The Fire Inside Read online

  There were only four packs in this area and she didn’t belong to his or Thanasis’ pack, so that left the other two. One sat north of their position and the other sat to the east. Brock, a surly son of a bitch, ran the pack to the north. Konrad ground his teeth, hoping he wouldn’t have to deal with the grouchy shit of a wolf at this hour. Tyson ran the pack to the east. His pack was smaller than the surrounding ones, but no one let that fool them. He ran a tight ship, and his pack members were loyal and fierce. Konrad had been toying with the idea of an alliance with the smaller pack, and what a way to broach the subject. Happiness rose inside as he thought of the prospect of making an alliance sealed by a mating. Hopefully Tyson was her alpha.

  When Tyra took a turn that had her going west, he started to wonder what in the hell was going on. His own pack lay far west of this position. While his pack had gotten large, he knew the chances of him missing her within his own group were nil to none. He knew his pack mates and maintained close ties to each of them. He wanted them to know that their leader was not unobtainable. If they needed something, they all knew they could come to him.

  The street she drove down now didn’t lead to the road that would take them to his den. They were entering a human neighborhood. A very rundown and crime-riddled neighborhood. What in the hell is she up to?

  Konrad had to step into an alley to keep himself shielded from her view as he kept pace with her. The flash of red brake lights had him peering between two ramshackle houses. Her car pulled into a small parking lot beside a rundown apartment building. He had to repress the urge to growl as he watched her exit the car and walk toward the rickety metal stairs. Her sensitive hearing would no doubt pick up any noise he made. The wind began to shift directions and he moved accordingly, making sure to stay downwind of her.

  Desire still rode her, although not as powerfully as it had earlier. It added a sweetness to her scent that he could nearly taste. When she inserted a key into a doorknob on the third floor, his temper spiked and he had to fight to keep from giving it voice. What the hell was her alpha thinking, letting her live in a rundown human area without protection? If they found out what she was, a mob would come after her. Their kind tried as best they could to live in secret, but over the years they had earned several brandings. Chimera, Lycanthrope, Loup-garou, and in modern times, Wolfman or Werewolf. No matter the label, all of them lent to human fear and irrational behavior. Hell no. Stubborn or not, he wasn’t going to allow her to stay here alone.

  Chapter Two

  Tyra opened the door of her small one-bedroom apartment and stepped across the threshold onto the dark-brown threadbare carpet. As she turned to close the door, she heard the couple in the unit above her begin to shout at each other. Teeth clenched, she shut the door. Really? Could tonight get any worse? It took a lot of will power not to go upstairs and kick the living shit out of that man. She knew what he did. She’d seen the bruises his girlfriend, Sylvia, tried to hide under heavy makeup and behind the lenses of dark sunglasses. She’d even offered Sylvia her couch if she wanted to leave him, but the woman professed to be in love with the asshole. Things quieted above her and she hoped that would be the end of the couple’s fighting—at least for tonight.

  She turned the locks on the door and walked into the small space she considered her living room. This was what she wanted. A normal life, without attachments. She surveyed her meager furnishings with pride. A lot of people might look down on her brown thrift-store sofa and scarred wooden garage-sale end-table, but after living in the woods for fourteen years, she was happy to have a roof over her head and hot water to bathe with. The secondhand furniture seemed more like a bonus.

  The message light on her answering machine blinked bright-red. She crossed the room and hit the play button. A loud beep sounded and then the familiar male voice drifted up from the black machine. “Hey, Tyra. It’s Steve. I just wanted to make sure we’re still on for Friday night. I’ll pick you up at six. Bye.” The machine issued another beep before going silent.

  Steve Hanson had come into the bar a few times and flirted with her in the past, but last week he’d finally asked her out on a date. Tall with dirty-blond hair, he reminded her more of a guy you would see near the coast. She could definitely picture him in a wet suit, top pulled down, carrying a surfboard. Best of all, she knew she would never be able to keep him. When it came time to part ways, she wouldn’t feel loss, because she knew he would never accept her, or for that matter could ever even know what she was. His presence would be temporary—no emotional ties. Yes. This is what she wanted. So why didn’t she feel relieved?

