Sparrow set the jar down and got to her feet carefully. Her body ached too much to stomp off dramatically like Wolfrik, but she was done for the night. Time to crawl back into her cave.
“Sorry for caring,” she snapped. “I risked my life to save Wolfrik from a life of pain and imprisonment. It doesn’t matter why I did it. And I risked my life to help you when I saw that other wolf at your neck. I tried to—” A sob broke through her lips. She sucked in a breath and glared at Aden, angry that he was witnessing her breakdown.
She wouldn’t. Not in front of him or any of these cold-hearted beasts. She truly was alone.
Sparrow hurried into the cave. As soon as her toes touched sandy ground, she dropped the blanket. It slid down her body like a second skin. She wished it was that easy to shed her own skin, to be able to transform like a shifter.
She sank to her knees and allowed the tears to flow down her face. They streaked over her cheeks and dripped from her chin.
Heavy footfalls approached from outside. They entered the cave and came toward her. Her body stiffened. She kept her back to him.
“How is your arm?” Somehow he managed to speak without making his voice echo all over the place.
“Fine.” Sparrow shrugged, the flow of tears pooling in her eyes.
She waited for him to go away or say something more, but his presence loomed at her exposed back like a shadow spreading toward her. Darkness had already swallowed her.
The seconds passed. Breathing filled the cave—his and hers.
“I’m not used to a female trying to come to my rescue—especially not a human.”
“My mistake,” she said, angry that the words came out so breathlessly. She gritted her teeth and schooled her voice. “You messed up, too. You should have let the wolf finish me off. You could have killed the other one while his partner was distracted then finished the second one off when he was done with me.”
He crouched behind her, warm breath on her neck. “I couldn’t let that happen,” came his steady reply.
Goose bumps rose over Sparrow’s arms. She shivered.
Aden tucked the blanket over her shoulders. She turned slowly to face him, her heart galloping out of control. Even hunched, he looked powerful with his broad shoulders, muscled chest, and bright, searching eyes. His thick crop of rich, brown hair matched his wolf’s fur. She didn’t know whether she wanted to pet him or run her fingers through his silky locks.
God, he was gorgeous—the most beautiful male she’d ever seen.
The blanket slid off her back. When Aden reached for it, Sparrow’s hands shot out. She’d meant to stop him, but her fingers had taken on minds of their own. They brushed over his firm pecs and slid down his torso. She breathed deeply, excitement coursing through her as though she was the one being touched.
She’d always been headstrong. There was no turning back. She let her hands slide into his lap then closed one fist around his engorged shaft and stroked. No man was unreadable—not between his legs. Aden was huge and as hard as petrified wood.
His breath quickened. Her fist pulled and tightened around him. She held onto him as though she’d finally found her lifeline. She wouldn’t lose this one. She couldn’t. He was all she had. Her last hope.
Aden groaned and tried to remove her hands, but Sparrow refused to let go.
He lowered her onto the blanket—onto her back. He didn’t grope at her or try to kiss her. He pulled at her underwear and eased free of her grasp to slide the panties down her legs, her calves, and past her ankles.
She reached between his legs, but he caught her wrists and pinned them over her head with one hand while nudging her thighs apart.
She threw her head back and moaned as he entered her. It was instant ecstasy. The biggest, sexiest shifter male she’d ever laid eyes on was inside her. His dick was large, like the rest of him, but she was ready. She’d been ready for weeks—all her pent-up boredom and frustration finally on the edge of release.
She thrust her hips at him, demanding more. If he didn’t give it to her soon, she’d take it for herself.
Aden moved in and out of her carefully, as though afraid to reopen her wounds. It was on the tip of her tongue to command him to take her harder, faster, but she felt too shy to make such vulgar demands out loud. They’d barely spoken. Somehow it felt gauche to start talking with him between her legs.
She pulled her arms free from his grasp and grabbed him by the ass. His backside felt firm and muscular like the rest of him. She moaned in approval and pulled him into her.
