by Riley Cross
Taking my time, I think of my next question. While doing my best to ignore the tantalising view she is offering me.
“How big is your pack?” Could you defend yourselves if it comes down to it?
“The Venus pack is quite large. Many of my pack mates had followed my father from his old pack.”
Huh. Interesting, so which pack had James come from?
“My turn.” She announces, “your mum?”
“Doesn't know anything, and I would like to keep it that way.” My mother is very human and the last thing she needs to worry about is if her customers are supernatural or not.
Nodding her agreement.
“Who is your Alpha?”
“Why do you want to know?” She arches a brow at my question. Not overly eager to hand over that information so easily. Interesting.
“You know the rules, kitten. You’re not allowed to question a question.”
“Then I think we are done here.” No longer bound in place by magic, Rae turns back towards her house and stalks off.
Aroused and slightly annoyed watching her bare ass moving further away from me, I jog to catch up with her. Keeping to her pace I carry on speaking as though she hadn’t just stormed off.
Her comment from earlier coming to mind.
“Kitten, we are both from the same world. You can be honest with me about this stuff.” My voice stays calm, reasonable, as I follow her through the woods.
“Tell me, why you want to know who my Alpha is?” She demands, in a very Rae like fashion.
“Call it professional curiosity.” I respond easily.
Stopping, she turns on me.
“Me.”
“You, what?”
“I’m Alpha.” She tells me smugly.
What. The. Fuck.
Shock has my mouth dropping open as I stare at her.
Pleased by my reaction, Rae cocks her hip and waits for me to snap out of it.
“You’re the Alpha?” I check.
Nodding her head to my statement. “Yup.”
“When the fuck?”
“Tut tut, you're not allowed to ask two questions, remember.” Rae taunts. Happy to finally have the upper hand.
“Why did you come back to Stonehart?”
Because I made a deal with your pack’s rival Alpha to help deliver you to him.
The truth made me sick to my stomach as the taste of acid fills my mouth.
“Well? Are you going to answer me?”
“Mom wanted to see me.” Not technically a lie, but I still hated staying it to her. She’s got enemies playing under the table and she doesn't even realise it.
Come to think of it.
“What happened back at the house?”
Dropping her head back. “It’s a long story.” She sighs.
Obviously, not wanting to discuss that particular matter. Something about her defeated stance has me swallowing my questions on the subject, instead I let her off the hook.
“Come on, let’s head back its freezing out here and I’m starving.” I offer, willing to cut her a little slack. She’s given me far more information than I expected her too.
“What about the others?” Rae asks, dropping her arms by her sides.
“What about them?”
“They should know about you. It’s only far, considering you now know our furry secret.”
“Since when did you care if something was far?” I smirk.
“Dominic.” She complains.
Brushing my hair back, I concede. “Okay, okay. I’ll tell them. Happy now?”
Giving me a bright smile, she nods. Falling into step with me, we make our way back towards the house.
Every so often, I’d skim my fingers over hers. Enjoying the way her breath hitches at the slight contact. I can’t help but wonder if she would kiss me with the same enthusiasm as she had done in the kitchen this morning. This time with no possibility of interruptions.
Suddenly the thought of pushing Rae up against the nearest tree and plundering her mouth was all I could think about. The image of her standing on that makeshift stage.
Naked. Confident.
The caveman in me wanted nothing more than to bend her over that podium and fuck her while the crowd watches. Making damn sure that the she and the others knew just who owns her.
The slow blush creeping up her neck was not helping.
“Get your head out of the gutter, Dominic.” She orders breathlessly, without breaking her stride.
“Or you could join me in the gutter, Kitten.” I taunt.
Fuck the contract and to hell with the consequences.
Grabbing her around the waist, she rewards me with a surprised squeal. I let my fantasy play out. Securing her long bare legs around my waist. I carry her over to the nearest tree, pushing her back up against the bark.
“Dominic?”
The spark of interest in her blue depths pushes me over the edge.
Using the tree to help hold her up, I grab the back of her neck and pull her closer to me. Slamming my mouth against hers. She resists a little at first, but as I lick at her lips, her resistance blinks out of existence.
Opening to me, I duel my tongue with hers. Swallowing her moans.
Her fingers tug on my hair as she fights me for dominance over the kiss.
Pulling the sides of my shirt open, I brush my fingers against her soft midsection. Shivering in my arms, Rae nips my lip, punishingly.
Reaching up, I palm her breasts. Tweaking her nipples pulls another moan out of her.
Fuck.
I feel her nails turning into claws as she digs them into my shoulders. Growling against her mouth, I pull away from her swollen lips. Kissing and nipping my way across her jaw. “Fuck, Dominic.” She curses, making me smile against the sensitive crock of her neck.
“We should stop.” I hate the words as soon as I’ve voiced them. But if she doesn’t tell me to stop right now, I’m going to rid us of our clothing and bury myself so deeply inside of her heat. People won’t know where I end, and she begins.
