by KM Lowe
“You feel amazing, baby. I wanted to take this slow, but I don’t think it will last.”
“We have the rest of our lives for slow.” She pants against my cheek.
I move my hand over her clit, thrusting in and out of her. Her body arches, legs clenching around my hips. I feel the tingle start at my spine until my balls tense and I release inside of her. I rest my head over her chest, hearing and feeling her heart beating fast.
I push back off and lie at the side of her, leaning on my elbow. I pull the side of the blanket over her slightly, so we can just lie here for a few extra minutes. I pull her chin softly so she looks into my eyes. I feel a deeper connection when I look into her soul.
“Are you okay, baby?”
“Yeah,” she says, but a tear slides down her cheek. I wipe it away with my thumb and pull her head onto my arm and let her take comfort from me.
“I hope those are anything but sad tears. Talk to me.”
“I just never thought sex could feel like that. I’ve never felt a connection like that before. I didn’t even think about…” She closes her eyes. “I feel terrible that it didn’t enter my head. Not one bit. Those bastards plague every waking minute, and I just expected to see and feel them when we were intimate, but the nightmares and thoughts left me.”
“That’s a good thing. I’m glad you didn’t think about what happened to you. It means you connected with me on a deeper level. You knew you were safe. You knew I’d never hurt you.”
I feel her tears fall onto my arm, and I run my hand through her hair while she gets whatever this is out of her system. I can’t say I understand this guilt she’s feeling, but I’ll always be here for her.
When she tilts her head back, I say, “Hi.”
She smiles. “Hi.”
“Feel better?”
Her cheeks flush pink. I place a kiss on the edge of her nose. I can’t resist touching her right now; she’s perfect in every way. Even her insecurities make her perfect.
“I think so. You must think I’m a mess.”
“You’re my mess, babe. We share everything together from now on. If you’re hurting, I’m hurting. If you’re upset, I want to know about it. We’ll work through everything together.”
“I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve someone like you.”
“Really? Because I was just thinking the same thing. You deserve so much better, but here we are. You, me, and our beasts.”
“The heart gets what the heart wants, and we can’t deny this any longer. I’m not saying I’m going to be okay overnight. Men will always unsettle me. Crowds, unfamiliar places, certain smells… they will all trigger memories for me. But, I believe with you by my side, I’ll find some way to get over these obstacles.”
“I’m never leaving your side, baby. You’re stuck with me.”
“I’m glad to hear it because, between you and Jasper, I’ve never felt safer.”
My heart flutters in my chest. Hearing her say that Jasper and I make her feel safe is the best thing I’ve ever heard in my life. I never thought she’d feel safe and comfortable with me, but we’ve got here.
“You’ve no idea what that does to me and my wolf hearing you say that. Right now, I don’t want to move. But we better put clothes on before we get arrested for indecent exposure.”
She laughs and sits up with the blanket clutched to her chest. “I hope no one was coming down here. They would have got more than a picnic.” She giggles, and I feel like I’m on cloud nine. Nothing will ever take this moment away from me.
“Get that delicious arse covered up, or we may give them something else to watch.”
I kiss her cheek and pull on my boxers and joggers. I’ve never felt as carefree in my life. If this is what I’ve got to look forward to for the rest of my life, bring it on.
Chapter 26
Kevin
This afternoon has been perfect. Karina and I just lay and looked out into the middle of nowhere. We spoke about everything. Our past, our family, our future. It wasn’t until it started getting cooler that I decided we needed to pack up and head home. I haven’t let her hand go the entire way home, unless I needed to shift gears.
I pull up outside of Jasper’s house and spot him packing things into the back of the car. I’m curious to know what’s going on, but I didn’t want anything to spoil the day Karina and I had.
I climb out and walk around to Karina’s side. I help her out of the car and place a kiss on her lips. Now that we’ve been together intimately, I’m more comfortable touching her.
