Little Red Riding Hood Read online

  Little Red Riding Hood

  Frisky Fairy Tales Book 5

  Nikki Dean

  FRISKY FAIRY TALES

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or

  reproduced in any manner whatsoever without permission, except

  in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and

  reviews.

  Copyright © 2018

  This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, locations,

  organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either

  products of the imagination or are used fictitiously. Any

  resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead,

  is entirely coincidental.

  This book is dedicated to Leana, for her endless support of my dreams and willingness to watch my kiddos at the last minute so that I can bring my fairy tales to life for you, my readers. None of this would be possible without her, and it would be pointless without you. Thank you all.

  Chapter 1

  The girl in red made her way through the forest, and a wolf followed.

  Daphne cursed as another stick made its way through the hole in her boot, stabbing her tender flesh. She knelt to fish it out and raised her eyebrow at the giant animal tracks she found littered among the bushes.

  I knew it, she thought with a flash of nervous triumph. Now what are they up to?

  “I know you’re there. You’re not as sneaky as you think,” she called out.

  No one answered her.

  “Come on now. I’ll tell your alpha that you were trampling around as loud as a cow heading to its trough unless you show yourself.”

  A menacing growl raised the hair on her arms. “That’s more like it,” she said, trying to sound casual. “You’re not scaring me, you know.”

  The growl rattled again, but in a different tone. “Maybe I should be.” A man stepped out from behind the trees.

  He was completely and utterly naked.

  “Well, you’ll certainly have to try harder than that.” She mentally groaned at her own statement. Note to self, Daphne. Don’t tell naked strangers in the woods to try harder at anything.

  Daphne’s hand barely shook as she slid it into her basket, wrapping her fingers around the compact crossbow that was hidden beneath her pastries.

  “How did you know I was here? And how do you know my alpha?” The man cocked his head as he studied her. “Who are you?”

  “You mean you don’t know?” Daphne scowled. I didn’t even put on the disguise this time. I did for the others, because I thought they might recognize me from my abduction. I suppose not. “You just stalk every woman in the woods?” The implication made her angry. “What were you planning to do with me?”

  His lips twisted up into an almost-smile. “Oh, I’m still going to do it, girl. Just wait. I only shifted because you intrigued me. I was going to chase you down in my other form, but the idea that you think you’ll survive this and have the chance to speak to my alpha entertained me. I get bored easily though, so the longer you stay interesting, the longer you last.”

  “It sounds like my lucky day,” she retorted sarcastically. He would have killed anyone walking by. Maybe I should let Ronan’s pack do it their way, after all.

  “I don’t know how lucky you’ll think you are in a few minutes.” He licked his lips as he eyes wandered down her body, pausing at her narrow hips, partially hidden beneath her voluminous red cloak. “You’re a little skinny, but I’ll still enjoy myself.”

  A little skinny, but he’ll still enjoy himself? Ha. Not if I have anything to do with it. She crossed her arms in front of her chest and narrowed her eyes in exasperation. “Look here, monsieur. I actually had to argue with myself about not killing you for quite some time, but you’re making me regret that effort. How about you agree to stop harassing strangers, and you just might live through the next few hours?” Maybe. Well, probably not, actually.

  He blinked at her, taken aback. A slow grin spread over his face and he took a step forward. It only got bigger when she pulled the compact crossbow out of her basket, already loaded with a tiny bolt.

  “What are you planning to do with that?” he taunted. “Toss it over so I can pick my teeth with it?”

  Daphne sighed. “I know. It’s ridiculous, isn’t it? I prefer other means. But I did promise to try it out.” She took aim and fired, shaking her head when the little arrow went wide. I’ll have to tell Papa that it’s too small. Needs more weight to fly true.

  The naked wolf man burst into laughter. Much more than Daphne felt was necessarily appropriate.

  “Well, as thrilling as this has been, I think it’s time to get on with things,” she muttered.

  "I completely agree,” he replied taking a step toward her. “Although I’m surprised that you’re so eager.”

  The werewolf licked his lips. “Or do you like it rough?”

  Power surged inside her, coursing through her veins. She raised a hand to casually tuck her hair behind one ear. Vines near the stranger’s feet rose up, shadowing the motion.

  He growled and jumped as one brushed against his backside. Dropping into a crouch, he threw a wild look over his shoulder.

  Nothing was there but the forest. A few leaves twisted in the breeze, but nothing looked out of the ordinary. Satisfied, he turned back to Daphne.

  She was gone.

  He looked around in confusion, unsure where she could have disappeared to. He took a deep breath, scenting the air. "You know you can't run from me, right? I can find you wherever you go.”

  "I'm counting on it.” Her voice floated back to him from out of the woods. He grinned, a sinister twisting of his lips over sharp teeth.

  The shifter dropped to all fours and transformed back into a giant wolf before taking off, leaves scattering in his wake. Daphne smiled as she watched him go, safely ensconced in the branches above. She waited several minutes before climbing down, confident that her cloaking spell would keep him from sniffing her out.

  “What do you think you’re doing?”

