Return to Half-Wed Moon

Chapter One

“You look great.” Thad Winston whistled.

“You’re a shitty liar.” Denison ‘Danny’ Lee wiped some blood off her chin and gave Thad a chilly look. She finished shoving her instruments into her black bag and snapped it shut.

“Whoa, in a bad mood are we?”

Danny didn’t bother to answer. She picked up her bag and started for the door.

Thad reached out and grabbed her arm.

“If you like your hand, I suggest you remove it from my arm, now.” Her words were cool, removed even, but her eyes glinted with evil promise.

“Lord, what the hell is the matter with you?”

She wasn’t in the mood for this. “Okay. I wouldn’t have actually cut off your hand.”

“Is that your shitty excuse for an apology?” Thad asked.

“I am not apologizing. Listen, I had a crappy morning. I didn’t have time to do laundry, so I’m stuck wearing the same smelly, bloodstained clothes I had on this morning. And, I have a headache larger than the fucking polar ice caps.”

“Apology not getting any better here, Danny.”

“I am not apologizing,” Danny said with a scowl.

He laughed then and motioned to her bag. “Okay, fine. You’re not apologizing. Mind telling me where you’re headed off to?”

“I do.” She picked up her bag and walked to the door.

“Hey, hey.” Thad rushed up and put himself between her and the exit. “You promised that the next time you went out you would take me,” he said plaintively. “You promised, Danny.”

“What? Are we twelve now? Listen, I’m breaking my promise, Thad boy. This isn’t a job I want to take you on.”

“You’re such a bitch,” Thad growled.

Danny shoved him out of the way, opened the door and walked out. “I know,” she called out over her shoulder.

Danny studied the circle. They had done a piss-poor job at forming it. The lines were uneven and hadn’t been finished. And she couldn’t detect any salt. What idiot formed a circle and didn’t use salt? Oh, yeah, dumb ass coven witches with no sense of self-preservation.

She turned to the Airok--the head of the coven--and scowled at her. “Your girls couldn’t draw a circle?” she asked sarcastically.

Airok Elsa stiffened. “I don’t think I like the tone of your voice.”

“And I don’t think I like being lied to, Airok.” Danny’s voice was clipped and dry.

“We did not lie to you.”

Danny snapped open her bag and pulled out a small makeup case and began to rummage through it. When she located the chalk she was looking for she blew on it to dislodge unwanted pieces of whatever from it.

“Oh?” She dropped to her haunches and studied the crappy circle. “You told me that your girls knew what they were doing. You also told me that you were not going to pay me the extra grand for prep, because it wasn’t necessary. Now I arrive to find that there is all sorts of prep necessary ... very necessary. Your girls don’t know diddly squat. This is the crappiest circle I’ve ever seen. And where the hell is the salt?”

Airok Elsa straightened her shoulders. “They were uncomfortable using ... salt.”

Danny easily brushed the half-ass circle away. She began to walk the route, using her chalk to form a perfect uninterrupted circle. When she was finished she retrieved a jar of sea salt from her bag. “Oh, ‘cause it can call the unholy? I get it. I know. Delicate sensibilities and all,” she sneered, “but you have nothing against calling me in to do it.”

“It is your job.” Airok Elsa looked down her patrician nose at her.

Stupid coven. Danny smiled but it was a twisted smile. “Sure, it’s my job. And you’re going to pay for it. You’re going to pay big.”

“We’ve already finalized the terms of agreement.”

Waving her hand, a stiff piece of parchment materialized before Danny. She motioned toward it. “Doesn’t work that way. Nothing is final until our names appear on the contract.” Danny loved the look of fury that settled on Airok Elsa’s face. “So, now, we renegotiate. I’m prepping, and since I wasn’t expecting to prep, I want an extra grand. Not to mention the time it takes to renegotiate these terms. Five thousand seems reasonable.”

“It’s outrageous,” Airok Elsa snapped.

Danny grinned. Outrageous. Yep, that was her, all right. “It’s not like you can’t afford it. You may be youngsters, but you take in an unholy fee for participation and initiation.” A fee that Danny thought was laughable, considering just how young and inept this particular coven was. Well, no matter. And since they would probably end up burning themselves up with some botched spell, better to get her payment now. “Five thousand, right now. Or I walk away.” Danny eyed her. “Well, what’s it going to be?”

“Do it, then.” Airok Elsa gritted her teeth.

Danny smiled knowingly. The contract floated over to the Airok. “You first.”

Airok Elsa growled, but she removed a small sharp pick from her waist. “Finger? Wrist?” Her eyes glittered angrily. “Something more vulnerable?”

“Your blood, your decision,” Danny said with a shrug.

Airok Elsa stiffened but nodded. She used the pick and stabbed her finger. When the wound was deep enough, she ran the pick through her blood and used the blood to sign the floating contract.

The contract floated back to Danny. She mimicked the Airok’s action, signing the contract in blood. Satisfied that all preliminaries were finished, she vanished the contract. “Now.” Danny grinned. “Let the games begin.”

The circle took up half the room. Danny made certain to double ward it. It was a big circle. She used her sea salt generously, spreading it around the circle. When she was satisfied that the salt was thick enough she went onto the next step.

The coven was staring at her. She hated the coven staring at her. But, whatever, they wanted to watch. They would watch.

She slipped her dagger out of its sheath and turned to stare at the group of women who were huddled together. “It’s gonna get messy, girls. If you are at all queasy, I would suggest that you...”

“My girls do not get queasy,” Airok Elsa interjected coldly.

Lord, she was really beginning to dislike the tight-assed Airok. “Fine, it’s your funeral.” Danny made the incision right below her elbow. There was a nice fat vein there. She watched as the blood began to flow steadily down her arm. After a moment she used her blood to create the inner circle.

She sat in the center of the blood circle and began the ceremonial words. They flowed easily from her. She had done this hundreds of times before.

Danny sniffed. The room was now filling with the acrid scent of sulfur. Oh, yeah, this was gonna be a big one.

She stepped out of the inner circle, made an opening in the outer circle and walked free of the now smoking demon nest.

It came quickly. And it was an ugly motherfucker.

