The Wolf Fount Read online

Calhoun had said he’d help her. Where was he? Blood bubbled in Morgan’s throat. “Help. Help me.”

  That’s when the fourth thing attacked.

  “Help.” It was a whisper just before a fourth convulsion almost forced Morgan’s body out of his arms. Teeth gritted, Cal held onto her, trying to hold the warm acceptance he’d been weaving around her. Something was keeping him from getting inside Morgan’s head and taking the pain she was feeling upon himself. “I’m right here.”

  The convulsion ended, leaving her still. He couldn’t hear her heartbeat and she wasn’t breathing. “Oh, come on. No one’s died from this, Morgan. Don’t you be the first.”

  Her head lolled on his arm and Cal squeezed until her ribs creaked. “Morgan, damn you, breathe.”

  No response. Cal snarled and squeezed again. “I said breathe, you cantankerous bitch.”

  She went from limp to wild, gasping for air and her eyes opening wide. He winced as her forearm smacked him in the face. “It’s over. You’re done, and safe.”

  Morgan froze, her eyes darting around the room before settling on his face. She stared for a long, silent moment and then smiled. “There you are.”

  “Yes. I told you I’d stay.”

  She went from smiling to glaring. “It fucking hurt, Calhoun.”

  “I’m sorry.” He hefted her into sitting position and kissed the top of her head.

  Morgan was still glaring when she tilted her head back to look at him. “Did you call me a bitch?”

  Cal laughed, hugging her closer. “I did, and my apologies. Heat of the moment. I was worried.”

  She dialed her glare down a few notches before closing her eyes and resting her head against his shoulder. “I’m tired. Is it really over?”

  “Yes. All over but your first change, and that can wait.” Relieved as hell, Cal kept holding her until she fell asleep.

  “I’m starving. Feed me, Calhoun.” Morgan cooperated as he piled pillows behind her back. He’d been treating her like a baby since she’d woken an hour before. He’d given her a bath and dressed her in a clean, crimson Chanteloup T-shirt four sizes too large.

  “It’s on the way.”

  “Not fast enough.”

  Her stomach loosed a loud, deep growl, making him laugh. “I could hunt you a few rabbits.”

  The tip of her tongue appeared, sliding across her bottom lip. “I think I could eat them.”

  “You’d make a mess.” He heard movement near the bottom of the stairs. “Jake’s back. Your food’s arrived.”

  “It’s about damn time,” Morgan groused when Jake appeared at the door, laden with plastic takeout bags. “Oh hell, that smells wonderful.”

  “Fried chicken with all the fixings.” He lifted one hand. “And some Chinese food. Beef stuff, chicken stuff, shrimp stu...”

  “Food. Here.” Morgan pointed at her mouth. Cal traded a grin with Jake before spreading a towel across her lap. She blew through the contents of each bag, right down to cracking chicken bones and sucking the marrow out of them.

  Jake shook his head after she’d finished, while was licking her fingers clean. “I think you ate more than I did, after my Awakening.”

  “I ate a cow.” Cal shrugged as they both looked at him. “It was on hand.”

  “The whole cow?” Jake asked.

  “Everything but the guts, tail, bones, and hooves,” he admitted.

  Morgan’s nose wrinkled. “Raw?”

  “Yeah.”

  “You ate raw cow brains. That’s disgusting.”

  He laughed. “They’re an acquired taste. Feel like trying out your new shape now?”

  She wiped her fingers dry on the towel. “Does it hurt?”

  “The first time does hurt, but it’s not unbearable.”

  Jake butted in. “Keep your eyes closed. It helps. It looks more painful than it really is, so if you’re watching, it hurts more.”

  Morgan looked to Cal for confirmation and he nodded. “He’s right. But it won’t ever hurt after the first time.”

  “Okay. Is it messy?”

  “No, but you’ll want some space for doing it.” He began gathering the debris from her meal, stuffing it back into the bags while Jake held them open. Once done, Cal smiled at her. “Up you go, darlin’. This is the final step.”

  “I’ll take the trash out.” Jake reached for the bags he’d put down.

