by Jinx Neale
Janet walked down the steps and headed to the patch of the grass beside the cabin. A large gray wolf stood near the woods. Zane, transformed to accompany his mother through her final transition. Janet dropped her robe and fell to her knees. Her back arched as the silver fur ran along her spine. Her legs bent, her claws bursting through the skin. It was over in an instant and the silver wolf looked back at the silent group waiting on the deck. And then she turned to run into the woods, Zane, a silent companion, running at her side. She would not return, they had told her. Once permanently in wolf form, her human disease would disappear, as would her human thoughts and emotions. Janet would become a wolf in all ways. It was the gift—and the curse—of being a shifter.
A long, heartbreaking howl rose into the air. Alec was saying goodbye to his mate. His cry rang through the woods, echoed by the rest of the pack as, one by one, they bid farewell to their alpha female.
Chapter Twelve
Faith placed her sleeping son carefully in his crib and paused to admire his sweet little face. He was dark-haired like his father and just as stubborn. She touched his cheek gently and adjusted his blanket over his shoulders. Finn was sleeping through the night now, and Faith had more time and energy to devote to her husband. Six months after their wedding, Faith and Zane were still working through their relationship. The same fiery chemistry that brought them together also caused conflict on occasion. Zane took a very firm line on Faith doing anything to put herself in danger. A speeding ticket resulted in a painful visit to their walk-in closet while baby Finn napped upstairs.
Zane folded those delicious arms over his chest and regarded her stonily after he found the ticket in the mail. “Something you forgot to mention, sweetheart?”
“I wasn’t going that fast.”
Zane shook his head. “Excuses will not work with me, baby. You know that.”
Damn, she really didn’t want a spanking.
“Tell me Finn wasn’t in the car.”
“Of course not! I would never put our son in danger.”
“Just yourself.”
She hated it when Zane made her admit her mistakes. “I was careful.”
Zane snorted. “That ticket says otherwise. Why were you speeding?”
Faith wished she could tell him it was because she needed to get back home to the baby, but the plain truth was that she hadn’t been paying attention to the speedometer.
Zane uncrossed his arms. “Why, Faith?”
She swallowed. “Because I was careless, all right?”
“Ah, a little bit of truth, but I don’t appreciate your tone. Bedroom, right now.”
Faith dragged her feet down the hall. Zane swatted her ass as they walked. She glared over her shoulder, and he grinned at her. “Just a little taste of what’s to come, baby.”
She walked into their room and headed to the walk-in closet and the spanking bench her husband had constructed for her.
“Jeans and panties around your ankles and over the table.”
Faith huffed as she pulled the offending articles down and shuffled over to the bench. The surface was well-padded and covered with leather. She folded herself over the top and waited, watching her husband over her shoulder. Zane walked over to the hooks that held his favorite implements, and Faith shivered with anticipation and a touch of fear. He brushed a finger over the flogger, a crop, and settled on a wooden paddle. Faith whined a little, then, remembering how it felt on her ass.
“Not a mark left on you from the last time,” Zane remarked, smoothing the paddle over her bottom. “Perhaps I didn’t spank you hard enough.”
“You did, sweetheart. I felt it for days,” Faith assured him, wiggling a little under the motion of the paddle. Zane’s stroking excited her, even though she knew the paddle promised more pain than pleasure.
Zane smacked her hard right in the middle of her buttocks and Faith bit back a yelp. “Bet that stung.” He rubbed his hand over her bottom, soothing the hurt. “Poor little girl. It’s going to be a lot worse before it gets better.” He smacked her again, first one cheek and then the other, a dizzying barrage that made her skin sing and sizzle. Only Zane could make it hurt so good. He paused to inspect her skin, his fingers light against her hot and swollen bottom. “Well, what do you have to say for yourself?”
“I’m sorry, Zane. I’m sorry!”
“Sorry you were speeding or sorry you got caught?”
“Both!”
He dropped the paddle and headed for the cane.