Danny heard the gasps of horror from the members of the coven and she turned merry eyes onto the Airok.

“One low level demon, as promised.” Danny smiled. “Now, you just call me if you have trouble putting him back.”

Airok Elsa’s lips curled. “Will you accept a check?”

“As long as it’s not a personal one.” Danny watched Airok Elsa write out the check and couldn’t help the bubble of pleasure that was building up within her. She had better clear a little time in her schedule. She was definitely going to be getting a call from the Airok soon.

Okay. Her shitty day was shaping up. There was nothing like a windfall to perk up a girl’s day.

She smelled like sulfur. It was disgusting. Danny wrinkled her nose, dropped her keys on the table and began to strip.

Thad tossed a package at her. “This came for you while you were out.”

Danny caught it without turning around. She frowned. “You still here?”

Thad smiled, letting his eyes rake over her half naked form. “Yeah, and I’m mighty glad, too.”

Men, they were all alike. “God, get a life, Thaddie boy.” She unbuttoned her jeans and shimmied out of them. She snorted when she heard Thad’s intake of breath.

Danny peeled the tape from the package and pried the box open. She went completely still.

“Danny? Danny? You okay?” Thad came up to her. He peered over her shoulder and swallowed. “Holy God ... what is that?”

She couldn’t move. She couldn’t move a muscle. Maybe if she didn’t move, didn’t so much as blink an eye it would disappear. It would be a horrible figment of her imagination. “A finger, it’s a finger.”

Thad recoiled. “I can see that. Who the hell would send you a finger, and why?”

With a swallow, Danny placed the box on the side table and began to walk to her bathroom. “The finger ... it belongs to my brother. As to who sent it,” she said as she walked into her bathroom and closed the door, “I have a pretty good idea.”

Pulling her beat-up Chevy into the parking lot of the Stop-and-Save, Danny cut off the engine. She sat for a moment pondering how very stupid she was. How very, very, stupid she was. She could still turn her car right around and drive away, right? She could. She could do it.

“Dennison girl, just gonna sit there all night?”

“The thought had crossed my mind, Billy.” She opened the door, stepped out of the car and smiled. “Hey.”

“It’s good to see you, Dennison.” Billy opened his arms and Danny threw herself into them.

It had been a long time since she had felt Billy’s arms holding her, comforting her. And it was just as nice as she remembered.

“You look great, Billy,” Danny said, still snuggled tightly against him.

“Yeah, I know,” Billy said with a smile.

She laughed. “Still so modest, I see.” Danny pulled back, all business now, and cold, very cold. “They sent me his finger, Billy.”

“It’s not what you think.”

“Oh, what am I thinking, Billy?”

Looking toward the Stop-and-Save, Billy sighed. “Come on, they’re waiting.”

“By, they’re waiting, you mean, he’s waiting, right?” Danny clenched her hands into tight fists. “Thought so.” She frowned. “Lead the way into hell, Billy boy, lead the way.”

He was, simply, a beautiful male specimen. Well over six feet tall, with rippling muscles, cobalt blue eyes and a mass of sun kissed hair ... he looked like the Vikings of old--or a really hot California surfer.

Alexander Randolph Holt, Alpha of the Striker Clan, and king of all that he surveyed, wore frayed jeans, a black Stones shirt that had seen better days, and was barefoot.

Oh yeah, it was just like old times. Danny thought about slitting her wrists and getting it over with right now.

“Dennison.” Alexander said her name, and her skin prickled a thousand times over.

Fuck him. He could still do it. He could still do it.

She had to keep strong. Danny fortified herself. She would not, now or ever, kowtow to this man. She didn’t care that he was Alpha (part of the problem, of course) and she would never just be another bitch in the pack. “Hey, Alex.” Danny watched his face take on that hard, cold look she knew so well.

“That is not the appropriate way to greet your Alpha.”

“Since you’re not my Alpha, there is no way that I need to greet you.”

Alex was at her side in a moment. His hand grabbed her shoulder in an iron like grip and his breath was warm against her ear when he spoke to her.

“You are now living by my grace. The only reason you are allowed to breathe is by my leave. You had better remember that, Dennison.”

“I petitioned for my freedom four years ago, Alex. You granted me that freedom. You can’t take it back now.”

“I granted you your ‘lone wolf’ status. I did not grant you your freedom.” Alex sniffed her hair and sighed.

Now Danny began to struggle. No way was the Alpha of the local wolf pack going to get his jollies off by sniffing her hair.

“My ‘lone wolf’ status is my freedom. Now let me the fuck go.” Danny waited. She was tense. Perhaps she had gone a little far. She was a dominant female, yes, but she was not nearly the equal of the Alpha male. She sighed when Alex let her go, stepping away instantly, needing to put distance between them.

“No, Dennison, your ‘lone wolf’ status is your status. It does not mean that you are not part of the pack.” Alex’s bright eyes speared hers. “You will always be pack.”

Facing demons daily did not put the fear of the unholy in her heart like hearing Alexander tell her that she would never be free.

Damn him. She had done everything, everything that he asked of her. She had done everything the pack had asked of her. Her life was a misery, and she had accepted it, because she knew that at the end, she would have that single treasure worth it all ... her freedom.

Four years ago she walked away from Striker Clan, and away from Alexander. She had won that right. “You signed the contract,” Danny whispered, hating how fragile her voice suddenly sounded.

“Yes, and so did you. But that contract did not say you were not of the pack.”

“My loner status, Alex, it’s mine, you cannot take it back.” Danny knew she was repeating herself. But she was desperate. God. He couldn’t do this to her. He just couldn’t do this to her.

Alex shrugged. “It matters little whether or not you accept the words that I say now for the contract expires in less than a year, and you would have to reapply for your status...” his eyes glittered, “...with me.”

He was right. Danny swallowed--hard. She had been trying to push that thought away. The contract was for five years, and at the end of that time, she had to reapply for a new contract. And by the look in Alexander’s eyes, he would make her pay hell for that new contract.

“I didn’t come here to talk shop with you, Alex.”

Alex snorted. “Yes, you came because of Daniel.”

