by Rowan Thalia
‘And you care because you belong with me.’
‘We’ve talked about this - my wolf belongs with yours. I do not belong to you. If you want me, pursue me,’ I huff.
His answering chuckle raises the hair on the back of my neck. ‘You and your wolf are one in the same Petit Louve. At your age, you should understand this already,’ his voice inside my head makes me jump. I don’t know if I’ll get used to mind speaking with Ranger.
I curl my lip and stomp toward the crates of glasses without answering. Part of me knows he’s right, but I refuse to acknowledge the fact that I can’t choose for me too. Grousing to myself, I grab as many glasses as I can carry and stomp toward the drink-making station. Ty is so much easier to be around than Ranger. Goddess, why couldn’t he be my True-mate?
The glasses clink as I set them on the counter and begin to fill them with ice. A bead of sweat rolls down my spine, and my wolf growls deep in my throat. There’s just something about Ranger that I need, but I have to resist until he acknowledges the fact that I am a human woman too. I want it all. With a frown, I begin filling the glasses with ice. I can feel him watching me, and it’s unsettling, but I go on as if it’s nothing.
“Need help?” Lewis steps to my side.
I nod at the Beta wolf and smile. With the two Omegas out on errands for the day, it’s just Lewis, Erica, and a young kid named Mike working at the Diner today. Mike's been training with Ty to fill in when we need an extra hand. When Ranger is here, he’s usually scowling at us in the dining room or in his office with the bookkeeping, I assume. I haven’t had much time to get to know Lewis as much as the others, he tends to keep to himself.
“If you wanna start filling these with soda, I can start taking trays out to the dining room. It sounds like the guys have arrived,” I look over my shoulder to see Ranger propped against the wall, staring.
“Can do,” Lewis winks and gets to work, either oblivious to the Alpha or deciding to ignore him.
Taking Lewis’ cue, I grab a round tray and fill it with glasses without giving Ranger any more of my attention. The flap of the dining room door startles me, but I take a deep breath and relax my shoulders. Today is undoubtedly shaping up to be interesting. Lewis whistles while he works, and I nudge him with my elbow before sashaying out into the dining area myself. Giancarlo wasn’t kidding. I step into a full dining room; the smell of fresh-cut pine lingers over the loggers like a fine mist. Plastering on a smile, I move toward Giancarlo’s table and begin setting the drinks in front of the men seated with him.
“Hiya, Giancarlo!” I perk.
“Hey, Good Lookin!” He answers, crossing his arms and sitting back in his seat.
“You really brought a crowd today,” I laugh.
“I try to bring all the guys occasionally. I love this place, even more now that you work here,” he winks.
“Thanks, the food should be out shortly. Your calling ahead really made things easy on us,” I try to ignore the customer's flirting, although, if I’m honest, I quite like it. “I’ll be back with more drinks and plates!”
Feeling good, I saunter back to get more drinks and run right into a wall of muscle. Ranger bends, sniffs along my collarbone, chuffs, then sets me to the side before walking past me. The chill he leaves behind shorts out my brain for a moment, and I let out a whine without thinking. Fuck. He knows exactly how to get to me without even talking.
Shaking my head, I smooth my apron and take a deep breath to clear my mind of the mate-fog. How am I supposed to function like this? He knows damn well what he’s doing to me. Flippant about his behavior, I close my eyes and re-center. Back on track, I load my tray up and march back toward the customers. It seems like hours pass before I’m done doling out drinks and plates. Lewis, Erica, and Ranger all wind up, helping serve the massive crowd. By the time everyone has their food, my blond hair is limp against my neck, and my feet ache.
“Holy mackerel,” Erica sighs as she leans against the counter beside me. “Before we know it, it’ll be time to clean up after all of these lumberjacks. I love Giancarlo for giving us his business, but hot damn, this is hard!”
“I feel ya,” I laugh. “I’d better go in the back and start the dishwater. I’m sure Lewis will need help.”
Erica nods pushes off the counter and begins checking in with the customers. I feel Ranger follow me to the dishwasher, and the hairs rise on the back of my neck. The tension between us has gotten thicker and thicker as the minutes ticked along with the clock. Sweat beads on my forehead, and I veer toward the back-storage room instead of the sinks. I know we’re about to have a showdown, and we might as well have a little privacy. Before I know it, Ranger’s body is pressed against my back, and his nose is pressed into the column of my neck.