  “No, stay. You can back me up.” The other man nodded obediently and moved the bags away from the bed’s side.

  “What do you mean, back you up?” Morgan flipped the covers off her legs and swung them off the bed.

  “He’ll help if needed. When I begin to shift, you’ll start to as well. If necessary, Jake will shift too, in case you stick part-way through. His changing will push yours the rest of the way through.”

  She balked, sinking back onto the bed. “Wait a minute. I could get stuck?”

  Cal stood and smiled down at her after removing his shirt. “It happens sometimes, but it’s not permanent. Nothing to worry about.”

  Morgan didn’t move. The idea of getting stuck in the middle of changing from woman to wolf wasn’t a pleasant one. In fact, it struck her then how weird the whole idea was, and how she hadn’t really been herself the past few days. It wasn’t at all normal for her to extend trust to a nearly complete stranger, as she had to Calhoun.

  I don’t accept things on some guy’s say so. What the hell am I doing here?

  Sure, something had been happening to her, and yes, she’d witnessed a few things that made those changes seem real. The eye color changing thing, and Calhoun’s spouting claws and fangs when he came. But those could be explained scientifically: drugs. Ones that caused suggestions to take root and flower.

  Maybe all that had happened the past few days were hallucinations caused by them slipping her drugs.

  “Morgan?” She looked up to meet Calhoun’s eyes, distrusting the reassuring smile he was wearing. “It’s really not something to worry about. No one’s ever gotten stuck permanently.”

  “None of this is real, is it? I’m hallucinating. You drugged me.” She watched his smile fade. “That’s it, isn’t it? You drugged me, and...”

  “No. It’s all real, and you need to do your first change now. If you don’t, you’ll change anyway. Maybe not tonight, maybe not for a few days, but you will. You don’t want to do it alone, and no one wants you doing it in public.” Calhoun reached for her hand and she slapped his away.

  “Don’t touch me.”

  “Morgan, listen to me.”

  She pulled her legs onto the bed and scooted across it, scrambling to stand on the other side. “I don’t have to listen to shit.”

  Cal hesitated. She’d been doing so well. What had set her off? Morgan glared, her brows drawn together, and her sneer made another appearance.

  “No one has slipped you a mickey.” When her eyes flicked to Jake, Cal gestured for the other man to step back. Jake obeyed, moving to stand by the door. “And no one here wants to hurt you.”

  “Then you won’t mind giving me my stuff and getting the hell out of my way.”

  “Not wanting to hurt you isn’t the same as letting you run off half-cocked.” He really didn’t want to have to force her into changing, or to be forced into subduing her. “I can’t let you do that, for your own sake as much as ours.”

  Her hands clenched into fists. “So I’m a prisoner?”

  Well, that escalated quickly. Cal sighed. “Morgan, you’re not a prisoner. You’re newly Awakened, and because of that, you need support until you’ve adjusted. We’ve talked about some of this, and you were doing okay with it. What changed?”

  She shook her head, her sneer turning into a frown. “I trusted you.”

  What the hell? “I haven’t done anything to betray your trust.”

  That earned a look of pure disgust from her. “I don’t trust anyone, asshole. Why would I trust you?”

  “Because he’s the First,” Jake said, getting her full atte
ntion. “The progenitor of our species. We instinctively trust him.”

  Morgan didn’t look impressed by the information. Cal was at a loss about what to do. They couldn’t stand here forever. Downstairs, the club had been open for a couple hours. He couldn’t allow her to take off and risk her first change taking place in front of humans.

  If he forced her to change now, it was likely she’d never forgive him. His expression smoothed to neutrality as he realized how unpalatable the idea of her hating him was. As First, he could command her complete obedience, leaving her no choice. That wasn’t something he’d had to do to anyone since the first few centuries. Even the hard-headed ones came around directly after the end of their Awakenings.

  “I want my stuff and I want to get the fuck out of here.”

  “You’re pushing me into a corner here, Morgan. I don’t want to do anything you don’t like, but I can’t let you run off either. How about we sit down and have a calm discussion about it?” He gestured toward the bed, then the couch. “Your choice of seating.”

  She was already shaking her head. “I don’t think so.”