  Her eyelids slid closed as she leaned against the textured beige wall. Immediately her mind threw up images of a dark and sexy stranger with amber eyes that had her body heating. No. She opened her eyes and pushed away from the wall with a frustrated sigh. Konrad wasn’t for her. That life wasn’t for her. It wasn’t safe. And it sure as hell wasn’t fair that he could ignite a response from her body that damned easy.

  A loud banging brought her out of her wool-gathering session. She turned as she heard a deep voice from the other side of the door.

  “Tyra, open the door.”

  Her irritation from earlier resurfaced. Konrad. He didn’t even ask, he commanded her to open the door. Definitely not a complication she needed in her life. She’d been taking care of herself for some time now and didn’t need anyone else, human or were, telling her how to live her life. And this male would definitely be the type to try to push her around. He expected to be obeyed as any other alpha expected it. She stomped across the small space, ready to open the door long enough to give him directions to hell. She flipped the locks, twisted the knob and sucked a breath into her lungs as she pulled open the door. “You…”

  Her words died away as she stared at the very large and naked male on the other side of her door. All that tan, hard body exposed for her viewing pleasure. A whistle from downstairs caught her attention and brought her out of her dumbstruck state long enough for her to grab his arm and pull him inside, slamming the door behind him. “Have you lost your damn mind?”

  “Tyra, I—”

  She yelled over the top of him. “You can’t run around in this area buck-ass naked. Hello, it might draw attention.”

  “Mate, I don’t give a damn about those humans down there,” he ground out between clenched teeth. “I won’t allow you to stay here unprotected. I can’t believe your alpha would allow it either.”

  “Where I stay…is none of your business.” She couldn’t keep her gaze from roaming over his bare flesh. Fine dark hair covered his chest and continued in a trail down his rock-hard abs.

  “The hell. It’s every bit my business.”

  Her gaze snapped up to meet his. “No, it’s not.”

  He stalked toward her. “I appreciate the fight in you, mate, but I’ll not bend when it comes to your safety.”

  Her back came up against the wall. She hadn’t even realized she’d been retreating. He stood in front of her and she had to tilt her head back to hold his gaze. “I’m perfectly safe here.”

  “Who’s your alpha?”

  “It’s none of your business.”

  “Mate, either tell me who your alpha is or I will just say fuck it, and risk the coming fight with him when I take you into my territory.”

  Her body shook as anger rose in her, warring against the lust his proximity created. She wouldn’t have her life dictated to her. “I’m my own alpha. I’m a lone wolf. So what do you think about that? Are you going to try to drag me, caveman-style, back to your den now? Because if you try, you better be ready for one hell of a fight.”

  He placed his hands on the wall, caging her in. “Get one thing straight, mate. I will never take you unwilling. When I do take you, it will be because you ask me to.”

  Liquid heat gathered between her legs. What would it be like? No. She couldn’t think like that. She closed her eyes and raised a hand to push him away. When it came into contact with his chest,
it became more of a caress though. The fine hairs tickled her palm as the heat of his body warmed her hand.

  “Tyra,” he said in a husky whisper.

  Her breasts felt full and her nipples hardened. Warm breath fanned her lips as his mouth hovered above her own. His body seemed to whisper promises of hidden delights beyond her wildest dreams. She just had to give in to the temptation. One word and she would know what it felt like to be pressed up against him, filled by him. All she had to do was say yes.

  A loud bang above them had her eyelids popping open, and her head tilting further up. The fight upstairs had picked up a notch. She looked back at Konrad, who hadn’t taken his gaze from her. This time she did push, with both hands, and he backed up a few steps, dropping his arms to his sides.

  A deep breath filled her lungs. She’d been close to making a huge mistake. Her gaze met his once more. “You need to leave.”