  Ronan’s angry hiss made her heart clench in surprised fear and she flinched. Jagged streaks of lightning erupted from her fingertips, streaking past him to hit a tree instead. Little bits of bark exploded outward, showering the ground around them.

  “Don’t sneak up on me like that!” she retorted, rubbing her shaking hands together. “I could have killed you!”

  “Why are you out here? It’s not safe by yourself.” His eyes narrowed as the breeze filtered through the woods, bringing a smorgasbord of damp smells along with it. “Then again, you’re not as alone as it would seem, I take it.”

  She scowled. “Not that it’s any of your business, but no, I’m not alone. I happen to be very busy with a nice man. If you’d come upon us a few minutes earlier, you’d have even seen him naked.”

  Ronan’s jaw tightened. Daphne couldn’t help but admire the lines of his face for a moment - the dusting of a dark beard, straight nose, high cheekbones and light brown eyes that were currently narrowed at her in anger.

  Humph. One would almost think he was worried, silly man. “What’s wrong, darling?” She drew the endearment out. “Afraid the big, bad wolf is going to eat me? Oh wait, you already did.” She pinned him with a glare of her own. “And I can’t say that I was overly impressed by the experience.” But I might be persuaded to let you do it again, if only I hadn’t heard you say you’re thinking of taking a new mate. Blasted werewolves.

  He snorted. “I just came to tell you to be careful,” he said with a growl. “We’ve had sightings of Voltair pack members in this area, and they’re apparently very angry about something.”

  Daphne tossed her dishwater blonde ha
ir over her shoulder as she cast a furtive glance around. The tree she’d hit still smoldered, the sap within it burning faster than the rain-soaked bark on the outside. There were no signs of her attacker, but Daphne bet he wasn’t far away.

  “It almost sounds like you’re concerned for my well-being. But I know that can’t be right after our last conversation.” Don’t show up now, she mentally begged the other werewolf. I can just imagine what Ronan would say if -

  The wolf burst back into their small clearing, panting. He transformed back into a man without hesitation, running at Daphne with a snarl.

  Ronan snarled back, the sound echoing through the trees as he jumped between them. Daphne cursed.

  “Dammit Ronan, move! You’re blocking my shot!”

  The two men crashed together, rolling across the forest floor. Daphne leaped out of the way.

  Energy flared between her fingers as she took aim, trying to get a clear shot. It was impossible.

  “Ronan, let him go! I can handle this by myself!” she cried out.

  They grappled together, each hitting the other when an opportunity opened up. Ronan shifted, his limbs elongating and fur erupting from his body as he transformed into a massive werewolf, by far bigger than his opponent.

  The other wolf man transformed as well, snapping at Ronan’s legs and neck. Ronan returned in kind and soon blood dripped from them both.

  Daphne glowered. She lifted her hands as she whispered a spell and vines sprang up around them, pulling the two beasts apart. Ronan growled in fury as she pinned the first wolf, then Ronan, securely to the ground.

  “I told you I had this.” She set her hands on her hips and glared down at him. “Why did you get in the way?”

  He transformed back into a human. A very naked human.

  Don’t think about it, don’t think about it, don’t think about it, Daphne told herself. If he doesn’t care, I don’t care. The barest hint of pink stained her cheeks anyway.

  “What the hell is going on here?” he demanded. “Let me go!”

  A flash of memory revealed him laid out on his back in the woods, vines wrapped around his wrists in a not-so-dissimilar fashion, but completely different circumstances. Recalling the way he’d looked, tied down as she rode him had her blushing a little more. Daphne prayed that he didn’t see.

  “Daphne.”

  The vines tightened by a fraction before they fell away, brown and withering. She turned from him without answering.

  “Daphne.” Something else threaded through his voice beneath the anger. She still didn’t respond, instead walking over to the other wolf that still thrashed against his bonds.

  She waited. His body rippled, then shrank as he shifted back into human form. “Just wait until I get my hands on you, you bitch. I’m going to make you pay -”

  “Enjoy this, bastard.” Electricity shot from her fingers for the second time that day, blasting him in the chest. His eyes bulged as his body was forced into the dirt, making a crater around him before he passed out.

  “Anton Voltair,” she said without looking back. “Do whatever you want with him. My job is done.”

  Ronan raised an eyebrow in surprise. “Voltair? That’s what you’re doing out here? Killing the Voltairs?” I never would have imagined, he thought with a grudging smidge of respect. But I should have. She’s always up to something, especially if it means finding Granny Rousseau. I’m sure the Voltairs, or someone with them, abducted her, but we have no proof.

  Not really related to any of them, the old enchantress had been a fixture in her cottage at Macconde Falls. She’d taken in wandering wolf cubs and the occasional lost child alike over the years, earning her the universal title of “Granny”. Ronan had grown up running in and out of her cottage, listening to her stories about magic and playing with her conjured creatures. Daphne had only met her recently though, when she agreed to be Granny’s apprentice. Now Granny was gone, and Daphne was a formidable enchantress on her own, determined to rescue the old lady.

  “No. I’m just capturing them, and leaving them on your pack’s land. You get to kill them if you want. Did you get my last three?”

