Wary Wolf

Copyright © 2023 by Naomi Porter All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed “Attention: Permissions Coordinator,” at the website listed below. Naomi Porter/Ocean Dreams Publishing www.naomiporter.com www.oceandreamspublishing.com Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental. Book Layout ©2017 BookDesignTemplates.com Ordering Information: Quantity sales. Special discounts are available on quantity purchases by corporations, associations, and others. For details, contact the “Special Sales Department” via email: [email protected]. Wary Wolf/ Naomi Porter -- 1st ed. ISBN 978-1-952423-63-5 WARY WOLF 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 1 Wolf A coldness raked down my spine and dread engulfed my soul, canceling the joy I’d felt for my brother, Ire, and his new wife. When Maddox hollered at Storm, the mood shifted from light to dark, and the old ladies’ lively and sexy performance, was totally forgotten. I followed the Prez and Track, who ran toward the front of the clubhouse, leaving Ire and Ava’s wedding reception. The guests stayed where they were. They knew how stuff worked in the MC and didn’t dare push the line despite their curiosity. I couldn’t go faster than a slug; my feet felt stuck in quicksand. And then… Trepidation churned in my gut. My heart ricocheted in my chest. I couldn’t breathe as I made out the shape of a woman sitting on a bench next to the building. Were my eyes playing tricks on me? No, my mind was playing tricks on me. It couldn’t be her. I squeezed my lids shut and rolled my hands into fists to force myself back to reality. It didn’t help. My ears dialed into the voices surrounding me, and my gaze settled on her. I held my breath, refusing to let my wild imagination make me crazy. It’s not her… Storm put his hands up slowly. “You’re safe here. We won’t hurt you.” “Raymond, where’s Raymond?” Her voice shook with terror and uncertainty. Storm was right; she didn’t need to be afraid of us. Nobody would harm her. “How do you know him?” Track asked, moving closer toward the girl. “He’s my brother.” My muscles spasmed, and I felt a magnetic pull guide me to the front of the crowd. The frightened mouse faced my MC brothers, clearly terrified, but her strength shone as she continued, “I was told to find Raymond. Is he here?” A protectiveness I hadn’t felt for anyone other than my Jill swelled inside me. I didn’t need confirmation from the meek woman to know she was the girl who’d haunted my dreams and controlled my every thought. Yet, I couldn’t move. “I’ll get him. Who do I tell him is asking for him?” Track asked. “Rosa, Rosa Remotti.” She covered her face with her hands and sobbed. “He’s supposed to help me.” That did it. No one would help her but me. I pushed a couple of guys out of the way, tore off my cut, and threw it. My heart felt like it would burst out of my chest as I removed the white button-down shirt I’d worn for the wedding. I crept toward Rosa, careful not to startle her, and put the cloth around her. She shook and turned her face up to mine. Her mouth fell open, and her soulless hazel eyes went wide. “You look cold, princess. Can I take you inside to warm you up?” I asked in a quiet voice. “Please don’t hurt me.” Tears streaked down her face, and I nearly lost it. “It would kill me if I hurt you.” Not giving her a chance to deny me, I lifted her tiny, featherlight body and cradled her against my broad chest. Christ, she was so cold and frail. And smelled like she hadn’t cleaned herself in weeks, maybe months. “Wait, what did you want to tell Raymond?” Track darted in front of me. I bit my tongue, almost shouting at him to get the fuck out of my way. But I refrained for the sake of the printsessa. Printsessa, printsessa, I said to myself in my native Russian language. Finally, after months of searching and dreaming about Rosa Morrison Remotti, the Mafia printsessa, she was in my care. “That the servant girl is dead. I’m sorry.” Her body shook, and I’d had enough of my brother’s questioning. “Shh, princess.” I moved around Track and carried her inside. “You’re safe now. I’ve been searching for you for a long time. I will never let anyone hurt you again.” My words came out like a vow. One I’d die before breaking. “Thank you,” Rosa rested her head against me, and her body went limp. I glanced down, finding her eyes closed. “Rosa?” Nothing. “Rosa?” I listened for her breathing, fearing she’d died in my arms like Jill. A soft moan set my heart at ease. “Wolf, Patch is coming,” Sugar said from behind me. “Take her down to one of the dorm rooms. I heard her directions but didn’t listen, going up the stairs to the counsel’s wing. “Wolf?” I growled and tightened my embrace. “Okay, I’ll tell Patch where to find you,” Sugar replied in a confused voice. I couldn’t explain my actions. All I knew was the printsessa needed to be safe, and I could protect her better in my suite. Nobody would bother her