“Your right,” she whispers huskily, trying to catch her breath. “That was a mistake, we shouldn’t be doing this.” Loosening her legs, I groan as her body slides down mine. I feel the moment her pussy passes my hard cock. The heat emitting from her core has my eyes rolling to the back of my head.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
What did she say?
“The hell it was.” I growl causing her to pause in her mission to straighten out the shirts she’s wearing. My shirt.
Keeping my eyes locked on hers, I explain.
“We should have been doing that this whole time. And it’s something we will definitely do more of in the future.” To push my point home, I take her mouth in a quick, hard kiss.
Walking back towards the house, we remain in silence. The heat and tension buzzing between us threatens to drive me insane. Why did I stop? There’s no doubt in my mind that Rae would have let me take her body in the woods. She had to have felt the same pull I did. A deep-seated need, demanding to be fulfilled.
What the hell is going on with me? I'm acting like a teenager looking for a quick fumble in the back of their parent’s car. Rae deserved so much more than a rough and tumble in the woods.
By the time we get back to the house, I'm practically vibrating with my need to take her.
Thankfully, the sight of her three brothers and Dorian standing on the porch watching our approach is enough to kill any desire to take her to the ground.
“What's going on here?” The inquisitive tone in Cam's voice has a beautiful blush colouring Rae’s cheeks.
“Maybe we should go inside.” Liam comments, before turning and heading back inside the house.
The rest of the guy’s just stare open-mouthed at me and Rae as we come up the steps.
What a sight we must be. I’m bare chested and no doubt stinking of arousal. While their younger sister follows next to me wearing only my shirt, that barely covers her plump ass. Command
o is the word of the day.
Rae goes straight upstairs, taking them two at a time. I hear the not-so-subtle slam of her bedroom door as she locks herself in. Clearly not wanting anyone to disturb her. I head for the guest room. Rummaging through my luggage, I pull on a fresh t-shirt.
We might as well get this over and done with.
Heading back downstairs. I spot the guys all sitting around the dining room table. Talking amongst themselves.
Kye, being overprotective as usual, is in my face as soon as I make my presence known.
“What the fuck did you do to my sister?” He spits.
“Kye man, none of us want to hear the answer to that question.” Cam snorts, ever helpful. Enjoying getting a rise out of his brother far too much, at the expense of his sister and me.
“Why don't we all sit down and wait for Rae to join us.” Liam reasons. Knowing better than to try taking a side.
“Not until he-“
“Not until I what? Kye, we’re mates. I've known you all my life. But make no mistake, what goes on between me and Rae, is between me and Rae.” I tell him honestly, standing my ground.
Wolf or no wolf. No one is going to dictate what me and my female can and cannot do.
“Are you finished with this little pissing contest?” Rae’s unimpressed tone grabs our attention.
Leaning against the kitchen doorframe. Rae’s covered herself in a pair of black skinny jeans and a dark blue tank that’s barely containing her breast.
Is she trying to give me a hard on in front of her brothers and Dorian?
Pushing off of the frame she makes her way further into the dining room. Taking a seat at the table, she crosses her arms staring down Kye.
Who gives me the stink eye before taking his seat at the table.
Well, this was fixing up to be an interesting night.
“Do you wanna tell em’? Or do I have to do it?” Rae asks, cocking her head.
Smirking at the female, I whisper under my breath in the ancient tongue.
Seconds later, Kye is cursing as I use my magic to lift his chair off of the ground.
“What the fuck?!”
I catch the small smile playing on Rae’s lips before she covers it with her hand.
The rest of the guys look between Rae, Kye and myself.
Trying to make heads or tails of what's going on.
“Need I say more?”
“Yeah, yeah. You've made your fucking point! Now put me down!” Kye orders, as his knuckles turn white from his death grip on the chair.
Dropping my hold on the spell, Kye’s chair crashes to the floor.
“Well… that was unexpected.” Dorian sums up.
Five sets of eyes lock onto me, but there's only one set of eyes I really give a shit about right now.
Levelling my gaze on Rae. “So, now that we’re all caught up. Are you going to tell me what pissed you off earlier?”
It was impossible to miss the dark look that passed through her blue depths.
“Dorian. You’re up.” She instructs, all business.
Inclining his head to his Alpha, Dorian fills me and the others in on what’s been happening in Stonehart.
“Are you tell me, that there is another fucking vampire going around picking us off one by one? And the sick fuck called you up?” Kye seethes.
“That pretty much sums it up.” Rae agrees, rubbing her temples.
“So why haven’t we run all the bloodsuckers out of town? All their kind bring is trouble and falling bodies.” Her brother continues.
“Hey man, come on. Their not all bad.” Cam tries to reason.
“They killed our fucking parents!” Kye yells.
