“I don’t know.” My gaze fell. “I wasn’t thinking.”
Why did I do it?
I knew the problems it’d cause. And admitting that was a form of acknowledgement that it had crossed my mind countless times before.
He snorted. “Well, I can certainly understand that.”
He pressed a quick kiss to my forehead.
“Come on.” Vanquish caught my wrist and pulled me behind him. “Walk close behind so they don’t see your dress.”
My torn dress.
We entered camp with me on his heels. My head ducked in shame that they might see my torn dress and guess I’d disobeyed my mate.
Him walking decisively before me. His expression pure wrath.
Other wolves skittered from his path. But no one said anything.
Samantha and Jaecar watched with confused expressions. Surprised at how meek I looked just now.
Lyra Lani, the Alpha’s mat
She cracked the door and peered out. Blinking at me through one large blue eye. Thickly lashed and brightened with curiosity as to why I would be there in the middle of the night.I could imagine how ridiculous I looked, standing there in my billowing white nightdress tossing in the slight breeze. Like a ghost in the dark.“Jaecar is bleeding. He…Hit his head...”She hissed through her teeth and stared at me suspiciously. “Are there any males out tonight.”“None but the Border Guards, that I’ve seen. Why?” It instantly dawned on me how foolish my question was. I instantly recalled how afraid of the night I was when I was unmated.Now I know the males won’t touch me. They’d be ripped apart by my men if they tried.But Rebekah…“Nevermind.” I said at her startled look.She doesn’t even know how to begin to explain
I slipped next to the crack between the stones. Shocked that someone had meticulously shimmied up the wall and removed one stone at a time. Working their way down to the ground to form a zig zagging opening that was narrow enough to be discreet.Slim enough the Border Guards have missed it. And I knew how cautious they were. But the space between the tree and the wall was barely over a foot, then the crack little more.Only a woman could fit through. Yet, I suspected that a male had to have done it from the other side.She’s not strong enough to have moved those stones.I peeked through the crack and was astonished to see Marta had her arms wrapped around a large, long-haired male who was tightly embracing her. His hands freely roaming her body.Marta?She has a mate! What is she doing?I couldn’t begin to understand what she was doing. We all knew that it was the code of wolves
Now he was in my view. My target.So close…I took a gasping breath of air. Sitting up as I dragged panting breaths deep into my chest.“Are you okay?” Lyra Lani knelt next to me. Clutching my shoulders. “We lost you for a moment there.”“What happened?”“Some manner of trembles overtook you.”“I was somewhere else…”“Well I hope it was better than that.” Lyra Lani tossed her head over her shoulder toward the crack where ragged male grunts were huffing on the other side of the wall. And the wails of the old woman’s pleasure filled the air.Or her pain.It was hard to tell which. But since she’d come here of her own volition, I was guessing she was enjoying submitting to the brutality of her mate.As I sometimes do.***“Come back with me.” Lyra Lani helped me to my
Their anger and raw animal aggression reminded me of all those days before I knew them when I had feared them.I instinctively whimpered and backed up against the door. Feeling cornered.Racer and Vanquish stood. Animalistically closing in, as they saw my retreat.Seeing the change of power, I realized that I needed to stamp down my she-wolf's submission and fearlessly tell them.Now.Before they hold me accountable and remind me of my place.“I heard something. I saw Jaecar was injured.”“Jaecar?” Racer asked in confusion.“You went out to check on a male?” Hunter objected. Slapping the door near my shoulder enough that I jumped. Obviously angry at the prospect I may’ve been sneaking out to see another male.But I wasn’t.I can barely keep you three sated!Closing my eyes, I steadied myself. Why am I afraid of them? I k
I could just tell him. Tell him I’d been breaking Draven’s orders. Endangering us all by my inability to resist searching for my former home and where I was and now by endangering myself in following Marta and catching her with a NightHunter.And he’d tell me to take things slow and let him go out and to be careful. To wait for Draven’s blessing.But I don’t want to wait!“Tell me the rest.” He stepped from behind the pillar. Rolling his back onto it and levelling that keen green gaze on me.“Rest?” I sat up. My white nightdress glowing in the dark and my hair waving over my shoulder as I blinked blearily at him.“If you saw Marta poison, Jaecar, she didn’t hang out while you went and got Rebekah. And you wouldn’t have let her get away with it, as easy as that...So what’d you do?”He already knows I followed her. He’s waiting to se
“Tomorrow we must assure Draven knows about the whole in the wall.” Vanquish said. “And about Marta.” I added. Vanquish nodded. “What about Marta?” Hunter asked. “She’s an old lady.” “With an evil bend.” Vanquish corrected. Who poisons are wolves. And keeps the females from getting with pup. Draven would be furious to hear that. I cringed at the thought, hoping it was something Lyra Lani had already divulged to him. So I don’t have to. *** I filled Hunter and Racer in on what I’d seen tonight. They were all angry with me. But less than I’d suspected. I’d thought they might be tempted to wring my neck. “Stay away from her.” Vanquish ordered. “No following old ladies in the dark.” “Old men then?” I asked sheepishly. His black glower could’ve shriveled a berry. “I’m surprised you didn’t run into Fury.” Racer remarked