“No, I came because of Daniel’s finger.” Danny tried to keep her eye from twitching. She felt her fury rising and she wanted to bite something, or someone--hard. “You sonofabitch, you sent me Daniel’s finger.” She felt her beast trying to break free. “How could you do that, Alex? I know that we parted on poor terms ... but how could you?”

Alex let out a deep breath. His nostrils flared. “I did not send you Daniel’s finger, Dennison.”

Finally she let the rage pour forth. “His finger arrived at my apartment with your seal and, more telling, your scent, Alex.”

“Lord above, do you think so little of me? You think I would mutilate your brother to bring you back? The finger was delivered to me, Dennison. I thought you had the right to have it...” Alex ran a hand through his hair haphazardly.

“Who sent it?” Danny stormed at him. “Who sent you my brother’s finger?”

Alex smiled a slow and knowing smile then. “We will renegotiate your contract, Dennison.”

Danny’s mouth dropped open. “You want to talk about my contract now? You cold, evil bastard.”

“Careful, Danny, careful.” Alex’s words were cold and sharp. He was warning her.

She backed down. He could snap her neck if he so chose. He could. “I won’t be talking contract.”

Alex laughed coldly. “You will if you want my help, if you want the help of the pack.”

“Who says I need the pack?” Danny said with more bravado than she felt.

He began to circle her. “You are a magi, Dennison, and a wolf. This in itself is extraordinary. The fact, too, that you are dominant makes you a formidable and desirable acquisition. But do not think you can put on airs just because you are a rare commodity. You live in my city. And you breathe by my law and mine alone.” He leaned into her face and snarled. “And you will never find your brother without me.”

Instinct took over. Danny lunged at him. He was ready for her, because he easily flipped her over. She landed with a horrible thud on the ground.

Straddling her body, Alex growled. One of his hands grabbed her throat, the other pressed down on her shoulder blade to keep her immobile.

She felt her oxygen supply being cut off and still she struggled. She flailed her legs and kicked her feet. All she managed to do was exhaust herself.

Alex sighed, applying more pressure to her windpipe. “It is one of the things that I find most desirable about you, Dennison, and one of the things I find to be the most tedious. You are a fighter, through and through. There is nothing passive about your nature.”

Danny mouthed, “fuck you.” The words were lost however, since she was finding it exceedingly difficult to breathe.

“Yes, yes, you would like to claw my face off, I know.”

Actually, she was thinking more on the lines of castrating the domineering sonofabitch.

“Now, we will talk reasonably.” Alex leaned in closer. His eyes were hot and hard as they took her in. “We are going to renegotiate your contract, dear one. It will include, of course, utilizing your abilities to the best advantage of the pack. There are one or two other matters that need to be addressed in this contract that were left out of the last one. In return, the pack will give you sanctuary and protection. And ... we will help you with Daniel.” Alex’s eyes glittered. “It is not an overly long contract ... I did meet you halfway.”

She was trying to manage even breaths. Little dots were flashing before her eyes and she felt like she was going to be sick. Just when she thought she was going to hurl, she felt the pressure removed from her throat.

Alex was still sitting atop her, but at least now she could breathe.

“What say you, dear one?”

“I’m not your fucking dear one,” Danny growled.

“Now is not the time to be difficult,” Alex said, but there was a small smile on his handsome face.

“Don’t you know,” Danny said sarcastically, “difficult is my middle name.”

Alex grinned. “I was always under the impression that Tamara was your middle name, dear one.”

Fuck him. She didn’t bother to answer.

“So, we see eye to eye now, Dennison? We will renegotiate the terms of your new contract.” Alex waited.

Trying to keep her heart from screaming and her beast from leaping out and eating the Alpha whole, Danny took a couple of deep breaths. “It doesn’t seem like I have much of a choice, do I?”

When Alex spoke his expression was somber and cool. “No, love, you don’t.”

Danny scowled fiercely at the paper that lay in front of her. She had just signed the damned thing and she wanted to tear something or someone apart. She was raging. How had this happened? How had her precious freedom disappeared just like that?

Alex whipped the paper away and, unlocking his desk drawer, he placed it gently inside.

The drawer closed with a snap.

Turning to her with a predatory smile on his handsome face, Alex was almost glowing. “It is so good to have you back, Dennison, my love.”

Straightening her shoulders she reined in her temper. “I signed your damn paper, Alex. You have my fighting arm, you have my magi abilities, but don’t think you have me.” She snorted. “You’ll never have me.”

He sighed deeply. He came around the desk and sat on it, facing Danny who sat in the overstuffed chair in front of him. “You won’t give an inch, will you, darling?”

“No, and you’d better not forget it.” Danny narrowed her eyes. “I’m going to make your life a fucking misery.”

“I don’t doubt it,” Alex said with a hearty laugh.

She couldn’t take it anymore. Danny leaned forward in the chair. “I want to know about Daniel.”

“Yes, of course you do. The finger was delivered to me yesterday.”

“Who sent it to you?”

“The package came from Draco’s territory.”

Danny couldn’t help the small gasp that tore from her throat.

Alex nodded grimly.

Swallowing, Danny forced her beast to remain calm. “How could you allow Daniel to leave, Alex? How could you?”

“He’s an adult. I could not force him to stay in my territory if he did not wish to. He has always been a wanderer, and you know that.” Alex seemed almost noncommittal when he spoke.

“No, he’s always been a foolish idiot.” Danny swore. “God, Alex, he’s not capable of dealing with pack politics, how could you allow...”

“His contract expired, Dennison. And I could not force him to remain with me if he did not wish to.” Alex snorted. “He was never going to rise within the pack. He knew that. I knew that. He felt it was time to move on.”

Danny rubbed her hand across her burning eyes. Damn Daniel. How could he do this? And damn Alex for letting him do it. It was true. Daniel would never have risen within the pack. She knew that it bothered him. But she hadn’t realized it would make him do something this foolish. She had never expected him to leave Alexander’s territory. God. How stupid could one wolf be?

