Protecting The Gray Wolf
by N.J. Walters

Copyright © 2024 by N.J. Walters. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce, distribute, or transmit in any form or by any means. For information regarding subsidiary rights, please contact the Publisher.

Chapter One

Kade Alvarez peered in the window of the upscale Manhattan gallery and snorted. Not exactly his kind of place. He rubbed his hand over his jaw. The two-day-old stubble, black jeans, T-shirt, and leather jacket likely didn’t meet the dress code. It would have to do. His prey was inside.

For the first time since he’d shifted into his wolf form at fifteen—and his life was blown to hell—he hesitated. As a lone wolf, he was judge, jury, and executioner for the wolf packs. His job was to hunt down and execute any rogue wolves that might expose their existence to the human population. The alphas took care of discipline within a pack, but there were those who believed they existed outside the laws. This wasn’t a normal hunt. It wasn’t a rogue he was tracking but a woman. A human woman.

What am I doing here? He blamed the white wolf. After almost a century of having no contact, Devlin Moore—the white wolf—had reached out to him. But extreme times called for extreme measures. The lone wolves were being hunted, not only by one of their own kind. That would be too easy.

No, a damn mage was involved. Not the New Ager bunch who called themselves wiccans or pagans, but a real, magic-wielding, bend-the-laws-of-physics mage. The goal was to capture one, or all the lone wolves, and steal their immortality, and they would stop at nothing to attain it.

“No good deed goes unpunished,” he muttered. The line of communication between him and Devlin was tenuous, but the other lone wolf had warned that the trap involved a human woman. One who, according to the white wolf, would share his distinctive coloring.

Which was why he was here instead of at a bar in Rio de Janeiro knocking back tequila and enjoying the company of some of the local lovelies. The inner voice that had guided him for the past eighty-five years had brought him to New York. Or had it been influenced? If a mage was involved, there was no way to be sure.

His wolf grumbled inside him, eager to hunt. Ignoring the beast, he let his gaze roam over the glittering crowd. The men were split into two groups—those that wore suits and those in casual designer jeans, which had likely cost more than everything he had on combined. The women wore dresses—predominantly black—and high heels, their hair coifed, makeup understated. It screamed money.

“Get it done.” He yanked the door open with more force than necessary. Whatever force had brought him here, whatever challenge waited, he’d deal with it as he always did—quickly and decisively. Several heads turned his way when he stepped inside. Ignoring the stares, he prowled through the airy space. It was larger than it appeared from the outside, taking up multiple levels.

“Welcome to Chelsea’s.” Striking in a gold fitted sheath and towering heels, she commanded attention. Her blond hair was pulled back in a sleek bun. Fine lines radiated from the corners of her eyes—hinting she was older than she appeared at first glance. Her lips were painted a deep red.

Shit! He didn’t have the time or inclination to play nice, his wolf too on edge. Smothering his impatience, he pasted on a smile and reached for her proffered hand. “Thank you. And would you be Chelsea?” He brought her fingers to his lips and pressed a kiss to them before releasing her.

Her pupils dilated, and he caught a hint of arousal over the cloying scent of her perfume. At times like this, his preternatural senses were a pain in the ass. Her lips curved upward. “I am. Chelsea Clifton. This is my gallery.”

Knowing his job, he glanced at the walls, most of which were filled with paintings that looked to have been done by a group of three-year-olds hopped up on sugar, and barely refrained from snorting. “It’s impressive.”

She hooked her arm through his. “I pride myself on it. Let’s get a drink and you can tell me what brought you here. I’ve never seen you before.” A painted nail glided over his chest. “And I would have remembered.”

“I was passing by and decided to crash the party.” He didn’t bother to lie. No point.

Her hand squeezed his bicep through his coat. “You’re more than welcome to enjoy the opening. Maybe you’ll stay until it ends at eleven. I can give you a private viewing.” Stopping a passing server, she retrieved a glass of champagne from the tray and handed it to him.

Kade took it and waited until she had one before raising the glass. “To a successful night.” He brought the glass to his lips and sipped. An excellent vintage. No cheap stuff for this crowd.

“Chelsea.” Annoyance crossed her brow as a younger man hurried up to them, his eyes tracking Kade from head to toe before turning to his companion. “The Ralstons wish to speak with you. They’re considering several paintings.”

