My wolf growls. My skin is flushing hotter than I can bear, and the pleasant pulsing in my pussy has crossed the line into an ache. He can make me feel better. Why is he just standing there at the end of the bed, staring?The human can’t be trusted. My wolf howls, calls to her mate.“You don’t really want this,” Killian says.I snarl. He won’t come. My wolf knows. The human is not right. But I’m stronger than him. I hold more inside me—the moon, the night, the future. It doesn’t matter if he’s broken. I’m stronger than him.I roll to all fours and crawl to him, kneeling at the very edge of the bed. Except for the rapid rise and fall of his chest, he’s frozen. His jaw is a knife. I stretch my spine so I can reach it with my mouth, and I taste the harsh line, test the solidity of the bone with my teeth. He remains completely still, but his breath is ragged.He should be still. I’m dangerous. He has wronged me, and I haven’t decided yet whether he is forgivable or not.I lick down his sl
And he suckles my tit at the same moment he slips a thick finger inside me, all the way to the knuckle. I groan, bucking, chasing the feeling. He slides in and out, testing speed and angle, and it’s not quite right. There’s something missing.I growl and cant my hips, and then it’s perfect, his finger crooked just enough to graze the sensitive patch in my channel wall that makes me bear down and tumble quicker and quicker toward ecstasy.“Is that the spot, then?” he mumbles, smirking.I spread my arms wide, hiking my knees so he can nestle his hips between them. I’m ready.He pushes up on one arm to gaze down into my face, never stopping the rhythm that’s turning my thighs to jelly.He kisses my nose. I wrinkle it.I want his cock. I want him to fill me up.He brushes his lips across my cheek.“You are so beautiful like this,” he whispers in my ear.I’m on the edge. I’m going to tip over any second. I can’t take the circles anymore. I grab his tormenting hand and hold it in place whil
I’m buck naked, and I’ve kicked off the covers.I should grab a sheet and cover myself. I should be embarrassed. Last night, I let Killian touch me. Oh sweet Fate, I ground myself against his palm until I came. My cheeks burn, but I also stretch, arching my back and reaching toward the headboard until I can touch the metal bars with the tip of my fingers.My body feels good. And I don’t feel like I did after the human or the male from North Border. I’m not in the wrong place. I don’t need to scrub myself clean, hide the scent.I’m good. This is my nest.I sit up, cross legged, and adjust some of the blankets that have been shoved to the foot of the bed.Even my leg feels fine.Of course, last night was a bad idea, and it’s going to smack me in the face as soon as I wake up fully, but in this moment, it’s so peaceful in this room. The light streaming in the crack between the curtains illuminates the tiniest motes dancing in the air, and the wood floor and polished dresser shine. The st
“Sniff.”I snort a laugh. “I can’t not smell.”He glares. A tic in his temple flutters. “Try.” And then he sighs. “It’s Tye. He’ll come back later. After you’re fed.”I set my utensils down. I’m full anyway.He glowers. “You’re not done.”“I’m full.” After a second, I tack on, “Thank you.”“You didn’t have dinner yesterday.”I lift a shoulder. My nerves are too jumpy to get any more down, but I say, “You don’t double up when you miss a meal.”“I do.” He grins, pops a bite of steak in his mouth, and chews. I can’t stop watching his jawbone work. It’s cut so sharp, it’s like watching a machine.My stuffed belly clenches. Not with hunger.Oh, crap. It’s not heat again? So soon?I flutter the collar of the T-shirt. I’m not particularly hot, but it can’t hurt to get some air moving.Killian’s eyes track my movement. “You in need again?”I gulp and choke on nothing. “No.”I push the plate away and cross my arms tight to my chest. And I stop looking at his jaw. And his throat bobbing as he s
“I don’t want to be your mate,” I say.“You’re stubborn as shit, aren’t you?”“Not usually.”“I am.”I bend my neck to squint up. Killian’s still surveying his kingdom. He doesn’t look down to meet my gaze.“Pisses folks off, but comes in handy,” he says.An elder appears at the bottom of the path. I shuffle a step behind Killian. I don’t have pants on, and I’m standing on the alpha’s porch past lunch time with my hair a knotty mess. Maybe we should get dressed. Figure things out from there.I can’t solve anything here and now.“I don’t have any clothes.”“You do.” He turns and gestures me back into the cabin. “I sent someone to get some of your things from Mari this morning while you were sleeping.” He nods to a bag I hadn’t noticed by a rocking chair.I grab it and hold it to my chest. “Thank you.”He shrugs.“And thanks again for breakfast.”“You don’t have to thank me.” His voice is gruff like I’ve insulted him.“I guess we can go to the gym.” We might as well. It’s better than be
And it always has been, hasn’t it? It’s not new. I know that now.How did I not feel it?What else is there that I can’t see?Una’s too far away. I give the bond a tug, try to get her to come to me like she did at breakfast. She unburies her nose from her phone, blinking like an owl. I give another tug.She frowns. Then she gives her own end of the bond a grumpy yank.It’s weak but unmistakable. It lightens my heart and calms my nerves.I jog over to where she’s sitting and squat so we’re eye level. She draws herself up, flattening herself against the back of the chair.I grin. She hikes her chin.“Well?” I grab the sides of the chair so she’s bracketed by my arms. My wolf and I both like her there. He simmers down, eases back. He’s been riding me just below the skin. A little space is a relief.“Well, what?”“You called me. I came.”“I didn’t, and you know it. I was telling you to knock it off.”I cock my head. “How was I supposed to know that? Felt like a ‘come here’ tug to me.”“It