“Hey, guys. How was the picnic?” asks Jasper.
I place my arm around Karina’s shoulders and she rests her head on my chest.
“It was good. Just what we needed.”
“It’s beautiful out there,” Karina says.
“Yeah. I’ve spent a lot of time out there, walking…” I pick up on Jasper’s tone. He isn’t looking at us directly, and his posture is tense.
“What’s going on?” I ask.
Karina lifts her head and looks between me and Jasper. Jasper leans against the bonnet of his Jeep and folds his arms over his broad chest.
“We need to go back to the camp tonight. The council is descending upon us first thing in the morning, which usually means the crack of dawn.”
“Why? What’s going on? I…” I look down at Karina. Her hand fists in my t-shirt.
“I didn’t get all of the details, but apparently, they’ve made decisions regarding our pack. I’m guessing they mean us and Darcy, and not the pack as a whole.”
“Why? I thought you did your punishment? You came to Canada to save us,” says Karina frantically.
“I don’t know what their game is, sweetheart. I’m sorry. I need to take you back to camp. I know you and Kev are thinking about staying out here for a while, and I promise as soon as this meeting is over, I’ll get you back out here as soon as possible,” says Jasper.
“No. This is our pack as well. We should be there. Darcy did nothing wrong. Not really. She had no choice, Jasper. She did what she had to to survive. You can’t let them take her. She’s been through enough.”
I wrap my arms around Karina and hold her close to my chest. Jasper pats her shoulder and nods. He has something going on in his head and I’m not sure we’re going to like whatever it is.
How’s Joel?” I ask.
“Good question, buddy. I’m not sure he’s taking it all in. I think he believes the council will cut Darcy some slack, but he can’t get his head around the feelings he has for her, and now this. It’s going to push him over the edge.”
“This is getting beyond a joke. How’s Stracey?”
“Not talking to me. She’s in the study.”
“It isn’t your fault.” I reach out and squeeze his shoulder, because he looks defeated once again.
“No, but I am still a part of the council. I don’t know. She’ll come around, I guess.”
“I’ll go and talk to her. I’ll come and pack when I’m done,” says Karina, reaching up and placing a kiss on my mouth.
I didn’t want to let her out of my arms, but I relent and kiss her once more before she leaves Jasper and me.
“Do I even want to know what happened out there today?” asks Jasper with a smirk on his face.
I join him, leaning against the Jeep. “We turned a corner.”
“Yeah, you don’t say. I’ve been around shifters long enough to know when…”
“Right. I get the picture. Shut up.” I nudge him in the ribs, making him laugh.
“Without giving me details, was she okay with everything?”
“It was a crazy day. Honestly, I nearly blew it the moment we reached the burn. I was keeping my distance, thinking that’s what she needed, but in reality, she thought I didn’t want her. Once we cleared the air, she instigated the whole thing. She was a little upset after it, but it was more over guilt.”
“Guilt?” Jasper moves to stand in front of me.
“She d
idn’t think about those bastards once the whole time. I don’t know what she expected, but she felt guilt over enjoying herself.”
“I understand that. I had similar feelings when I first slept with Stracey. I didn’t think about Carmen once. I felt like I was betraying her, her memory, everything we once had together.”
“You were in love with Carmen. Those bastards raped and abused Karina.”
“I know. But she’s been through a lot, suffered the worst possible pain, and then she enjoyed something she never thought possible. I can’t tell you how proud I am of you. You stuck by Karina’s side, showed her you cared, loved, and wanted to protect her, no matter what. Do you think you can give Joel a kick up the backside when we get home?”
I laugh, because I somehow think it will take a lot more than a kick up the backside to help Joel out of this predicament. “You have that cabin out in the woods where Lisa and Markus…” I trail off because I don’t want to think about my sister sleeping with anyone, even though I love Markus. “Lock the two of them in there. Don’t let them out until they get a grip. I will speak with Joel though, because he gave me a chance when I came to the pack. I had to do terrible things to survive my father’s pack of mutts. Darcy is no different. What is he so afraid of?”
