The following day Jeremy woke slowly. The sun hadn't fully risen yet, but he could detect the early morning rays as they peeked beneath the bedroom blinds, specks of dust dancing in the long shafts of light. Instinctively, his hands reached for Kate, his eyes popping open completely when the space beside him proved empty and cold. Lifting his head from the pillow, he looked around expectantly.
The room was still cast in shadows, but his eyes adjusted quickly. Surprised, he saw his jeans and waistcoat, both of which he'd discarded without care the night before, neatly folded on the stool in front of Kate's vanity, his shoes placed on the floor beside it. The room was spacious and airy, the bed positioned across from the doorway. The walls were a light yellow, the carpets a plush cream that felt wonderful to walk across barefoot. Beside the vanity was a door he knew led to the en-suite bathroom, while a set of cupboards that matched the bed and side tables exactly stood against the opposite wall. Bracketing the bed on either side were two tall windows, both covered with wooden slat blinds that blocked out the majority of the post dawn luminance.
Falling back against the pillows, Jeremy closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, his lungs expanding with oxygen as his senses assimilated the unfamiliar smells and sounds surrounding him. He could tell that Kate was in the kitchen, the delicious aromas wafting his way a clear indication that she was preparing breakfast. In anticipation of food, his stomach growled loudly, a reminder that his last meal had been at Stonehaven the previous afternoon.
Lying still, his mind conjured rousing images of the passionate night he'd spent with Kate. After Nick's call, they'd made love twice more before finally falling into an exhausted sleep, their arms and legs entangled as they subconsciously strove to remain close. Her scent, so reminiscent of a bright spring day, still clung to the sheets, to the pillows, to him. It had been the first time he'd ever lost himself so completely in a woman that in some moments it had been hard to decipher where she ended and where he began. They'd been so in sync, so connected, so perfectly attuned to each other's needs and wants that words had not been necessary. He'd never known it was possible to crave someone's touch so desperately, to want to be near another being with such an outright intensity that it bordered on obsession.
Their lovemaking had been explosive; passionate, heady, wanton and all consuming. Jeremy marvelled at how they fit together, so perfectly, as though they'd been designed exclusively for one another. There was not a square of Kate's body that he was not intimately acquainted with as he was certain there wasn't an inch of his that she'd left unexplored. Even now, having spent himself inside of her multiple times, he still hungered to touch her, to taste her once more. The feeling was overwhelming, his desire seemingly infinite, making him wonder if he'd ever get enough of her.
But the great sex aside, he loved that he could talk to her. For the first time in his life he'd been the one being comforted instead of the one doing the comforting. It had felt wonderful. Just having her there, listening to him without a shred of judgement as he'd recounted his harrowing childhood and the years subsequent to that had given rise to such a sense of contentment, the likes of which he'd never known. Without question, it had been the best night of his life.
In short, the entire experience had been a revelation.
Jeremy had never felt this way about any woman before; the burning need to possess, to protect, to love, pouring out of him like an endless stream of emotion. He wished he knew what came next, how they would navigate through the challenges that their newfound relationship was certain to present. A part of him was afraid to think of it, afraid that he'd realise that he was living in a fantasy and that his bubble of happiness would burst at any moment, the cold, harsh reality of day bringing with it the glaring obstacles they may never be able to overcome. He was a wolf and she was a human. Those were two irrefutable facts that were never going to change. To make matters worse, he was alpha, his behaviour and actions scrutinised above all others. He couldn't afford to ever reveal any weakness when it could be used against him, placing the safety and security of those he loved most in jeopardy.
But the thought of having to let Kate go, of giving her up after everything they'd been through was practically inconceivable. He loved her. He'd just found her. Would fate be so cruel?
Shaking his head, Jeremy resolved to push the negativity aside and allow himself a moment to be happy. The rest would surely come.
Throwing the white covers aside, he grabbed his jeans and shoved his legs into them, pulling up the zipper as he followed the trail of tantalising whiffs coming from the front of the house. Padding barefoot into the kitchen, he spotted Kate standing at the stove, her back to him. The sight of her brought a smile to his face, warmth spreading to every part of his body. Wearing nothing but his grey shirt, the hem hanging down to her knees and her hair piled high in a messy ponytail, she was exquisite.
