Chapter 9

CHAPTER 9

O livia stood frozen and not from the cold, but from fear. Did real wolves threaten her or were they werewolves who meant to intimidate her, believing her a trespasser in their home? She remained still, not that she could move anyway, fear keeping her frozen solid. Though she didn’t hesitate to speak with them in case they were werewolves and would understand her just as Henry and Fay had.

“I mean you no harm. I am a guest of Lord Tiernan,” she said in a calm and even tone so as not to alarm them.

The dark gray wolf stepped forward, snarling and snapping at her, and she couldn’t say she wasn’t frightened. She knew all too well how dangerous a wolf could be and how they viciously tore apart their prey. But wolves avoided humans and only acted if threatened. So, why were these four so threatening towards her?

The dark gray wolf lunged forward, and instinct had Olivia stepping back when suddenly Laird appeared and launched himself at the dark gray wolf, grabbing him by the scuff of his neck and tossing him aside without the slightest difficulty. Then he turned on the other three, viciously snapping, snarling, and growling, and frightening her.

The gray wolf got to his feet, stumbling as he did, and Laird rushed at him, his sharp teeth clamping down on him and tossing him aside once again with a strength that amazed Olivia. This time the gray wolf made no effort to move.

Laird paced in front of the other three, growling and snarling, making his anger and authority known. They all took a submissive pose, and he turned and walked over to her, growled and turned his head to the garage.

It took her a minute, but she understood. He wanted her to go into the garage and she understood why. He didn’t want her to see him shapeshift.

Olivia nodded and hurried into the garage, stooping to retrieve the gloves off the floor that Tiernan must have dropped when he saw what was happening. Next to them lay his clothes, discarded in haste. She slipped the gloves on her icy, trembling hands as she walked deeper into the garage, keeping her back to the scene outside. She cringed when hearing a howl that sounded like it echoed across the land, and she continued to wait where she was, though was startled when shortly afterwards she heard Tiernan speak.

His voice held authority as he commanded, “Each one of you wait where you are.”

She heard a noise and assumed Tiernan was slipping into his clothes and continued to remain as she was, facing the wall. She jumped, not long after, startled by a touch on her arm.

“I didn’t mean to frighten you,” Tiernan said, giving her arm a gentle squeeze. “Go wait inside. I will come get you when I’m done.”

He didn’t wait for her to do as he said, he turned and left the garage. Olivia was far too curious to go inside. She quietly positioned herself to get a glance of the scene without being detected.

What appeared to be four teenage boys, though they were probably older in human years, stood naked in the snow, their focus on Tiernan.

“I am ashamed of all of you. You disgrace your pack, your family, by threatening a guest at the preserve,” Tiernan admonished. “I have warned you time and again about the harm such irresponsible actions can cause the preserve, your home, your pack. And to think to challenge me to lead the pack when you are beyond reckless, demonstrates your gross immaturity. I’ve had enough. You will be sent to the training center and assigned the lowest position in the pack. You have a year to learn and show responsibility and if you don’t, there will be consequences.”

The four stared at Tiernan shocked, two paled, and one was close to tears.

“I didn’t want to do it,” the teenager close to tears said.

“But you did, Olin, and I do not care if you did it out of fear or friendship. You knew it was wrong, and you made a choice. You’ve made several bad choices. Make sure you don’t make another bad one or it will be your last.”

A teenager with dark unruly hair and good looks stepped forward. “It was my fault. I persuaded them to challenge you.”

“I had no doubt you lead them, Chad, and you have the makings of a fine leader once you learn discipline and how to lead. But you are far from ready to lead and far too reckless to challenge me. And you are lucky that I am disciplined enough not to have killed you. Challenge me again or dare go near my guest and you will not be so lucky. Don’t force me to kill you, Chad.”

Chad’s mouth dropped open and his eyes rounded. The other three boys paled.

Chad wisely apologized. “I am sorry, Lord Tiernan. It was foolish of me.”

Three other apologies followed Chad’s.

Olivia caught her gasp before it slipped out, surprised and impressed by the six gray wolves that came charging through the mounds of snow toward Tiernan. They were magnificent and they stopped behind the teenage boys. She realized then that Tiernan’s howl must have summoned them.

“Take them to the training center and let their families know where they are and why, and that they will remain there for a year, or more, if necessary,” Tiernan commanded and looked at each boy. “Learn so that you may be an asset to your pack.”

The boys nodded.

“Turn away, Olivia,” he ordered.

