The Wolf's Capture Read online

  The Wolf’s Capture

  Jenika Snow

  THE WOLF’S CATURE

  By Jenika Snow

  www.JenikaSnow.com

  [email protected]

  Copyright © July 2018 by Jenika Snow

  First E-book Publication: July 2018

  Cover photo provided by: Adobe Stock

  Editor: Kasi Alexander

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: The unauthorized reproduction, transmission, or distribution of any part of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to five years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

  This literary work is fiction. Any name, places, characters and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or establishments is solely coincidental.

  Please respect the author and do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials that would violate the author’s rights.

  Contents

  Newsletter

  The Wolf’s Capture

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Epilogue One

  Epilogue Two

  Coming Next: The Bear’s Capture

  I. Excerpt: Something Fierce (Underground, 1)

  Want more?

  About the Author

  Newsletter

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  It should have just been a simple vacation, away from everyone and everything to clear my head. But I soon realized I wasn’t alone.

  He stalked me, hunted me. I should’ve run faster, tried harder. But the truth was I liked him chasing me.

  Wolf was a ruthless man, his way of living barbaric. Now he had me in his off-the-grid cabin, what he deemed my new home. I was his new wife, would have his babies.

  I was his irrevocably.

  I shouldn’t have felt arousal. But I did.

  He’s not going to let me escape ... but then again, maybe I don’t want to.

  Warning: This one has bite to it—even if it’s NOT paranormal! As per the usual ... it’s short and fast and pretty unrealistic … but it gets right down to the juicy bits. It’s one of those stories that will have you wanting to find your own Wolf in the woods.

  1

  Ruby

  A two-week vacation.

  It would be just me, a cabin in the woods, hiking to clear my head ... and nothingness. It’s what I desperately needed. Maybe I should have spent the time and money going to someplace tropical or exotic, or maybe gone to Europe and explored ancient cities and culture.

  But the truth was taking a road trip, nothing but the vastness and my own company, sounded pretty amazing.

  I packed the last of my bags in the back of my car and closed the trunk.

  At twenty-three I was ready for a break from the real world. With my only family—my mom and dad—living five states away, and my only “friends” being my co-workers, I was no stranger to being alone. I craved it even, embraced it. I had always loved the solitude being by myself entailed, and so going off for these fourteen days was perfect for me.

  But even though I desired that solitude, the fact remained I was lonely. I had no one, nothing of importance close to me. I went to work day in and day out, did my job, paid my bills. I worked my ass off, to be honest, and because of that I had no debt. Then again, I didn’t buy anything of value. I didn’t splurge, didn’t treat myself. I saved and bought the essentials. And what a boring, simplistic life that made.

  I’d rented a cabin an hour from where I lived, deep in the heart of the mountains. I don’t even think it had electricity, but going off the grid and reconnecting from everything was perfection right now.

  Working for a publishing company as an advice columnist was surprisingly draining and stressful and not what I really wanted to do. Hell, at my age I should have known what I wanted to be when I “grew up” but I didn’t and it was depressing. It was corporate America where I was surrounded by concrete and high rises. And no amount of relaxation when I was off the clock could really make me feel better.

  Although the cabin had no electricity I was prepared with portable chargers, a small propane stove, a case of batteries, and everything else I’d need for the next two weeks. I wouldn’t have to leave the cabin at all for as many supplies as I’d packed.

  Once in the driver’s seat I looked over at the passenger side, my laptop case sitting there like a trusty old friend. Although I was disconnecting from work, social media, and technology in general, I still brought my laptop in the hope that I would get a little time to focus on the book I was writing. It was just a memoir, something probably nobody would ever read but me, but it helped to clear my head and I found it relaxing.

  The place I rented was a small one-bedroom cabin out in the woods. It didn’t even have running water, but a cistern. But I’d packed enough gallons of water I was set. Bathing, on the other hand, would be an interesting feat. So I’d work on my book until my laptop decided to die. Then it was just me and myself, this time allowing me to focus on absolutely nothing.

  I brought in the last box of the supplies and leaned against the counter, breathing heavily as exhaustion settled in. I had a couple battery-powered lanterns on, the sun had set an hour before, the darkness this deep in the woods almost suffocating. I walked out onto the small porch out front and leaned against the banister, staring up at the stars.

  The sky was so clear out here, the stars so bright. There were no lights from the city, no activity of life all around. It was nice and peaceful, but there was a touch of fear that I couldn’t quite shake. I knew it was because I was out here alone, that not even my cell phone got reception if I needed to call for help.

  It had fear but also excitement running through me, which was a strange combination. This is what I’d wanted, though, right? Of course it was a rhetorical question.

