by Kym Grosso
“That’s right, baby. That’s right…” His lips crushed over hers, and she surrendered to his will, relinquishing her body, soul and mind to her mate.
Jax grazed his hips over her sensitized flesh, milking every last spasm. With a final thrust, he groaned and erupted deep inside her. As he slowed his pace, he delicately sucked at her lips, making love to her mouth as he’d done to her body.
Connected with her mate, the fiery culmination of their bond enveloped Katrina. All fears vanished within Jax’s embrace. For the first time in two hundred years, Katrina’s wolf slept calmly, peace filtering throughout her consciousness.
“Jax.” As their lips separated, air rushed into her lungs. A whisper of his name escaped. Emotion coiled in her chest and Katrina struggled to articulate her thoughts.
“Kat, ah baby, I’m sorry,” he began, giving a ragged sigh.
“Sorry for…are you okay?” Panic set in and she pushed at his chest with her palms.
“Easy, little wolf.” Jax shifted onto his back, bringing her with him.
Strong arms surrounded her, his warmth radiating through her skin. Despite the comfort, she grew concerned that their mating had harmed him like she’d been told. Selfish, selfish, selfish. The temptation of seeing him with the witch had spurred her frenzy. Guilt for initiating the mating took hold.
“Hey, stop.” Jax’s lips touched her forehead and he spoke softly against her brow. “I’m fine. I only said I was sorry because, well, look where we are.”
Desperate for her Alpha, obscured in passion, she’d forgotten they’d made love inside the coven. She sighed at the realization that probably every witch within a mile had heard their antics.
“I’m the one who should be sorry, Jax. I just lost it out there.”
“Don’t you dare go there. Ever since I marked you, I’ve wanted this so bad. It’s not the most romantic setting, but I don’t regret it for a second.”
“This place is crazy.” Katrina’s eyes went to the peace sign that hung on the wall. It struck her as funny and she began to laugh.
“You do know who you’re mated to, right?” Jax asked as he glanced to the brightly colored plaid sofa in the corner.
“You mean the Mr. Jax Chandler? Devastatingly handsome. Sophisticated.” She drew circles on his muscular chest with the pad of her finger. “Or do you mean the powerful Alpha? I heard he’s lethal.”
“Is that how you see me?” he asked.
“The Alpha I’m mated to is caring.” Katrina pressed upward so she could look into his eyes. Carefully constructing her thoughts, her voice softened. “He’s also vulnerable. Knows what it’s like to be hurt. He’s protective of those he cares about. Willing to put his own life on the line for his wolves, for his mate. He’s…amazing. He’s mine.”
Katrina resisted expressing the feelings that grew exponentially every second she spent in his presence. Love wasn’t something that always occurred between mates. Chemistry drew mates together in a juncture of destiny, a formidable force to deny. Only through a serendipitous occurrence would two wolves grow to truly love each other. Despite rationalizing away the feelings that brewed inside her, Katrina had to admit her thoughts bordered on obsession.
“I…you have no idea how much this meant. I can feel you all around me,” he responded. “It’s like nothing I’ve ever experienced.”
“I feel it too.” She paused. “Jax, I want you to know that even though the witch may have pushed my wolf, I’ve wanted this since the second I met you. I feel like such an idiot for believing their lies. I’m sorry I waited so long. Being with you is everything to me.”
As Katrina disclosed her confession, she buried her face in Jax’s chest, unable to reveal how deeply their mating had affected her, how much he meant to her. So many years, she’d lived a cold, lonely existence. She’d closed her heart, a deliberate effort to thwart feelings for other men. Everything she’d ever known had been destroyed, replaced by the realization that she cared more for Jax than she’d ever thought possible. The altruistic effort to save him by denying their connection had morphed into a desperate mission to claim their life together.
The gentle brush of his lips on her skin relaxed her mind and she suspected he’d read her emotion. The strength of the bond would keep them in sync, but her magick would continue to weaken, replaced by a perversion of the true spirit of the wolf. Mick’s warning played in her mind. More determined than ever, she’d trust her mate to keep her safe as they continued to search for a way to destroy the demons.
