by Kym Grosso
“I’m ancient, so much more so than this young pup, than you, than any here in your pack. Not all secrets can be told. Just trust me. At worst he’ll die. But if I can bring him back to you…look, you saved me. I owe you one.”
Rafe’s eyes fluttered open. “Do it.”
“Where are you going?”
“I can’t tell you. You’re gonna have to trust me.”
“Jesus, Vik.” Hunter closed his eyes, his lips tight. He could have done so many things differently. Rafe would die because of his actions.
“Trust him,” Willa whispered.
“Are you sure, Rafe? I can’t promise what will happen to you,” Hunter said.
“Fuck, man. I got no time. Just do it,” he managed, blood gurgling in his throat.
“No pressure, but from the sounds of his heartbeat, he’s got about two minutes. I’ve got to do this now,” Viktor urged.
“Where are you going?” Hunter asked.
“We don’t have time!” the vampire yelled.
“Stop it, Viktor!” Willa demanded.
The vampire hovered his palm above Rafe’s head. “One minute. Tick tock.”
“Hunter. Please. It’s time.” Willa brushed her palm along his cheek, a comforting hand on his shoulder. “It’s okay. You can trust Viktor. He’s family.”
Viktor nodded, his expression somber.
“You’re gonna be okay, Rafe. You can trust the vampire.” Hunter spoke, although Rafe no longer responded.
“Thirty seconds.”
“I love ya, bro.” Hunter nodded at the vampire.
“See ya on the flip side. Fiji awaits.” Viktor knelt and placed a hand on Rafe’s shoulder.
Within a blink of the eye, they disappeared. Hunter stared at the blood-stained earth, grief churning inside his chest.
“He’s going to be okay,” Willa said.
“We may never know. But I trust Viktor.” Hunter turned to his mate. “This will never happen again under my watch. Not ever.”
“You killed the rogues. You saved me and the pack.” Willa bowed her head in both reverence and submission for her Alpha.
Hunter heard their paws treading towards them before he ever saw their eyes. Two rogue wolves barreled out of the woods toward him. He reached for the shotguns that lay on the ground and threw one to Willa. As the wolves lunged, they fired off several rounds directly at the wolves. Smoke and dust spun in the air, the dead animals landing on the ground with a thud.
Hunter stepped toward the rogues, who’d been forced into their human forms. He stared down at the lifeless intruders and spat on them. “Enjoy Hell.” With the final rounds, he unloaded silver into their foreheads.
The Alpha rose, turning to address his pack. Women and children ran outside onto the grass, exiting the pack house. Each and every one shifted before him, lowering their gaze, submitting.
“Teton Wolves. I stand before you humbled. Our brother Rafe chose to go with the vampire. Viktor. He can be trusted. Rafe is now in the hands of the Goddess.” Hunter reached for Willa, her palm in his. “I want to introduce you to my mate, a true Alpha female. Princess Aline Ermenjarta. An original wolf of the Lobo. She is my mate. My queen.”
Hunter smiled at Willa as she sent her light through him, their skin glowing. Awe and acceptance from his wolves registered. “Now we run.”
Shifting into his mighty beast, he set off into the woods with his mate by his side. Through tragedy, they’d grown stronger. By risking his life to go into Hell, he’d saved not only Viktor but himself, finding his mate. His pack rejoiced as Willa released her power, tendrils of her royal energy threading through the pack. Energized, they ran through Yellowstone, strong and united. Teton Wolves.
Chapter Sixteen
It had been a week since she’d been accepted into Teton Wolves. Willa had privately funded the construction of a new clinic and had arranged for another doctor to take her place in Guatemala.
Hunter spent the week individually visiting all his wolves, reassuring them of his protection. Kade Issacson had sent one of his employees, a vampire, Xavier, to create a new blood club and arrange for proper management.
This morning, her Alpha had left a sealed invitation on her pillow. A date. It had been so long, Willa couldn’t remember what it was like to simply have fun. Laugh. Watch a movie. To be wonderfully boring, settled and happy. It had been a dream for so long she’d forgotten it existed. Until Hunter.
