by Franca Storm
Josh noticed her limping, the grimace on her face with every step she took. “Are you wounded?” he asked, worriedly. She’d better not be, or Ryan would lose his shit.
“No,” she said, shaking her head. “My feet are just a little sore, because I walked here.”
His eyes darted to her feet and saw that she was barefoot. Just a little sore? They were in a real bad state, bruised and bloody. Jesus. “No shoes?”
“I was in a hurry to leave. He took my clothes and… heels. Just heels. I couldn’t walk in—they’re not my thing,” she rambled.
It was clear she was in a state. Mentally, as well as physically. What the hell had the bloodsucker done to her?
He snagged her around the waist and swept her up into his arms.
“What are you doing?”
“Ryan would kill me if he found out I let you walk around here with your feet like that.”
His mention of Ryan had a soothing effect on her and she nodded and murmured, “Oh.”
“Where is he?” she asked as he carried her towards the building.
“He’s out conducting some business. I’ll give him a call once we get inside, let him know you’re here.”
***
Ryan burst into the room to find Cora sprawled out on the couch talking with Josh, who sat in a chair beside her. They were both drinking scotch and having what seemed to pass for a civilized conversation.
Ryan’s eyes raked over Cora and he started in surprise.
She was wearing a dress that was ripped in several places, no doubt from her journey to get to him. She would’ve had to pass through a forest to reach the base from Luca’s place. And he noticed her feet. They were bandaged now. When Josh had called him, he’d told him all about it. He couldn’t believe she’d walked all the way. Damn, she was a tough little thing.
They both turned to him as he strode into the room. He lifted his chin at Josh, letting him know he was grateful for him taking care of her in his absence.
“Hey,” he greeted Cora, as he made his way over to the couch.
“Hey, Alpha,” she returned in a drunken drawl.
“A little drunk there, darlin’?” he asked with amusement.
“No. I’ve only had a couple of glasses.”
Ryan eyed Josh. He held up four fingers. Ryan shook his head with disbelief. He perched on the arm of the couch beside her head and, deciding to play along, asked, “Two, huh?”
She grinned mischievously and let out a small laugh.
“How did you get out of there?” he asked gently, laying his hands on her shoulders.
He’d been out searching for his former flame, Shaye. She was a powerful witch and if anyone could have broken through Luca’s magic, it would have been her. But he hadn’t even had the chance to pick up her scent when Josh had called him and told him that Cora had escaped on her own and had come looking for him at the compound.
“I blasted my way out.”
“What?”
She craned her neck to look at him. Her eyes were wide with wonder as she said, “With magic.”
“I didn’t think you could control it.”
She shrugged her shoulders. “It just happened. I got upset. Scared.”
“Scared?” he growled.
“Ry,” Josh cautioned when his aggressiveness made Cora jump.
He drew in a breath and forced himself to ask calmly, “He hurt you?”
“I stopped him.”
He drew back from her and clenched his fists in fury.
What had Luca done to scare her enough that it’d had her power exploding forth?
She shifted on the couch, easing herself into a sitting position. “Are you mad at me?” she asked, worriedly, her intoxicated, glazed eyes trying to search his.
He shook his head. “No, my love. Not at you.”
She smiled back, seeming content.
But, instead of settling, like he’d figured she would, she caught him off guard when she lunged at him, flinging her arms around his neck. He felt her trying to pull him down on top of her. Whoa. Her strength was much greater than he remembered. A lot had changed in her in just a couple of days and it bothered him that he hadn’t been there to experience it with her. She was coming into her supernatural heritage, and he could’ve helped her to understand. He could’ve comforted her. But Luca had denied him that by keeping her imprisoned with the only thing in existence that could keep someone of his power away. Fucking magic.
He tried to find comfort and calm in the fact that she was here with him now.
“Time for bed,” he said, gathering her into his arms and sweeping her off the couch. “Get some sleep. I’m here now,” he told Josh, as he carried Cora out of the room.
He strode down the corridor until he came to the last door. His room. He pushed it open with his back, then kicked it shut once they were inside.
He dropped her on his bed, and she bounced around, shrieking excitedly. So, she was a wild drunk then.
“Shh,” he told her. “Don’t wake the boys, or I’ll have a situation on my hands. They’re not used to a woman being on base.”
“Wolves listen to their Alpha,” she responded, chuckling to herself.
He smiled and turned away. He crossed to a chest of drawers in the corner and quickly pulled out one of his gray t-shirts. He tossed it to her and ordered, “Put that on.”
“Okay,” she murmured without the slightest protest.
But then he watched her hold it to her face, rather than making any attempt to actually put it on. “What are you doing?”
“Smelling you.”
“I’m right here, darlin’,” he told her as he shook off his leather jacket and quickly shed his t-shirt as well.
“You smell… manly.”
“I hope so,” he said as he shed his jeans. “Now put on the shirt and go to sleep.”
Approaching the bed, he watched warily as her gaze raked over him, desire flashing in her eyes as she took in the sight of him in nothing but a white wife-beater and a pair of boxers.
