Bonded

  “Well, technically it was Brad. She said something to him about it and he passed the message along.”

  “Hmm… Well, either Brad misheard or she deliberately misled him and this is all part of a prank.” Brandi turned in her seat and looked back at the booth occupied by her friends. None of them appeared to be watching. “Perhaps it was just a misunderstanding,” he heard her mutter.

  Reno cocked his head, wondering what was going on. “So… You’re not interested in being an Enforcer?”

  “No!” She sounded almost horrified at the idea.

  “Well, that’s a relief.”

  “A relief? Why?” She sat up straight again and gave him a hard stare.

  “You’d never make it as an Enforcer. You’re self-defence skills are below par and—”

  “That’s not very nice.” She frowned at him, indignation radiating from her.

  He gave a shrug and continued on, never having been one to hold his punches when it came to evaluating skill levels. If people thought he wasn’t tactful, too bad. They could blame it on his rogue tendencies. “Sorry, but it’s the truth and it’s dangerous for you to go around thinking you have any skill in that area. I’m surprised you passed the basic course.” When she bit her lip and shifted her gaze, he looked at her with narrowed eyes. “Or did you?”

  “I passed… sort of.” Brandi squirmed when he continued to stare and finally continued. “All right, it was a mercy pass.” She looked down at the table top and then peered up at him as if ashamed at having been caught. “The instructor knew I was trying hard and really needed the credit.”

  Reno sighed and thought he should reprimand her, however the way she looked up at him through her lashes appealed to his softer side—wherever that had come from! He found himself giving an understanding nod. “I won’t say anything, but you should consider retaking the course.”

  “I do much better in my wolf form.” She lifted her chin a bit and sat up straighter as she made her pronouncement.

  “Don’t we all? But phasing into a wolf isn’t always possible, so knowing a few human defence tricks never hurts.” He allowed his lips to curve into a faint smile to take the sting out of his words while considering her carefully. “So if you’re not interested in Enforcement, what was your friend talking about?”

  “She meant I was interested in… ” Her voice trailed off and she suddenly seemed to be absorbed by a napkin she’d been holding, smoothing out the wrinkles and then carefully folding it. Reno found himself enjoying the way her cheeks stained red. Not his usual sort—he tended to choose tall blondes like Tabitha, Brad’s latest girlfriend—but this little rounded package was… different. For one thing her red hair was fascinating.

  When she didn’t continue, he prompted her. “Interested in… ?”

  “You.” The word was spoken so quietly he almost missed it.

  He cocked his head and analyzed her answer with professional detachment. She wasn’t just another groupie looking for the thrill of getting it on with an Enforcer. No, embarrassment and the thinnest edge of hope laced her voice. Not a good sign. There were still some shades of naiveté about her. Definitely not the kind of female he needed to get entangled with.

  “Oh.” Okay, time to back off and let her down easy, he told himself. No strings, no attachments. That was his motto. “Now that’s a coincidence. I think I’m interested in you, too.” Reno blinked in surprise. Where the hell had that come from? He’d had no intention of saying that!

  Brandi stood up. Setting down the remainder of the napkin she’d ended up shredding with her fingers. “Look, I’m sorry to have wasted your time. This is all just a big—” She stopped as his words must have suddenly registered and stared at him in surprise. “You’re what?”

  “Um… ” He paused not sure what to say, but his basic honesty prevented him from allowing her to think she’d misheard. “I’m interested in you too. I haven’t met many red-headed wolves before.” A little qualifying of his answer couldn’t hurt, he assured himself.

  Brandi gave him a funny look and slowly sat back down. “Oh. Yeah. It’s pretty unusual. It’s not quite as red when I shift, though.” She tucked her hair back behind her ears, then seemed to realize what she was doing and dropped her hands into her lap.

  Reno smiled at her obvious nervousness. Yep, this was definitely more entertaining than he’d thought it would be. When his friends—fellow instructors—said they were going out for the night, he’d envisioned having a beer or two at a sports bar and watching a game on a big screen TV. The Academy pub had come as a surprise, though perhaps not totally unpleasant. Being surrounded by fellow Lycans allowed one to relax and act natural without fear of discovery.

