting the impulse to cover his eyes with one hand to block out the tempting image before him, he tried to analyze what he knew. It was simple. I know fuck all. That wasn’t strictly true. He knew that behind the fiery exterior, he had never seen anyone as scared as Valetta. He also knew Hendrik didn’t know the reason for her fear. Valetta meant more to Hendrik than anything. If he thought she was hurting, her father would move heaven and earth to help her.

  Samson had spent the last few hours watching the Guardians, discovering what he could about them. What little he had learned troubled him even more. It was as if these werewolves had been dropped here from nowhere, with no prior knowledge of . . . well, anything. It was disturbing and infuriating.

  Samson had observed the group members as they met each other. Even in human form, werewolves instinctively adopted pack behavior. When they were alone with no humans around, they allowed their wolves free rein. Yet even the basics of something as simple as greeting each other seemed to have been missed from the education of this group. There were a lot of werewolves here of equal status. The only alphas were Samson and Valetta. To maintain order, the younger werewolves should have adopted a submissive approach to the alphas, lowering themselves to the ground when first seeing them, even rolling over and exposing their bellies. As a sign of respect to the alphas and to each other, Samson would have expected to see some friendly nose nudges going on. He hadn’t seen one. Not one of these Arctic werewolves had scented another or sniffed the air. He hadn’t seen any sign of them relying on their other key sense . . . their hearing. Their ears seemed only as important to them as they did to humans; necessary, but certainly not hypersensitive.

  “You look lost in thought.” Valetta came to sit next to him as he leaned on a rock outside the cave. Her fresh, clean aroma invaded his nostrils. There was nothing quite like the scent of a female Arctic werewolf. It was striking . . . woody, spicy, and floral, taking him instantly back to the wild northern tundra that was their natural habitat. It was evocative and nostalgic and he could never get enough of it. It was a heady reminder of how long it had been since he’d last gotten close to a woman. No wonder his body was responding to the presence of a female Arctic werewolf like he was a horny teenager let loose in a strip club. And if only it were that simple.

  Before Valetta turned eighteen, Samson used to visit Hendrik regularly. Then came that unforgettable night when Hendrik had been delayed on senate business and they had been alone in the house. Valetta had taken him totally by surprise when she kissed him and shyly invited him to join her in her bedroom. She hadn’t known what she was doing, of course. Had no idea of the explosive impact of the touch of her lips on his and the tempting prospect she was offering. No, but you knew, he told himself harshly. You knew it when, for a brief instant, you kissed her back. You knew it when you considered taking her up on her offer. When you pushed her up against the door frame with one hand up her shirt and the other inside her jeans. He could still feel her skin beneath his fingertips now, her warm arousal reverberating through his body like a series of shock waves. He remembered that moment every time he looked at her. He hadn’t been back to visit Hendrik since that night. There were some things you just didn’t do. Seducing your best friend’s daughter was one of them. Betraying a beloved memory was another.

  With difficulty, Samson dragged his mind back to the problem of the Guardians. “What do you know about mind control?”

  Valetta stared at him in surprise. “You mean like hypnosis?”

  “Hypnosis is a possibility, but I’m guessing something more powerful would be needed to control this many werewolves for any length of time.”

  “You’re scaring me now.” She lowered her voice, casting a swift glance around her.

  “You mean you weren’t scared already? Because I have to tell you, Valetta, if that’s the case, you must be as dead behind the eyes as the rest of these lamebrains.”

  She opened her mouth to speak, then closed it again so abruptly her teeth made a snapping noise. “Come with me.”

  Valetta led the way to her room, turning to face him in the tiny cell-like space as soon as she had closed the door behind them. “Just because I agreed to let you stay, doesn’t mean you get to judge me. You have no idea how I’m feeling right now.”

  He closed the space between them, grasping her by her upper arms. Holding her chest to chest, he could feel the trembling of her limbs and the pounding of her heart. There were telltale dark circles under her eyes highlighting her fatigue, but her gaze remained mutinous. Why couldn’t she make this easy and tell him what was going on?

