Wolf In Mind by Emeria Smashwords Edition **** Published by Emeria Wolf In Mind Copyright © 2011 by Emeria Smashwords Edition License Notes This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author's work. **** What the hell. Figures, I’d be stuck with a flat. Damn, what a mess. Okay, I can do this. Change the flat. Then keep going. I think he might be close. Too close. **** The beautiful Pennsylvania countryside kept my mind occupied as I drive through it. I need something to distract me from the threat that is following me. No, this is not the time to think of it. After changing the flat I had decided to drive another couple hours, then find a no tell motel to crash for the day. Leaving at 5 in the evening might not have been the best time to start a journey, but as usual I had been given no choice, as soon as my now former neighbor had mentioned that there was a man asking for me, I knew I needed to go before Simon found me again. Again, I shook the thoughts off. Better to think of my mystery man. The one who came to me in my dreams. Funny how I never question that he is real. Somehow, I know he is. Not just a dream, but a very real male. Remembering the last time I had dreamed of him and the conversation we had brought joy and sorrow. I remember his words: Baby, do you know how I ache for you? Please, let me come to you. Or better yet, you come to me. Please. God, he kills me with that. I know in my heart he isn’t a man to politely ask, he takes what he wants. But I can’t risk him. Simon would delight in taking him from me. I know this. I also know that my dream man wouldn’t back down. He would likely look for the fight. Still, I dreamed of going to Caleb. Both in my heart and in my mind, I knew he was meant for me. Weird, I don’t seem to question that certainty, either. I pass a very pretty sign that announces that you are arriving in Lonely Peak, PA, pop. 4375. Man, that’s a small one. Growing tired of driving, I decide to see if this little town had some sort of accommodations. Yeah, this little town off the map seemed the perfect place to lay my head down for the night. As the trees around me started to thin, I noticed some driveways and mailboxes along the small two lane. Coming to the top of a hill, I look down and have to gasp. The prettiest little town was spread out a little below me. The most dominate feature was a church spire in the foreground. mall buildings, almost Victorian in appearance, lined the road. Several had signs out front. At the very edge of the picturesque town was a huge house. It was charming with its bright white paint and sunny yellow shutters. The roof appeared to be real slate, and the driveway up to the front door was lined with a beautiful assortment of trees and flowers. A small sign at the foot of the drive read Haven House B & B. Smiling in triumph I pulled into the driveway and slowly approached the front of the home. Up close I could see windows adorned with flower boxes on the first floor, and framed with those sunny yellow shutters on the second floor. There was a small dormer window in what appeared to be the attic. Parking the car in the small lot to the left of the front door, I slowly eased out of the car. Standing for just a moment, looking at the wonderful setting in front of me, I actually felt good. For the first time in the last 9 months, I actually felt serene and peaceful. When the front door opened and a middle aged women came out on the porch, which wrapped around the front of the house to either side. Smiling a welcome, I noticed her cloud of sable brown hair, with streaks of white running through it. It fell past her waist in a thick braid. Her eyes, warm and brown smiled at me. Immediately I felt welcome. **** Cruising through LP, as the locals called it, Caleb Matthews, as acting deputy, was doing his daily round. Just a quick look around for himself, and for the good citizens of this town. Well, mostly good, he amended to himself. But, majority rules, as they say. Slowing turning onto Main, Caleb has his mind not on what he is doing, but rather on her. She was rarely out of his mind now. His mate, his woman. Damn it, why didn’t she tell him where she was. Something wasn’t right there. He knew she needed protection, could feel her fear and anxiety, and it half drove him half mad. His need to protect, to keep her safe was instinctual, which is how he knew she was his. He never thought for it to happen to him but he couldn’t deny his instincts. He really had no idea what she looked like, only a little of her thoughts, and most of the feelings that she couldn’t hide from him. She tried to make light of the situation, but he absolutely knew she needed him. Catching site of the vehicle in the small lot at the B & B, he automatically glanced at the plates. New York, then. Well, wouldn’t hurt to put in an appearance, just to make sure all was well at the inn. Maybe Clara would have some of those muffins she did so well. He’d missed breakfast because he’d been trying to find her, his Elaina. She felt close, but he’d been unable to reach her. She had shut herself to him. Why, is all he could think. Pulling into the drive, he just parked in front of the porch steps. Shaking off thoughts of Elaina, Caleb walked through the front door, that was left wide open for guests during summer. When he sniffed at the air to see what was baking, he was hit like a sledgehammer to his heart with a scent so appealing he almost drooled. Damn, what the hell is this then? Suddenly, his heart started to pound and a damp chill raced over his