Terr6tory: The Primes

by Susan Bliler

  After about twenty minutes, Ryka was still trying hard to focus. It was hard to do with Wren so close. They kept laughing at exactly the same parts and she kept jerking her surprised gaze to his only to find his eyes alight with amusement and on the screen. He wasn’t faking it or forcing it and that was odd because every man she’d ever watched a movie with before never laughed at the parts she found humorous. Worse, they tended to favor dumb slap-stick comedies, which weren’t her style at all. She decided that watching movies with Wren was refreshing as she reached out, fisted a hand full of popcorn, then leaned back into his arm to pop fluffy kernels into her mouth one at a time.

  ***

  Whether she realized it or not, the scent of Ryka’s contentment was perfuming the air and making his lion roll merrily on his back in satisfaction. Wren’s eyes skimmed the room and his eyes collided with Lux’s where his brother sat wrapped around Seven. Lux was beaming and he imagined it mirrored his own expression. Looking to Liddick, his dark haired brother’s attention was focused so intently on Ash that emotion suddenly threatened to overwhelm Wren. He pulled his eyes away when Cason stood to grab a blanket from the floor by the couch. He settled it over Kenna and looked up to Wren, nodding his head once. It was official. His pack was happy, and it was likely the first time in…ever. Sure they had parties and took women to their beds, but it was different. It wasn’t like this. Those women weren’t mates, weren’t pack, weren’t family. This…this had sentimentality coursing through him.

  “Everything okay?” Ryka’s eyes lifted to his and too afraid of speaking for fear his voice wouldn’t hold, he dipped his chin in a nod and offered her a timid grin that slipped as he swallowed down the emotion that clogged his throat. “I-I’m happy, Ryka.”

  She searched his face and her delicate brows speared down in concern before her forehead smoothed out and she lifted a tentative hand as if she wanted to cup his jaw. She stilled her hand halfway to him and when he leaned into it, her lips curved into a smile. “I…I think I am too,” she whispered.

  He couldn’t hold himself back if he wanted to. His lips settled over hers and when she didn’t pull back, a growl rattled his chest as he deepened the kiss. Reveling in the taste of her, Wren finally pulled back with one last smack and grinned down at her before growling, “Turn around and watch the movie, woman, before our night gets more rom than you hoped for.”

  Chapter 23

  (Two Weeks Later)

  “You were all I could think about today,” Wren offered shamelessly.

  Ryka blushed and dipped her head. She and the girls had been holed up in the house for two straight weeks and today, the guys had packed a picnic and taken them to the river. Seven and Ash had been worried that the location would bother Ryka, but she’d ensured them all that Marill and their old pack hadn’t ruined rivers for her. Her father’s people had a saying, Mni Wiconi, which was Lakota for water is life. She’d grown up respecting water, and she refused to let Marill change that for her.

  Now, the sun was starting to dip low behind the trees casting mottled light over the blankets and coolers they were packing up.

  “How could I be all you thought about?” Ryka challenged, jerking her head by way of salutation as Liddick and Ash waved and carried a cooler between them back to the house. “We were together all day.”

  Wren was grinning like a goon. “I know. Still thought about you all day though.”

  “Want us to wait?” Seven shouted from where she, Lux, Jesup, Cason, and Kenna were waiting by the tree line with arms loaded down with blankets, baskets, and empty wine bottles.

  “Go on,” Wren barked. “We’ll catch up.”

  Something warm unfurled in Ryka’s belly once they were alone. The last time they’d been together at the river she’d offered to mate with him. An offer he’d shot down. When he took the chair she’d been folding up from her hands and dropped in on the ground, she tensed. Dipping her head she offered, “I… I don’t think I can put myself out there again, Wren. Not after last time. It was humiliating.”