And she hurt. Lord knows that she had hardly been a sister to him these many years. Yes, the choice had been Daniel’s. He had been hurt and angry with her when she had decided to cut ties with the Striker Clan. He had railed at her. She had always thought in some part of her that most of the anger came from jealousy.

Danny had the power. She was dominant. And she had inherited their mother’s magical abilities. There had been little left over for Daniel. He had been left with the furry nature and little else.

When she had decided to leave the Striker Clan, Daniel had threatened her. He told her that he could not be associated with a wolf who thought so little of her nature that she would refuse the sanctuary, protection, and love of the pack. His words had torn through her like a knife.

Daniel had gone his way and hadn’t looked back.

But no matter, he was still her blood. He was still her brother. And she loved him. And the pain that they had inflicted on him she would visit upon their heads threefold.

“How long has he been there?” she asked finally.

“My best estimation, less than three months.”

“Why? And who did this?”

“Who knows, Dennison? As to who visited this pain upon your brother’s head, I’m not certain. I know only that the package arrived from Draco’s territory. And, as I’m certain you have already figured out, it reeks.”

“Yes, it does. But I haven’t been able to place it. And that is strange. I can place anything,” Danny said.

“Yes, you can. The scent’s not dead, neither is it alive.”

She took a deep breath. “I’ll need to venture into Draco’s territory as soon as possible.”

“I don’t think so.”

She shot out of her seat. “I’m not asking, Alex.”

He narrowed his eyes. “You are mine. I have just had you returned, I’m not about to lose you now.”

“You told me about Daniel, you told me about Draco. What did you expect me to do? You knew that I would take action. I’m not about to abandon my brother.”

He reached out to caress her cheek. “You had to know. You deserved to know, he’s your brother. But you cannot go to Draco’s territory, just like that. And you know that.”

“So tell me, how is it going to be? Because I know you have put something together.”

Alex inclined his head. “Indeed. I will negotiate with Draco. And then, and only then will you be able to enter his territory. You will also take my delegates.”

“Who?” Danny asked coldly.

“I’ve spoken to Gregor and Victor. They have both agreed to accompany you, if I can negotiate your entrance.”

“Billy?”

“Billy will stay here,” Alex said coolly.

“Why?”

“Because it is my wish.” His voice brooked no argument.

Clenching her hands into fists, Danny took a deep breath. “Billy and I get along, Alex. We have worked well together in the past, if I must have someone at my back, I would like it to be Billy.”

“Gregor and Victor will accompany you.” Alex repeated.

Danny growled. But it was obvious that Alex was not going to change his mind. “Fine, Victor and Gregor. But I barely know them and you know I don’t work well with others.”

Alex laughed. “Yes, I’m aware of that. They are good wolves, and...” Alex sighed, “...they will be accepted by Draco.”

Now she understood, but it didn’t make her any happier knowing. Danny clenched her jaw. That was what it was about--whether or not Draco would accept them. Draco was Alpha of the Stone Claw Clan. He had a reputation of being brutal--fair, but brutal. No one would dare go against Draco, not in his territory. It was the predominant reason that Alex would never be allowed to accompany Danny into Draco’s territory. Two Alphas meant bloodshed--or worse.

“You’ll speak to him tonight?” Danny asked.

“I’ll speak with him tomorrow.”

“Tonight,” Danny insisted.

Alex came to stand in front of her. When he was nearly touching her stiff body he asked, “And what do I get if I do this for you?”

Danny snarled.

Alex laughed. “If I call Draco, what do I get for my troubles?”

“Don’t push me, Alex.”

“No, Dennison, don’t you push me. I want a kiss.”

“What?” Danny gave him a disgusted look.

“That is the price for my phoning Draco and negotiating with him tonight, Dennison. I want a kiss.”

“You’re being ridiculous.”

“That may be, but that is the price.” Alex smiled. “What will it be?”

Danny leaned forward and placed a chaste kiss on his lips.

Alex threw back his head and laughed. “You must be joking.” He grabbed the back of Danny’s head and pulled her forward, crushing her lips with his own. His tongue caressed her silken lips, and when he had tasted his fill, he began to suckle the plump flesh. His teeth nipped and then his tongue soothed.

He demanded entrance, his tongue seeking hers. He growled low in his throat when she began to duel with him. Her hands dug into his back and she met him stroke for stroke, voraciously devouring all that he gave.

Alex’s hands cupped her ass and he yanked her against his straining erection. The evidence of his desire helped to snap Danny out of her stupor. She began to struggle in earnest. When his mouth continued to savage hers, and his hands only dug in further, she had no choice. She extended her claws and raked them cruelly down his back.

Alex snarled and released her so quickly that she stumbled.

“Bitch.”

Danny sighed. She had been getting that a lot lately. Well, hey, it could be worse.

“You were taking advantage of the situation, Alex.”

“You were kissing back, Dennison.”

“Yeah, I was. But enough is enough. And you have never taken no well.”

Alex’s look said it all. He didn’t have to. He didn’t have to take no, so why should he?

“Oh yes, Dennison. It is so very good to have you back.”

Counting, she had to count. Danny took a deep breath. God. This was what hell had to feel like.

Home sweet home. Danny felt like shit on a stick when she walked through the door to her apartment. Her life was going down the drain--fast. She saw the check from the Airok on her hallway table and scowled. What the hell good was money if you were dead and couldn’t spend it?

“Thad, get your head out of my fridge,” she called out.

Thad rushed around the corner. In one hand he was holding a drumstick. “Hey, you’re back. Was getting a little worried. You were gone a long time.”

“God, don’t you ever go home?” Danny said, scowling.

“Not if I don’t have to.” Thad shrugged. “And, why would I want to when there is food at your place.” He bit into the drumstick. “Good food.”

Danny’s scowl deepened. “Yeah, my food, you leech.”

“Now that hurts, Danny.”

“I doubt it.” Danny walked over to her couch and then flopped down. She was exhausted. Her body was screaming at her. And she was quite afraid that she had just signed her death warrant.

Thad came to sit down next to her. “Hey, what’s wrong? You have that, ‘my life is going to end’ look on your face.”

“Yeah, ‘cause my life is probably going to end real soon.”

“What the heck are you talking about?”

