“That’s how you really see me?” The uncertainty in her voice slayed him.

  “Yes.” He brushed his lips over her forehead, down her nose, and finally against her mouth. “If you want a career, you’re smart enough to figure out how to accomplish it. And you’re not alone. I’ll help you. Your parents will help you. Hell, everyone in the pack would be behind you. I don’t think waitressing in a bar is what you’re looking for. Travel is something that can happen, if that’s what you need. If you want to draw or paint or build or write or sew or bake, that’s good, too.” He listed off skills many of the other women in the pack had turned into careers. “I believe in you.” Taking a risk he might piss her off and drive her away, he added, “The only one in your way is you.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Her breath caught in her throat. Still reeling from having sex for the first time—and how crazy was it to finally be able to say that at the ripe age of twenty-four—he dropped another bombshell on her.

  I believe in you. Those four words made her heart swell. The way he viewed her was so different from what she saw when she looked in the mirror. And he wasn’t saying them to get her into bed. He’d already had her. She was a sure thing. And Etienne was brutally honest.

  “I worry about not being enough.” She cringed as she said it. Talk about sounding needy. She wouldn’t have minded snuggling a bit longer before getting into a heavy discussion. Every cell in her body was still vibrating with pleasure. Curling her toes, she fought to hold on to the magic. A girl only got one first time.

  “In what ways?” His eyes darkened with concern.

  She started to blurt out an answer. Then she stopped to consider everything he’d said. He didn’t often have that much to say. When he spoke, people listened, even Jacque and her daddy. Etienne had a thoughtful way of looking at things.

  She licked her lips and sought the right words. Etienne’s groan caught her off guard. He rubbed his thumb over her bottom lip. “It makes me want to kiss you again.”

  His erection pressed against her side, driving out the sleepiness as desire began to simmer. “Is that supposed to be a deterrent?” Her core clenched. Sex with Etienne had been earthy and real, leaving her sweaty and sticky and wanting more. She ran her hand down his chest. He caught it before it dipped lower.

  “I can see how I intimidate you.” Bringing her hand to his mouth, he nipped at her fingers.

  She gave a snort of laughter. “I explained what I meant.” He’d never let her live that down.

  He sucked one of her fingers into his mouth. Heat raced through her, pooling between her legs. “Etienne.”

  He shuddered and released her. “Later.”

  “You’re no fun.” She tugged her hand away.

  His grin was too cocky for her liking. “You didn’t think that earlier.”

  “I’m rethinking it.”

  “No, you’re avoiding the question.”

  God, he was so right. Closing her eyes against the potent sight of his muscled body, which made her want to do wicked things, she ordered her thoughts. “All the other women are so accomplished. They have a passion for what they do.” That was the key, what she hadn’t fully understood. “I enjoy drawing, sewing, gardening, baking, and all the rest, but I’m not passionate about it the way they are.”

  He smoothed his hand over her hair. She opened her eyes, needing to see his reaction. He was frowning, not upset but thoughtful. “Part of your problem is you’re good at everything.”

  Her mouth fell open. “What?”

  “You need to find something that challenges you.” His lips twitched. “Like me.”

  He wasn’t lying. He’d been challenging her since they were kids, urging her to try new things, pushing her out of her comfort zone.

  “Try new things. Or look at the skills you have in a new way.”

  “You make it sound so easy.” She tried to roll away, but he stopped her.

  “Not easy. Worthwhile.” In an abrupt change of subject, he asked, “Are you hungry?”

  Her stomach growled in answer. “Starving.”

  “How about I run out to the diner.” He reached over the side of the bed, grabbed his jeans, and pulled out his phone. “They’re still open. I can bring back food.”

  “That would be great.” It would also give her some time alone to think. She wasn’t in the mood to be among people.

  Etienne pulled on jeans and a shirt and slipped his feet into his sneakers. Chilled without him beside her, she pulled the thin bedspread over her. He leaned down and kissed her. “Thank you for giving me the greatest gift of my life.”