  “Tyra, why are you fighting this? I know you want this.”

  “My body wants this, not my mind.”

  “Then let me ease your body.”

  “I don’t need you to ease me.” Another quiver of desire rolled through her, her body’s rebuttal to her words. It would be so easy to say yes. Her gaze roamed over his face, taking in the stubborn set of his jaw, then continued lower, noticing the powerful set of his wide shoulders. She fought the desire that had her wanting to look lower, her teeth sinking into her lower lip. She squeezed her eyes shut and balled her hands into fists. “For the love of God, put a towel on or something.”

  She heard his sigh followed by his footsteps going toward her small bathroom. When she heard him return, she opened her eyes and looked at him again. Even with the pink bath sheet wrapped around his lean hips he looked every bit the alpha male. She opened her mouth to tell him to leave again, but the very feminine shriek above them followed by a crash had her looking toward the ceiling again. Anger rose inside her, snuffing out the low heat of desire.

  “Is she your friend?” he asked in a low growl.

  “Yes.” Before she could say anything else, he was opening the front door. “Wait!” She hurried after him. When she ran through her doorway, she watched as he jumped up, grabbing the landing above them, before climbing over the railing as if it were nothing.

  “Shit!” She rushed around to use the stairs. Clearly he didn’t understand low profile. He banged one large fist on the door as she came up beside him.

  The door swung open, Sylvia’s boyfriend filling the space created. “What the hell do you want?”

  Tyra winced as Konrad grabbed the jerk by his dingy flannel shirt and tossed him on his ass inside the apartment. Wood splintered and cracked as Konrad prowled inside after his prey. Tyra marched in behind him, catching a glimpse or Sylvia cowering in the corner, a fresh bruise rising to color her cheek.

  Konrad looked down at the man on the floor, lying on top of pieces of the broken coffee table. “You want to hit someone? Hit me, because I hit back.”

  “You better leave before I call the cops, asshole,” the man yelled up at Konrad as he swiped a hand across his forehead, pushing his long brown hair away from his eyes.

  Konrad gave the man a menacing smile. “You’ll find it hard to do that without the use of your hands. Because if you ever hit a woman again, I’m going to rip them off.”

  “Please, don’t hurt him,” Sylvia sobbed from the corner, tears tracking down her tan cheeks.

  Tyra reached out and gripped Konrad’s forearm, hoping she could keep him from kicking the shit out of this man. The tightness in his muscles eased only slightly as she tried to convey a calmness she didn’t feel through her touch. They sure as hell didn’t need to have a run-in with the cops tonight.

  “For some crazy reason that woman loves you enough not to want to see you hurt. You might think about looking at her the same way.” Konrad turned to leave.

  Tyra released her hold and followed him out, casting a quick look of apology at Sylvia. This time he took the stairs and she followed. Neither of them said another word until they were both back in her apartment.

  Konrad closed the door. “I can’t leave you here unprotected.”

  She let out a growl of frustration. “So we’re back to this again?”

  “I just tossed that human on his ass. What if he comes here seeking retribution?”

  She huffed out a laugh. “One, do you really think he’s that dumb? And two, I could chew him up and spit him out. The only reason I haven’t yet is because Sylvia didn’t want someone to hurt him.”

  “I know that you feel the need to protect yourself, but you don’t have to anymore. That’s my job now.”

  “I don’t remember giving you the job, Konrad. You need to leave.”

  “Why?”

  “Because, I can’t think with you walking around my apartment half-naked.” She watched as something in his gaze changed. He now looked at her like he had back in the parking lot before she left.

  “Fine.”

  She stared back at him. “Fine?”

  He gave her a nod and walked toward the door.

  She followed close behind him, and when he opened the door and walked outside, she continued to stare at his retreating form with her mouth open. When he disappeared around the side of the building, she closed the door and locked it. It couldn’t be that easy. She waited for a few seconds, expecting him to knock on the door again when she didn’t stop him from leaving. When it didn’t happen, she backed away from the door and entered the living area, trying to ignore the feeling of longing creeping up inside her.