  “We’ve been wondering why Voltair pack members would be in our territory. Claude found two of them while he was out on patrol. We questioned them, but didn’t get any useful information. Neither of them mentioned you.”

  “Of course not. I told them that I would skin them alive if they did.”

  He came up behind her, so close that she could feel the heat radiating from his bare chest. She had to resist the urge to lean back against him, to see if he’d wrap his strong arms around her like before. If he’d hold her like she actually meant something to him.

  “Daph…” He set his hand against her shoulder blade.

  She forced herself to move away. “Let me know what you find out from him. If anything. What have you been doing with the others?”

  “The usual,” he answered after a brief hesitation. “I have to give them an opportunity to join the pack.”

  She bristled.

  “But none of them have, so we’ve done challenges instead.”

  “Who fights?”

  “Me, of course.”

  Her chest tightened and she looked down at her hands. Studying them. “Well, I suppose it hasn’t been too bad then. You seem fine.”

  “No thanks to you.”

  The words were almost too quiet for Daphne’s human ears to hear. She whirled in outrage.

  “Look, I understand what you’re trying to do, but it’s not worth your life. He could have killed you, Daph. Any of them could have.”

  “And yet, they didn’t,” she retorted in anger. “Because they, like you, completely underestimate me.”

  “I don’t underestimate you,” he said between clenched teeth.

  “Oh, really? What do you call it then?”

  “I just worry about you. You should be with the pack, at least until we find Granny Rousseau. You can have your own place - I won’t bother you at all.” He tried to make that last part sound believable, like he could fight the draw to be near her. It worked.

  Of course you wouldn’t bother me. That would be too much effort for you, she thought angrily. “Don’t worry about me, I’m just the babysitter. Remember?”

  The werewolf on the ground in front of them groaned as his eyelids fluttered. Daphne shot him again, then walked away. The vines withered behind her, freeing his body for Ronan to deal with.

  “I miss you,” he said softly. Too softly. She disappeared in the underbrush, never once looking back.

  *****

  “Of all of the stupid, arrogant, jackass werewolves in the whole forest, why did I get stuck with him?” Daphne grumbled. “At least he finally admitted that me misses me. I suppose that's better than nothing. Even if he does consider me as just the babysitter.”

  A tiny bolt of energy flew from her fingertips, zapping the table beneath her hand. She scowled as she rubbed the black mark that was left behind. It was only one of many marring the once-smooth surface.

  Daphne looked around the small cottage. It was tiny even compared to her old place with Granny, just a bathroom, kitchen and small sitting area on the ground floor with a sleeping loft above. The kitchen was comprised of a pot bellied stove with two burners, and a narrow counter stretched out beside it. Shelves, instead of cabinets, filled the space below the counter, holding her meager stock of pots, pans, mixing bowls and foodstuffs. The basket of pastries from her new village was sitting on the countertop, already half empty.

  Her makeshift sitting area held a bookshelf stuffed to overflowing with spell books, jars and other supplies. A crocheted blanket was balled up and shoved between the top of some books and bottom of the shelf above them.

  Daphne pulled it out and buried her face in it, searching for the last vestiges of little boy smell. “Oh, Grayson. I miss you so much.”

  She sank onto the nearby couch, not even bothering to fight back her tears. Her nose burned and soon
she was sobbing into the yarn. It wasn’t long before she fell asleep, wrapped up in the child-sized blanket.

  Some hours later, a loud knock woke her. Bolting upright, she shoved the blanket behind a couch cushion and dropped to the floor.

  Who the hell is that? No one is supposed to know where I am! She reached out with her magic, doing a quick check of her spells. They seemed intact. Which could only mean one thing.

  “Go away, Ronan,” she called out, sure it was him even though she couldn’t feel him like normal. Maybe he’s playing a trick on me.

  He didn’t answer.

  “I know it’s you.” Hopefully. As much as she didn’t want to admit, Ronan would be better than anyone else that she couldn’t feel. Like a fairy.

  Still nothing.

  “Dammit, Ronan you know it drives me crazy when you do that,” she complained as she marched across the room to jerk the door open. “Why you want to sit on my porch and beg to come in without actually bothering to ask is beyond me.”

  But the porch was empty. Even the dirt and leaves that she had conjured up to make the place look uninhabited hadn’t been disturbed.

  Daphne frowned.

  Something rapped against the far end of the cottage.

  “It’s probably just a tree branch,” she muttered, trying to convince herself. “It’s nothing.” Still, she pulled the door shut behind her as she stepped out onto the porch, sealing it with a simple spell.

  “Who’s there?” she called. Unsurprisingly, no one answered. Energy tingled down her arms and little sparks lit up around her hands.

  It’s not Ronan, she thought uneasily. I definitely would have known by now. Although he feels close… like always. She shrugged, trying to push the uneasy feeling aside.

  “Of all the times that he’s not right here pestering me, this has to happen.” A chill went down her spine as something occurred to her. “I wonder if that’s the point. But no,” she shook her head, “no one should be able to scry me or the cottage at all. Unless it’s Granny, trying to get my attention! She’s the only one that can see me here!”