“Tell me, Bianca, if I were free to claim you, right now, would you let me?” he asked in a low voice.
“I don’t know.” Her eyes never left the road as she continued, “No, I think—well, actually yes, I think I would. Strangely, now that I’ve accepted it, it feels weird that we have to wait. Our wolves know what to do.”
“Have you thought about it?” His voice was husky even to his own ears.
“Thought about…Oh, you mean what it would be like between us when we mate?” She blushed. “Yeah, I have. And I can tell by the way you look at me like you want to eat me that you have, too.”
“My teeth came out at the bar last night,” he admitted.
“Oh god, that shouldn’t turn me on, but it does,” she confessed.
“Why shouldn’t it turn you on? Is the idea of being my mate unappealing?”
“No, it’s not that. But have you thought about how violent the claiming is?”
“Violent?” He looked at her, shocked. He’d never thought about mating from a female perspective, but now that he did…of course she thought it was violent. He’d bite her. And hopefully, she’d bite him, too. But the mate-bite, it was special, sacred. Just the thought of it sent pleasure coursing through him.
“Oh, it won’t be violent. It will be amazing. We aren’t human, Bianca. Why would we mate as if we were?” he whispered. He stroked the back of her neck with one finger, tracing the outline of an imaginary love bite. “Right here, that’s where I’ll mark you. I won’t bite hard, just let my teeth out enough to break the skin and send you into the wildest orgasm of your life.” He watched as her breathing grew shallow, and he could scent her; he knew she would be wet and swollen. “And you can bite me back, if you want.”
Her head went back a bit, and he could see…actually see her wolf trying to break through. She swallowed hard, pushing the wolf down and turned to him slightly.
“Jack, you’re going to get us both killed in a car accident if you don’t stop,” she said, and he noticed her teeth had lengthened.
He imagined how it felt, the shifted teeth flooding her body with pleasure. She was on the edge. He loved it, loved knowing she was as turned on as he was. He reached down and adjusted his jeans, rubbing gently, trying to ease the ache. Then the idea struck.
“Tell me how you imagine it,” he urged her to describe her fantasies.
She rolled her eyes at him, letting out an exasperated sigh. Oh well, it had been worth a shot. He was shocked—in a good way—when she started speaking.
“I don’t have a lot of experience with men. I’ve only been with one guy before Sara, and that was more of a fling than anything else, and it was a really long time ago.”
“Go on.” He reached down and freed his cock from his jeans, noticing her eyes widen behind the sunglasses as he took himself in hand. While he didn’t like hearing about other men before him, he didn’t find himself jealous of Sara—instead, he found the idea of her making love with his mate alluring.
“So I’m nervous…about this,” she stammered. “You promise me that we’ll go slow, take our time.” She was watching his hand rise and fall on his cock from the corner of her eye. “We spend a long time just getting to know each other, explore each other’s bodies. Do you know how sensitive my breasts are? I could come just from having them touched and sucked.” She smiled with satisfaction as he groaned and tightened his hand. “And then you go down on me. Because I absolutely love oral sex. Nothing gets me hotter faster than feeling a tongue on my clit—Jack, you’d better love to eat pussy. You’ll rub just a little bit harder on the underside, just enough to drive me wild. You’ll drive me to the edge a few times, but you won’t let me come yet. You’re a dominant lover.” She blushed a little. “And you are in control of our pleasure.”
“That’s good,” he whispered. “I like that.” His voice was hoarse with passion, his eyes nearly black. Her fantasies were quickly becoming his fantasies, too. He wondered if he’d ever be able to ride in a convertible without sporting wood again.
“So then, you tell me to kneel and suck your cock. I start by licking around the head like an ice cream cone.”
He groaned at this, imagining that sweet, hot pressure.
“You take my head in your hands and control my movements. I’m kneeling at your feet, your hands in my hair, my cheeks hollowed out. You are fucking my mouth, and I’m taking you deeper inside each time. But you don’t want to come in my mouth, so you stop me.”