Danny swallowed. “I had to sign a new contract with the Alpha of the Striker Clan.”

“Holy shit!” Thad dropped the drumstick. “Why the hell did you go and do something stupid like that for?”

“Oh, let’s see, maybe to keep some psycho from cutting off any more parts of my brother’s body.”

“So, it was your brother.”

Danny nodded. “Even if they hadn’t sent me the finger with my brother’s ring on it, I still would have recognized his scent.”

“Why are they doing this?”

“I don’t know. But I’m not about to let them do anything more. I’ve got to go and get him.”

“Of course you do. So, when do we go in?” Thad asked, looking positively gleeful.

“I’m probably heading out tomorrow or the day after. You’re not going anywhere.”

“No, no way. You are not about to leave me behind. You keep fucking doing this. Why the hell did you take me on as an apprentice if you just plan on chucking me at every turn?” Thad continued to swear and growl.

“Hmm, could it be because you just wouldn’t leave me alone?” Danny said sarcastically.

“Not nice, Danny,” Thad said, giving her the puppy dog eyes.

“Those stupid eyes don’t work on me anymore, Thad. Listen you’re not ready for this. Not to mention that the Alpha won’t allow you to come. The negotiations are fierce, and there is no way they are going to negotiate for your passage.”

“Oh, come on,” Thad whined plaintively.

“No.”

“But...”

“No.” Danny smiled slightly. “You’ll hold down the fort here, okay? I need someone to take messages and water my plants.”

“I’m not a fucking personal assistant.”

“You’re my apprentice, so, yeah, you’re my assistant.” She stood up and started toward her bathroom. “All right, I’m going to shower.” She glared at him over her shoulder saying, “Stop eating my chicken.”

Thad picked the chicken off the floor and took a huge bite. “If you’re not taking me along, I sure as hell deserve the stupid fried chicken,” he called after her.

She packed light. Danny surveyed her luggage, aware that she was probably scowling fiercely. She never really needed anything save her supply bag but she recognized that even with that fact firmly entrenched, she still packed light.

It was ten a.m. the following morning when she received Alex’s call. She’d been anticipating it and answered with the cursory, “Speak.”

“Again, a disrespectful way of answering to your Alpha.” Alex’s voice was smooth as cream, and more sinful than whipped chocolate.

Danny declined to answer.

“I’ve set terms, Dennison, love. Draco will allow you entrance. However, you will meet with him when you arrive to pay proper homage.”

That sounded about right. Danny had never met the Alpha of the Stone Claw Clan. But it was proper and respectful to pay homage when you were entering a foreign clan’s territory. After all that she had heard about Draco Montifore, she was not looking forward to meeting him.

“All right.”

“You will take Gregor and Victor.”

She was a little surprised that the Alpha of the Stone Claw Clan had allowed both of Alex’s wolves to accompany Danny.

As if reading her mind, Alex said, “It only cost us a small job.”

She was instantly on the alert. “What job?”

“It seems that Draco has a small matter that he wishes you to resolve for him. I gave him the use of your talents for said job, and he gave me Gregor and Victor.”

“So kind of you to hand out my services,” Danny said, sarcasm dripping from her voice.

Alex laughed. “I thought so. They are, of course, mine to give.”

One day ... one ... day ... he was going to get what was coming to him. And God wouldn’t she love to be the one to give it to him.

“So, when do I leave?” Her voice was clipped.

“Today, if you’d like.” Alex’s voice turned seductive. “Of course, you could always spend the night over here, with me, and leave tomorrow morning.”

“Tell Gregor and Victor to meet me at my place in an hour.” Danny hung up the phone.

God her life totally sucked.

Gregor Beck was a handsome wolf. His mahogany-colored hair was cut short, military style and his body was short and stocky. He had amber-colored eyes and a mouth that would give Angelina Jolie a run for her money. Victor Patron was Gregor’s opposite in every way. He was tall, well over six feet, and lanky and sinewy. His hair was a streaked, sandy blond and his eyes a piercing green. His features were harsh and angular. There was nothing soft about Victor, but his beauty was singular in its fierceness.

One hour from the time Danny had received Alex’s call; the two wolves came knocking on her door.

Danny sighed when she saw their expressions. She was used to this reaction to her appearance. But that didn’t mean she liked it.

“I saw you once, briefly, before you left.” It was Victor who spoke. His voice was gruff, as if he did not have the chance to use it often.

Okay, weird awkward moment. “Oh, that’s nice.” Danny picked up her bag, closed the door to her apartment and locked it. “Are we ready to roll?”

Both men seemed surprised. “You are ready?” Gregor asked.

“Uh, yeah, the bag in my hand would sort of indicate that.”

Gregor nodded. “Then yes, we are ready to go.”

Danny stepped into her elevator, the two men crowded in after her. It was a small elevator and their presence was very nearly overwhelming.

She could scent them. Just as she knew that they could scent her. The beast was rising again. It wanted ... well ... it wanted something that had not been fed in a long while. A need that she had long denied it.

Danny’s jaw clenched. She was more than her animal. She was not some bitch in heat and she refused to jump some guy’s bones just because she needed to sate the appetite of her wolf.

Oh, but her wolf was angry. It roared at her. It railed. And when that produced no action, it whispered and caressed. It spoke to her, told her how good it would be. And how desperate her body was for the touch, the taste of her kind. It wanted to be fed.

She pulled herself together. She hugged her bag to her chest and tried to block out the delicious aroma of wolf ... male wolf.

It was oh-so-difficult, though. She could feel their eyes on her, boring a hole through the side of her head. For if she could scent them, they could certainly scent her. And they knew. They knew that she was in need. And her need drove their own. She would have to count on their loyalty to Alexander, and the pack. They would never take advantage of the situation. Not when she was certain that Alex had put a harsh penalty on such action.

They would keep their hands, their mouths ... and all their other parts, away from her.

She stopped in front of the large SUV, and whistled. “Nice car,” she said, eyeing the black hulking contraption that thought it could pass for a motor vehicle.

Gregor grinned. It made him appear years younger. “Thanks.”

