Reese’s POV
The car smelled like new leather, mint, a slight hint of bergamot and sex. The sex part might have been her, but what the hell. The mix was intoxicating and the man next to her was sex on two legs. She felt slightly nervous but the alcohol that had taken the place of the blood in her veins pushed her to bravery.
“So, where am I going?”
Reese blinked. His voice was rough and the timber spoke of unbridled passion. “Uhm … the nearest motel is fine.”
Mr Knight glanced at her and sped down the street. A few minutes later he pulled into the parking lot of a motel that was surprisingly clean and safe looking. He huffed out a laugh, glanced at her again and shook his head.
“Stay here.”
Reese had no objections to staying right there. She had no idea what was in those slammers she’d drank, but her body felt sensual, like the lust switch had not just been pressed on but thrown into overdrive.
The passenger side door opened and Reese looked up but his eyes were transfixed on her thigh where the ruffled black lace had moved up, exposing more skin than she was used to. Reese pushed the material down and Mr Knight’s eyes finally found hers.
“I got you a room.” His hand appeared and she gripped it as he helped her out of his car.
“See, you are a shining knight with no armour.” Reese laughed lightly and Mr Knight grabbed her arm in his hand as she stumbled slightly, even though her Doc Martens had no heels. Stupid slammers. Goddess, why did he smell so good?
Mr Knight chuckled and pulled her closer. “Let’s get you inside that room.” Reese couldn’t agree more. Going inside that room sounded very good to her. Her head was close to his arm and she sniffed hoping he wouldn’t notice that she was practically sticking her nose in his armpit. Was she really that drunk that she wanted to sniff his armpit? Goddess, she was an idiot.
Mr Knight unlocked the door to her room and helped her inside. It smelled clean and the curtains were still half open, casting a faint glow from the streetlights over the furniture. Reese took a deep breath and closed the door behind her.
Mr Knight’s eyes went to the closed door and then back to her face. He didn’t move a muscle as she stepped closer to him. Reese’s hands landed on his abdomen, he didn’t say a word or stop her and that gave her the courage to continue.
Her hands travelled upwards to his chest, her fingers exploring the ridges of his masculinity. She could feel the heat from his body beneath his long-sleeved t-shirt as she went up on her toes and pulled his head lower towards hers.
Her lips touched his tentatively at first and she pulled away slightly. His lips were warm and soft. They’re mouths were so close to each other that Reese could almost taste his tongue. She bit his lower lip softly and she was about to pull away in dismay when his hands landed on her hips and his mouth opened beneath hers.
She felt the wall against her back, his one hand was beneath her shirt now, his fingers on the bare skin of her back. His other hand was on the side of her face, holding her curly hair at bay as he kissed her like she’d never been kissed before.
Their tongues dueled an age old battle of passion, clashing and stroking, his teeth grazed her lips and when he pressed himself against her she couldn’t help the feeling of power that cascaded over her at knowing that this hot stranger really wanted her.
Reese lifted her one leg and Mr Knight gripped her thigh in his large hand. She already knew she wasn’t going to be disappointed, felt the size of his erection against her belly. He moved his thigh and hitched her leg higher against him.
Her mind flashed back to another night, another erection that had pressed against her stomach, another man that had just used her for his own gratification. ‘This isn’t the same thing,’ Reese thought to herself and pushed the memory away.
This man wasn’t her mate, this time she wanted to use him just as much as he wanted to use her and she was aware of the stakes of this game she was playing. She’d never felt this intense surge of lust before and this man would be a good enough outlet.
His other hand moved to her other leg and Reese gasped pleasurably when he picked her up and moved that hard rod of his right up against her core. She crossed her ankles behind his back as his mouth travelled to her jawline.
When he lightly bit her earlobe, pleasurable tingles erupted all over her body and she grinded herself against him. He moved the collar of her shirt and his tongue laved over her collarbone. Her core muscles clenched together and she gripped the hair at the back of his head.
She had no recollection of when or even how her shirt had been unbuttoned, but she realized it when he pulled her bra down and exposed her one breast. His tongue swirled over her nipple and she gasped when he sucked it into his mouth.
Her breath had quickened when he paid the same amount of attention to her other breast and she could feel her own arousal sticking to her underwear. Mr Knight’s tongue flicked her hardened nipple and then he gazed into her eyes.