“Don’t you think I know that, asshole. I was there that night. I saw the same shit you did. But that doesn’t mean the others had any idea what was going on. Fuck, Adele and her sister were helping us track the bastards down.” Cam yells back.
Was this how all pack meetings went?
By the strain on Rae’s face, my monies on yes.
Liam remains impartial. Not looking overly keen to get between the two male wolves.
Dorian sighs and takes a deep drink of his beer, while Rae looks about ready to snap.
“Just because you’ve been fucking a vamp, doesn’t mean they are good people. It just means the dead can in fact feel something.”
At Kye’s insult, Cam launches himself over the table at his brother.
Anticipating the move, Kye twists his body just in time for his brother’s fist to miss his face, barely.
“Take that back, asshole!” Cam growls, trying to get the upper hand on his brother. “Fuck you!” Kye replies, using his arms to shield his face from Cam’s assault.
I felt as something in the air snapped. Just in time for a low growl to erupt from the female sitting next to me. Everyone in the room freezes.
“Sit down.” Rae’s order comes out rough, commanding.
Turning, my gaze instantly goes to hers. Gone are those clue blue eyes with flecks of green. Instead, they are golden. Her wolf is making herself known. Unimpressed by her pack mates.
One by one the guys pull themselves together, baring their necks to their alpha. Showing their submission.
I’d be lying if I said watching Rae tame a room of fully grown males, without lifting a finger wasn’t the hottest thing I’ve ever bloody seen.
Chapter Six
You want to make a deal?
My wolf’s agitation towards the surrounding males was suffocating.
I welcome the power shift when her patience finally runs out. I feel my eyes glowing with her presence, along with the dominant vibes she was throwing out.
When the others bare their necks to her, she pulls back. Letting me take the reins once more.
“The vampire’s in our community are not going anywhere. Stonehart is their home as much as it is ours.” I tell Kye.
“As for the rogue. And that phone call. Everyone will keep an eye out and report anything suspicious. I want someone to go out with Madison and check the town for anyone trying to conceal any malicious intent.” As an Omega, Madison can pick up on the emotions of the people around her. Helping to ensure everyone’s wellbeing within the pack.
“I’ll go with her.” Liam voices.
This should be interesting.
My eldest brother and my best friend having to work together is sure to have sparks flying.
Liam has always been the most logical minded one out of the four of us.
While Madison is the overly emotional type due to her wolfs dynamic within the pack.
To say the pair of them clash, would be an understatement. But the Head Enforcer’s presents would help ease the packs tension.
“Alright.” I agree, mentally wishing my best friend luck. She’s not going to like this setup one bit.
“Cam, Kye, I want you two doing house calls. Make sure you update everyone with what has happened, I want extra eyes on our more vulnerable pack mates. Dorian and I will visit Sammi’s parents and pass on our condolences and let them know we will catch this asshole and deal with him.”
“What are we going to do about the bastard sending you the pics?” Dorian inquires.
“Eric.” The pack whiz kid. The guy is crazy good with technology. “I’ll take my cell phone to him and see if he can track where it came from. It’s properly a burner phone but right now it’s the only connection we have to the killer.”
“And Greyson?” Liam pipes up.
Shit.
The other Alpha was not a topic I wanted to discuss in front of Dominic.
“I’ll deal with him.” I mutter. Not offering them anymore information.
“Who’s Greyson?” Dominic asks, curious as ever.
Throwing shade at my eldest brother for opening his big mouth. “Greyson isn’t important right now.” Brushing off the subject didn’t seem like something Dominic was interested in doing. Preparing myself for the incoming onslaught of questions.
“
Greyson is Rae’s future mate.” Kye buts in, smirking.
Oh, hell no.
“Mate?”
“Kye!”
I cannot believe my brother just said that!
“Yes, mate. In your terms, I suppose you’d call him her husband. Well, soon to be husband.” Kye continues smugly, enjoying the look on his friend’s face.
“Shut up, Kye.” I growl. My wolf backs me up. Not liking Dominic thinking she would mate with the other wolf.
“Maybe we should go.” Dorian announces, Grabbing Kye by the scruff and practically dragging him from the room with Cam and Liam hot on his heels.
Couldn’t he have taken my loudmouth brother out sooner? Like before Kye felt the need to drop me in the shit?
As soon as the others are out of the room, Dominic turns on me. “You’re engaged?” He accuses. Like the idea of me marrying someone is abhorrent to him.
“No!” I splutter, very unalpha like. Oh, Jesus H Christ. What has my idiot brother gotten me into.
Pushing out from the table, Dominic’s approach is slow. Calculated.
Trapping me between him and the table.
I feel my heart rate picking up at his closeness. Taking an involuntary deep breath, I soon realise my mistake. Leather and spice. His scent caresses my senses like a lover, causing heat to flare in my belly. My eyes flicker to his lips. Lips I could still taste on my own. A light tingle remaining, reminding me of what it had felt like to have him take what he wanted.