“Zane! No!”
“No?” He plucked his favorite cane off the wall. “Are you telling me what to do, little girl?”
Faith shook her head. “No, I just don’t want the cane.”
“Ah, but this punishment isn’t about what you want, it’s about what you need. You need to remember not to put your life and others in danger by speeding. I think ten strokes of the cane will help your memory.”
Ten! Faith moaned helplessly, knowing that her protests were in vain, that her husband was going to do what he thought best to keep her safe.
“Count them off,” he commanded, and the cane sliced across her bottom in a painful welt.
“One,” she wailed. Another strike. “Two.”
“Do you want Finn to grow up without a mother?”
“No!” she yelped, as Zane seared her throbbing flesh with another hard stroke.
“Then you know what you have to do.”
“Three! I have to stop speeding.”
“Good girl. Another few to remember that, shall we?”
Zane laid the next stroke across the others in perfect pattern of pain, and Faith burst out crying.
“Keep counting, Faith.”
“Four,” she choked out. The cane fell across her ass again. “Five, six, seven.”
“Now, the last three are for concealing the truth about your ticket. We promised each other no lies, which includes lies of omission. Understood?”
Faith sobbed quietly, her ass sore and aching. “I understand.” She imagined how she must look, her bottom scarlet and swollen, marked with the lines of the cane. Zane ran a possessive hand over her bottom. “You look beautiful like this. Ready?”
She nodded, bracing herself, her face wet with tears. Zane raised his arm. “Eight,” she screamed, and the cane fell. He kept on going. “Nine.” Faith reached ten, stuttering over the word, as her tears felt hot and fast. Zane set down the cane.
He inspected her bottom, which she endured, wincing as he pressed on the welts. And then it was over and he was pulling off her jeans and carrying her over to the bed. Zane soothed some cream onto her bottom and held her while she cried out the pain and shame.
“Learned your lesson, baby?”
“Yes, sir,” Faith sniffled.
“Good girl.” Zane tipped up her chin and kissed her lightly, before removing her top and bra and tucking her into bed. “You and Finn are the most important things in my life, Faith. I can’t lose either of you.”
“I know,” she whispered. “I’m so sorry.”
“Hush, now. It’s all over. You’re forgiven.” Then, Zane lay down beside her, rubbing her back until Faith fell asleep, chastened and sore, secure in her husband’s love and care.
* * *
The next day, Zane suggested a picnic, and Faith happily agreed, especially when he volunteered to make the sandwiches. Baby Finn was cutting a tooth and he had slept poorly, waking Faith up several times in the night. They crossed the creek and followed the trail north, arriving in a clearing starred with wildflowers an hour later. Finn had nodded off in the baby carrier, and Faith laid him on a thick blanket while she set up lunch. Zane left to set a few bottles of water in the creek to cool. She heard the baby coo and turned with a smile. Her breath caught in her throat. A huge silver wolf stood next to Finn, sniffing him. She was about to launch herself at the beast, when Zane ran over, catching her arm. “Relax, it’s Mom.”
The wolf raised her head at the sound of his voice, ears cocked for
a moment before it returned to smelling Finn.
“I thought you said the turned wolves never return,” Faith hissed, every nerve in her body on high alert.
Zane never took his eyes off his mother. “There are legends, but I never thought…”
“What? I’m about to have a heart attack.” The wolf’s teeth were so very large and so very sharp.
“That a wolf will return to protect or claim kin.”
The silver wolf sank down on its haunches, snuffling at Finn. Her tail wagged slightly as she leaned over the baby’s throat. Faith’s pulse beat raggedly. The wolf licked the baby all over his face and neck. Finn’s eyes popped open and his face crumpled in the beginning of a cry. Faith tensed. And then the baby saw his grandmother and laughed, waving his chubby arms in the air. Janet rose as Finn’s fingers caught in the fur around her neck. The wolf accepted his touch for a moment, panting happily. Then Janet backed away, staring at Zane and Faith, before loping off into the trees.
