Lycan Heat Read online

  Lycan Heat

  Copyright © June 2011, S. K. Yule

  Cover art by For the Muse Designs © June 2011

  Amira Press

  Charlotte, NC 28227

  www.amirapress.com

  ISBN: 978-1-936279-93-7

  No part of this e-book may be reproduced or shared by any electronic or mechanical means, including but not limited to printing, file sharing, and e-mail, without prior written permission from Amira Press.

  Chapter One

  “Come on, Janine. I already agreed to come with you two to these God forsaken woods in the middle of nowhere. Can’t we at least listen to some good music?”

  When her sister rolled her eyes at her, Sherry promptly rummaged through her bag until she found her MP3 player. After turning it on, she stuck the earbuds in her ears and cranked up one of her favorites by Lady Gaga. She was so not into country, and that meant anything concerning music or nature. She would much rather spend a weekend getaway lying on a sandy beach overlooking the ocean with cabana boys bringing her drinks—not that she’d ever gotten to do that either, but one day, she planned to.

  Why her sister would choose to spend every weekend in the freaking jungle was more than her mind could comprehend. While she and Janine were close, they were polar opposites. Janine had always liked nature. The closest Sherry wanted to get to nature was the Discovery channel.

  When Janine looked back at her, she playfully stuck her tongue out at her sister. Janine’s frown was proof of her lack of amusement. Raze, Janine’s husband, on the other hand, seemed to be enjoying the exchange between the sisters. The twinkling pair of clear gray eyes peering at her in the mirror gave testament to that fact.

  Janine had met Raze only a few months ago, and while Sherry had been a bit hesitant about the guy, it hadn’t taken her long to realize that Janine and Raze were head over heels in love. She was glad Janine had found someone like Raze, but something about him was strange. She just couldn’t put her finger on exactly why she thought so. The way he moved, the way he watched her sister, reminded her of a predator. While she genuinely liked Raze, he still set her a bit on edge at times with his intenseness.

  Sometimes she wondered if she’d ever find the right guy. She wanted that one-of-a-kind true love. She wanted a soul mate, a man who could make her toes curl with a mere smile or a brush of his fingertips on her cheek. She sighed. She definitely wasn’t going to find him out in the middle of nowhere because her ideal man would so not be the woodsy type. She didn’t want a wussy man who liked pedicures, manicures, or who spent more time in the bathroom than she did, but she didn’t want Tarzan either.

  She was beginning to wonder how her sister had finally managed to talk her into coming with her and Raze on their routine weekend trek to the woods—Sanctuary, as Janine referred to it. Sherry had been refusing her invitations for so long, the thought of seeing the disappointed look on her face one more time had finally made her cave. Janine had done so much for her since the crash that had killed their parents. While Janine never expected anything in return, Sherry still felt indebted to her sister. She knew that if she hadn’t had a sister as wonderful as Janine, she might have ended up under the state’s care until she’d reached the age of eighteen.

  It had been tough for them after the wreck. Money had been tight, but Janine had started a cupcake business, and had made sure she and Sherry were provided for. Her brows furrowed. Come to think of it, lately she hadn’t noticed the pronounced limp Janine had been plagued with after the shattered leg she’d gotten as a result of that horrific accident. She’d have to ask her sister about that later. It was extremely odd that it would just go away since she’d suffered the limp for several years now.

  She’d tried her best to be a good kid after the wreck, not wanting to cause Janine any more grief than she’d already suffered—than they’d both suffered—in their young lives. She was aware she hadn’t always been an angel. Yet, Janine had always handled those situations with great care for her sensitive feelings. If taking a weekend trip into the freaking Amazon would make her happy, she’d do it. She only hoped after she proved to her sister once and for all how thoroughly she hated nature, she’d leave her be from now on where that matter was concerned.