  Her chest tightened. “It was worth the wait.” The entire experience was something she’d never forget.

  His lips hovered over hers. “I want you in my bed tonight and every night.” Her wolf howled in agreement. Her body practically sang the “Hallelujah” chorus. “I just want you.” He looked as though he might say more, but straightened. “I’ll be back. Promise me you’ll still be here.”

  She shot upright in bed. “Are you serious?” They’d just had sex, and he expected her to run?

  His inscrutable expression gave nothing away. “Promise me.”

  “If you think I might run, why would you even believe me?”

  “Because you’d never break a promise.” Big and tall and as immovable as a mountain, he stared down at her, hands on his hips.

  “I’ll be here.” There was nowhere else to go. She had obligations to the Landrys, to her family and pack, but most of all she owed Etienne. He’d come to her rescue not once but twice. He’d made her first lovemaking experience one for the record books, and he honestly wanted to help her succeed. “I’ll be here,” she said again. Because beyond all the rest, she didn’t want to leave him.

  He gave her a curt nod and left, making sure the lock engaged on the way out. She dropped back on the bed and stared up at the ceiling. Pushing her worries aside, she wrapped her arms around herself. His scent and that of their lovemaking surrounded her. Her nipples peaked and brushed against the cover. She sucked in a breath. Her core pulsed with longing. She wanted him again. One time and she was already addicted to him.

  Climbing out of bed, she padded on bare feet to the bathroom. Knowing he wouldn’t be gone long, she jumped in the shower. Her thoughts jumbled together, one on top of the other, as she scrubbed from head to toe. His perception of her had certainly given her a lot to think about.

  Bottom line, she was a wolf. Being alone sucked. The adventure of it had carried her through the first two weeks. Since then, she’d been lost and alone. In truth, his being here was giving her an excuse to go home.

  “I don’t need an excuse.” Her family would welcome her back with open arms. That’s what family did. Feeling better than she had in weeks, she stepped out and grabbed a towel. Whatever the future held, she was ready to face it.

  The outer door to the room opened. Etienne was back. That was fast. The service must be great at the diner. She wrapped the towel around her and opened the door. “Hope you got plenty. I’m starving.”

  “So am I.” The stranger stood well over six feet with broad shoulders, long brown hair, and dark eyes. The breeze from outside carried his scent into the room. This was no human. This was a male wolf.

  Her heart skipped a beat before it began to race. “Who are you?” And what was he doing in her room? She’d never seen him before.

  Cruelty tinged his smile. The bastard was enjoying her fear.

  “You can make this easy on yourself or hard. Either way, I’m going to get what I want.” He advanced toward her.

  ****

  Etienne tapped the toe of his shoe against the floor in time to the country song on the radio, silently cursing the slow service. He swallowed his complaints, since it was a big order and near closing. Both of them had burned a lot of fuel and needed to replace it. Amy was beautiful as ever, but her face had thinned out. She wasn’t gaunt, by any means, but she needed to eat more.

  It was his pleasure to feed her.

  He’d wanted nothing more than to crawl back in bed, take her into his arms, and love her into exhaustion. If he lived to be a hundred and fifty—a possibility with his genetics—he’d never get enough of her. After having a taste of perfection, no other woman would ever do. She’d ruined him for any other.

  It was astounding that she didn’t see herself the way he did, the way the rest of the pack did. She’d always been outgoing and seemingly confident. It had hidden deep insecurities. She hadn’t been trying to find herself on this trip. She’d been running from herself. Unable to do that, she’d ended up frustrated and lost.

  They’d eat and make love. Once she was happy and sated, they’d talk again. He was confident she would figure things out given time. She was clever, intelligent, and had all the support she needed.

  The back of his neck itched. He rubbed his hand over it and rolled his shoulders. What the hell was wrong with him? Amy had promised she wouldn’t run. The Landrys were tucked away in their room. It was up to them if they left or not.

  Something is wrong.