“Are you sure you want to do this? You don’t even know my name.”
Reese couldn’t have stopped even if she wanted to, not that she did. “I’m so fucking sure.”
Mr Knight paused for a few seconds before his eyes darkened even more. “Then don’t beg me to stop later.”
Reese didn’t have time to fully comprehend his spoken words because the next thing she knew he was on his back on the bed and lifting her towards his face. Her underwear was ripped off and the cool air blasted against her pussy.
Mr Knight pressed his mouth against her and inhaled deeply. If she’d been sober, she would’ve been embarrassed by the act but now it only fueled her own libido more. His tongue swiped over her slit and settled on her clit where he flattened it and applied pressure.
“Oh, goddess,” Reese murmured as his hands grabbed her ass cheeks and his tongue started assaulting her in the best possible way.
Reese had never been so turned on, she’d never felt so wet and the building orgasm felt like it was draining her own life force with its power. She grinded herself on Mr Knight’s face and her orgasm exploded so suddenly that she didn’t care if he could breathe in that moment or not, she just kept grinding and riding it out.
She was still riding that first wave of pleasure when she landed on her back and Mr Knight pulled his t-shirt over his head. He unbuttoned his jeans and pulled his zipper down. His cock sprang free, telling her he was cruising commando.
A condom appeared and he sheathed himself, all the while never taking his eyes off her. He pulled her skirt down her legs and spread her knees apart when she tried to close them. Her breasts rose and fell as she breathed deeply.
“Take off your shirt,” Mr Knight said in a thick voice, his own lust evident.
Reese almost flinched as she remembered Bryan saying almost exactly the same thing to her. She licked her lower lip again, reminding herself that this wasn’t the same, this man had already taken care of her, not just thinking of himself.
Reese complied and the moment her shirt was off he pressed her down on the bed again, his body covering hers. He kissed her once more and she could taste herself on his lips before he pushed inside her slowly.
He filled her completely, stretching her walls and she clamped down on him tightly. His eyes closed and he stilled his movements until she moved her hips. He never wavered or slowed down. He fucked her with measured strokes and she came twice more before he slammed into her even harder and growled out his own orgasm.
Reese’s POVReese groaned and stretched her arms over her head. She was deliciously sore and her eyes snapped open as her phone rang again. That’s what had woken her from the most amazing dream she’d ever had. She groaned again, the man even had a dimple. Damn phone!“Hello,” Reese grumbled into the phone when she finally located it under her pillow. How had that happened?“Girl, where are you?” Cleo sounded exasperated and Reese felt guilty for all of five seconds.“Where were you last night? One moment you were on the dance floor and then poof, gone, nothing,” Reese said.“Oh, right, I kind of ended up at this dorm house,” Cleo said and laughed.Reese looked around at the unfamiliar room and gasped loudly. “I … uhm … I had way too much to drink last night so I came to a motel. Where are you?” Fuck, that was no dream, was it?“Out looking for you. Your dad even phoned me because apparently some little hussy has to get home for a very important meeting!”“I didn’t forget.” Reese looke
Reese’s POVThe Alpha family was herded inside and led to the living room. Reese felt like she was on display as Troy kept staring at her. She felt almost naked, remembering the things he’d done to her, the things she’d done with him. Oh, goddess, could it get any worse? Her cheeks felt on fire.“Reese,” her father hissed and she snapped out of it once again. What the hell was wrong with her today? Was she still drunk? She could only wish.“Good afternoon, Alpha Madden and Luna Madden, it’s a pleasure to meet you both,” Reese said and bowed her head respectfully.Troy looked at her unashamedly and she gritted her teeth. “Alpha Troy, welcome.” Her eyes blazed into his and she quickly looked away as she saw the amusement etched there. Bastard.“It’s so nice to meet you, Reese. I’ve heard wonderful things about you,” Luna Madden said with a smile.“Oh, like what?” Reese asked.Her mother laughed then and stepped in front of Reese. “How about we sort out drinks. Any preferences?”Her fath