Exhilarated, Willa ran with her mate under the light of the full moon. Learning the trails, she followed the Alpha, playfully weaving between the trees. They’d watched from afar as a mama bear nursed her cubs. Willa gave a cheerful scream as they finally reached Old Faithful, shifting to their human forms.
“Yes!” She jumped up and down, the night air cooling her skin. “That was amazing!”
“It’s why I moved here. Don’t get me wrong. I love New Orleans, but the open space of the west drew me like a moth to a flame. Nothing like it.”
“It’s quiet but it’s not. All the animals.”
“You still get contact when you go into town but out here? It’s nothing but animals, wildlife.”
“It’s incredible.”
“In the winter it’s brutally cold for the humans, but it’s perfect for my wolves. You’ll see a few of the die-hards stay wolf for days, not shifting back. You can be as wild as you want. Run wherever you want. Whenever you want.”
“That’s how it was in the jungle. Aside from the village, I could run wherever I wanted.” Willa took a deep breath, smiling. “I can’t wait until it snows.”
“We’d better get going. The humans are going to see us if we stay out here long enough.” Hunter laughed. “And then I’m gonna hear it from the rangers.”
“Where’re we headed?” she asked.
“Follow me. It’s a surprise.”
Before she had a chance to question further, he transformed, barking for her to follow suit. Willa laughed, filled with happiness and love. Her spectacular Alpha ran a circle around her, urging her to shift. Releasing her magick, her beast emerged, and she chased after him.
As they ran through the thick forest, the leaves crunched under their paws. In the distance the delicious scent of food grew stronger. As the enormous white tent came into view, she transformed into her human form.
“You did this?” Willa smiled at the sight of the strands of white lights strung over the trees. “How? What is this?”
Hunter laughed as he shifted. “It’s a proper date, remember?”
“How did you do this?”
“Ah, it’s a secret, my queen.” He reached for her hand and led her towards the tent.
Willa gasped as she stepped inside and took in the sight of her surroundings. The enormous room had a king-sized bed in the corner. Steam billowed out of a wooden tub sitting across from it. Two plates covered with gold domes sat upon a romantic candlelit table. The gentle rhythm of blues played over speakers. “How did you get all this in here?”
“It’s a secret.” He winked and reached for a bottle wedged into an ice bucket.
“Did Viktor do this?” she asked.
“Vik has his hands full. But you’re close. Quint owed me a favor.” A loud pop sounded as he uncorked the champagne.
“Any word on Rafe?” Willa asked, accepting a glass.
“Vik says he’s alive. But he said it’s taking a while to get him better.”
“It’s a miracle he saved him. I can’t help but wonder what he did, though.”
“I can say with certainty he didn’t use demon or fae magick, that’s for damn sure.”
“What did he do?”
“Says he used his own blood but if I’m honest, something doesn’t feel right. Cagey bastard won’t tell me what he did.”
“Rafe…” Willa sighed, guilt twisting through her. “I’ve seen some pretty bad injuries before, but he was…”
“I know what you’re going to say, and I hear ya. With the amount of silver they loaded him with,
he should have died. The blood of an ancient can help. But it should have been quick.”
“Where are they?”
“He won’t say. He won’t even answer my damn phone calls. Keeps sending fucking texts.”
“Send nudes?” she laughed.
“Exactly. Sends me memes. Stupid shit like that. He’s stalling.”
“I haven’t heard from my brother either.” A sad smile formed on her lips. “I know he’s alive. Somewhere.”
“He is alive. And some day he’s going to show up here in Yellowstone and I’m going to kick his ass.”
“He’d better come back. Or I’m going to go look for him, you know, right?”
Hunter sighed. “Unfortunately, yes, my beautiful but stubborn queen. But if you do, you won’t go alone. Because you have a mate who cares about you very much.”
“We are meant for each other, aren’t we?” she laughed.
“We are. Now I was thinking, a proper date. We’ve got the champs.” He nodded at the table. “Food.”