spine. The reaction caught him so off guard, he actually growled. Jerking his head up he followed the scent to the kitchen, sitting at the huge round table was a woman, but not just any woman. His woman. Her back was to him, all he could see of her was a short wavy cloud of raven black hair. It barely touched her shoulders, shoulders that were drooped in tiredness. Immediately his instinct to care for her popped to the front of his brain. Walking to her he leaned over and breathed deep, taking in her scent like water to the parched and arid. When she glanced over and looked into his eyes over her shoulder, he stopped breathing, the liquid depths of her cobalt eyes trapped him. Watching here eyes widen in shock, he grinned like a fool. God, she was beautiful. Her skin like milk, and the high cheekbones slightly starting to flush pink. His, only his, forever. **** The shock of looking into those green eyes left her stunned. My god, what a hunk of male this is. Wavy auburn hair, tousled artfully around his head. His skin a tawny brown, sculpted an aristocratic face, with a small cleft in his chin and a dimple that popped on his right cheek from the grin he gave her. Oh no, what have I done? Somehow without even trying, it appeared she had come to him. Damn it all to hell why couldn’t she ever do anything right. She couldn’t be here, did not want Caleb to be a victim to Simon’s obsession and jealousy. Then she took a glance at his chest and saw the badge. Gasping, she jerked her eyes back to him and noticed that he had seen her reaction, because his smile was slowing fading and he stared at her in obvious confusion. Before either of them had a chance to say a word, she was being lifted out of the chair, and yanked into his arms. Snapping her head up in surprise, her mouth was instantly covered by his. Good lord, it was instantaneous, like a flash fire. In that instant I feel my insides melt and a wash of heat through my core. Reaching up to wrap my arms around his neck, I run my fingers through the back of his hair. When he lifts his mouth from mine, I just burrow right in. I know I shouldn’t be here. But damn it felt so right, so good. His arms wrapping around me, laying his chin on the top of my head. The rapid beat of his heart told me he had been just a affected as I was. Couldn’t miss the huge hard on either. The clearing of someone’s throat brought us both back to earth. But Caleb, at least I hope this is Caleb… “You are Caleb, right?” I ask him. “Elaina, must you really ask, love? Come, let’s go for a ride and you can tell me what changed your mind about coming.” Looking over to Clara, who was looking a little stunned, and happy as well, Caleb grinned at her. “Clara, I’ll be stealing Elaina for a while. Don’t worry, she is my shalla, I will take good care of her.” Clapping her hands in delight, brown eyes dancing, Clara looked at me with a knowing smile, “Oh how wonderful for you! Elaina, you are a lucky female, for this is one fine young scoundrel you’ve got here.” “Oh, well, thank you, but what is a shalla, exactly?” Even though I couldn’t take my eyes from Caleb’s, Clara answered brightly. “No worries, child, it’s only a good thing. I’m sure Caleb will be explaining it all to you. Now, you two scoot, out of my kitchen. Go for a walk around back in the gardens. Caleb, that little arbor of mine is a nice private spot. Take your young lady there, and have your talk.” She was laughing, as if she knew there would be little talking. Caleb grabbed my hand, threading his fingers through mine as we walked out the back door. The porch did wrap all the way around. But the gardens are what held my attention. It looked as if acres of land had been planted with large trees and shrubs, flowers and herbs, with a path winding through to what appeared to be the woods backing up to the edge of the cleared property. Leading me onto the path, he all the while was caressing the back of the hand he held. Letting him guide me, the heat that had dissipated while talking with Clara bloomed again like a furnace. How was this possible at all, I asked myself for the hundredth time. This apparent psychic connection, this instant heat I felt with Caleb. I had never before had any kind of a psychic thing. Of course I had itches every once in a while. Like with Simon, but it had already been too late by then. Caleb keep winding along the path, we entered the edge of the woods, and off to the right in a small clearing was a charming little gazebo, the inside hidden from prying eyes by trellis covered in ivy. Striding forward he pulls me inside and I find myself in his arms. “I know we should talk, but right now I can’t even think. I need you Elaina, now, please say you’ll be mine, right here, right now.” He was running his hands up my back raining kisses up my neck and over my face. Sighing deeply, I cup his face in my palms. “Caleb, before we do this, I think you should know that I can’t stay.” If I had just shot him, I don’t he could have looked more hurt, then suddenly, I saw the anger flare in his grass green eyes. “Of course you’re staying, I won’t let you go now, Elaina. I can’t, and won’t, surely you know this. Tell me you don’t feel it as well, and I’ll let you go. But I don’t think you can. Can you?” Watching the anger, I also glimpsed the fear. What frightened him, I wonder, his feelings or my leaving him? But, as I looked into his eyes, I knew I couldn’t lie to him, even knowing the danger I was putting him in. “No I can’t tell you that I don’t feel it, too. But, Caleb, you don’t understand, there’s a