Passion

  PASSION

  Werewolves of Montana series

  Mating Mini #3

  Bonnie Vanak

  Welcome to the sensual world of the Lupine, where the burning drive to mate claims all...

  After the tragic loss of his intended mate, Jake Anderson vowed to never love again. He left Aiden Mitchell’s Montana pack and sought solitude as a lone wolf in Florida. But he never envisioned falling for Molly, the intended mate of a powerful alpha’s heir. The lovely shifter with her tumbling masses of red hair sparks a passion he thought long dead. He will do anything to possess the curvy werewolf who makes him laugh and feel alive once more.

  Molly Monroe longs to consummate the desire she feels for Jake, yet mating a rival pack’s heir will avert a bloody pack war. After a savage fight nearly kills her father, Molly realizes dark magick is driving all the males to violence. Torn between loyalty to her pack and her own desires, she must join with Jake to discover what evil is turning the werewolves vicious before the darkness destroys everything she holds dear…

  Prologue

  Mitchell Ranch, Montana, 15 months ago

  I left her alone and now I’ll pay the price.

  Jake Anderson shifted into his wolf and raced through the pasture, headed for the mountain abutting the ranch. Mitchell Mountain was a place where Karlene liked to explore and roam as wolf.

  But she did not know the danger following her.

  He forded the river, the shock of icy water slamming into him. Jake didn’t bother to shake free the moisture from his coat, but bent his nose to the ground. Her scent. He’d know that aroma of lilies and bitter herbs anywhere. How many times had he inhaled it as they’d made love by the river they both loved, out in the open, wild as nature intended? Then they’d retire to the small cabin he’d built in the woods, and they’d sleep and awaken to make love again.

  Last night, he’d asked her to be his mate for life. She agreed. Ever since arriving at the Mitchell ranch two months ago to work as a housekeeper, she had the numerous single males in the pack in the pad of her paw. And she’d danced around every one, then selected Jake. Many had grumbled, for they desperately wanted mates, but they finally congratulated him in winning her for life.

  All except Garth Barrett, who had competed fiercely for the right to mate with Karlene. Garth vowed no one else would have her.

  He’d kill her before Jake would mate her.

  Passing it off as a testosterone-laden threat, Jake ignored the other male’s grim prediction. And now Karlene was alone, on the mountain, and Garth was after her. The other male had left a note, pinned to the saddle of Jake’s horse, warning if he couldn’t have Karlene, he’d make sure Jake would not.

  Had to find her before Garth did.

  In wolf form he ran through the thick forest up the mountain, his paws crushing leaves and dead pine needles, not bothering with stealth. Speed mattered. Had to save her. Must save her. His future mate. Lungs straining, he felt his heart pounding hard against his chest, the panic threatening to rise. Jake pushed it aside, knowing he needed to focus on finding Karlene.

  But as he entered a small clearing, a thin plume of black smoke rose on the horizon, along with the acrid stench of burning.

  Terror iced his veins. Ever since he was a young pup and had ventured too close to a campfire, badly burning his paws, fire scared the hell out of him.

  Heart lodged in his throat, he raced toward the fire. Wildfires on the mountain were usually caused by summer thunderstorms, but this one was not natural. He knew in his bones that Garth had set it.

  Storm clouds gathered overhead, their grayness blotting out the late afternoon sun. Fat, stinging raindrops began falling. But it would not be enough to extinguish the fire. Faster, faster…

  Finally he reached his cabin, the little cabin in the woods that Jake had built as a love nest for his beloved Karlene.

  The wood frame building, little bigger than a one-car garage, was fully engulfed. Flames shot out the roof as thick, black smoke curled into the air. Panic iced his veins. Dear goddess, where the hell was she? The woods around it were burning as well. Already he heard shouts nearby. Aiden’s other cowboys had spotted the fire and raced up the mountain to help.

  Terrified screams sounded inside the burning structure and then abruptly stopped.

  Jake shifted back to Skin. He reached his hands to the sky and called out to Tristan, the Silver Wizard, as his father had taught him to do when all hope was lost.