Please don’t come on to me. He didn’t know if he could hold back. The last time he’d been alone with her and so close, it’d been fucking intense. But he wouldn’t take her while she was drunk. She was his mate. She deserved better than that.
To his relief, she looked away.
He climbed into bed and settled himself under the covers. He was just about to close his eyes when he heard little grunts of frustration coming from her. He turned his head and he saw that she was struggling with the zipper of her dress. The fucking thing didn’t suit her. He hated it on her.
With that in mind, he leaned over to her and tugged at it with his wolf strength, ripping it from her body, making her gasp.
“Better?” he asked, drawing back from her quickly and looking away to avoid the sight of her delicious tits. Just that brief glimpse of them had him hard as granite.
“Yeah. Thanks,” she said in a shy voice.
He felt her fidgeting for several moments. And then she let out a satisfied sigh and he heard her head hit the pillow. “Is the shirt on?”
“Yeah. And that aggravating thong is gone. Finally.”
Thong? He turned to her. “What kind?”
“Lace. A lilac color, like the dress.”
Fuck me. Lace? That was hot.
“I’m not wearing anything under this shirt now,” she revealed, sidling closer to him.
He swallowed hard. “Is that right?”
“Yep,” she said, winking at him.
He shook his head with disbelief. “My God, woman. You are drunk beyond belief.”
He looked into her eyes and he was surprised to see that they weren’t glowing like the last time they had been so close. She was turned on, that much was clear. But her eyes were telling him that sex wasn’t what she wanted, or needed. It was something else.
“Ryan,” her silky-smooth voice called to him.
He looked at her, confused.
And then she held her arms out.
But as he looked into her eyes, he knew he couldn’t deny her.
He drew her to him, wrapping his arms around her, her back to his front. A tiny cry of surprise escaped her. He grinned, realizing she could feel his cock pressing into her ass.
“Oh, wow. You’re—”
“Hard for you? Of course, darlin’. Deal with it.” Because, somehow, he was.
She murmured in agreement and he felt her relax against him.
“Sleep now,” he told her gently as he stroked her soft, black hair.
CHAPTER 13
Cora woke up to find herself in Ryan’s bed. She could smell him everywhere. His scent was so strong. A musky, manly scent. Mmm. Another one of her abilities had kicked in then. Heightened senses.
Her head thundered. Right. She recalled the scotch. Oh no. Memories of the way she’d acted with him came flooding back. She’d come onto him in a majorly embarrassing way.
Groaning at the pain in her head and the recollection, she forced herself to sit up.
“Hung over, yeah?”
She looked to her right, to the sound of his voice, and saw Ryan emerging from another room, his hair dripping wet with just a towel around his waist. Oh God. The sight of his ripped, muscular chest sent a wave of heat straight to her core. He was all man, that was for sure. The best that the male form had to offer and more. She noticed a prominent tattoo over his heart. A white wolf. His wolf.
“It’s beautiful.”
He followed her gaze and smiled. “Thanks.”
“Is that… are there more?”
He smirked at her. “Is that your way of asking to see me naked, darlin’?”
She blushed and looked away sheepishly. “No. That’s not what I meant.”
“I’m just messing with you,” he said, crossing to the bed. “There’s one more.”
She watched as he turned around, his back to her. And there, across his upper back, was, indeed, another tattoo. It was massive.
“Angel wings,” she breathed. “Oh my God.”
He spun back around. “What’s wrong?”
“Uh. Why did you get it? I mean, when you think of a wolf, you don’t exactly think angel wings.”
“I’m not sure.” He frowned in thought. “It was just—”
“Instinct?”
“Yeah. How did you know?”
She smiled and turned around. She lifted up the back of her shirt to show him the same tattoo on her back.
“Fuck me.”
She felt him sit down on the bed. She sucked in a breath at the sudden brush of his fingers on her naked back. She gripped the front of the t-shirt tightly, clutching it protectively to her breasts, as he traced his fingers gently over the tattoo.
“We were connected… before we even met,” he mused.
His fingers left her and he moved off the bed. She pulled her t-shirt back down to cover herself. “I know.”
“You sought me out that night, at my bar.” It wasn’t a question. It seemed to be a statement of fact.
She thought about it for a moment. “I think so. But I didn’t realize it at the time. That same night, Luca came to me. He said he’d awakened me. He brought my power to the surface. Later, I had an overwhelming need for the hunt.”
“Sounds like a wolf talking.”
“It’s also a Seeker thing. I hadn’t felt it in years. I’d walked away from that life five years ago. That’s all I’d thought it was at the time. But now I know that it wasn’t. It was more. More primal. Instinctual. There are hundreds of Seeker prey within the city limits and I zoned in on wolves. Vampires should have been my target. To Seekers, they’re always the main threat. They don’t understand boundaries and the value of human life. Wolves were never much of an issue.”
“But that night, you must’ve been searching for a wolf, without even knowing it.”
She nodded.