Troy’s POVTroy watched the house disappear in his rearview mirror as he drove away from the Willowby house. Her father was a typical former Beta and her mother seemed genuine, caring and warm. He smiled as he thought about Reese’s reaction when she first saw him on the porch.“Call Drake,” Troy said as he drove towards the territory border. His parents would return after they’d made copies of the contract which he’d already signed. and met with the sitting Alpha.The phone rang over the car speakers and Drake’s voice filled the interior. “Is it a done deal? Was she swooning at the sight of the mighty Troy Madden? Did she slip down her seat in want?”Troy laughed loudly. “Don’t be an idiot. She doesn’t want to marry me.”“Hmm, she’s a smart girl.”Troy chuckled again. “Woman. She’s a smart woman.”“You didn’t tell her the real reason you asked for this arranged marriage, did you?”“Nope and I’m not going to. You’d like her actually. She’s feisty and witty and very nice to look at.”“S
Reese’s POV“So it’s a done deal?” Reese asked as she leaned against the doorway of her father’s study. The Alpha family had left twenty minutes earlier and she had only now come down from the patio.“The contract’s signed. You will marry Troy Madden in seven days,” he said.“Seven days! Why the hell so soon?”Her father quirked a brow and sighed. “That’s what he wanted. Troy insisted on it being as soon as possible. You and your mother will work with Luna Madden and on Tuesday we will travel to the Black Claw territory and you will complete the ceremony on Sunday.”‘Fuck my life,’ Reese thought to herself.“Why did Alpha Victor order this? I mean was it sanctioned by the Elder Council or just Alpha Victor?” Reese needed to know, sure, her father kept telling her the same thing but she still didn’t understand it.“Reese, you said yourself that your mate moved on, that means he won’t change his mind and retract his rejection, right?” Reese nodded her head, he’d already marked Michelle
Troy’s POVTroy stood in his office and looked out of the window at the glittering lake that sparkled as the sun rose over the horizon. His pack lands were the largest in the continental US and in a few days he would have the added strength of a Luna.He’d been the sitting Alpha for five years minus the two years he’d spent at the Royal Pack when his father had stepped in as acting Alpha with Drake by his side. He’d never regretted the time spent with the King and it wasn’t public knowledge what he’d done there but warriors talked among themselves and word got out about his exploits, the battles he’d fought and the warriors he’d trained there.The door opened and Troy turned around. Drake, his Beta, closed the door behind him and leaned against it, crossing his arms over his chest. Troy’s broken hand hung down his side, the dried blood still coating his knuckles.“I thought you wanted this whole arranged marriage.” Amusement tinted Drake’s words and Troy cracked a grin.“My fist ran i
Reese’s POV“Are you really wearing that?” Lucy, her mother asked her when she finally emerged from her room. All her worldly possessions had been packed, her clothes, photos, mementos, her whole life.“What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?” Reese looked down at her black Doc Martens, another ruffled skirt, this one grey and her black AC/DC tank top.“You’re their future Luna! Go put on a dress or something,” her mother said with horror in her eyes.“Sorry, everything’s packed. I could always go naked,” Reese said and twirled one of her curls around her finger.“You’ll be the death of me,” Lucy muttered as the two men from Troy’s pack carried her boxes down the stairs. Both of them had overheard their conversation and they chuckled as they walked past them.Reese smiled victoriously and she watched the two warriors come downstairs again with the last of her things. It was a four hour trip to their pack and they’d arrive just after lunch. Her parents would drive their car and Reese would
Reese’s POVReese was shocked, to say the least. Black Claw territory was beautiful. The town where they resided was much larger than White Moon land. The houses were beautiful, gardens were maintained, quaint little shops were scattered throughout. She could see fields of wheat, rolling green hills, a lake in the distance and playgrounds.The two men sitting in the front of the SUV seemed more relaxed now that they were in their own territory. The packhouse was twice the size of the one back home and it stood almost alone. She could see an infirmary that looked more like a small hospital on one side and the pack hall on the other side.The front door of the packhouse stood open as the SUV slowed to a stop and then a man appeared. Yep, he definitely had that werewolf gene thing going for him. His eyes were lighter than Troy’s but stunning nonetheless, he had the werewolf warrior build, tall and muscled.His smile seemed friendly as he opened the rear door and offered Reese his hand. “