  “I respect you, I’ll protect you, when it’s needed I’ll forgive you.” He grabbed her hand, “Because what you don’t understand, Ryka is that you’re not the only one putting yourself out here. I need you! And that’s a damn hard thing for an Apex to admit to anyone. I’m the strongest here because I’ve had to be and in the space of one day in your presence I’ve been brought to my fucking knees. You own me! Do you get that? You. Own. Me! No one’s ever owned me. I’ve always been my own man, built myself up into this alpha predator, the leader of this pack, apex of this pride, and,” he snapped his fingers, “that easily and that quickly I’m willing to relinquish that all to you.”

  Ryka smiled sadly. “And I fear one day you’ll hate me for it. I don’t want to take anything from you, Wren.”

  “You’re not taking, woman! I’m giving.” He stepped closer. “I’m giving you every fucking ounce of me and I’m doing it voluntarily with the hopes that it’ll be enough…that I’ll be enough to entice you to stay. I want to be enough for you to choose me in return.”

  His words had her blushing hard. No one had ever been concerned with being enough for her. Hell, she was positive she didn’t even deserve a mate like Wren Prime that if anything, she wasn’t enough for him. “I’m sorry it happened this way,” she offered quietly. “So sudden, I mean. I wish I could have given you a say…a choice.”

  “I’m not sorry, Ryka. I’m not sorry about any of it, aside from the reasons you all ended up on our doorstep. I wish I could erase that for you and the girls but I can’t. What I can do is promise you a place where you’ll be revered and treated with respect. A place where you’re needed and more than that you’re wanted. I can offer you all a home.” He dipped his head. “Say yes. Let’s do this…together.”

  Silence hung between them long minutes before she peeked up with a grin. “Maybe you should go grab one of those blankets.”

  Wren’s eyes rounded and his mouth fell open. He stalled only a minute before he backed up. “I’ll be right back! Don’t go anywhere!”

  She laughed as he turned and ran after the others. Smiling, she turned to face the creek that sloshed loudly through the woods. She bit her lip remembering how she’d been naked in the water with Wren when she’d offered herself up. Feeling the need for redemption, she let her head drop back as a partial shift shuttled through her. Just enough to take her clothing, but still leaving her in human skin. Slowly, she padded into the water, her breath hitching at the frigid temperature. She wasn’t worried about getting sick though. Shifters didn’t.

  Hip deep, she went out a little further until she was in the middle of the creek. Bending her legs, she dunked her upper half and then looked over her shoulder to see if Wren was back. When she saw she was still alone, she arched her back and pulled her wet hair over her shoulder trying to decide what pose would look the sexiest when Wren finally came back. Giddy butterflies flitted in her belly at the idea of surprising him and of claiming him. Finally!

  She opted on a demure smile over her shoulder, the water lapping her hips, as she posed and waited. She smiled hard and then her hackles rose.

  “And here we are again.”

  She jerked around and sucked in a breath, regenerating clothes in a record breaking partial shift, even though she was still hip deep in water.

  Marill, her torturous Alpha, was stepping from the tree line on the other side of the creek. He was flanked by Larsen, Trent, Michael, and Kenneth.

  “What are you doing here,” she snapped, her gaze jerking quickly to where Wren had disappeared and then back. “He told you not to come back! You’re all dead if they find you here!”

  Marill shrugged, “Alpha Prime wasn’t hospitable to me; therefore, I feel no need to abide by his dictates. He is, after all, no Alpha of mine!” He grinned sadistically and looked at the shifters flanking him before sweeping his eyes back to Ryka. He canted his head to study her. “What is it with you and the water? Perhaps you shou
ld have been a fish instead of a wolf. Might have worked in your favor.”

  Ryka felt dread flood her belly.

  “Perhaps you are a fish shifter.” His smile slowly slipped. “Let’s find out, shall we?”

  “The council,” she barked, stalling for time. “If you contacted them, they’ll show no mercy on you for killing a shifter this way.”

  “Didn’t contact the council,” Marill grinned devilishly. “Thought I’d handle it myself.”

  Larsen, Trent, Michael, and Kenneth were already moving and Ryka panicked as she turned to cross back to her side of the creek. She tried to lift her knees high to hurry from the hip deep water, but she was too slow, her water logged clothes making her movements sluggish.