  This night had been crazy. And she wasn’t fooled. Konrad may have backed off for now, but more than likely it would only be to regroup. A distant memory came to her unbidden.

  “Mommy, why do we always travel with Daddy when he meets with other packs?”

  The dark-haired beauty smoothed her hand over the little girl’s back. “Because, sweetie, mates don’t like being apart.”

  A faint noise outside her door brought her back to the present. She sighed. Knew it couldn’t be that easy. She crossed back over to the door, unlocked it and pulled it open. Her gaze roamed, not seeing Konrad until she looked down. A large wolf with dark fur lay at her feet. “Oh, you have got to be kidding me,” she whispered, pinching the bridge of her nose with her forefinger and thumb. “Please don’t tell me you shifted in the open.” If looks could talk, his definitely said, “Do I look that stupid to you?”

  She rubbed her forehead with her hand. “You’re going to drive me crazy.”

  He just continued to look up at her.

  “Fine. You want to sleep on the hard ground outside instead of going home, then that’s your deal.” She closed the door and engaged the lock again. He had to be the most stubborn man she’d ever known. She stomped off toward the bathroom, hoping a hot shower would help ease the tension in her shoulders.

  She stripped out of her clothes with rushed, brisk movements, her temper still fuming. That wonderful smell still lingered in her home and it didn’t help to dampen the arousal she still felt. Mixed emotions didn’t cover it. Never had she been so aggravated and turned on by a male in her life. Her breasts still ached with the familiar fullness of desire as her sex swelled and throbbed. A frustrated sigh parted her lips as she reached inside the shower to turn on the water.

  As she waited for the water to get warm, her thoughts stayed on the male outside her door. One thing she hadn’t thought about in her pursuit of a mostly human life was how hot werewolves were. While Xabier had given her the creeps, she had to say there weren’t many flaws in his appearance. But Konrad, on the other hand—hotness incarnate. Recalling the memory of all that tight flesh covering that yummy body had her squeezing her thighs together and repressing a moan.

  Teeth clenched, she stepped under the warm spray and closed the frosted glass shower door. The water teased against her sensitive skin as it cascaded down her. She grabbed the pink puff and applied body wash to it in a hurry, deciding it would be best to
be quick, lest she go invite Konrad back inside to take care of this fire he’d created in her.

  With quick strokes, she took care of her hygienic needs and rinsed off. Towel in place, she walked to the bedroom, refusing to look at her front door no matter how great the temptation. She knew he was still there. She could feel his presence. This had her steps slowing. Could he truly be her mate? He seemed pretty certain. She climbed onto her bed and curled up on her side.

  She may not be sure about the mate part, but she did find it strange that she liked his presence. Earlier she’d been all too ready to be away from Xabier, but Konrad—well, she just felt different. Did that make him her mate? She rolled to her back and thumped her fist against the mattress. Even if it did, it didn’t matter. She made her choices, not Fate. And Konrad didn’t fit in with her choices.

  Chapter Three

  Howls, screams and whimpers filled the night air. Tyra’s breaths sawed in and out of her lungs as panic rose inside, threatening to choke the life from her. Her eyes watered as her gaze panned the smoke-filled area.

  “Tyra, run! You must go.”

  “Mommy. I can’t leave you!” Tyra looked down at her mother trapped beneath a wooden beam, flames licking its edge.

  “Do as I say. Change now and run ’til you can’t run anymore.”

  Tears streamed down her soot-smeared cheeks as she pulled her clothes off. Seconds later she sank to the ground as fur replaced her skin and her joints rearranged themselves. She walked over to her mother and rubbed her face against her.

  “I love you, Tyra. Never forget that. Now go.”

  Tyra whimpered as she headed off into the underbrush that would conceal her escape. But a male voice had her halting and turning back toward her mother.

  “Your mate is dead, Ruth.”