  She stretched and smoothed the green cotton of her sundress down over her legs. It was getting cooler out since fall started to take hold, but she hadn’t been able to resist the opportunity to wear her favorite dress one last time before putting it away for the winter. She let her head rest against the back of the seat and must have dozed because the next thing she knew, the bouncing of the car jarred her awake as the smooth highway they’d been on was no more, and an uneven dirt lane took its place.

  “We’re almost there.” Janine smiled.

  Sherry forced a smile and almost giggled at the sight of her sister’s excitement. She thought her sister was gorgeous with her pale blonde hair and soft blue eyes. Her clear, creamy skin would make many women envious. She had been fortunate herself to have good skin as well, a gift from their mother. However, their skin was about the only similarity they shared. Janine was a bit taller and had more curves, and Sherry was shorter, thinner, and had a shape that resembled a ruler—straight and narrow. Also, Sherry’s hair was a coppery red and her eyes were green, as she’d gotten her father’s darker coloring.

  “Thank God. This is the most uncomfortable backseat I’ve ever been in.” Sherry put her MP3 player back in her overstuffed bag.

  “Oh, it’s not that bad, Sherry,” Janine teased.

  Soon, they stopped in front of a small log cabin. Sherry tried to hide her shock at the rinky-dink, rustic cabin, which undoubtedly would lack modern amenities.

  Janine laughed. “It’s very nice inside.” She opened her door after Raze stopped the car, got out and opened Sherry’s door. “Come on.”

  Janine opened the back door on the Jeep and started to get their bags out, but Raze came around and tugged her hand away before she could pick anything up.

  “I’ll get everything. Why don’t you go show your little sis around?” Raze bent and kissed Janine on the cheek.

  “Are you sure?” Janine batted her lashes at Raze and stood on tiptoe to place her mouth against his.

  His arms came around her and his mouth came down on hers hard in a deep kiss that made Sherry blush. When Janine moaned, Sherry cleared her throat and Raze reluctantly broke the kiss.

  “Yeah. You can show me how grateful you are later,” he whispered.

  “Yuck! There is someone else here who, by the way, does not want to watch you two slobber all over each other.” Sherry gave her sternest look, and kept the giggle threatening to spring from her throat at bay.

  “Okay, okay.” Janine raised her hands in surrender and led the way to the cabin, but not before giving Raze one last sultry glance.

  Good God. If looks could be rated, the one Raze gave back to Janine would be rated X—no, XXX. Sherry could swear his eyes had actually glowed with raw desire. While it was pretty gross witnessing the exchange between him and her sister, she had to admit, she wouldn’t mind in the least if a man looked at her with such raw intensity.

  She was pretty surprised when Janine showed her the cabin. It was way more modern than she’d ever thought it would be, and it was clean. Unfortunately, there was only one bedroom. She had no doubt she’d be riding the couch this weekend, which she didn’t mind all that much as she didn’t want to accidentally witness anything intimate that her sister and Raze might be doing on this trip. Thankfully, there was a brand new sofa that folded out into a bed in the living room.

  “We wanted to make sure you had some place comfortable to sleep. When you finally agreed to come, we ordered the new fold out just for you.” Janine proceeded to unfold the couch, lay across it
, and sigh as if to demonstrate its softness.

  “Thank you. I appreciate it because if you had made me sleep on the floor, I might have hurt you.” Sherry laughed.

  Janine got off the sofa, and she helped her fold it back up.

  “No. Thank you for coming. I know it isn’t your thing, but it really means a lot. I know you only did it for me.” Janine hugged her.

  “Just don’t expect me to come out here again anytime soon.” She hugged her sister back.

  “Promise me that you will give it a fair chance?” Janine pulled away a bit, her blue eyes pleading.

  Sherry sighed in defeat. How could she deny her sister such a simple request? She squared her shoulders in resignation.

  “I promise.” If this was all it took to make her sister happy, she’d give it an honest effort. Although, she was pretty certain she wouldn’t be any more impressed with nature than she already was—maybe more unimpressed.

  Raze walked through the front door carrying all of their bags with what appeared to be little effort. Sherry was impressed as she had trouble carrying her own. He certainly wasn’t lacking in muscles.