  Fuck. Cal rubbed his chin, glancing at Jake. The other blinked once, his head tilting ever so minutely. They’d been together for a long time and he knew Jake was offering to take the heat for forcing Morgan’s first change. Not a bad idea. After a few seconds’ thought, Cal nodded.

  “What are you two...” was as far as Morgan got before Jake began to change shape. She shrieked, lifting her hands to stare at them in horror, and Cal winced. That idea hadn’t worked out so well, since she’d picked up on their silent exchange. Too late to stop now.

  Chapter Nine

  Morgan felt as though her bones were twisting and cracking and her skin had become boiling water. The pain damn sure felt real, as she watched her hands darken and curl, fingers folding under while nails erupted from the middle joints. Fur slithered out from under her skin. A sharp crack threw her toward the bed, and she caught herself with her newly malformed hands, unable to stand upright.

  Her legs were changing too. Morgan loosed another shriek as her thighs partially collapsed, the bones breaking and rejoining into a new joint. A loud popping sound heralded the explosion of a muzzle in the middle of her face.

  Before she could draw enough breath for a good scream, it was over. She’d somehow managed to end up on the bed on all fours. There was a long-legged grey wolf by the door and Calhoun stood on the bed’s other side. Both were watching her.

  Morgan wanted to rip off Calhoun’s face and piss on what was left. Instead, she attempted to take a step forward and fell when a back paw found and stepped on the tee’s hem. Lying there, she closed her eyes and wondered if she’d gone crazy. Maybe Bully Boy had beaten the hell out of her after all and she was in a coma. None of this could be real.

  I can’t really be a wolf.

  “There, darlin’. All done, and now you know no one’s lied to you.” Calhoun jerked his hand back when she opened her eyes and snapped at him. “Only gonna help with the shirt. You should walk around, get used to your new shape.”

  She bared her teeth again, earning a grin from him. “Come on, woman. You’ve irrefutable proof I didn’t lie to you. Don’t you want to see what you look like now?”

  Morgan raised her head to look at the other wolf. Didn’t all wolves look alike? Or were they like dogs, coming in all shapes and sizes?

  The other wolf—Jake, she reminded herself—took a step away from the door. She growled and he froze, a front paw off the ground. He was the son of a bitch who’d caused this to happen. Made her change. With Calhoun’s okay.

  Before she could swing her head back toward Calhoun, his large hand closed around her muzzle. Galvanized, Morgan scrambled backward, but couldn’t free herself because his other hand had grabbed her neck. He pulled until she was standing before him, though straining backward. “Relax. I’m going to remove the shirt. Don’t bite me.”

  She was so going to bite him, as soon as he let go, and in the last place any man wanted to be bitten. Right through the crotch of his jeans, conveniently in her face at the moment. I’m going to tear your balls clean off, Calhoun.

  The tension in her body said Morgan wasn’t going to play nice. Cal scowled at the top of her head, realizing he’d have to get a bit rough with her, unless he wanted to temporarily lose one of his favorite body parts and bleed all over the place.

  Fine, have it your way. He tightened his grip on the scruff of her neck and lifted her until her front paws weren’t touching the bed. Morgan struggled, back legs kicking, her entire body twisting as she yelped in protest when he dropped his hand from her muzzle. “I know you’re pissed, and I’m not dumb enough to let go completely when a woman clearly wants to bite off my cock.”

  She tried to spit on him. It didn’t work in her wolf shape. Cal resisted the urge to shake her. Instead, he grabbed the tee’s back hem to pull it up. A quick transfer of hands, and he yanked the tee over her head before dropping it. “There. I should probably tell you that the longer you’re upset, the longer it’ll be before you can change back.”

  Her bright green eyes narrowed in response. Cal fought laughter, knowing if it were possible, smoke would be coming out of her ears. Morgan was that angry. Laughing at angry women had never ended well for him.

  Taking a few seconds to compose himself, he spoke in a calm, quiet voice. “I am the Fount. I can order you to stand down and you’ll have no choice. Or you can calm yourself. I’d rather you take the second option. I’ve never been fond of forcing my people to obey me.”