Chapter Nineteen
“Why the hell is it that we always have to look for this shit at night?” Jake picked up a rock and threw it into the Mississippi. “Nope. Can’t be the day. Witchy, spooky-ass message has to be found at night. Of course it does. Nothing is ever easy.”
“Who knows. Maybe it’s because it glows, or, as you put it, something witchy is about to go down,” Jax replied. “It’s easier this way anyway. Less people around.”
“Don’t be a baby. Besides, look at the city all lit up. It’s gorgeous.” Katrina leaned back onto the metal railing, admiring the lights flickering over the cityscape. A trumpet played in the distance, its rich tones resonating up to the river walk.
“You two…seriously. I love you both, but you’re more annoying than ever,” Jake huffed. “I’m going to check over there.” He pointed to a set of wide boardwalk stairs that led down to the river’s edge. Two young homeless men shared a cigarette, their dog lay at their feet.
“We’ll be down in a minute,” Jax replied, giving it his best effort to concentrate on their task.
He wrapped his arm around Katrina’s waist and tugged her close. Her giggling was music to his ears, happiness evident in her laughter. His nose brushed into her hair, the delicious scent of his mate consuming his thoughts.
It had been over twenty-four hours since they’d mated and with every glance, every touch of their skin, the bond deepened. Making love to her at the coven, letting her dominate and fuck him, had been impulsive. Although he’d suspected Katrina’s wolf wouldn’t be deterred much longer, he hadn’t anticipated the witch’s advances. Jax speculated that perhaps she’d deliberately incited Katrina over the edge, but her motives for doing so remained a mystery. Regardless, Jax celebrated the glorious outcome.
After a short respite, they’d dressed and managed to find Jake dancing with a set of twins. Thankfully, the rain had let up and they were able to drive home without incident. Before they returned, the warlock had wished them well, and gave them a final instruction to search at dusk. However, they still had no idea exactly what they were looking for, besides a promise of another clue.
It concerned Jax that Katrina’s magick continued to be compromised. Although Mick had advised him to use another Alpha to strengthen her wolf, he struggled with the idea of sharing his mate. He’d never made love to a woman with another Alpha. Both his touch and raging power were to be wielded with caution. He recalled a time when he and Nick indulged, taking a woman together. The experiences had been pleasurable, but his beta had always submitted and neither had claimed the chosen female.
With his wolf sated, Jax considered he’d be less likely to attack another male. On a visceral level, however, the idea of letting another Alpha touch her provoked possessive emotions. Mine, he told Katrina and he’d meant it. No other male would command his mate.
As he observed Jake’s agile run down the stairs, he knew what needed to be done. An Alpha, the young wolf still hadn’t suspected his true nature. But Jax suspected he’d be the one to help him heal Katrina. They’d already successfully experimented. Their sexual interlude in the kitchen had been primal, and Jake had willingly deferred to him, careful not to cross the line. He couldn’t be sure if either of them would agree, but the discussion needed to happen sooner rather than later if they were going to help Katrina seal her magick.
“Kat,” Jax began, hoping his mate would be open to his proposal. She swiveled her body, facing the river, and snug
gled into his side. “How’re you feeling?”
“I’m feeling amazing,” she breathed.
“I mean your power. Has it changed since we mated?”
“I’m not going to lie to you. After everything,” she sighed and tilted her head up toward him, “it feels about the same. I don’t feel weak, if that’s what you mean. But it still feels like if I’m not around you for any amount of time, I get drained. Like this morning, for example. You were downstairs, and just that hour or whatever when you were away, I could feel it slipping. Then I start to panic. I’m thinking, ‘what if I can’t shift? What if I turn into something else?’ Ugh, I hate this.” She shook her head and stared out to the Mississippi, city lights reflecting on its surface. “It’s like a bathtub. You know, you fill it up but you can’t get the stopper just right. So you lie back and just when you think you are about to relax, half the water is gone and you’re freezing cold.”
