Luna Junction 1 Feasts with Wolves (W) Page 6

  “Tatum.”

  A quick glance at Cade and then at me and then at Cade’s arm draped around my shoulders brought a wide smile to his face. “Well then, isn’t this something!”

  “Tatum, this is Carmine Bellini. The Bellini family are close friends and allies.”

  Carmine Bellini sauntered over to me. Though his appearance was rather comically unexpected I could tell his eyes missed nothing. They certainly made a conscious sweeping of my body before he laughed, shaking his head. “This won’t go over big in certain circles.”

  Cade tensed. “Fuck ‘em.”

  “Mmmm.” Bellini nodded. “All right, I’m with you, buddy.” He gave Cade a warm slap on the shoulder and wandered off to find the food.

  Meanwhile an abundance of buxom dark-haired women had disembarked from their parked vehicles. “Bellini’s daughters,” Cade whispered to me.

  Claire stepped forward and greeted the women enthusiastically. A sleek middle aged woman stood a few feet apart. She stared at me curiously as shrieks and cackles arose from her daughters, who were knotted around Claire.

  I quickly lost count of the sheer numbers of Luna Junction folks which began arriving for the Yule feast. I was introduced to the Hoffmans, the family of Cade’s former wife. They were all very light-haired and very lovely, even the men, though it seemed most of them might be a bit vacant in the cerebral department. Dieter was the elderly head of the family and he yelled his greeting to me as if he assumed I were half deaf.

  The Ivanovs were another matter. Lithe and red-haired, they simmered with a wild sensual energy. Kate Ivanov was the only female family head. Her bright green eyes were amused as she came a little too close for comfort and clucked me under the chin. “Be careful, girl,” she winked and then passed into the growing throng of revelers, trailed by her coterie of fire-haired followers.

  When a throng of dark-haired square-jawed guests jauntily showed up, I didn’t need an introduction to place them. Cade’s rakish features reflected in many of their faces. They were Landons. “Cousins,” Zane nudged me, explaining. They seemed unsurprised to meet me and were polite, though distant, keeping their thoughts to themselves as they quickly passed into the thick of the gathering.

  The Casteel family would be the last to arrive. Claire kept glancing nervously towards the maze of parked vehicles which littered the Landon property. Matthew stood at her side and whispered in her ear. Cade never once left my side as he calmly greeted the never ending procession of guests. Most were surprised, though gracious, upon meeting me. The news of Matthew and Claire was met with wide enthusiasm and may have helped blunt the shock of a human mating with the head of the Landon family. A fair number of children ran about, giggling, as they watched me with interest.

  I pointed to the boisterous children. “Will they, you know, shift tonight?”

  Cade shook his head. “A werewolf cannot shift until adolescence. The children will tire in a few hours and they will be put to sleep comfortably in the barn.”

  “And then what?”

  Cade pulled me closer. “And then the moon will have fully risen in the sky. The wolves will commence the wild hunt in the woods, just as I told you.”

  I looked up at him. “You too?”

  His mouth was set in a grim line. “Not tonight.”

  At first I did not know why but every Luna Junction werewolf paused simultaneously and stared at the outlying woods. Several of the larger men began to growl as their inner wolf instincts gave warning. Parents gathered their children protectively in their arms. I was puzzled. I looked and saw nothing but darkness.

  Zane darted up to us, white-faced. “Dad,” he said.

  Cade pushed me toward Zane. “Stay with the boys, Tatum.”

  Once again I was behind the curve. “What the hell?” I muttered. An aura of fear had descended over the celebration. What could be so alarming as to silence a crowd of werewolves?

  Claire was there suddenly, clutching my arm. “Hunters.”

  Cade was taking long strides beyond the party setup and into the snow-covered clearing which preceded the woods. Carmine Bellini, Kate Ivanov and Dieter Hoffman followed right behind him. Given the fearful manner of the Luna Junction populace I expected a fifty foot demon to step from the shadows but the darkly cloaked figured of two men had finally advanced to the point that they were visible to my less keen human eyes.

  Cade and his companions stopped. “Hey there, Ed.”

  One of the men removed his dark hood. He appeared to be nothing more than a balding middle aged guy who sort of reminded me of my dad. “Landon.”

  Bellini had less patience, crossing his arms over his wide girth and snarling. “Get the hell out of here, D’arcangelo.”

  The man raised his hands in mock innocence. “What’s with the defensive attitude? We’re only patrolling the woods tonight.”

  Dieter Hoffman pushed past the others. He seemed to grow several inches as he reddened with rage. “Careless hateful fools. You’re sort is only satisfied when spilling blood.” Dieter began to growl, low and deep. Kate Ivanov put a restraining hand on his shoulder.

  D’arcangelo sighed. “Are we really going to rehash that unpleasantness? It’s been so long without any trouble.”

  “That unpleasantness cost me a mate,” Cade reminded him quietly.

  The other man removed his hood. He was taller, more imposing. He pointed directly at me. “What do you mean to do with the girl?”

  Cade’s eyes narrowed. “The girl is mine.”