  “I’ll be back.” He’d already paid for the food, so the lone waitress gave him a distracted nod as she continued to clean the empty tables.

  Unwilling to ignore his instincts, which were screaming at him, he hurried out the door and down the side of the building to the very end. Cars and trucks filled half the parking lot, but there was no one around this time of night. The murmurs of televisions and voices seeped out from the nearby rooms, but no insects buzzed, and no nocturnal animals skittered nearby. Something had frightened them into silence.

  The door to the room was partially open, the flimsy lock broken. Senses alert, he crept forward. Keeping low, he burst into the room.

  The covers on the bed were a mess, and there were clothes strewn across the floor. That was how it had been when he’d left. What wasn’t the same was the dresser was askew. The table and one of the chairs were on their sides.

  Fear chilled him to the bone. “Amy.” He whispered her name, even though she wasn’t here. Her duffel bag sat untouched on the floor. The scent of an unfamiliar male filled his nostrils.

  Etienne growled and whirled around when someone ran up behind him. Luc skidded to a stop and held up his hands. “We have a problem.” He sniffed the air and cursed. “Fuck, I’m too late.”

  “Talk to me.”

  “Fleur just told me she called our grandmother early this morning to let her know we were okay. I’ve told her time and again we can’t contact anyone, but she didn’t want her to worry.” He lowered his head and shook it. “She told her what had happened and where we were headed.”

  “Finish it.” He kicked off his shoes and ripped off his clothes.

  “Blaine was nearby and overheard. My grandmother didn’t realize it until someone told her that Blaine took off in a hurry after being outside her home. Somehow he found us.”

  Fleur’s zealous stalker hadn’t come for her. No, she was protected by two brothers. He’d taken Amy instead. She’d been all alone.

  Cursing himself and the Landry family, Etienne raced for the door, shifting on the fly, not waiting until he was at the woods. Luc called his name, but he wasn’t waiting for anyone. Bones cracked and realigned. Fur pushed through his skin to cover his entire body. His jaw extended. Heavy paws hit the ground. The man had given way to the wolf. Another male had his mate. It might not be official, but in his heart Amy already belonged to him. By taking him as a lover, she was offering him a commitment. He lifted his head, breathing in the night air.

  There!

  He unerringly caught the scent of soap and woman, almost masked by the heavier one of male musk. Veering off, he tracked, silently flowing around every obstacle, an apex predator on the hunt.

  I can’t lose her.

  There was no urge to howl. His rage was glacial—cold and deadly. Blaine Mouton had come after the wrong woman. The Landry brothers might be unwilling to confront him. Etienne relished the opportunity.

  If one hair on Amy’s precious head was harmed, Etienne would gut the other man without regret. Any male who preyed on women didn’t deserve to live. Ears twitching, he cataloged every sound. Eyes scanning, he noted every bent branch and snapped twig, every piece of churned-up ground or trampled moss. From the scent, he could tell it wasn’t Amy leaving the trail. Her daddy was a ghost in the woods and had taught her to be the same. The male wasn’t nearly as good as she was.

  That meant she’d somehow managed to evade her attacker … so far.

  Nose in the air, he tracked Blaine. The son of a bitch wasn’t even trying to hide. Did he think Etienne was like the other males in the Landrys’ pack? That he’d back down when faced with a challenge? He was in for a rude awakening.

  Growling carried through the night air, followed by a yelp. Swerving to his right, he picked up the pace.

  ****

  Blaine was stalking her. He’d walked into the motel room like he owned it, had told her who he was, and then informed her she was going to take Fleur’s place—temporarily. He still wanted Fleur as a mate, but Amy would do in the interim to lure his prey to him.

  Bastard.

  She’d taken him by surprise when she’d dropped the towel, shifted, and sprang. Not at him but the dresser. When he’d lunged at her, she’d soared over his head, off the table, and out through the door to freedom. She’d wanted to run to Etienne, but she couldn’t allow humans to see her. The woods had been closer and familiar. Her wolf was skilled in running without leaving a trail.

