The Wolf Within (Purgatory 1)

Mission. Focus on the mission. He didn’t even know what in the hell had happened in that alley. One minute, he’d been trying to get her to use a compulsion on him. Going out on a mission without even a test run—what had Pate been thinking? And then in the next instant, he’d just wanted to mark her. To let any other wolf know that Holly belonged to him.

Because other werewolves would want her. Especially once they got a whiff of her scent.

The old stories humans told about vampires and werewolves being enemies…those stories were wrong. Vampires and werewolves were often drawn together. One’s strength was another’s weakness. Together they were damn near unstoppable. So, hell, yes, another werewolf would want her.

He wasn’t going to let anyone have her.

A blonde woman, laughing, drunk, was led to the Private door. The werewolves moved out of her way. Staggering a bit, she headed into the “Private” area. Her escort—a redhead with piercings circling his left ear—left her quickly.

The door closed behind her. The werewolves resumed their guarding position.

Duncan’s eyes narrowed. The redhead started scanning the room once more. Looking for new prey.

“We need to get in that room,” Duncan said.

“I figured that would be your answer.” She sighed, then said, “All that blood…the humans they take in, they don’t come back out, do they?”

No.

She pulled her hand away from him. “I’ll get in. If Saul is down there—”

“He is.”

“Then I’ll get him to come back out.”

Before he could stop her, she was sauntering across the room. The jeans she wore clung to her ass, and his gaze sure wasn’t the only one to notice just how good she looked.

The redhead’s stare locked on her.

He smiled.

Touch her, and I’ll break every bone you have.

The beast was getting stronger within Duncan. So much more dangerous. Was it because the full moon was drawing ever closer? Or because he was destined to be one of those psychotic wolves that lived for blood and death?

The redhead had walked up to Holly. Gotten far too close to her. Duncan headed toward them. Even over the drone of voices, he could hear the redhead say, “You’re new here, aren’t you?”

“I heard it was a good place to party,” Holly replied.

The redhead steered her toward the bar. Motioned to the bartender. “And do you like to party?”

“I like to get wild.”

When had her voice become so throaty? Where was the shy doctor he knew and lusted after?

This was the vamp. Sexy. And taking too many risks.

The redhead was seriously leaning too close to her as the guy tried to give her a drink. “There’s a real wild party downstairs.”

Duncan caught the flash of her smile. “I didn’t even know this place had a lower level.”

“Um, yes, it’s for VIPs.” The redhead trailed his fingers over her shoulder. “I think you count as someone very important tonight.” He lifted the drink toward her mouth. “Here, have some…”

The dick was shoving the drink down her throat. And Holly was what—just taking it? The woman had to be smarter than that!

And he realized that she wasn’t actually drinking the dark red liquid. Her head turned a bit as her gaze met his.

Then she pushed the glass away. “Take me to the party,” she told the redhead.

Huh. For her first mission, the lady was doing damn well.

Vamp power? Or just sex appeal? Either way, it was working.

The redhead was leading her toward the door. She had her entrance pass. Now for his turn. Because he wasn’t about to let her go in alone.

The werewolves moved back for her, but Duncan saw them inhale deeply and frown at her. Hell. Her scent could blow things for them—

But then she vanished down the stairs.

The redhead immediately eased back. Started searching again.

Duncan kept his eyes on that door. His whole focus centered on the two guards there. If Holly wasn’t back upstairs in three minutes, he would be going inside after her.

Three minutes.

He started to count.

***

The wooden stairs creaked beneath her feet. Holly’s fingers slid over the wobbly railing, feeling the rough wood press against her skin. More music was coming from below. Pumping, hard music. She could hear women moaning.

The scent of blood was getting thicker.

Some party, all right.

Darkness waited at the foot of the stairs.

She headed into that darkness.

And was immediately grabbed by strong arms.

“I knew you’d come for me.” The voice was familiar. Growling.

Saul.

He yanked her with him, pulling her through the darkness. She saw the flickering flames of candles burning. And…in that faint light, she saw a woman’s broken body on the ground. Her neck had been ripped open. Blood pooled around her.

“The bitch reminded me of you,” Saul said. His breath was hot against her throat. “I had to bite.”

Fear shot her, and it was that wild, desperate fear that she needed. She twisted and put her hands on his chest. Stared into his hate-filled, wild eyes, and said, “Drop your claws.” The claws that he’d dug into her sides.

He blinked. His teeth snapped together.

“Drop your claws!”

His claws fell to his sides. His body tensed, as if he were straining, and she knew he was trying to fight her compulsion.

“Now don’t move. Not so much as a single step, understand me?”

He didn’t move. Didn’t reply. Didn’t blink.

She figured he’d understood her.

Her gaze flew around that area. There was another door to the right. The faint moans were coming from inside that room. “What’s happening in there?”

He didn’t speak.

“Tell me!”

“Food.”

That one word sent a shiver through her. She remembered the blonde who’d been led down the stairs just moments before her. “Is your alpha in there?”

Laughter. “You’re…out of your league…little girl.”

She leapt forward. Her fingers wrapped around his throat. “I’m not a little girl.” She bared her fangs. “I’m the woman who can kill you in an instant.” She was itching to use that silver collar on him. Her gaze narrowed as she studied his neck. It was red and bloody—it looked like he’d been trying to claw the collar off.

No dice. Those things had been built to withstand just about anything. Pate had always been so clever with his gadgets.