Mistress of Wolves Read online

  Lust burned brightly in his eyes as his gaze swept her figure. Ugh, she needed to take a bath, a week long one. While she never pegged Liam as a creep, having someone she'd seen in diapers look at her that way was...wrong. Just wrong.

  "Way I see it, you need a man. Female wolves always do. They're too highly strung without regular sex. And I've been watching you...you don't have a man. Haven't for years." He smiled, seeming smug with his misogynistic reasoning. "You need me, baby. Just admit it and we'll all be happier."

  Isla didn't know what to say. Of all the high-handed, insulting, male chauvinistic, fucking bullshit.

  "And that is total bollocks. A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle. A woman wanting a man, however, is a totally different matter."

  For a moment, Isla thought her mouth had operated without the intervention of her brain. That it had also changed her voice from feminine and sharp to a cultured male drawl as well was interesting. A frown creasing her brow, she turned and what she'd been about to say dried up right there in her throat.

  A male wolf stood behind her. Although stood was subjective. Somehow he managed to make standing look like an indolent slouch. Tall and broad shouldered, he was dark haired and dark eyed. No ring of amber showed around his irises, but power wreathed him like a cape, an aura of charisma her inner wolf immediately sat up and took notice of.

  “And who the fuck are you?” Liam, eager to react to any perceived encroachment on his “territory,” shoved to his feet and started forward. A growl rumbled from the back of his throat, and the threat hung in the air. The guy in front of her straightened and his expression hardened, taking him from laid back to very dangerous-looking within a heartbeat.

  Shit shit shit. This was going to be a fucking bloodbath.

  “Hang on, youngster.” Isla’s voice cracked like a whip in the sudden silence of the corridor. Not the voice of a woman trying to convince a persistent guy to get lost, but the voice of the Captain of the City Guard. One who expected to be obeyed. Without hesitation.

  “Huh...he—” Liam’s confusion was palpable and he tried to push past her. Moon save her from idiot men and their territorial urges.

  There was no arguing with the hand she shot out and slapped onto the center of his chest. Her fingertips sprouted vicious looking talons. Ones she wasn’t above using if the guy in front of them was who she suspected.

  “Stow it, Liam,” she hissed, and turned to the newcomer. The wolves behind him were silent but bristled with tension. She didn’t like the look of them. Or rather she did, and that was the problem. Far from being the normal court dandies, these wolves were all as dangerous as the man in front of her.

  “My Lord Delegate, I assume?” she asked with a smile.

  “Guilty as charged.” A smile spread over her mystery wolf’s face. His expression transformed from growly and severe to heart-stoppingly handsome.

  Her wolf gave a whine, pushing at her to get closer. She didn’t need to because he closed the gap between them. Walked was not the word. No. Instead, he stalked, his eyes riveted on hers like he was the predator and she the prey. After years of being one of the most powerful werewolves in the room—despite his attitude, even Liam knew she could fuck his shit up permanently if she wanted to—to be looked at that way was unsettling.

  It was also sexy as all hell.

  He came to a stop in front of her, towering over her. Usually, she was eye level with men so that was something else new. And she liked it.

  “And...who would you be, my lady?” He tilted his head to the side, and a strand of long hair fell loose, the rest pulled back and wrapped. She clenched her fist to stop herself reaching out to undo it. Something about the way he held himself suggested he didn’t wear his hair like that often.

  “I’m not a lady.” Her voice was raspy, forcing her to clear her throat. Great, how sexy was that? She sounded like an asthmatic frog, right in front of the bloody Lord Delegate. “Isla, Captain of the City Guard.”

  Belatedly, she offered her hand to shake. As a city official, she wasn’t anywhere near this man’s social standing, but the only person she’d ever bow to was Reena, so it was all he was getting.

  “Nick Trevais,” he murmured, taking her hand and rather than shaking it, he bowed to her and lifted it to his lips. “Alpha of the Trevais pack, Lord Delegate, and a man who very much knows when he’s in the presence of a lady.”