“Duty calls.” She patted his arm. Damn woman was doing her best to mark him. He wasn’t sure he’d ever get her cloying scent off his jacket. “Enjoy the showing. I’ll be back as soon as I can,” she all but purred. She started to walk away but turned back. “What did you say your name was?”

“I didn’t.” With a cocky grin, he headed to the back of the room. He dumped the glass on the first serving staff he saw. The artwork here was more realistic and took actual skill, but he wasn’t here to look or buy.

It was crowded, but at more than six-and-a-half feet, he could see over everyone. No one pinged his radar. A circular iron staircase rose to the second floor. Taking the stairs two at a time, he went to the next level. He paused by the railing and looked down. Chelsea caught his gaze and gave a finger wave.

Turning away, he continued his search. There weren’t as many people up here. This floor was divided into four zones with a different artist in each. He growled under his breath. This was turning into a colossal waste of time. For once, his intuition was wrong. His target wasn’t here.

He was about to head back to the stairs when a painting caught his eye. Everything inside him stilled. Even his wolf went quiet. It was hung on the back wall, as far from the patrons as it could get and still be in the gallery. The canvas was four feet tall and three feet wide. Drawn by an invisible force, he stepped closer, stopping right in front of it. Mist rose around a mountaintop. It was night, the full moon hanging low in the sky. At the peak stood a pure gray wolf, head tipped back in mid-howl. But what he couldn’t tear his gaze away from was the mark on the wolf’s chest. It was a black sickle shape.

It was the mark of the lone wolf, the one that branded him as an immortal warrior, the one that had appeared on his chest when he’d made his first shift. His hair and eye color had changed at the same time, both turning a foggy gray. That’s how it always happened.

He raised his hand until it hovered in the air in front of the canvas. It was a perfect rendering of what he looked like as a wolf. His mouth went dry, and he tried to swallow past the lump that threatened to choke him. Solitary, the beast was king of the night, a powerful, apex predator, afraid of no one or nothing. Yet loneliness oozed from him.

What the fuck is going on?

He dropped his hand back by his side and curled his fingers into his palm to keep from ripping the painting from the wall. He felt exposed and vulnerable, as if the artist had seen into his soul.

There was a signature on the bottom right side of the canvas. Luna. That was it. No last name. Probably wasn’t even her real name, assuming it was a woman. This had to be why he’d been drawn here. Chelsea would know the artist. As much as it pained him, it was time to cultivate a friendship with the owner. Before the night was over, he’d have the artist’s name and own the painting. Whether he’d keep it or destroy it was still up for debate.

The air stirred behind him. Goose bumps rose on his skin. Kade’s head snapped around, searching for what had disturbed him. The woman was almost six feet tall, even wearing flats. The dress she wore was a pale gray that matched her eyes. It was loose but gave the impression of generous curves beneath. Curly brown hair tumbled around her shoulders. Streaks of gray ran through the front part so the strands framed her face. And what a face it was. Her lips were full, her chin slightly rounded. High cheekbones brought his gaze back to her eyes, which widened beneath thick, dark lashes.

Part of him hadn’t believed the white wolf, or hadn’t wanted to, but there was no denying the vision before him. The gray streaks in her hair matched the color of his hair, and her eyes were a mirror image of his. Their eyes met, and she came to an abrupt stop. Every muscle in his body tensed, poised to give chase if she ran. He couldn’t take his eyes off her. It was as if a switch had been flipped inside him.

Lust warred with surge of possessiveness and the unexpected urge to protect. When she licked her lips, his jeans grew tighter. He clamped down on his emotions, exerting iron control over his wayward body. Last thing he needed was a hard-on in the middle of an art opening.

She squared her shoulders and made her way toward him. His wolf whined, wanting to rub against her, mark her with his scent. Ignoring the creature, he focused on the woman. There might be gray strands in her hair, but her skin was smooth and unlined. Her lips glistened, not with lipstick but with what seemed to be some kind of gloss. He sniffed. Cherry, if he wasn’t mistaken.

He had a sudden craving for the sweet fruit.

“What do you think of the painting?” Her soft, lyrical voice skated over his skin like a caress. He barely kept from shuddering. He was acting like a teenager with his first woman, not a hundred-year-old immortal werewolf. He’d seen more beautiful women. Hell, he’d bedded them. But right here and now, he could bring none of their faces to mind, all of them eclipsed by the loveliness of the one before him.