Kate obviously hadn't heard him because she seemed oblivious, softly humming to herself as she worked. Unable to resist, Jeremy strolled up behind her, his arms wrapping around her midriff, his lips seeking the soft skin of her neck. She squirmed against him, giggling softly when his beard tickled her.
"Danvers, I am handling a hot pan. This might not be the best time to distract me," she said between bouts of laughter.
Feeling uncharacteristically playful, Jeremy grinned, glancing over her shoulder at the massive omelette she was preparing. "You must really be hungry."
She placed the pan down and switched off the stove. Turning, she wrapped her arms around his neck, the sleeves of his shirt rolled up to her elbows. "Ravenous, actually."
The way she said the words, so soft and sensuous, made his blood boil. Succumbing to temptation, he lowered his head and kissed those irresistible lips, his mouth leisurely exploring hers. Stepping up on her toes Kate sighed, melting against him as her tongue slowly stroked against his.
His breathing a little ragged, he pulled back. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes bright behind her spectacles. "Good morning," he mumbled, his voice deep and gravelly as his lips ducked to kiss the hollow at the base of her neck.
"Hi," she breathed, moving her head back to grant him better access.
"You know," Jeremy said, trailing his tongue down towards her breasts. "This shirt has never looked as good on me."
Kate gasped as his teeth nipped teasingly at her skin, her hands clinging to his bare shoulders. "I beg to differ."
Inexplicably pleased, Jeremy nudged the shirt's top button aside, his mouth searching for the tip of one plump breast.
At the exact moment his lips were about to close around his swollen prize, Kate's stomach let out a loud growl.
Jeremy froze, silent for a second before they both burst out laughing. Hugging her close, he looked down into her glowing face. "I think sustenance is a priority right now."
Grinning, Kate kissed him swiftly on the lips. "Clearly my tummy agrees."
Sitting close together, they enjoyed an unhurried breakfast before cleaning up and heading to the shower. To save time, Jeremy pulled Kate under the warm spray with him, his soapy hands whipping her into a frenzy before he eventually satisfied them both by taking her standing up against the tiled bathroom wall. By the time they eventually exited the water was cold and Kate was running late.
Dressing quickly, they grabbed the essentials before Jeremy locked up and escorted Kate to the passenger side of the Land Rover. "You heading to Stonehaven?"
He nodded. "We'll spend the day searching for Salazar. The sooner we find him, the sooner things can go back to normal."
"Well, I hope not everything," she said softly, her cheeks turning pink.
"No, not everything," he agreed, moving closer to her.
Kate leaned into him. "I love you," she whispered, her eyes focussed on his.
Unexpectedly Jeremy's heart skipped a beat. He doubted he'd ever tire of hearing her say it. Her words were like a soothing balm to his battered and bruised soul. Distracted when his phone rang, he pulled it out of his jeans pocket to look at the display.
"Clay?" he answered.
Kate waited at his side, her hands smoothing the collar of his jacket into place.
"Jeremy, we found Salazar," his son said without preamble.
Kate's eyes widened. She'd obviously overheard that.
"Where is he now?" Jeremy asked.
"Elena and I've restrained him. We're waiting for Nick. He went to get the car. What do you want us to do with him?"
Jeremy turned away from Kate. "Get him to Stonehaven. I'll be there shortly."
"What are you planning on doing with him?" Kate asked once Jeremy disconnected. Try as she might, she couldn't prevent the chills that raced down her spine.
Jeremy regarded her silently and she swallowed. Okay, so he's going to kill him.
"I want to come with you," she said.
"No," he said decisively, closing the door behind her before moving around to the driver's side.
Kate glared at him when he climbed in beside her, started the car and backed out of the driveway. "Come on. I'm the one he's been trying to kill. I deserve to be there when you…you know."
Jeremy's jaw tightened. "Kate, this is not a game. He's dangerous and what has to be done to him is not something I want to expose you to."
"That's not your decision to make, Jeremy. I want to be there," she insisted stubbornly. Of course she was terrified, but she loved this man and if she wanted to be a part of his life, then she couldn't pretend that the murkier parts of his world didn't exist.