  For the first time I noticed the hunters carried curious cylindrical packs over their shoulders. The points of shiny silver-pointed arrows peeked over the rim and glinted in the moonlight.

  “You didn’t answer my question.”

  “I did indeed, Jaeger, so why don’t you gather up your little friend and go celebrate the season as you wish.”

  The one called D’arcangelo began to sputter, “The Council-“

  “Has no business here. And neither do you.”

  Jaeger crossed his arms, meeting Cade’s glare. “Bites have been reported on the east coast.”

  “Does this look like the east coast?”

  Jaeger frowned. “Council urged that reminders be issued to all packs that such...transgressions will not be borne.”

  Cade’s voice rose angrily. “We don’t bite and there sure as hell aren’t any of the bitten running around in our midst. And you fucking well know it.”

  Jaeger swore and shook his head. “Dammit, Landon. There’s no reason for hostility at this point. Things are what they are. You know I sent my own daughter away to shield her from this chaos.”

  “That was your choice. There’s no threat to your daughter here. If the truce is broken it will not be our doing.”

  Jaeger bent his head. “So be it. We’ll leave in peace tonight.” Suddenly he glanced around. “And where might your sheriff be?”

  “Late,” said Cade simply.

  Jager grinned thinly before replacing his hood. “Just remember folks, we’re watching. Always watching.”

  As the pair retreated back into the woods a voice from the Luna Junction crowd yelled “Fuckers!” and a smattering of laughter followed. The four family heads remained where they were until the hunters were long gone.

  Chapter 9

  “Well,” a deep male voice purred in my ear, “that was intense. Glad I skipped it.”

  “Jesus!” I jumped several feet. The bronzed godlike man who had silently sidled beside me wore a battered metal star on his chest and seemed somehow familiar.

  Claire scowled. “Don’t be a dick, Michael.”

  “Sis,” he laughed. “You never call. I didn’t know you were in town.”

  “Bullshit.”

  Michael smiled. “Yeah, there’s a lot of that going around.”

  Matthew stepped in front of Claire. I had never seen his face so cold. “Can we expect no interference from you, Casteel?”

  Casteel. “So you’re Claire’s douchebag
brother.” Oh dear, I really needed to start managing my personal filter more successfully.

  But Michael Casteel roared with laughter and I remembered where I’d seen him before. He’d been one of the Chippendale clones who stood on a street corner and nodded to Matthew as we passed through the center of town. He stopped laughing abruptly and pressed forward, toward Matthew. His voice was low and ominous. “You should have asked my permission.”

  “You wouldn’t have given it.”

  Michael considered. “Probably not. But I am the head of the family and sheriff to boot.”

  Cade was suddenly right behind me. “You’re only sheriff because we made you such.”

  Michael’s eyes narrowed. “Step back, half breed.” He turned to his sister. “Really, Claire? This is what you had in mind all along? A pretty little domesticated Landon life?”

  One of the Ivanov girls snickered in the background. Kate Ivanov slapped her hard.

  Claire stood her ground. “Yes.”

  Michael shrugged. “Well, I assume it’s too late now is it not?”

  Claire blushed and looked at the ground. Matthew drew his arm around her thin shoulders. “It is,” he confirmed.

  “Well, all right then. Next item of business.” He turned to me expectantly.

  After everything that had happened in the past two days I was in no mood to cater to the whims of a prejudiced werewolf. “Yeah, I get it. You have a thing against humans. Well dude, I’m not going to put myself out trying to change your mind so why don’t you just sit down, enjoy a hunk of meat with some beer and try to stop tormenting people?”

  “People,” he laughed to himself. “People.”

  I rolled my eyes. “You know what I meant.”

  He looked me up and down. “I do. What’s your name, little one?”

  “Tatum Murphy.”

  I could hear the smile in Cade’s voice. “Tatum Landon.”

  I nodded, trying to look tall. “Yup, and there’s not a damn thing you can do about it.”

  Michael Casteel stared at me frostily for moment, then stalked toward the food. The crowd parted before him as if he were Moses.

  I shook my head. “What an asshole,” I muttered.

  Cade chuckled in my ear. He hugged me briefly. “Damn but I knew you had some fire in you.”

  The man standing in front of me suddenly looked like Michael Casteel but his expression was far less deadly. He grasped my hand warmly. “Abe Casteel. I’m less of an asshole.”

  I shook his hand, liking him already. “Good. I’ve had my fill for the evening.”

  Abe jerked his head in the direction of a broad-shouldered young man. “That’s our little brother, Gideon.”

  Claire hugged them both fiercely. Gideon lifted her in the air and she squealed. “Gid’s a star quarterback at Williams High.”

  Gideon’s dark blonde hair fell in his face as he peered at me shyly. “Trying to convince Michael to allow me to accept a full ride to UCLA.”

  Abe slapped his brother’s shoulder playfully. “No worries, Gid. If I have anything to say about it, and I do, you’re going.”

  Claire beamed in the embrace of her two brothers. An assortment of Casteels sifted past, murmuring greetings. I’d begun feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the families and faces. The muscles of my face were also hurting due to an excess of smiling.

