Awakened Dragon Read online

  “And I can help you. Remember?”

  She screwed her face up and shook her head. “I knew I should have lied about that.”

  “And you know lying isn’t an option with me. Honesty is part of the bond between us.”

  “I know,” she replied and then added, “Do you think you should warn your mom? About me coming over.”

  “No, she’ll go into panic mode and have enough food ready for an army. This way we can help her prepare lunch.”

  “If that’s what you think is best. I hate to impose.”

  “You will never be an imposition where my mom is concerned.”

  She settled back and watched the world go by, happy to be with him at last. The trees looked taller, the grass looked greener, and the sky bluer than she could ever remember. Caroline was right; things were different now she was bonded to Kurt. Inside, her animal shifted a little closer, and Nadine was filled with hope that she might be able to command it one day soon.

  “You off in that dream world again?” he asked.

  “Oh, yes. Just thinking how strangely everything turned out. You know, me coming to your gallery opening, then the car, and you running in just the right direction to find me. I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t shown up.”

  “Yes, fate, I guess. I sometimes wonder what made me chase Fiona that day. It was stupid and reckless and cruel. But if I hadn’t, then she wouldn’t have met her mate, and I wouldn’t have met you.”

  They were winding their way up towards his house, and Nadine was slightly dismayed when they arrived and there were motorbikes outside.

  “I think your mom already has visitors.”

  “Then two more won’t hurt.” He grinned when he saw her face. “Now I know what I’ve been looking like these last few weeks. Scared of seeing anyone, worried I won’t be accepted for who I am.”

  “Damn, now I know what I sound like, too.” She undid her seatbelt and got out of the car. She could do this; she could go in there and meet his family and it would be cool. They wouldn’t all look at her as the woman who ran out on her mate. Or so she hoped.

  “Hi there.” Mia was the first to greet them when they walked in through the back door. “It’s going to be nice to have another female around. Sometimes I get tired of the guys, you know?” she said, instantly putting Nadine at ease.

  “How can you ever get tired of me, honey?” Joel came over and gave her a hug and then said, “Nice to meet you properly, Nadine. Last night was a bit wild.”

  “We reported what happened the sheriff in Bear Creek, Brad, he’ll keep an eye out for your car. He filed a report and everything. But he isn’t hopeful; there have been loads of thefts lately and nothing ever turns up, and no one has any information.” said Mia.

  “Thanks, Mia, it’s only a car. At least no one was hurt.”

  “No problem. We’re family now, remember?” Mia smiled, and Nadine was struck by how pretty she was and how damn hot she looked in her leather catsuit, while Nadine felt as though her conservative dress made her melt into the background. But Kurt came over and gave her a cold beer and kissed her cheek, and she knew that to him, she was the most beautiful person in the room, just as, to her, he was the most handsome. Her eyes were only for him, and they always would be now they were bonded mates.

  Chapter Fifteen – Kurt

  “You look good, Kurt,” Joel said with a knowing wink. “I saw Nadine at your exhibition. It wasn’t until she walked away that I saw the likeness to that painting of yours. I didn’t know whether to say anything to you or not. I feel bad that I didn’t.”

  They were standing outside. The kitchen was a hive of activity, and men had retired outdoors. “Don’t worry about it, Joel. It’s turned out OK.”

  “Your mom is over the moon, her two kids all bonded and happy.”

  “I’m not sure I’m completely happy.” He saw Joel’s expression change. “I still haven’t been able to … you know … shift.”

  “Ahh. Well, you need to just let go. You’re too tightly wound. Wolves, you need to become more bear. ”

  Kurt laughed. “And what exactly does it mean to become more bear?”

  “You need to chill, you know. Relax with your lady and not take it all so seriously. That wolf of yours is still in there. You just got yourself so tightly wound right now, you don’t know how to let him go anymore.”

  “So my sister married a shrink too?” Kurt asked, wondering if it really was that simple.

  “I am a jack of all trades,” Joel said, nudging Kurt as Mia called them in to eat. “But don’t tell Mia, she’ll have me doing everything. Sometimes a man needs a few secrets, and she does like to take pity on me, especially when she sees how inept I am at the laundry. Rolls her eyes and wonders how I ever got along living on my own for so long.”

  “My lips are sealed. I must admit, though, Joel, I didn’t think there was a perfect match out there for my sister, but you are it.”

  “Bears.” Joel lifted his beer in salute.

  “Bears.” Kurt laughed and followed his brother-in-law inside.

  They ate, his mom beaming as she took in her son and daughter and their mates. Plus, Ion had joined them. They skirted around anything serious, and just enjoyed each other’s company and getting to know Nadine, who seemed more relaxed. Maybe Joel had it right. They needed to be more bear.

  Smiling to himself, he caught Nadine’s eyes. She blushed, smiling shyly at him, and he felt a surge of love for her. He was going to take Joel’s advice and just have fun with her for a few days. Maybe that was all they both needed. Now they were together, perhaps if they just chilled out, their animal sides would be easy to control. And he sure would love to know what she was under that skin of hers.

  If only he could help her draw it out into the light. He could sense her need to conquer her other side. In that way, they were the same. Maybe fate had it right there too: they needed each other to become whole, to be complete.