"I don't see what that would possibly accomplish," Jeremy exclaimed, frustration evident in his body language.
"Salazar tried to kill me. He almost killed you. I want to see him," she maintained calmly.
Exasperated, he combed his fingers through his hair. "You have to go to work."
Kate put a hand to her mouth, coughing dramatically. "Oh, look at that. I must be coming down with something."
Jeremy raised a brow at her, stopping at the end of the road. Left would take them to the hospital. Right would head out of town. "Don't do this."
A lump of fear settled in the bowels of her belly but she pushed it aside. "Either you take me with you or I'll get into my car and follow you there. Your choice."
Kate held her breath as Jeremy stared at her. She was about to argue some more when he sighed in defeat and turned right. Relieved, she fished her phone out of her bag and called Nattie to let her know she wouldn't be in. That done, she sat back quietly. The silence between them stretched until Kate couldn't stand it anymore.
"Don't be angry at me," she said, turning towards him.
Jeremy exhaled. "I'm not angry, Kate. I'm worried."
"Why? I won't go near him. I promise to do everything you tell me to," she vowed.
He glanced at her briefly before shifting his attention back to the road. "If anyone finds out that you know about us, it would be disastrous. Having you at Stonehaven is one thing, having you there when we kill a mutt is another."
Kate ignored the bit about the killing. "No one is going to find out. I'm certainly not going to tell anyone."
"That's completely beside the point."
"No it's not. I don't want you to hide anything from me, Jeremy," she implored sincerely. "I won't be stonewalled and I don't need you to shelter me from the bad stuff either. I know what I'm letting myself in for."
"That's just it. I don't think you do," Jeremy replied emphatically. "A few weeks back, I ripped a man's throat out with my bare hands." Kate blanched at his words, knowing he was trying to shock her. "You're horrified," he said, not missing a beat. "But that's not even the worst of it. The things I have to do are a part of my life, a part I cannot avoid or escape or wish away. Are you prepared to deal with that?"
Kate stared at his handsome profile, his face filled with apprehension. Was she? Did she really have a clue about the danger and the violence that surrounded his everyday existence? Could she deal with what she was about to face? Honestly, she didn't know, but she'd never have the answer if she didn't try. "I love you. That's not going to change, no matter what. So I guess loving you means wanting to be a part of your whole life, not just certain parts of it. Am I scared? Of course," she confessed, hating it when he flinched. Reaching across, she grasped his free hand resting on his thigh, relieved when he laced their fingers together. "But I need to know, Jeremy. The good and the bad. I want to know all of it."
He lifted her hand to his lips and placed a soft kiss across her knuckles. The gesture was endearing, calming her jittery nerves. "I hope neither of us ends up regretting this," he said softly.
Neither did she. For all her brave words, Kate didn't know if she was actually prepared to see the physical side of who and what Jeremy was. He was the leader of wolves, the man who enforced the rules, who meted out punishments to those who transgressed. She could understand it all on an intellectual level. There needed to be a system that kept his kind in tow, accountable, or else there'd be chaos. However, understanding the need for something was very different from accepting it for what it was. She was a doctor who'd taken an oath to preserve life. Did that mean she could turn a blind eye when the man she loved was the one transgressing, even if she knew that what he was doing was in the best interests of many? Kate didn't have an answer, but that didn't mean she could bury her head in the sand either. Ignorance, in this case, could never be bliss.
Soon they were turning into Stonehaven's winding driveway, two cars already parked out front. She recognised the FJ Cruiser and the Audi SUV as belonging to Clay and Nick respectively.
Jeremy parked behind the other vehicles and looked at her as he loosened his seatbelt. "Are you okay?"
Her heartbeat had escalated the moment she'd seen the manor looming ahead. The fact that Clay and Nick were back meant that Salazar was somewhere inside. Swallowing her anxiety, she gave Jeremy a tense smile. "I'm fine."
"I'd never let him hurt you," he vowed.
"I know that," Kate replied reassuringly. "But I'm not the only one here. He could hurt any of you. " Oh God, if anything happens to Jeremy…
As though sensing her rising panic, he placed a soothing hand against her cheek. "We can take care of ourselves. You don't need to worry."
