Matthew's Return [Wolves of Climax 3] (Siren Publishing LoveXtreme Forever - Serialized) by Stacey Espino

careful. There’re bear traps around here.”
    She froze in place, not expecting to hear an unfamiliar man’s voice. There had been no warning, no footsteps, no rustling of leaves, nothing. It wasn’t Patrick or any of her men. Adrenaline surged through her veins as she tried to place the voice.
    “Who’s there?” she whispered, wishing she’d imagined the voice. There was a deep, masculine chuckle. It sounded too loud in the stark quiet.
    “I’m not so sure of that myself.”
    She remained silent, frozen in place. So far her experiences of meeting men in the woods had been negative—first Ryder, then Corbin. She also had to consider the killer on the loose.
    “I’ve never seen you before. Surely I’d remember you if I had.” Now she heard the distinct sound of a footstep. A twig snapped, then another. “My head’s killing me. I’ve probably drank too much.”
    Great. Isolated in the bush with a drunk. If she ran for it, it would take a good fifteen minutes to reach the road, but there were trees at every turn which would slow her down. “My boyfriend is only a couple minutes away.”
    “A human?” She felt the brush of his fingers against her neck. “But I scent wolves.”
    “We were almost attacked by wolves. They’re dangerous beasts in the woods, killing hikers by the dozens. But you should know that if you live around here.”
    “And I suppose you’re another tasty treat sent to entice them?”
    She mentally forced herself to calm down, taking a cleansing breath. “Are you going to hurt me?”
    “Why would I do that? I may be a bit confused right now, but I know I’d never hit a woman…or eat one.”
    For some reason his comment sounded sexual to her ears, but then again, Patrick had eaten her pussy less than an hour ago. Her mind was obviously in the gutter, and it didn’t help that this guy’s voice was like erotic music to her ears. “What’s your name?” she asked.
    “I told you, my mind hasn’t been right since I woke up. Can’t even recall my own name.” He made an exasperated sound, bringing down her hackles slightly.
    “Scott. Is your name Scott?” Was this the half brother she’d been looking for? Had he been trying to survive the night, only to wake up dazed and confused? Perhaps some men beat him up, leaving him with temporary amnesia.
    When he didn’t answer right away, her hopes soared.
    “That doesn’t sound familiar. Do I look like a Scott you know?”
    “I don’t know. I can’t even see you in this darkness. I suspect you have no difficulty seeing me?” By now she’d gotten a complex. Everyone could see in the night except her. She probably needed glasses. Without a history, she didn’t know if bad eyes ran in her family.
    “I see you with perfect clarity. Your eyes are blue, your hair the color of leaves in autumn.” He touched her face, but she turned away from him. She’d only trust Patrick right now, but he’d disappeared. She wanted no intimacy with this stranger.
    “How do you know about bear traps if you don’t even know your own name?”
    “I can’t explain it, but I know this forest. It feels like home…only my mind is fuzzy. It’s like I know the question, but can’t access the answer. The only thing I don’t recognize is you.”
    There was a distant gunshot which echoed through the forest, unsettling the wildlife. The faint murmur of multiple voices drew closer, along with hounds howling.
    “Fuck! We have to go.”
    He grabbed her hand and led her further down the hill, faster than her feet could carry her. She was terrified to smack head-on into a tree or trip over an exposed root. But the strange man held her hand and expertly weaved through the trees, ensuring she was directly behind him and out of harm’s way. He moved fast, as if it was high noon with everything visible with perfect clarity.
    “Were you the naked man on the road?” Her voice came out in a string of staggered words as she bounced along the maze. A painful