Cupid's Enchantment (Naughty Cupid I)

Rhiannon felt her stomach churn, growling viciously at her for food. She leaned back over to cup more water, drinking before splashing more onto her face. As she rinsed her hands, she sighed. She heard another growl and abruptly stopped. It wasn't her stomach making the noise.

Her eyes wide, she gradually looked around her, careful not to move too quickly. She had no weapon and wouldn't be able to fight off whatever wild beast was nearby. She curled her fingers, retracting from the chill of the water as they bound into fists.

Behind her the forest was dense--too dense to see through. She noticed the leaves were large and pale. The clear stream curled through the trees, making its own clearing. Along the shores were wide paths. The dirt floor was covered with the littering of leaves and twigs. Sunlight shone in from the break in the trees, glistening like liquid crystals on the top of the glassy water. A log fell over the stream at a shallow point to make a natural bridge between the two shores.

Rhiannon slowly got to her feet, slipping slightly on moss that grew along the water's stony edge. Her feet were bare, and her toes cold and numb. She was stiff and stabs of pain radiated up her legs. Her gown was covered in mud and it weighed her down as she tried to move. She continued to slip, but she intended on making the bridge and didn't stop to look for better footing.

Whatever growled had been on this side of the stream. She had every intention of getting herself to the other side before it found her. Inching along, she saw a branch and lifted it before her like a broadsword.

"Rrrrrr."

Rhiannon stiffened at the low rumble. Whatever it was, it was to her left and it definitely wasn't human. She continued to inch as quietly as possible. Angling the branch in the creature's direction, she backed away.

"Rrrrrr."

Oh, no! she thought in terror. That growl was to the right. She froze, tears of apprehension coming to her scratchy eyes as she awaited another sound.

All of a sudden, a low resonation started around her, coming from the forest like a demonic chorus, rumbling through her body as if the earth shook beneath her feet. Whatever made the noise, it wasn't alone. Jerking into action, Rhiannon ran for the bridge. The branch fell from her shaking fingers. To her horror, a large gray wolf jumped out from the trees, blocking her path.

The creature's teeth snarled viciously, snapping to keep her back. The thick fur along its spine stood on end as it postured. Its yellow eyes stared at her--dangerous and probing. She thought them too knowledgeable for the eyes of a wild beast. It was almost as if he calculated her next move.

The first wolf was soon followed by others--all shades of brown and gray. Their bodies were too large to be ordinary wolves or dogs, as they were three times the size of such. They formed a snarling blockade around her, preventing any retreat but to the water. Rhiannon took to the icy stream without a second thought, splashing away from the beast-covered shore, praying the creatures couldn't swim. They inched closer, sniffing at her from the dry land, watching her, wanting her, salivating for her.

Rhiannon cried out in fear. Mud from her dress and hair swirled into the water, trailing downstream. She'd never seen anything like these creatures before. They were terrifying! Her heart leapt as she hit deeper water. The current tried to pull her with it, but she fought it, using every bit of energy she had. Her hair tangled around her in a muddy mess, sticking to her face. It was hard going backwards, but she didn't dare look away as she paddled her arms and kicked her legs for swifter speed.

To her horror, the gray wolf crept closer to the shoreline. She could see its nostrils flaring as he touched an oversized paw slowly into the cold water. The others skulked behind him. Rhiannon pumped her limbs faster, whimpering. Her legs tangled into the heavy skirts of her tunic gown. For a moment, she thought she would go under. Her head dipped. The cold stung her limbs, burning up into her nose.

All of a sudden, a dark brown beast lurched forward to jump after her. Rhiannon pumped her limbs faster, fighting to stay up, propelling her body back. A chaos of movement followed the brown wolf's daring. Another, lighter wolf, launched after the bold creature to stop its attack on her. They rolled along the shoreline, snapping and fighting. Soon all the creatures brawled, skirmishing with each other more than looking at her.

As she hit shallow water, Rhiannon braced her feet into the streambed and stood. Turning around, she concentrated on running. Water dripped from her clothes, causing a horrific chill now that the breeze hit upon her wet skin. Her movements were labored from the extra weight of her soaked dress and her muddy hair blocked her vision. She didn't stop to right the locks as she pushed onward toward the shore.

Rhiannon only made it as far as the edge before she was snatched up by two strong hands on her arms. She yelped in surprise and weakly squirmed against the hold. The hands shook her until she stilled and then proceeded to haul her forward onto the bank. She was clasped in a vise like grip, almost bruising in its strength. Her bare feet sank into the muddy shore and her face was inches away from a warm chest.

Slowly, Rhiannon registered that the hands felt human and was thankful for it. She tried to move her cold body toward the protective warmth. The hands held her away and she was too frail to resist them. Her head bobbed forward on her neck, her energy almost spent. Rhiannon vaguely heard the man before her roar like a beast. The sound stirred her from the blackness that crept over her mind. Unexpectedly, the growling stopped and the forest was again silent. She gasped for breath, struggling to stay awake.

Lord Ilar, Commander of the Lycan Guard, held the scared female before his naked chest. Seizing her slender arms in his hands, he kept her from running. His eyes blazed with a liquid heat to see the havoc she wrought upon his men. Never had he seen the lycan guards act in such a way, nearly killing each other over a mere female. If she had continued to run, she would only have made matters worse. The lycan liked nothing more than a good chase, and to chase a pleasing, unmated female was the ultimate indulgence.

With a roaring order, he told the men to retreat. The woman jolted at the sound of his harsh voice but he didn't let her go. The lycan guards snarled and snapped at him in a never before seen protest. But, to Ilar's relief, they obeyed and retreated back into the forest, disappearing in the trees.


Ilar frowned. His men had fought furiously over the woman and he couldn't imagine what was wrong with them. In all his years as their Commander, he'd never seen them so undisciplined. The guards never battled to such an extent over a female. He'd almost thought it a joke when he heard their anger in his head. The psychic mind link that connected them had risen up like never before, until Ilar feared his men were under magical assault.

Suddenly, he noticed what was wrong. A soft scent wafted up to him, tempting him with pleasure. He scowled, leaning over to sniff the woman's dirt covered head. Hot desire flooded into his limbs, making his body lurch in instant response. He pulled back, displeased. Something was definitely wrong with her. Maybe it was a magical attack after all.

"Wake up, Rhian, wake up."