  “I think that’s everything.” He let Sherry’s bags drop to the floor by the sofa and carried the rest down the hallway.

  “Why don’t you get settled, and I’ll figure out what’s for dinner?” Janine went to the small kitchen and started rummaging in the fridge and cabinets pulling things out here and there.

  “I’m not really hungry. I think I’ll take a look around if you don’t mind.” Sherry unzipped one of the bags at her feet and started pulling out her clothes.

  “I don’t know, Sherry.” Raze came back into the room before Janine finished what she’d been about to say. “Maybe you should wait until one of us can come with you.”

  “I promise I will not go far.” Sherry laughed. “I’m just going to walk around the cabin. I’ll stay close. Believe me, I will not venture into the woods.” She yanked her tennis shoes free from where they were wedged in the bag. I definitely will not go into the woods.

  She didn’t like bugs or spiders or snakes or any other creepy crawly thing, and she was pretty sure the woods held plenty of them. She shivered.

  “I’m warning you. If I see one spider in here, I’m sleeping in the Jeep.” She gave the floor and walls a quick look, but didn’t even see one cobweb.

  “Why don’t you go with her, Raze?” Janine chewed her bottom lip, a sure sign that she was worried about something.

  “Are you afraid I’m going to fall down a well or something?” Sherry giggled. “We should have brought Lassie. What’s that? Sherry’s in the well, Lassie?”

  “She’ll be all right, babe. I’ll keep an eye on her.” Janine smiled as Raze wrapped his arm around her shoulders and kissed the top of her head.

  When Janine sighed in obvious relief, Sherry frowned.

  “Gee, you are starting to scare me. Is there a monster loose in the woods or something?”

  “Um, not exactly.” Janine’s eyes widened for a second.

  “I’m not going to go far. I still have my favorite dress on, and I don’t plan to get it dirty.” Sherry toed her flip-flops off, slipped her sneakers on, and stood.

  “Go on, Sherry. I’ll be out in a couple minutes,” Raze called, but she was already halfway out the door.

  Chapter Two

  Anger seethed through Piers’ blood and seemed to seep out through his skin. That bastard, Anthony Wolfson, was going to pay for killing his brother. Yeah, Daniel had gone rogue, but Piers had been positive he’d be able to help him, except Anthony got to him first. While Anthony was an ancient, Piers was only a couple years younger. Anthony would be a formidable opponent, but he would take him out no matter the cost to himself or anyone else that got in his way.

  He stood at the edge of Sanctuary, blended perfectly with the darkening shadows of the trees. No human would be able to detect his presence, but most importantly, other lycans would never know he was there either—the deer scent he’d sprayed on would see to that. He’d seen his fair share of battles within the packs, had fought his share, as well, and had honed his skills to near perfection. He’d really had no choice. His survival had literally depended on it more times than he wanted to remember.

  More and more lycans were going rogue. He didn’t support their actions, and strived to help maintain the integrity of the ancient rules. Many rogues had been made to see the error of their ways, which is what he’d intended to show his brother. He gritted his teeth and clenched his fists. A tick started in his jaw and beat in time to his pounding heart.

  He’d been watching Sanctuary for the past week, waiting for a perfect opportunity for an ambush. From the bits and pieces of information he’d overheard, he knew tomorrow night he’d finally get revenge. The lycans had planned a cook out, and their guards would be down. He scoffed. Sanctuary. Sanctuary was supposed to be a safe place, not someplace to get murdered.

  His brother had been a misguided pup, but he doubted he’d done anything so terrible that he’d deserved to be slaughtered. The guilt Piers felt at not being there for his brother constantly gnawed at him. He’d been tracking Daniel for three years and had finally closed in on his whereabouts only to find out he’d been too late. Damon, the leader of the pack, along with his brother and some others, had all been killed during a confrontation at Sanctuary. His brother’s pack had told him they’d simply been there to talk to a former member who’d run and were ruthlessly murdered for the fact that they’d been labeled rogues.