Nodding, she leaned forward and hugged him, burrowing close to his chest. "Promise me you'll be careful," she murmured.
He raised her chin until their eyes met. "I promise. Will you promise to follow my instructions? All of them?"
Kate's face relaxed into a smile. "Each and every one."
He held onto her for a moment longer before he let go. "Ready?"
Taking a fortifying breath, Kate nodded. Climbing out of the car, they headed towards the front door. Before they got there, the door was wrenched open by Nick.
"Where is he?" Jeremy asked, ushering her in ahead of him.
Nick glanced uncomfortably at Kate. "Uh…downstairs."
Jeremy touched her elbow. "Stay with Nick. I'll be back soon." At her nod, he made his way towards the back of the house.
Kate looked at Nick and smiled. "I'd bet you weren't expecting to see me."
He smiled in return, his eyes twinkling mischievously. "I get it. A couple of sleepovers and you and Jeremy are joined at the hip," he teased.
Blushing profusely, Kate punched his arm. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Yeah, let's just pretend that the fact that your face is redder than a candied apple isn't a dead giveaway." Nick chuckled, leading the way towards the kitchen.
Kate snorted, unbuttoning her coat and removing it as she walked. Beneath she wore a plain, long sleeved black swing dress. "I am not having this conversation with you."
"Ah!" Nick said, grinning from ear to ear. Kate plonked herself down at the large wooden table where she'd sewn Jeremy up days before. So much had happened since then. She placed her coat on the chair beside her and unwound the bright pink scarf from around her neck. "So that means there is a conversation to be had."
Kate couldn't stop herself from smiling, even as she rolled her eyes. Just then Elena entered, a smear of deep red blood visible along the outer sleeve of her cream lightweight sweater.
"Are you alright?" Kate asked, jumping to her feet.
Elena looked in the direction Kate was staring in before waving a hand reassuringly. "Oh, I'm fine. I-It's…uh…not my blood."
Kate looked from Elena to Nick. "I know Salazar's here. Jeremy told me."
Elena sank down into a chair. "And yet you insisted on coming," she said knowingly. Obviously Jeremy had filled her in.
Nick, who'd been leaning against the stove, glanced down at the vibrating phone in his hand. "It's Logan," he said by way of explanation before excusing himself.
"I wanted to see him, before Jeremy-" Kate couldn't get herself to complete the sentence.
"Kills him?" Elena finished gently.
Kate swallowed, nodding. "It must seem silly to you that I have difficulty saying it."
The petite blonde shook her head. "Not at all. After I became a wolf, I went through a lot of what you're experiencing now. What made it worse was knowing that there was no one else like me."
During the last visit to the hospital Elena had explained that she was the only female wolf in existence. That fact still boggled Kate's mind. "How did you cope?"
"For a long time I didn't. I wanted to pretend that all of this wasn't real, that I could wish it away and just live a normal life."
"What happened to change that?" Kate asked, intrigued.
Elena smiled. "The pack needed me and when Jeremy called I couldn't say no. It took a while but I finally realised that this is where I belong, that there are two sides to me and I have to embrace both if I ever want to be happy."
"I feel torn," Kate confessed, glad to be able to share her fears with another woman. "I understand why you have to do the things you do, but I struggle with the acceptance part."
The other woman nodded. "That's exactly why I ran away to Toronto, why I wanted to get away from this life. But the longer I was away, the more I realised that you can't run away from who you are and sooner or later it catches up with you, often with disastrous consequences." Elena's eyes clouded with pain. "Someone I cared deeply for was killed because I couldn't make peace with who I was. I will always regret that."
"I'm sorry," Kate said, instinctively reaching for Elena's hand.
"I know this must all seem crazy to you, but Jeremy has never done anything that wasn't in the best interests of the pack. As much as he cares about preserving our secret, he's equally passionate about keeping humans safe from mutts." Elena pushed her bangs out of her eyes. "Salazar is here because he violated our rules. For that, he needs to be punished. If Jeremy doesn't make an example of him, other mutts might think it's a free for all."
