NocC 010 - The Ancients 04 - Bonnie Vanak - Seduced by the Wolf - Harlequin 2012-03 by Nocturne Page A

face.
    Oh crap. She closed her eyes.
    The wolves had chased her into the enemy’s lair. Right into Jarrett Lawson’s bedroom.

Chapter Two
    Jarrett Lawson had been poring over paperwork, idly wishing someone would interrupt him.
    Now he glanced downward at the gray timber wolf at his feet. She panted with obvious exhaustion.
    Not exactly what he’d planned.
    He breathed in her luscious scent and the smell of sweet wildflowers shot through his body like an intoxicating drug. Damn, he knew this… His body tightened with arousal. Then he looked closer. Anger bloomed hot and hard as he saw blood matting her gray fur, the fear pooling in her gray eyes.
    No one hurt females on his land. Females were revered, protected and cherished. Jarrett felt his claws emerge, ready to deal with whoever had injured her.
    Six of his strongest males padded into his bedroom. One pawed at the floor, lifting his muzzle with a grin.
    “Pleased with yourself, Sam? Tell me what the hell’s going on here.”
    The males shifted back, clothing their bodies through magick. His Beta nodded at the female.
    “We brought you a gift. Found her snooping along the old mining trail.”
    The wolf whined. Lifting her head, she stared, weakly thumping her tail. She tried to struggle upright and collapsed. Jarrett rested a hand on her head.
    He glared at the six, who lowered their gazes. “Who did this?”
    “She slid down the mountain. We didn’t touch her.” Sam gave a knowing smile. “Saved her for you, Jarrett.”
    He turned his attention to the injured wolf. “Easy now. Save your strength to shift back. Can you do that for me?”
    He kept his voice low and soothing. Jarrett encouraged her as she tried to shift back, her form shimmering between wolf and human. His mouth went dry as he envisioned her stuck between two forms, the worst death for his people.
    “Come on,” he coaxed. “You can do it.”
    Then he deepened his voice. “Do it. Now.”
    The wolf’s head snapped up, defiance in her clear blue eyes. Light shimmered and suddenly a naked, shivering woman appeared. Curls the color of autumn leaves shielded her face, spilling past slender shoulders. She hung her head, as if hiding. With one hand, Jarrett lifted the curtain of her hair.
    Shock pummeled him as she raised her chin.
    Long, slender legs, curved hips and a slim waist, full breasts that could fill a man’s palms. Her skin looked soft as peach fuzz. Elegant and delicate features, she had a full, lush red mouth made for kissing. Her eyes were the deepest blue, and sparked with life.
    The tips of her ears were slightly pointed.
    “Ariel?” Jarrett felt the ice surrounding his heart crack a little. His pulse beat harder. “It’s been a long time.”
    Was that his voice, growing husky with old longing? Remembering the innocence of those times they’d shared, before he’d grown hardened and cold?
    Sam cleared his throat. “We brought her to you, Jarrett. We knew how you’d felt about her, before you got mated…”
    His Beta’s voice trailed off. Knifelike pain sank into Jarrett’s chest. Ariel gave him a questioning look. “You have a mate?”
    “Her name was Chloe. She died in a fight with jaguars a few years ago,” Jarrett told her.
    Ariel’s eyes grew a deeper shade of blue. That Fae quality, the ability to sense emotions, even tough ones he’d successfully masked. She touched his cheek. The contact trebled his pulse.
    “So much pain. So much sadness in your eyes.”
    Sadness? Hell, it wasn’t sadness. It was a cold tomb encasing him since he’d held Chloe’s bloodied body in his arms, begging her to live for him, for their unborn child.
    Then watching the light fade from her eyes.
    Claws dug into his heart. Not guilt. His guilt was gone and buried in the ground with Chloe.
    A luminous glow shone in Ariel’s eyes. Compassion. The Lupine Fae cherished their ability to connect with those who hurt. Jarrett threw up the emotional shield that had helped him endure the