As serious as the situation was, the image of Katrina lying wet and naked in his bath caused his cock to stir. He shoved the picture to the back of his mind, admonishing the thought. Focus, Jax.
“Whatever we find tonight, I have a feeling it will be because of your magick.” Jax hated that they’d hurt his mate. She curled against his body, reminding him that she was as much a part of him as the arm that held her.
“It’s not my magick. I don’t know why Ilsbeth chose me,” she pondered, her lips tight. “But I guess it doesn’t matter. I just want to find this thing…the spell or whatever it is and get it over with. I want to be free.”
“You will, Kat. I promise you,” he told her. With his lips pressed to her hair, he continued. “The thing is that when we go back to New York, you need to be strong.”
“I know.”
“What did you think of what Mick said?” Jax hesitated, almost afraid to speak the words. He would never force Katrina into being with another man. If she agreed, it would be her decision. “About needing another Alpha to help us?”
“Jax, I…” Katrina stuttered, and turned to face him, her eyes on his. “I need to tell you something.”
“What?”
“It’s about an Alpha. My brother. I called Tristan today. I asked him about my mom and dad. But also…I told him we mated.”
“You should have told me before you did that, Kat.” Jax shook his head, frustrated she hadn’t asked him first. Tristan’s incendiary reaction would come swiftly, probably assuming he’d forced her to mate.
“You don’t understand. He already knows I’m with you. I think he was okay with everything until I mentioned we mated.” She cringed and gave a half smile. “Please don’t be mad. I needed to talk to him. I had to ask if something happened to me when I was a child…anything that my parents could have done to bring this demon to my feet.”
“It’s not that I don’t understand, but Tristan? It’s going to take time for him to accept us, after everything that happened.” Jax’s mind spun with possible ways of handling the situation. If he called Tristan, he might make it worse, because he’d likely tell him to fuck off if he challenged their mating. “We’ve got to get home as soon as possible. Your brother is going to be pissed.”
“More like, ‘is pissed’.”
“We’ll deal with this together. The bottom line is that he has no choice but to accept the situation. He’s not your father and even if he was, it’s what you want that matters. He’ll get over it.” Jax tilted his head and smiled down at Katrina. “He has to. Because there is no way I’m giving you up.”
“I’m not giving you up either.” She embraced him, laying her head against his chest. “Tristan doesn’t know anything anyway. After this mess is over, we’ll go see him and make peace.”
“Kat, we need to talk about the warlock. What he said about finding another Alpha…I don’t think he meant Tristan.” Jax let the silence linger between them, waiting for her to draw a conclusion.
“If you’re suggesting we find an Alpha just so I can…” She averted her gaze and shook her head. “I don’t want to be with anyone else but you. I just found you. Besides, I can’t just have sex with anyone. No, I’ll just have to face these things with my magick as it is.”
“That’s not what I’m saying at all. I want you to remember something, little wolf. No matter how bad you think it is, you can always trust me.” A stone skipped across the river, and Jax’s attention went to the wolf, who gave him a curt wave. “What about Jake?”
“What about him?” She glanced over to Jake and back to Jax.
“Hear me out, okay? We never really talked about what happened in the kitchen. I’ll be honest. I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about it when he slapped your ass. But your reaction said it all. The whole thing with him there? I enjoyed it and I know you did too. It was hot.”
“Yeah it was. And if you don’t stop talking about this, you’re going to have to fuck me right here on the dock, because you’re making me horny. You know that, right?” She laughed.
“You’re aroused just talking about it? What do you think it does to me?” Jax brought her hand between his legs to cup his straining erection.
“I love it when you’re hard like this…do you know how much I want this right now?” She gave him a flirty smile.
“Not as much as me. Now come on…stay on topic, woman.” He laughed.
“How the hell am I supposed to do that?” She stroked him, stealing a glance behind her to make sure no one saw them.
“We’re talking about Jake.” He coughed. “You keep doing that and I’m going to come.”