Faith dashed to the blanket, snatching up Finn and anxiously examining him. He gave her a dazzling smile and then nuzzled at her breast. Faith lifted her shirt and Finn latched on to her nipple, sucking ravenously.
Zane stroked his son’s downy head. “Hungry little beast.”
“Zane, that wolf—your mom—what was she doing? She scared the life out of me.”
“She was marking him with her scent, claiming his as her own. No animal in this forest will dare touch him.”
Almost limp with relief, Faith cuddled Finn as he nursed. “I thought you said that once wolves made the shift permanent, they lost their memories of their human families.”
“We all thought that. Looks like we were wrong.”
“You have to tell your dad.”
A smile broke over Zane’s face. “I have missed her so much. It’s nice to know that Mom’s still in there somewhere.”
“And someday she and your dad can be together.”
Zane lifted her chin and kissed her. “Just like us.”
“Together forever,” Faith said and kissed him back.
The End
Bonus: Extended Preview from Tamed by the Wolf, Book Two of the Marked Mates Series
“Clara, you okay?”
A hand touched her hair lightly, a familiar scent surrounding her. Brock. Of course, it had to be him witnessing her meltdown.
“I’m fine.” Her voice was clogged with tears.
“No, you’re not.” He tipped up her chin, examining her tearstained cheeks. “Fuck. I made you cry.”
Clara tried to push him away, but it was like trying to move a mountain. A mountain of warm, solid flesh that smelled way too good.
“No, it’s not you. I ran into some people I used to know. It made me remember a really bad time in my life.”
“I’m sorry.” The trace of a grin lightened Brock’s face. “Although, have to say, I’m glad it wasn’t me making you feel bad, for once.”
Clara smiled reluctantly. “You really are full of yourself, aren’t you?”
“There, you’re feeling better already. My work here is done.”
He was leaving, just like Tanner, and her parents, everyone she cared about. They always left. Tears crowded her throat again. She swallowed them, fighting against showing her pain. She was too strong for this, wasn’t she?
Brock moved closer, sensing her distress. “You’re all over the place. Sad and mad. I know what you need,” he said softly, tucking a russet curl behind her ear. “You need to feel my hand on you.”
Clara shook her head, a broken little sob escaping her lips.
“You’ve got so many emotions and so many thoughts running around that beautiful head of yours.”
He thought she was beautiful. That was her takeaway? She was pathetic.
“Let me help you, Clara. You can let go of all the confusion.”
“No.” She scrambled to her feet, away from temptation.
Brock moved in front of her, his hands gripping her waist. Why did he have to smell so good?
He guided her between his thighs, his thumbs rubbing the front of her jeans. He flicked open the fly, pulling down the zipper, his eyes never leaving hers as he shoved the jeans down around her knees and hooked his fingers in her panties, pausing.
“I thought you told Gabriel you never wore panties.”
“I was just trying to make you mad.”
“You are a bad little wolf.” He pulled down her panties and froze, staring down at her. “You’re bare. Why did you shave your pussy?”
“I waxed it.”
“Why? Because Gabriel likes you that way?” Brock’s voice held a thin edge of anger.
“He’s never seen it,” Clara whispered.
“That is excellent news. Now, hold still, baby, and let Daddy take care of you.”
Her pussy was instantly wet, aching for him. Brock sniffed the air and sent her a wicked smile. “You smell so sweet,” he said and pulled her closer.
* * *
Brock ran his fingers over the smooth, soft skin of Clara’s thighs. “I want to taste you, but first we have a spanking to get through.” He led her over to the bunk and sat down, pulling her over his knee and then smoothing his hand over her bottom. She lay over his thighs, quiescent, her breath coming in quick gasps.
“It’s all right, Clara. I’ll take care of you.” He hated to see her so upset, vowing silently to deal with the wolves who had hurt her so badly.
She clasped his leg and held on, her body tense. He spanked her hard across both cheeks. Her bottom quivered beneath his fingers.