She wasn’t shy last night. She flung her arms wide and arched her back like pleasure was her due as a goddess on earth.I can’t wait to watch her come on my cock. Fill her up until my seed drips from her sweet pink pussy. Put my pups in her belly.Rut is riding me, but I’m not so weak a male that I’m gonna give into it. It helped beating the shit out of B-roster. It’s also good that Una isn’t like Haisley or Rowan—she doesn’t look for male attention. If she did, this pack would be in a heap of trouble.Fate picked well for me.She’s got that leg, though, and that small ass wolf. It’s not a problem. She’s never gonna not have protection from this moment on. Still.“Stand up.”She blinks at me.“Put the book down and stand up.” We’ve got some time before dinner. I want to see how bad the leg really is.“Why?”“I want to check out your leg.”She flushes and tucks the book to her chest. “No.”“Come on.” I’m not the kind that’s good at convincing people. I’m more of a doer. I cross the roo
“Do you want a protein bar?”She ignores the question, rubbing her temple like I’m not making sense, and then she asks, “What’s your problem with me serving tables?”“It’s beneath you.”“But not beneath Mari? Or Annie? Or Kennedy?” She places her palms on my chest, and she shoves once, but when she can’t budge me, she doesn’t try again. Or move her hands. She absently kneads my T-shirt between her fingers. I don’t think she’s even aware of it. She’s intent on her argument. “Is it beneath Noreen to cook?”“Someone has to cook.”“But no one has to serve.”I arch an eyebrow.She arches one back. “Ever heard of a buffet?”I grin. “You think we should serve ourselves?”“Why not?”Excellent point. I drop to my knees.“What are you doing?” she squeaks.She knows. I can scent it when her pussy floods with cream. I hoist her up, bunching her skirt to her waist, settling her legs over my shoulders, massaging and stretching those aching muscles. We can kill two birds with one stone.She wriggles
The humans know about shifters, of course, but there’s no need to draw more attention to us than we already do, as strangers in such a small town. Folks already gawk as Annie leads us to the village commons even though the streets are busy. It’s market day.As soon as we reach the grassy expanse filled with tables and tents, Alroy and Diantha peel off, heading in opposite directions. Griff seems torn, but when he sees that Diantha is making a beeline for a booth with racks of female clothing, he hurries to follow Alroy.Annie leads us down the makeshift walkways, smiling when she’s greeted by name. My mate is still shy, but there’s no trace of fear in her scent. I breathe her happiness and excitement in, letting it flush my lungs clean of the oily town air.She sees her friends before I do and lets go of my hand to run toward them.My mate. My Annie. Running with a smile lighting her face.This is a good, good day.Two females rush around their table, the third making her way more slo
JUSTUSMy perfect, beautiful mate does not like surprises, so she knows exactly where we’re going as we trot through the woods that run along the human highway. At first, I was sad that I couldn’t spring this visit on her, but I love watching her wolf get more and more excited the closer we get to Chapel Bell. Her short little legs are moving so fast, I almost don’t have to slow my pace.Alroy, Griff, and Diantha don’t have my patience, so they’re several yards ahead of us. Poor Griff has to be the buffer between them, and he keeps getting caught in the crossfire when their wolves decide to break the monotony by sniping at each other.I was worried that Annie would be too nervous to venture this far from camp, but she gets more confident every day. I’m pretty sure that’s because when we were out for a walk two months ago, she saw me take out two ferals that were encroaching on our territory to the north, so even though Killian and I pretty much fought to a draw, she knows I can handle
He bares his fangs, yanks the needle from his neck, and blinks at it, bemused.“Did you stab me with a fucking knitting needle?” He holds it up. Blood oozes from the wound, dripping down his bare chest. I didn’t even hit an artery.Justus snarls, squaring his shoulders and bending his knees, readying himself to attack. Every inch of his body is covered in mud and blood, gashes and purpling bruises. White bone shows through a jagged slash on his forearm.A male coughs, clearing his throat. “Can we just take a beat?” Killian raises his hands, raw flesh where his nails should be.I wouldn’t have thought it possible, but he’s as battered as Justus, and he seems to be favoring his left leg, like his right can’t hold weight. Our males spar constantly. I’ve seen all of them beat up at some point, but I’ve never seen any of them mangled this bad. I can’t believe either he or Justus are still upright.“That bitch stabbed me.” Leith points at me with the knitting needle.Justus howls and steps