“A hot bath, which I’m so ready to use.” She smiled.
“A bed.” He winked. “We’re camping.”
“Glamping.” She laughed.
“Maybe. Just a little.” Hunter closed the distance.
“It’s perfect,” she said. Her stomach fluttered as her sexy-as-sin Alpha took her hand in his.
“You’re perfect.” He held his glass in the air. “To my beautiful mate.”
“To a hundred, no, a thousand dates,” she countered.
“A lifetime.”
With a clink of their glasses, they sipped the champagne. Willa’s heart pounded in her chest as her gaze painted over his muscular body, candlelight flickering over his tanned skin. As he smiled, her focus was drawn to his strong lips and her pussy flooded in arousal, anticipating what they’d do to her.
A knowing smile crossed his face, his eyes lit in amusement. “Do you know what I love about you?”
Love. Her heart tightened at the sound of the word. It had been an emotion she’d tried so very hard to ignore, yet one she’d yearned to hear from her mate.
“I love you,” she blurted out, unable to stop the words. She spun around on her heels and bit her lip. Shit. You’ve only known him for a few weeks. What are you doing?
She startled as his strong arm curled around her waist, the warmth of his firm chest along her back spiking her arousal. Her body tingled in awareness, his lips brushing her shoulder. Oh Goddess.
“Did you just say what I think you said?” His lips brushed over her shoulder.
“I…I….” As his hand cupped her breast, she lost her train of thought. “I don’t know what I said.”
“That’s funny, because I think,” he kissed her neck, “you said you love me.”
“What? You must have heard wrong,” she lied, a shiver dancing through her body.
“Really, huh? Because funny thing is that I love you.”
Willa melted at his words. She spun around to face him, her hand cupping his cheek. “What?”
“I love you, Wills. I never met anyone so strong. So giving. I’m not fooling myself. I know this is the magick of our wolves. The attraction. But fuck if I’d ever give this up. That mark there on your shoulder…I want this. I want everything with you.”
Willa’s stomach sank. Everything. Children. She blinked away the moisture welling in her eyes.
“What is it, sweetheart?”
“I was supposed to be the last of a generation. We never talked about it. You want everything, but what if I can’t give you everything? A family?”
“You are my family.”
“Kids, Hunter. What if I can’t have them? I love you. I really, really do. I thank the Goddess you found me that day, that she gave me such an amazing man…you.”
“If we can’t have kids, we can adopt a pup. If we want to. And if we don’t…we won’t. Right now, though, all I ever want is you.” Hunter brushed a lock of her silken hair from her eyes. His gaze drifted to her lips, and he took her glass and set it on the table. “I love you. I want one million and one dates. I want a lifetime.”
Willa nodded, her heart crushed with love for him. “A lifetime.”
She moaned as his lips captured her mouth, tasting her mate, lost in his devastating kiss. He lifted her into the air, and she wrapped her legs around his waist. She tunneled her fingers into his hair as their tongues swept against each other’s. Their passionate kiss was all-consuming. Skin against skin, her body lit with desire.
Willa laughed, her lips on his as he stumbled towards the bath and eased them into the tub, her toes dipping into the warm water.
Their bodies slick, she reached for his erection and stroked it. He groaned, pumping his hips toward her.
“Jesus, I’ll never get enough of you,” he growled.
“I’m not going anywhere,” she promised.
“Willa,” he murmured into her lips, deepening the kiss.
She tightened her grip and reached for his balls with her other hand, gently massaging them.
Hunter tore his lips from hers, attempting to catch his breath. “Holy fuck.”
Her taut nipples brushed his chest, her pussy aching in arousal. “I want you in me.”
Willa squealed as he reached for her waist and settled her onto the ledge of the wooden tub. Arousal flooded through her as she drank in the delicious sight of her masculine Alpha. Beads of water dripped down the hard-cut ridges of his abs toward the V of his pelvis.
Hunter stroked his thick cock. Gooseflesh broke over her skin as he gently spread her knees open and knelt before her.
