Blood Wolf (Vintage Collection)

“Can you tell me more about my da? My biological da?”

“He was to be the Alpha of our pack. But he died over thirty years ago. So when my father passed on, it fell to me. But you, as his natural son, are the true Alpha.”

Damian widened his eyes. He was the Alpha? He wasn’t sure he wanted that. He didn’t want to leave Dougal. He didn’t want to leave Scotland.

“When Sasha came to Scotland all those years ago, he met and fell in love with a young maiden of sixteen. For a wolf to find his mate at such a young age is unusual, though not wholly unheard of. He swept her off her feet, and they had a couple of wonderful months together, but when he told her the truth about himself, she fled.”

“She was young,” Suzanne said.

“She was.” Rohricht nodded. “And as you no doubt know, the truth about us is a lot to take all at once. Sasha followed her for several months, trying to convince her to stay with him, but she’d have no part of it. Finally, he needed to return to Russia to sit at our father’s side for the grand council that happens annually. It was then that he told us about his Maggie.

“He returned to Scotland a few months later. She had died at the hands of vampires. Vampires who had no doubt smelled him on her.”

“They smelled him?” Damian stood. “Markus said he smelled me. But why now? I’ve lived here all my life.”

“Our scent doesn’t ripen until we mate,” Rohricht said. “When did he first notice you?”

“The night I went after Suzanne.” Damian sat back down, nodding. “It’s all making sense now. But what happened to my da?”

“He died himself within a year.”

“Was he ill?” Suzanne asked.

“No, dear. He was fine. But once a wolf finds his mate, he cannot live without her. Wolves and their mates will not live long without each other.”

“Oh!” Suzanne’s clasped her hand to her mouth.

“My mother didn’t abandon me.” Damian’s heart ached for his mother’s fate, but the veil of her love surrounded him. “She was protecting me from vampires when she left me in the alley.”

“Of course she didn’t abandon you. And neither did your father.” Rohricht smiled. “Tell me, when did you first experience the change?”

“I was fifteen.”

“That’s about the right age. Usually in the middle of puberty.”

“Aye.”

“And you respond to the call of the moon?”

“The full moon. Aye.”

“Have you ever changed at another time?”

“No. Though there have been times when I thought I would, but I was able to control it.”

“The lunar pull here in this little town is strong,” Rohricht said. “I felt it as soon as we got here. The full moon will begin to wane tonight.”

“Aye.”

“The good news, boy, is that you no longer need be slave to the moon. I can teach you to control the change.”

Damian shot off the sofa. “You can?”

“I imagine it’s been difficult, with no one to guide you. The first change is painful and frightening.”

“Aye. It was. Still is.”

“You can learn to control the change. If you change frequently during the month, at your own will, the lunar pull will not control you. You will learn to keep your human consciousness during the change as well. Shall we start?”

“Now?”

“Can you think of a better time? The moon will call to you come nightfall.”

“Let’s do it, then.”

53

“He’s the best thing in my life,” the red-haired Elena said to Suzanne and Isabella. “I know I couldn’t live without him now.”

The three women worked in the kitchen, preparing dinner, while the men, including Dougal, worked outside. Suzanne had briefed Elena and Isabella on the earlier events.

“Did you consider leaving him when you found out?” Suzanne asked.

“Only briefly. I knew there would never be another for me. Isn’t it the same with you?”

“Yes, it is,” Suzanne said. “Looking back, I fell in love with him the first night I met him, though at the time, I denied it.”

“Even though we mates don’t possess wolf blood, I’ve found, from my own experiences and from speaking with others, that the attraction is just as strong for us as it is for them. It’s a lucky woman to be mated to a wolf.” She lowered her voice. “They’re fantastic lovers.”

“Okay, now I’m jealous,” Isabella said, laughing.

“I think Rohr is going to want Damian to come to Russia to meet the clan,” Elena continued. “He’ll be able to train him better there.”

“Wow.” Suzanne let out a sharp breath. “I don’t know if he’ll leave Scotland. Or Dougal.”

“What of you?”

“I’ll go with him wherever he decides to go.”

“Oh, Suze, I was so hoping to have you here,” Isabella said.

“Wolves are pack animals,” Elena said. “They’re happiest living close together.”

Suzanne sighed. “I guess we’ll wait and see what Damian decides. He’s a writer, so his work can go anywhere.”