  Once the sun rose and I’d be able to get things situated, the food packed away, I knew my mind would start to clear.

  I headed back inside, shut and locked the door, and walked over toward the bedroom. I’d already set my suitcase on the full size mattress. The scent of pine was strong. I stared at the lantern, the small device casting an abundance of white light in the room. Once in a pair of sweats and oversized shirt, I got on the bed. Lying back on the mattress, I had my hands behind my head and stared at the wooden beams that made up the ceiling.

  I was too tired to start a fire tonight, but that was on my list of things to do tomorrow. There was a woodshed beside the cabin, the owner letting me know that I could use as much as I wanted. I had been lucky to find this place, a friend of a friend putting in a good word for me. This was a private property, one not rented out to the public. And it was perfect.

  The stress was already draining away, and as I reached over and shut off the lantern, casting the room in darkness, I dreamt that this wasn’t just a vacation, but my actual life.

  Wolf

  I’d seen her arrive at the cabin last night, her flash of red hair like its own beam of sun. I’d wanted her instantly, my body reacting in ways it never had before.

  Instant wood.

  Heart racing.

  Everything in me demanding she was mine.

  I’d seen her before on one of the rare occasions I’d gone into town, a pretty little thing who looked so damn innocent and vulnerable I’d just wanted to take a bite out of her
.

  It had to be fate that had her staying at the cabin just a short mile from mine. It had to be destiny that I’d be out hunting and see her arrive.

  She was alone, boxes of what I assumed were supplies telling me she planned on staying here for quite some time.

  Good, it would give me time to plan, to decide how to make her mine.

  And I would. Fuck, I’d make her my captive.

  2

  Ruby

  With no electricity, I hadn’t brought anything that needed refrigeration. Dried milk wasn’t exactly palatable, but it would serve its purpose for cereal in the morning and being put in my coffee. I grabbed one of the bowls and started putting the fresh fruit in it. Boxed dinners, canned goods, pasta, sauce, all of that was what I’d be eating for the next two weeks. Not exactly the healthiest food choices, but I would sacrifice that for no electricity and some peace and quiet for the next fourteen days.

  Taking an apple and heading out to the porch, I sat down and sunk my teeth into the crisp flesh. The sun had risen a couple hours ago and although it was probably stifling hot in town, up here in this altitude it was perfect. I watched a chipmunk run across the ground, saw a bird fly overhead and land on a nearby tree branch.

  The solitude was perfection. I almost wished I could stay here forever, not worrying about anyone or anything.

  I finished the apple and set the core on the banister. Kicking my feet up on the wicker ottoman, I closed my eyes and just relaxed. A breeze kicked up, teasing a tendril of my hair along my cheek. I felt myself dozing off but just as sleep would’ve taken hold the sound of twigs snapping close to the cabin had me opening my eyes and sitting up.

  Stillness. Quiet.

  Standing, I curled my hands around the wooden banister and looked out at the woods. The dirt road that led up to the cabin was off to my right, but other than that thick trees surrounded me. I didn’t hear anything else for long seconds, but I felt somebody watching. It was that feeling you got when you knew you weren’t alone, when that realization that there was something else, someone else close by that had the hairs on your arms standing at attention.

  I saw nothing, heard nothing, but I felt something deep, as if whoever was out there, whatever was out there was reaching across the distance and running fingers along my skin.

  Everything tightened in me and I took a step away from the banister. My heart beat fast, my palms starting to sweat. My hands shook slightly as I curled them into tight fists at my side.

  Swallowing the thick lump in my throat, I turned and headed back inside, shutting the door and locking it. And as much as I should have been afraid right then, I didn’t feel anything but excitement and anticipation. That in itself frightened me more than what was lurking close by, waiting for ... me.

  Wolf

  Even from this distance I swore I could smell her, this intoxicating aroma that had my dick hard and every possessive instinct in my body alert. I’d held back, let my self-control take supremacy over the situation. But the slightest slip and I would have crumbled, would have let my baser urges override everything else.

  I would have gone to her, demanded she was mine, tell her I was taking her home.

  I was a fiend in this moment, seeing her and knowing instantly that she was to be mine. I wanted her and I’d have her. There was no going around it, no trying to stop it.

  3

  Ruby

  I shoved a bottle of water and a few granola bars in my bag and adjusted it on my back. Heading through the woods, I listened to the sound of birds overhead, smelled the scent of pine and wilderness slamming into my nose. I smiled, feeling the weight of my backpack behind me, my laptop tucked away inside until I could find a nice little spot to sit and write.

  It would be perfection.

  For an hour I walked, sweat starting to line the valley between my breasts. I could get used to this, the peace and quiet, the solitude. I found a nice little clearing, a few overturned logs being the perfect bench for me to sit on as I cracked open my laptop and let the words pour out.