“I know how to get that smell off of you,” he grunts.
I turn my body to object but lose every ounce of control when his lips meet mine. My wolf rises, and my skin tightens with need. Ranger doesn’t hesitate, he grabs my hips and lifts me, wrapping my legs around his waist. Boxes are toppled as he marches us toward his office while our tongues clashed. He uses my back to close the door, slamming against the wood. My hands tangle in his hair, and I bite his lip in response to his roughness. There’s a struggle between us. I fight to gain some sort of control over the situation, sliding my legs to the ground. Ranger laughs, clicks the lock into place, and tugs on my hair until my wolf lets out a keen.
“Petit Louve,” Ranger mumbles. His hold on my hair tightens, and he shoves me onto his desk, knocking everything onto the floor that was on the surface.
I don’t want him to finish whatever it was he was going to say, so I cover his mouth with mine and reach down his pants to grab his dick. I’m rewarded with a good tongue fucking and a thick, hard cock in my palm. So much for me playing hard to get. Ranger pulls away from my mouth and bites down on my shoulder - hard. The last thread keeping my wolf in check unravels. I whine when my hands won't move fast enough as I fumble to remove the thin layer of silk I’m wearing.
Torqueing my body roughly, Ranger flips me over and rips the panties I was struggling with down before leaning forward and licking my crack. I almost fall apart right there. My knuckles are white from gripping the edge of the desk, and my breath is coming out in ragged gulps. There’s nothing between my wolf and me at this moment. We are one, and we both want Ranger to take us. Turning my neck, I watch him free his cock, giving it a good stroke before he shoves himself inside of me with a low growl.
Our bodies collide together, and a rush of mate magic zips down my spine. Lifting my hips, I urge him to fuck me and fill me. My canines lengthen, and I yip as I attempt to buck beneath Ranger’s thrusting body. His fingers grip my hips, digging into the flesh and keeping me from getting to my sweet spot. My eyes zero in on his, and the wry grin plastered on his face tells me he knows exactly what he’s doing.
“Fuck you,” I hiss.
“Oh baby, I’ll give you yours, just you wait,” he taunts as he reaches one hand around to stimulate my clit.
The second his fingers start dancing over my nub, crackling energy fills me from the inside, and I detonate. Locking my hands on the wood, I howl as my body falls apart. Ranger’s deep howl joins mine, then his jaws clamp down on the back of my neck, and his teeth sink into my flesh. His dick swells and releases his load with one deep thrust. An audible snap rings through the room as our mate bond locks into place. Panting, I flatten onto the top of the desk with his weight still atop me.
“Holy hell,” I gasp as the euphoria from the bonding still tingles in my core. My neck throbs, I reach back to feel the significant marks Ranger has left. “Did you have to fucking mark me?” I hiss.
“If you hadn't come to work smelling like another wolf, I wouldn’t have had to,” he snarks as he pulls away from my body.
Squinting my eyes, I turn over and glare at him. Fucking Alpha bullshit. I hope he doesn’t think this means we’re going to have a litter of pups and live happily ever after j
ust because we fucked. My neck burns where he marked me and my pussy throbs as I sit up and stretch. Ranger is unfazed, standing there with his dick out, watching my every move like a hawk.
“You’re beautiful,” he cocks his head as he begins to tuck his manhood away.
“Wow, you can say nice things,” I purse my lips and look around for my discarded panties. “It’s going to take a lot more than that to seal this bond with more than my wolf,” I huff.
“I’m starting to see that,” he bends over and scoops up my underwear, sniffing them before tucking them into my hand.
Shaking my head, I grab them and slide off the desk. Seeing that my panties are destroyed, I drop them in the garbage, guess I’m going commando! Ranger steps forward and pulls my body toward him. I attempt to shrug out of his hold, but he shushes me and grabs a towel from the rack behind him. Seeing his intentions, I relax and let him clean me up before wriggling free and straightening my dress.