Damn. She should have known he would sense her presence. She turned, not wishing to see them shapeshift, her thoughts busy with what she had just witnessed. She had often wondered what it might be like to hear an alpha wolf speak to his pack. Tiernan did it with the strength, confidence, and distinct authority that she would expect. Having witnessed it, she was able to see differences between wolves and werewolves and she was eager to compile notes so she could learn more and come to understand werewolves better.

Werewolves.

The fabled creatures did exist. She shook her head. And she had had sex with one, the alpha one. The one who led not just a pack but all wolves—werewolves—on the preserve.

“Olivia.”

She turned and if it wasn’t for the light dusting of snow that covered Tiernan’s hair and jacket, making him appear so human, she might have backed away from him.

“Are you all right?” he asked, reaching out to cup her arm just below her elbow.

“You’re a werewolf,” she said, as though the impact of the truth just hit her.

“Aye, I am,” he confirmed. “Let’s go inside. We will have tea and talk.”

She pulled her arm away from him as he went to guide her inside. “I’m not ready to go inside.”

“It’s snowing again and it’s cold, Olivia. We can come out another time.”

“No.” She shook her head and when he went to argue with her, she said, “I am not part of your pack. I do as I please.” She walked out of the garage, pulled off her knit cap, and tilted her head back to let the snow fall on her face. She thought she could hear the hiss of the snowflakes as they landed on her heated cheeks.

“Are you sure about that?”

She turned to look at him, his eyes shining a bold green. “I’m not sure about anything at the moment.”

“Including us?”

“That’s a good question. What about us, Tiernan? What is it you want from me?” she asked, frustrated.

“You have yet to see it for yourself? I thought by now you would realize and understand.”

“It would be better if you just explained it to me.”

“Nay, it would be meaningless.”

“It’s meaningless right now since I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

He snatched her knit cap from her hand and was about to place it on her head when she snatched it away from him. “I think I need to be alone for a while.” She rushed into the garage and straight into the castle, not sure what she was running from or why.

This assignment had gone array, and forget the possibility of securing a position here. Her attraction and having sex with Tiernan now prohibiting that, not to mention she had feelings for the man—a werewolf.

Once in the room, she threw herself face down and crossways on the bed after shedding layers of clothing, leaving her in her leggings and knit top, and she mumbled, “Nightmare.”

She was in a nightmare and needed to wake up. She turned on her back and pinched herself. She was afraid she’d feel it, confirming she was not in the throes of an endless nightmare. It all was real, werewolves and all.

And what did he want from her, and why couldn’t she see it? What was she missing? She couldn’t help but think how interesting it would be to research and learn about the werewolves. They were a whole different species, half wolf, half human, and a ton of information could be learned from them. Their ability to heal so rapidly being one such possibility. But their secret would have to be carefully guarded, the consequences of anyone finding out could be dire for them.

She smacked her forehead. Was she really considering accepting the position here? With her love of wolves, how could she not? She had had favorite wolves in the various places she worked through the years, but none had come close to touching her heart so quickly as Laird did. He was magnificent, and if she cared that much for him, then it meant that she cared just as much for Tiernan. Something she was finding too difficult to ignore or deny.

One look and I fell fast and hard , that was how her grandma had described falling in love with Olivia’s granddad. Her grandma had insisted that when it happens, there is no getting around it and the more you resist love the more trouble you get yourself into. Was that what was happening to her?

But her grandma hadn’t had to deal with the fact that the man she had fallen in love with was a werewolf.

A knock sounded at the door before it opened.

Olivia didn’t move off the bed.

“I wanted to make sure you were all right,” Tiernan said and stepped into the room.

Why did he have to look so appealing? His dark hair was slightly unruly, refusing to be tamed, much like a wolf. His green eyes were intent more like a human’s since a wolf’s vision wasn’t that different from a human’s. It was the heightened sense of scent that wolves possessed, not so humans except for an exceptional few, that was one of the differences.

“Did you follow my scent here or did you assume this was where I would go?”

He walked over to the bed, and not waiting to be invited, dropped down on it to stretch out beside her. “I followed your scent. It’s stronger when you get upset. I would have preferred you hadn’t witnessed that with the lads.”

She turned to her side to face him. “I’m glad I did. It helped me to fully grasp the reality of the situation.”

“And chase you away?” he asked, brushing strands of hair off her cheek, his finger caressing it as he did.

His gentle touch was like a struck match that flamed her body to life. It always sparked an instant desire in her, and she worried that she would never find that with another man.

“I don’t chase that easily,” she said.

“I’m glad, for I would miss you if you left,” he said and brushed a light kiss across her lips.