“Me.”
“Yeah.”
“Well, I guess I have something to thank Luca for then. He sent you to me without even knowing it.”
“Sent me? I’m not a piece of meat, Ryan.”
“Sorry. Guided you to me.”
“That’s a little better.”
He eyed her curiously. “You know, darlin’, on the one hand, you’re so damned feisty. And believe me, I like that in a woman. But, on the flip side,” he said, crossing to her and gently stroking her hair, “You’re so damned shy.”
“Shy?”
He pulled back and reached for the towel around his waist. “You don’t think so?” he asked, looking amused by her denial.
“I am not shy.”
“Really? Then tell me this. What would you do right now if I dropped this towel?”
Startled, she eked out, “Uh… what?”
“What would you do?”
“I—”
“You’d what? Suck my cock? Open your legs and beg me to fuck you?”
She grimaced at his words and averted her gaze.
He chuckled. “Yeah, I didn’t think so. Oh, darlin’, you are so shy.”
She turned away from him and wrapped her arms around herself protectively.
He must’ve felt her nerves, because he told her, “I’m not going to take you, Cora.”
“Sure,” she murmured.
“I’m not Luca. I like my women willing.” He walked to his bedside table and retrieved a bottle of water and a vial of pills. “Here,” he said, handing them to her.
She took what he was offering and was surprised to see that it was her own medication. “Where did you get this?”
“I picked up a few things from your apartment this morning.” He gestured to the floor on her side of the bed.
She looked down to see a couple of bags that she didn’t recognize. She lifted them onto the bed and unzipped one. Her clothes were inside. She looked up at him, smiling.
“I figured you’d feel more comfortable wearing those, rather than my t-shirt all day long. I also found some pistols. All packing silver bullets. Lethal to wolves. I left them where they were. I’m sure you understand. I brought your stakes, though.”
“Sorry. The silver bullets work on all supes. They burn.”
“Well, no more silver now, okay?”
She nodded her agreement. “Thank you, Ryan,” she said sincerely. “I could’ve picked them up myself, you know.”
“Walking through the compound in just my t-shirt would’ve riled up all my boys, darlin’.”
“They can smell me.”
“Yep.”
“I can smell you too. It must be another one of my abilities coming into play, right?”
“No. I don’t think so.”
“No?”
He folded his arms across his chest. “You’re a magical being. Not wolf, or vampire. It doesn’t make sense that scenting would be one of your abilities.”
“Why can I smell you like a wolf then?”
“The bond. It’s happening to me too. It feels different to the way I’d scent any other being.”
“Oh, wow. That’s… intense.”
“Yeah, it is. It’s all a lot to absorb. For everyone, actually.”
“You mean the pack? Are they angry then?”
“Angry?”
“Because your true mate isn’t a wolf?”
“I explained the situation to them a couple of hours ago. They’re… adjusting to the idea.”
“A couple of hours ago? What time is it?”
“Late morning.”
“Shit. I slept that long?”
“You were wasted last night.”
“Yeah. Sorry about that. What I said… what I did…”
He held up his hand. “Forget it.”
She quickly popped a couple of her pills and washed them down with a sip of water. Her head was
killing her.
“Drink it all. You’re dehydrated.”
She smiled at his concern for her well-being and did as he’d suggested, downing the entire bottle. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and then told him, “I’m sorry, Ryan.”
“For what?”
“Coming here. I wasn’t thinking clearly. I’ve put you and your pack in jeopardy. Once Luca realizes I’m here—”
“Stop!” he said, cutting her off. “You are my mate. It is my responsibility to protect you.”
“But—”
“End of story. That’s how it works.”
“Wolf law?”
“Yeah.”
“This situation isn’t normal, though.”
“My boys have been itching for a good fight. We have unfinished business with the vamps.”
“You’re going to war?” she asked, incredulous.
“If Luca makes a move, we will respond.”
“Ryan, I don’t want—”
But he cut her off again. “The decision is mine and only mine. That’ll remain the case until you and I bond. Only then would you have a say in pack matters. As an Alpha’s mate, that is your right.” His gaze softened as he looked at her. “Relax, okay? Go take a shower and get dressed. Then you will eat. You must be hungry.”
“I don’t like being ordered around, Ryan.”
“It was a suggestion. I’d rather I didn’t have to smell my brother on you all fucking day.”
“What? You can—?”
“Yes.”
“I didn’t realize. You didn’t say anything before.”
“I didn’t want to upset you.”
“We didn’t—he and I didn’t—”
“I know. He hasn’t taken you. I can smell your purity from where I’m standing.”
“I—”
“Let’s not,” he said, turning away.
She climbed out of the bed and headed into the bathroom. Stopping at the door, she told him over her shoulder, “Thank you.”
“No need to thank me, Cora. I told you, it’s my job, as your mate, to protect you.”
“Okay.”
CHAPTER 14
“So, you still haven’t fucked her?”
Ryan jolted at the question, almost dropping the two plates of food in his hands. Jesus.