Kate was glad to have this conversation with Elena. It was giving her insight into a situation she might otherwise have remained ignorant about. It was still hard to grasp that there was an entire code of practice that existed outside of her realm of understanding, but the more Elena talked, the less strange her words started to sound.
"I don't think I really thought about what being alpha actually meant," Kate acknowledged, her hands playing with the folds of her scarf.
"Jeremy has a lot of responsibility resting on his shoulders. I don't know if it's a job I'd want," Elena admitted ruefully.
Kate fidgeted. "Is that why he…uh…what I mean to say is-"
Elena smiled, looking at Kate intently before gently interrupting, "Jeremy's never believed in the longevity of human-wolf relationships. But for some reason I think that's starting to change."
She could feel her cheeks burning, but the words pleased her nonetheless. She and Jeremy hadn't discussed what would happen now that they knew how the other felt, but Kate knew him well enough to know that he would not take what was happening between them lightly.
Just then, Jeremy entered followed closely by Clay and Nick. Kate's heart lurched when she saw him, loving the way his deep red shirt moulded to his shoulders and arms, his black waistcoat a flawless accompaniment to his attire. He looked solemn as he strode towards the table, taking a seat at the head.
Clay nodded at her before grabbing an empty space. At least he's being civil, she thought, relieved.
Once everyone was seated, Kate asked, "What happened?"
"Nothing much," Jeremy replied, folding his arms across his chest. "He's badly injured. I'd give him a few weeks' tops, before he dies of infection."
"I could have a look at him," Kate offered, even though she shuddered at the thought.
"That's out of the question," Jeremy said, a ring of finality to his words.
"We're not lookin' to save him, Doc," Clay said evenly, his tone cordial if not friendly.
"Then what are you looking to do?" Kate directed the question at Jeremy.
"Make an example of him," he said decisively, his gaze hard, his tone unyielding.
Kate immediately realised that her tender lover was gone, replaced by the man before her, the alpha, the wolf leader, the one who made the tough decisions. There was nothing soft about him as he sat beside her; he looked ruthless, dangerous, a force to be reckoned with. It was easy to see that he commanded the respect of others, that he was an influential man who wielded immense power. A part of her was frightened by the change in him, another part was fascinated. The Jeremy she knew was always polite, coolly indifferent and more recently passionate and playful. But she'd never seen this version of him, this focused, determined and single minded individual.
"How?" Elena asked, leaning forward.
"We've stopped the mutt hunts and I don't necessarily want to start it up again, but I think that the damage that Salazar has caused means we need to send a message to all the other mutts who think this type of behaviour goes unchecked." Jeremy's index finger knocked against the surface of the table as he emphasised his point.
Nick and Clay nodded in agreement.
"This is going to be messy, isn't it?" Nick grimaced, glancing down at his crisp white shirt.
"Don't worry, Cinderella, I'm sure we can find you something suitable to wear," Clay responded, mockingly.
Elena rolled her eyes. "What exactly are we doing?"
Jeremy glanced at Kate and for a moment his eyes softened. "Maybe you don't want to be here for this part," he said softly.
Despite everything, he was still trying to protect her. Thing was, she had a feeling that if she knew what was good for her, she would heed his words and go wait inside. But she didn't want to remain ignorant of what his life entailed and as such, she needed to bite the bullet and steel her resolve.
Kate sat up straighter, looking him in the eye. "I'm not going anywhere."
After a moment, Jeremy nodded imperceptivity, turning his attention back towards the others. "We cut him up. Send him off in parts and deliver him to the factions of mutts we know about around the country."
Kate stopped breathing, for once glad that her eyes were focused on the table and not on Jeremy's face. Cut him up? Dear God. She'd not been expecting that.
"That will certainly send a message, alright," Nick said.
"Clear as day," Elena concurred.
"When do we do this?" Clay asked.
"Not just yet. I want to be absolutely certain he hasn't spoken to anyone about Kate. The last thing I want is someone else coming after her."
Her gaze clashed with his and his worry for her was unmistakable. Despite the fact that she was still reeling at how casually the man she loved was talking about tearing someone limb from limb, her heart thumped against her ribs at his obvious concern.