  “I know exactly how you’re feeling. You are terrified out of your wits.” Slowly, he ran his hands up and down her arms, trying to soothe her, to get her to trust him. “Tell me why and I swear I’ll put it right.”

  “You can’t. No one can.” That full lower lip wobbled slightly.

  “I came here for you. No one else.” He ducked his head slightly to get a better look at her face, trying to make her smile. “You used to believe there were knights in shining armor riding around rescuing people.”

  Her chin came up at that, her expression hardening. Showing him his attempt at humor had failed. “I’m not a kid anymore, Samson.”

  The words changed something in the atmosphere between them. Made it deeper and denser and just that little bit harder to breathe all of a sudden. The spell was broken when someone rapped loudly on the door.

  “Damn.” Samson wasn’t sure if the word was torn from him because he was fighting the urge to kiss her, or if it was an expression of disappointment when she pulled away from him. Because he still wanted to kiss her. Five years of staying away hadn’t changed a thing. The realization that he had never wanted anything more than he wanted to press his own lips against the soft fullness of hers was unnerving and distracting. Not only is this not what I need right now, it’s something I can never have.

  Valetta moved past Samson to open the door. Pavel was there. He ducked his head, avoiding her eyes. Valetta glanced over her shoulder at Samson, who shrugged in response to her raised brows. “Just doing my job, boss. Teaching them manners like we agreed.”

  “Trouble,” Pavel said.

  “What sort of trouble?”

  Pavel shook his head. “Konrad sent me to fetch you. He didn’t say why.”

  “I’m on my way.”

  Before she could follow Pavel, Samson caught hold of her. Valetta glanced at his hand as it encircled her wrist, raising her brows. He released her with a muttered apology. “Konrad sends for you and you go? Who’s in charge here?”

  “If there is a problem, I need to be there.”

  “Then I’m right next to you.”

  Samson walked alongside to Valetta through the narrow cave system until they reached the open air. Having him at her side felt good. Nothing could take away the feeling of dread that was her permanent companion lately, but her resolve was strengthened when Samson was around. He wanted her to confide in him, but how could she do that? How could she tell him the truth and watch the warm light in his eyes fade? How could she explain what she didn’t understand herself?

  When she stepped outside the cave, Konrad was waiting for her. There was something smug about his demeanor. It wasn’t anything overt; it was more a feeling she got from him. Maybe she had just been around him too long. The man made her flesh crawl. Nearby, a bunch of about eight young Arctic werewolves were standing clustered together.

  Valetta frowned as she took in the scene. “What’s going on?”

&
nbsp; Konrad pointed to the group. “Looks like a rebellion.”

  Samson’s low, rumbling growl drew Valetta’s attention to him, but she held up a hand, halting him before he could take any action. “We are a pack. We don’t do defiance.”

  “Try telling them that.” Konrad jerked his head toward the huddle.

  Valetta approached the group, glad of Samson at her side. They ceased their conversation, swinging around to face her. She was surprised to see Axel with the rebels, and she addressed her question to him.

  “What’s this about?”

  He met her eyes, a fact that had Samson snapping sharply at him. “Show respect to your leader.”

  Axel appeared to consider his options. In the end, he ducked his head. “We were sent to this place for a purpose, yet we are waiting around while the Shadow Born lives.”

  “Shadow Born?” Samson looked from Valetta to Axel and back again, obviously seeking more information. Neither enlightened him.

  Although she felt a cold hand of dread close around her heart, Valetta kept her cool. “You are making some big assumptions. I was not aware that you knew the identity of the Shadow Born.”

  Axel’s lips drew back, so all his teeth showed. “Maybe not, but we all know who harbors the Shadow Born. If you are afraid to act, we are not.”