She released a soft gasp, his fingers trailing over her nipples. Willa closed her eyes, focusing on nothing but his touch, her skin tingling with his energy. With the first lap of his tongue over her clit, she heaved a breath. Her fingernails dug into the soft wood, and she cried out as he plunged his finger inside her tight core. Willa reached for Hunter’s head, tunneling her fingers into his hair.
“I love your pussy. My pussy. So good.” The Alpha mercilessly flicked his tongue at her sensitive nub.
“Ah…I’m going to…” She tilted her hips upward, her body lit with desire.
“Fucking delicious.” Hunter slid another digit deep inside her.
Willa panted as he licked relentlessly at her clit, his fingers driving inside her core. Her orgasm rolled through her and she clutched his head to her pussy, her hips gyrating.
“Ah…my Alpha.” Her back arched, tendrils of the climax sizzling through her body.
Willa’s eyes fluttered as Hunter rose above her, her heart pounding.
“Now, my queen.”
She lost her words, engrossed in the presence of her mate. He reached and lifted her, and she wrapped her arms around his neck.
“I love you, Willa. Always.”
“I love you too, my king.”
He plunged his cock inside her pussy, and Willa cried his name out loud. The water sloshed out of the tub onto the floor as he gently rocked inside her, easing them into the bath. His mouth crashed down upon hers, kissing her breathless.
Time stopped as they made love, her body glowing, their power merging. With a slow rhythm, they became one. His hands cupped her breasts, teasing her nipples between his fingers. She gripped his shoulders, grazing her pelvis against his. Each slow stroke to her clit brought her closer to orgasm, his thick cock filling her.
“I…oh Goddess,” she cried.
“That’s it…just like that.” Hunter thrusted hard, increasing the pace.
“Yes…yes…yes…”
“I fucking love you.”
“I love you too. Hunter. Please…” Willa panted, her body on fire with ecstasy.
He tore his lips from hers, his mouth finding her shoulder. “You’re everything.”
As he bit down on her mark, Willa splintered apart, her orgasm slamming into her. She screamed his name, their bodies gyrating.
A rush of emotion seized her chest, so in love with t
his incredible man. Although royal blood ran through her veins, Hunter was her king, giving her unconditional love, a sense of acceptance, belonging, family. A love so great that she’d follow him to the ends of the Earth. Hunter Livingston. My Alpha.
Hunter lifted Willa from the tub, settling them into the bed. As she curled into him, his heart squeezed tight with love for his mate. He brushed his lips over her hair and wrapped them both into the warmth of a soft blanket.
He smiled as he considered the irony, how saving Viktor led to a chance encounter in Hell, a blessing from the Goddess. Even within the fiery underworld, the demons could not escape her or divine destiny. Teton Wolves was stronger than ever, a royal mate alongside her Alpha to protect and lead them.
With his queen nestled against his chest, the Alpha smiled, a rush of love threading through him. Never in his long life could he have predicted a world where he’d willingly submit to anyone. Within love and life, both equal parts of a concerto, they’d make beautiful music together for a lifetime.
Epilogue
Viktor stared down at the wolf. He should never have offered to save him. He’d only planned on feeding him his blood but when it didn’t work, he took to drastic measures to destroy the demonic silver.
“It’s going to be okay, wolf. You just have to get through this little stage here, and when you wake up, you’ll be fine.” Viktor lifted Rafe’s upper lip with his thumb, examining his teeth. He slid the pad of his finger over the razor-sharp incisor. Fuck. What the hell did I do?
“Don’t let him out of your sight.” Viktor looked to the nurse who sat attentively at his bedside. “Text me when he wakes up. Keep him comfortable. He’s got a fever, but it should be gone by tonight. We’ll feed him again and then all should be good.” I hope.
“Yes, sir.”
Viktor nodded at her and glanced again to the sick wolf. As he turned his back and walked toward the heavy metal door, he considered the ramifications of what he’d done. If Hunter had never traveled to Hell to save him, Rafe would be alive and well. Granted, the Alpha wouldn’t have his mate but nonetheless, an uneasy feeling settled in his gut.
