Pillar of Light (The Lost Princess Book 1)

by A. Mashburn

  Xander lost track of Genesis shortly after she reached the woods, but he could smell her scent nearby, and it titillated his senses. Scanning his surroundings, a flash of white disappeared behind a bush catching his attention. He crept quietly up to the far side of where she was hiding, not making a sound. When he slowly looked around the bush, he observed her in a playful stance, peeking around the corner in the opposite direction, her twin tails dancing with glee. He silently crept closer and closer until he was mere inches behind her and nipped her hind leg.

  She swung around to face him. How did you? she started and scoffed, I didn’t even hear you.

  It was Xander’s turn to wear that wolfy, self-satisfied grin. You’ve been gone a long time, Love. You’re just a bit rusty. He pranced around her and she glared at him playfully.

  When Xander moved around to face her, she pounced on him and he allowed her to roll him onto his back. Gotcha! she yelled in triumph.

  You’ve always had me, Genesis, he said seriously. She nuzzled his neck and they laid side by side as the soft breeze ran through their fur. He heard her stomach growl and flattened his ears to his head. You need to hunt.

  I’m okay. I don’t want to freak Gretchen out on our first shift by killing.

  Xander peered at her skeptically. It’s in our nature; she knows this and was warned that you would hunt.

  And she was revolted by it, Xander…She trailed off and Gretchen nudged at her mind. Genesis, this is your time; have fun. You don’t need my permission to hunt. We’re hungry, so find us some food, Gretchen encouraged.

  Are you sure? Genesis asked.

  Absolutely positive; I’m still tired and think I’ll just sleep anyway. I trust you, just don’t hurt our friends.

  I would never. Sleep well, little wolf. Genesis let out a little yip and felt better knowing that she and Gretchen were a team. She never wanted to make Gretchen uncomfortable, but her sweet human was trying to understand her and her needs. Genesis found herself undeniably grateful to be paired with such a pure soul and howled to the moon, Thank you, Moon Goddess.

  Genesis turned and pulled at Xander’s ear to get his attention. You’re right, we need to hunt and I’m famished.

  He leveled a stare at her. I guess you talked to Gretchen?

  Genesis let out a playful little yip and darted towards the trees. She heard Xander’s soft chuckle in her mind. You’ll scare everything away if you keep running like this. Have you forgotten how to hunt? Stealth, Genesis.

  She knew he was right, even though she didn’t want to admit it. Fine, I’ll slow down for you, old man.

  Xander approached from behind and pinned her to the ground without a sound. He took her scruff in his mouth and bit down. I’m not old, he grumbled playfully. But be careful, she-wolf, don’t provoke me. As you well know, you don’t mess with a wolf’s mate or injure his pride without repercussions.

  She laughed in response, just wait until I’m better trained.

  He released her and lapped at her snout; I’ve missed you, female.

  A sudden mouth-watering smell hit their noses, interrupting their banter, and Xander rose, putting his nose to the wind. Do you smell that? He asked Genesis, but by the time he looked down, her ears were flat to her head as she stalked forward silently. He watched her graceful movement as she approached their prey.

  There was a brood of wild turkeys ahead and Xander watched with pride as his she-wolf pounced on one, killing it instantly. The other turkeys scattered and Xander lunged for one himself; he sunk his teeth into its neck and dragged it next to his mate.

  You did good, Xander praised, nudging her with his snout.

  You did, too. Genesis was quiet for a moment as she stared at her prize.

  What’s wrong? Xander asked.

  Nothing, it’s silly. Genesis shook her head and started plucking feathers from the carcass with her teeth.

  Xander leaned his body against hers, comforting her. It will take some adjusting for you and Gretchen, Love. It will be okay.

  Genesis puffed out her chest and raised her head in defiance. Don’t assume you know what I was thinking, Xander. It had nothing to do with that—Gretchen and I are fine. It feels just as natural for me as it does for her.

  Xander was taken aback by her sudden outburst as she turned her back to him. Hey, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to assume—what is it, then?

  She peered at him over her shoulder and huffed as she flopped to the ground dramatically. I got that one for you because it was the biggest—then you got your own.