  Later in the evening, when Brad had sought him out and reminded him of his promise to talk to Tabitha’s friend, he’d figured it would just be a quick chat. After all, a female Enforcer was unheard of. Now he hoped the conversation would take a lot longer. His conscience pricked him, but he told it to shut up. There was no harm in a little conversation. He wasn’t promising her anything.

  Their drinks arrived and surprisingly enough she did ask him about his job as an Enforcer.

  “So is it true what they say?” She was looking at him speculatively while taking a sip of her beer.

  “Is what true?”

  “That most Enforcers would be too dangerous to have in a normal pack?” No sooner had she uttered the words than she winced and ducked her head, seeming regretful. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked something so personal.”

  Reno shrugged and gave a dry laugh. “Don’t worry about it. It’s nothing new and yeah, most Enforcers are borderline rogues, ready to go over the edge if we’re not kept in line.”

  “Rogues? That’s awfully harsh.” She frowned at his words. “I’ve always envisioned Enforcers more as frustrated Alphas that didn’t have a pack to use up all their protective energies.”

  A frustrated Alpha. Huh. Is that what you are, buddy? He asked the wolf inside himself before focussing back on the female sitting across from him. “You’re trying to put a pretty spin on a harsh reality. For most Enforcers, our innate personality makes us aggressive. We want to lead and dominate, but a pack can only have one Alpha and they don’t usually want to give up the position.”

  “So in the interest of pack peace, you choose to leave your home. You put the needs of the pack first.”

  “Or we’re forced out before we become a threat.” He shrugged, feeling uncomfortable with how she was trying to elevate his particular brand of wolf to something nobler than it was. He knew the facts, having seen his assessment file when he entered the Academy all those years ago. Learning he’d been classified as potentially dangerous was a shock, but he preferred reality to fantasy. It wasn’t a pretty label, but he’d learned to accept it and had made the best of his life.

  She frowned, obviously not happy with his interpretation of the facts and he tried to reassure her.

  “Hey, it’s not that bad. Lycan Link is a great place to live. I have some good friends there, enjoy my job—”

  “But it makes no sense. If all the Enforcers are these dangerous near-rogue types, how is it that you aren’t always fighting?”

  “There are confrontations, believe me. Some have more trouble integrating than others—there’s even a screening process to see if potential Enforcers can handle being around the others—but with no real ‘pack’ to fight over it’s easier and we’re kept busy dealing with situations all over the continent. Besides that, the captain is uber-dominant and keeps us all in line.” Reno chuckled thinking of all the times the man had literally wiped the floor with one or another of the men when they’d become too cocky.

  He spent the next while entertaining her with tales of his life as an Enforcer, sharing a few of his more interesting cases before moving on to how instructor stints compared to being in the field.

  Just as he was going to ask her what she’d been studying at the Academy her friends arrived to drag her on
to the dance floor. She looked at him apologetically, but he waved her on her way. It gave him some time to study her, to watch how she moved, to note the way her eyes reflected her emotions as she talked to her friend. No doubt she was scolding the other girl for setting her up. Both of the girls looked his way and he raised his glass in a mock toast.

  The blonde—Tabitha—was laughing and seemed to be encouraging Brandi to do something. Brandi looked hesitant, nibbling her lip and shooting more glances his way. Eventually she nodded, agreeing to whatever Tabitha was proposing, then the two disappeared from his view as a group of Lycans passed by. The next time Reno saw the girls they were dancing and the issue—whatever it had been—seemed to have been resolved.

  Reno narrowed his eyes as he watched her. She twirled around, her long red hair like a fiery curtain, the tendrils swaying back and forth. The colour fascinated him and he wondered what it would be like to have it brushing over his body, to run his hands through it while sampling her mouth.