Jasper shakes his head and shrugs his shoulders. I push off the Jeep and follow him into the house. “Joel didn’t have the best of starts in life. Pretty much like you, I found him when we did a pack raid. We got wind of a rogue pack Alpha. When I got there, Joel was only a toddler. He didn’t speak or communicate with anyone, but he did with me. When I brought him here, Morag and Hamish fell in love with him. They could never have kids, and Joel was their saviour. He mended a little piece of their hearts. Although Hamish and Morag brought him up, he always looked to me for guidance, and I stood by him. I helped him through a lot of his anger and frustration. I thought I’d be able to help him through this soulmate issue, but either he doesn’t want to, or he can’t listen to reason. He has it stuck in his head that Darcy’s at fault, but he wanted to tear the council apart when we arrived back from Canada. He’s confused. Mixed up. Unsure of life. Your idea about locking them up could be our only option, before Joel’s wolf drives him crazy.”
“When are we ever going to get a break?” I shake my head.
“I have no idea, buddy. It’s one thing after another right now. Let’s just get packed and head home. We’ll cross bridges when we come to them. For the first time in my life, I don’t have many answers, but I know I’m going to fix things.”
I watch Jasper walk to his room.
I think that’s what concerns me, because he will do anything in his power to make sure the pack is safe and protected. It’s what he plans on doing about it that has my heart racing, and my brain working sixty miles a minute.
Chapter 27
Karina
I stand in the doorway of the study and watch Stracey bang around. She’s clearly pissed off with Jasper, but I don’t see why, because it isn’t his fault. I knock on the door and she turns around quickly. Her face softens when she notices it’s me. A small, forced smile appears on her face.
“You okay?” I ask, taking small steps into the room.
“Yeah. How was your picnic?”
I think back to the afternoon I spent with Kevin, and I feel giddy all over again. I feel the goosebumps spread over my skin at the thought of the way, he licked, kissed, and touched me. “It was good. Just what we needed.”
“Good. Have you seen Jasper?”
I nod. “Do you want to talk about it?” I ask, sitting down on the arm of the chair.
“Nothing really to talk about. I’m just angry at the world in general. I’m sick of the council dictating to us. It’s not fair.”
“It isn’t fair, but it isn’t Jasper’s fault either. He’s through there blaming himself for all this,” I say, pointing over my shoulder.
“He needs to stand up to them.”
“This is the paranormal council you’re talking about. I haven’t had much contact with them in my life, but I know enough to know you don’t mess with them. Not if you don’t have a death wish.”
She sighs and sits opposite me, exactly the same way, on the arm of the chair. Her elbows rest on her knees and her head falls into her hands. I see her shoulders moving, and I stand up and wrap my arm around her. Her body sags into my stomach and I hold her until she gets it all out of her system.
“This is what the council does. We’re never going to be free of them as long as Braxton runs things. Julian’s a lot like Jasper, but he’s under Braxton’s orders. He can’t break free of that hold. Jasper’s a fool if he thinks he’ll get away from them easily. That’s never going to happen.”
“Then we stand with Jasper. We support his decisions, and we show those bastards that we’re not backing down. We’re a united pack, right?”
Her head lifts and she studies my face. “Right,” she whispers, and stands up, wiping her face with her sleeve.
“If I’ve learnt anything from what I’ve been through, it’s that we may think we’re strong, independent beings, but together with our loved ones, family, soulmates… we’re untouchable.”
“I always knew you were strong, Karina. No one could be standing here, giving me a piece of their mind unless they were strong.”
“Just cut Jasper some slack. He’s hurting right now, and he needs you. I’m not saying to lock away your anger and frustration, because we’re all going to need that for whatever we face, but aim it at the right people.”
