Max threw himself at the door and it collapsed under his massive bulk. He sailed straight into the room. Phelps spun around, pistol raised, his furious expression turning to horror at the sight of Max’s cat.
Max lunged for the hand holding the pistol, uncaring of the danger. Calder dropped through the collapsed roof simultaneously, his extended claws raking down the man’s back as he was wrested, screaming, to the floor. Axel leapt through the open doorway and went directly to Peata’s slumped form, standing protectively over her.
Using his teeth, Max wrenched the gun from the man’s grasp before he could think to use it. Shaking his head, it flew across the room.
The man was pinned to the floor under Calder’s bulk, his claws still deeply embedded in the man’s back. Max watched the bastard’s eyes widen even further as he stalked slowly closer and closed his jaws over his skull.
“We have him contained, Cooper,” Calder spoke to their enforcer. “Peata is alive, but injured.”
“Samson and Michael have picked up Doc from our home and they will be there very soon. Samson is driving,” Cooper replied.
Max wanted nothing more than to close his jaws. To end this man’s life and see to his mate, but he was bound by the Alpha’s decree. He knew it was the right decision, but it was keeping him from helping his mate, and it was testing the limits of his sanity.
Calder pushed his claws deeper, and Phelps screamed in pain. The smell of urine filled the air and Calder growled loudly.
“Cowardly piece of shit just pissed himself. Apparently he’s only brave when he has women tied to chairs,” Calder said, his disgust with the man obvious.
“She’s breathing, but I need to untie her, Max. She’s so battered and bruised,” Axel said. His anguish and horror was shared by all of them. Max felt the hold on his sanity begin to slip. He only had to close his jaws a little more. Phelps screamed again and Max tasted salty blood on his tongue as his canines broke through skin.
The sound of a rapidly approaching vehicle snapped Max out of his haze. Samson burst through the doorway, his eyes scanning the room. He assessed it in seconds before striding to Max. He scooped up the gun with one hand and grabbed a hold of the man with the other. Max and Calder immediately released him, allowing Samson to drag the screaming man from the shack.
As soon as he had cleared the doorway, Doc came through, stepping over the broken door straight to Peata’s side.
“Samson and Michael are taking him to Hunter. They’ll use his car so we can use ours to get Peata home,” Doc told them.
With the human gone they were now safe to shift back. Even their worry for Peata’s life had not been temptation enough to risk the entire pride by revealing their existence to a human.
Max let the change take him and joined Axel and Calder at Peata’s side. They took over from Doc and gently removed the ropes that bound her to the chair. Max growled loudly as they freed her. The sight of her bloody and swollen face felt like a knife to his heart.
Chapter 26
“Surely just lying here with her is not enough, Max. We should be doing something,” Calder exclaimed, running his free hand through his hair again. Calder was lying on his back in their bed, Peata at his side, her head on his shoulder.
“I have total faith in Doc after the way Melanie was healed. Her injuries were even a little worse,” Max said. Calder watched Max snuggle close to Peata’s back and run his hand over her naked ass.
Calder had to admit that despite his feelings of panic, her bruising was fading by the minute. They had freed her from her restraints at the hunting shack six hours ago, but she had yet to wake up. She had had severe bruising over her entire body. Her face had been so swollen and covered in blood that she was hardly recognizable. She looked remarkably better now but he would not relax until she opened her eyes.
“I can’t believe he got her. How the fuck did he find his way to Finn’s home?” Axel asked angrily.
Calder wanted that question answered too. When they had first broken through into Peata’s mind, she had told them, but he needed to be certain before he took that piece of news to their Alpha. He kissed the top of her still damp hair, the long locks twisted into a ponytail. He was quite proud of his first ever attempt at hair styling.
“She still believes herself responsible for Dane’s death,” Calder said. “What if the guilt is stopping her healing?”
“She is fine, Calder. Her injuries are all healing, just give her time,” Max reassured him, kissing his mark on the side of her neck. “But not too much time, lover. I need to feel your tight pussy coming all over my cock very badly.”