  * * *

  Nick Trevais, while an alpha and leader of his pack, had always been considered a bit of an oddball. He knew that and didn’t care. What people failed to realize about oddballs was most of the time, no one knew what they were likely to do next…which Nick had figured out worked very well for him indeed.

  Like kissing the hand of a very pretty woman when she was least expecting it.

  He savored her little gasp and the sudden flare of amber in her eyes as she reacted to his touch. She was tall and slender with blond hair. He couldn’t tell if it was long or short because it was pulled back into a loose bun. Her scent hit him first, wrapping around him like the coils of a seductive serpent ready to lead him into sin. Once he’d seen her, interest flared like a fireworks display, quickly followed by anger at the man attempting to crowd her, trying to persuade her to take him to bed.

  Nick’s wolf growled within as he straightened, flicking a look of warning at the younger man. The only man this woman would be taking to bed anytime soon would be him. His expression made the other man pale and Liam backed up with some excuse about getting ready for the ball. Nick let him flee, returning his attention to the beauty in front of him.

  “My lord—” He’d managed to discomfort her with the kiss, her cheeks flaming red as she dropped her gaze. Interesting. To have attained the position of Captain of the Guard told him she was as tough as nails, but being thrown off balance by a simple kiss was charming. Utterly charming. As he watched though, she regained her composure and smiled at him.

  “The ball is about to begin and I know the Mistress of the City is awaiting your arrival. If you and your partner would come this way?” At that, she stepped back and to the side, indicating he should precede her toward the ballroom. He didn’t miss her glance through his entourage, searching perhaps for a female wolf. She wouldn’t find one.

  “You see, I have a little problem there,” he admitted, dropping his voice and moving closer. “Normally I attend these things with my sister…” He didn’t, but back home they were well used to Nick arriving at official functions without a partner. “And she’s recently mated, so I find myself at a loss for companionship. Perhaps, you…”

  At that, he deliberately encroached into her space, leaning in to almost run his lips against her throat and breathe in her delicious scent. If she didn’t want him, he had no doubt she would back away or react to stop him in some way. She didn’t, and the heady aroma of her arousal and interest filled his nose.

  “Perhaps you could suggest a partner who would be willing to accompany me?” He drew back, but not all the way, his voice pitched so only she heard.

  She blinked and swallowed, the amber in her eyes gobbled up by a different sort of darkness. Not salacious but something very human, and very primal. The hint of the blush remained on her cheeks, but she hadn’t backed away, and she met his gaze directly.

  “If my Lord wishes, I’m more than happy to accompany you.”

  “Excellent.” He smiled and extended his arm. “Shall we?”

  His breath stalled in his chest as he waited for her touch and in that instant he regretted the fact he wore evening attire. He wanted her to connect with him, skin to skin. Even so, as her hand made contact with his arm, electricity arched between them. Her breath caught and she looked away quickly, color rising on her cheeks.

  With a smile, he covered her hand with his and headed down the corridor toward the ballroom.

  Chapter 2

  “Madam Mistress, a pleasure to see you again.”

  Isla stood to one side as Nick bowed low over the
hand of Reena, the Mistress of the City. She noticed though, his lips merely brushed the skin of Reena’s knuckles instead of actually pressing a kiss to them as he had with her. Which was a good thing because Archer, Reena’s lover, stood at her side and looked ready to tear the man’s throat out. That was nothing new. He was ready to tear out any man’s throat if they gave any indication of looking at Reena with lustful thoughts on their minds.

  “As it is you, Lord Alpha.” Reena’s voice, as always, was calm and well measured. “Once again, we cannot thank you enough for your kind counsel to your Master of the City that brought our cousin back to us.”

  “You are more than welcome. Master Veyr sends his regards, and his thanks for your kind wedding gift. He and his lady loved the vases. They’re in pride of place in their private sitting room.”