“And…?” He was breathing hard, pre-come dripping from the tip of his dick.
“You take me from behind—that’s my favorite position. I can take you deep, and my wolf likes it, too. You’re so gentle at first because it’s been a while since I’ve been with a man. But you start to lose control, and you start fucking into me harder and harder. You reach around and grab my clit between two fingers, and you stroke me as our wolf instinct takes over and our teeth break out. Then, you finally order me to come, just before you bite down on the back of my neck and claim me. I come so hard as your teeth break through that it brings you along with me, and I am branded with your mark.”
“Ah, goddess. Bianca!” He felt the heat and tension boil over as he came, ejaculating all over the glove box of the car.
She reached into her handbag and snatched out a pack of tissues, which she handed to him with a grin. What a woman.
“My goddess, woman,” he said as he cleaned himself and the car up, carefully tucking his cock back in his pants. “When we get somewhere private, I am going to make you come six ways from Sunday, and you are going to love every minute of it.”
He said it with so much tenderness in his voice, she looked over at him.
She was stunned by what she saw there: passion, desire, satisfaction, and love. Love. She groaned. The affection in his eyes filled her with a yearning that their sex talk couldn’t. Her woman had caught up to her wolf, and she wanted to be claimed. Sara had been right once again. Not even twenty-four hours had gone by, and she was already willing to take his mark.
Abruptly, she pulled the car over.
He looked at her with surprise. “That eager, eh?” He smirked.
She let out a breathless little laugh.
“Yes, actually, but no, that’s not why I stopped. We’re almost there, and I need to tell you a few things before we arrive.”
His smile faded, and he nodded. The playful, tender Jack was gone, and Guardian guy was back.
“The pack lives on what we call the ‘Compound’—that started as a joke, by the way, and it stuck. It used to be a boarding school, and then at some point in the 1970s, it went under, and Monica bought the property and moved us here. As far as outsiders can tell, it’s still a school, a private military academy, which explains the shooting range.” She drew a deep breath. “You’re going to see some things that will surprise you. My bringing you here is an act of trust. Please…” She took his hand and held it close to her heart. “Please understand that when I say trust, I am trusting you with my wolves. My pack. And I’m their Guardian.”
“Sweetness, I’m here to parley. Your pack is safe from the big bad boy wolf,” he said with a grin.
She grinned back ruefully.
“It’s not their physical safety that concerns me. We’re more than capable of defending ourselves should you try anything. Even from a big specimen of manhood like you.” She grinned. “I trust you, Jack. Not only enough to show you my pack and introduce you to my Alpha, but you’ll be privileged to secrets no outsider has seen other than Sara, who, as the Guide, was instrumental in helping Monica create this haven for us. I trust that if you need to tell your Alpha our secrets, you’ll do so in a way that doesn’t endanger us.”
“Thank you for trusting me.” Jack cupped Bianca’s face between his hands. “I won’t violate your trust, darling.” He kissed her gently on the nose. “I promise.”
She took a deep breath and then smiled. “Well, let’s go.”
She started the car a
gain. They rode in silence a few minutes before she pulled up to a gated drive. She chewed at her lush lower lip while she considered what his reaction would be to the compound. She approached a guard tower slowly. A tall, brown-haired female in a military-esque uniform approached the car.
“Bianca, welcome home.” The female bowed her head, honoring her Guardian before rolling it back to show her throat in a ritual sign of obeisance—now that they were among Pack, Bianca’s wolves would be demonstrating both their affection and loyalty in the traditional way.
“Thank you, Melissa. Jack Murphy rides with me; he’s under my protection,” she said, indicating Jack with a nod.
“Noted. Monica knows you’re here, by the way, and is staying out of your thoughts because she doesn’t want to embarrass you. But she wants you to come straight to the residence.”
“Ha!” Bianca smiled. “Thanks, Mon. I really wanted everyone on campus to know I’m about to be mated.” She sent the thought toward her Alpha with a playful nudge.