Calder saw Peata’s skin erupt in gooseflesh as a fine shudder wracked her body.
As soon as they had brought Peata home they had run a bath and cleaned all of her wounds. The deep cuts from the restraints had been open and bleeding, now there was just a red scar marring her pale skin.
“The saliva from our mating, and our lovemaking last night, is doing its job,” Max said. He licked down his mark again, and smiled broadly as a small moan slipped from Peata’s mouth.
A sweeter sound Calder had never heard. Not just because her moans of arousal were so fucking sexy, but because it meant she was waking up at last. He could smell her arousal, and his cock thickened and filled in response.
“Fuck, she smells so sweet,” Axel said, nipping lightly on her thigh. She shivered and moaned again, her eyes fluttering open at last.
Calder felt his cat relax, the burning need to murder the bastard responsible for his mates pain finally fading in its intensity.
“You’re here, you found me,” Peata said, reaching out and stroking down his face.
“Of course we did, sugar. Did you doubt us even for a minute?” Calder asked, his face aching from the smile he was giving his beautiful mate.
“We would have found you anywhere, lover. You are our life now,” Max said. Peata turned her head and ran her other hand down his face, her eyes filling with tears.
“It’s all fine, honey, you’re safe now. We got them all. No one will ever hurt you again,” Axel reassured her. He rose and knelt at her side, wiping away her tears when they spilled down her cheeks.
“Is Melanie, is she…” Peata started to sob. “I went with him so he wouldn’t hurt her too.”
Calder felt her sorrow deep in his soul through their strengthened bond. “Dane is alive, Peata. Luckily he was shot in the head.”
Peata’s crying stopped, and she stared at him, hope shining in her eyes.
“Really, honey, he has a thick head. It just knocked him out for a bit,” Axel reassured her. He leaned in and kissed her deeply. “I thought I would die when he took you. I love you. I wish I had told you before, but I do, with all my heart.”
“I love you, Axel, I love you all,” Peata said, tears slipping from her eyes again.
Calder kissed her tears away, then swallowed her sobs as he kissed her. He swept his tongue deep into her mouth. He needed the taste of her like he needed air. When he broke the kiss Max was there, kissing her and stroking her face gently.
“We missed you while you were napping, lover, how are you feeling?” Max asked her.
“He’s alive, he’s really not dead?” Peata asked hopefully.
“I’m a little insulted that you are concerned about another man while lying naked in our bed, sugar,” Calder said teasingly. “But considering the circumstances, I will forgive you this once.”
Peata’s answering laugh was like a balm, soothing away some of the horror of the last few hours. “Now, how are you, sugar? We have been very worried about you.”
“I don’t feel any pain. If I had to describe it, I’d say I feel warm, like I’m standing in the sun.” Her look darkened. “I remember what he did to me. It hurt so much. How long have I been asleep?” she asked with a shudder.
“I’m glad you are in no pain, honey,” Axel said. “You have been asleep for a little over six hours.”
Peata wriggled out of thei
r arms and sat up in the bed. She surveyed her naked body, staring hard at the bright scars on her wrists. “I don’t understand,” she said, feeling her face for injuries.
“We told you, lover, the mating bite gives you increased health. This enhanced healing is a part of the mating and something I hope you never need again,” Max said, dragging her back into his arms.
When Max finally released her lips, Calder asked the question he dreaded the answer to. “How did that cowardly fuck find you at Melanie’s?”
* * * *
Peata cringed at Calder’s question, remembering the pain from the blows as he gloated about how he had found her.
“It was that woman from the store, Calder. She told them where I was.” Tears stung the back of her eyes. “How could she do that to Melanie and the baby? They could have been killed.” Peata hated that her new friend had been put in such danger.
“Dane could have been killed trying to protect me.”
“What girl from the store?” Max exclaimed, anger turning his eyes a glowing amber.