She sighed, ready to surrender to her own desire and him. “This trip is nothing like I envisioned.”

“I imagine not, though you can’t deny that it is probably more exciting and eye-opening than you envisioned.”

“You think?” she asked, laughing lightly. “So, teenage werewolves are as rebellious as their human counterpart?”

He smiled. “It doesn’t matter the species. Teenage years are difficult for everyone concerned.”

“How were your teenage years?” she asked, curious to learn more about him.

“I was a warrior, fighting the fearful humans who wanted all wolves dead. We would have come close to extinction, if it hadn’t been for the wisdom of my grandfather. He understood that our human side needed to establish a strong clan. It was the only way we could protect the wolf in us.”

That made her even more curious. “There are varying opinions on who killed the last wolf in Scotland. I suppose many lairds laid claim to it so they could boast. I imagine you are familiar with all the tales or most. The wolves killed, were they wolves or werewolves?”

“They were wolves. Clan MacMadadh closely guarded their secret and were careful who they considered a friend. As for the last wolf in Scotland, no one ever killed him. He died of natural causes years after seeking sanctuary and living peacefully with our clan.”

“I would love to know more about that time, but right now I am curious to know why you have offered me, a human, a position here at the preserve? Why not a werewolf?”

“You are perfect for the position. I wouldn’t want anyone else.”

“When did you make this decision?”

“After meeting you. Instinct assured me that you were the perfect choice, and I always follow my instincts. They never fail me. Think of the opportunity it presents, documenting a species believed to be only a myth.”

“And keeping it a secret,” she reminded.

“Until the time was right, if ever,” he corrected. “You cannot tell me that it doesn’t appeal to you… that I don’t appeal to you.”

She rested her fingers gently on his lips. “Far too much, which could present a huge problem.”

He kissed her fingers and moved her hand away to kiss her lips softly between saying, “So, I more than appeal to you.”

Her hand drifted down to land on his erection. “About the same as you find me appealing.”

“Keep your hand there and I will show you just how much you appeal to me.”

She grinned and challenged him to do just that with a gentle squeeze.

He was off the bed in a flash and stripped her naked from the waist down, then shed his clothes while she rid herself of her remaining garments. He dropped down over her, nuzzling her neck, then nipping playfully at it before his mouth moved to tease one nipple then the other. Her passion soared when she first touched him, now it catapulted with every touch, kiss, and nip.

It was more than just sex with Tiernan, more than satisfying a need. It was a connection that went much deeper, as if they somehow physically joined together as one heart, mind, and soul, as if they could feel the very essence of love.

She cried out his name in need. “Tiernan!”

He moved off her to stand at the edge of the bed, then took hold of her legs, spreading them as he pulled her toward him to slip easily into her. Then with each of her legs resting against his shoulders, he grabbed her backside and held it tight as he set a hard pounding rhythm that she met with enthusiasm.

It didn’t take long before they both were consumed by an explosion of passion that shook them to the core and left them satiated and lying breathless next to each other. He took hold of her hand as he always did, as if he didn’t want to lose the deep connection they shared.

Olivia couldn’t bear to think of losing what she found with Tiernan or the thought of him never holding her again, kissing her, snuggling against him in bed, making love. Damn, if it wasn’t true. She had instantly fallen in love with him, just as her grandma had done with Olivia’s granddad. The dilemma was that he never commented on the huge problem, their appeal, aka intimacy, would have on her accepting the position there, and now that she couldn’t deny that she had fallen in love with him… what kind of obstacle would that cause?

Later that night, they lay in his bed, Olivia snuggled against him and his arms wrapped around her, yawns heard from them both and sleep not far off.

“We need to talk, Tiernan,” she said.

“Aye, we do, but not tonight. Tomorrow is soon enough. Now we sleep.”

She couldn’t argue with that since she was fighting to keep her eyes open and was too tired to respond.

Something woke her, a sound or was it the loss of Tiernan’s body heat that left her feeling chilled. She sat up and glanced around the room not seeing Tiernan anywhere. Had he felt the need to hunt or prowl in the night?

The empty bed more than the thought left her unable to sleep. She got out of bed and slipped on her knee-hi bathrobe she had put on after taking a shower in his bathroom before bed. She intended to hurry to the kitchen, make herself a hot tea, and return with it to his bedroom, while seeing if Tiernan was anywhere to be seen along the way.

She hurried along the corridor and was about to turn to head to the kitchen when she heard a growl, and it sounded close. She stopped and listened and heard another growl, then another, both distinctly different from the previous one.

There were three wolves in the castle.