  Rumor had it that Anthony Wolfson was directly responsible for Daniel’s death. Raze Jackson, the former pack member they’d been trying to talk to, and Brent Falls were also involved. If he had a chance, he’d be more than happy to knock some sense into those two, as well. Daniel and the others would never be so stupid as to intentionally start an altercation with two ancients. None of them would have been a match for Anthony or Brent.

  He slid deeper into the shadows as the front of a dark Jeep came into view. His anger fired hotter. He didn’t like complications, but life was full of them, most of which would bite you in the ass. He shifted into full wolf form and ran until exhaustion nipped hard at his heels and soothed the hatred burning inside him. He was miles from Sanctuary before he shifted back into human form and picked up the clothes he’d stashed earlier in an old, hollowed out tree. He quickly dressed and made his way to the cave he’d been staying in. After tomorrow night, he could head back home to his empty house and spend a few more hundred years alone.

  Alone. That’s what he’d been for practically his entire life, and that’s how he’d die—however many years that took. He wasn’t a blind idiot. He knew the chances of ever finding his mate were next to zero. There were too many rogues now. Rogues that thought it was acceptable to hunt down any female with the main scent and do what they wanted with them, including violating and killing them. Every female that carried the main scent had a mated scent, as well, but only the destined lycan mate could smell it. Females carrying the main scent were supposed to be watched over and protected until her mate was found. In fact, if another lycan harmed a female that carried the main scent, it was punishable by death according to lycan law.

  Over the years, the ancients throughout the now dwindling lycan population had fought to bring the unruly pups back under control. While finding rogues and either reforming them or putting them to death was not an unusually difficult task, it was proving a losing battle for the ancients thus far. By the time the rogues were found, the damage that had been done was profound. Too many potential mates were being slaughtered. Every female lost was a lost mate to a lycan, a lost opportunity at happiness, a lost chance for love. He was certain his chance had been forfeited long ago.

  He stretched out on his back on the cave floor, clasped his hands behind his head, and peered up at the rocky ceiling. He’d dreamt of her, the one destined for him. Those were the only times he’d felt utter peace in his life, the nights he’d wished to never aw
aken. Her soft touch soothed him in a way nothing else ever had or could. Her breathy sighs as he covered her with his body drove him wild. She was imprinted on his soul. He’d know her in an instant, though he’d never met her. Her scent, her touch—he’d know the minute he laid eyes on her that she was his. And God help her if he did ever find her.

  He’d never let her go.

  The darkness inside him that screamed out for redemption was overwhelming at times. Redemption only she could give him. Protectiveness swelled inside him when he thought of how tiny she was in his dreams. He was big, probably too big for an angel such as her. His size and demeanor would scare the hell out of her. He grunted at the thought and frowned. The only downfall to the dreams was he hadn’t been able to see her face clearly.

  His palms itched to feel her skin, to peel her clothes off and to bury his face in her soft hair as she welcomed him inside her. Anger boiled to the surface hot again. It would never happen, and it was useless to fantasize about it. Besides, this wasn’t the time or place for such a thing to happen anyway. He must focus on avenging his brother’s senseless death. Nothing would get in his way.

  He grunted again and rolled to his side. The thought of killing another ancient, especially one with a mate, gnawed at him with teeth of guilt. It couldn’t be helped. Rogues were punished for anything that went against ancient laws, and ancients should have to answer for their crimes as well. Although, technically, killing an ancient was against the rules, he felt the action of cutting down another lycan for a mere title was punishable no matter who did the killing.

  He’d thought about asking Anthony his side of the story, but if everything he’d heard was true, he’d probably be attacked as well. Attacked, outnumbered, and most likely, murdered. Son of a bitch. He hated it when doubt reared its ugly head. He’d been on the hunt for revenge for so long, now that it was imminent, he had time to think things through more carefully. He knew none of it really mattered in the end. Someone had to answer for his brother’s death one way or another.