  Horror stole through her when she heard splashing behind her. She knew she wasn’t going to make it out of the water. She couldn’t win in a fight with them either. She’d tried to fight the last time they’d attempted to drown her. Ash and Seven coming to her aid was the only reason she was still alive, but Ash and Seven couldn’t help her now, and there was only one thing she could do.

  Plodding toward the opposite bank, Ryka sucked in the deepest breath she could and pushed it out on a scream, “WREEEEEEEN!”

  Her scream was cut off as arms hauled her backward and without hesitation shoved her under the water. Her back hit the rocks below and sent pain shooting through her, but she couldn’t afford to expel any of the precious air she’d managed to suck in before going under. Her feet found the floor of the creek and she shoved with all her might. Her head only broke the surface long enough for her to gasp in an agonized breath before hands gripped her shoulders, her forearms, and planted on her chest forcing her back under. Ryka kicked and writhed, clawing and biting. She even attempted to shift, but couldn’t make it happen.

  One of the men grabbed hold of her legs and clamped them to the side of his body with one arm. Now, she had no leverage to push up off the floor so she continued to thrash and struggle digging her nails deep into the hands that were on her chest.

  Above her, the water continued to flow, uncaring that it was about to claim her, and it was devastating. Ryka didn’t want it to end this way. She needed a final goodbye with her girls. She needed Wren to know she hadn’t asked him to take her out of necessity or pity, but out of genuine desire. She should have told him.

  Eyes wide, Ryka could make out the rippling images of Larsen, Michael, and Kenneth as they laughed and spoke above her, watching and waiting for her to die as they held her under the water. She stopped struggling, praying Wren had heard her, praying he was coming, praying she had enough oxygen to last.

  A few minutes in though and her lungs ignited with the need for air. It was too late. Wren wasn’t coming.

  With her last burst of strength, Ryka made one last ditch effort to free herself. She fought like a wild thing, turning her head and biting until she hit bone, she jerked one leg free and kicked Larsen in his chest. He stumbled but grabbed her leg and held them both even tighter. Above her, Michael’s face twisted in anguish and she saw his fist hurtling toward her face. She didn’t even flinch when it connected with her cheekbone just below her eye. Her teeth did leave his hand though, and as crimson floated upward and distorted the water above her she couldn’t stop her mouth from opening. She couldn’t stop her body from sucking in what it hoped was air, but what she knew was water. She choked on the liquid filling her lungs and made a gurgling sound as her body convulsed. She coughed and instinctually attempted to draw in a breath to clear her lungs, only more water filled her. Her body jerked a few more times. The last sound she heard was the muted laughs above her as the last few bubbles lifted and carried to the surface from her lips, as her world went black.

  ***

  Wren had just reached the back porch of the house, a grin splitting his features as he reached for the screen door. His body slammed to a halt when he heard Ryka scream. It wasn’t just any scream. No this scream was terror filled and had the bottom of Wren’s belly dropping out. He spun and bellowed, “BOYS!” He vaulted off the stairs and shifted mid-leap landing in his mountain lion form. Long sharp claws dug into the earth and he used every ounce of his strength to push with back legs and pull with his front paws to propel himself forward at a break neck pace. As he ran he strained for any other sounds from where he’d left Ryka at the creek, but the only thing he heard were his brothers pouring from the house onto the back deck. He knew they’d scent his dread and adrenaline, he knew they’d follow. His concern though, was Ryka.

  Racing closer he picked up the scent of wolf shifters. FUCK! Why had he left her alone? His jaws clenched as he prayed she was okay. Fear was a new emotion for him and he hated it with a passion.

  Wren crashed through the trees and didn’t even slow. Hurtling himself through the air, his eyes took in Ryka being held under the water by three men, with two standing on the bank awaiting him. His lion was in a killing rage, and it took literally seconds for him to rip the throat out of the man standing beside Ryka’s old Alpha. Fucker didn’t even get the chance to shift. The prick, Marill, shifted into his wolf form and bit into Wren’s back, but it wasn’t enough to slow him down.