The smallest groan escaped Aden’s lips. His hips moved faster. He shoved himself at her, burying every glorious inch of his manhood inside her.
Sparrow gasped and arched her back. Her nails dug into his warm skin. She relaxed her fingers and slid her hands up his back to make room for her legs around his hips. She hooked her ankles and clung to him, wanting to cry all over again because he felt so damn good.
It’s just sex, Sparrow.
Except it was so much more. All her life she’d floundered—never belonged. She’d never known where she was meant to be, only that it wasn’t in the city, at the compound, or anywhere near her brother. She’d thought Eric would be her out, and that together they’d find a place to start over.
But she’d found home in this man—this neanderthal. She knew it the moment they joined.
Mouthwatering aromas filled the glade at nightfall, but their packmates weren’t around to eat the dinner stew that Maureen kept stirring to keep from burning. Kallie sat on the edge of a log, pulling at her fingers while Jager paced the southern edge of the glade. They didn’t ring the gong or speak while they waited. They didn’t so much as share looks, each of them deep in their own thoughts, beseeching the mother moon for a favorable outcome.
For once, Kallie didn’t mind missing out on her old duties. She had new life growing inside her—life she would protect above all others. But she worried about Wolfrik and the mood he was in. She worried that his erratic, headstrong behavior would get him hurt or worse . . . She couldn’t even think it.
When the howls of triumph and return went up, Kallie hugged her chest in relief, tears of happiness springing to her eyes.
She waited patiently while packmates returned to the glade, giving whoops of victory as they shifted into human form before rummaging around the surrounding logs and rocks for their clothes. Jager paced the southern edge of the glade and bombarded packmates for news as soon as they were able to speak.
“We did it! We killed them all!” Wiley announced, fist pumping the air.
Emerson entered the glade, dressed, with an arm slung over Gina. “We didn’t even have to use any weapons. The first group took them out with their teeth.” She bit down for emphasis then laughed.
“You all must be hungry,” Maureen said.
“Ravenous,” Emerson answered with a smile. She removed her arm from Gina’s shoulder and took her hand. The pair went to the cauldron, and others lined up behind them.
Energy filled the clearing and grew as it crowded with more returning packmates.
Kallie calmed her mind. She didn’t expect to see Wolfrik until later. She wouldn’t worry or wait to eat. When her friends returned, she stood and met up with them in the line.
“It’s good to see you all back safe,” Kallie said.
Camilla shrugged. “All we did was wait around near the Manama in case the humans made it into the hollow.”
Rosalie smiled and nodded. “They never did.”
“That’s a relief,” Kallie said. “Did you see the humans?”
“After they were dead, yeah,” Rosalie said. “Wolfrik organized a group to hang some of the bodies from trees as a warning to other humans.” She scrunched up her nose. “We took that as our cue to leave.”
Kallie’s stomach turned. She was glad only to imagine the scene and not
have actually seen it with her own eyes. She cleared her throat. “So, it’s over? The den mates can return?”
“Hardly.” Camilla scoffed. “The humans had a couple of trained wolf shifters with them, and one got away. Wolfrik says they’ll be back with more men and more guns.”
A shudder rocked Kallie on her feet. “What will we do?” she whispered.
Rosalie rubbed her back. “The lookouts are back in place. They’ll warn us when more come. Garrick said that next time we’ll let them cross the river into Wolf Hollow and make sure they are deep into the woods before springing out and taking them down. We might all have to join the fight during the next round . . . Well, not you, of course.” She glanced down at Kallie’s foot.
After dishing up stew, Rosalie led them to a log beside Chase and Hudson. She tossed her hair over her shoulder and glanced from them to her friends. “I’d rather fight the humans in wolf form than with weapons,” she said. “I mean, they have guns—we have axes and knives.” Rosalie looked at the two males, but they didn’t take the bait and join the conversation.