  Xander laid his turkey in front of her, Funny you say that, because I got this for you.

  He cocked his head to the side and she huffed in annoyance, you did not.

  I did so, he refuted, and began pulling the feathers out of his bird. She watched from her spot on the ground with her head on her paws. Once he was done, he noticed that she had done the same to the other bird. Thank you, Love, he said as she placed his dinner in front of him.

  You’re welcome, she smiled at him and they both began to eat. Contentment in the moment consumed Xander and Genesis just as they consumed their fresh kills side by side.

  Once they had their fill, Xander looked at Genesis and noticed the tranquil look on her face. She was truly comfortable in her skin and it filled his heart with pride. We should probably get cleaned off so Gretchen isn’t covered in blood when you shift back.

  Genesis nodded her head in agreement but didn’t move from her spot.

  Are you okay, Genesis? Xander asked.

  Oh yes, just full and tired. Is there a stream or something nearby?

  There’s a pond out by the cabin. There’s even a pool house, of sorts, where we can rest for a while and talk. Slovenia keeps a spot near it that would make for a good cover for when you shift back. So, we can clean up first, then go inside and shift and you can have some privacy.

  Genesis grunted a noise that Xander assumed was approval because she followed him as he trotted towards the cabin. Before long, the two wolves reached their destination and stepped into the cool water. Genesis yawned loudly and Xander felt Nicoli prod at the back of his mind. Let me wash her. I can make it quicker and help with her shift back. Xander agreed and licked the side of Genesis' snout before he let the change flow through him.

  Genesis looked up to see a very naked Nicoli standing before her. Her eyes bulged. Gretchen, Gretchen, she tried to wake her human. She felt Gretchen’s conscious stretch to awareness and suddenly heat flowed through her body. Genesis chuffed; her human was just as attracted to her mate as Genesis was to Xander. Yeah, I thought you might want to slip into the driver’s seat for this one. Genesis laughed as Gretchen pushed her consciousness forward and felt Nicoli begin to run his hands through her fur as he washed her.

  Gretchen looked down at her giant white paws and saw the red water dripping from her fur. She looked up to Nicoli and whimpered.

  “Hey there; I see Genesis prefers the company of Xander, huh?”

  Gretchen whimpered again as she looked to the water and back up to Nicoli. “Don’t worry about that; she didn’t hurt anyone. We ate some turkey, that’s all. I know it seems like a lot of blood, but it’s not so bad actually.” Genesis felt him scrubbing behind her ears. She allowed her head to loll to the side and her tongue to slip out as she grinned. Damn, that feels good, she thought.

  A soft chuckle rose from Nicoli’s chest at her reaction to his touch. “Alright,” he said, standing, “come on. Let’s get inside here and we can talk after you shift.” A whimper rose from where the beautiful white wolf stood, looking back and forth between the wings that were unfurled behind her. “You’re a Pterolycus, remember? You have wings. You probably didn’t notice them before because Genesis held them folded to her back. Roll your shoulders and focus on bringing them in.” He saw the fierce concentration on her face and slowly the wings began to fold behind her. He smiled widely at her, “It will take some time for you to get used to this body, Gretch. Don’t worry, you did well; n
ow follow me.”

  She followed Nicoli to a small hut and peeked her head inside, it was cozy. There was a thick, shaggy rug on the floor and piles of pillows everywhere. She inwardly groaned at the sudden need to flop herself on the mound and burrow underneath. She looked down at her wet fur and yipped to get Nicoli’s attention. He looked at her and she held his gaze for a moment before she lifted her dripping wet paw.

  He grinned at her and suggested, “Shake off and come in.” She cocked her head to the side and he shook his head. “Come on, you’ve seen a dog shake off water; it’s the same concept. Just shake your head and let the fur fly, Gretch.” She wrinkled her nose at him. He turned his back to her and picked up some logs for the hearth in the center of the room.

  She stood back from the door and tried to do as he said. Genesis, could you take care of this shaking thing, please? Coordination is not my strong point in this body.