"I'll get on him," Clay volunteered, moving to stand.
"Wait for me," Elena said, following her fiancé out of the kitchen.
Nick glanced awkwardly from Kate to Jeremy and back again before clearing his throat. "I think I'll go…err…make some calls."
When they were alone, Jeremy reached for Kate's hand. "Are you alright?"
She knew her hands were trembling, but try as she might, she couldn't make them stop. "I don't know."
Jeremy stood and pulled her up alongside him. "Come for a walk with me." Her gentle lover was back.
Helping her back into her coat and scarf, Kate let Jeremy lead her out onto the back porch. Some weak rays of sunshine were peeking out through the clouds, but there was a definite chill in the air. Their fingers entwined, they headed towards the denser trees, a clear path leading into the woods visible beyond. The trees were shedding; orange, green and gold leaves falling slowly to the ground as the light breeze shook them loose.
For a while they just walked in silence, neither of them saying anything as Stonehaven receded into the distance. It wasn't an uncomfortable quiet, just strange since they always seemed to have plenty to say to one another.
"So," Jeremy said at last. "Now you know."
Kate nodded, her fingers tightening around his. "You operate in a whole other world."
He stopped and turned to face her. "We do, yes." He hesitated, seemingly searching for the right words. "I don't know how to do this, Kate. I've never been in a real relationship before, and so I'm not exactly sure how all this is supposed to work. As much as I want to shelter you from all of the brutality, I realise that I can't. This is who I am. This is my life." His eyes dropped and he looked down at their joined hands. "If you feel that it's too much for you, something you can't handle or be a part of, I would under-"
Kate stepped closer to him, her hands reaching up to cup his hair roughened cheeks. "Jeremy Danvers, you listen to me. I might be the teeniest bit freaked out right now, but who wouldn't be in my shoes? After what I've learnt about you over the past few days, I can't ever claim that I didn't walk into this relationship with my eyes wide open. I'm not sure how we'll make this work, but I do want to try."
His forehead touched hers, his eyes closing. They stood like that for a long time, breathing in unison, their hands gently holding one another.
"I never thought I'd ever experience this," he said softly.
"Why not?" she asked, a wave of sadness sweeping through her.
He shrugged. "Because of who I am. I never thought I'd ever meet someone who makes me feel this much, who makes me question my beliefs."
Kate smiled. "I guess you wish you'd never caught me hanging onto your gate."
Expecting him to laugh, she was surprised when he turned serious. "I should wish that, but I don't. I could no more wish you away than I could regret taking Clay in as a boy. It's happened and I wouldn't have it any other way."
Her heart swelling with emotion, her fingers curled into the fabric of his jacket. "So what happens now?"
Jeremy shook his head. "Damned if I know." He frowned, his forehead creasing into multiple lines of worry. "We'll have to be careful, Kate. Eventually news will travel that I'm seeing someone. That in itself may not raise too much suspicion, but if anyone suspects the true nature of our relationship it would place your life in danger. I have enemies-"
Kate placed a finger across his lips to silence him. "I know. I'm not naive, Jeremy. I realise that dating the leader of a near continent of wolves has its share of risks. But believe me when I say that this is the easier option. Walking away would be far harder and I'm not prepared to do that. I want you. I love you."
He sighed heavily. "Then if we're going to give this a go, there's one other thing you need to see."
Kate's fingers traced the shape of his brows, down to his cheeks and across his lips. "What's that?"
Jeremy stepped away from her and silently removed his jacket. Confused, Kate watched as he unbuttoned his waistcoat, removed it and then started on his shirt. Eyes widening, realisation dawned.
Suddenly her palms became sweaty, her breathing escalating until her heart was slamming against her ribs painfully. Granted, she was curious about this side of him, but with everything that had happened over the past couple of days, she hadn't even asked him about it.
Jeremy never took his eyes off her as he loosened his belt and slipped out of his jeans and briefs. Completely naked, beautifully naked, he stepped towards her.
"This is not a pleasant experience for me. It's painful, but I promise that it sounds and looks worse than it is."