  Valetta moved fast. Shoving Axel up against the cave wall, she curled her hand around his throat, digging her nails deep into his flesh. She sensed a movement from Samson on the periphery of her vision and her anger flared further. Don’t you dare try to help me! Somehow, she must have communicated that message to him, because he backed off. Moving her other hand down, she gripped Axel between the legs. Hard.

  Pressing her face close up so it was only an inch from Axel’s, she spoke very slowly and deliberately. “Let me make a few things clear. Firstly, if you ever speak to me like that again, I will detach your balls from your body and you can watch when I toss them over the waterfall. Do you understand?”

  To illustrate her point, she tightened her grip. Axel tried to respond, but no sound emerged from his lips. He compromised by nodding vigorously.

  “Secondly, I am not afraid. Not of you, not of the Shadow Born”—she almost laughed aloud at her own words; how could she be afraid of the Shadow Born?—“not of Konrad, not of the fucking bastard who sent you here before I came along . . . whoever he may be. Okay?”

  “Okay.” The word was a hoarse croak.

  “Finally, if you don’t want to be part of this pack, leave now. If you do, I’m in charge. Get used to it.” Valetta released him, and he slid down the wall, clearly unable to stand. She turned to the rest of his group. “The same goes for all of you and anyone else who thinks they can challenge me.”

  She glanced over to Konrad, whom she suspected knew more about this little show of defiance than his bland expression revealed. But why would he challenge her now, if he hadn’t when she first arrived? She didn’t have any answers where Konrad was concerned. All she knew was he couldn’t be trusted. But nothing about this spelled trust. Her message was for all of them, but she kept her eyes on Konrad. “If you don’t like the way I do things, fuck off out of here right now.”

  They didn’t meet her eyes. Instead, with heads lowered submissively, they made their way back into the cave. When he managed to get back to his feet, Axel followed them. There was a delicacy about the way he walked that hadn’t been there before.

  It was only when she was alone with Samson that Valetta finally released the breath she had been holding. Sensing that he was preparing to ask questions, she gestured for him to follow her as she moved away from Konrad. No matter how much distance she put between them, she could feel those toxic yellow eyes boring into her back.

  Samson waited until he was sure they were alone. Valetta had been scarily impressive just then and he allowed himself a twinge of masculine sympathy for Axel. But he knew the fear she felt was still there, stronger than ever. Her face was a mask now. Distant and unreadable. Apart from a hint of sinew beneath the pearly flesh, her slender limbs, revealed by the scanty shorts and vest, gave no sign of the coiled strength he had just witnessed.

  He wanted to go to her, hold her, soothe away the terror he knew she was striving so hard to keep under control. He had a feeling the outcome of any attempt to touch her wouldn’t result in a pretty outcome. Samson wasn’t prepared to subject his own balls to the same treatment Axel’s had just received.

  “What is a Shadow Born?”

  Valetta blinked as though his words roused her from a trance. She lifted one shoulder haughtily. “It’s an old legend.”

  “Good luck with that.”

  She turned her head, regarding him with a frown in the golden depths of her eyes. “With what?”

  “Trying to dismiss me. It won’t work.”

  A faint smile dawned. “I suppose I was foolish to think it would. I remember my father once said you were the most tenacious bastard he had ever met.”

  He grinned. “I’m stubborn as well.”

  Valetta laughed and the feeling of relief he experienced was out of all proportion. Looking out for her was addictive. He was getting in too deep, too fast. He felt like he was sliding down a steep hill, gathering momentum all the time and with no way of stopping himself. Do I want to slow down? He shrugged the question aside. It wasn’t important right now. All he wanted to do in this moment was lift every single care away from her. His own shoulders were broad enough to take on her burdens. But how was he supposed to do that unless she opened up to him?

  Valetta’s glance flickered over to the cave entrance. Konrad was still there, watching them from a distance. “Can we go for a walk?”

  “I thought you’d never ask.”

