Page 65 of The Mating Frenzy
12
Ella wasn’tcertain about the party they were attending. She seldom socialized and didn’t know if she’d fitin.
Not at a party filled withwerewolves.
That night, Kieran drove them to an exclusive, gated community that looked like the upscale neighborhoods she’d seen inColorado.
The security guard looked normal as he checked Kieran’s ID and let them through the gate. The homes, all with plenty of green space between them, looked normal. And the street lights, elegant sconces hanging overhead, looked normal,too.
And here she was supposed to turn into a wolf? It was like saying that she couldfly.
Then again, she knew her encounter on the beach with those creatures had been pure instinct driving her. She had not thought. Had done nothing more than react, a reflexive action as one would cover their head to protect it from flyingobjects.
Kieran pulled into a long, curved drive before an impressive two-story mansion. Lights blazed within. He parked and shut off the engine and then turned to her, pushing a lock of hair behind her ear. She smoothed down the floral silk dress with a nervoushand.
“You look lovely,” he said softly. “Remember, Ella-mine, if you get scared, breathe deep. Your wolf needs to come out and everything that transpires tonight is normal, for shifters, especiallyLupines.”
He got out and opened the door for her. Taking a deep breath, she took his hand and let him lead her to the frontdoor.
A butler in a severe black and white tuxedo greeted them and took her purse. Seeing him made her relax a little. Surely a pack of wild werewolves wouldn’t have abutler.
Maybe this was all role playing. Like gamersdid.
The butler escorted them into the living room in the back. He gave a funny, formalbow.
“The alpha is patrolling the grounds. Please enjoyyourselves.”
Ella stared after the butler as he departed. “Oddfellow.”
“He’s a Lupine. Smells just fine,” Kieran toldher.
As if that were reassuring? Ella dragged in a deep breath. But all she smelled was Kieran’s delicious scent of spices and crisp wintersnow.
Kieran’s gaze narrowed. “I must meet with Adrian. I’m the only cat shifter here, and there are protocols to be followed. You’ll be safe. Darcy’saround.”
“Maybe she’s disguised herself as a fly, hiding fromAdrian.”
The big cat dropped his voice. “She’s probably searching for the ruby crystal ball. She’d better watch it. With an alpha, she could turn herself into a mosquito and he would find her, if he sowishes.”
Kieran dropped a quick kiss on the cheek and vanished among thecrowd.
Ella amused herself by examining hersurroundings.
The house had cathedral ceilings, with skylights in the living room. An enormous wood entertainment set featured a wide screen television and shelves filled with DVDs. There was even a gaming console. Curious, she examined the titles on the shelves. Not being a gamer, she had never heard of these titles, but they all featured battles and war. One was called “Huntingprey.”
If these people were werewolves, they certainly loved theirgames.
Sturdy, masculine leather furniture in the living room was accented by whimsical paintings of wolves. Wolves playing, hunting,snarling.
Fascinated, she looked at the oils, and then her gaze riveted on a painting discreetly hung in an alcove. Ella went toward it. A furious blush ignited herbody.
In the artwork, a white female wolf bent her head submissively as a larger, white wolf mated behind her. The male wolf was snarling, in the throes of some savage sexual grip, and the female bared herteeth.
She felt a presence next to her and realized it was Darcy. Odd. She had not heard her, but something nudged her into realizing her former cat stood behindher.
Dressed in biker leathers, Darcy held a glass of milk. The sight amusedElla.
“Milk? At a cocktail party? Are you showing your cat side,Darce?”