Kate nodded, unable to get a word out. Jeremy gave her an encouraging smile before he stepped away again. Her mouth dry she tried to swallow, the simple action seemingly impossible. Suddenly, she heard a sharp snap and Jeremy keeled forward, the bones in his back protruding at odd angles.
"Jeremy!" Alarmed, Kate instinctively moved towards him, but he held out a hand.
"Stay back!" he called, his face contorted with pain, the veins in his forehead bulging dangerously, looking as though they were about to explode.
Immediately Kate stilled, her heart in her throat while she watched him fall onto all fours, multiple bones snapping like twigs. Seeing his pain and knowing she was powerless to relieve it was debilitating, tears springing into her eyes as she observed his struggle. Gasping for breath, Jeremy cried out, his hands extending before him, his fingers and nails morphing into sharp claws. Similarly, his feet altered, his toes curving and lengthening, hair rapidly sprouting over every inch of his skin. His face was changing too; the position of his ears moving, shifting closer to the top of his head, becoming pointier. His jaw stretched, his teeth reshaping to form fangs, his human cries of pain beginning to sound more like growls.
Frozen, her breathing laboured, Kate was riveted. Within a few minutes Jeremy, the man, was completely gone and in his place stood a large wolf, bigger even than Salazar had been, his coat of fur a shiny black with a few swirls of beige. He stood back warily, observing her, as though trying to gauge her reaction.
Slowly sinking to her knees on the damp, muddy floor, Kate leaned forward, extending her hands until Jeremy took a tentative step towards her, approaching with caution. She suspected he was doing so more for her to acclimate to his altered state, clearly uncertain of what her reaction would be. When he was within reach, at eye level, she carefully raised a hand and stroked the side of his face. His fur was soft and springy to the touch, her nails curling gently to scratch. He leaned into her caress, a soft growl of delight emanating from him, his eyes closing with pleasure.
Her face splitting into a grin, Kate lifted her other hand and scratched behind both ears simultaneously. Her wolf fairly purred.
"Jeremy," she breathed, hardly able to comprehend what she'd just witnessed.
Nuzzling her neck softly, she giggled when his wet nose tickled behind her ear. Pulling back, he stared into her eyes, his gaze soft and gentle. All too soon he took a few steps away from her and she instinctively knew that he would be turning back. Within minutes the process reversed itself and Jeremy was man once more. Lying on his side facing away from her, Kate crawled over to him.
"Are you okay?" she asked, as he turned towards her.
Jeremy nodded, moving to sit up. "I'm fine."
Their eyes met and held and Kate raised a hand to brush his long hair behind his ear. "You're so beautiful," she whispered. "Thank you for sharing that with me." She frowned suddenly. "Although it's obviously a lot more painful than you led me to believe," she berated.
Jeremy lips curled into a soft smile. "I didn't want to scare you."
"I wasn't afraid of you, merely for you. There's a difference."
He looked at her, his eyes filled with love and longing and Kate's belly exploded with butterflies. It was the same look he'd given her multiple times throughout the night when he'd driven her mindless with pleasure. Grasping her chin, Jeremy's lips moved ever closer to hers, her eyes sweeping shut as she waited in breathless anticipation. When the kiss never materialised, she cracked an eye open. Jeremy had his head cocked to the side, his eyes searching the treeline.
"What is it?" she asked.
Quickly he stood, bringing her up with him. Reaching for his clothes, he started dressing hastily. "Someone's here."
A frisson of fear raced through her. "I take it it's not someone you want to see?"
"I'd prefer not to." He was buttoning his shirt while simultaneously stuffing his feet into his boots. Reaching for his waistcoat, he shrugged into it before grabbing his jacket and walking towards her.
"Who is it?"
Jeremy grasped her elbow lightly. "Roman Navikev. He's the Russian alpha and a member of the Alpha Council."
Kate swallowed nervously. "Russian? He's far from home. What would he be doing here?" Even as Jeremy shook his head in confusion, he looked troubled. "Jeremy, please."
His gaze locked on hers. "I can think of no reason other than-" He hesitated, his eyes clouding with worry.
"Other than?" Kate probed, her hands digging anxiously into his forearms.
"You," Jeremy breathed.