  Genesis smiled in their shared mind, Of course. Genesis took the lead as she shook their body dry and padded into the room.

  Nicoli already had a small fire started and turned towards Genesis’ large frame. “Alright, it’s going to take a few minutes to warm up in here, but we can begin the change now.” He knelt next to her and rubbed his hands down her sides. “I want you to picture yourself in your human form; visualize the way your limbs move, the flex of your fingers and toes, the way you move your neck and body. You can picture yourself at the gym if that helps.” She cocked her head at him and her eyes began to swirl into flames as she licked his face. Nicoli smiled knowingly, “Yeah, or that.”

  Nicoli continued to stroke her until he felt her body tremble beneath his hands. He moved to sit back against a pile of pillows at the side of the room to give her space and watched as the hair receded and her human body began to take form. Once the shift was complete, he saw her naked body on all fours. Gretchen looked up at him from between the drapes of hair that shielded her face as she began to crawl towards him.

  The way her body moved as she slinked towards him made his cock stiffen. He feasted his eyes on the way her hips sashayed with every movement and the way her breasts swayed. She reached the rug in the middle of the room and he felt her heated gaze rake over his body and stop at the stiff rod at the juncture of his thighs. She bit her lower lip and he had to suppress a groan. Everything about this woman beckoned to the very essence of his being and Xander howled in his mind.

  “Gretchen,” he cleared his throat and grabbed a pillow to cover himself up. She growled at him in displeasure and wasn’t that just the sexiest thing ever? He gave her a lopsided grin, “you need to focus; you must have questions, right?”

  She moved closer and never took her eyes off him. For the first time in his life, he felt like the prey rather than the predator he was. Her eyes bored mercilessly into his as she sized him up, wanting nothing more than to ravage him. The raw desire in her flaming orbs set him ablaze and made him as hard as marble.

  He reclined against a pile of pillows and couldn’t take his eyes off Gretchen as she crawled her way up his body. She paused only because the pillow he grabbed for his modesty was in her way. He clutched the damn thing like it was a life preserver and gulped as she threw her long hair to one side of her shoulders. He tried desperately to control himself, but he’d wanted this woman for so long, he could feel his reserve slipping by the second.

  In a last-ditch effort, he opened his mouth, “The first shift is—”

  “No,” she interrupted him, “things are a little fuzzy still, Nicoli. But I remember a great deal. I remember the day you gave me this scar.” She brought his hand to her back and he felt the fine, raised marks he’d left behind so long ago.

  Guilt rode him hard at that moment and he knew he’d never forgive himself. He felt her small hand on his cheek as she held his gaze. “I remember that even then, I wasn’t scared of you. I remember the way you cared for me as if I were the most precious thing in the world. Even as a child, I didn’t understand the insistent need to always be near you. At that time, all I knew was that I wanted to keep you forever.”

  He opened his eyes and found her gazing at him intently as goosebumps rose across her skin. “I was too young to understand the pull I felt towards you or to comprehend why I was so possessive. Remember the maid who tried to kiss you?” she smirked.

  “Oh, Josefa. Yes, she was a cute one,” he grinned widely as he teased her.

  A growl reverberated through Gretchen’s chest. Nicoli continued, “I remember you were barely through your first early shift and you came running around the corner of the kitchen like your feet were on fire and threatened to have her beheaded if she ever touched me again.” He let his fingers trail lazy circles on her lower back, causing a shiver to run through her. “I always wondered how you knew where I was and what was happening.”

  It was her turn to smile, “I felt a female’s hands on you and a blinding rage ran through me. Back then, even I didn’t understand why exactly I was so pissed, but I do now. You are mine, Nicoli.” Flames leapt in her eyes and he felt every hair on his body stand on end as a growl reverberated through her chest again as a sad expression took hold.

  “If I were never bound, I would have known this sooner. I would never have given myself to—” A tear escaped her eye and she looked away ashamed as she whispered, “I was meant to be yours and now—”

  His heart cracked wide open. He knew what Gretchen was saying, but she wasn’t the one at fault. “Gretchen, no—look at me.” He tried to pull her face back to him, but she resisted.