man. Someone that I dated one time. I have tried everything. The police couldn’t help, because I couldn’t prove anything. So I moved, and he found me again, so I moved again, tried to stay off the radar, but then after almost 2 months, he found me again.” Watching Caleb’s eyes go from anger to concern and back to anger, I was shocked by the depth of it. His greens eyes harden into emeralds, cold clear danger. It seemed his pupils thinned, but of course that couldn’t be possible. “Who is this man? What right does he have to do this to you Elaina? You should have told me, you need not fear a mortal man when with me, love. I can and will protect you, this I swear.” “Wait, what do you mean mortal man? Crap, what is wrong with me.” Pulling myself from his arms, I start to pace the confines of the gazebo. “Instead of wondering if I’ve lost it, I just accept all this shit with no whimper. I don’t know what is happening to me here. What are you, Caleb, what is going on.” Holding my hand up I stop him from responding. I know that whatever he tells me he hasn’t done any of this on purpose, that he’s as much a slave to this as I am. Walking back into his arms, I know I need to tell him. “I know, with my heart, that you are for me, I just want you to explain how this is all possible. Okay?” Holding me tightly to him, running his fingers up and down my arm, Caleb says, “you don’t know then? How is that possible? Tell me, baby, who are your parents?” “My parents? Well, I don’t really know. I was adopted at the age of 2 by some very good people, for all intents and purposes, they were my parents. They’re both gone now. I always knew I was adopted. I have wondered from time to time who my birth parents might be. Of course, there was no information about them. I was left in an emergency room at the local hospital in the area I grew up in. Why would you want to know who my parents are Caleb?” “Because, my love, you have some shifter blood in you, or we would not have been able to find each other the way we did. Before you ask, a shifter is someone who turns into an animal of some kind. There are many different types, and not all those with shifter blood can shift. It’s rare that a part human shifter cannot shift, but there are cases. I merely assumed that you were one of those cases.” Slowly lowering my arms from around his neck, I think that he must be insane. Yeah, that’s it. He’s a little cuckoo. Watching his eyes, I could see that he knew what I was thinking. Giving me a sardonic grin, he lowers his head and captures my lips with his. Even though I know I should pull away, and stop this, I can’t. He kisses me with such tenderness, my normal instincts are shot. Looking in my eyes the entire time, he slowly seduces my mouth with his. “My sweet,” he whispers against my lips, “do you think I am crazy then? Don’t you find that our connection is powerful, and meant? Why do you think that might be? It’s because you are my shalla, my life mate. Only weres have life mates, Elaina, and because I know you feel it as I do, that’s how I know that you have some of the blood in you.” He slowly backed away from me then softly cupped my cheek in his palm. “Stay put just a moment, my love, and see.” He backed up further, then started to strip. I gasped aloud watching him bare that strong, sinewy body to my eyes. He was magnificent, all muscle and tawny skin. When he dropped his pants and stepped out of them, I think I actually was drooling. His manhood stood erect, thick and long and hard. I realized that now I was panting. Trying without success to catch my breath. As he was giving me a cheeky grin, my eyes were dazzled by lights swirling around him, and where he was standing, there was suddenly a huge, beautiful russet wolf. The wolf cocked his head to the side, looking at me all the while. Still panting, in shock now, more than arousal, I slowly take a step forward, reaching out my hand. He is so beautiful, even like this. The red tones of his fur looked so soft and inviting, I couldn’t not touch him. Cautiously, I approached him with my hand held out. Caleb moved closer to me as well, when he reached my hand, he slowly licked my palm, and then bumped it with his nose. Caressing him on the top of his head, stroking down his back, I reveled in the softness and power of him. I know I should be running screaming from here. I know I should probably call a shrink, for crying out loud. But, as I kneeled to the ground, and Caleb laid his head in my lap, all I could do was continue to stroke and pet him. “How is this possible? Never mind, I guess that’s not important, is it? What is important is that it just is. Unless I’m actually in a nuthouse somewhere and this is my fantasy. Although as fantasy goes, this one ain’t too shabby. Handsome hot wolf guy that loves me, and calls me his life mate. Okay, okay. Well this certainly puts a different spin on things then doesn’t it?” Caleb raised his head from my lap, and yeah, it wasn’t quite like a laugh, more of a bark, but I knew he was laughing. Those green eyes glowed a little in the shade of the gazebo, and the humor was evident. He stood quickly, licked my face, which had me laughing and yucking at the same time. Then Caleb backed away, again the white and gold lights shone around him, and there he stood proudly male, obviously aroused. A wave of lust so strong ran through me, I think I actually growled, or was that him? Faster than I could think ‘do me’, Caleb was kneeling in front of me. Fisting his hand in my hair he dragged me into him and plundered my mouth. Opening