“Breathe out, baby. Relax.” Brock waited until her breathing evened out, getting deeper and slower. He spanked her again, harder, his fingers leaving a bright red mark on her creamy flesh. Gorgeous. He spanked her with a quick rhythm, peppering her backside with short, hard smacks. A sob burst from her lips, her back quivered, her round bottom jiggling as each stroke fell.
Aroused by her tears and his marks on her sweet skin, his cock swelled in response. He was so rigid it hurt. Brock soothed her flesh and then landed three last blows, more severe than the rest. Clara cried out, clutching his leg so hard he’d knew he’d have bruises.
“Finished,” he told her. Her bottom burned beneath his fingers. Brock stroked the crease between her cheeks. “Open to me, Clara.”
Mewing, she parted her legs. He slipped a finger between them. She felt like hot, wet silk. The scent of her arousal filled his nostrils. She wanted this.
Brock circled her entrance with one finger, her sweet flesh yielding to his soft pressure. He pressed his finger inside her. Clara moaned, her pussy clutching his finger. He thrust in and out gently. Fuck, she was tight. His thumb found her clit, rubbing it in a slow circle. His finger moved more easily as Clara got wetter. Brock added a second finger, curling them upward to find her special spot. Clara’s pussy opened like a dark flower, as he thrust in deeper. Her small desperate cries were driving him crazy. He set up a hard, driving rhythm, Clara writhing and moaning around his fingers.
“Please…” she breathed.
“You can come.”
Instantly, she climaxed, her pussy squeezing him tight as she convulsed around him. God, she was beautiful in her passion. His cock throbbed hot and hard. He pulled out, sliding his fingers through her wet folds, the scent of her arousal surrounding him.
“Brock! You in here?”
Zane thrust open the tent flap and peered inside. A slow grin crossed his face. “Guess you’re busy. Sorry, but Dad wants you back on duty.”
He left, and Clara scrambled off his lap, pulling up her panties and jeans. Her face was flushed, her gaze soft, unfocused.
“Clara.” He stood and pulled her into his arms. She felt soft and small and so right. “You okay?”
She sighed. “Sure.” And then stepped away. “I’ll see you out there.” She ran a hand through her tangled curls and left him standing there, his arms empty, with an ache in his heart that didn’t seem to quit.
&nbs
p; Brock shook his head as if to clear it. Time to get back. Dad would have his ass in a sling if he didn’t pull his weight this weekend.
He returned to the makeshift bar, where he checked the stock and opened more cases of wine and beer. They needed more ice. He headed back to the old-fashioned icehouse to load up the truck. He was finished throwing the last bag into the back, when Zane called out from behind him.
“Brock. Hold up.”
Brock sighed, slamming the tailgate shut. “We’re going to have another conversation, aren’t we?”
“I know what I saw in the tent.”
“Yeah? What do you think you saw?”
“I saw a wolf of this pack treat a free woman as his mate.”
“I spanked her—and other stuff. I didn’t marry her,” Brock pointed out.
Zane stabbed a finger in his direction. “That’s the problem. You can’t treat a wolf like that. Not unless you claim her.”
Brock scrubbed his hands through his hair, blowing out a breath. “Fine.”
“What does that mean?”
“Consider Clara claimed. She’s mine. And I will do with her as I please, so step back, big brother.”
“You might want to check with her first. I just saw her dancing with Stone. I think he likes her.”
Brock cursed viciously. Ignoring Zane’s knowing grin, he climbed in the cab and started the truck. No way was he letting that guy steal his girl.
* * *
Clara stared at the bonfire flames crackling in the deepening twilight. She wanted desperately to go home, to run away from all the drama surrounding her. She couldn’t escape her feelings for Brock, but that was something she would have to work through. Maybe it was time to leave New York and make a fresh start somewhere else. Amber chose that moment to glare at her from the other side of the fire. Clara sighed.
“Why is that blonde bitch giving you the side eye?”