Magic, he reminded himself. His emotions were being manipulated. Devlin had warned that the attraction would be immediate, that he’d feel as though she belonged to him on an instinctive level. Not that it would be like a punch to the gut.

Her head tilted to one side, and her brow furrowed. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine.” What had she asked him? Right, the painting. “It’s well executed.”

At his lack of enthusiasm, her beautiful eyes shuttered and her lips tightened. “If the style or subject matter doesn’t appeal, we have various others you might enjoy.”

“I want to buy it.”

“Really?” Her eyes lit up. When she smiled, it was as though the heavens smiled. Christ, he was getting downright poetic.

“Yes.” His voice was gruffer than he intended, but he was fighting off this unwanted attraction and trying to yank his attention back to the reason he was here. “But I want to meet the artist or no deal.”

She nibbled on her bottom lip and then stuck out a hand. “I’m Luna West. The artist in question.”

…

It was rude, but Luna couldn’t stop staring at the man. Rough around the edges with his scruffy jaw and leather jacket, he should have looked completely out of place. Instead, everyone around him faded into the background, paling in comparison.

Towering over her, she estimated he stood at least six-and-a-half feet, maybe slightly more. His hair was a pale, foggy gray that fell in thick strands to his broad shoulders. It was an unusual shade, better suited to an older man, but there was nothing elderly about him. This was a man in his prime. There were no signs of dark roots, either. Maybe it was natural, like the two thick locks she had on either side of her face. She pegged him to be in his thirties, mostly because of the air of confidence surrounding him.

Her hand hovered in the air. Feeling silly, she began to lower it when his snapped out and caught it. Strong, tanned fingers closed around hers, surrounding them in warmth.

“Kade Alvarez.” His deep voice sent a shiver down her spine and tingles to more intimate spots that hadn’t tingled in a very long time. “You painted this?”

“Yes.” Long seconds passed. He continued to hold her hand while she stared at him, unable to look away. God, I’m being an idiot, mooning over a potential client. If Chelsea caught her, she’d be in big trouble.

Tugging her hand back, she surreptitiously rubbed it against her dress. It was impossible to think with him touching her. She focused on the one painting her boss had allowed her to hang, and that was because one of the featured artists had come up short. It wasn’t something the gallery would normally display—something else Chelsea had repeatedly informed her—but Luna was proud of her work.

“Why the gray wolf?” The way he worded his question had her glancing sharply his way. His profile was strong, his jaw firm. Her fingers itched to capture his profile on paper. He gave the impression of a man holding himself under tight control.

“I’ve always had a fascination with wolves.” Most children had stuffed teddy bears or dolls. She’d gravitated to a plush wolf one of her parents’ friends had given her, dragging it everywhere. As she’d grown, so had her interest until it had become an obsession. When she’d begun to draw, they’d been her favorite subject.

He angled his big body so he was facing her, blocking her view of the room and creating an intimate oasis. The intensity in his eyes, the flex of a muscle in his jaw had her backing up a step.

“Ah, I should get my boss. I work for the gallery.” She clamped her lips together, aware she was babbling. It was unlike her. She was known for her poise, the ease with which she dealt with clients. It was what made her good at her job.

Physical attraction aside, something about Kade triggered all her warning bells. She’d grown up surrounded by manipulative, self-centered, narcissistic people. Had learned how to sort them into two categories—harmless and dangerous. While she had no idea about his overall personality, he definitely fell into the second one.

This was a man used to getting what he wanted. For a man dressed in jeans and a leather jacket, he had the confidence of a man with money or power or both. When she went to go around him, he stepped in front of her, blocking her escape. “Answer my question. Why this particular gray wolf?”

Her chin went up, and she glared. Not that it did any good. His expression was implacable, his determination like steel. “If you must know, I dream about him.”

It sounded stupid to admit something like that out loud, but she’d been dreaming about the gray wolf most of her life. The animal had been a comfort and friend when she was younger. Lately, something had changed between them when she entered the realm of sleep. He’d as likely run away from her as to her. The conflicting vibes had left her bewildered and melancholic. Rather than go to therapy—she’d had enough of that as a child—she did what she always had when life got to be too much. She painted.

Until recently, she’d only sketched her childhood imaginary friend. Their relationship was too personal to share, but his defection had caused her to start painting him. Some unknown impulse—one she was currently regretting—had driven her to bring this particular canvas for the showing tonight.