  “Tristan,” he yelled after invoking the sacred chant. “Please, save her. Save her!”

  No answer.

  Naked, he tore around the side of the burning building, searching for the water hose that was always there. “Karlene! Hang on, I’m coming!”

  He rounded the side of the burning cabin, found the hose. Someone had cut it in two, rendering it useless. Panic squeezed his throat. Couldn’t do this, couldn’t do this…

  Another scream sounded inside.

  With every ounce of his strength, he garnered his courage. You can do this. He raced to the back door, grabbed the knob and it scorched his hand. Enormous heat seared his body and thick smoke made him cough. As he went to push open the door, someone tackled him from behind, flinging him to the ground. Jake rolled over, nearly pushed his attacker aside, but the man held his wrists to the ground.

  “It’s too late, Jake. She’s gone. You can’t save her.”

  “No,” he sobbed, struggling to be free. But Aiden Mitchell, alpha leader of the pack, was much stronger. He held him down, his face a mixture of grief and sheer fury.

  “Damnit, I’m not going to lose both of you. You’re not going inside!”

  Jake flung back his head and howled, his wolf mourning for the loss of his intended mate. The stench of the burning cabin filled his nostrils as he lay on the ground, wishing he had been inside with his intended.

  Wishing he would have died alongside her.

  Knowing that no matter what else life dealt him, he would never, ever love like this again…

  Chapter 1

  Florida, present day

  Her beast itched to run wild.

  The constant thrumming in her blood, the pull of her wolf, urged her to drop everything and shift. Female hormones raged. It wasn’t fun being unmated and filled with desire as the full moon approached.

  Steady. Molly Monroe swiped the artist’s paintbrush over the pot, turning the dull red clay fire engine red. Red like her blood, like her hair, like the passion thrumming beneath her skin. This decorative planter would be sold to Skins, the word Others used to describe humans. Her uncle’s nursery business thrived, and she was glad to help most days.

  Except for today, when the approaching full moon left her restless and yearning.

  Lupines were known for their sensuality. But what good was sensuality when you were a virgin stuck here in a remote nursery far from the city? And the only prospect for a mate was Luke Silvern, son of a rival pack alpha, who had more arrogance than sex appeal.

  Beneath the shade of the gazebo, she stroked the brush deep inside the rounded surface. Paint glistened, slick and wet. The rounded pot resembled a pregnant woman, the brush a phallus symbol that had planted the seed in her belly.

  Dear goddess, was everything sexual? With a shaky hand, she set down the pot and glanced at the setting sun. With the moonrise, her wolf would howl to race through the woods. Not the familiar woods filled with thick stalks of bamboo, slash pine trees and mahogany, but acres of wild scrub in the local park where she could lose herself.

  The park, controlled by Jake Anderson, who worked as a ranger and hid his Lupine identity from Skins. Molly leaned her elbows on the table. Jake with his charming grin, and mop of dark brown hair, his fierce growl and protective streak as he patrolled the park he loved…


  He held allegiance to no pack, and yet being a lone wolf seemed to make him stronger. Beneath the veneer of civilization when he was among Skins burned a ruthless streak. No one crossed Jake in his territory.

  Jake showed her only respect and courtesy, yet sometimes she caught him looking twice at her, as if he wanted more. She wished he’d stop treating her like a favorite kid sister. He was so sexy, with his long limbs and muscled shoulders….

  What did he look like naked?

  She picked up the brush and began painting a phallus on the clay pot. Oh yes, he’d be large, quite large. But gentle, his hands caressing her all over and…

  “Interesting design. But I think you’ll need a bigger pot,” a deep voice drawled.

  Flushing, she set down the brush and glanced up into the amused face of her uncle Robert.

  “I was a little bored,” she admitted.

  “And quite imaginative.” Robert sat and watched her paint over her creation. “It’s the full moon, Molly. It makes all of us restless.”