  He sipped his beer, considering the situation. He was an instructor, albeit a temporary one, yet during their brief conversation she’d indicated this was a celebratory night as her studies were now over. Plus she’d never been in any of his courses—except as a temporary assistant—so there really was no problem if they chose to associate.

  Oh yes there was, his nobler half reminded him. Enforcers don’t get attached. The lifestyle isn’t conducive to relationships. But, the devil in him persuaded, who said he and Brandi had to have a long term relationship? She was interested in him. He found her attractive. A casual encounter might be all she was after. She knew what he was, even if she did try to put a sympathetic spin on it.

  All through his mental wrangling his wolf remained quiet, though the idea of a quick roll in the hay had its tail thumping. Ever since he’d pinned the girl down, the creature wanted to do it again. He smiled indulgently. The beast loved nothing more than the thrill of the hunt followed by dominating its prey. Running a finger over the spot where she’d scratched him, he recalled how she’d submitted to him, lifting her chin, and exposing her throat. A soft growl rumbled in his chest.

  Brandi turned about as she danced and ended up facing his way, her eyes closed, obviously lost in the song. Her body undulated to the tempo and his own flared to life again. Damn. Was she deliberately being provocative or… ? He stared at her, shivers of desire afflicting his groin, his wolf becoming increasingly alert, testing the air to catch her scent.

  Lycans surrounded them yet her scent was all too easy to find. In the short time they’d sat together, he’d registered it and it was just as incredible now as it had been that first time he’d encountered her in his class. Heady and sweet, it reminded him of the drink she’d been named after.

  “So what do you think?” Brad slid into a seat beside him, while placing two beers on the table.

  “About the girl? She’s okay.” Reno picked up the fresh drink and gave a negligent shrug.

  “No, I meant the Black Devils.” Brad gestured, and Reno forced himself to shift his focus.

  The three young men Brad had pointed out to him the other day were leaning against the bar, surrounded by a group of young females, all obviously vying for attention. Some were co-eds while others were likely members of the home pack who had come to enjoy the end of term celebrations.

  Kane was only showing a passing interest in the attention being bestowed upon him. He smiled politely at the young blonde talking to him while Ryne could be heard making inappropriately suggestive comments, which caused the girls to giggle. It was Damien that drew his attention, however.

  The kid was slowly sizing up each female, a smirk on his face as if he knew he only had to make a choice and the girl would fall in with his plans. Reno narrowed his eyes. Yep, Damien was smirking, yet there was something else there as well. A tiredness or cynicism as if he’d played out this scene too many times and did it out of habit rather than any real interest.

  Damien glanced up and caught Reno watching him. Across the distance a silent battle of wills began. Their gazes locked, neither willing to look away. Reno forced back the smile hovering on the edge of his lips. The kid had more than his fair share of guts. Not many Lycans were brave enough—or foolish enough—to try and stare him down.

  One of the young women near Damien, tired of his inattention, boldly reached up, and kissed him. Damien obliged her by grasping the back of her head and kissing her enthusiastically, but part way through he looked up towards Reno and winked before returning his attention to the girl.

  Reno burst out laughing.

  “What?” Brad looked puzzled, having missed the exchange in favour of staring at the women dancing before him.

  “Nothing.” Reno didn’t bother trying to explain the incident to the other man. “I was just enjoying the antics of my next recruit.”

  Brad glanced towards the Black Devils. “Damien’s agreed to work with you?”

  “Not yet. But he will.” Reno spoke with assurance. The kid reminded him of himself. He’d take a lot of work, but in the end it would be worth it. Damien would make a damn good Enforcer and in return, Lycan Link would provide him with a home, something he’d be hard pressed to find in the real world. Reno couldn’t imagine many Alphas willingly taking the kid in.

  “So how’d you make out with Brandi?” Brad’s attention had wandered back to the dance floor.

  “Fine. She doesn’t want to be an Enforcer though.” Reno raised his brows and looked at his friend. “Funny how you managed to mishear that.”

  “Yeah, well… ” Brad shrugged. “I had to keep Tabi happy. And it isn’t as if Brandi’s hard on the eyes. I mean, if I wasn’t with Tabi, I’d be after her tail myself.”