“You dream about him,” he repeated her words back to her.

“Yes.” Crossing her arms over her chest, she all but dared him to make something of it. “It’s unconventional but not unusual for a creative person to have vivid dreams.” The damn therapist her parents had hired had assured her of that more than once. She wasn’t crazy. She had an active imagination. One she’d put to good use.

“How much?”

“What?”

The cords of his thick neck tightened as he canted his head toward the painting. “How much?”

An icy chill surrounded her. She glanced at the painting and back at Kade, uncertain she wanted to part with it. The image of the wolf came from her heart, her very soul. Selling it would be like selling a piece of herself. “Twenty thousand.” She named the outrageous sum ten times the actual asking price.

“Sold.”

Her arms dropped back by her sides. “What?”

Reaching out, he slid one finger down the side of her face, the unexpected warmth seeping into her skin. Goose bumps rose on her arms. “I’ll take it.”

“We don’t accept checks.” They did, but from established clients, which he wasn’t. She’d lose her job if Chelsea heard her talking to a customer this way. Well, tough shit. She worked here because she loved art and people, not because she needed the money. There was no denying the commission she’d make from the sale would pad her bank account nicely, but more than that, it would take her career as an artist to the next level.

He casually reached into the back pocket of his jeans, pulled out his wallet, and removed a sleek black credit card. “Will this do?”

A fine tremble started at her toes and rose until her entire body was shaking. She’d seen a card like this once before when a Saudi Arabian businessman had stopped into the gallery to buy a gift for his wife. An elite portion of society had them. They had no limit.

“Why do you want it?” The one area of her life where she had confidence was her art. She knew she was good. Damn good. But she was an unknown artist, the subject matter was unlike anything else in the place, and the asking price was beyond steep.

“Because it belongs to me.” He reached up and carefully stroked his fingers over the painting, pausing on the marking on the wolf’s chest.

Images of that same strong hand caressing her naked skin made her breath catch in her throat. Her nipples tightened beneath her clothes. Heat spiraled down, pooling between her legs. She must have made a small sound because his head jerked back toward her. His nostrils flared. His gray eyes narrowed. Then he smiled. There was nothing pleasant about it. It was the smile of a predator that’d scented prey. An image popped into her head of the big bad wolf and Red Riding Hood.

Stop it! Her imagination was out of control. He was a powerful man with money, used to getting his way. You’ve handled his kind before. Ignoring her wayward body, she took a breath to center herself. “If you’ll come with me, I’ll deal with your purchase.”

“I’ll take care of our guest.” Chelsea stepped into view. She was smiling, but there was a tightness around her eyes and mouth that said she was anything but pleased. Luna hadn’t heard or seen her boss approaching but had never been happier to see her, in spite of her mood.

“Of course,” she murmured. It was the only acceptable answer if she wanted to keep her job. Luna might rake in sales, but she wasn’t the owner. “This is Chelsea, owner and manager of the gallery.”

She gave a low laugh. “No introduction necessary. We’re already acquainted.”

Something dark and deadly stirred inside Luna at her boss’s possessive tone. Her gaze narrowed on where Chelsea’s hand gripped Kade’s arm. How well acquainted were they? Not her business. He was nothing to her. What did she care what they did together?

Except she did.

“We met briefly when I walked in earlier this evening.” His tone was so cold and dismissive Luna half expected ice crystals to form in the air around him. “I was speaking to Luna about her painting that I wish to purchase.”

Either Chelsea was dense or refused to believe she couldn’t charm Kade—likely the latter—because she laughed again and rubbed her shoulder against his. “Are you sure you want this painting? There are more sophisticated ones downstairs by established artists.”

The dig to her work made her wince, but she quickly evened out her expression, not wanting to show how much it hurt. Feeling like a third wheel, she stepped away.

“Tony needs help downstairs.” It wasn’t a suggestion but an order.

Swallowing her anger, she backed away. “I’ll see to it. By the way, the purchase price is twenty thousand.” Gaining some satisfaction at the shock on her boss’s face, she headed to the stairs.

Without looking back, she felt Kade’s eyes on her as she walked away.

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Release Date: May 1, 2024 Page Count: Content Warning: Read Content Warning No content warning available for this book. ×

Release Date: May 1, 2024

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Release Date: May 1, 2024

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