  Making my way over to one of the logs, I was about to sit down when I heard twigs snapping behind me. I felt my breathing increase as my fear took hold. I wasn’t alone, and I wasn’t referring to the wild animals that surrounded me.

  There was someone close. In fact, I’d felt that I was being watched since the moment I stepped foot on the property of the cabin. Although I’d never seen anyone, that feeling of eyes on me was strong and intense.

  Swallowing the thick lump in my throat, I looked around. I didn’t see anyone at first, but the hairs on my arm stood on end, adrenaline slamming into me.

  “Hey there, Little Red Riding Hood.”

  My heart stopped at the sound of his voice. I felt him come up behind me, his body heat slamming into me. I didn’t turn around, but instead curled my hands at my sides, my breathing increasing. His voice was so deep, dark. It had chills racing along my arms, had the hair standing on the back of my neck.

  Bringing my tongue out and licking my lips, I kept my focus straight ahead, the large redwoods surrounding me, the sound of birds overhead filling me. And although I’d never heard that voice before, I knew who it was.

  Wolf Jagger.

  He was an enigma, a loner who only came to town every blue moon for supplies. He didn’t talk to people, didn’t even look at them. I’d only seen him a couple of times over the years, his big, muscular body intimidating.

  I slowly turned around then, seeing him only a few feet from me. His body was honed to masculine perfection, bulging biceps and broad shoulders. He was a beast, with shaggy dark hair and a mountain man style beard.

  Neither of us said anything for long seconds but we held each other’s gazes. It was intense and consuming, the air between us thick and suffocating. It was like no noise surrounded us, just this fog of awareness that seemed to seep into every part of my body.

  I found myself taking a step back, not sure why because fear was not what I felt in this moment. Wolf was all man, big and strong, and made me feel extremely feminine. And those couple of times I’d seen him in passing my body had become inflamed.

  “You’re out here all alone?”

  Although he phrased it like a question I could tell he already knew the answer. “I should probably go,” I found myself saying but I couldn’t move. The truth was part of me didn’t want to go. I wanted to stay in this moment, in his presence. It was such a weird feeling, almost misplaced even, but it was real.

  He didn’t say anything and I found myself taking another step back. Licking my lips once more, I saw that he dipped his gaze down to watch the act. My heart started racing, my pulse jumping into my throat. It felt like a steady war drum.

  Beat.

  Beat.

  Beat.

  And then I turned and started making my way back to the cabin, feeling his gaze locked on me the entire time. I don’t know why I wanted to turn around and go back to him but the sensation was strong in me. Instead I took control of my resolve, picking up my pace. I was insane for how I felt, should be frightened.

  But it excited me.

  I found myself moving faster, my legs taking me to the cabin quicker than I really wanted. I still felt him watching. Was he following me? Fear should have been a strong sensation in me but all I felt was anticipation. I looked over my shoulder but didn’t see him. And just as I turned back around again, my foot got caught on a large rock, propelling me forward. I cried out just as my knees hit the ground. I didn’t have time to stop myself from going down, not when I saw the rocks come right for my face.

  Pain exploded in my head and down my entire body as my skull cracked against the hard forest floor. White stars danced in front of my vision, my cheek pressed against the dirt as I blinked several times. The throbbing behind my temples intensified as the seconds ticked by.

  And then darkness swept over and claimed me.

  ****

  Wolf

  It took everything in me not to go to her,
toss her over my shoulder, spank that sweet little ass of hers, and take her back to my home.

  Our home.

  Because she would be mine whether she knew it or not. But I could tell she knew it. The way her pupils had dilated, her pulse beating rapidly beneath her ear. She’d started breathing heavier, faster. Her nipples had hardened, pressed against the thin material of her T-shirt.

  But I let her walk away, watched as she disappeared behind the thick lining of trees. My feet moved on their own, taking me toward her, refusing to let her leave. She needed to see that she was mine, that being with me was what was right. It didn’t matter that she didn’t know me from Adam. It didn’t fucking matter that my possessiveness and obsession bordered on stalking at this point.

  I’d been without a female for far too long—years if I was being honest—and I’d never been interested in one the way I was with this beauty. I just had to convince her that staying with me in the middle of nowhere meant I could still give her everything she needed, everything she desired.

  I was stealthy as I followed her, could even smell the sweet scent of flowers and honey that came from her. It invaded my senses, made me drunk with my need for her.

  And then I saw her go down, not fast enough to get to her before her head cracked on the rock. And then I was kneeling before her, pulling her unconscious, curvy body into my arms, holding her close. She felt perfect in my arms, so fucking perfect that I was never letting her go.