Calder wiped the tears from Peata’s eyes, and drew her onto his lap. “Bronwyn Wynn. You two are very well acquainted with her.”
“Fuck,” Axel exclaimed, running his hands through his hair. “How could she have sent him to the Alpha’s house? She would have known that we were all out hunting those men.”
“I suspect that was exactly the reason,” Max said, his voice chilling in its tone.
Peata watched Max stalk from the room and snuggled deeper into Calder’s warm embrace.
“He’s going to call Finn. He needs to know of Bronwyn’s betrayal,” Calder said, his tone flat. “I know he didn’t punish her for the scene in the store. Melanie had felt that Cooper’s ire was punishment enough. It seems, however, that she underestimated the woman’s jealousy.”
“What will Finn do to her?” Peata asked, feeling unsure she wanted an answer.
“She planned for you and Melanie to be killed,” Axel said, his anger rising. “She deserves worse punishment than Finn will probably deliver.”
“Are Phelps and his men really all in jail now?” Peata asked, the realization sinking in that she was now free. Free from the danger of discovery and free to forever love her men.
“Yes, sugar, the police and FBI have a solid case thanks to your video evidence,” Calder said. He pulled her ponytail to the side and kissed down her neck. It sent delicious tingles through her body making her suddenly very aware of her nakedness.
“Turner and York turned on Phelps the instant they saw the video,” Axel said, his lips curling in a sneer of disgust. “Apparently there really is no honor amongst thieves.”
“They named the rest of the officers involved back in Montrose, so the case is going to be closed quickly,” Calder added.
“Did Phelps say why he murdered Gareth? He was just a boy,” Peata asked.
“Hunter said he was crying like a baby by the time Samson got him to the station. Apparently, he was more afraid of Samson than the room full of mountain lions,” Calder said, his voice sounding slightly amused.
“He confessed to everything, said Gareth had been stealing from them. He was killed as a deterrent, so the rest of the boys wouldn’t follow suit,” Axel added.
“What will happen to the boys they used to sell their drugs?” Peata didn’t want any of them to go to jail. They needed help.
“Hunter has informed the youth center, and they are going to arrange legal assistance,” Calder said between kisses.
Peata didn’t want to think of the betrayal and pain any longer. Calder’s kisses were driving her mad.
“Look at these sweet little nipples,” Axel said, kneeling in front of her and pinching them lightly. “She likes what you’re doing, Calder. I can smell her desire for us.”
Axel’s eyes had begun to shine amber in the dim light of the room. It made his light blonde hair glow like an angel’s. The look he was giving her was far from angelic, however.
“I love you, Peata. Never leave us again,” Axel said. Then his lips crashed onto hers in a kiss that had her writhing with need in moments. Her pussy clenched and ached from the emptiness. She could feel Calder’s solid erection under her buttocks as she moved on his lap, and she longed to be filled with it.
“I’m going to come all over your ass if you don’t keep still, sugar,” Calder said with a growl in her ear. He moved one hand to her breast, tweaking her engorged nipple. With his other hand he caressed down her stomach to her pussy and cupped her mons.
Peata found she couldn’t speak with Axel’s tongue tangling with hers, so she moaned her response, and wiggled her ass a little more.
His answering moan just pushed her arousal higher. She moved her hands from Axel’s shoulders to his straining cock. She loved that it was wet at the end for her. She used that moisture to lubricate her hands as she slid them softly to the base of his cock.
“God, your hands feeling amazing.” Axel groaned, releasing her lips.
He kissed his way down to her neglected nipple, licking it softly before sucking it into his mouth. She stroked his cock a little more firmly and he sucked her nipple harder in response.
Calder pinched her nipple harder and inserted two fingers into her leaking pussy. She felt her pussy clench on his embedded digits. He used the pad of this thumb to push on her clitoris and she felt her orgasm begin to peak. She didn’t want to come alone, so she stroked Axel’s cock faster. She felt the head grow thicker, his moans growing louder around her nipple.
“Come for us,” Calder breathed in her ear, sinking his teeth into his mating mark.