  Her mother’s brother, Robert, was hybrid, and taller than red wolf shifters, with a shock of silver threaded through his black hair, even though he was only 34. His hair turned prematurely gray shortly after the Mage he’d loved cursed their land and their people. He was considered a real catch among both Lupine females and Skins, but he vowed to remain single. He was as handsome as a Hollywood celebrity with his dark eyebrows set over large green eyes.

  And he fought tougher than a UFC wrestler, which was necessary to keeping the pack controlled. The responsibilities of caring for his people weighed heavily on him after his parents died 15 years ago along with Molly’s older sister Connie, and her little brother…all of them falling ill from the curse tainting their lands. Robert fought hard and sacrificed everything to keep them together and protected.

  Too protected. He watched her more than her father, worried about her more.

  “Supper ready yet?”

  He nodded. “Your mother’s hosting a special cookout. Steaks and chicken.”

  That meant no running beneath the moon’s silver caress and flushing out prey in her favorite park. Her shoulders sagged as she sighed. “I’m staying here?”

  A guarded look touched his face. “Everyone is except for Guy, your father and me.”

  “Please Uncle Rob, can’t I run with you tonight?”

  Robert shook his head. “It’s too risky. The Silverns will be there, on the park’s north side. That’s why I’m only taking your dad and Guy. The three of us are more experienced in evading detection. I won’t risk our guys getting into a fight with them.”

  Molly sighed. The Silverns, the rival pack that outnumbered theirs, were Robert’s biggest concern. Last week one of her pack mates had fought with a Silvern male when the male taunted him. It would have turned very ugly very fast if Robert hadn’t hauled the male out of the bar.

  His gaze slid over to the fields in back. “I would remain here, but I need to release my wolf. Didn’t have the chance last month with the new palm trees we had to get shipped out.”

  Molly understood. Alphas especially needed to run with the moon, and when they didn’t, all that energy built up and made them more aggressive.

  She was 22 and frustrated. And she only released her pent up feelings while running as a wolf. Or she could take a mate and have sex. Lots of sex. Molly eyed her uncle.

  “I don’t understand. You’re single. You’ve never taken a mate. How do you compensate?”

  Her uncle’s mouth tipped in a crooked grin. “It’s different for males, Molly. I don’t go without sex.”

  She frowned. “So are you suggesting I should find a lover?”

  “No!” His expression darkened. “You need a mate, a male who will be good to you, who will make you happy. It’s my greatest wish for you.”

  “No one in our pack is interested. You won’t let them get near me,” she said lightly. “The only one you’ll allow me to date is Luke Silvern, and he isn’t in our pack.”

  “He’s very much interested, Molly. His father asked me last week for permission for you to visit.” Robert searched her face. “Do you want Luke?”

  Luke Silvern, only son of William Silvern. Luke was a braggart and had a slight paunch, though he was barely two years older than her. “He’s not bad,” she ventured. “He has very nice clothes and a fast car.”

  Robert laughed. “Spoken like a true diplomat.” Then his expression fell as he squeezed her hand. “You’re the last surviving offspring in my immediate family. You mean everything to me. I want you with someone who will provide for you, keep you happy and safe.”

  The sorrowful note in his tone gave her pause. She searched his face. “Something’s happened.”

  He rubbed a hand over the short bristles of his beard. Then he stared at the distant fields. “Lucy lost her baby.”

  Her throat tightened. Oh no…pretty, vivacious Lucy was eager for a family. She’d been so joyous at this pregnancy. With all the fertile females in the pack having babies each time they even looked at their mates, surely it must be devastating.

  Her uncle’s jaw tightened. He picked up the paintbrush and threw it against the post. Red dripped down the wood like blood. “I swore I would not lose another one under my care…”

  She covered his hand with hers, wishing she could ease his pain. If not for Robert, they all would have died years ago. “It’s not your fault.”

  Staring down at her hand, he patted it. “It’s all right, Molly. Lucy will recover and she’ll try again.”