“We’d better get back,” he sighs before placing a quick kiss on my forehead and disappearing out the door. I’m left standing there with my jaw open. The man is a conundrum.
The squish of sand under my feet is the best feeling I've had all day. Swinging my shoes in one hand, I make my way along the beach ankle-deep in the water. A full moon peeks over the tree line along the cliff, providing more than enough light for my wolf sight. The gentle lull of waves lapping against the surf is music to my ears. My shoulders are hunched, the few days weighing on me like a heavy backpack. I've mated … maybe to two wolves... and I'm pretty sure I have feelings for all four.
It's been a long, busy day, and I need to realign myself. I haven't really had a chance to talk to Ranger since we sealed the deal, as they say. And to make things worse, Ty is supposed to come back tonight. I'm both excited and anxious to see the Omega. There are no two ways about it, he's gonna see the marks Ranger has left behind. I just hope he … well shit, I don't know what I expect. Yes, I do, I want all of them. How is that even possible?
'Wolves have one mate,' my other half scoffs.
'I'm a shifter. Part human. Some humans have more than one mate, why can't I?' I bite back.
She just snorts and curls up to sleep. I swear my bitch has more sass than I do, which isn't often helpful these days. Frowning at my predicament, I don't even notice the second set of prints by my side until he clears his throat. Startled, I jump backward and eye the shadowed form by my side.
"Cade?" I choke out. Thane's top enforcer. I'm fucked.
"You thought I wouldn't be able to track you?" Cade sneers. He stuffs his hands in his pockets and blocks my path. "Faith, you must come with me. Now. Thane is most displeased at your subversiveness. If I were any other enforcer, you would be on the ground right now. Do not make me forceful."
"I suppose I knew it would be you that found me," I sigh and take a step backward. I just need him to think I'm coming quietly.
"Indeed. Then let us go. It is a long trek home," Cade grumbles.
"Of course, may I gather my things first?"
He looks at me, head cocked to the side, and lifts his chin curtly. With a sigh, he turns on his heel and walks back toward the road. I'm lucky Cade is the one that found me. Formal as ever. Cade has had a crush on me since we were pups. I have one chance of getting out of this alive. Before I can second guess myself, I reach into my bra to grab the knife I've been carrying since I left home and leap on his back. The blade slides into his neck more quickly than I'd imagined would happen. I almost stop. My bitch takes over at my point of weakness. With a howl, she drags the knife across his throat and rips his head back, letting the blood pour forth.
"Faith?" Cade gargles as we drop to the sand.
A tear forms at the corner of my eye as I hover over his body. I never wanted to be a killer of wolves, but here I am. Cade's hollow eyes stare up at the last full moon he ever saw. Reaching up and tying my hair in a bun, I scan the beach with my wolf senses. Nothing is living anywhere near, which is good. Now I must figure out how to move this body.
'I need you,' I soften my mind-speak as much as I can.
'Petite- … why do I smell blood? Are you HURT?' Ranger's voice has a sharp edge.
'No, but I killed an enforcer from my ... former pack,' I struggle to keep myself from crying as my eyes flit over the body once more.
'We're on our way,' Ranger's voice is sure and steady, and at that moment, I fall for him a little.
Knowing the guys are coming fills me with mixed emotions. On the one hand, I know I need help moving Cade. On the other - what if they ask me to leave as soon as they see how severe Thane is about getting me back? I can't go back - ever. I find myself pacing as I wait. The waves crash around me louder and louder until I almost scream into the darkness.
"Faith," Ranger is breathless as he runs to my side, Ty and Lewis at his flanks.
I don't even remember moving. Before I know it, my face is in Ranger's neck, and I'm whimpering. My body shakes with unshed tears, and my stomach is tied in knots. I don't know what to say, so I don't say anything at all. Ty's body presses against my rear as the two men enfold me in a tight embrace. The combination of my mate's musky scent and Ty's Omega vibes flowing into me both help to center me quickly. My shoulders relax, and I chance a look up at Ranger.
"Did he hurt you?" He whispers.
"No, I didn't give him a chance," I croak.
"That's our girl," Ty rumbles.