  As the tension wrought by the brief confrontation with the hunters began to subside, the Luna Junction Yule celebration could be mistaken for a typical holiday party. Adults lurched around overfed and drunk. Children careened around, engaged in their imaginary battles. The food was all but gone, having disappeared with shocking alacrity. I observed with some small pride that even my lumpy cookies had some takers.

  Hours passed before the children began to tire. Their protests were sleepy and vague as they were carried out to hay-lined barn, their parents issuing soothing promises of the next day’s joys.

  Minutes ticked past and the moon rose higher. I glanced at my watch. It was technically Christmas. I jumped slightly at the first howl and Cade put a steady hand on my shoulder. A hundred other voices joined the first in a long howl of life and celebration. If I were a wild creature in those dark woods the sound would almost certainly make me piss with terror. I watched, captivated, as clothing was shed without modesty or ceremony and living shapes changed form.

  Cade wrapped his arms around me as the werewolves of Luna Junction leapt into the woods. Matthew and Claire smiled at one another, then promptly tossed off their clothing and joined in the howling parade. I looked up at Cade, wondering if he was going to participate.

  He read my gaze and shook his head. “Not this time.”

  “Hey, don’t deprive yourself on my account. I don’t mind, really.”

  But he only kissed me sweetly and patted my rear end before he wandered off, stepping over a variety of clothing piles. He pointed to the nearly empty buffet table. “Think I’ll start cleaning up this mess.”

  Without Cade beside me, the cold seeped in. I hugged my body, figuring I might as well assist with the cleanup effort so I headed to the kitchen in search of trash bags. I hadn’t seen Michael Casteel since he disappeared into the crowd after our unpleasant little exchange. When he materialized at the threshold of the Landon house, I was afraid. His eyes were none too friendly as he coolly appraised me and though he stood closer than I liked, I didn’t flinch.

  He touched the lapels of my coat and pulled me forward a few inches. “You’d be better off wherever you came from.”

  I twisted away from him. “What the hell is your problem, anyway?”

  Michael’s eyebrows rose in surprise. He was probably unused to anyone, let alone a meager human, speaking to him so sharply. “I don’t like you,” he said frankly.

  “I’m not terribly fond of you either. But really, why don’t you just keep your snout out of who is mating with who?” A shadow played out of the corner of my eye and I saw Cade tensely watching.

  The Sheriff of Luna Junction regarded me thoughtfully. Finally he burst into laughter. He walked over to Cade and slapped him harshly on the back. “Shrill little thing, isn’t she? Have her, then, Landon.”

  “I don’t need your permission,” Cade growled but Michael Casteel was already sauntering away.

  “Nonetheless, I’m giving it to you.” Michael waved a dismissive hand and began removing his clothing, dropping garments where they fell. When he was completely naked he turned his face to the sky and bayed a long and lusty howl. In the space of a breath the giant dark wolf which replaced his human form bounded into the woods with all the other werewolves.

  I exhaled thickly, watching the dense cloud of my breath evaporate. Now that my adrenaline was fading I felt a little shaky.

  Cade stared at me anxiously. “You okay?”

  I kept my voice even. “I’m fine, Cade. Just perfect.”

  There was a hint of pride in his dark eyes as a smile played at the corners of his mouth. I knew I had pleased him by holding my own with the sheriff. I was glad. Though I had plunged into this secret reality fearful and unknowing, Cade Landon soothed my restless spirit. I had never loved a man or been loved by one before. Cade was willing to endure censure from his friends and face a disquieting unspoken menace from the shadowy hunters in order to make me his mate. Mate. I smiled as the word rolled through my head. It had sounded so odd to me at first, though as I watched the muscles of his strong back flexing as he casually lifted the giant table I realized how fitting it was. Even as I adored Cade’s humor, his familial devotion, and the tenderness of his caress, my body was also jarred by the deep curl of want which would only be satisfied by his hard flesh pounding into my open readiness. I dropped my jacket on the ground and walked over to him briskly.

  He heard me coming and turned, a question in his eyes. When I pulled my shirt over my head his mouth widened in a knowing smile. I did not mind the bitter cold, so fevered was my skin for his touch. As I flung away my bra, his face moved to my expose
d breasts and his smile disappeared, replaced by the appetite of passion. I savored the way his eyes burned as I playfully rolled down my jeans and then discarded my panties. His clothing was swiftly abandoned and we faced one another under the radiance of the moon. I was not embarrassed as I let my hands roam my own hard nipples and finger the waiting moistness between my legs.

  Then Cade could wait no longer. He seized me and was instantly everywhere, fondling, stroking, licking. I matched him eagerly, even bending between his legs briefly and taking his solid organ in my mouth until he lifted me roughly. My legs went instinctively around his hips as he pulled me down to the ground with him. He lay back and gripped my hips so that I remained upright, straddling him, as he pushed himself inside of me.

  “Ride me, Tatum Landon,” he demanded and I was eager to obey. Our bodies found the rhythm of nature and I let myself move with abandon as the pleasure throttled us both again and again. Dimly I heard the howls of the running wolves and there, under a Christmas full moon with my mate’s seed releasing inside me, I answered with a howl of my own.

  ***