  What Blaine lacked in skill, he made up for in determination and sheer brute strength. She hadn’t been able to shake him. Without slowing, she began to circle back toward the motel, toward Etienne. When he realized she was missing, he’d start looking. All she had to do was keep out of her stalker’s way a bit longer.

  A large brown wolf jumped into her path. Surprised, she stumbled when she put on the brakes, going head over heels. Bouncing back up, she crouched and growled. If he thought she’d roll over like some weak bitch, he’d better think again.

  He shifted back to his human form and laughed. “I like a woman with spirit. Makes it more fun to break her.”

  Fear tingled down her spine, but she ignored it. She needed to be clearheaded and calm. Etienne would come for her. The certainty centered her.

  Blaine held his hands out by his sides. “Give it up. All women are the same. They all protest until I fuck them. When I’m done, they keep their mouths shut. They understand if they don’t, I’ll be back.” He grabbed his thick, erect cock and stroked it. If he got close enough, she’d bite the damn thing off. “Once I’m done with you, you’ll take me to Fleur. Then you can be on your way.” His dark eyes narrowed, and he dropped any pretense of affability. “You owe me. You were helping her useless brothers keep her from me.”

  This was well beyond stalker and into full-on obsession. The only way he’d ever leave Fleur alone was if he was dead. He’d use anyone and anything to reach that goal, including her. She backed up a step and growled.

  Blaine smiled. “I haven’t had a good fight in a while. Women are easy. All they want is a smile and some attention. When I give it to them, they melt like ice in the spring. Most complain when things get a bit rough, but it’s too late by then.”

  If his goal was to freak her out, he’d have to do better. She opened her mouth on a yawn. His head snapped back as if she’d hit him. “You’ll pay for that.” In response to the threat, she yawned again, all the while keeping a sharp eye on his body language.

  Every male in the pack had trained her. All of them had told her one thing—anger caused mistakes. It was her hope that if she made him angry enough, he’d do something stupid that would allow her to get away.

  On a howl of anger, he lunged, shifting on the fly. Anticipating the attack, Amy dropped and rolled. Scrambling to her feet, she began to run. Sharp teeth sank into her hind leg. Yelping in pain, she turned and snapped, grazing his sensitive muzzle with her fangs. He released her and growled, blood and saliva dripping from his fangs.

  Her leg was already healing, but it was taking longer than normal. She hadn’t started out at full strength and needed fuel for her body to work at optimum levels. Limping slightly, she circled around to face him.

  Think. There has to be a way around him.

  He wanted to hurt her, would enjoy it. She’d made him mad enough that he might actually kill her. No matter what happened, what she had to endure, survival was the goal. Etienne would come for her. No matter what Blaine did to her, he’d still want her, would still love her. Because it was real and true and everything she’d ever wanted.

  Crappy time for a revelation, but better late than never. Funny how having your life on the line put things in perspective.

  Blaine leaped into the air. Amy’s hindquarters quivered as she gathered her strength to jump aside.

  A giant black wolf streaked through the sky, knocking the big brown one out of midair. The two male wolves tumbled to the ground in a mass of fur and fangs and blood as their claws ripped at one another.

  Etienne had found her.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Etienne slammed his opponent to the ground, raking at his soft underbelly. Blaine’s claws ripped at his side, but he didn’t feel it.

  Amy was safe. He’d found her in time.

  Standing between her and the other male, he studied his opponent. Blaine flashed his fangs and growled. Etienne remained silent and stared. It was amazing how such a simple action intimidated people.

  Blaine made several false moves, trying to get him to commit to one side or another. He wasn’t falling for it. He cataloged every twitch of his ears, the ripple of every muscle, watching for an opening to attack.

  Normally, he’d try to reason with the other male, get him to back off and go home. Not this time. This wolf had declared war on the Salvation Pack when he attacked Amy. If Etienne didn’t kill him, her daddy would hunt him down and finish the job, likely with Etienne’s father by his side.