  Chapter Sixteen – Nadine

  “That’s what Joel said?” she asked. They were walking up into the mountains along an old bear trail. Hand in hand, enjoying being in each other’s company.

  “Pretty much. We should learn to be more bear.” He threw his hands out dramatically and spoke in a deep voice.

  “Maybe you should try roaring, instead of howling.” She burst out laughing at the look of horror on his face.

  “I am so glad you find it amusing,” he said, pulling her into his arms and kissing her fiercely, wanting to claim her. Maybe Joel was right, and sex was activity that would make him relax more.

  “I can already see the animal in you.” She pulled back, brushing his shoulder-length hair back from his face. “I think you are all wolf, Kurt.”

  “I know a nice place up in the mountains. There is a deep mountain pool, very secluded, just right for some rest and relaxation.”

  “Sounds tempting.” She kissed his lips again, feeling a tremor of desire starting at the base of her spine and threading its way upwards. “I think that you should show me.”

  He took her hand and they continued up the trail, the trees clearing to give them a view over the land below. “There’s Wolf Valley,” he said. “It looks so quiet there, so peaceful. I hope it will be again. I always thought it would be where I raised my children. Our children.”

  “It just needs someone to take control. An alpha.”

  He put his arm around her and held her close. “Not me. I have no desire to be anything than a husband and father.”

  “And an artist.”

  “Come on, I want to go skinny-dipping with you.” He dragged her faster up the side of the mountain, the sun warm on their backs. Sure footed, he took her through trees and across a meadow before leading her down over large rocks. As they drew closer, she could hear the sound of running water and then she caught a glimpse of the falls. A curtain of water falling off the side of the mountain, it dropped into a large pool, the spray creating a mist, making it appear ethereal.


  “It’s stunning.”

  Loosing her hand, he ran forward, pulling his sweater over his head, and then his T-shirt. She did the same, although she did glance around first just to check there was no one around. But when the last of his clothes lay abandoned on the bank, and he jumped into the pool, she let go of her inhibitions and followed him.

  It was so cold it took her breath away. Screaming with shock, she swam towards him, the exercise making her body warm up, but her skin was ice cold.

  “Refreshing, isn’t it?” he asked.

  Nadine splashed him in the face, making him gasp. “Very,” she said, laughing and then swimming away from him.

  He swam after her and she dived under the water, swimming swiftly away from him. Then she doubled back and surfaced just in front of him, her hair swept back from her face. He reached out and touched it, threading it through his fingers.

  “I always thought it would burn me, the fire of your hair.”

  Treading water, she let him stroke her face, and then his hand moved lower, grazing her breasts. His fingers tweaked her nipple, which was hard and taut from the cold of the water. Moving closer to him, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. His hand went to rub between her thighs, and her arousal grew, warming her body until the chill of the water didn’t even register with her brain.

  “Come with me,” he said, taking her back to the bank and helping her out. Then he gathered up their clothes and led her towards the waterfall. “There is a small cave behind here. We can relax a little bit more.”

  “Relax?” She slid her hand over his chest, and looked down to see his cock, erect despite the cold water.

  “I think you know what I mean, Nadine.”

  “I hope so,” she said.

  True enough, there was a small cave, although the sound of the water hitting the pool was so loud, they couldn’t hear themselves talk. But who needed to talk?

  Kurt laid his clothes out for her to sit on, and then came to her. His mouth found hers, lips hot and hungry for a taste of his mate. He ignited a fire deep within her. In the last day, he had awoken so many parts of her, and she was sure her creature stirred in agreement. In fact, it wanted to take control.

  Pushing him down onto his back, she straddled him, taking hold of his hands and placing them above his head. With one hand, she held them there, knowing he could easily free himself from her if he wanted to, but he was playing along with her fantasy. The other hand wrapped around his cock, stroking it, teasing it until his hips lifted off the floor and he groaned in appreciation.

  Finding courage from somewhere, she raised herself up, guiding herself down onto him, trying to relax as the tip of his cock slipped inside her sex. Slowly she lowered herself down, taking him inch by inch until she thought he would tear her in two. He was so big, and so deep inside her, but her sex yielded to him, her tight muscles gripping him.

  A deep guttural sound came from him, his eyes flashing with hunger for more, and she gave it to him. Circling her hips, she allowed greater friction between their bodies. It felt wonderful, his cock rubbing against the inner walls of her sex. Finding a rhythm, she experimented with lifting herself up and then sliding back down. Oh, did that feel good.

  Closing her eyes, she released his hands, sitting upright to ride out her arousal, chasing her elusive orgasm. Kurt sat up, holding her close, and then claimed her breasts with his mouth. Her hips bucked when his teeth grazed her nipple, and her pace quickened, her voice rising high, only to be lost to the thundering waterfall.

  Faster, harder, she needed him to be inside her and all around her. Skin against skin, her nerve endings on fire to his every touch until she came. Her orgasm crashed into her just as the thundering water crashed into the pool below. Kurt held her still, and jerked into her, his seed spurting inside her as he cried out her name.