“You’re welcome, Bee. C’mon over, and let’s meet the man. Sara’s here already. Whe flew in a few minutes ago. Kathy and Ellen are here, as well. I don’t want to intimidate your guy, but feel free to answer his questions.”
“Got it.” Bianca nodded to Melissa and drove through the heavy gate.
She watched as Jack’s eyes grew wide taking in his surroundings. The compound still very much resembled a campus, but it also resembled a small armored town. There were wolves everywhere, some in animal form, some in human form. They walked and talked and went about their business without paying him much heed. The ones they drove past bowed their heads to their Guardian. She tried to see it through his eyes, taking in the moment that he noticed a cluster of large buildings that had been classroom buildings at one point, and one that could only be a library; the smells of old books seemed to ooze from it. Across from the library was another cluster of buildings, high-rises: the residence halls. She could almost see his mind working as he wondered what they held now. They passed the cafeteria building and all the smells of food.
Jack met Bianca’s eyes, stunned.
“Bianca…” His voice came out strangled. “How many wolves live on the compound?”
“Jack, did you go to college?” She chose her words with precision, needing him to reach these conclusions on his own, not to be slapped in the face with them.
“Naval Academy.” He nodded.
“And how many students matriculated at the Academy?”
His eyes widened as he took in his surroundings. He didn’t answer.
“And was the campus smaller, or larger than our compound?” she pressed, waiting for his reaction.
He glanced around, his mind shuttered.
“Stop the car.”
She pulled over.
“How many, Bianca? How many wolves are under your protection?” He seemed on the verge of hyperventilating.
“About eight thousand,” she whispered, wincing at the expression on his face. She knew Mid-Atlantic was considered one of the strongest packs in the country—at a little over five hundred members. Eight thousand would literally boggle his mind.
“Are you fucking kidding me, Bianca? What the hell is going on?” He looked pissed but kept his wolf under control. She could feel the heat surrounding him, the edges of his will fighting against those of the beast inside.
“I told you that you would be surprised. I told you there were secrets. Please, Jack. Please come meet Monica. Talk with her. You’re not under threat from us,” she pleaded.
“Eight thousand wolves living in a walled city, and your nearest pack neighbors didn’t have a fucking clue?” He exploded. “What are you trying to do? Take over the goddamned world?” he yelled, the words exploding from his mouth.
Bianca winced at the volume and the note of betrayal in his voice.
“Enough,” she snapped. “I’m taking you to my Alpha. You’ll understand a lot more when you speak to her.”
She started the car again and drove without speaking up to the library.
“She lives here.” She indicated the building with her chin. “Being around books has always made her happy, so she made her residence on the top floor of the library.”
“Where do they all work?” he growled.
“Some work in the school, because we do actually have one. Some work in the cafeteria. Some in security. And we have several internet-based businesses that are operated out of the compound. Angelo—you’ll meet him; he’s our Third—he oversees our business operations.”
Glancing over, she saw how close his wolf was to emerging. He was angry and clearly feeling threatened, both emotions pulling his wolf to the surface.
“Jack,” she whispered, taking his hand. “Be still. Relax. Even though it’s sudden and crazy and I just met you, my wolf knows you. And somehow, it’s happened that I actually like you, because you’re my mate. I know how startling this is, but understand that this is all I’ve known my whole life. And these are good people. Good wolves. They won’t hurt you.”
“You want me to trust this, mate?” he asked softly, his eyes closing. “I cannot believe you can ask such a thing after hiding something like this from me.”
“Oh for goddess’s sake, Jack. I’m the Usher.” She growled. “Did you think we’d have it easy? Grow up. I’m not hiding my people; I’m showing them to you. I’m exposing everything because I trust you, and yeah, you big prick, I’m asking you to do the decent thing and trust me back. This mate thing is a gift from the Goddess, and I can’t fight that. I was happy with Sara, but you are my fucking mate, so get a grip and act like it.”
She clambered out of the car, slamming the door and waiting for him. When he emerged from the car, stony-faced, she walked toward the building, knowing he’d follow.