My eyes widen, and I stare up at Ranger. I'm glad Ty didn't say 'my girl' but I don't know if this is any better. Ranger's bottom lip pulls up, showing his half-turned fangs. His rumble of displeasure makes me bow my head. He steps out of the hug and turns his back on me. My heart drops, but Ty soothes me with his Omega powers before moving away as well.
"Let's get this beast out of here before we're all caught. Lewis, check him for any trackable devices and trash them. Ty, help move him onto the tarp for transport. Brandon should be here any minute with a sand buggy," The Alpha barks out.
I'm left standing alone, staring into the space Ranger occupied. Is that it? Is he going to force me to choose? I can't worry about my sex life now... I need to help. I'm a murderer. Wringing my hands, I turn toward the scene of my crime. Ranger and Ty have already rolled the enforcer up in the tarp. Lewis has a handful of devices that he's cracking open, pulling apart, and crushing. Wolf speed and strength at their finest.
"What can I do?" I ask.
"I want you to turn wolf, dig a deep hole and shove all this bloody sand into it," Ranger states evenly. "Nature will work its own miracle from there."
"Got it," I answer just as the buggy comes racing over the beach toward us.
While the guys are busy maneuvering the body, I rip off my dress and shift. Shaking out my white fur, I lope over to the darkly stained sand and walk the circumference, trying to decide where to dig. Picking a spot nearer the waterline, I get to work quickly. It doesn't take long for the hole to be deep enough to bury a human. Scoffing inwardly, I wonder why I didn't just bury him here.
"If you would've, your former pack could have found him - and you. You did the right thing, Faith," Ranger squats beside the hole.
My wolf and I are finally in agreement … at least as far as Ranger. He's more than a match for her, he's a good man as well. Since our little interaction, he's shown me fragments of the softer side of his nature, and I can't help but start to like him. I nudge him with my head and push my weight against him. Ranger rumbles deep in his throat. He scratches behind my ear and kisses the crown of my head. Well, it seems he's easy to forgive and forget, that has to count for something. Now, if I could figure out how to open up the conversation about the other guys.
"I'd stay and help you, but I think Ty's Omega powers are more what you need right now. When you two are done, meet us at my cabin," he whispers into my fur. And just like that, he stands and walks away, leaving my heart swollen to bursting.
Mixed emotions whirl through my mind as I watch him walk over to Ty, gest
ure toward me, then hop in the sand buggy with the other guys. Ty glances at me, then back to Ranger before loping over to my position. I don't know how to feel or react. There's too much battling inside of me right now. The roar of the engine muffles whatever Ty says. I snort in his direction, then resume digging. At least digging keeps my mind from running rampant. His laugh rings through the air, then his clothing hits the sand with a crunch. Sand starts flying when his tawny wolf joins me, and my wolf mouth widens in a grin.
Once the hole is dug, we begin the task of burying the bloody sand. I can feel the fruit of my labor buried deep in my coat, which sucks ass. Whining, I look over at my pile of clothes and decide I'm not changing back. With quick movements, I kick them into the hole and bury them along with the rest of the debris left behind. When we're done, Ty gathers his own clothes in his jaw and nudges me to start back home.
Side by side, we stream through the night like two dolphins riding the ocean. The rhythm of our feet pad a lonely beat, and a chorus of crickets join the melody. Trees and road flash by, but the only image in my mind is the look on Cade's face as he lay dying. I did that. I killed another wolf. Anathema.
'You were defending yourself, Petite," Ranger croons, a welcome intrusion for once. If he's going to play nice, I could get used to having him in my head.
'It was still murder’ I choke.
My bitch scoffs, turns up our head and howls a mournful song into the night. Ty's voice, then the rest of the Not-A-Pack, joins my haunted melody until our voices become one long vowel.
The Pacific Northwest is a magical place at times. It's green as far as the eye can see. From Ranger's porch on the side of the mountain, I can see plenty. Birds are chirping, and the sun is out for once. As a southern girl, I've had a hard time acclimating to the overcast skies here, but the clean air is fantastic. This is the first day off I've had since I started at the diner, and I'm soaking it up laying in a hammock Ty bought for me. I'm having a margarita and reading a smutty romance novel, a vice I haven't been able to indulge in for quite some time.