  When they were spent, he gathered her to him and she kissed him fiercely. When she finally let him go, she placed her lips close to his ear so that he could hear her words. “How relaxed are you now?”

  “Very?” His hands roamed her body and his mouth kissed her skin, until the light began to disappear from the sky.

  “It’s late. We should go.”

  He looked out, through the veil of water. “I hadn’t realised it had got so late.”

  “It’s a long walk home.” Nadine experienced a sudden apprehension about walking down the mountain in the dark. “We should hurry.”

  “Hey,” he said, kissing her. “I will keep you safe.”

  “I know. But that wolf yesterday, it scared me. And I would rather get home.” She saw the way his face dropped and knew she had made him feel incapable of protecting her. “And I am starving.”

  “Back to your house for food and more relaxing?”

  “That sounds like a good plan.” She kissed him and then moved away from him and began to dress. He did the same, and within ten minutes, they were slipping along the narrow ledge and out into the open air.

  The sky above them was darkening to an inky blue, and when they reached the clearing, they could see the sun setting in the distance. It was beautiful and to be here with her mate and experience it with him was an amazing experience, yet still the thought of getting home was foremost in her head. The dark scared her.

  “We didn’t exactly get much done in the way of practice for you to relearn to control your wolf,” she said when they began to move again.

  “No rush. No pressure.”

  “Be like a bear,” she said laughing.

  “Yes. I want to enjoy what we have for a couple of days, and then we can get into the hard stuff.”

  “As long as we aren’t just putting it off.”

  He put his arm around her and said, “No, not at all. You have already taught me to face my fears, and I want to help you too.”

  “I don’t know if that’s possible,” she replied honestly.

  “Are you ready to share what happened? You know, not being able to change?” he asked quietly.

  “There isn’t much to tell. My mom and dad taught me what to do, how to prepare. But as puberty came … and then went … it became obvious nothing was going to happen. I know that is unusual, normally your other side is dying to burst out. But not with me.”

  “Did anything happen? To put you off?”

  “I don’t think so. At least not that I remember.” She fell silent, thinking back over her childhood. Being brought up in a small commune where they were open about everything animal, she had been surrounded by others who could easily change. “All of my friends began to change and I was excited. Especially since my parents weren’t sure what I would be.”

  “What are your parents?” he asked.

  “My dad was a bear; my mom was a red fox. Hence the hair.” Nadine held a strand of her hair up. “She was so sure that was what I was going to be.”

  “What if you are a bear! Damn, that would be weird, both me and my sister ending up with a bear as a mate.”

  “My parents used to argue over it. First, it would start off in a friendly way, but then it would get nasty and they would insult each other. I can’t tell you how mad my mom used to get with me at not being able to change. I was a disappointment to her. It was as if she thought I was doing it on purpose. You know, like I didn’t want to change.”

  “Maybe you didn’t?” Kurt said. They were nearing the end of the trail now, and they had to cut across though the woodland to her house. It was as they were descending off the path that he stopped and stiffened. She knew immediately he had sensed something. They were not alone.

  Chapter Seventeen – Kurt

  “What is it?” she asked quietly.

  “I don’t know. But I think there’s someone watching us.” He took her hand and held it tight, leading her down through the trees. “I don’t know if we should cut back through to my house.”

  “No, it’s too far out of the way, and we would only be putting your mom in danger too.”

  They both k
ept their voices low and their footsteps quiet as he tried to listen for anything unusual in the trees. There was no sound, which he realised told him all he needed to know. The birds were quiet, and there were no other animals moving around. That meant only one thing. A predator was here in the forest with them.

  “Do you think we should run for my cabin?” she asked quietly.

  Kurt was tired of running. He was a wolf, not a rabbit who had to hightail it out of every situation instead of facing up to danger. Inside him, the wolf got up and stretched, flexing his muscles. Maybe it was time to take back control and get rid of this threat once and for all. It angered him that there was some other creature out here threatening his mate.

  A laugh, high pitched and laced with menace, came to them through the trees. “I can see you,” a voice said.

  Then he felt the familiar frisson of electricity as the man changed into his animal. There was no doubt in Kurt’s mind; this was the same wolf who had attacked Nadine last night.

  “Kurt?” Nadine was staring at him.

  “I have to protect you, Nadine.”

  “Are you sure?” Her face showed him her concern; it also showed him her fear. “I couldn’t live if anything happened to you.”

  “And I couldn’t live if anything happened to you, which is why I have to try.”

  Stepping away from her he tried to picture his wolf, but it evaded him, hiding in the corners of his mind. Trying once more to coax it out, he became aware of the other wolf approaching them. Instead of coaxing, he commanded and his wolf came. In a split second he shimmered out of the world, no longer existing, until he returned, sharp teeth and claws, ready to defend his female.

  Both relieved and anxious, Nadine stepped forward and ran her hands through his fur, he shivered in delight. Rubbing his head against her thigh, he enjoyed her touch. Then he saw movement and the other wolf was there.

  Kurt was bigger, his coat thicker, his paws huge next to the other mangy cur. But the look of maniacal menace was clear in his opponent, and Kurt knew he must not underestimate him, or he risked losing.