MALCOM
Malcom had been living on his own for quite some time. His solidarity wasn’t by choice. The solace he sought out was his punishment. It is what happened to any a wolf who openly took a stand against the wishes of the pack’s alpha.
Her name was Serene. She was beauty, peace, light, all things good wrapped up into one amazing being. And Malcom loved her entirely, but the love he possessed for her was outlawed. Wolf numbers were dwindling and entire packs were quickly going into extinction thanks to the out lash of increased vampire attacks. It was made law that wolves were only to pair with their own kind. Malcom took a vow to follow that law, before he met Serene, before he fell in love with a human.
Vincent, his alpha, had allowed it, their flirtations, even the abundance of time they spent together. He would often joke about it; make quick jabs at Malcom’s involvement with her. Vincent made a mistake when he assumed it was nothing to be concerned about, that the wolf could never love this human girl. Malcom was after all his second in command bonded to stand by the leader’s side through all things. And like a beta male should, Malcom followed him blindly. Vincent was the alpha, his word was law.
It quickly became clear to Malcom that his feelings were more than simple pleasantries. Foolishly he approached Vincent, thought that he could appeal to his better side. His mistake was assuming that the wolf possessed a better side. They were friends, had been by each other’s side for centuries. He assumed that Vincent’s fondness of him was more than the limited affection of an owner for his lap dog. Malcom was there to do the dirty work of their leader. And he did more than his lot of that for him. But apparently that did not count for much; to Vincent it counted for nothing at all.
When brought his intention to marry Serene to Vincent, he became outraged. He scolded the wolf and told him if he ever saw his human love again that he would be banished and disowned by the pack. He not only threatened Malcom’s life but Serene’s as well. Vincent told Malcolm that he was foolish and a traitor and threatened to strip him of his title. His threats were supposed to inflict fear, the assumption that Malcom would be easily swayed by the idea of losing his standings in the pack. Vincent was horribly incorrect.
CHAPTER ONE
~LIGHT~
The first time Malcom saw Serene he was sitting at a park, on a bench, after a very long jog. Werewolves produce a constant flow adrenaline. It makes for easy shifts but it needs to be burned off just as quickly as it is produce. If not, it builds up in the system and can cause wolves to get seriously out of control. If they got sloppy and people got hurt. She was jogging along the path on the other side of the park. He couldn’t see her but he caught her scent that crossed over on the wind and that was enough. It was instant, the attraction, sight unseen. It did more to him that just nudge his loins. I felt things stir inside of me that had been dormant for nearly 100 years. Suddenly all of those damn sensors that light up with pleasure awakened in my stomach, chest and mind. He jumped up from the bench and ran for her. He couldn’t help himself. It was not a decision of a conscious mind to go after this woman who clearly was off limits to the wolf. The scent of her was laced with her human blood. Malcom’s movement, his race to her, was pure animal instinct. He was claiming her with each stride, marking her as his own and he didn’t stop his pace until he got to her. And once he had her, felt the warmth of her flesh and inhale the full body scent of her life, he refused to let her go.