  He curled his arms underneath and lifted her body as he cradled her to his chest. Tears streaked her cheeks as she buried her face in the crook of his neck. “Princess, you need to listen to me—really, listen to me. You can’t be held accountable for those decisions because, at that time, you didn’t know who or what you were. You didn’t know. As far as I’m concerned, the only thing that matters is the choice you make now. Your human life is separate from this one, do you get that?”

  “B-But it m-must have been so hard for you. I felt the maid’s hands on you.” Her shoulders shook with the weight of her sobs.

  He breathed deeply but flashed her a tender smile as he stroked her hair to soothe her. “I’m not going to say I didn’t have a few moments where murder sounded appealing. But I knew that you didn’t enjoy it.” He shrugged, lifting one large shoulder.

  She pulled back and eyed him suspiciously, “How do you know that? Were you spying on me then, too?”

  “Good Goddess Gretchen, no.” His body shook with the weight of his laughter. “If I had seen you with my own two eyes entangled with those men, they wouldn’t still be walking around to talk about it. Plus, I’m not a total pervert, I wouldn’t spy on you in your private moments. I tried my best to stay out of your personal life as much as I could unless you needed me.”

  “Like the night at the frat party?”

  He growled, his eyes switched to the color of his wolf for a moment and he shook his head. “Yeah, like that night. It was hard enough to tolerate their hands on you and when I realized they had tried to drug you, that it wasn’t consensual, I lost it. That wasn’t something I would usually do, take a human life that is. But, as I said before, I won’t apologize for it. Who knows how many times they’d done that and as far as I’m concerned, I did the community a favor.”

  “For what it’s worth, Nicci, I’m sorry.” She looked down at her fingers.

  He placed his hand under her chin, tilting it up with ease this time. “I told you before, Princess, do not lower your eyes to anyone, least of all me.”

  “But you’re an Alpha.” Her eyes widened. “Oh, Nicci. You gave up your territory and your pack to babysit me all these years.” She was appalled and tried to put some distance between them. He growled and held her more tightly.

  “No, my duty was and always will be, to be by your side. I gave up little but gained so much just by being here with you.”

  “Oh, come on, Nicoli—” She peered
at him dubiously. “You can’t be serious. This is all my fault.”

  “No, once everything is back in order up there,” he used his forefinger to tap her temple lightly, “you’ll know there’s nothing you could’ve done to stop the chain of events that happened. The only thing that matters is what you do now.”

  She sighed reluctantly and nodded her head. “This is not exactly what I had in mind when I crawled up to you; you know that?”

  Nicoli huffed, “Yeah, I kind of got that impression.” He kissed her head, reveling in the warmth of her body against his.

  She wiggled closer to him and he stiffened. She looked up at him through her long eyelashes and asked, “Why do you still push me away?”

  “From my recollection, I held on when you tried to move.” He gave her a lazy smile and she felt him begin to trace circles on her thigh. Shivers ran up her spine and she groaned; the simplest of touches caused pleasure to course through her veins.

  “Hm, I suppose that’s true. You still didn’t answer my question.” She shifted so she could straddle his lap; the pillow still securely between them.

  She could hear his heartbeat begin to gallop in his chest. “What question?”

  “How did you know I didn’t enjoy it?” she asked.

  He pulled her flush against his chest, her breasts pressed against him. “Because no one can make you feel this.” He captured her lips with his, and she moaned instantly when his tongue entangled with hers. The kiss was like no other, a moment frozen in time as he gently nibbled on her lip with his hand curled in her hair, holding her head in place. Her arms wrapped around his neck as he gripped her luscious curves, grinding his hardness into her core. He pulled her head back by her hair, revealing her flushed, breathless face. “Tell me I’m wrong,” he challenged her.

  Words escaped her. She thought back to the apartment, how Nicoli had made her melt with his mouth on hers. Even that paled in comparison to the emotions she felt right now. “I can’t.” She pulled the pillow away from his body and tossed it over her head, refusing to let anything separate them. The feeling of so much skin on skin caused the excitement inside her to rise to unimaginable levels.