Page 65 of Diners, Damsels & Wolves

She beamed up at him.

Heart squeezing, he felt lighter. Simultaneously, his wolf growled with rage. He fought the urge to demand the names of the tormentors from her past. The gutless bastards who dared to harm the woman most precious to him. Even if he didn’t ask, her aunt mentioned her going to the public school. It would be too easy to pull the records, a list of names of her classmates. He could visit every last one until he found them …

Fury coursed through him. Control over his instincts was slipping. He needed to change the subject.

“I came here to invite you to something,” he said. “A picnic. Every year my family holds a picnic, distant relations, friends, employees from the company, they’re all invited to my parents’ home. It’s this Sunday, it’ll be after your shift is over. I’d like you to join me.”

“Oh, tomorrow? At your parents’ house, the one you live in with your cousins?”

“Yes.” He was flattered she’d remembered that detail. “I could pick you up around eleven-thirty?”

“I—” She chewed on her lip. “Okay, sure.”

An easy grin spread across his face. Lifting her chin, peonies mixed with her sweet musk filled his senses as he gazed into her eyes. Warm hazel, they were hesitant yet adoring. He could spend forever getting lost in them.

Stooping his head, he pressed his lips to hers, gentle and chaste, tasting her. She reacted instantly, lifting her head up to meet his touch, pressing herself closer. A soft moan vibrated in the back of her throat. She opened her mouth.

Warm shivers shot through him, going straight to his groin. His hand slid across her jawline, resting on her neck. Whimpering, she gripped the front of his shirt, pushing herself into him. Smirking to himself, he filed that knowledge away for later use.

Breaking the kiss, he settled his forehead against hers. She panted against his neck.

“I brought you flowers,” he murmured.

“I saw.” Her voice was husky. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“Definitely.”

Taking her hand, he walked her to her car and gave her a sweet kiss on the lips before helping her in and closing the door.

Back in his 4Runner, he pulled out his cell phone. Pulling up his texts, he messaged Maria.

She’s coming to the picnic. If anyone says anything to her, I’m holding you personally responsible.

She responded immediately.

Drama 👑

Are you telling her after the picnic? You know you should.

Rolling his eyes, he put his phone away and drove off. It was his decision when and how to tell her, not Maria’s—even if she had a good argument. But that wasn’t important right now. He was relieved things were fixed with Clarissa, but it had come at a heavy cost.

He appreciated her trust in him with revealing her past, but now he was boiling with bloodlust. He wanted to tear the perpetrators apart. Keeping a white-knuckle grip on the steering wheel, his jaw locked, forcing himself to focus on driving.

He fantasized about finding the grubby, perverted girls and boys, his wolf stalking them until he could taste their fear in the air. Fantasizing about raking his claws up their bellies until they cried, but it was no good. It wouldn’t fix the pain she’d already endured. Concentrating on keeping his breath even, he recognized the need for an outlet, or his nerves were going to make him crazy.

Taking a deep breath, he repeated to himself: You are not your grandfather.

Townspeople would not go missing, they would not be found mauled to death by a ‘wild animal’ just because they vexed him. Just because he could. His hands shook.

He. Was. Not. His. Grandfather.

The wolf was raging. He could either shift and go for a run, or stay human and toss some trees around the lumberyard. If he phased, his wolf instincts would heighten. Although he usually had excellent control over them, as far as Clarissa was concerned, he had a rabid beast in his chest, chomping at the bit to protect her. Or in this case, exact a very bloody revenge.

Steering his car further into the woods, he sped off to the lumberyard. Getting his human form exhausted and sweaty was in order. Tossing trees around was the perfect way to do that.

Sixteen