fully to him, I gave back as good as I got, dueling with his tongue, running my hands through the light hair on his chest. My heart pounded so hard, I thought it might fly right out my chest. Beneath my palms I could feel Caleb’s heart pounding in the same frantic rhythm. All the while his mouth and tongue continued their assault. Breaking free, I grabbed my t-shirt and pulled it over my head, tossing it to the floor beside me. Growling deep in his chest, he yanked my bra straps down, revealing my breasts to his hungry gaze, then lowered his mouth to my erect nipple. Sucking and lapping one breast, kneading the other in his large hands, stroking my nipple with his thumb, I feel the pull of his mouth and hands deep in my womb. God, my pussy is running like a faucet, drenching my panties. Whimpering, I run my fingers through his hair and throw my head back. Pulling his mouth closer, trying to get more. Panting, I tell him, “Hurry, Caleb, make me yours, I need you.” **** Hearing her whisper, Caleb feels his thin control snap. Her taste, her scent, just destroys his self-control. Growling he lowers her to the ground, rips open her pants and yanks them to her ankles and over her feet. His instinct is to mark her, to make her his own, so other pack would know she was his. First, he has to taste her. Needs to taste her. Placing his hands inside of her thighs, he parts her legs, and puts his face to her sweet pussy. Inhaling deeply, he smells her arousal, and her seductive natural scent. Dipping his tongue into her pink center, he groans at the flavor, like honey, sweet and sticky. Looking up into her eyes, he laps at her juices and then swallows. With another groan, he buries his face into her and begins to lick and tease that little bud that has hardened under his attentions. She immediately shatters in his arms, arching her body up into his mouth and holding him by the back of his head. My whole body shuddering and quaking from the most explosive orgasm I can ever remember having, I slowly relax my arms, and they fall to my sides. Caleb is still nuzzling and licking at my center, which continues to make me tremble. Raising himself slightly he begins to trail his lips and that wicked tongue up my torso, stopping at my breasts, he lavishes them with breath and moisture. When he reaches my lips, I am totally aroused all over again. I need to feel him in me. Reaching down, I grab hold of his cock, and slowly stroke him, up and down. Root to tip, stroking my thumb lightly over the pre cum at the head, I feel him shudder all over. Looking up into his eyes I am mesmerized by the fire of his desire and love that I see there. Caleb grabs the wrist of the hand that is stroking his hardness. “I need to be in you now.” he growls at me. Smiling up at him, I guide him to my wet and aching pussy. With no warning, he impales me with his dick, pushing into to me until his hips meet mine. I couldn’t stop the sounds that came from my throat. He filled me to the brim, and more. Clutching his shoulders, looking into those greens eyes darkened with passion, I feel as if I have finally found my home, here, with him inside me. He gently starts to move in me. Rocking into me in then slowly backing out until just the tip of him remains in me, then slamming back into me, rubbing into my clit, creating delicious tension to coil in my stomach. Over and over he slowly pulls out and then slams into me again. Suddenly, from out of nowhere my orgasm hits me again. Crying out with the pleasure of it, tightening and milking my vaginal muscles around his hard cock. Caleb leans down and bites me at the junction of my neck and shoulder, feeling his teeth sink through my skin, I cry out again, not in pain but in ecstasy, for at that moment I feel him spurting his seed deep into me, so hot, so powerful and I actually peaked again right along with him. He gently removes his teeth from my skin and licks the area where he had bit me. Raising his hands to my face, he cradles my face and kisses me with such love and care. “You are mine now, Elaina. And you are going nowhere.” “I know Caleb. I know. I couldn’t leave you now if I wanted to. I think it would kill me.” Sighing deeply, running my hands up and down his strong back, I realize how deeply in love with him I really am. Staring straight into his eyes, I have to let him know. “Caleb, somehow, someway, we have found each other. Whether it be shifter blood, or just fate, I know that we belong together. I love you, I will love you for an eternity.” Lowering his forehead to mine, Caleb closes his eyes and says something softly to me in a different language, then in English, “You are my marked and bonded mate, I will protect, care, and love you for all my days. You need not fear this man who stalks you any longer. Even if he were to find you here, you still would have nothing to fear. I will always keep you safe, to do otherwise would mean not having you, and that I will not do.” As he rises up to stand above me, he puts out a hand to help me up, and says, “Come, love, let’s get dressed, grab your things from Clara’s, and I’ll take you home.” Standing up on my tip toes, I wrap my arms around his neck and lean in to kiss him. “Sounds like a plan, baby. I still have a million questions, of course, but I’m sure you’ll patiently answers them all for me in due time. So, take me home, my mate, and let’s begin our lives, yes?” Caleb swung me around in his arms, making me laugh like a teenager. Quickly dressing and grinning from ear to ear, we walk from the gazebo into our beginning. THE END