  They walked in silence along the ridge that led toward the waterfall. A narrow track took them away from the river and into the cool green darkness of the pine forest. Valetta cast an occasional glance over her shoulder. Once they had been walking for about ten minutes, Samson caught hold of her hand, leading her to a fallen tree stump and pulling her down so that she sat next to him.

  “No one has followed us. Even if they had, you can trust me to take care of them. Stop worrying.”

  She took a deep breath. “It’s not that I don’t trust you, Samson. But you don’t know what you’re up against.”

  “So tell me. Start with this Shadow Born.”

  The alarm in her expression awakened his protective instincts even further. She bit her lip and his eyes were drawn by the gesture, fascinated by the plump bow of her mouth. He wanted to reach out and touch her lips, smooth them beneath his thumb, find out if they were as soft and cushiony as he remembered. Focus. Valetta was starting to talk and he forced himself to concentrate.

  “The Shadow Born is a legend. I don’t know if it’s real or not. I don’t know if you’ll believe me.”

  It was real enough to bring a haunted look to her eyes. “Valetta, I’ve been alive for a very long time. Just recently, together with a group of friends, I came face-to-face with Fenrir, the mightiest and most feared werewolf of them all. Many wolves don’t believe he even exists. Tell me your legend. I’ll believe you.”

  “You make it sound so easy.” Just for a second, her shoulder brushed his and the spark that shot through him was disproportionate compared to the innocence of the touch.

  “That’s because it is.”

  Her sigh reverberated through her whole body. It was as if she was preparing to let go of a secret that had held her prisoner for a very long time. “A Shadow Born werewolf is a cub that is born to a rare spirit known as a Shadow Wolf. The Shadow Wolf forms a bond with another species of werewolf, copying everything about them until it becomes a mirror image of the host. The Shadow Wolf’s purpose is to breed with the host werewolf. Once it succeeds, the problems will arise. The cubs of the Shadow Wolf—known as the Shadow Born—have the power to destroy the host species.”

  “How?”

  “I don’t know the details. The legends ar
e vague, and much seems to depend on whether the original Shadow Wolf is evil or benign. It is also important to remember that it is not the Shadow Wolf itself that has the destructive power. It is the Shadow Born.”

  “So why are the Guardians of Hati here now, and why are they getting themselves wound up about a Shadow Born?”

  He watched the emotions play across her features. She was clearly waging an internal battle. “They believe my father is harboring a Shadow Born werewolf.”

  Samson’s fist clenched hard on his thigh as he fought the impulse to draw her into his arms and kiss away her fears. “Hendrik? Where the fuck did they get that idea?”

  To his surprise, she slumped against him, placing her head on his shoulder. “Because it is true. I am Shadow Born.”

  Chapter Four

  Valetta waited for Samson’s expression to change. She had just confessed to being Shadow Born. She was a monster who had the power to destroy his whole species. Now he knew what she was, she expected him to walk away in disgust. At the very least. If he tried to kill her, she wouldn’t blame him.

  What she didn’t expect was for him to lift her into his lap and wrap his strong arms around her so that he could cradle her against his chest. One big hand ran up and down her back in a surprisingly gentle motion. He held her that way for long, heart-stopping minutes until some of the terror that had held her heart in a vise for so long began to melt away.

  “How did you find out?”

  She loved that he didn’t do the obvious stuff. Didn’t say it couldn’t be true. Didn’t exclaim and wonder. Didn’t offer sympathy or horror. He just got directly to the important part.

  “My mother left me a letter to be opened when I was twenty-one.” She lifted her head and found Samson’s face disturbingly close. “My father thought it was a lovely idea. That it would contain sentimental mother-daughter stuff, you know?”

  “Hendrik never knew?”

  She shook her head so violently that the action vibrated through both their bodies. It was a mistake. Even in such a serious situation, she was all too aware of his potent masculinity. The powerful thigh muscles beneath her buttocks clenched, and she sensed him battling for control. “He still doesn’t know. Her letter begged me not to tell him.”