  Now she understood his need to run with the moon. But she worried about the three males running solo with the larger, and aggressive rival pack so close. If she accompanied them, Molly knew she could cool things down if they ran into the Silverns.

  “Please, let me run with you. Please. I’m worried about Dad.”

  The last bit finally convinced him, for her father had been growing slightly frail. The run in the woods would be good for him, but with her nearby, her dad wouldn’t push himself.

  Giving her a stern look, Robert stood. “All right. But stick close and no straying near the Silverns. I won’t risk anything happening to you.” He squeezed her shoulder with affection. “You’re my heir, Molly. You’re everything to this pack, and me.”

  Dropping a kiss on her head, he strolled off.

  Everything to the pack. For a moment she wished she were everything to one man who never wanted to be pack.

  Jake Anderson.

  The moon shone like a polished nickel in the sky. Wind rustled through the pine trees at Jonathan Dickenson Park. The scent of fresh air, pine and water teased her senses and she wanted to run forever. In wolf form, Molly raced with her uncle, father and her uncle’s beta leader for an hour. At the sandy beach by the riverfront, the dividing line between the north and south side of the park, they shifted back into Skin form and clothed themselves by magick.

  Molly drank in a beloved, familiar scent.

  Jake.

  She’d scented him as surely as she’d smelled the water in the river and the small animals scurrying away from them. Jake Anderson, the Lupine park ranger. Sexy, broad-shouldered and the only male she knew who wasn’t afraid of her alpha uncle, who could be intimidating to outsiders.

  Robert sniffed the air. “Jake’s here.”

  She spotted him lounging against a tree. Jake, the loner, who had come here a little over a year ago, and refused to join either of the local packs. In a white wife-beater T-shirt and tan cargo pants, he ambled over to the trio, his stride filled with grace, yet beneath lurked a predatory threat. This was no meek pack member who would cast his gaze downward before the alpha.

  “Anderson.” Her uncle’s voice was curt. “What are you doing here?”

  “I’m here to make sure you don’t cross that line in the sand and go hunting where the Silvern pack is running,” Jake drawled.

  Robert tensed. “And what if I do?”

  She drew in a deep breath. Norma
lly her uncle was amicable with Jake, but tonight he was every inch an alpha. The full moon must have cranked up his aggression.

  The ranger locked gazes with him and then flicked out a hand. Claws emerged from the tips of his fingers. “Hate to carve my name on your ass before your niece, Robert. She’s quite fond of you.”

  Bristling, the pair stared at each other for a few minutes. Then Robert relaxed slightly. “I’ll respect your boundaries. Only because I agreed to respect the park as neutral territory. Know this, Anderson. If I must, I will take you down.”

  Jake withdrew his claws. “You can try, but I’m no slouch like Luke Silvern. I actually can run for a few klicks. The only time I’ve ever seen that boy running is when someone rings the dinner bell.”

  Guy chuckled and even Robert smiled. Molly sighed with relief. Jake’s little joke eased the tension in the air.

  With a nod at Jake, Robert and the other two men went and sat at the picnic table. She headed for the sandy beach and sat, hooking her arms around her bent knees. Jake dropped to the sand beside her. “What are you doing, Jake? Keeping an eye out for wolves?” she teased.

  “Molls. I was hoping you wouldn’t show up tonight,” he said in a husky voice.

  Her spirits dropped. “Disappointed?”

  “No. But it’s better for you if you’d stayed away.” He dragged in a breath. Sprawling out his long legs, he gave her an intent look. “Especially tonight.”

  She sensed he had trouble leashing his wolf. That made two of them.

  “You’re trouble, Molly Monroe. A lot of trouble for me,” he muttered.

  “Me? I’m innocent.”

  His warm gaze caressed her body. “I know. I can tell. Your scent is pure and untouched.”

  The look in his eyes indicated he’d like to change that, put his scent all over her, mark her as his own.

  She had to cool down before this got worse. Molly eyed the water. “It looks lovely. Let’s go swimming.”

  Throwing a look over her shoulder, she realized the men were gone. Jake followed her line of sight and frowned.