  Unbidden a snarl rose in Reno’s throat and Brad shot him a look. Reno quickly took another drink to hide his own surprise. Dammit, every time he thought he had the roguish beast under control it would rise up and try to gain the upper hand. And since when did his wolf get that riled up over a casual female?

  “Feeling a bit possessive?” Brad smirked.

  Reno narrowed his eyes, his wolf very near the surface and quick to take offence. “And what if I am?”

  “Nothing.” Brad shifted in his chair and looked away, instinctively backing away from a more dominant wolf. “I just didn’t think you’d be that interested in her given your track record. You’re known for your one night stands with no strings attached.”

  “You’re right.” Reno looked down noting how his fingers clenched the glass he held, surprised it hadn’t shattered under the force of his grip. It wouldn’t be the first time. He inhaled deeply and forced his wolf down. There was no reason to get in a fight with Brad over a girl he’d just met. “I usually don’t go after little co-eds.”

  Brad looked relieved that the situation was easing and quickly resumed his easy grin. “That’s because you have scruples. But neither she nor Tabi are students anymore, so they’re fair game now.”

  “Only now?” He quirked an eyebrow. “Then why were you seeing Tabitha last week when she was still a student in your class?”

  “I was looking to the future, Reno. I’m a planner.”

  “You’re an idiot.” Reno shook his head at the man’s logic and then changed topics. “Did you know she’s the girl that helped me out with my demo class last week?”

  “No. Really?” Brad gave Brandi a puzzled stare. “I thought you said you couldn’t even remember her. That she was a dud or something.”

  “Her fighting skills sucked, but I remember the hair.” He didn’t add that he also vividly recalled the feeling of her soft breasts crushed against his chest as he lay on top of her, of feeling her breath skitter over his face and of being surrounded by her scent.

  “Maybe you could offer to ‘tutor’ her in self-defence. You know, a little one on one wrestling.” Brad gave him a sly look.

  Reno made a non-committal noise, still thinking about being pressed closely against Brandi. His wolf rumbled its approval and
strained to get free again wanting to be nearer the female that had caught its interest.

  “She scratched you, didn’t she?”

  “Yeah.” Reno ran a finger over his cheekbone, reliving the moment when she’d drawn blood and his wolf had sprung to life, ready to reciprocate.

  Brad grinned. “If you’re lucky she might leave some more marks on you before the night is over.”

  Reno suddenly focussed back on the train of conversation and, realizing Brad’s brain was in the gutter, reached over and smacked him hard on the shoulder. The action only elicited a laugh from the man.

  “Whatever. I’m off to get Tabi. Hope you get to do some ‘tutoring’ with Brandi tonight. Maybe you can show her some new moves.” Brad winked and left, leaving Reno trying to push the images evoked by those words out of his head.

  He couldn’t be too upset with Brad. After all, it turned out the man had done him a favour.

  His wolf rumbled in approval as he continued to watch Brandi dance. The sound of the music, the din of conversation, and the clink of glasses faded into the background as he became mesmerized by her movements. Only the deep bass throb of the drums had any impact on him. It thundered in his ears, matching the beat of his heart and the ever increasing throb in his groin.

  Unexpectedly, Brandi opened her eyes and he found himself staring directly into a pool of sea green. She faltered, almost coming to a stop before recovering and continuing to dance. However, her gaze remained locked with his and he made no attempt to hide the lust that he knew must be blazing in his eyes.

  Her hips moved, breasts swaying from side to side. Another rumble rose in his chest as the ache in his body grew. The primitive background music swelled, surrounding him, summoning the wild creature inside him, and uniting with it.

  Reno wasn’t a dancer yet he found himself moving to join her. He clasped her hips with his hands, bringing her closer to him. Their bodies touched, retreated, then touched again. She ran her hands up his arms to his shoulders, finally resting her palms against his chest. The heat of her touch burnt into him and his breath caught in his throat.