Page 59 of Patrick’s Seduction

“And the other, Amaury. He looks very strong.”

“He is. But he’s really a total teddy bear when he’s not trying to defend those he loves. He’s my father’s best and oldest friend.” He took her hand. “Come. No more stalling.”

“You think I’m stalling?”

He smiled. “That’s what I would do if I were in your situation.”

He opened the door and led her to the stairs. Intertwining his fingers with hers, he cast her a reassuring glance, before they walked down the large mahogany staircase. They were halfway down already, when he heard the front door slam.

“Patrick!”

29

The sound of the front door closing was followed by a cold wind gust reaching her as she walked down the stairs with Patrick. A beautiful young woman rushed toward them, her long dark hair flying in all directions, making Fallon freeze on the final step. As if the woman hadn’t even seen her, she threw herself into Patrick’s arms, pressing her body to his, imprisoning him in her embrace.

At the sight, rage charged through her, and she could feel her jaw tightening. Pain shot into her fingers, a sign she recognized from when she’d shifted into her wolf form. She was about to do the same now, because of this woman who embraced Patrick. In the same moment, she realized that the feeling that was urging her to shift wasn’t rage but jealousy. How dare this woman touch the man she loved?

Mine.

With that thought, a growl dislodged from her throat, and her skin began to prickle, making her aware that fur was starting to cover her arms, growing thicker with every second.

“Oh my God, you’re hurt!” the woman cried out.

“I’m fine, Isa,” Patrick replied, but didn’t step out of the embrace.

Fallon issued another warning growl, and finally, the woman met her gaze. She was a vampire with the same kind of aura that Patrick had, different from the other two vampires. Was she his girlfriend, or why else would she be so concerned for his wellbeing, and hugging him so tightly?

“Take your hands off him!” Fallon ground out and glared at her.

The woman glared back. “You hurt him!”

Finally, Patrick freed himself from her arms and turned. “Fallon, meet my sister, Isabelle.”

Despite the relief she felt at that revelation, the wolf inside her was still demanding to be released, because Isabelle displayed anger that was directed at her. Before she could make a step toward her, Patrick stopped her with an outstretched arm.

“Easy, both of you. And Isa, no, Fallon didn’t hurt me.”

“That neck wound says otherwise,” Isabelle pointed out.

“It’s no worse than a vampire’s bite.”

Fallon caught his smile as he looked back at her.

“And just as enjoyable.”

At his tender words, she felt the pressure in her jaw release and her human side take over again, pushing back the wolf for now. But she knew it couldn’t be suppressed for long. Her shift had been painful and involuntary. The moon was ruling her. She could feel it in her bones, her cells, every inch of her body. It made her aware of the dangers around her and the need to protect herself. It was hard to suppress the instinct she felt when faced with a vampire, the instinct to fight for her life. She’d never felt so out of control, so uncivilized, so animalistic.

Patrick’s voice pulled her from her thoughts. “Baby, everything’s alright.” He took her hand again. “Let’s talk.”

Hesitantly, she allowed him to lead her to the living room, Isabelle following them. There, the men who’d intruded on their lovemaking were waiting for them, all three pacing impatiently. When they entered through the open archway, three sets of eyes landed on her. They were sizing her up, assessing whether she posed a threat right now, and she knew she was doing the same, her eyes roaming their bodies, looking for weapons or any sign of aggression toward her. The bald one, Zane, had the most hostile look of the three. Amaury and Wesley looked almost calm, but she knew that underneath it, they were both ready to spring into action if they believed they were in danger.

It was odd how she was looking at everything now, at the other doors in the room that could provide an easy escape, and at items like candlesticks and bookends that would lend themselves as weapons to defend herself with. She felt hypervigilant and more alert than ever before. As if she was on speed or some other drug that raised her level of awareness. She realized now that her complaints from the previous night were all precursors to the enhanced senses that being a werewolf had gifted her with. Not that she would call them gifts.

“Why don’t we sit down?” Patrick suggested.

Amidst a few grunts and some grumbling, Patrick pulled her next to him on a two-seater couch, while Amaury and Wesley sat on the large sectional, and Isabelle took a seat in an armchair. Only Zane remained standing, and somehow, she had guessed that he wouldn’t want to give up his superior position, which allowed him to react faster than those seated. Smart. She had to give him that.

“Let me first bring Fallon up to speed,” Patrick said with a quick look at his colleagues, before looking back at her. “I found out last night that Cameron is a werewolf. That’s why I brought you here and had you protected twenty-four-seven.”