My wolf skids to a halt several feet away and then slinks forward, keeping the fire between her and the Salt Mountain wolf, letting the smoke block her scent. When she’s too close to dare creep closer, she huddles close to the ground, staring up and up at his tremendous mud-caked haunches. She’s a miniature in comparison. All the females are, and we all stare, powerless, as the wolf’s bones crack and a strapping man rises from the hulk of his beast.His blond hair shines through the dirt. I’ve seen him. Leith Munroe. The new Salt Mountain alpha.He rests his hands on his hips as if there isn’t chaos all around him as his wolves play a game of distraction, breaking after our slower, smaller, or older males and mauling them until our strong males are forced to turn back, away from us, to rescue them.Leith takes no notice of our wolves, even when they get close, or me, skulking behind the fire. Why would he? I’m no threat—skinny and small and stinking of fear.Instead, he’s intent on so
ANNIERun! Run! Run!I squat as low as I can in the wildflowers and tear off my clothes.A few yards away, Killian and Justus are murdering each other. Tye, Ivo, and the rest are just watching, and no matter how much I scream, no matter what I say, their wolves don’t listen.And the Salt Mountain wolves are up to something. They’re edging away from the fight toward the trail to camp. Quarry Pack is so intent on the fight, they either don’t notice or don’t care.I have to get to Khalil, and my wolf is faster.Run into the woods! The woods!I huddle in the tall grass and summon my wolf. For the first time in my life, she’s ahead of me, bursting through our skin before I’m ready, assuming form like she’s surfacing from water rather than tearing herself free from bone and muscle.She runs away from the woods, toward the trail. The Salt Mountain wolves have gotten ahead of her, so she hangs back, keeping low and downwind.Turn around! Now!What are they doing? They can’t think to attack La
“Lavender is light green this time of year. It doesn’t bloom until June or July.”“What are you going to do with it now then?”“Make a sachet. The scent mostly comes from the oils in its leaves.”“Make a sachet for who?”I wade through the tall grass to stand close to her and inhale her sweet rainy scent.“For the den,” she says, glancing bashfully up at me from under her thick brown lashes. She’s wearing my old sweater and another pair of my drawstring pants. Her pulse flutters at the base of her throat. She’s excited, too.Maybe we should cut this trip short and head back to the den.Or take a detour into the woods.She probably wouldn’t do that, but I think she’d agree to return to camp. I draw in another deep breath. Her arousal teases my nose.My wolf snarls.Annie startles.It takes my brain three seconds too long to catch up.Underlying the rain and slick, there is another scent. Earthy, yes, but not the right earth. It doesn’t belong. I’ve smelled it before. A long time ago.I
My grip on the pot handle tightens. Water sloshes over the sides. My jaw clenches, my guts knot, and my dry eyes burn.I can’t do this.I have to.“Justus?” Annie appears in the den entrance. She’s wrapped herself in a light pink sheet, and she’s holding a cup. “You brought water.” She smiles, padding toward me on bare feet.And then she stops. Her smile falls aways.She blinks in the sunshine, the bleariness of sleep disappearing as she takes in my grim face and desperate hold on the pot. If I had dignity, I’d find a way to smile back. Say good morning. Act like everything is fine.Her chest falls as she lets out a long, silent breath. She looks me straight in the eye. Her fear and doubt are clear as day.She’s going to ask me to take her home now.She takes a step closer to me, and then another, until we’re toe to toe. She gazes up at me, and for a second, all I can see is her beauty—her graceful neck, her delicate pointy chin, her soft, curving lips—and then I notice the expression
“Trust me,” he shushes, the hot head of his cock already notching at my entrance. He flexes his hips and sinks into me, a groan of pure relief torn from his throat. He fills me so completely that I ache where I take him, but I love it.I pant through the strain, and he gathers me close as he thrusts, cradling me to his chest, kissing my lips, my brow, my cheeks, the tip of my nose. I start to rock my hips in time.“You’re so beautiful, Annie,” he rumbles in my ear. “So perfect for me. My Annie. Mine.”I sigh and ride his bucking hips, his cock stretching me until I feel like a glove made for him.“Come for me, now,” he growls. “Now, Annie.”Hot cum floods my womb, and his knot catches and swells, tearing a raw shout from my throat. His fingers find my clit while his fangs sink into my shoulder.I scream, bucking against him, but I’m caught, so he moves with me, hushing me.I hover another second on the edge, somehow above myself, watching his strong arms tremble as they wrap around me
I let my hand fall and turn my head away.He snarls. He doesn’t like that.I drop back so I’m sitting on the pallet, lift my chin, and fold my arms. His wolf rumbles unhappily. He shouldn’t have let his man mess with my nest.He dips his head and looks up at me from his lowered eyes, a wolf playing at a lamb. “I’m sorry, Annie. Here it is.”He holds the pillow out.It’s a trap.Of course it’s a trap. I reach for it anyway. As soon as I grab the pillow, he yanks and falls to his back, dragging me with him. I tumble on top of him. He quickly nips the pillow from my grasp, tucks it behind his head, and grins up at me.I push up on his chest, struggling upright until I’m straddling his waist. He crosses his arms behind his head.I lean forward and try to pull the pillow free, but his head is too heavy.“Just ask nicely, Annie.” There’s a new note in his voice, a gravelly depth that has nothing to do with his wolf.I prop myself on his folded biceps. They’re hard and velvet and flexing und