Stracey steps in and wraps her arms around my shoulders. I hold her for a few moments before she pulls away. “Thank you.”
She places a kiss on my forehead and walks out of the study. I take a deep lungful of air and exhale slowly. I look around the room, walls full of books, and I feel like this is my type of room. I’d spend many peaceful hours in here. I will spend many peaceful hours in here when we visit.
I turn and walk down the hall to the room we’ve been staying in. The door is cracked open and Kevin is busy packing our stuff up. Just watching his muscles ripple under his t-shirt, his strong posture, arms of steel, my body heats. He turns around and smiles.
“Do you like what you see?” He winks at me and pulls me into his embrace. Just a few days ago, that would have had me hiding.
“I do. Very much.”
“How’s Stracey?”
“I think I got through to her. She’ll be fine. She’s just worried.”
“We all are, babe.”
“As I just said to Stracey, we’ll stand united. We’ll show those bastards that they’re messing with the wrong pack of wolves.”
“Okay. What did you do with my woman? Where has this feisty side come from?” He smirks and kisses my cheek to show me he’s just playing.
“This woman doesn’t like any paranormal being throwing their weight around. That’s why this world’s in such a sorry state. Maybe if we all worked together, things wouldn’t be so bad.”
“Maybe you should run for council, babe.”
“That’s the worst idea I’ve ever heard. I’d get Stracey to turn them all into frogs. That would be the end of our council.”
I laugh, and he joins in with me. “I love you, Karina Carmichael.”
“I love you, too, Kevin Witlock.”
“Right, let’s get packed up and get this show on the road.” He places his warm lips over mine and I melt into his embrace. I like feeling him possess me this way. It means no one will ever get inside my head again. Every part of me is Kevin’s.
Chapter 28
Kevin
We pull up in the camp. Even though it’s dark out, candles flicker from around Carlos’s cabin. People sit around the large table outside. I can’t make out who it is, but I guess it’s the main gang.
I get out of the car and help Karina out. We make our way to the boot of the car to get our luggage with Jasper.
“Karina, I don’t know what you did or said to Strace
y, but, thank you.” Jasper kisses Karina’s head.
“I only spoke the truth. No need to thank me. I’m glad she’s okay.”
Pride rushes through my body. Just when I think nothing will surprise me with this woman, she goes and does something else.
“Well, let’s see what the pack has to say. If you want to go to the cabin, I’ll come and fill you both in.”
“Okay.”
“No.”
Karina and I speak together, and we look at one another to elaborate.
“What’s it going to be?” Jasper smirks.
“No. We’re coming with you. It’s not going to be easy for me, but I need to get to know these people. You and Darcy did a lot for me Jasper, and now I’m going to do the same for you.”
I scowl at her words. I don’t want her putting herself in danger for anyone, and I know Jasper will side with me on this one.
“Okay. Let’s go.”
Just like that. What’s Jasper thinking? Why did he dismiss her words as if she said she was going to bake a fucking cake?
Karina takes my hand and we follow Jasper. Stracey is talking with Chardonnay at the table and I look around at all the faces. Lisa, Markus, Joel, Carlos, Bull… I really owe Bull an apology because I could have ripped his head off the day he frightened Karina. I didn’t think. I just saw my mate upset.
“Hey, bro,” says Markus as he stands up and holds his hand out, pulling me into his chest. “Hi,” he says to Karina.
“Hi. Markus, right?”
“Right.” He smiles.
Again, I’m surprised, because the last time we were here she wasn’t interested in getting to know anyone. This is a complete 360.
“Good trip?” Carlos walks around the table and holds his hand out to me.
“As good as it could be.” I shake his hand.
“Hi, sweetheart. How are you feeling now?”
Karina tightens her grip on my hand and looks up to Carlos with a smile. “Hi. I’m okay.”
“Sorry we had to cut your trip short. Jasper said you guys are thinking of splitting your time between here and Anderson for the time being.”
