Dark Wolf (Spirit Wild) - By Kate Douglas Page 0,43
itch that was part of Chanku physiology than a love match. It worked for both of them, but it was going nowhere.
Just like his serial relationships with the human women he’d dated. As much as he hated it, he had to agree with his folks. A Chanku-human pairing wasn’t going to work.
Short-timers couldn’t offer what he needed, not when he wanted to run with his woman through the dark woods and hunt as a wolf, or fly when he took his eagle form. No can do when your date’s as earthbound as dirt.
“Hey, Alex.”
He glanced toward the front of the movie theater. Jenn was right where she’d said she’d be. “Hi, Jenn. Hope I’m not late. Ran into an old friend.”
She shrugged. “Nah. You’re okay. I’m early.”
“Good.” He wrapped an arm around her waist and leaned close for the expected kiss, but before their lips met, voices from the alley around the side of the coffee shop intruded.
“Leave me alone.”
“What’s the matter, sweet thing? You think you’re too good for us?”
“I didn’t say that. I merely told you jerks to leave me alone. Get out of my way.”
“Jerks? Now, honey, you don’t mean that, do you?”
Alex tilted his head. Whoever those idiots were hassling was obviously outnumbered. “Jenn, stay here.”
She grabbed his arm. “Stay out of it, Alex. I know those guys. They won’t hurt her. They’re just teasing, but they’ll beat the crap out of you if you get in their way.”
“They’re scaring her. Wait here.”
Jenn hung on, but the sharp sound of a slap had him tearing free and racing around the building. Three huge men had a small, dark woman trapped against the side of the building. Her blouse was torn, but her eyes glittered. A palm print marred her left cheek. The sense of Chanku was strong, and from the fear in her amber eyes, he knew she was right on the edge of shifting.
Alex had to reach up to grab the closest man by the collar, and he hoped he wasn’t making the biggest mistake in his life. This idiot was massive. Jerking him back, Alex planted a fist in the guy’s face and he went down with blood spurting from his nose. The two others spun away from the girl with fists raised. Cursing, they both flew at Alex. He caught the larger of the two with a quick chop to the throat with his right hand and came up with his left fist to plant a solid punch in the second one’s belly. Both men folded, but then the one Alex had punched in the nose tried to stand. The girl he’d been hassling kicked him in the head, and he fell back, groaning.
Alex flashed her a grin, but he kept his eye on the three men. As big as they were, if they came after him together, he was toast, but instead, as soon as they rallied enough to get to their feet, they slunk around the back of the building. Alex watched them leave to make sure they were definitely gone before he turned his attention to the young woman.
“Thank you, Alex.” She pulled her torn blouse up to better cover herself, shivered, and wrapped her hands around her waist.
Frowning, Alex stared at her a moment before recognition finally dawned. “Annie? Annie McClintock? Damn. I didn’t even recognize you. You’ve cut off all your hair. You look totally different with it short.” Stepping closer, he said, “I like it.”
He took his jacket off and wrapped it around her shoulders as he talked, hoping his aimless chatter would help calm her down. The poor kid looked rattled, but she had every right to be upset. “I haven’t seen you in years,” he said, as if nothing had happened here, as if she wouldn’t have a huge bruise on her face by morning. “I thought you were still in England.”
He smoothed his jacket over her arms, patted her shoulders. When he felt her trembling beneath his coat, his heart clenched. He wished he could chase down the bastards who’d hurt her and hit them again. Instead, he took a deep breath and looked directly into her beautiful amber eyes. “Are you okay, Annie? Did they hurt you?”
She shook her head and touched her fingertips to her bruised cheek. “I’m okay now.” She let out a deep breath. “The big guy grabbed my arm and dragged me into the alley. The other two were already here, waiting. I didn’t know what to do. I