Chapter Seven
JACK’S JAW WAS TENSE as they took the elevator up to the top floor of the library. Bianca’s ire rolled off her, and he was torn between walking away from her until he cooled off and dropping to his knees and begging her to forgive his harsh words. He was an alpha wolf, second-in-command to a large pack, and his whole world had just turned upside down. For the first time in many years, he knew terror. What exactly was the future the Ushers would bring to wolves? What role did Bianca have in it? He tried to remember the myths and only knew that there was a mention of sacrifice. The more he tried to remember, the more panicked his wolf became.
“Bianca,” he growled her name, pushing the stop button on the elevator.
She turned, raising an eyebrow.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered.
“Oh, Jack.” She took him in her arms and kissed his cheek. “Darling, it’s going to be okay,” she whispered into his ear. “I swear it, what you and I have is a gift, and werewolf politics can’t touch it.”
His arms clenched around her waist. “Bianca, it’s been decades since I’ve felt this kind of uncertainty and fear. My wolf is uneasy, and I couldn’t stop myself from lashing out. I’m sorry.”
“What are you afraid of, Jack?” She bit at her lip, watching him as if his answer was the most important thing she’d ever hear.
“I’m afraid that loving you is making me vulnerable to losing you—that whatever this machine you’re a part of is, it’s more to you than I can be. I know that sacrifice is part of the mythology. I can’t lose this.” The words were mirrored by the stark fear in his eyes.
Relief slumped her shoulders.
“Jack. This is what mates feel. It’s not just biology.” She looked into his eyes. “Love and trust make mates what they are to each other. Not the claiming. Not the bite.” She shook her head. “Oh, Jack. You’ll see. This is going to be okay.” She hugged him tight. “Will you trust me? As I’m trusting you?”
“I don’t know that I have any choice left, White Wolf.” He released the stop button, and the elevator resumed. His uneasiness unabated, he watched the numbers climb.
When they emerged from the elevator, they appeared to be
in a large apartment. A guard stood by the door. She bowed her head and offered obeisance to Bianca, who touched her face in affection.
“Big boy, you made it!” He heard Kathy’s enthusiastic voice in his mind, and he felt himself relax a little.
“Little sister, what the hell?” He sent the thought her way with a teasing murmur. Beside him, he felt Bianca relax a little. She clasped his hand with hers. He knew that she could hear Kathy also.
“Oh, Jack. Look at that fine female wolf next to you. Appreciate how amazing she is. Now shut the fuck up, and get in here.”
“Ha! Little one, you are something else.”
“Yes, I am, big boy. Don’t ever forget it.” He felt the bubbly touch of her mind fade from his.
“Are you ready, Jack?” Bianca asked, taking his hand.
“Let’s do this,” he said with a firm nod.
She led him through a set of double doors into a large sitting room. There were several couches and chairs, and he saw Kathy, Ellen, and a stunning older wolf with dark hair, silver at the temples. That had to be Monica. Perched on Monica’s shoulder was a raven, who could only be Sara.
“Welcome, Jack Murphy, Second of Mid-Atlantic,” Monica said in a musical voice that imbued the ceremonious words with the power of an Alpha. “I am Monica, Alpha of Amazon Pack. You are welcome here and under my protection for parley.”
“Thank you, Alpha of Amazon Pack.” He crossed to her and bared his neck to her. She was every inch an Alpha, and his wolf recognized it. Offering her his obeisance was automatic. She leaned forward and took his throat between her teeth in a symbolic gesture of acceptance.
“Bee.” Monica turned to Bianca, enfolding her in a hug. “Welcome back. You’ve been gone a long time. I have to say, we’re glad to have you among us again.”
“Thanks, Mon.” Bianca smiled at her Alpha before baring her own neck. The two women were clearly close. “And you, Guide, will you not come to me?” She smiled at the bird on Monica’s shoulder, who eagerly hopped across to Bianca’s.
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