Emerson strolled over and stopped in front of her sister, Camilla. “The axes and knives are hidden for backup in case any of our wolf forms are injured and we need to shift.”
Rosalie shuddered dramatically. “I hope it doesn’t come to that.”
“I’m sure it won’t,” Emerson said. “We know these woods better than anyone. Guns are only good for non-moving targets or out in the open. And if it really came down to it, we can always outrun them.” Emerson glanced at Kallie with a look that seemed to say, “even you.”
Wolfrik still hadn’t returned after the dark sky brought the stars out and the moon hung heavy in the night.
The fire beneath the cauldron burned low with an occasional snap and pop. Maureen had long since rinsed the bowls and spoons at the river and left them out to dry. The den group had gone, but Kallie stayed, planning to sleep in the glade alongside her other packmates. She didn’t expect Wolfrik to show up that night. He’d probably remain at the caves after the battle—and hanging of bodies. But she wanted to stay in the glade in case he did return.
She’d draped her dress over a log before shifting and lay on her belly, facing south.
The sound of a large animal caught her raised ears. Wolfrik trotted into view, and she stood up with her tail wagging. He wagged back then loped up to her and licked her face. Kallie grinned and nuzzled him.
They left the glade pressed side by side, as though their wolves were trying to mold together into one. Halfway to the den, Wolfrik veered off the path. He stopped and looked over his back to make sure Kallie followed. Once she did, he led her to a sloping area free of brush and grass. He dug into the earth, throwing dirt beneath his legs and behind him with his paws. Wolfrik scooted around and did this some more before lifting his head with a satisfied smile.
Kallie walked over to the bed he’d made for them and curled up on the ground. Wolfrik did the same, his warm fur pressed against hers. She drifted off almost immediately, feeling content, safe, and tired. Most of all, she felt happy. Her male had returned to her. She could almost believe everything would be okay.
But when she woke in the morning, he was gone.
chapter twenty-one
Light seeped into the cave from outside. Sparrow woke up alone with the blanket draped over her body. She ran a hand up her leg to her hip and confirmed she was bare bottomed, though the bra still dug into her chest, securely in place.
She sat up slowly and stretched languidly. This was the best her body had felt in months.
Hell, just admit it. This is the best you’ve ever felt, and the best sex you ever—
Eric’s warm eyes and smile swam before her vision, and the guilt bubbled up her chest with it. She gathered the blanket around her shoulders and cradled herself.
It wasn’t fair to compare Eric with Aden. She’d loved Eric with her whole being, but their lovemaking had always been hasty and tainted by the fear of being caught.
She hadn’t worried that night in the cave. They were deep in the woods—no one to walk in on them. No punishments. No repercussions.
Sparrow swallowed. That wasn’t entirely true. Eric had always pulled out at the last minute. She wasn’t a wolf shifter. She could get pregnant any time she was ovulating. Aden hadn’t pulled out.
Sparrow knew how reproduction worked between two wolf shifters. Hopefully, if she was lucky, a male shifter’s seed was only potent during a full moon.
Thankfully, Hawk had never experimented with shifters and humans. He wanted to breed strong, full-blooded shifters and had captured plenty of males and females to do the job. He also had hang-ups about humans sleeping with “animals,” as he saw them. He was against “bestiality.”
It was true; Sparrow did have a beastly appetite. She was attracted to wolf shifters—not men. She’d never once fancied one of Hawk’s friends or guards. She despised them all. The thought of lying with one of them was as disgusting to her as Hawk’s view of shifters sleeping with humans.
She scooted toward the cave’s opening, keeping the blanket wrapped around her body, and snatched her panties, which were balled up in the sand. After shaking them out, Sparrow sat and shimmied them up her legs, then finger-combed the tangles from her hair. She fluffed the ends over her shoulders and moistened her lips before inching to the cave’s opening, where she allowed her eyes time to fully adjust to the morning light.