Danny slid into the backseat of the car and sank into the soft interior. It was heavenly. Now she wondered if it could sing and dance, too.

“You were kicking Vivica’s ass,” this came from Victor.

“Excuse me?” Danny frowned.

Victor didn’t turn around, kept his eyes staring straight ahead, but continued to speak. “The last time I saw you, the only time I saw you, you were kicking Vivica’s ass.”

Danny blinked. Oh yeah, that was right. The tight-ass she-bitch had tried to kill her. She had been going on and on about how Alexander was hers, and that no demonic magi wolf was going to steal him from her. Danny hadn’t wanted to trounce her, but it seemed the only way to get it through Vivica’s hard head.

“She still pissed?” Danny asked.

“If by pissed, you mean, would she still like to kill you, the answer would be yes.”

“Thought as much.” Danny spoke without inflection.

“You’re skinnier than you were before,” Victor said.

What sort of shitty compliment was that? Was it even a compliment? Danny scowled fiercely.

“Have you been sick?”

“This isn’t twenty fucking questions,” Danny snapped.

“You are right. I am sorry. It is just that you were...” Victor stopped.

Her heart was beating fiercely. Danny swallowed. It was better not to know what he was going to say.

“Whoa, it’s getting tense in here.” Gregor spoke up from the driver’s seat. “So, I’m starving, how does Arby’s sound to everyone?”

“Arby’s sounds great,” Danny said with a smile.

Danny sat across from Gregor and Victor and couldn’t stop grinning.

“What, what’s so funny?” Victor asked, taking another huge bite of his roast beef sandwich.

She pointed to the mountain of food on their table. “This, this is what’s funny. Do you realize we’re like the start of a joke?”

“Huh?” Gregor stuffed a handful of fries into his mouth.

“Three wolves pull up to fast food restaurant...” Danny’s voice trailed off. She wiggled her eyebrows. “I mean, look at this.” She laughed. “People are staring.”

Victor finished his sandwich and started to unwrap his second foiled delicacy. “They are staring at you.”

“Excuse me?” Danny stopped eating to toss him an annoyed look.

“You are thin as a reed, and yet you are eating enough food to feed three people...” Victor shrugged, “...so, they are staring at you.”

“Thanks a lot,” Danny grumbled. “You sure have a way with words.”

“I believe you took my words the wrong way,” Victor said, frowning.

“Don’t think so,” Danny said through gritted teeth.

“You are uncommonly lovely. Too thin, yes, but uncommonly lovely all the same.”

“I don’t think this is getting much better. Perhaps now would be a good time to let it go.”

Victor opened his mouth to speak but Gregor beat him to the punch. “I think she’s right. Let’s finish eating, shall we? We still have a long way to go.”

Victor continued to frown. But Danny and Gregor ignored him, choosing instead to finish eating their mountain of food.

Unease crawled through her, and Danny was having a hard time biting it back. She could feel Victor’s eyes on her. And it was not a comforting feeling. She had the distinct feeling that he was trying to see through her.

And there was nothing, nothing that she wanted this strange wolf to see.

It was fast approaching four in the morning when Danny, Victor and Gregor found the K-mart parking lot in which they were to meet Draco’s representatives.

Danny scented the wolves immediately. Her nostrils flared and she could feel her toffee-colored eyes burning, she knew they would be a deep yellow by now.

“I smell them too,” Victor said quietly.

She went for the car handle, but Gregor quickly reached back and placed his hand on her arm.

“Don’t. Let them come for us.”

Of course. That had been stupid of her. They were in foreign territory. And she had almost opened the damn car door. Way too presumptuous of her.

“Out.” The word was growled, followed by a slam to the window.

They had come. Danny stiffened.

Gregor unlocked the door. Danny didn’t wait any longer. They had been issued an order. She got out of the car, and came face-to-face with a very imposing wolf. He was well over six-foot-four, with black hair and equally dark eyes. There was a jagged scar on his right side, running from eyebrow to chin and his mouth was set in a firm and unyielding line. Standing to his left was a smaller wolf, with an equally grim expression on his face.

“You were expected earlier,” the wolf with the scar said.

“Yeah, well, do you know how long it takes to drive up here to the boondocks?” Danny said before she could stop herself.

The scarred wolf’s head snapped toward her. “So you’re the magi wolf.”

“And you are?” Danny said. Her eyes had narrowed considerably. The wolf was staring at her as if she was dinner.

“Sampson.” The scarred wolf smiled widely. “You may call me Sampson. And now, I believe we should be going. Draco is waiting.”

Frowning, Danny settled herself. She knew that she had to meet with the Alpha of the Stone Claw Clan first thing. But it was four in morning, and somehow she had sort of thought that they would let them pass until later.

“You are not reneging, are you?” Sampson asked quietly.

“No, not reneging. It’s just damn early.”

“Indeed, which is why we had better be going.” Sampson motioned for Danny and her companions to follow him.

They did, it wasn’t as if they had much choice.

Danny had refused to take wolf form. Sampson growled at her. It didn’t make a difference. She reminded the big bad wolf that his Alpha wanted her to use her abilities. And for her to do so would require her bag. She wasn’t about to strip nude, leave her supplies in the SUV and go off on a trot.

It pissed off Sampson and his companion. But she won. She got to keep her human form, her bag, and her clothes.

Sampson stopped. “We’re here.”

Danny looked around. They had been tramping through the forest for quite a bit now. She knew that Victor and Gregor were annoyed with her decision to remain in human form as well. It would be much easier to run through the forest as a wolf than to walk through it as a human.

They had stopped in a surprising clearing, surprising because it seemed to come out of nowhere. In the center of the clearing was a log cabin, but no ordinary log cabin was this. At least four stories, it was massive, with a huge wraparound porch that encompassed the entire front part of the cabin.

Nice digs, Danny thought. She stiffened when she felt pack all around her. They were everywhere. She felt them in the woods, she felt them in the trees, she felt them staring out from inside of the house. And at the center of the storm, there was the Alpha.