Her orgasm exploded, her body trembling with the pleasure of her release.
She heard Axel’s roar as his cock pulsed in her hands and his warm cum splashed on her breasts.
Chapter 27
Max had been furious when he left the room to call Finn. He may not have been allowed to kill any of the human scum who had hurt his mate, but Bronwyn was not human.
As a member of the pride she was subject to pride law. This law was determined and upheld by their Alpha. An Alpha whose mate and unborn child had been put in mortal danger, and whose brother had been nearly killed. Not discounting her intent to have the mate of another pride member killed as well.
As angry and betrayed as Max felt, it had been nothing compared to what he had heard in his Alpha’s voice when he had informed Finn. The strength of Finn’s anger had Max declining the offer to deliver Bronwyn’s punishment. Finn would deliver it in a far more terrifying manner. That certainty had soothed the cat’s need for blood, and the man’s need for vengeance.
He returned to the bedroom just as his mate was coming, her scream of bliss making his cock instantly hard for her. He took himself in his hand and stroked as he watched his brothers bring their mate down slowly from her orgasm. All thoughts of ex-lovers, treachery and death vanished. God, she was the sexiest creature. He would never tire of seeing her come.
“I see you are feeling better, lover,” he said, climbing onto the bed. Axel moved aside and Max knelt in his place, cupping Peata’s flushed cheeks in his hands. Her eyes were hooded, and her gaze still dreamy from her orgasm. She was a vision.
“I missed you being here, Max,” she said, her eyes clearing. Axel returned with a warm cloth and wiped his cum from her breasts.
His brothers were looking at him questioningly, but he would tell them of Bronwyn’s fate later. Right now they had a mate to please.
“I was here for the good part,” he said, watching her cheeks color further. “We need to iron out a few details before I bury myself balls-deep in that tight pussy of yours, lover.”
“That sweet ass you have been rubbing torturously all over my cock is mine, sugar,” Calder with a growl.
Max leaned in and kissed her shocked gasp away. Her open mouth beckoned for his tongue and he dove in. He stroked it deeply into her mouth, as he would soon be stroking into her pussy with his painfully hard cock. Her arms wove tightly
around his neck, anchoring him to her mouth as she moaned in pleasure.
Breaking the kiss with reluctance he took her arms from around his neck and held her hands in his.
“I know we told you that mating was forever,” he began, “but you are human, and we want you to feel certain of our commitment to you. Peata, I love you more than I ever dreamed possible. Will you bind yourself to me in the human world as well and marry me?” Her look of surprise showed she had clearly not been expecting a marriage proposal.
“I love you, Peata, with all my heart, and will love you until I draw my last breath. Will you marry me?” Axel asked, before Peata had had a chance to do more than open her mouth in surprise.
“I have waited for you for the last forty years and you are more than I deserve, but I want you regardless. I will love you always, Peata. Will you marry me?” Calder asked. Max saw his eyes were shining with emotion.
The few seconds’ wait seemed to drag as Max watched different emotions pass clearly through Peata’s blue eyes. Tears then filled those eyes and spilled down her cheeks.
“I know you don’t have to do that, and being bonded together as mates would have been enough for me,” she said, her voice husky with her tears. “But hearing those words from all of you has made me the happiest person ever. Thank you for understanding, and yes, I will marry you.”
Max had planned on sorting out all the details of Peata’s move to Eminence, but he kissed her instead, his happiness echoing hers.
With their lips remaining joined, he picked her off Calder’s lap and lay down on his back until she was lying on top of him. Running his hands down her back he cupped her ass and pushed into her in one sure thrust. He broke the kiss as she cried out in pleasure. She pushed herself further onto him until he felt his cock bump her womb.
“So good,” she gasped. Max drew back and pushed in deeper. “More,” she demanded on a moan. He didn’t need to be told twice. He began to pump into her deeply, her pussy wet and hot around him.
Peata [Eminence Shifters 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Page 13
