5. Chapter Five

Howls whispered on the wind. Each unique voice was the embodiment of those left untamed, a tribute to the primal side of their nature. She would never cease being affected by the beauty of their song.

Chills raced up Cortana's spine as she reveled in the sounds of the wilderness around the den. Though she'd only stepped a few feet outside the den doors, the difference was night and day.

It struck her every time how different this was from her regimented existence in New York. She'd left the safe shelter she built for herself out of rules and muted tones, and came here to find life, vibrant and intense, waiting for her to rejoin its flow. Closing her eyes, she savored the sounds that caressed her ears. The playful cries of the pack, a hooting owl in search of its next meal, the lulling melody of cicadas.

Twigs snapped in the brush before her, in a way that sounded almost deliberate. Jolting, her eyes flashed open, and her heart caught in her throat.

Before her stood a magnificent mahogany wolf, his coat rippling in the rich colors of ebony, carob, and hickory. Blazing orange eyes settled on her with utter fascination, the color a stark contrast to the darkness of his fur. A whisper of memory said she'd seen the exact shade before, but her attention was dragged back to the present before she could pinpoint it.

The wolf stepped forward.

His massive paws would've spanned the width of her palm, if not larger, the sheer strength of him apparent in the defined muscles under his gleaming coat. Every inch of the creature before her was majestic, a predator built for the hunt.

Releasing a slow exhale to steel herself against a shiver, Cortana studied the animal. She was unsure if this wolf was wild or simply a packmate who'd come out to stroll in the darkness. Regardless, she held eye contact with the beast, predator to predator, even as it took another step toward her.

"Don't bite me, Mr. Wolf."

One blink, two. Then, the wolf cocked his head to the side and his tongue lolled out like he hadn't a care in the world. A chuffing whine sounded, almost as though he was laughing at her.

Obviously one of my hosts, then, Cortana thought with a roll of her eyes.

Before she could chastise him, more wolves swarmed around the mahogany specimen before her. Each one brushed up against him, licking his chin and nuzzling his neck in a clear showing of affection. Though he acknowledged each friendly touch, his focus remained on her.

Cortana, on the other hand, was grinning ear to ear, delighting in the wolf pack that'd unrepentantly swarmed her now that she'd been deemed approachable. Velvet snouts and happy whines marked her first interactions, the feeling of silky fur rubbing up against her bare arms.

Each wolf was unique, the varied coloring in rich shades of brown, red, grey, and white. They darted around her playfully, never lingering too long, with the exception of the initial wolf and one newcomer.

The reddish-brown wolf was smaller than the first mahogany beast and spread an enthusiastic joy she couldn't help but react to. Instead of bumping his head on her thigh as the others had done, his wet tongue traced up the side of her cheek.

Startling a laugh from her, her hands dove into the scruff of his neck to appreciate the smooth red coat. Shades of tawny crimson and copper glistened under the starlight, fading to a light gold near his stomach.

Caught up in her caress, she didn't notice the mahogany wolf drawing near. A primitive growl sounded, low and caustic. Cortana froze at the aggression, the hair on the back of her neck rising.

A twinge of adrenaline pumped through her veins as she caught sight of the mahogany wolf, his teeth bared. Beside her, Ava shifted to her human form, laughing as the red wolf tucked tail and slinked away.

Cortana did her best not to pout, but the least she could do was voice her displeasure. "You've driven him away."

The mahogany wolf barely glanced at her, the animal still glaring at her former cuddle partner, now whimpering and crawling forward to dramatically flop himself to the ground. Tawny fur went belly-up before the larger wolf in a show of submission.

"Who is the red wolf?" Cortana asked.

Ava grinned. "You were fondling Gadriel."

Another low growl from the mahogany wolf, who'd advanced on Cortana's position to stand sentinel in front of her. Unimpressed, she reached out and lightly curled her fingers around his velvet muzzle, cutting off the sound.

"Hush puppy, the adults are talking."

Ava, and a recently shifted Gadriel, broke out in a riot of laughter. Looking down at the wolf she still held captive, the blazing orange eyes now drilling to hers were suddenly entirely too familiar.

Damn.

An utterly unamused Riaz shifted a half second later, the mahogany wolf vanishing and being replaced by a bare-chested man. The jeans slung low of his hips allowed full view of the deep cut of his abs, disappearing in a delectable v-shape beneath his belt.

Blinking, she catalogued every peak and valley of his torso, and the ridges of his shoulders, so well defined and built. Not an ounce of fat clung to his stacked abdominals, and his the perfectly sculpted pecs and biceps made her salivate. Cortana had a brief sensation she was looking at a dream given form.

She'd been ogling his body for too long when she should have been looking at his face. Opening her mouth to—what, apologize?—she instantly shut down when he gave her a withering look.

"Hush … puppy?"

Fighting the urge to join in Ava and Gadriel's laughter, Cortana attempted a casual shrug. "Seemed appropriate."

One mahogany eyebrow rose at the suggestion, the man clearly irritated at the insinuation. In the next instant, he moved forward, crowding her against the stone wall of the den not a foot behind her.

"I'm no one's pup, Pet. I bite."

And yet, it didn't sound like a threat. "Should I be scared, Mr. Alpha, Sir?"

A hint of mirth broke through the clammy exterior, his lips hooking in a dark smile. "I'll only bite you when you want me to, little vampirella."

Locking eyes with him, her breath caught in her throat. A slow coil of desire snaked through her veins, sizzling with a sudden passion she couldn't fight. It was as if her entire being was consumed with need for the man standing in front of her, the urge to pull him close nearly overpowering.

Swallowing harshly, she grappled with the emotions vibrating through her.

Only through sheer strength of will did she consciously extract herself from the intimate space they shared, taking a step back and feeling the concrete wall bank against her shoulders. Still holding eye contact, she noticed the brief pained expression cross Riaz's features, but it was gone so quickly she could have imagined it.

Confused, she ceded defeat and dropped her gaze to study the ground, needing the distraction before she did something ridiculous. Like vaulting into his arms.

Riaz clearly got the memo. Clearing his throat, he stepped away, and she instantly felt bereft. A host of werewolves stampeded into the den at Riaz's whistle, some on two legs and some on four.

"Come on, Lady of the Night, since you're so fond of Gadriel, let's introduce you to the other betas."

Riaz didn't turn to ensure she was following, not even when he grabbed a shirt from the pile near the entrance. A small part of her had relished his rapt attention in those two minutes, delighting in the way he'd never glanced away.

Even going as far as growling to stake a misguided claim.

Trailing behind him in companionable silence with Ava, the two of them brought up the rear. More than once, the other woman's eyes searched her features, but Cortana was too wrapped up in her thoughts to acknowledge it.

What was it about Riaz that made her heart thump in her chest? She'd known him little more than a day and already she was acting like a blushing schoolgirl with a crush. Gritting her teeth, she promised herself that she'd show a bit more decorum, and a lot more restraint.

Because no one had ever had this effect on her … not even the man she'd killed when her desire spun out of control.