Oh yes, the Alpha was here. Danny felt the Alpha like a million shards of blunt glass. It was a pleasurable pain. His power radiated strongly, unmistakably, and she swallowed down her fear. He was strong, very strong. Oh, Danny could always feel Alex. But the power that Alex radiated was very different from this foreign Alpha. Alex was known, he was almost a comfortable weight--sometimes--and she often disregarded the power that he wielded. But there was no disregarding this power. It shook her to the bone and she had to fight the urge to drop to her knees and shift, shift now, in spite of herself.

“Come on.” Sampson led them up to the house and the door opened to them. “You will go in now,” he said to Danny. He turned to Victor and Gregor, “You two will remain out here for the time being.”

Straightening her shoulders, Danny walked into the house. She could not show fear. If she showed fear now, she would always be showing fear. And that was unacceptable.

Danny gritted her teeth. There was a wolf standing in the center of the large room. His back was to her. He had long black hair, midnight black. And his body was lean, save for his shoulders, which were impressively broad. When he turned, his equally impressive face was revealed. Chiseled cheekbones, full lips, and arresting silver eyes dominated a strong and shockingly handsome face.

“We have waited a long time to meet you, Dennison Lee, magi wolf.” The voice was deep, gruff and grating, and Alpha, very Alpha.

She bowed her head respectfully. It irked her. She was no one’s submissive. But she didn’t feel like having to defend herself from a pissed off Alpha two minutes through the door. “Greetings, Draco, Alpha to the Stone Claw Clan. The Alpha of the Striker Clan sends his solicitations.”

Draco smiled a cool smile. “I’m sure he does.” He took several steps toward her. “Dennison Lee...”

She felt her eyes widen. The way he said her name was ... frightening. She could feel the weight of her name tangibly. As if it were a living thing upon her body.

Lord, this was a powerful wolf.

Draco took another two steps toward Dennison. He was now but a foot away from her stiff form.

“You are a surprising thing, Dennison Lee.”

“Oh.” Danny tried not to swallow her tongue.

“You’ve been ill, very ill,” Draco said. His eyes had narrowed into small slits.

“What?” Oh, God. How had he known that? Yes, Victor had made comments about her weight. But not even Alex, Alex who had sniffed her, knew about her illness. “I don’t know what you are...”

“You cannot lie to me,” Draco said, quietly. “Do not even try. You’ve been very ill, Dennison Lee. But you’ve survived ... and your body is healing.”

She felt a shake rock her body. Oh God. Oh God. She couldn’t do this right now.

“Not a simple illness, your wolf form would have healed such a thing. Something deeper ... something harder and more frightening,” Draco continued, his eyes glued to her.

“Please...” Danny couldn’t believe the small voice was hers.

A touch of something--kindness, understanding perhaps--flashed through Draco’s eyes, and he nodded.

“Indeed, now is not the time, Dennison Lee. But later ... later we will need to speak on this.”

Danny closed her eyes. She jumped when she felt a large hand touch her cheek. Her eyes snapped open. Draco was a mere inch away from her face. His silver eyes were probing her whiskey-shot ones, and his breath was caressing her skin.

“Now, there is a matter of payment ... payment for my help, payment for your entrance into my holdings.”

Oh, no way! Danny let her feelings tear through her. There was no way that she was going to--

“What did you expect me to say, Dennison Lee? My, my, what a filthy mind you have.” Draco chuckled.

Danny’s eyes widened, and her mouth dropped open.

Draco’s chuckles deepened into full-blown laughter. “But, we will not rule it out for the future, of course.” Draco’s laughter stopped quite suddenly. And just like that, his eyes went flat and cold.

It was unnerving. It was unnerving to see someone change so quickly. “No, there is a little matter I need you to look into for me.”

This was not like her. Danny struggled to find her tongue. Why the hell was she behaving like a simple-minded fool?

“And deal with. Once you have completed the task I ask of you ... we will speak of your brother.”

“I want to know of my brother, now.”

“Ah, but that is not how it works. You came to me, Dennison Lee. And you owe me. Nothing will be given unless you give to me, first.”

Fucking pack politics. “How do I know you didn’t have something to do with Daniel’s disappearance?”

Draco’s face was unreadable. “You don’t. But, the contract has already been signed and the pieces are already moved into place. You cannot change the game now, Dennison Lee. You are in my territory, and I have the right to ask for homage. I also have the right to take my payment for the entry of Holt’s wolves, in full.”

He was right. Danny knew that Draco was right. If she disobeyed, or reneged, she forfeited her life. And she forfeited Victor and Gregor’s lives as well. Danny had no problem playing with her life. She did it all the time. But she would not play with Victor and Gregor’s lives.

“Fine. What is the homage? And what is this job you have for me?”

Draco was at her back instantly, having moved so fast that Danny hadn’t seen him. Draco toyed with the ends of Danny’s long hair, and moving the lush locks away from her neck, he sniffed her.

Danny remained absolutely still. He had her at a vulnerable point, having begun to lick the pulse point at her neck.

“That is better, Dennison Lee. I like when you cooperate.”

Yeah, and she would like it if he’d drop dead.

“You will come hunting with my pack. And your required kill will be forfeited to me, that is the homage.”

It was a reasonable entry gift. Danny could live with it.

“As to the other matter ... we will talk further on it when we return from the hunt.” Draco nipped the soft skin of her neck. “You smell delicious, Dennison Lee, unlike any other wolf ... unlike anything else. You smell incredible...”

“Draco?” Danny swallowed.

“Yes?”

She couldn’t stand it anymore. Danny threw her elbow back, catching him squarely in his gut. He grunted, surprised by the attack and Danny took that moment to jump free of his embrace.

“Stay the fuck away from me.” Danny was across the room in a flash.

Draco growled a low and deadly growl. “That ... was very stupid of you.”

“Yeah, well, I’ve done stupid before.” Danny kept her eyes trained on his face. She wasn’t comforted by what she saw. His silver eyes had gone sharp and had begun to lighten even further. They were now almost opaque. His growl deepened and she knew that his beast had been enraged.

Yeah, stupid, she had gone and enraged an Alpha’s beast.

“I could eat you alive, little girl.” Any trace of humanity was stripped from Draco’s voice. He walked toward her, his steps measured and predatory. He was now more animal than anything else.