After a night where I found it almost impossible to sleep, I caught Hunter by the hand and quickly led him down to the creek.He blinked blearily. “You do know I guarded the Border most of the night? Than when I did finally sleep, we woke up to find out you were out. So, I’ve hardly slept. And now you drag me out at barely first light?”I tugged him behind me while he walked on leaden feet. “Stop your complaining and walk faster.”“Why?” He asked warily.“Because I made you a promise.” I said laughingly.His dark brows shot up and he straightened. Scampering more quickly behind me.We reached the edge of the creek, and he gave me a suspicious look.I gestured toward the water.“That’s going to be cold as ice, you know that right?”I smiled and nodded smugly.He stripped off his clothes and looked from me to the water. Giving the water a disdai
“That a girl. Scream louder.” He whispered in my ear. As he began pounding viciously.Unable to move or to adjust I was held still, bound to the tree while he plunged in and out of my body. His pelvis slapping against the soft flesh of my ass and making it ripple.He was groaning. Clutching the sides of my hips to hold me in place. While he rose and fell behind me.As if he needs to hold me here. I couldn’t go anywhere. Or resist him, even if I wanted to.I felt his hard, war-honed body dragging up and down my back and his powerful hips and buttocks working as he flexed in and out of me. His thighs cradling the bottom of my cheekseach time he lowered and flexed his legs outside of mine.“That’s it, Sweetheart. Take all of it. I want you sore. To think of me every step you take tomorrow.”It was hurting.But it also felt good.They had somehow taught me to like it rough
Marta was willing to follow Lorem to the ends of Ferus.It made me consider how far I’d go to be loyal to my mates.What would I do for them?How many awful things would they have to do before my image of them changed?My instant thought was that they would never do something like what Lorem had.It’s not even a comparison.I looked at Marta.“My father should’ve banished you from the pack with Lorem.” Draven murmured. “I wonder how you’d have fared then?”“I’d have been with him.” She clawed at Fury’s grip but that was like trying to get a tree to release a trunk.He’s unmoveable.“What you want to do with her?” Fury asked.“Take her with us.” Draven said. “We’ll give her to the NightHunters and let them toy with her awhile.”Marta looked intensely nervous despite all her bravado.I bit my lower lip. Pitying her a bit for her fate.***Fury, Killian and Aviari had been talking ahead of us. Our army of wolves and mages were tromping through the woods so loudly that there was no mistak
“Her smell has changed.” Draven was staring at me as he announced it.I skittered into a sitting position. Reflexively drifting backward to put more space between he and I. Trying to protect myself.Which I’d suddenly had a much stronger urge to do, today.“I know.” Vanquish said. Rolling to lean up and give me a warm look over Hunter’s shoulder.I flushed. Biting my lip.How can they already know?I’m not even sure yet.“The Asara’s first pups are being carried by the Gallion Princess.” Vanquish murmured proudly. Meeting my gaze with infinite tenderness.My males all stretched to reverently place their palms over my flat belly. Rubbing it soothingly in a way that had me leaning back. Offering myself to more of their touch.I subconsciously flattened back out and ducked my forehead against Racer’s chest. Avoiding everyone’s permeating study and finding comfort in the warmth of my mate.Lyra Lani’s voice rose. “That’s why you’d not share the drink!”I nodded slowly without looking at h
I knew I’d hugged Lyra Lani a bit longer than I needed to but it was so nice to receive affection from a female after so long with only my mates for company. I gave her another quick squeezer before letting her go. She slid her hands down my arms and did the responding squeeze to my fingers right before she let them fall. Reassuring me that I had her support. And that she’s here. Her kindness nearly brought a tear to my eye. Hearing Killian’s voice behind me, I peered back at him. He bobbed his head in greeting and waved his hands in a motion for me to come to him. I did. Returning to hug him just as eagerly. I didn’t know how many times I’d embraced he and Aviari and BailaLae now, but I was beginning to feel like it would never feel like enough. Probably because I’m so scared of losing them again. Giving his dark, waving hair, a fond caress before turning my attention back to the girl
“Perhaps they do.” Killian nodded to the three identical males stepping into the small grove. My blood coated mates. They, all three, looked exhausted but unharmed. Thank Heavens! I was incredibly relieved to see them okay. Glad that the sounds of battle had died down. We won. Seeing how shaken I appeared, Vanquish immediately whirled to see the others appearing from the camp. “What’s going on?” He backed up toward me. Casting a worried glance over his shoulder before eyeing all the mages pouring from behind trees and the edges of the camp. Looking at them all just as warily as he had the first time, he’d seen them.