  Isla folded her hands demurely in front of her. Of course, Nick Trevais was the reason her city and his had a tentative alliance. Reena’s young cousin, somewhat of a rebel, and some friends had gone on a rampage. One that unfortunately had taken them over the borders into another city’s territory where they had been caught. Normal policy for any city was to execute interlopers on the spot, but Nick argued the youngsters should be returned to face punishment in their own city. It was a move that earnt him Reena’s respect and forged an alliance, but until now, Isla herself had never met the legendary Trevais alpha.

  Reena had failed to mention the guy was drop dead gorgeous.

  “I’m glad they liked them.” Reena gave a genuine smile this time, her happiness that the couple had liked her gift obvious even through the language of diplomacy. “Although, I understand the Trevais pack also celebrated the master’s wedding, perhaps more so than most packs. The new lady of the city is your sister, if my sources are correct?”

  “That’s right, yes.” Nick straightened and stepped back. Not once did he flick a glance to Archer, who was practically growling, but Isla had no doubt he knew exactly where the other man was and the instant he so much as tensed a muscle. “Her name is Cyan. She’s my older sister.”

  The wolves around them were silent, but Isla felt their interest at this snippet of information. As a pack alpha, albeit from a different city, Nick’s status was already high. That he was also related to his city’s ruling masters bumped his standing even more. Isla steeled herself for an evening of inane small talk as the movers and shakers in the room tried to impress him.

  “That’s wonderful. I’m so pleased for you,” Reena replied. “A marriage is always a happy occasion.”

  “Indeed.” Nick smiled, but then his expression turned serious. “Although I do not come with just glad tidings, but also a warning. We have had…an incident with a former alpha in our city.”

  “Oh?” Reena was all attention, as was Isla. Former alpha were words not normally spoken together. A former alpha was usually dead, or so infirm that death was preferable. Werewolves with that kind of power did not give it up lightly.

  “Jacob McCauley, formerly alpha of the McCauley pack. Guilty of treason and defeated in challenge. Unfortunately, he subsequently escaped our custody and is on the run. We believe he might try to gain a foothold in a different city under an assumed name.”

  Nick gestured to one of the men with him, who stepped forward with a file in hand, which Nick then passed to Reena. “All the information we have on him, including several recent photos. Just in case he should start causing trouble for you.”

  Reena looked up, surprise in her eyes. Cities, even those with alliances, did not usually share information so freely. A rogue wolf causing dissent in a rival city could only soften it for a takeover. Something rivals usually wanted to foster, not prevent.

  “Thank you,” Reena’s voice rang with the respect that coursed through Isla as well. Clicking her fingers, she summoned one of her guards to take the file from Reena. They would study it in depth later. If there was a risk to her mistress, then Isla wanted to be all over it like a bad rash. For tonight though, the ball was invite only and they had Nick here. Presumably, he would recognize this McCauley on sight.

  At that moment the music started and Reena reached for Archer’s arm for him to lead her onto the dance floor. Much like a wedding, the Mistress of the City and her partner were always the first to dance.

  “See how she knows where he is all the time?” Nick murmured by Isla’s ear, his body heat against her back betraying how close he stood. “I’ll wager we won’t be the only city celebrating a wedding.”

  As her gaze followed the couple, she had to admit he was right. Archer was always close to Reena, there as soon as she put her hand out. A sigh escaped before she could stop it. To have that kind of connection, soul deep, with a man…it was the stuff of the romances she loved to read. In the privacy of her own room of course. Out of it, she had to be the Captain of the Guard. Cast iron bitch with a rank.

  It would never do for people to discover her longing for romance. She could just imagine what Liam would make of that. Actually, probably nothing. Such a nuance, one not related to getting his dick inside her, would no doubt go over his head. At light speed.

  The dance drew to a close and as the last strains of music from the band faded, Nick held out his hand. “May I have this dance, my lady?”

  Heat hit her cheeks again. Shit. Anyone would think she’d never spoken to a man before, but to hear him call her “my lady” in that deep, sexy drawl of his did it for her. Heat pooled low in her belly, and the clench of her pussy joined with her wolf in reminding her, as Liam’s words had earlier, it’d been a couple of years since she had sex.