Troy’s POV“You were right, she’s reluctant as all hell,” Drake said as he leaned back against the couch and placed his feet on the coffee table.Troy only grinned. “It’ll be fine.”“She did ask me how many women have spent the night in your quarters.” Drake’s mischievous smile made his eyes twinkle.“I should’ve beat the living shit out of Justin for starting that shit.”“Your fist could always meet his face again. You know, shit like that does happen in real life,” Drake said with a grin.“I’m still waiting for his father to call me about that.”Drake left again just as Troy’s phone rang and he brought the conference call up on the big screen across from his desk. He plugged the translator earpiece into his ear and accepted the call. The ten men bowed their heads and Troy bowed his head as was the respected custom in Japan.It took almost three hours for them to conclude their business talks and at the end of the meeting, Troy was satisfied that rogue attacks in Japan were decreasin
Reese’s POVWhen the air fryer pinged, she pulled the drawer open and turned the basket over onto a bowl. She started grinding up the dried petals. Russo just watched her as she kept it up until the petals were ground into a fine powder.She mixed it with a little water and mixed it until it was a smooth paste. She didn’t let up or rest once, she just kept on working. After an hour, she was finally happy and she sat down on the swivel chair and wiped her forehead with her arm.“What now?” Russo asked her.“Now we administer it and wait. I should’ve known sooner, Russo, so many people died because I couldn’t figure this out,” Reese said.“Let’s go see if it works,” Russo said and stood up.He carried the tray with the small bowls Reese had separated the paste into and they headed back to the infirmary. It was nine pm and the streets were quiet as Reese power walked to the building in front of them.She headed straight for Troy’s room and Russo placed the tray down on the trolley table
Reese’s POVFor a few moments outside of Troy’s room, Reese couldn’t move or breathe. She wasn’t sure what it was but she was certain that maybe their baby had something to do with Troy wanting to get better. It was one of the biggest blessings for an Alpha, a son to take over from him.“Let’s get you back, Reese. It’s been a long day for you,” Russo said.“I want to check in on Max as well. He has no family here and Troy would want me to,” Reese said softly.“A quick check in, you need to go rest, this emotional rollercoaster isn’t good for the baby,” Russo said.Reese gave him a small smile and nodded her head. She did feel tired and the constant hope and worry were wreaking havoc with her system. She wanted to take a long, hot bath and sleep. Every night she had the same hope, that Troy would magically be awake the next morning.Russo led her just three doors further and opened the door. Max lay alone in the room, looking much the same as Troy had. His oxygen had lowered to 39% and
Reese’s POVNothing changed over the course of the next week and Reese felt like there was nothing more she could do to help. She’d exhausted all her options and every mix she could think of had no effect on the patients.Her stomach had gotten a lot bigger over the last two weeks and she’d felt her baby move. Dr Tyrell came up to the Alpha Suite, after Russo had made sure that he was completely sanitized, to do ultrasounds and check on her.They had over fifty people in the hospital now as the flu spread and Reese cried herself to sleep every night. She was the key, so why wasn’t she finding it? She was pissed off at the world and her biggest fear was that Troy would die.Russo had limited her to one visit a week and she was due to go see Troy again after lunch. News had spread and the whole pack knew that Troy and King Maximilian were in isolation rooms and that they were stable for the moment but incapacitated.Drake hardly seemed to leave the office and a conversation with Emily h
Reese’s POVThe combinations she’d been working on had kept Max from deteriorating further but it wasn’t healing him. It kept him in a sort of limbo and Reese was grateful for that at least. It gave her some time and she spent every free hour in the lab.Reese pushed herself away from the microscope and her hand rubbed over her chest. Russo was at her side instantaneously, his hand at the small of her back.“What’s wrong, Reese?”“I don’t know. It’s a weird sensation …” Reese turned wide eyes towards Russo. “It’s not me, it’s Troy, something’s wrong with Troy!”Reese was physically lifted from the floor as her legs automatically started moving towards the door. “No, Reese! I can’t let you expose yourself!”“Russo! Put me down immediately!” Her nails clawed at Russo’s arms but he held firm.“Not a chance, Reese! You are my first priority. Troy’s in good hands!”A scream tore from Reese’s throat and her body sagged against Russo’s. He didn’t let go of her, he just tightened his arms and