  He let his words sink in, studying her new form. Morgan was a pretty woman, but she’d become a stunning wolf. She was a silvery gray, with inky black points, and a line of black down her back. They’d look good together, light and dark, as he was solid black in wolf shape.

  Don’t be thinking that way. Cal lowered her until her front paws touched the bed, but kept his hold on her scruff. It wouldn’t be fair to Morgan, trying to make anything more of their current relationship. Assuming she’d be interested in anything more after this. The fact he’d even thought of it meant it was past time to introduce her to Thane and see what happened.

  Caught up in not getting bitten, and trying to decide what would be best for Morgan, at least short term, Cal only vaguely noted the sounds of footsteps coming up the stairs. He released her, taking a quick step back, and the door opened.

  Sebastian had arrived, along with Thane.

  Shit.

  Released, Morgan snarled. The door opened and a pale-skinned man stepped inside. He had the same color hair and eyes as Calhoun and resembled the bastard just enough to make it clear there was a family relationship.

  The newcomer smelled oddly musty, which raised her hackles and drew a growl from deep within. She didn’t even think, just acted. Two quick lunges, and Morgan was anticipating flesh in her jaws. Instead, she landed in the embrace of another man, a stranger as large as Calhoun, as he pushed the first man out of the way.

  The second new arrival looked into her eyes. His were a pale, golden brown, matching his hair. He didn’t say a word, just gazed at her as if he had all the time in the world. Not a hint of surprise; he acted as though it were perfectly normal for a wolf to jump into his arms.

  Morgan’s growl turned into a yelp as a large hand grabbed her by the scruff and yanked her free of the man’s arms.

  “One thing you need to know right now.” Calhoun’s face was in hers, his lips drawn back to bare his teeth, canines lowered, eyes orange and narrowed. “Is that you never, ever attack my nephew.”

  “I’m fine, uncle. You know it’s instinctive.”

  She was unceremoniously dropped to the floor and landed with a thump. Calhoun’s anger felt like a whip lash across her back. Morgan hated the way she cringed at his feet. There was even an urge to pee, but she fought it.

  She had made a huge mistake, and now everything had gone wrong. She was trapped in an unfamiliar shape, her belongings were out of
reach, and she was surrounded by strangers. Morgan swallowed a whine, noting the door of the suite was still open. Before she could make a break for it, the other wolf nosed it closed.

  Fuck you, Jake.

  Calhoun dropped to one knee and used one hand under her muzzle to lift her head. “Sorry. I have a hair trigger where family’s concerned.”

  And fuck you too, Morgan thought, finding herself unable to glare at him. She couldn’t even meet his eyes. Some new instinct kept her from trying.

  “This is Sebastian, my nephew, and Thane. Gentlemen, meet our newest Were, Morgan.” Calhoun stroked his other hand over her skull, the caress triggering a small wag of her tail. Frustrated, she lifted her head free of his hand and backed up a step. He let his hands fall to his sides, but didn’t rise.

  At least now, she knew who the new guys were. But why did Sebastian smell differently than the others?

  “Sebastian is a vampire.”

  Morgan felt her ears flatten. Calhoun had told her that vampires were the enemy, so what the hell was going on?

  Apparently, Calhoun followed her line of thought, because he explained. “Sebastian’s the son of my youngest sister, fathered by one of my first wolves. He was captured and turned before his Awakening.”

  The vampire, now that she was examining him more closely, did look younger than Calhoun. Maybe late twenties. How old were these people? Calhoun had said something about centuries. Morgan shook her head.

  “Thane is unique,” he said, and she looked from vampire to the tall, lighter-haired man. “He’s a were-liger.”

  She didn’t know what that meant. Animals weren’t one of her interests. Calhoun kept yapping. “He’s also not much of a talker.” That would be a welcome change. Morgan had yet to meet a man who wasn’t in love with the sound of his own voice. “I think it’s best if you go with Thane to headquarters now. At least for a few days, until you’re more comfortable with the situation.”

  Ah, he’d gotten what he wanted, and now he was getting rid of her. Morgan felt like growling again, but suppressed the urge. Away from Calhoun felt like a great idea.