I flattened my back against the tree and held my breath. Praying that no one would hear me. That my bits of torn clothes wouldn’t guide them. And that I would still be whole by the time my mates returned from ambushing the camp. Please. I held one hand over my stomach. The other over my mouth to hush any sound escaping my throat. Boiling fear nearly paralyzing me. Making me feel choked as if I’d never get another breath of air through my throat. I felt the urge to move one of my legs, to alleviate the ache boring through me from my mates loving last night but I didn’t dare move. Stay quiet. I was reminding myself over and over in a steady chant. I’d never been so relieved when I saw the face of the dark-haired girl peek around a tree a distance from me and meet my look. I blew a relieved breath. Recognizing her immediately as my brother’s mate. Jade was her name. I recalled. Feeling my whole body rela
Just then Hunter scampered up to us. “I got his line.” “Which way.” “Headed North.” “Toward the WildWood?” Vanquish asked in surprise. “He must be thinking if he can make it there, we won’t follow him in.” Racer suggested. “We can’t.” Vanquish agreed. “Not with the wolf-hunting-Roamer there.” “What’s that?” I asked. “A troll. I think.” Racer murmured. “A giant. He hunts anything with fur and ears that seems like it might be a wolf.” “Why?” “It’s said that a vicious mage cursed him to forever be trying to destroy the Moontower Mob.” I gave him a questioning look. “Really?” Vanquish groaned. “Memory loss.” I tapped my head pointedly. “There was a castle beyond the WildWood-” “It’s still there.” Hunter injected. “I’ve glimpsed its ramparts now and then.” “Truly?” Even Racer looked surprised. And he’s usually the historian amongst us. V
The morning was chilly and there was a knock at my door very early. Hunter rolled to his feet from before me. Walking barefoot to pull open the door. Heedless of the fact that he was entirely naked. I lifted my head enough to see Killian was there. I moved to rise but Vanquish’s arm draped over me kept me from going anywhere. “It’s time.” He murmured from the doorway. “Get dressed.” “Time to fight?” “Not you.” Aviari joined Killian near the doorway, staying just from view. Unwilling to glimpse me in here with my mates. Even though my nakedness was shielded by Racer lying between us and the door. Killian glanced at him to the side of the doorway then back at me. “You’re going ahead to find the next camp for us…To track the NightHunter.” “What are you going to do?” I asked warily. “We’re going to confront the beast after us.” Killian said blandly. I could feel the rise of Aviari’s glee at
Racer’s fists dug into my hair. Pulling my face harder against him. But this time he brought me against the base of him. Pressing so far into my throat I couldn’t breathe. “Ah. Ah. Ahhh.” He too shuddered with pleasure. His head falling back, and his entire body angled toward my face in offering as his nerve endings exploded with life. I licked along his length. Coaxing the last few drops out of him until he too yelped in objection because he was so overly sensitive from his rough climax. He stumbled backward and dropped to the floor. Lying on his back as spent as his brother. But Vanquish was staring at me. His green eyes unblinking. Unwilling to allow me from his sight for even a moment. The intensity of him was nearly overwhelming. With his brothers out of the way he rolled us over. Hooking my thigh with his knee and turning me onto all fours, aligning him with me still. He re-entered me. Flexing through me. His power evide
That night we scattered to the emptied huts. I had no time to even look at the others. As soon as the strange ceremony was finished and wolves began to scatter to obey their new King of Alphas, I was pulled backward into the hut we’d still been standing in the doorway of. Racer kicked the door closed and all three sets of eyes landed on me. I sighed. A bit nervous that their aggression might be more than I could take tonight after the violent beating I’d endured. “Be gentle, Lovers.” I breathed. Waving them toward me. They nodded gravely. Knowing how careful they would have to be. All of them nearly shook with expectation. The pink haze of the Mating Moon was now in full effect, and it was reflected in the hardened arousal of my mates. I bid Vanquish to me and he dropped to his knees before me. Lifting me over his bent knees to settle down on him. Hunter slid in behind me. Crossing his knees next to Vanquish’s a