“You could try.” Think, Danny, think. She was desperately thinking of ways to keep herself from getting ripped apart. The Alpha was pissed, and he was out for blood--her blood.

And still ... she didn’t feel at all sorry for what she had said, or done. He had no right to maul her, no right at all.

Draco lunged so suddenly, and was upon her so quickly, she didn’t have the chance to defend herself.

She felt the floor, hard and solid beneath her back, and grunted when the Alpha of the Stone Claw Clan dug his claws into her shoulder. He had her pinned. And he was already shifting. His face had elongated along with his teeth, and they gleamed under the dim lamplight. His body was still human. And it was strange to see the wolf head on the human body.

Danny knew that the Alpha of the Stone Claw Clan didn’t want to kill her. But she also knew that as he was now, he might not have a choice. For it was obvious that his beast was trying to take over. She had goaded him and driven him beyond that edge. She had tossed him into the abyss and now ... now she was feeling her punishment. Yep, her sharp tongue might have just earned her a ticket to the beyond.

Well, she didn’t plan on going anywhere just yet. Danny brought up her forearm just in time to stop Draco’s teeth. Instead of hitting anything vulnerable, he caught the flesh of her arm instead. She smelled her blood, metallic, fill the air, and she knew she could use this.

Wriggling to try to get a little freedom from Draco’s hulking, very heavy body, Danny groaned. She hissed in pain when his claws dug into her skin deeper. But it was worth it. She managed to get enough freedom to shift her own hand, using her claw to swipe at him. She caught him high and wide, and when she felt his blood coating her claws, she didn’t hesitate.

She had his blood. She could do this.

Danny began to chant the spell. A thick fog engulfed the two of them. Danny felt Draco’s weight being lifted off her, and when the fog cleared, his body was contained within a field. It wasn’t the best field she had ever constructed. And it certainly wasn’t the prettiest. But it would do. Yes, in a pinch it would do.

Once contained in the field, Draco’s beast began to subside. The field seemed to be drawing some of his power off him. Danny saw his eyes begin to clear, and his face morph back into its human handsomeness.

“Impressive,” Draco said. His voice was back to being low and sensual. “Now, you will let me go.”

Danny picked herself up off the floor. She looked at her shoulder and her arm. The wounds were already beginning to heal. However, her arm was itching. He had sunk into her good and deep. The flesh on her forearm was shredded.

“Nah, I think I’ll keep you in there for a little longer...” She frowned at her wounds. “Just a little longer.”

Draco snarled and it was ominous. “I would not suggest that, Dennison Lee. I will let this transgression slide ... for some of it was my fault. I should have reined in the beast.” His face turned thoughtful. “For some reason you make it difficult to control ... there is something about you.” He sighed. “Yes, I will let the fact that you fielded me slide. But I will not allow you to keep me in this thing. If you do ... the punishment will be great.”

Danny didn’t want to let the field go. But the look in the Alpha’s eyes was not promising.

She dropped the field.

Draco remained where he was, making no move toward her. Although Danny was certain he was dying to rip some skin off her hide for her audacity.

“You are a strong little thing, aren’t you, Dennison Lee?”

Did he expect her to answer? When she saw the look on his face, she guessed that he did.

“I’m hardly little,” Danny bit out. It was true. She was five-foot-nine, hardly little by any means.

“Still little,” Draco said with a small smile.

Well, Danny thought, next to these giants, I probably am.

“Why haven’t we had the pleasure of your company before now?” Draco murmured.

Danny thought it seemed like he was talking more to himself than anything else.

“Why is that, Dennison Lee?”

Oh, he had been asking her a question. “Uh, you never asked me before.”

His smile widened. “Yes, that would be true. We never did bid for your company before this.” Draco cocked his head to one side. “However, I would have thought you would have ventured out of Holt’s territory long before this. He never did properly make use of you.”

“Properly make use of me? Do I look like an appliance to you, Draco Montifore?”

“You have a sharp and unheeding tongue, Dennison Lee. You had better mind it.” The expression on Draco’s face was now pinched.

Danny felt like shouting out, “Or what?” but she had a feeling that the Alpha of the Stone Claw Clan wouldn’t stand for a challenge like that. And she sort of liked her limbs where they lay. Of course, you wouldn’t know that by the way she mouthed off. She just couldn’t seem to help herself. She had always been precocious and rather unruly. Her mother, Celia, had been preoccupied with her spells and her ambitions and never had much time for her two children. She had chosen instead to turn the care of her kids over to someone else. Daniel had been more or less raised by an influential member of the Tan Clan in Rhode Island. And Danny, because of the peculiar talents inherited through her mother, had been given over to the Grand Dame Roberta Wick. Roberta Wick was a strange woman. She was the magi inherent for the Sapriens, the noble family that ruled the Belle Ville Clan. She had been a demanding woman, a woman who had punished infractions unmercifully. But she had also honed Danny’s talents and lavished praise. And in the end, she had no use nor will to break Danny’s spirit. Danny learned how to balance the demands of being both magi and wolf. It was a hard and perilous road. For both sides of her nature were dominant and required energy and power. She was constantly battling herself ... and sometimes she lost. Sometimes one side overruled the other ... and caused pain ... and sickness.

“You think very hard, Dennison Lee.”

Danny blinked. She had almost forgotten that the Alpha of the Stone Claw Clan was standing in front of her--almost.

“There are hard thoughts ahead, Draco Montifore, of the Stone Claw Clan.”

“Indeed.” Draco took a step toward her. “Please, call me Draco, the formality makes me uncomfortable.”

Somehow she didn’t believe that, but whatever. “Draco,” she said simply.

“Now, it is late.” Draco smiled. “Early... I am certain you would like to take some rest?”

Yes, lord knows she could use some rest. Danny nodded curtly. She was tired ... very tired.

The front door opened and suddenly the room was full of wolves. Victor, Gregor, Sampson and his companion and several other unfamiliar faces and scents flooded over her.

“Sampson will show you to your rooms.” Draco sniffed, a hard glint entered his eyes and his mouth curved in a tight smile. “And tomorrow ... we hunt.”