  He lunged toward the water, needing to get to Ryka and not caring that an Alpha wolf was tearing into him. One paw hit the water line when one of the men broke off and shifted. Beads of water dripped from the wolf’s fur as he leapt toward Wren. In his periphery his saw two more wolves bound from the trees on the opposite side of the bank, and they weren’t any of Ryka’s females.

  With two wolves on him, Wren only made it ankle deep into the water. His lion’s burning gaze landed on where Ryka lie lifeless beneath the water and when the two other men holding her let her go and paced toward him, he noted that she wasn’t moving. There was no struggling for the surface or swimming up for air.

  He lost it. Blood lust seized him like nothing he’d ever experienced and then he was battling. Claws ripping, teeth tearing, muscles bunching and flexing. He used every ounce of him to cut through these fucks as fast as he could to get to his mate.

  Finally, his brothers arrived. He instantly recognized the growls and snarls that filled the forest as several of the wolves were ripped from him. With his brothers there, it’d still be seven wolves to four lions, but right now, Wren was so enraged that he’d fight like at least three men….and he did. No pity was shown either. No, every strike, blow, bite, claw was given with deadly intent and soon blood stained the ground and Marill’s numbers were dwindling.

  Distantly, Wren was aware of Seven’s sudden gasp as the females came rushing into the clearing. He heard Seven and Ash call out and rush for Ryka. Thank God!

  “Phena!” He heard Kenna cry out and then more loudly she screamed, “RYKA! DO SOMETHING, SEVEN.”

  The girl’s screaming was a testament to the panic that was riding her. Shifters didn’t scream at each other ever, they didn’t need to because they had excellent hearing. Besides, everyone was standing right there. It was terror that was prompting the girl and it was mirrored in the face of each member in his pack.

  He took a hit but it was worth it because as he rolled, he was able to catch a glimpse of Seven and Ash rolling Ryka onto her back. Ash started mouth-to-mouth while Seven raised up on her knees and began chest compressions. It felt like Wren needed chest compressions. His eyes were glued to Ryka’s pale face, watching for even the slightest hint of life, but then teeth were locking into his shoulder and dragging him back into the fight.

  Motherfucker! ENOUGH! Jerking his head to the side he caught the wolf’s throat in his mouth and with one fierce rip, the wolf’s body went limp.

  His lion needed more. Wren’s glowing yellow eyes locked on Marill. It was just Marill and Liddick fighting now and in a move that Wren may have questioned if he’d been in his right mind, he shifted to human form. The tight white thermal shirt which he’d regenerated instantly began to seep crimson from wounds he’d sustained. His jeans too turned wet and sticky with his blood,
but he didn’t care.

  His brothers were circling Marill now, careful to not trip on the bodies of the dead wolves that littered the ground.

  Flicking his gaze over Marill’s shoulder, Liddick’s eyes landed on Wren and he pulled back from his attack. When Marill swung his head around to see Wren approaching the look on his face was as close to confusion as Wren assumed an animal could make. It didn’t last though. Lips peeled back from sharp teeth, ears flattened and the stupid fucking Alpha wolf lunged at Wren.

  Determination and raw fury lent strength and speed as Wren caught the large body of Marill’s wolf mid-jump and held him close, jerking his head back to avoid the wolf’s teeth as they snapped for purchase.

  Wren’s muscles bunched and whined against the effort of holding the wolf pinned tightly enough to him to prevent the beast from using his paws to find escape. Turning, he eyed the river and with a determination borne of rage at the attack on his mate and sheer terror at the thought of losing her, Wren stalked slowly toward the water while Marill continued to snap and struggled for release. With each step, Marill felt his fear spike as realization was slowly setting in. He ripped his gaze from the water to stare at where Ash and Seven were still working to save his mate, and his arms tightened further evoking a high pitched whine from Marill.

  “COME ON, RYKA!” Kenna screamed and when she lifted horrified eyes to Wren’s he knew what the girl was thinking. It was there in her stark expression. She didn’t think Ryka was going to make it.