Reese’s POV“I’m okay, Reese, I promise. It’s just a cough and you know Tyrell. He’s going to monitor me and everything will be fine,” Troy said.“I’m coming to see you,” Reese said.“No! You are not coming anywhere near this infirmary. I’ve given Tyrell permission to intubate me the moment I collapse. Keep yourself and our baby safe, promise me, Reese.”Reese tried not to cry but the tears didn’t obey her silent order and they ran down her cheeks unchecked. “I will, I promise.”“Good. It’ll only be for a few days. Drake will be acting Alpha and he has orders to lock you in our suite if you don’t do this for me, okay?”Reese nodded her head, knowing full well he couldn’t see her and she clenched her eyes tight. “Okay,” she finally whispered.“I have to go now,” Troy said with a sigh and the call ended.Reese sank down against the wall and lowered her head to her knees and cried. In that moment, she hated Amber with everything in her. It was her fault that Troy was sick, her fault that
Troy’s POVTroy ran down the hall when he reached the other side of the floor and the door opened as he neared. Max was sitting on the couch, fully alert now with an oxygen mask over his face. He was a little pale and his hands shook but otherwise he looked okay.Max pulled the mask away from his face and looked at Troy. “I’m not going to the infirmary.”Troy gritted his teeth as he looked at his long-time friend. “Yes, you are. You are not dying, Max. I won’t allow it!”“If I get any worse, I’ll go but not before it’s absolutely necessary,” Max said.“Fine,” Troy relented and leaned against the wall.The other men in the suite didn’t look pleased but they refrained from saying anything because Max was their King and his word was the law. Troy didn’t like it one bit. Max needed to be monitored because he couldn’t let Max die on his watch.“The moment he so much as wheezes, I want him in the infirmary, you hear me?” Troy’s eyes darkened as he looked at each man.“Yes, Alpha. I’ll drag
Reese’s POVThe week progressed slowly and then on that fateful Friday morning all hell broke loose. Amber was the first one to die from the flu. Her body was moved to the morgue and Dr Tyrell had taken precautions even in the autopsy room and wore protective gear to do her autopsy.They all knew the cause of death would be carbon dioxide poisoning. It had taken Amber eight days longer to die than victims from other packs and that was due to Reese’s plants. She hadn’t liked Amber, but she hadn’t wanted her dead.Troy hadn’t reacted, at all. He nodded his head and went to his office. Reese felt morose and knew that he had to feel something. She was sure that he was hiding his emotions so as not to upset her but this wasn’t something she’d be jealous of.He’d loved her at one point and they had been mates with no rejection between them. She wished he’d talk to her and tell her how he felt. She watched him every night as he ate. The exhaustion was there because Troy never stopped.He wor
Drake’s POVThe days seemed to drag by. Work was trickling to a slower rate although they were kept busy with conference calls and meetings over Skype. They still had business dealings out in the world and they couldn’t just stop working. Humans weren’t affected by this flu epidemic and it made things difficult for them.At night he’d lie in bed next to Emily and think about the rising numbers of deaths in other packs and wondering what made them so special to hold the key. He’d already figured out that Reese would somehow come up with a cure.It was taking time though and he was worried about the sick warriors they had in the infirmary. He didn’t want any of his people to die, except maybe Amber. He didn’t care if she died, not after the shit she pulled.He shifted on his side and stared into Emily’s open eyes. Her hand cupped his cheek and he gripped it tightly. “What’s bothering you?”Drake sighed internally. “Besides the cock talk? Not much, really.”Emily smiled and his heart flu
Reese’s POVRusso dressed Reese in a rainsuit with a mask, a plastic shield over the mask and a hairnet. She had to wear medical grade gloves and make her way to the lab in the mornings. She tried to stifle her laughter as Russo trudged behind her, the plastic of his own rainsuit squeaking with each step.“What’s the hairnet for?”“I have no fucking idea but it covers your hair, don’t bitch about it,” Russo said and adjusted his own hairnet.Reese laughed as she stopped inside her office and Russo started disinfecting everything. He did that every single day, even though nobody else came into their office or lab. She felt fine and even Troy had been cleared by the doctor.The number of sick had risen to twenty, all of them warriors that had worked shifts in the dungeon and had had contact with Amber. She was their patient zero and for now it seemed that the many respiratory plants were helping and the patients in the infirmary weren’t doing too badly.“All clear,” Russo said and took