Once her vision cleared, she was nearly blinded by the sun glinting off Aden’s bare chest from where he leaned against a boulder in a pair of gray sweatpants. His pecs and muscles gleamed in the morning rays.
Her heart skittered inside her chest.
He was staring into the woods, not at her, but as she emerged, he stepped forward and grabbed a pan off the ground and set it on top of a rusted grill propped on top of rocks over the campfire. Aden took a seat on a tall stump and watched the pot as though the porridge would heat faster if he looked at it long enough.
Sparrow crept alongside the fire, tightening her hold on the blanket. “I’ll, uh, just be at the river getting a drink of water.” And freshening up, but she wasn’t going to mention that part.
Aden nodded, eyes still on the pot.
She scurried past, unable to resist admiring his broad side profile as she did.
At the river, Sparrow followed the current upstream until she could no longer see camp. Once out of eyesight, she pulled the blanket off and folded it carefully on the ground then twisted her hair into a knot before wading into the river.
“Brrr.” She sucked air in between her teeth. “That will wake you up in the morning,” she muttered.
Goose bumps traveled up her legs to her arms. She bounced in place and rubbed her arms. “Stop stalling. Get in. Get out.”
She headed to the center of the river and squatted above the gentle current, trying to prepare herself for the cold shock before she sat.
“Yikes,” she squeaked as she submerged her body to her neck.
A cool caress of water flowed over her. It wasn’t warming up, only numbing her skin. Sparrow rubbed her hands over her arms and legs.
Man, I miss soap.
Soapmaking was another service Hawk had gotten out of his homesteaders.
She scooped handfuls of sand from the bottom of the river and rubbed it into her skin, hoping it would help her feel—and smell—fresh and clean. Once she’d been over every inch of skin below her neck, Sparrow got up, dripping, and scuffled back to shore.
Her undergarments stuck to her skin like wet leaves. She pulled off her underwear and squeezed out the excess water then quickly put them back on. She did the same with her bra. Afterward, she undid the knot in her hair, secured the blanket around herself, and returned to camp.
Aden nodded at the pot. “It’s probably warm enough.” He took the pot by the handle and coaxed all th
e porridge into an empty jar. This he handed to Sparrow, along with a spoon.
“Thanks.”
Wordlessly, he walked off with the pot and headed to the river.
I guess I’m eating alone.
Sparrow dug in while he cleaned out the pot. She swallowed the grains down, hardly taking time to chew. She finished as he returned and got up to rinse out her cup.
Their morning continued the same way it had for weeks. Aden didn’t speak to her unless he had to. He kept still and alert, as patient as any predator. He only left her to shift and hunt. She hadn’t attempted to run again and wouldn’t—she couldn’t. Not from this man.
Wolfrik joined them that afternoon, holding two jars—one with grains and one with stew, and a dress draped around his neck. He set the jars down and tossed the dress at Sparrow. It smacked her in the face as she caught it.
“Try not to ruin this one,” Wolfrik said.
Sparrow glared at him. “It was your packmate, the older one, who ripped the first one.”
“You should also try not to anger Garrick. He’s temperamental.” Wolfrik smirked.
“Yeah, and you’re as sweet as a puppy,” Sparrow quipped.
Wolfrik laughed then turned to Aden. “Ready for relief?” he asked his packmate. “We could be in for another long wait.”
Sparrow held her breath and looked away, waiting for Aden’s answer. Did he want to get away from her? Rejoin his packmates and the pretty females she’d seen among them? A sharp sting poked and twisted inside her. Did he regret sleeping with her?
“I’ll stay,” Aden answered evenly.
“You should take a break,” Wolfrik insisted. “You’ve done more than your fair share guarding her day and night. I’ll watch her tonight.”
Aden clenched his jaw, and he shook his head.
Wolfrik sighed dramatically. “You are so damn stubborn. Sparrow’s my problem, not yours.”
“She’s the entire pack’s problem now,” Aden said without missing a beat.
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