  Sex. Fuck. Just thinking the word around Nick Trevais was a bad idea. Instantly her over active imagination presented her with all sorts of X-rated situations. A porn movie behind her eyes, with her and Nick in the starring roles.

  “Told you,” her voice was rough, brusque, as she tried to cover her reaction and slid her hand into his, “I’m not a lady.”

  He pulled her onto the floor and into his arms. She’d danced before, often, so she was used to a man taking her into a ballroom hold, but with Nick, it felt closer. More intimate. Almost indecent. His thighs brushed against hers as the music started and she realized, with delight, he was an excellent dancer.

  “Not a lady, huh?” He smiled down at her, a wicked glint in his eyes. “I thought we’d been through this already.”

  Reaching the corner of the room, he turned her with a twirl and dip that took her by surprise. She gasped, off balance, and gripped his shoulder but his strong arm at her back supported her with ease. Lifting her to her feet, he turned her into the next steps of the dance without a blink.

  “We did?” She couldn’t think, the presence of his lean, hard body almost pressed against hers stealing her ability to frame a coherent thought.

  “We did.” The amused quirk of his lips told her that he knew exactly what effect he had on her. “I told you, I know when I’m in the presence of a lady. You know what else I know?”

  “No…” She was going to regret asking, she just knew she was. But the words escaped her lips anyway. “What else do you know?”

  He shortened his stride and their bodies collided, breast to thigh. Taking advantage, he tightened his grip and the look in his dark eyes took her breath away.

  “I know when a woman longs for a man’s touch...” His voice dropped, that sexy drawl like a caress along her skin. “I know when she doesn’t need him, but wants him anyway…”

  Her lips parted but she managed to bite back the moan. How the hell…was it written on her freaking forehead or something? Isla Myers hasn’t had sex in nearly two years. Desperate for a man. But that wasn’t entirely true.

  Sure, she hadn’t had a sniff of action in years, but it wasn’t for lack of offers. Liam wasn’t the first wolf she let down diplomatically, then there were the ones she had to be undiplomatic with. For some reason, even though she was the Captain of the Guard, a few wolves seemed unable to tally that with her gender and thought she was a pusho
ver. They quickly found out otherwise.

  She wasn’t desperate for a man. Until Nick Trevais walked in, she hadn’t been that interested in getting between the sheets with anyone. Now it was all she could think about. Feeling that lean, hard strength against her naked body, her skin against his. His body over hers as he parted her thighs…

  Heat hit her cheeks again, and to her embarrassment, the musk of her arousal filtered through her perfume. Being a wolf sucked at times, especially when trying to conceal interest in a guy…in a room full of wolves, all with an excellent sense of smell.

  “You see…telling a woman she’s beautiful is one thing,” he carried on, his hand sliding down her back until his fingers flirted with the upper curve of her ass. It was an almost, not quite, a grope. Subtle, but powerful. “But making her feel it, now there’s the trick.”

  Trick? It was a fucking miracle, but he managed it. From the tomboy image she’d always seen herself as, he made her feel feminine, and with his tall, lean frame…tiny, which was something she wasn’t used to at all.

  He had distracted her so thoroughly, she missed where the last turn was taking them. The music and crush of the dancefloor fell behind as he waltzed her from the room into an empty side corridor. It was a slick move, one so calculated she could have been forgiven for thinking he’d been born and bred in this court. The staircase at the end of this hall led to the north wing and the staff quarters. Her quarters.

  “Now,” he breathed, backing her toward the wall behind the door. After years of training, she could have broken his hold and shut him down in a multitude of different ways, leaving him cradling his balls in his own private world of pain. She didn’t. Instead, she let him herd her where he wanted. “How about we get to know each other a little better, my lady?”

  Chapter 3

  She was all sleek muscle and curves wrapped in one delicious bundle. Nick fought the male animal within before he gently took her into his arms. Her aura and the authority that clung to her told him she was a powerful she-wolf, but one with a delightful dichotomy between the strength she projected and the sensual woman he sensed beneath the mask.