“Ah…Jax,” she sighed. “Do I want to play with him? With the three of us? Yes, someday.” Katrina gritted her teeth and shook her head, blowing out a breath. She removed her hand and faced her mate. “Look, what we did the other day was great, but given a choice, like if all this wasn’t going on? I just want to be with you.”
“Jake’s going to be an Alpha. Someday he’ll lead his own pack.” Jax’s expression flattened as he told her what he suspected.
“Jake? But he…he’s not even beta.”
“It’s the reason he and I go at it sometimes. I’ve been trying, in a most subtle way, to prepare him. When I came back, I was surprised to see him. Logan had sent him to San Diego, and I thought for sure he’d end up staying, taking over that pack.”
“Maybe in some ways he did what you thought he’d do, though,” she mused.
“How’s that? He was with Finn.”
“Exactly. Finn wasn’t running the pack. Jake was there for him.” She shrugged.
“Just think about it, Kat. I won’t ask you or make you do anything you don’t want to do. It’s just that I’m worried about you. I know you feel stronger, but I also know the reality of the situation.”
Jax caught Jake watching them out of the corner of his eye and hoped he hadn’t overheard their conversation. Taking Kat into his arms, he gazed down into her eyes and his heart caught. The unfamiliar yearning in his chest was so much more than lust and he struggled to accept the emotions that rooted in his chest.
“I want you to know…this thing between us.” His eyes darted to the glistening water and back to Katrina. “I told you that night we met…I’ve never met anyone like you. I meant that. I mean it even more now. You’re determined. Strong. I’m not sure what I’m trying to say, but…” Goddess, I sound like a fool. Get your shit together. He gave a small laugh, realizing that for the first time in his life a woman was making him nervous. “I care about you. A lot. I won’t do anything to jeopardize our future. As much as I want you completely healed, the ball is in your court. We…us…our relationship is more important. We’ll figure out a way to deal with things, okay?”
A broad smile broke across Katrina’s face upon his revelation. Her palm cupped his unshaven cheek and she rose to her tiptoes.
“I care about you too. More than you know.”
Jax gave in to desire, and kissed his mate. Nothing mattered but Katrina, her happiness and their new journey. He almost wishe
d he had the control to stop thinking about her, but relenting to the overwhelming need to be with her was impossible to resist.
The rolling waves lapped against the dock, drawing his attention back to their task and he begrudgingly broke contact. Jax opened his eyes, still focused on his mate. In his peripheral vision, he caught sight of Jake holding his palms upward, mouthing the words, ‘what the fuck?’, and he laughed in response.
“I think that our friend is getting pissed at us.”
Katrina glanced at Jake and smiled. “He’s patient. I’ll give him that.”
“Let’s go. This could be a long night.”
Jax took Katrina’s hand and led her down the steps. He turned to the strangers and growled, his eyes flashing red. Amid their screams and the dog barking, Katrina’s voice cut into the night.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“We don’t need an audience. Plus, I don’t want anyone else getting hurt. I don’t know what’s down here. Maybe something bad. Maybe nothing.” Jax waited until the area cleared before meeting Jake at the bottom. “Okay, you’re the local. Where do you think most people throw ashes?”
“Well on Mardi Gras day they usually come on up here with the parade…you know, through Jackson Square to the river. But shit, I mean you know people probably do it other times. That’s a human thing. Us wolves…we’ve got our own rituals. Puff and flush isn’t one of them.”
“Jake,” Katrina admonished him.
“I’m sorry. I’m just sayin’ you know we don’t do this kind of thing. Back in the old days, who the hell knows what they did?”
Jax and Katrina rolled their eyes at each other, aware that Jake truly had no idea how long they’d lived. She shook her head, smiling, as he continued.
“Take the yellow fever epidemic of 1853, this city was filled with hundreds of dead people. They didn’t know what to do with the bodies. Some of them just rotted away in the houses until the stench could be smelled through the burning tar.” He sighed. “The cemeteries were full. But hell, I’m sure that through the years, people saw fit to make enemies wear cement boots, if ya know what I mean. And then you have the swimmers. I read just last week that someone died.”
